Hornets at Suns 7PM FSN AZ

[FArting]

Three months into the season, the Phoenix Suns are right where they were expected to be. Surprisingly, the New Orleans Hornets are there with them.
In a matchup of teams with the best records in the powerful Western Conference, the Suns go for their ninth win in 11 games Wednesday when they host the Hornets, who hope to avoid their longest losing streak of the season.Phoenix has won at least 54 games and the Pacific Division title in each of the last three seasons, and the Suns (34-14) are on pace to do so again in 2007-08. They're leading the pack in the West -- 1 1/2 games ahead of Dallas and upstart New Orleans.While the Suns have experience in being near the top of the standings, the Hornets (32-15) are still getting accustomed to it. They're on track for their first winning season since 2002-03 and could contend for the first division title in the franchise's 20-year history despite playing in perhaps the toughest division in the NBA.New Orleans is tied atop the Southwest with Dallas, two games ahead of defending NBA champion San Antonio and 4 1/2 ahead of Houston.The Hornets, though, were in better position before their recent skid. They've tied a season high with three straight losses since a season-high nine-game win streak.After holding opponents to 86.9 points per game during that nine-game run, they've given up 112.7 during their losing streak."The bottom line in the last couple of games is teams are playing harder than we are," Hornets coach Byron Scott said after his club's 110-88 loss at Utah on Monday. "They beat us up a little bit -- just played a lot better than we did."A matchup with the top team in the conference isn't usually an ideal way to end a slide, but Scott's club has had success against the Suns. They've won the first two meetings this season after dropping 11 of the previous 12 in the series.The Suns are just 5-9 against the nine other teams in the West that have winning records. They haven't lost three in a row to the Hornets since a five-game skid against them from March 10, 2002-Dec. 11, 2003."It's very important, that's a team that we haven't beaten yet. It's a team that's in second place and it's a double win right there," Nash said of New Orleans after Phoenix struggled in the first half before beating Charlotte 118-104 on Monday. "It's going to be a big game and we're going to have to play obviously a lot bigger than we did tonight."Nash and the Hornets' Chris Paul -- the top two assist men in the NBA and reserve point guards for the West All-Star team -- will meet for the third time this season. Paul has averaged 24.5 points, 10.0 assists and 41.3 percent shooting from the field in those games, while Nash is averaging 17.5 points and 9.0 assists while shooting 50.0 percent against New Orleans in 2007-08.Both players, however, are coming off sub-par performances. Paul shot 3-for-11 from the field and had six points, six assists and five turnovers Monday. Nash was held to eight points on 3-for-10 from the floor with 11 assists and five turnovers in Phoenix's win.The Suns and Hornets close their season series Feb. 27 in New Orleans.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=280206021

Hornets 103
Suns 110

Amare

 

[CaptainInsano]

If the Shaq trade is going to happen then Shaq probably won't play and neither will marion so I don't see us having any sort of chance to win this one unfortunately.

 

[krispydude]

suns will play better without marion prolly, just to spite him.

suns win.

 

[jandaman]

Hornets break their losing streak..

Suns are yet to win without Marion under the "system"...


Hornets 103
Suns 94

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

Depends upon which Diaw shows up, actually. The good Diaw can stay with West and score Marion's points. The lazy Diaw will get worked. But Diaw should start, so we will see.

 

[Billy Bob]

Suns still win.......
111 suns
98 hornets

Amare

 

[Griffin]

I hope the Suns won't try to use Marion's absence as an excuse for losing or for not playing too hard. If the trade goes down, they may very well be without Shaq for another week or more due to his hip injury. They have to keep winning games.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Suns 184

Hornets 67

Shaq 40 pts 20 rebs 11 assists

 

[Yuma]

I was thinking Shaq's hip mysteriously gets better in Phoenix and he plays tonight!

 

[Chaplin]

I was thinking Shaq's hip mysteriously gets better in Phoenix and he plays tonight!

I doubt that, especially if Marion and Banks don't get their physicals done in time--I believe all 3 have to be completed before anyone can play.

 

[Yuma]

I doubt that, especially if Marion and Banks don't get their physicals done in time--I believe all 3 have to be completed before anyone can play.

I just heard the NBA approved the trade. A team can waive the physicals. It's been done before when guys are late reporting. From what I am reading, only Phoenix required the physical from Shaq. I've also seen games where guys have played, while the other guys have yet to report to their new teams.

It's good to have you questioning my posts just like the old days, Chap!

 

[mjb21aztd]

I see us having a hard time winning this game without Marion for the first time hope the suns prove me wrong

Hornets 113

Suns 107

Leading Scorer Barbosa

 

[Yuma]

The Suns have the trade posted on their web site:

http://www.nba.com/suns/news/release_080206.html

 

[mojorizen7]

I think the SUNS dip in the standings begins tonight but it doesn't concern me much as long as we finish 4th or better in the West.
When has home-court advantage ever done the SUNS any favors anyway?
HORNETS 105
SUNS 99
-------------
SHAQ in attendance gives himself a new nickname.
Suns lose but nobody cares too much.

 

[Ninjafish]

No Tyson Chandler tonight.

 

[Hat]

No Tyson Chandler tonight.

Really?? Well then I guess the Suns do have a chance.

Suns 110
Hornets 106

Barbosa

 

[Ninjafish]

The hornets are going to play good tonight though. They're really upset about the three game losing streak they're on. Before this losing streak, they haven't lost two in a row all season.

 

[JS22]

Anyone else having horrible audio problems on FSN?

 

[Hat]

Anyone have a link?

 

[Ninjafish]

Anyone have a link?

sop://broker1.sopcast.com:3912/14249

I can't get the sound working. Maybe it's just my computer.

Good game so far.

 

[Griffin]

Bad second quarter. Poor interior defense and 4 Nash turnovers.

 

[Hat]

sop://broker1.sopcast.com:3912/14249

I can't get the sound working. Maybe it's just my computer.

Good game so far.

Thanks, got it working, but the sound is delayed by like a second.

 

[TJ]

Hornets are a great shooting team.....WOW!

 

[mjb21aztd]

Man its so weaird not seeing Marion out their miss him already.... this trade better work out

 

[mjb21aztd]

aww wtf the lakers lost to the hawks come on... that sucks