Suns News

Suns' woes on TNT continue in loss
Comment
November 20
Arizona Republic
 
"Really, the Suns' season had been perfect. Losing to two NBA Finals teams on the road on the second night of back-to-back sets was excusable. But not any longer. The Suns' imperfection on TNT continued with their first bad loss of the season. Phoenix lost a game broadcast by TNT for the 16th consecutive time Thursday night, finally running out of comebacks to fall 110-103 to a Hornets team without injured star Chris Paul. The Suns dominated the Hornets last week, and coach Byron Scott was fired a day later. New Orleans got no points from Peja Stojakovic and 11 second-chance points in that game. On Thursday night, the Hornets got 25 points from Stojakovic, who made seven 3-pointers and had ..."
Gentry winning games and hearts
Comment
November 20
Arizona Republic
 columnist Dan Bickley
"Alvin Gentry is a great guy with a great motto. He is proud of the bridges he's never burned. "It's harder work being a jerk than it is just to be a nice person," he said. Gentry is humble, friendly, well-raised, and bringing good karma back to the sideline. Entering Thursday's game against the Hornets, the journeyman coach has won 28 of 43 games since taking over the Suns last season, crafting this year's team into one of the surprise stories of the NBA. Maybe it doesn't last. The Suns aren't running like they once did, or playing defense like they must in the future. But they're tough, gritty, and lovable all over again, and it seems as though everyone in the league is absolutely ..."
Suns doing job with less running
Comment
November 19
Arizona Republic
 
"The Suns are back to running! The Suns are back to running! Well, not so fast. NBA fans are falling for Phoenix's high-scoring ways all over again. The system that made the Suns everyone's second-favorite team has returned and shocked the shoelaces off the NBA, leading to a tie with Atlanta for the league's best record at 10-2. But the story line has a new twist. The Suns actually do not run like they once did. In fact, they are an ordinary running team. Phoenix ranks 12th in the NBA in fast-break points, scoring 12.8 per game. They rank lower when factoring what percentage of their offense comes from fast breaks: 11.8 percent, which ranks 18th. That's behind Thursday's opponent, New ..."
Suns edge Rockets, move to 10-2
Comment
November 18
Arizona Republic
 
"The Suns are the NBA's version of a yo-yo. Throw them down, and they just keep coming back. For the fifth time in 12 games this season, the Suns shook off a fourth-quarter deficit to win Tuesday night. Also for the fifth time in 12 games, the Suns rallied to win a game in which they trailed by double digits. In a 111-105 victory over Houston, Phoenix fell behind by 15 points in the second quarter and trailed with four minutes to go at Toyota Center. But they closed like a team befitting their NBA-best 10-2 mark. The Suns are playing fourth-quarter defense like they dreamed of doing the past five years. The Suns slowed Houston's speedsters to 9-of-28 shooting in the fourth, putting their ..."
When Hayes out, problems arise for Rockets
Comment
November 18
Houston Chronicle
 columnist Richard Justice
"The Rockets played with their usual heart, energy and unselfishness. Those things may be their trademark. They can beat almost any team when they're perfect. That is, when the perimeter shots are falling, everyone contributes and the lack of size isn't exposed. This was one of those nights that reminded the Rockets what they don't have and that there are going to be occasions when teamwork and passion can't overcome size and strength. The Rockets have known this fact since the first day of training camp. They held out hope Joey Dorsey would emerge as a contributor around the basket, but that hasn't happened. So Rockets general manager Daryl Morey spends a lot of time attempting to add a ..."
Rockets go down against Suns 111-105
Comment
November 18
Houston Chronicle
 
"As much as the Rockets have changed, the Phoenix Suns – with the exception of a few misguided months of relative slow ball – have not. For all the progress the Rockets have made, while they are learning to play this way, no team knows the style better than the Suns. With the game on the line, the Suns showed how it's done. Having needed no more than a few good minutes to chew up the Rockets early 15-point lead, the Suns took over late and coolly pulled away for a 111-105 win while the Rockets offense hit a wall four minutes to soon. "They executed better down the stretch than we did," Rockets coach Rick Adelman said. "Our guys will learn as the season goes on." On Tuesday, the most obvious ..."
The Greatest Show on Court returns
Comment
November 17
Washington Examiner
 
