azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 21, 2004 12:00 AM
DENVER - There is a reason the Suns rank last in the NBA in offensive rebounding.
They miss shots less often than any team in the league. They can go get the caroms when need be. With the game tied and time ticking away Monday, Quentin Richardson's dunk try off Steve Nash's penetration was blocked by Nene. But the Suns kept coming with Amaré Stoudemire missing a follow that led to Richardson's buzzer-beating tip-in for a 107-105 Suns win over Denver.
"The game was like Hamlet," Richardson said. "That was a suspense thriller, and I killed them at the end."
The Suns avoided such tragedies. Denver went without Carmelo Anthony (ankle) and Marcus Camby (bronchitis). Nash, ill with a cold and sore throat, did the Nuggets in with late drives that countered Kenyon Martin's back-to-back tying buckets.
Nash had five first-half turnovers when Phoenix never led despite shooting 59 percent. The customary Suns' runs came with the last seven points of the half and a 22-10 spurt to start the second half off Stoudemire's dominance. He was 11 of 16 from the field and 10 of 11 on free throws for 32 points.
"He came back and was a man," coach Mike D'Antoni said of Stoudemire, who had eight points Saturday.
Nash's ninth straight double-digit assist game gave Phoenix a nine-game win streak for the second time.
View from Press Row
The beauty of a court quarterback like Steve Nash is keeping a team on its heels even in crunch time. With Nash, there is no need to call timeouts late in tight games. In the final minute, Nash whizzed downcourt three times and penetrated without hesitation. The results were three straight tie-breaking buckets. Nothing better could have been drawn up on the grease board.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/1221suns1221.html
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 21, 2004 12:00 AM
DENVER - There is a reason the Suns rank last in the NBA in offensive rebounding.
They miss shots less often than any team in the league. They can go get the caroms when need be. With the game tied and time ticking away Monday, Quentin Richardson's dunk try off Steve Nash's penetration was blocked by Nene. But the Suns kept coming with Amaré Stoudemire missing a follow that led to Richardson's buzzer-beating tip-in for a 107-105 Suns win over Denver.
"The game was like Hamlet," Richardson said. "That was a suspense thriller, and I killed them at the end."
The Suns avoided such tragedies. Denver went without Carmelo Anthony (ankle) and Marcus Camby (bronchitis). Nash, ill with a cold and sore throat, did the Nuggets in with late drives that countered Kenyon Martin's back-to-back tying buckets.
Nash had five first-half turnovers when Phoenix never led despite shooting 59 percent. The customary Suns' runs came with the last seven points of the half and a 22-10 spurt to start the second half off Stoudemire's dominance. He was 11 of 16 from the field and 10 of 11 on free throws for 32 points.
"He came back and was a man," coach Mike D'Antoni said of Stoudemire, who had eight points Saturday.
Nash's ninth straight double-digit assist game gave Phoenix a nine-game win streak for the second time.
View from Press Row
The beauty of a court quarterback like Steve Nash is keeping a team on its heels even in crunch time. With Nash, there is no need to call timeouts late in tight games. In the final minute, Nash whizzed downcourt three times and penetrated without hesitation. The results were three straight tie-breaking buckets. Nothing better could have been drawn up on the grease board.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/1221suns1221.html
