Hornets at Suns 7PM FSN AZ

[Chaz]

What a heartbreaker.

So many missed opportunities/turnovers.

Still it was an entertaining game with an amazing shot by Peja.

 

[Bufalay]

Because if somehow that last shot didn't go in and the Suns won the game in 3OT, that would prove what exactly? There was nothing typical about this loss, unless you only look at the final outcome and not how the game was played.

This was a very typical loss for the Suns this season. No one can step up in the clutch. They can't get a freaking lead in these close games. Nash takes these ******* quick 3's or dribbles around for 20 seconds. Gets the ball stolen then argues like he's gonna start kicking dirt onto second base. OR Amare will take an ugly shot over 2 guys and have no chance. Its frustrating to watch.

 

[Sovereignz]

Yes, the defense on Paul was bad, you know why? Because Steve Nash was on him most of the night. My point isn't so much about Marion on Peja as it is that Marion still being here allows Bell to guard Paul. Marions also longer and taller than Bell, thus a better fit to guard the taller Peja.

We must not be watching the same Raja Bell. He is excellent at guarding a guy like Kobe, who he can body up and use his strength on. Raja Bell does not have a chance to guard Chris Paul, if he did we would have put him on him. He doesn't have that kind of speed anymore.

 

[HooverDam]

We must not be watching the same Raja Bell. He is excellent at guarding a guy like Kobe, who he can body up and use his strength on. Raja Bell does not have a chance to guard Chris Paul, if he did we would have put him on him. He doesn't have that kind of speed anymore.

So let me repeat this brilliant basketball analysis: Steve Nash is a better defender of players like Chris Paul than Raja Bell. Do I have that right?

Furthermore if you think Bell is too slow too guard CP3, then what did you think of Hill on him? Hills not exactly a speed demon. By moving Marion they lost their quickest horizontal defender (LB seems like he'd be able to grow into this role w/ his speed and length, but never really has).

 

[Griffin]

Isn't the final outcome that counts?

There is a difference between losing by 20 and losing in double overtime. While I don't like the fact that we are 0-3 versus a potential playoff opponent, it would be certainly more disappointing if we were significantly outplayed in those games and lost by wider margins.

 

[dodie53]

nice entertaining game.
too bad we lost.

 

[Bufalay]

So let me repeat this brilliant basketball analysis: Steve Nash is a better defender of players like Chris Paul than Raja Bell. Do I have that right?

You know, that is actually true. At least Nash isn't slow. Bell never guards PG's.

 

[Sovereignz]

So let me repeat this brilliant basketball analysis: Steve Nash is a better defender of players like Chris Paul than Raja Bell. Do I have that right?

Our problem guarding Paul was NOT our inability to stay in front of him, it was our unwillingness to step out him shooting jumpers. Look at a shot chart for him for tonight, buddy.

Raja cannot stay in front of Chris Paul, Nash did an admirable job of keeping Paul from the basket tonight.

Do you really think Raja is on Steve's level as far as lateral quickness? He's not.

 

[Sovereignz]

You know, that is actually true. At least Nash isn't slow. Bell never guards PG's.

Thank you.

 

[az1965]

There is a difference between losing by 20 and losing in double overtime. While I don't like the fact that we are 0-3 versus a potential playoff opponent, it would be certainly more disappointing if we were significantly outplayed in those games and lost by wider margins.

The top teams usually play close games and are rarely blowouts. In fact, a blowout does not matter since that's an aberration between top teams. I'm more concerned about consistently losing close games to contenders.

 

[HooverDam]

You know, that is actually true. At least Nash isn't slow. Bell never guards PG's.

Wow. Amazing. If you think Nash is better at guarding ANYONE than Raja Bell, I just, I don't know what to tell you. It only confirms my suspicion that this board has lost its damned mind

Our problem guarding Paul was NOT our inability to stay in front of him, it was our unwillingness to step out him shooting jumpers. Look at a shot chart for him for tonight, buddy.

Raja cannot stay in front of Chris Paul, Nash did an admirable job of keeping Paul from the basket tonight.

Do you really think Raja is on Steve's level as far as lateral quickness? He's not.

You're right, he's better (on defense). Nash doesn't have the ability to back up, stay in front of his man, and then close the space if the guy shoots a jumper. Raja Bell is much better at that, and so is Marion.

The good thing about when the Suns had Marion and Bell, is they could switch off at times (they did this a lot on Kobe), and give guys different looks, making things tough.

 

[bigfoot]

What a heartbreaker. I didn't even see that cursed last shot.
Are you sure we lost? God, i'm in denial.

 

[carey]

Boris Diaw had a season high in points tonight and at many points kept the Suns in the game, what are you talking about?

I'm talking about the fact that he easily cost us the game passing up WIDE open shots 10 feet from the basket only to drive in and get it blocked or stolen multiple times in OT. Same ol **** from him, i don't care if he scored 22 or not.

 

[Bufalay]

Wow. Amazing. If you think Nash is better at guarding ANYONE than Raja Bell, I just, I don't know what to tell you. It only confirms my suspicion that this board has lost its damned mind



You're right, he's better (on defense). Nash doesn't have the ability to back up, stay in front of his man, and then close the space if the guy shoots a jumper. Raja Bell is much better at that, and so is Marion.

The good thing about when the Suns had Marion and Bell, is they could switch off at times (they did this a lot on Kobe), and give guys different looks, making things tough.

you're goofy

 

[HooverDam]

I'm talking about the fact that he easily cost us the game passing up WIDE open shots 10 feet from the basket only to drive in and get it blocked or stolen multiple times in OT. Same ol **** from him, i don't care if he scored 22 or not.