"The most fun team to watch in the NBA is back. The Shaquille O'Neal experiment did not work last season and the Suns missed the playoffs for the first time since 2004 -- the season before they acquired Steve Nash. With Shaq in Cleveland, the Suns have regained their run-and-gun mentality -- averaging a league-best 110 points per game. Nash is playing like he did during his two MVP seasons -- averaging 17.6 points and 11.5 assists per game. Last year was the first time the point guard had less than 10 assists per game in his five seasons in Phoenix. The Suns have always been able to find players that fit in their system around their pass-first Canadian point guard. Raja Bell, Shawn Marion, ..."
Raptors lose 101-100 to Suns despite solid play
Comment
November 16
Toronto Star
 
"The Raptors may never play better and get less than they got here Sunday night. Fighting the Phoenix Suns with solid defence and efficient offence, they came away with nothing to show for it, dropping a 101-100 decision in the most entertaining game of the season so far."
Raptors let one slip away
Comment
November 16
Toronto Star
 
"The old Turkish philosopher sat there, pondering the moment and what might have been, shaking his head in bewilderment "It was just one of those nights," said Hedo Turkoglu. "Where you just have to say, 'Screw it' and move on.""
Turkoglu almost joined Suns in 2004
Comment
November 16
Arizona Republic
 
"Steve Nash and Joe Johnson in the backcourt and Amaré Stoudemire, Shawn Marion and Hedo Turkoglu up front. It sounds like an NBA "Where Amazing Happens" commercial cast from four teams, or maybe even an All-Star collection if Turkoglu ever gets his credit. It nearly was the Suns' 2004-05 starting lineup. Things still turned out well in that 62-20 season, with the Suns signing Quentin Richardson instead of Turkoglu, who was an Italian dinner away from securing a future with the Suns and then-General Manager Bryan Colangelo in 2004. Turkoglu and Colangelo now are with the Toronto Raptors. In July 2004, Turkoglu was a 25-year-old free agent who had been a part-time starter in San Antonio. ..."
Suns escape with win vs. Raptors
Comment
November 16
Arizona Republic
 
"The Suns were more sloppy than slick. They missed more shots than they made. And in the end, they had to count on one of the game's clutch shooters to miss two shots in the final seconds. But as it always goes with Steve Nash and the Suns against Toronto, they prevailed again. Phoenix's 11th consecutive victory over the Raptors came with some new features, such as pulling out tight games and second-half defense. With Toronto shooting 41.3 percent in the second half, the Suns won 101-100 on Sunday night at US Airways Center when Nash foiled the Raptors with a go-ahead, driving 3-point play with 38.9 seconds to go. Nash's drive to the left against Jose Calderon gave Phoenix its 14th ..."
Stoudemire looks past dismal night
Comment
November 15
Arizona Republic
 
"Suns forward Amaré Stoudemire missed shots in the lane Thursday night while being defended by the Lakers' Andrew Bynum, who is bigger, and Lamar Odom, who has a longer wingspan. But Stoudemire also missed a dunk, open jumpers and a shot inside against guard Kobe Bryant during the loss in Los Angeles. Including games in which he has taken at least nine shots during his NBA career, Stoudemire has not experienced a worse shooting performance than the 2-for-15 outing. But Stoudemire was not alone. The Suns shot 36.5 percent and had just one fast-break basket. "We look at it and say, 'Boy, that kind of size gives us problems,' " Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. "But other than them and Boston, no ..."
Steve Nash: Sunshine superman
Comment
November 15
Toronto Star
 
"Should anyone really be surprised at the resurgent nature of Steve Nash's season? Should anyone really find it remarkable that he's playing at such a high level at such an advanced age and defying the so-called experts who were so ready to write him off? Hasn't everyone learned that to doubt Nash is folly? After all, this is a guy who – ever since he was a Victoria high schooler dribbling a tennis ball in the hallways to hone his skills – was probably the only man on earth who thought he could play in the NBA."
New Suns turning back the clock
Comment
November 14
Arizona Republic
 
