Knicks at Suns Game Thread

[Cheesebeef]

Oh come on. It's not like the crowd was just not loud or anything, they were completely dead. The team is 6-2 and they were playing well last night. There were plenty of "OOHHH AHHH" plays last night and plenty of reason for the fans to get loud. Of course the team is likeable. They still have Nash, Amare, Marion etc.

You list Marion when half of this board harbors a grudge against him? Again, the coach called his OWN TEAM out on their energy and the fans are supposed to be up in arms about toying with an already terrible team with 3 of their starters out and in the middle of complete and utter turmoil?

I think the expectations are just unreasonable at this point. A team simply cannot beat down a team by 35+ points every night just because they can.

the first part of your sentence may be true (although I disagree - it's not unreasonable for fans of a team as loaded as ours to not have extremely high expectations), but I can't disagree with your second more point. You act like these fans have seen us pummel people all year long and they didn't last night... which is wrong. Again, these people at the games so far this year have seen us get humiliated by the Lakers and look terrible for a half against a really mediocre Cavs team, then they're treated to what the coach himself calls an energy-less game and you expect them to go nuts? I don't get it. If the Suns aren't going to expend the energy at home, why should the fans?

It doesn't work that way. I get excited when the Suns play well regardless of when they play well and who they play well against. It's not like every fan is a die hard fan either. Many of them probably don't even know who Kurt Thomas is.

Man do I think you and our organization give wayyyyyyyy too little credit to the intelligence level of our fans. There's a reason they're dead. I think people as a whole either a) don't know what the hell to make of this team and b) don't really believe in them and completely disagree with the majority of the moves made in the offseason. THAT'S why you're seeing dead home crowds.

 

[mribnik]

I also think the grudge against Marion is unreasonable. He plays his butt off and adds a few exciting plays every game. In addition, many of the people who voiced their dislike for Marion in the offseason were more than willing to take it back after that 24 rebound performance. Without Marion this team would not be 6-2. Oh, and a player who voices his complaints against an organization but still goes out there and give it his all is still likeable IMO. I only care how they play.

Like I said before, I don't care that the Suns were playing an undermanned Knick squad. The game still featured the Suns and they were still exciting. Have you ever seen a pass similar to the one Nash made to Barbosa late in the game? How often does that happen. Apparently the crowd had already seen it a thousand times because they remained dead.

Like I've said, it's not that they weren't loud, it's that they were completely dead. I'd expect them to get a little bit excited for a fantastic play at least. It was pathetic. I can't imagine another arena in the league that quiet.

 

[azirish]

I think Suns fans expect the Suns to run even more than they do. The reality is that every team in the league has figured out that if their guys don't focus on getting back, they will be facing 130 points against them every time. But this means less excitement.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I also think the grudge against Marion is unreasonable. He plays his butt off and adds a few exciting plays every game. In addition, many of the people who voiced their dislike for Marion in the offseason were more than willing to take it back after that 24 rebound performance. Without Marion this team would not be 6-2. Oh, and a player who voices his complaints against an organization but still goes out there and give it his all is still likeable IMO. I only care how they play.

Like I said before, I don't care that the Suns were playing an undermanned Knick squad. The game still featured the Suns and they were still exciting. Have you ever seen a pass similar to the one Nash made to Barbosa late in the game? How often does that happen. Apparently the crowd had already seen it a thousand times because they remained dead.

Like I've said, it's not that they weren't loud, it's that they were completely dead. I'd expect them to get a little bit excited for a fantastic play at least. It was pathetic. I can't imagine another arena in the league that quiet.

I just think our fans, for lack of a better term, just feel "sun-burned" from everything that's happened the last three years, from self-inflicted wounds (JJ, trading draft picks, TT, KT, more draft picks, no titles) to outside inflicted wounds (JJ breaks his face, Amare's Knee, Raja's quad, the suspensions, the lottery) and really no one's gonna get excited until it's money time - which means when we actually play someone we can measure ourselves up against or the playoffs.