He did pass up a big one in OT, Ill agree with you there. But on the whole, he did that a lot less tonight than usual! So look at the bright side

you're goofy

Great post.

EDIT: VV Strawbery did a very nice job tonight. Played within himself, didn't try to do too much (Banks was the king of that, so in that regard, Im glad he's gone). Very nice defense for the most part and nailed the one open three he had.

 

[Bayless2Budinger]

Am I the only one who was impressed by Strawberry tonight? I thought he should have got more minutes late in the game and we should have stuck him to Paul like New Orleans stuck Pargo on Nash.

 

[Bufalay]

He did pass up a big one in OT, Ill agree with you there. But on the whole, he did that a lot less tonight than usual! So look at the bright side



Great post.

it appears that you didn't watch the game tonight.

 

[HooverDam]

it appears that you didn't watch the game tonight.

I'm saying the following:

Shawn Marion and Raja Bell are better permitter/wing defenders than Steve Nash.

You're disagreeing, I'm not the one who's crazy. Stop garbage posting with personal insults and either A. Post a reply with at least a casual attempt at basketball analysis, B. Go to bed.

 

[Bufalay]

I'm saying the following:

Shawn Marion and Raja Bell are better permitter/wing defenders than Steve Nash.

You're disagreeing, I'm not the one who's crazy. Stop garbage posting with personal insults and either A. Post a reply with at least a casual attempt at basketball analysis, B. Go to bed.

I didn't say anything about Shawn Marion. I said that Nash has a better chance at guarding Chris Paul than does Raja Bell. Bell is slow, when he gets isolated at the top of the key he can't stay in front of anyone. Nash slightly better at this than Bell.

I think overall Nash's defense is trash, and Bell is overrated.

 

[Proteus]

7 turnovers for the Suns in the two overtimes, 0 turnovers for the Hornets. Ugh.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Who cares, NOBODY expected us to win, so how can anybody be disappointed in what was one of the best played games on both sides of the entire season. What a game.

the Hornets just got their asses kicked three games in a row AND they were playing without Tyson Chandler... and NOBODY expected us to win? Man, that's a pretty sad state of affairs for the Suns if that's the case, with or without the trade, especially since we've seen first hand that really good teams have been able to overcome missing a starter... especially against us as was evidenced by... well, tonight, last Thursday and the last Hornets game.

that being said, it was an incredible ending and I'm pretty intrigued to see how the rest of the season plays out.

 

[Big D]

7 turnovers for the Suns in the two overtimes, 0 turnovers for the Hornets. Ugh.

Nash had some terrible turnovers down the stretch tonight and in the game against the Spurs. I love the guy but sometimes he just plays too out of control and he also passes the ball with one hand in traffic way too much. I know posting this is probably considered saclirege here but its true. He got the dubious kind of triple dub tonight with his 10 TOs. Paul was his daddy. I expect better than that out of our two time MVP.

 

[jbeecham]

Great exciting game tonight. Both teams were hitting big shots and unfortunately we came out on the losing end. Nash & LB hit some huge shots and the whole team seemed to play with a new-found energy, which was great to see. Boris looked aggressive most of the night, but had a few lapses of Doris at really bad times. DJ Strawberry looked great....aggressive defense, active offensively, hit a big 3, excellent energy overall. Bell was really hustling to start the game and had some nice offensive rebounds, but trying to guard Peja is a bad matchup for him......Grant Hill would've been a better choice. Amare couldn't seem to get going inside the paint most of the game.....I don't know if it was the team doing a poor job of getting him the ball in good positions or what, but it seemed like he had to work harder tonight to get to the rim.

Grant Hill is still struggling with his shot, hopefully he finds his rhythm with the increased role he'll be playing with Marion gone. Skinner has regressed bigtime, poor rebounding & defense, forcing bad shots, missing open shots.....I don't know what happened to him but it's not helping the team right now and I want him to be successful. The team actually looked better at times with Nash on the bench tonight.

Nash had 10 turnovers and 6-7 of them were from refs not calling fouls. No MVP gets less respect....hell Chris Paul was getting more respect out there than Nash does (except on the one fast break layup where LB floored him). How often do you have a double overtime game with one team only shooting 14fts and the other shooting only 18? If only the refs had shown up and done their jobs.....oh wait...1st team all-nba Amare had 5 fouls and so did less important Bobby Jackson & Melvin Ely, but David West had free reign out there. West could've had about 6 offensive fouls by lowering his shoulder and ramming the defender in the center of the chest.....he knocked Diaw backwards out of the play quite a few times. That Pargo alley-oop to himself should've been a travel in OT also because he was picking up his dribble when he lost the ball.

That being said, Chris Paul is a freakin stud.....can't go over or under the screen on this guy cuz he'll beat you either way. Peja looks like he's back to pre-injury form on his shot, still can't play any defense though. David West didn't impress me.....just a bulldozer on offense and did nothing special on defense. Pargo was on fire tonight.....was this a one time thing or did he make a deal with the devil?

 

[AceP]

Frankly speaking, I think Nash wanted to demostrate something to Shaq, who was watching in the arena. He pushed it a bit too hard while Chris Paul played with extreme and unbelievable calm.


Don't worry about one loss. Can't wait to see Shaq start playing for the Suns, that's the only thing matters now.

 

[bigfoot]

Skinner has regressed bigtime, poor rebounding & defense, forcing bad shots, missing open shots.....I don't know what happened to him but it's not helping the team right now and I want him to be successful.

I missed the first half but he did look pitiful out there in the second.
I'm rooting for his success, too. Hope he plays better in games to come.