"These Suns have a long way to go toward giving new life to an old way. Their 8-2 record is a fine start to revisiting a four-year era that saw an average of 58 wins per season. The truth will be revealed over the next four months but this Fun-and-Gun 2.0 offers similarities to the original 2004-05 product. • Both versions missed the playoffs the prior season and made a deal driven by finances and chemistry. Sending away Stephon Marbury then and Shaquille O'Neal now unloaded big contracts from big talents with overwhelming personalities. • Both showed cohesiveness and had top conditioning because of a strong turnout for August voluntary workouts. • Both witty coaches are from the same ..."
Hornets no match for Suns
Comment
November 13
New Orleans Times-Picayune
 
"By the numbers, it should have been no contest. And the numbers didn't lie. The Phoenix Suns entered Wednesday night's game at US Airways Center the No. 1 scoring team in the league, the No. 1 shooting team, and the team with the best 3-point shooting percentage in the NBA. Phoenix didn't need to pad that league-leading 3-point percentage, which entering the game (.471) was better than the New Orleans Hornets' overall shooting percentage (.463). Yet it did anyway. In routing the Hornets 124-104, Phoenix did some of its damage inside, scoring 42 points in the paint, dominating New Orleans on the offensive (15) and defensive glass, outrebounding the Hornets 45-29 and becoming the second ..."
Lakers run past Phoenix
Comment
November 13
L.A. Daily News
 
"Bryant scores 29, Bynum returns with 26-point, 15-rebound effort as L.A. coasts past Phoenix. So, if there really are no big games in November, as Hall of Fame coach Phil Jackson insisted the other day, then exactly what was Thursday night's contest between the Lakers and the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center, anyway? Well, for starters, it was a beat down. What looked like a compelling matchup of two of the best teams in the NBA turned one-sided rather quickly in the third quarter. In the final analysis, the Lakers simply were better at running and gunning than the Suns. The Lakers thumped Phoenix 121-102 in front of a sellout crowd of 18,997, and then set their sights on the second part of ..."
Lakers are hotter than the Suns
Comment
November 13
Los Angeles Times
 
"The Phoenix Suns came into town with their flashy record, their rejuvenated point guard and their rekindled run-and-fun offense. The Lakers didn't even care. What was supposed to be a burner turned into a bore, the Lakers yawning and stretching in the fourth quarter of a 121-102 victory Thursday at Staples Center. Still without Pau Gasol, the Lakers (7-1) led by as many as 27 and passed the Suns (8-2) for the best record in the Western Conference. The Suns came into the game averaging a league-best 112.3 points and left with an obvious problem on their hands whenever they play the Lakers. It's about 7 feet tall. Andrew Bynum came back from a two-game layoff and belted the Suns' smallish ..."
Phoenix's big-top antics come to a stop against Lakers
Comment
November 13
Los Angeles Times
 columnist Bill Plaschke
"The NBA's traveling carnival came to town Thursday, tilt-a-whirl breaks and cotton candy shots everywhere. It rolled in here after owning Boston, owning Miami, owning Philadelphia, turning the early season into its own Disneyland. "This is a fun team," chortled the Phoenix Suns Leandro Barbosa early Thursday evening at Staples Center. "We play fun basketball." Then the diamond-studded locals wandered in, wise to the midway and wary of the rides and unimpressed with the barking. Three hours later, the fun ended. Three hours later, the NBA's traveling carnival had been reduced to a collection of creaky metal and cracked mirrors in a church parking lot. Lakers 121, Suns 102, and let's not get ..."
Suns take higher flight vs. Hornets
Comment
November 12
Arizona Republic
 
"Careful not to leave the nest of lowered expectations, the Suns have been like baby birds with hardly a peep about their accomplishments. The Suns' offense took higher flight in Wednesday's 124-104 home win against New Orleans. If they hold on to the NBA's best record after playing at the Los Angeles Lakers Thursday night, greater expectations might be cleared for take-off. The Suns' play continues to dismiss preseason concerns about defense, rebounding, depth and perimeter shooting. They are protecting the home court - 3-0 this season (12 consecutive home wins and a 17-3 home record for Alvin Gentry). They are beating the teams they should beat (5-0 vs. sub-.500 teams). But while the ..."
Suns use 40-point 1st quarter to rout Hornets
Comment
November 12
Boston Globe
 
