Suns @ Pistons 4:30 pm

[JCSunsfan]

Tough game. Detroit is a bad matchup for us. If we win this one it says alot.

 

[dodie53]

go suns!

 

[atikiN]

Detroit isn't the most motivated team right now. Since they won't be moving from the no.2 seed, they only thing they're playing for is their pride. I hope the Suns come out with fire and pay the Pistons back for last time.

 

[sunsbo]

Tough game. Detroit is a bad matchup for us. If we win this one it says alot.

I know I've only seen 1 Detroit/Suns game over the past couple of years but I don't really understand why they are the worst matchup for us. Chicago and Cleveland seem to do fine against Detroit yet the Suns are lucky if they don't get blown out.

 

[Mainstreet]

I know I've only seen 1 Detroit/Suns game over the past couple of years but I don't really understand why they are the worst matchup for us. Chicago and Cleveland seem to do fine against Detroit yet the Suns are lucky if they don't get blown out.

IMO, they are a difficult match up because they have a couple of big men (Sheed and McDyess) that can hit the midrange shot or go inside as well. This may cause Shaq some problems in regards to positioning defensively. Also they're very versatile in how they can play the game fast or slow. Also Sheed just seems to play exceptionally well against the Suns.

 

[jagu]

The Pistons have a lot of efficient jumpshooters and Rasheed Wallace spreads the floor out. The Suns need to play better perimeter defense and cut down on the unnecessary and freakish turnovers to have a shot at winning this game. I'm very confident that the Suns can put up 100+ nowadays because they seem on fire every game. Hopefully Barbosa has a good shooting night. Gordon Giricek will be a pretty good help on defense.

Suns by 5.

107-102

 

[JCSunsfan]

Detroit has solid, athletic players at every position on the floor. All of them shoot well, all of them play good D. There is no place to hide a poor defender like Nash. If you have two poor defenders like Nash and Amare (when we met last), its a formula for disaster.

Amare has been stepping up his D lately, and even Nash has improved some. It will really hurt us if we have to play this game without Raja.

 

[Louis]

On NBATV for those like me who miss out on games.

Also not mentioned above is this is a B2B for Detroit. They got beat in Washington last night.

Sheed demolished Amare in the last matchup. Let's hope the Suns keep the ball rolling.

Suns 109
Detriot 105

Amare

 

[Andrew]

Damn, I have to miss it because its not in Arizona with the major time difference. I am just an hour behind eastern time, and I start work tonight at 5. So I am gonna miss about 80-100% of this game.

Raptorsnation.net archives games right? So like tomorrow I can watch it in its entirety? Anyone know?

By the way, I think the way the Suns are playing, they will win tonight. I am not trying to jinx us or anything, but we are rested and gelling, where the Pistons are tired and coming off a loss. I like our chances...

 

[btimsah]

Well last time we played daytwa they were just hitting everything. Musta shot around 60% for the game. I just hope they don't shoot that well this time. Our defense is much better than it was then, so that should help. But this will still be a tough one.

 

[BigRedRage]

I hate the pistons and their style of basketball.

Go Suns!

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

we're a much different team than the last time we met, but this team knows how to play us, and that includes shaq. let's not forget that this team was the last to deny shaq's lakers another ring. and yeah, they don't have ben wallace any longer, but shaq's not exactly the shaq of old either.

if we win this one it will go a looooooooong way towards getting me excited about our prospects. as it is i was already excited. i liked the shaq trade. everything is playing out as i predicted it would with his addition, only in much greater abundance than i predicted.

health, health, health. that should be our mantra.

 

[bigfoot]

RAJA WILL START TONIGHT

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/112035
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Shooting guard Raja Bell will be in the starting lineup tonight when the Suns play the Detroit Pistons, coach Mike D’Antoni said after Monday morning’s shootaround.

I hope he is really healed and run minimal risk of reinjury.