 

[mribnik]

I just think our fans, for lack of a better term, just feel "sun-burned" from everything that's happened the last three years, from self-inflicted wounds (JJ, trading draft picks, TT, KT, more draft picks, no titles) to outside inflicted wounds (JJ breaks his face, Amare's Knee, Raja's quad, the suspensions, the lottery) and really no one's gonna get excited until it's money time - which means when we actually play someone we can measure ourselves up against or the playoffs.

I agree with you on this but I still think it's pathetic that they can't muster up anything better than dead silence.

 

[azirish]

I just think our fans, for lack of a better term, just feel "sun-burned" from everything that's happened the last three years, from self-inflicted wounds (JJ, trading draft picks, TT, KT, more draft picks, no titles) to outside inflicted wounds (JJ breaks his face, Amare's Knee, Raja's quad, the suspensions, the lottery) and really no one's gonna get excited until it's money time - which means when we actually play someone we can measure ourselves up against or the playoffs.

I'm not sure I agree with your premise, but I do agree with your conclusion. Regular season is pretty "old hat" now and a lot of fans have a "wake me when the playoffs are here" attitude. Otherwise, they'll just sit and wait for the Suns to make impossble plays before making noise.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I agree with you on this but I still think it's pathetic that they can't muster up anything better than dead silence.

to be fair, I DO think our fans generally stink. I just can't blame them right now for not getting excited considering I'm having a hard time getting myself excited about the season right now. Doesn't mean I haven't cleared my schedule for tomorrow night's nationally televised game (and haven't already looked at the Calendar for how many games I can possibly catch when I come home next week for the holiday), but I just ain't jazzed about ball right now at all.

again, that being said, let me repeat, I do think our fans stink in general.

 

[azirish]

to be fair, I DO think our fans generally stink. I just can't blame them right now for not getting excited considering I'm having a hard time getting myself excited about the season right now. Doesn't mean I haven't cleared my schedule for tomorrow night's nationally televised game (and haven't already looked at the Calendar for how many games I can possibly catch when I come home next week for the holiday), but I just ain't jazzed about ball right now at all.

again, that being said, let me repeat, I do think our fans stink in general.

I've missed several games, but the Hawks game was humiliating. The Suns seemed terribly slow and couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. Considering the importance of that game due to the draft pick, it was really pathetic that the Suns had so little life.

I am encouraged that the team has managed to win some games against teams that SHOULD beat, but it is painful to watch them play down to weak opposition. Last night gave me hope they are turning the corner, but they did it against an amazingly bad team.

 

[mribnik]

I was also pretty down on this team after the Laker and Hawk losses, but I'm gradually getting more and more excited about them. For one, Hill looks fantastic at times. His defense is much better than advertised, he can create mismatches on offense and his three-point shot is getting better by the game. I also am quite happy with what Skinner is bringing to the team. He's not the low-post defender Thomas was, but he fits into the style a little more and blocks shots. Overall he's probably a downgrade, but he's a better value and fits the Suns well IMO. I believe Amare is going to be a beast in a month or so and the team as a whole will be running at full speed by then as well.

I think one of the reasons some people are underwhelmed is that they expect the Suns to be perfect from the start of the season because they have Nash. While the Suns have been able to just add players and be successful immediately in the past, we shouldn't expect that to always be the case. Grant Hill is an all-star caliber player and by the end of the year he will make this team better than it was last year. I truly believe that.

In addition, while I was completely underwhelmed at the defense the first 4 games or so, I think the Suns will continue to get better and better defensively. The Suns looked very quick to double-team Curry at times yesterday and it was very effective. Furthermore, the correct player was doubling. The player guarding the worst outside shooter was down to help Amare pretty much immediately. I think the defense will be getting better and better and, while still having some rebounding troubles, will be creating enough turnovers to make up for that.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I've missed several games, but the Hawks game was humiliating. The Suns seemed terribly slow and couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. Considering the importance of that game due to the draft pick, it was really pathetic that the Suns had so little life.