"Amare Stoudemire and Steve Nash combined to hit all eight of their first-quarter shots and the Phoenix Suns used a sizzling opening period to beat the New Orleans Hornets 124-104 on Wednesday night for their eighth victory in nine games. The Suns (8-1) have the best in the Western Conference and are tied with the Boston Celtics for the league's best mark. Phoenix will face its toughest test Thursday night when they face the defending champion Lakers at Los Angeles. The Lakers are 6-1 and will be playing after three days rest. The last time the Suns had such an enviable record at the start of the season was 1980-81 when they began 11-1."
Hornets guard Chris Paul says ankle OK; will play tonight vs. Phoenix Suns
Comment
November 11
New Orleans Times-Picayune
 
"Even though he was the last one on the floor for Wednesday morning's shootaround at US Airways Center, New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul said his slightly sprained left ankle responded to treatment and he'll play tonight against the Phoenix Suns. Paul tweaked the ankle near the end of the first half in Monday night's blowout win over the Los Angeles Clippers when he inadvertantly stepped on the foot of former Hornets guard Rasual Butler after making a short jumpshot just outside the lane. He played the entire third quarter, but was limping noticably at the beginning of the period, before the ankle loosened up. He and the rest of the New Orleans starters sat out the entire fourth period. ..."
Nash lifts play of ex-Bobcats
Comment
November 11
Arizona Republic
 
"A year ago, Jason Richardson and Jared Dudley were Charlotte Bobcats, unaware of what an elite point guard could do for them and what winning regularly during an NBA season would feel like. That feeling never fully arrived amid a chaotic transition last season to a team with issues. But now playing with a Steve Nash who is fully able to leverage this system's splendor, each is enjoying new successes. Richardson, a go-to scorer his entire career, was uneasy about his place in a system full of scorers when Phoenix acquired him in a December trade. Nash was trying to figure out where to hit his new target. The high-speed connection has been established, thanks to a preseason and a ..."
New Suns are the talk of the NBA
Comment
November 11
Arizona Republic
 
"If these Suns are for real, let us learn from our mistakes. No more giant foam fingers. No Trophy Guy wandering the concourse. No more hating on Steve Nash, ever, and no more toxic comments directed at the general manager. Deal? Already, this reshaped basketball team has become the talk of the NBA, just like it did in 2004. That's when the run-and-gun Suns were formed, a team that sparked a revolution in the NBA. This team is much different. These Suns are gritty, committed and soaring in the power rankings. They have shaken off a suspicious exhibition season full of mixed signals, posting victories at Miami, Washington and Boston. They scored 110 points against the Celtics, almost as ..."
Phoenix Suns going back to the basics
Comment
November 11
Los Angeles Times
 
"The cellphone rang and on the other end was an excited voice. His team had just hung the first loss of the season on the Celtics and in Boston, no less. His team had also just dropped 110 points on the Celtics, who hadn't given up more than 90 points in a game all season. And here was Phoenix Suns Coach Alvin Gentry trying to hide his excitement, trying to be cool. "Yeah, that was a big win for us," Gentry said last Saturday, a day after his Suns defeated the Celtics. "But let me tell you something. Boston is a very good team. We're not in their class. We're not in the same class as the Lakers or San Antonio." Whatever, Alvin. He laughed hard, with that infectious laugh. Gentry has the ..."
5 Suns players on All-Star ballot
Comment
November 10
Arizona Republic
 
"The NBA unveiled the 2010 All-Star ballot Tuesday in Dallas, the host city of this season's All-Star events. The All-Star game will be played at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Feb. 14. Fans can vote for the All-Star team starters at NBA arenas, online at NBA.com and by texting the player's last name to 69622 (MYNBA) from their mobile phones. Fans can cast one text-message vote per day per phone number. Paper balloting continues through Jan. 10, while wireless balloting and voting at NBA.com will conclude Jan. 18. The starters will be announced on TNT on Jan. 21. The ballot lists 120 players - 24 guards, 24 forwards, and 12 centers from each conference. Voters select two guards, ..."
Suns cap trip with win over 76ers
Comment
November 10
Arizona Republic
 