 

[jandaman]

Since I'm probably the only Suns fan in Ann Arbor Michigan, I'll be the only one cheering for the Suns when I go there tonight! Looking forward to it a lot, hopefully its a close game atleast.

The one reason why the Pistons are a bad matchup is due to the Piston's starting 5 being capable shooters from mid and behind the arc. Not only that, they usually play man to man, and each of their defender can guard the Suns players evenly, now if you combined that issue with the Suns lack of defense on the Pistons, its pretty much a one sided affair.

The key is to stop Hamilton and Billups. Put Rasheed into foul trouble by attacking him instead of shooting on top of him, which he is very capable of defending, best in the league in playing physical whilst contending the shot, better than KG or Duncan. Amare needs to put him into foul trouble early. Then in the defensive end, cover his face, as Amare is very poor in contending that turn around J from Rasheed, he needs to cover his whole face and hope for the best. Shaq can probably afford to give McDyess some mid range open looks, just hope he will have an average night, because Billups and Hamilton penetrating, Shaq will need to step up, which will force the Pistons to look for McDyess open up top.

 

[SirStefan32]

Attack the paint. There is no way Sheed and Dice can stay with Shaq and Amare. Dump it to Shaq or Amare EVERY TIME down the floor.

 

[TheHopToad]

On NBATV for those like me who miss out on games.

Game is NOT on NBA TV.

They are having Sixers/Celtics and Lakers/Warriors. Suns game is on NBALP.

http://www.nba.com/nba_tv/

I'm a little worried about this game. Detroit seems to have our number. I think the game will be much closer than the first meeting, but I see the Pistons holding on for the win. I hope the Suns prove me wrong.

Pistons 95
Suns 91

Nash

 

[Wonder]

With Shaq more in tune, I don't think there will be any sort of blow-out by the Pistons this time around. Wasn't it Shaq's 3rd game with the Suns the last time they played them? So you see, this is a whole new match up.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

With Shaq more in tune, I don't think there will be any sort of blow-out by the Pistons this time around. Wasn't it Shaq's 3rd game with the Suns the last time they played them? So you see, this is a whole new match up.

Welcome to ASFN.

 

[Louis]

Game is NOT on NBA TV.

They are having Sixers/Celtics and Lakers/Warriors. Suns game is on NBALP.



Nash

That sucks.

 

[French Fries]

Attack the paint. There is no way Sheed and Dice can stay with Shaq and Amare. Dump it to Shaq or Amare EVERY TIME down the floor.

dumping the ball to the bigs seems to be the logical strategy. you get their bigs in foul trouble to lose their rhythm, which is what you need to do against bigs who shoot jumpers...

guh, i'm worried

 

[Sovereignz]

Sheed is probably this generation's best/smartest _1 on 1_ post defender. I don't think just giving Amare the ball every time down the floor is going to work. He'll have to pick his spots really well. Shaq, on the other hand, should dominate McDyess because of the size disparity, and I would be really disappointed if we aren't running a lot of stuff for him down low.

I think us winning or losing will ultimately hinge on Leandro and Raja's outside shooting tonight.

 

[PoolBoy]

cover chauncy, frustrate sheed. suns win.

Suns- 97
Pistons- 88

hill

 

[nashman]

Not sure why but I feel like the Suns are gonna win this one rather easily. Suns 110 pistons 94, a little payback

 

[GorrilaLips]

I think it's going to be a very frustrating 2nd half.....we usually come out of the gates screaming sometimes; but if Detroit brings their game and are in full throttle piston's mode; The Suns will need everything on their side, that means their own worst enemies aside from who we're already matched up against; no stupid diaw'ish turnovers, unnecessary fouls and foul troubles from Amare/Shaq, and getting good looks on our shots and making the baskets.

Im really looking forward to this game and giving it back to Detroit after they creamed us. I don't think we'll get blown out like we did that afternoon...but I have a good feeling we'll surprise them more as we aren't the same team they played when we were spank-worthy. Go SunS!!!

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

If raja cant keep up with Rip I will blame no one except Dantoni.