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Game 36: Suns @ Pistons

Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 12:16 am
by NTB
What: Phoenix Suns At Detroit Pistons

Where: The Palace of Auburn Hills - Auburn, MI

When: 5:30 p.m. (AZ)

Watch: FSAZ (Locally) , NBA League Pass

Tonight, the Phoenix Suns (21-14) will take on the Detroit Pistons (15-22) in their fourth game of this five game road trip. The Phoenix Suns are in the midst of a back-and-forth volley of wins and losses over the past five games. The good news is they are due for a win after last night's disappointing loss to the Grizzlies in a game which they were never behind until the last 2:43 of the fourth quarter.

Meanwhile, the Detroit Pistons are coming off a win last night against the Philadelphia 76ers that finally snapped a six game losing streak. They will be looking to continue their new-found winning ways back at home tonight against a Phoenix Suns team who is struggling a bit lately without one of their best players (Eric Bledsoe), and it's other playing with a sore ankle (Goran Dragic). Will the Suns be able to grind out a win against a very beatable opponent on the road tonight?

Probable Starting Line-Ups:

Suns:

G - Goran Dragic

G - Gerald Green

F - P.J. Tucker

F - Channing Frye

C - Miles Plumlee



Pistons:

G - Brandon Jennings

G - Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

F - Josh Smith

F - Greg Monroe

C - Andre Drummond

Injuries:

Suns:

Eric Bledsoe - Out (Knee)

Pistons:

None

Keys to the Game:

Rebounds! - The Suns are facing a big man duo in Drummond and Monroe who are averaging around 20 rebounds a night between the two of them, good for the 7th best in the league overall, and 1st in the league in offensive rebounding.. This has been a huge area of concern for the Suns who are currently 21st in the league overall, and have given up way too many second chance points because of it. The Suns will need a team effort and especially solid games from Miles Plumlee, Channing Frye, and Markieff Morris to keep the Pistons off the glass.
Battle of the Bigs - The Pistons have one of the best big-man tandems in the league with Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe. Drummond is a strong/athletic beast inside and Monroe is a very skilled big man who uses his footwork and shooting from around the paint to do most of his damage. Plumlee/Frye/Morris will have their work cut out for them on both ends of the floor in battling these two. The Suns will also need to use effective spacing and quick passes to create opportunities at the rim.
Tuckered Out - Josh Smith has been on a tear for the Pistons at home lately, averaging nearly 20 points over the past five home games. However tonight he will face the Suns' best lock-down defender in P.J. Tucker. Smith could very well be tonight's x-factor, and If P.J. can help take him out of the game, it should help the Suns secure a much needed win.
Catching Fire - The Suns have floundered a bit offensively without their most dynamic player in the line-up, and Goran Dragic can't do it alone. They will need someone else to step up and have a great game tonight to help the Dragon shoulder the load offensively.


I'm not sure about this game.

Re: Game 36: Suns @ Pistons

Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 12:30 am
by Cutter
We are very average rebounding, and could be in for a rough night if their front line gets going.

Re: Game 36: Suns @ Pistons

Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 12:44 am
by DRK
Drummon is absolutely killing us

Re: Game 36: Suns @ Pistons

Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 12:45 am
by Cutter
Suns looking very flat to start the game. No energy.

Re: Game 36: Suns @ Pistons

Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 12:46 am
by NTB
Lol wow i stopped watching now.We suck without Bledsoe.

Re: Game 36: Suns @ Pistons

Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 12:49 am
by gaspar
Dragic is playing scared

Re: Game 36: Suns @ Pistons

Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 12:49 am
by DRK
Frye is just a hole on defence

Re: Game 36: Suns @ Pistons

Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 12:50 am
by Cutter
I love Frye, but he just cannot move his feet laterally at all.

Re: Game 36: Suns @ Pistons

Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 12:50 am
by SunZel
Frye's lateral quickness is awful.

Re: Game 36: Suns @ Pistons

Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 12:52 am
by gaspar
nice play Keef

Re: Game 36: Suns @ Pistons

Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 12:54 am
by dragic_slo
Green is gonna be again on top 10 plays :lol:

Re: Game 36: Suns @ Pistons

Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 12:58 am
by SunZel
holy crap

Re: Game 36: Suns @ Pistons

Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 12:58 am
by Cutter
Plumlee getting abused.

Re: Game 36: Suns @ Pistons

Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 12:58 am
by grumpysaddle
Well... that got out of hand quickly.

Re: Game 36: Suns @ Pistons

Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 12:58 am
by DRK
And THIS is why I've been preaching that we need another rim protector.

But no... Lets trade for Thaddeus Young

Re: Game 36: Suns @ Pistons

Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 12:58 am
by DirtyDez
Green use your elite athleticism!

Re: Game 36: Suns @ Pistons

Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 12:58 am
by gaspar
Dragic is so passive tonight, on both ends

Re: Game 36: Suns @ Pistons

Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 12:59 am
by NaturalBuns
make this the 6th straight game when we look like a bottom tier team

Re: Game 36: Suns @ Pistons

Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 1:01 am
by Cutter
Uggggly game.

Re: Game 36: Suns @ Pistons

Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 1:02 am
by Sunsss
Remember the last time we played them in Detroit? That wasn't pretty.