"The NBA standings state that the Suns are the best team in the Western Conference, if not the NBA, considering they have defeated the only other 7-1 team in the league, the Boston Celtics. More evidence is needed to support that superlative, but the Suns' 119-115 victory over the 76ers on Monday night put an end to their weeklong road trip, and some onlookers' doubts. This team is out to change opinions after they missed the playoffs last season, when Steve Nash said the actors in the ensemble were "making a different movie." This might be the rare occasion when the sequel is better, especially with the superlatives that can be stated: • The Suns are 7-1 to start a season for the first ..."
Grant Hill has found the fountain of youth with the Phoenix Suns
Comment
November 10
Orlando Sentinel
 columnist Josh Robbins
"People who wander through the desert hope to stumble upon an oasis. Thirty-seven-year-old Grant Hill plays basketball in the Arizona desert and he's found the fountain of youth. Hill missed 374 games during his disastrous seven-season tenure with the Orlando Magic, but he has enjoyed a career resurgence with the Phoenix Suns. He played in all of the Suns' games last season, and he's played a significant role in his team's strong start this fall. "My daughter gave him the name 'Benjamin Button' last year," Phoenix Coach Alvin Gentry said. "He seems to be going the other way." Hill looked relaxed in his visit to Orlando last week to face the Magic. Working with Phoenix's renowned training ..."
Sixers do almost everything right
Comment
November 10
Camden Courier-Post
 
"Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash looked across the court at the 76ers and saw a young team with a lot of potential. For 3 1/2 quarters, the Sixers had the Suns on the ropes. They led by eight points with 7:40 to go behind young players like second-year forward Marreese Speights and even a solid contribution from 19-year-old rookie Jrue Holiday. Here was the difference, as Sixers coach Eddie Jordan told his players at halftime about the Suns: "This team is smart. They're going to make a run, and they're going to try to control the game. We have to play smarter and harder for 24 more minutes." The Sixers couldn't quite do it, falling 119-115 Monday. Few players are smarter than Nash, who ..."
Sixers battle but fall to Suns
Comment
November 10
Philadelphia Inquirer
 
"The 76ers' lead drifted away slowly, setting like a sun. With each Steve Nash assist, each Amar'e Stoudemire floater, each Jason Richardson trey, the home team's advantage became smaller and smaller until, at the final buzzer, the Phoenix Suns had won, 119-115. Tonight at the Wachovia Center, the Sixers played their best basketball of the season. They led by as many as 16 points and were ahead by 66-54 at the half and 86-84 after three quarters. The sequence on which this game pivoted came with 2 minutes, 30 seconds left. On what looked to be an easy fast break conversion, Sixers reserve Rodney Carney missed a contested layup. Teammate Thaddeus Young grabbed the rebound and overshot the ..."
Nash sparks Suns' rally over Sixers
Comment
November 10
Philadelphia Daily News
 
"IF DONOVAN McNABB had the passing accuracy with a football that Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash has with a basketball, multiple Super Bowl trophies probably would be adorning the Eagles' NovaCare Complex.Nash sliced and diced through the 76ers last night, dealing a Wachovia Center-record 20 assists to go with 21 points in leading the Suns to a 119-115, come-from-behind win in a thrilling game in front of 10,205 fans.Mostly because of the 13-year point guard, the Suns shot 41-for-77 (53.2 percent) from the floor, including a stellar 15-for-30 from three-point range. The Sixers led by as many as 16 during the game, and by as much as eight in the final quarter, but couldn't hold off the ..."
Suns' offense stays hot on road
Comment
November 9
Arizona Republic
 
"The Suns' offensive system can be so good when they run it. Phoenix committed 16 turnovers in the first half of Sunday's game against the Wizards. The Suns still led at halftime but found doing so easier when they cleaned up their act in the second half. A third quarter with no turnovers kept the Suns in control en route to a 102-90 victory. The Suns have started a season 6-1 for the first time since 2000 and are tied for the best record in the Western Conference with the Los Angeles Lakers, who won Sunday night. Phoenix, 4-1 on the road, clinched a winning record on this trip, which ends Monday night in Philadelphia. The Suns are considered flawed defenders and rebounders. But their ..."
Not taking a pass at working together
Comment
November 9
Washington Times
 columnist Tom Knott
"The Wizards already are immersed in self-doubt. They are out of sync and out of sorts, found wanting in purpose and cohesiveness. They are not a pretty sight, whether it is Caron Butler missing three shots at the rim or Randy Foye, inexplicably, making an ill-advised move to the basket before halftime that allowed the Suns enough time to sink a 3-pointer. The latter prompted assistant coach Sam Cassell to give Foye a quickie lesson in time management as the players made their way to the locker room. That snapshot is emblematic of a team that is exhibiting a low basketball IQ and lacks a sense of urgency."
Wizards 'out of gas,' lose fourth straight
Comment
November 9
Washington Times
 
