Game 7: Portland (5-1) vs Phoenix (2-4)

[SunsRback4Good]

When: 8:30pm ESPN

Where: US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ



Portland Trailblazers starting lineup:

C- Camby
Pf- Aldridge
Sf- Wallace
Sg- Matthews
Pg- Felton

Bench: Batum, Crawford, Smith, Johnson

Phoenix Suns starting lineup:

C- Gortat
Pf- Frye
Sf- Hill
Sg- Dudley
Pg- Nash

Bench: Morris, Warrick, Childresh, Brown

[Kerrsed]

[Stix]

yep.... i think we get wrecked in this one, but we'll see...

105 - 93

[JohnVancouver]

My advice - start drinking early. Like say, about now.

what about this, form hardwood paroxysm: "Let the DeRozan watch begin! With a 5-for-8 night from downtown, DeRozan has made more three pointer this year than he previously had in his entire career combined. Not only that, the formerly ice cold shooter is now absolutely scorching, shooting 62.5% from deep. In related news, his unadjusted FG% is only 47%.

Usually, this would get written off as small sample size theater, but it’s notable because HOLY CRAP HE USED TO BE A 9.6% SHOOTER FROM 3. While this level of shooting is begging for a month-long visit from the Regression Fairy, DeRozan reportedly worked his butt off during the summer to reinforce his shooting mechanics and become more confident in his shooting stroke. If he can be an average shooter from deep, he’ll threaten Josh Childress’ record for largest season-to-season improvement in three-point percentage.*

*In related news, Josh Childress is a record-holder. Josh. Childress."

Say what? He can't be talking about this curent season? I still have hopes for Chilly to show us his stuff, but I haven't seen any big improvement in his outside shot - it's somewhat better but still looks like it belongs in the Special Olympics. Of course, who cares what it looks like if it goes in, but I haven't seen him potting threes particularly.

[RunDogGun]

This will be our toughest game so far. It will come down to our guys hitting their shots. It will be tough to watch KT play against again.

[harshey1388]

I'm all for tanking as well BUT we MUST win tomorrow

[Blackification]

Crawford is going to dagger us again? They might be tired from today but this is going to be a tough one Portland is playing very well. I think felton will have a big game.

[pidi]

this is getting ugly for the suns. to me portland is a real pg away of being a contender. i am impressed from the camby and aldridge combo and wallace realy came up big for them.

lamarcus will school frye and morris and goes for 34 and 12 boards. ugly lose for the suns who will blow it up after this season and trade everyone away who´s contract isn´t expiring after this season, do it sarver, do it, just do it

[raff]

this is getting ugly for the suns. to me portland is a real pg away of being a contender. i am impressed from the camby and aldridge combo and wallace realy came up big for them.

lamarcus will school frye and morris and goes for 34 and 12 boards. ugly lose for the suns who will blow it up after this season and trade everyone away who´s contract isn´t expiring after this season, do it sarver, do it, just do it

Yep, I think LaMarcus has the potential to go off in this game.

[GrantHill]

I think Gortat has to guard Aldridge. Frye has improved his rebounding so he might not get totally detroyed on the boards by Camby. I see a big problem coming if they go small with Wallace at PF and Aldrige at C. And please Alvin Gentry don't put Warrick on Wallace in this case. I'd rather see Childress defend Wallace.

[jcsunsfan]

If any team should consider trading for Nash, its Portland. He would make them really scary. And they have the pieces to spare to pull it off.

[thamadkant]

Blazers do not have point guard problems, Felton is more suited to them than Nash. Felton can scrap it up and be reliable defensively. Nash would make a hole for them other teams can take advantage of.

Their biggest problem is depth for big men. Camby is old, Backups are old too. They need one solid big man off the bench to reinforce their rotation come playoffs.

Blazers is the team outside the Suns I would support, I follow them as my secondary NBA team but Suns way far ahead of course. And they own the Lakers for a few seasons now.

[Cutter]

Nash Wants Suns To Play At Faster Pace
Jan 06, 2012 10:38 AM EST


At 90.7 possessions per game, the Suns' pace ranks 23rd in the NBA and ahead of only New Orleans in the West.

"We would like to get the pace up," point guard Steve Nash said. "We've had stretches where it's pretty good but overall it's not that good.

"(Giving up offensive rebounds) hurts it for sure by spending a fairly good percentage more time on your defensive end."

Dallas grabbed 19 offensive rebounds against the Suns in a 98-89 Mavericks win on Wednesday night but the damage was more to the tempo than by the conversions. Dallas scored only 14 points off those 19 second chances, thanks to the improved defense holding Dallas to 41.8 percent shooting.

"If you give up 20 (offensive rebounds), that's 20 times you don't get to run," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said.



Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/21 ... z1ih5IOnSd

Just so many holes on this team. All I really care about is watching the rookie develop, and see if Lopez can improve enough to be worth something trade wise.

[pidi]

Blazers do not have point guard problems, Felton is more suited to them than Nash. Felton can scrap it up and be reliable defensively. Nash would make a hole for them other teams can take advantage of.

Their biggest problem is depth for big men. Camby is old, Backups are old too. They need one solid big man off the bench to reinforce their rotation come playoffs.

Blazers is the team outside the Suns I would support, I follow them as my secondary NBA team but Suns way far ahead of course. And they own the Lakers for a few seasons now.

true words, after camby and aldridge they only have kurt thomas playing, thats a real problem. give them lopez for mathews

[Cutter]

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2012/01/05/20120105phoenix-suns-playing-unusually-slow-pace-far-season.html

I doubt there will be any changes to the starting line-up for tonights game. However if Frye, Dudley or Hill continue to struggle I can see Gentry putting them on the bench.

Morris takes Frye's starting job at PF
Brown? takes Duds starting role at the 2
Warrick takes Hills job at the 3???

Gentry also suggested that changes to the starting lineup and rotation are possible. Starters Frye (27.9 percent), Dudley (39.0) and Grant Hill (36.5 percent) all have struggled with their shots, making 22 percent of 3s combined.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/ar ... z1ihGHKYwM

[MaryvalesFinest]

Of course an L would be good for a draft pick but I see the Suns winning cause Portland is on a B2B.

[taufblazers33]

good luck to the Suns. you guys have one of the most classiest fans and the environment is very friendly

[JohnVancouver]

Hey, same to you. Thanks

That AZ story brings up two things - one, why did we not go after someone like Reggie Evans, for practically nothing, if we wanted to run? And two - Bassy wants more playing time so he can helpt the team? A case of full body immersion in a certain river in Egypt

PTL by about 15 I think

[Cutter]

paulcoro Paul Coro
Gentry said he'll start the same #Suns lineup for tonight's 8:30 home game vs. Portland & reconsider a change tomorrow.
13 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

Change could be on the horizon.......

[ShawnBronald]

paulcoro Paul Coro
Gentry said he'll start the same #Suns lineup for tonight's 8:30 home game vs. Portland & reconsider a change tomorrow.
13 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

Change could be on the horizon.......

That's what Gentry has been saying forever. Remember last year when he was starting Lopez instead of Gortat? Immediately after the trade he said he'd "consider a change next game." Same thing when he was starting Carter over Dudley. And then finally, towards the end of the season (and after many losses), "tomorrow" finally came and he made a change. I have a feeling the Suns will "make a change" at coach before Gentry makes a significant change to his starting lineup. Just my opinion, though.