Clippers beat Suns in LA giving Division lead to the Lakers
(AP Photo/Gus Ruelas) May I have your attention please? Will the real Phoenix Suns please stand up?
The Suns, highest-scoring team in the NBA (over 110 points a game), faced the Clippers, the lowest (a little more than 90 a night), on Tuesday night and lost 97-90.
Phoenix trailed most of the game but, unlike what happened on a few occasions recentely, failed to come back and lost a game in which they have been outshot (52.5% to 40.7%) and outrebounded (47 to 36).
The Suns played poorly on both side of the court as the offense never really clicked. The Clippers - don’t forget they’re missing some key players like Elton Brand- were able to slow the game down the way they had planned. And it’s the second time it has happend this season but on Dec. 28th the Suns were able to prevail anyway.
Sam Cassell, still solid at 38, scored 32 points (15-of-21 from the field) to lead the Clippers who also got 21 from Maggette. Kaman, always having a tough time when facing STAT, shot just 3-for-15 but was able to grab 18 rebounds.
Stoudemire, who always does well against the Clippers, led the Suns with 29 point (11-of-22) while Marion added 14 points and 17 rebounds.
The Suns backcourt had a so-so game as Nash (14 points, 13 assists) and Bell (13 points) couldn’t take over the game, even if Steve actually tried on a couple of Suns runs.
With the loss, the Suns (26-12) have been knocked out of first place by the Lakers (26-11). The two teams will face each other at the Staples on Thursday night (8:30 PM) as the Lakers (without Andrew Bynum, expected to be out at least 8 weeks), riding a 7-game winning streak, will try to extend the lead.
Yours truly, Steve Fan
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Posted by Steve Fan
Blogger and Steve Nash enthusiast. Don't get in his way, he'll MVP your ass.
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Hello. I was disgusted enough by this game to turn off the radio with 1-2 minutes left. In many games recently, only one or two players play well, while the others, and the unit as a whole, goes to sleep for a long stretch of the game. This was the case in the third quarter against the Clinkers. This Suns group doesn’t click anymore. It goes entire quarters without giving any effort. Something’s broken, and there isn’t much evidence that it will fix itself. I do *not* want to watch the next game, because my hatred of the Lakers approaches the psychotic, and the way the Suns played last night, the Lakers will humiliate them again.
Yeah, I am glad that I did not watch last nights game. Losses to bad teams are never good. I was listening to 910 this morning and everyone is all up in arms over this tam right now. All I have to say is: everyone needs to calm down. They are out of sync yes, but there are so many reasons not to panic just yet.
I listened to the game on radio last night…which was awful but probably better then wathing it on TV. I understand it’s too early too panic but as we all know..you can’t win a championship in January, but you can lose one. Attitude is not build in a day, i am afraid.
The Phoenix Suns are really the only thing that keeps me watching or listening to the NBA, because I no longer believe in NBA-style basketball. Too many things are wrong. For too many years I have seen teams win by gleefully playing an extremely slow game with strictly defense (i.e., the Chicago Bulls dynasties, the Pistons, and to a lesser extent, the Spurs), teams and players’ nauseating arrogance repeatedly rewarded (usually in the undeserved success of the Lakers), and a league management that spits on the quality of the game in the process of making more money.
Agreed. David Stern proved that one all last summer. The Suns by far and away have been the most exciting team in the league to watch until the Celtics this year. Steve Kerr and co. need to find a way to keep this team competitive and playing at this level for years to come. Otherwise the sold out US Airways center, could be known as the empty house of the Gorilla.
Suns fans–not all, but the ones who go to US Airways Center–are to blame too. It has been at least suggested that these fans are simply not as loud and fanatical as the ones at the “Madhouse on McDowell.” I know they’re jaded because they’ve been let down too many times, but they need to get over it.
And to be fair, I guess I am those fans’ TV-watching equivalent. But on the other hand, the players can’t feed off any noise I make. And I do yell at the screen during important games.
Agree with the fan statement. Not only is the arena flat many nights, but its eerily quite.
Come playoff time it is COMPLETELY different. But really with the way the fans are is there really a home court advantage?
Well, I can’t even imagine a solution for cynical fans at the arena, but I can analyze the team’s play in my head and conjure endless trade scenarios. So who does everyone here think is more of a disruption or weak link–Marion or Stoudemire? The other three usual starters surely can’t be responsible for the laziness or weak chemistry. I haven’t forgotten what I saw in one of the Lakers playoff games last summer: Stoudemire and Marion both tried to grab a rebound, and then both awkwardly deferred to each other–”you take it, no you take it.” Finally Stoudemire took the ball. It was sad. Charles Barkley and A.C. Green managed to get along on the court, but then, Green didn’t have an ego to compete with Barkley’s.
You cant’t expect to have a college atmosphere at an NBA game, I understand that (different fans, different environment) but I would like to see fans take part in the game. You don’t have to stand and sing all night long, but cheering, booing…taking part, is a key part of attending a game.
I know it’s getting quite difficult to cheer for someone who couldn’t care less whether he’s playing in Phoenix or in Atlanta since he’s getting a few millions a year and will be somewhere else next season anyway.
With a few exceptions you’re basically cheering for a jersey and a logo today which is sad.
The Suns could be somewhat different, since they have a core of players who have been in Phoenix for sometime and some of them have proved they’re willing to give 100% every night. Don’t forget, at least we’ve got Steve Nash !