"Gilbert Arenas knocked down a 20-foot jumper in Steve Nash's face late in the first quarter and brought back his old Hibachi move. Palms up, he waved his hands back and forth as if warming them on an imaginary grill, then he ran back down the Verizon Center floor Sunday. Then with 0.8 seconds left in the quarter, Arenas struck again, drilling a 3-pointer. The Wizards had a lead over the visiting Phoenix Suns, and Arenas and his team were in a flow. But neither Arenas nor his teammates were able to continue their production. They cooled suddenly in the second quarter, never heated back up and fell 102-90. "I was just getting into the rhythm of the game," Arenas said. "I didn't play so well ..."
Stagnant Wizards get passed over by Nash and the Suns
Comment
November 9
Washington Post
 
"The Washington Wizards' fourth consecutive loss wasn't punctuated by some postgame tirade, motivational speech or a shattered fruit plate. Instead, the scattered crowd at Verizon Center serenaded the Wizards with boos for the first time this season after watching them lose to the Phoenix Suns, 102-90, in a painful exhibition in which Steve Nash dished out more assists than the home team. Coach Flip Saunders tried his fourth lineup in seven games, inserting Randy Foye into the starting shooting guard spot vacated by the injured Mike Miller. But the final result played out with similar results to the previous three games, with the Wizards (2-5) having more turnovers (17) than assists (15) ..."
Wizards discussed Stoudemire deal
Comment
November 9
Washington Post
 
"When Amare Stoudemire visited Washington in late May, he did a radio interview in which he expressed his "love" for the city and joked that the Wizards "could be a number one jersey away" from a championship. The Wizards attempted to make that happen, as they engaged in trade discussions with the Phoenix Suns about acquiring Stoudemire before the NBA draft, according to multiple league sources. The proposed deal involved swapping the fifth pick and No. 14 pick, with Antawn Jamison and other conciliatory pieces also mentioned in the discussions. The deal reportedly collapsed when the Suns wanted Caron Butler included. The Wizards eventually settled on a package with Minnesota for Mike ..."
Suns not rushing rookie Clark
Comment
November 7
Arizona Republic
 
"Suns rookie Earl Clark is on his first real NBA road trip and is enjoying a run of five stops in seven days more than his teammates. He loves the hotel room service. He got a rush out of facing Orlando's Dwight Howard. He is thankful for the team support he gets. As for how he fits into the daily Suns mix . . . "I'm just clueless," Clark said "I just try to be ready when Coach (Alvin Gentry) calls me because I never know if I'm going to play five minutes or 20 minutes. I always stay focused on the game to see what's going on. I try not to watch it as a fan but as a player, like seeing what a guy likes to do and moves he's making so I can defend him well if I get in." True to the summer ..."
Stoudemire stating his case
Comment
November 7
Boston Globe
 
"Still a pup in the game of life at age 26, Amar'e Stoudemire wears his NBA experience on his face. A bushy beard. A reflective tone. An understanding that these may be his final days in Phoenix. The Suns have tried to trade him in the past. He is toying with the idea of opting out of the final year of his contract (worth more than $17 million) and becoming an unrestricted free agent, joining what is turning into the legendary class of 2010."
Sunburned
Comment
November 7
Boston Globe
 
"The Phoenix Suns played their style of basketball last night. And, for much of the game, the Celtics did the same thing. The result was a 110-103 Suns' victory, ending the Celtics' six-game winning streak to start the season. Steve Nash (12 assists) directed the show and Jason Richardson (34 points, 10 rebounds) played a starring role as the Suns got into their comfort zone, transitioning and firing up 3-pointers (hitting 13 of 24). Phoenix (5-1), in the midst of a five-game road trip and nearly 3,000 miles from home, acted like they were performing before a friendly, sun-soaked, Maricopa County crowd."
Grant Hill too tough to move
Comment
November 7
Boston Herald
 