I am encouraged that the team has managed to win some games against teams that SHOULD beat, but it is painful to watch them play down to weak opposition. Last night gave me hope they are turning the corner, but they did it against an amazingly bad team.

the fact that the Hawks are 2-4 and their only wins are against us and the Mavs pisses me off. That team should be 0-6 and already completely given up for the season!

 

[Cheesebeef]

I was also pretty down on this team after the Laker and Hawk losses, but I'm gradually getting more and more excited about them. For one, Hill looks fantastic at times. His defense is much better than advertised, he can create mismatches on offense and his three-point shot is getting better by the game. I also am quite happy with what Skinner is bringing to the team. He's not the low-post defender Thomas was, but he fits into the style a little more and blocks shots. Overall he's probably a downgrade, but he's a better value and fits the Suns well IMO. I believe Amare is going to be a beast in a month or so and the team as a whole will be running at full speed by then as well.

I think one of the reasons some people are underwhelmed is that they expect the Suns to be perfect from the start of the season because they have Nash. While the Suns have been able to just add players and be successful immediately in the past, we shouldn't expect that to always be the case. Grant Hill is an all-star caliber player and by the end of the year he will make this team better than it was last year. I truly believe that.

In addition, while I was completely underwhelmed at the defense the first 4 games or so, I think the Suns will continue to get better and better defensively. The Suns looked very quick to double-team Curry at times yesterday and it was very effective. Furthermore, the correct player was doubling. The player guarding the worst outside shooter was down to help Amare pretty much immediately. I think the defense will be getting better and better and, while still having some rebounding troubles, will be creating enough turnovers to make up for that.

my only counter to this as far as the lack of excitement from me is that we have played a positively CAKE schedule so far, save one impressive win at Orlando (which did impress me, especially on a back to back). Again, I just don't know what the hell we have here, so i can't get up or down about what we've got. I think a lot of people are in the same boat.

 

[green machine]

my only counter to this as far as the lack of excitement from me is that we have played a positively CAKE schedule so far, save one impressive win at Orlando (which did impress me, especially on a back to back). Again, I just don't know what the hell we have here, so i can't get up or down about what we've got. I think a lot of people are in the same boat.

We all know the Suns have a habit of playing to the level of their competition. The bigger the game, the better they play. That's how it's been for at least the last couple of years.

 

[dodie53]

We all know the Suns have a habit of playing to the level of their competition. The bigger the game, the better they play. That's how it's been for at least the last couple of years.

i hope they do that in the playoffs

 

[Weenus O'Baggins]

the fact that the Hawks are 2-4 and their only wins are against us and the Mavs pisses me off. That team should be 0-6 and already completely given up for the season!

That Atlanta pick would certainly loom large if they started 0-6. Of course then they would likely fire their completely inept coach. Overall they might end up with a worse record by just being bad as opposed to being complete garbage.

 

[Weenus O'Baggins]

We all know the Suns have a habit of playing to the level of their competition. The bigger the game, the better they play. That's how it's been for at least the last couple of years.

At no point was the game in doubt. They would get up by 18-20, mess around, the knicks would get within 10, they would run it back up to 18-20.

It was a glorified scrimmage.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

How are suns fans supposed to get pumped for a game against a crappy team that has two of its starters gone and another benched?

The players werent electrifying either.

Im not usually one to defend fans, but the players are supposed to pump up the fans, not vice versa.

 

[Weenus O'Baggins]

Here is the recipe to having more actual fans down in the lower bowl...

Not make them so pricey. The upper deck is usually loud, just no one can hear us

The lower level of the Suns game is a place to be seen as much as it is a place to see.

 

[azirish]

Here is the recipe to having more actual fans down in the lower bowl...

Not make them so pricey. The upper deck is usually loud, just no one can hear us

The lower level of the Suns game is a place to be seen as much as it is a place to see.

Works for me.