Suns get first win of the Shaq era, beat KG and the Celtics 85-77
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Amaré Stoudemire scored 28 points to lead the Suns past the Celtics 85-77. The Suns dominated the boards 50-to-32 and for the second consecutive night (2-for-2 with Shaq in the line-up) ourebounded a tough opponent.
The Suns enjoyed an early lead in the game (24-13 after 12 minutes, despite plenty of turnovers) and were able to hold off any comeback attempts by the Celtics late in the game.
It was a tough battle filled with tension, hard fouls, turnovers, poor shooting percentages, or in other words, Eastern Conference playoffs basketball. “Obviously the defense, our rebounding – all that was good” as D’Antoni confirmed after the game.
Boston shot 38.5% from the field (30-for-78) while the Suns were 31-for-73. The teams combined for 45 turnovers and 47 fouls.
The Suns defense was able to held the Celtics shooters in check as Paul Pierce was 2-for-13 and Ray Allen a similar 3-for-12.
Kevin Garnett, who could have become a Suns this past Summer, led Boston with 19 points, but in the end it was STAT winning the heated battle between the two power forwards. Shaq on STAT after the game: “Amaré Stoudemire is the best big man in the game right now. I didn’t know he was that good“.
Shaq’s presence (4 points, 14 rebounds) can change the structure of the game and provide a much needed energy spark. His presence give much more flexibility to attack the boards since tends to create mismatches for the Suns opponents. It’s not by chance that Grant Hill scored his first consecutive double-doubles (14 points, 13 rebounds) since 2002.
I also like the way Shaq always look to open the fastbreak after getting the rebound; he might not be the fastest center in the game, but he understands the game extremely well.
I am starting to undertsand the reason of the trade, now. Is this the beginning of a new era? too early to tell, but when Steve Kerr traded for Shaq I think - more or less - he had that kind of game in mind.
With the win the Suns (38-17) improved to 22-2 against Eastern Conference teams and gave them a half game lead over the idle Lakers.
With growing confidence the Suns will now face the other great team in the East on Sunday as the Pistons come to Phoenix (12.30 AM) of a lunch tip-off.
Yours truly, Steve Fan (now more than ever Diesel-powered)
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Posted by Steve Fan
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