"Depending on who you ask, Grant Hill either nearly became a Celtic last summer or knew all along that he would remain a Sun. Even the Phoenix swingman, who has enjoyed a late-career renaissance as a Sun, seemed a little unsure of the machinations prior to his team's 110-103 win against the Celtics at the Garden last night. "Man, there was a lot going on at the time," he said. "I was trying to gather a lot of information, trying to sort out all of the teams I was looking at. I was certainly very interested, and it was very flattering to have their interest. "I can tell you that I have a lot of respect for (general manager) Danny Ainge, (coach) Doc Rivers and (owner) Steve Pagliuca, who's a ..."
Cracks in armor create imperfection
Comment
November 7
Boston Herald
 
"In the blink of a game, the undefeated season was lost. A stunned Garden crowd dispersed. Greg Dickerson wept openly. By Monday, kids in the poorer regions of the planet will have "Celtics 82-0" T-shirts to go with their Patriots Super Bowl XLII Champions hoodies. Steve Pagliuca's polling numbers will take a hit. The young and impressionable will turn away in horror when video of last night's 110-103 loss to Phoenix shows up on ESPN. Surely we jest, but evidence of Celtics fallibility was certainly coming. Doc Rivers was a voice in the wilderness as he pointed out shortcomings after each of the first six games/victories. Even when Minnesota shot 52 percent and forced the Celts to sweat out ..."
Jared Dudley an above-par sub
Comment
November 7
Boston Herald
 
"Even when he was the ACC Player of the Year at Boston College, Jared Dudley never had the type of game typically associated with star players. No one skill made Dudley stand out. Instead, it was the sum of all the little things he did on the court that made him successful. With that in mind, it's no surprise that Dudley has thrived as a role player in the NBA. The Phoenix Suns forward is averaging 8.5 points and 3.7 rebounds off the bench, and he scored 10 points in a 110-103 victory over the Celtics last night. "I come in, bring a lot of energy, get up, switch the tempo and bring a spark," Dudley said yesterday morning. "It's always going to take a couple months for me to show the coaches ..."
Celtics 'D' gets burned from too much Suns
Comment
November 7
Boston Herald
 
"Every team has a bad matchup out there in the hinterlands. For the Celtics, that hellish opponent just might be the Phoenix Suns - an athletic, transition-driven unit that last night was immune to the deepest team in the NBA. The Suns, with their 110-103 win at the Garden, sullied the record of what had been the last undefeated team in the Eastern Conference and gave the Celts their first true pause for thought. For the second straight game, the C's went up against an opponent grooved enough to shoot better than 50 percent from the field. And this time that foe accomplished two firsts this season - a win and a 100-point game against the Celts. Kevin Garnett's best offensive night of the ..."
Suns' Barbosa could return vs. Celtics
Comment
November 6
Arizona Republic
 
