KG leads Boston past STAT and the Suns
(AP Photo/Winslow Townson) If the Suns hoped to build some confidence from the last two games, against the Eastern Conference’s best two teams, expectations were inevitably destroyed. After the tough loss to the Pistons in OT on Monday came yesterday’s loss in Boston, as the Celtics beat the Suns 117-97.
A great start by the Celtics was quickly erased as the Suns came back into the game with a great second quarter effort (37-24 in 12 minutes) resulting in a 57-57 tie at halftime.
The Celtics broke the tie (65 all) after four minutes of the third quarter with a 15-4 run as the Suns committed 7 of their 21 turnovers in the period.
“We bounced back in the first half and made a game of it, by the end of halftime. But the whole game was turnovers” in the words or coach D’Antoni.
The Suns took a season-low 68 shots in the game and despite shooting well (55.9 percent), turnovers and offensive boards (17 for Boston) made the difference, along with the fact that Boston shot an excellent 52.3 percent on 18 more attempts.
In the game Phoenix was outrebounded 41-27 as Shaq led the Suns with 7 while Boston had 10 from Perkins and 6 from four different players. Talk about a real team effort here.
“I can’t analyze it any better than that we weren’t good enough” were the worrying words of Steve Nash.
Every time the Suns face the Celtics these days it’ll come down to KG vs STAT because of the trade that never was and, most of all, because they’re both very good players (MVP, MVP…)
Phoenix went to Amaré most of the game trying to feed him “on the move” since STAT is clearly the hottest Suns at the moment. The Celtics responded by going to Garnett in the post often and early. Both players had terrific games, anyway.
KG had 30 points, 12-of-19 from the field, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, zero turnovers. His stats show why he’s the ultimate complete player in the game.
I know I might sound a bit biased since I have a great admiration for the player who is the real MVP of the League. It was not because of Allen, Davis, Posey or the excellent Paul Pierce that the Celtics will win more than 60 games this year. Garnett turned the franchise around. Period.
STAT had 32 points, 11-of-16 from the field, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 blocked shot and 5 turnovers. It was Amaré “classic” performance of the Shaq era: 30-something points, great shooting. Stoudemire is actually trying to play defense, which is a good sign. I am sure he could eventually become a good defender in a few years, given his great athleticism.
Shaq scored 16 points, Nash added 12 and 6 assists while Giricek and Diaw scored 11 and 15 respectively off the bench.
Boston had 27 points from the excellent Paul Pierce and 14 each from their starting guards R. Rondo and Ray Allen.
With the loss and the night’s results (Rockets and Spurs winning their games) the Suns (47-24) slipped back to sixth place in the Conference.
The games in Philadelphia on Friday night (4 PM, afternoon I should say) and New Jersey the following night now have the look of must-win games.
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.
http://sonsofstevenash.blogspot.com
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