"The Suns missed Leandro Barbosa's speed in Wednesday night's loss to Orlando, but Barbosa's sore right wrist may be healed enough to allow him to play Friday. Other than testing it out briefly Tuesday and Wednesday, Barbosa has given the wrist four days of rest while sitting out two games. The swelling and pain have been reduced. "If I feel good, I'll go," Barbosa said. "Right now, when I dribble, it feels like something pops in my wrist. The pain is not as bad as it used to be. "I hope I get better. I just want to come back." Suns head athletic trainer Aaron Nelson has Barbosa's wrist in a cushioned wrap during the day and in a protective sleeve while he sleeps. Griffin's debut Suns ..."
Magic's Mickael Pietrus picture of perfect health in win over Phoenix Suns
Comment
November 5
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Mickael Pietrus sat at home Tuesday night as his teammates lost to the Detroit Pistons. He could barely watch the game on TV — not because the Orlando Magic played poorly, but because he suffered from a fever, an aching body and a pounding headache. Twenty-four hours later, he made the Phoenix Suns feel ill. Pietrus woke up Wednesday morning feeling better and told Magic trainer Tom Smith that he wanted to play against the Suns at Amway Arena. He would come off the bench to score 15 points in 27 minutes and help the Magic to a 122-100 victory over the Suns. "I'm feeling better now that we won that game," Pietrus said. "It doesn't matter if I have the flu or how I feel. Every time I step on ..."
Grant Hill advised Jameer Nelson not to play in last season's NBA Finals
Comment
November 5
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Magic fans probably don't want to hear about Phoenix Suns SF Grant Hill advising any Magic player about playing with injuries. But Hill said before facing his old club on Wednesday night that he did speak with point guard Jameer Nelson last season and encouraged his former teammate not to come back to play in the playoffs. "Put that on the record. You can ask him. I told him not to play, just from my own experience," Hill said. "Not so much from a basketball standpoint. Maybe I shouldn't have, because you don't want to plant that seed in somebody before they're going out to play. But I said, 'Look, I've been out there when [I'm] not right and even when you are right, it's a process when ..."
Shots fall in home return as Orlando Magic scorch Phoenix Suns
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November 5
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Sometimes the worst thing for players about the NBA marathon schedule is that there's always another game. And sometimes the best thing for players about the NBA marathon schedule is that there's always another game. In World Series parlance, they can't wait for that next at-bat after a strikeout — or in this case, a flame-out. Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson and Ryan Anderson were eager to jettison the memories of Motown out of their minds from the previous 24 hours. They all erased the taste on Wednesday night at Amway Arena in a collective comeback, helping the Magic beat Phoenix 122-100 and hand the Suns their first loss. For once, this was a blessed back-to-back bounce-back after the ..."
Barbosa sits out with sore wrist
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November 4
Arizona Republic
 
"Suns guard Leandro Barbosa probably could drive past anyone with a hand tied behind his back. But Barbosa's sore right wrist took hits in the previous two games, prompting him to sit out Tuesday night's game against the Heat. "I definitely want to play and be there for my teammates, but I want to be able to do something," said Barbosa, who did not shoot a jumper in Sunday's game. "I don't think I can play with one hand." Barbosa tried passing and catching Tuesday morning, and it "shocked" his hand. His shots were short, and he said he barely could open his hand. His status will be re-evaluated for tonight's game at Orlando. Barbosa sprained the wrist in early September during the FIBA ..."
Heat unable to sustain in loss to Suns
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November 4
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"For more than a month, Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra has extolled the virtues of his team's depth. Tuesday night, it proved to be blind faith. Opening the final period with a lineup that might even be questioned in the preseason, the Heat eventually frittered away what remained of a 13-point lead in what turned into a 104-96 loss to the Phoenix Suns at AmericanAirlines Arena. "It was a little bit of different lineup," Spoelstra said, "but I don't think that was the change." Instead of matching the franchise record with a 4-0 start to the season, the Heat fell victim to the guile of point guard Steve Nash, who sparked Phoenix's comeback and moved the Suns to 4-0. While Heat guard Dwyane ..."
Suns' Barbosa doubtful for tonight at Miami
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November 3
Arizona Republic
 
"Suns guard Leandro Barbosa doubts that he will play tonight. Barbosa's ongoing soreness in his right wrist has worsened recently. The injury originally occurred in early September, when Barbosa was hit while in the air on a driving layup and braced his fall with his hands. He was able to play through training camp and preseason but was still bothered by the soreness, especially on his frequent falls. After a foul on that wrist in the Golden State game, Barbosa had an MRI performed on the wrist. There is a cyst inside it but he was told it is too tiny for surgery. He was fouled again on the wrist in Sunday's Minnesota game."
Suns' conditioning paying off
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November 3
Arizona Republic
 
"The Suns pushed their conditioning last month to prepare for the way they want to play and for the grind of the season, and the players are helped when the staff backs off on practice days, as it did Monday. Suns coach Alvin Gentry believes it already made a difference in the first two of the Suns' three games. But can the Suns run 6,849 miles, the length of this road trip? The Suns begin a stretch of five games in seven nights Tuesday night, when they play at Miami, seeking the third 4-0 start in team history. "We're in better shape than I thought we were," said Gentry, who figures his nine- to 10-man rotations will help maintain the desired pace. "When the game is fun, you don't really ..."