3 posts tagged “phoenix suns”
Phoenix -4 vs. Detroit
Two teams that were on different planes a few weeks ago have been streaking in opposite directions. The Phoenix Suns have had trouble winning consistently lately, while the Charlotte Bobcats have been winning more frequently lately. It could possibly be the growing pains for one team has persisted, while the other has grown out of it as these two teams were involved in a six-player swap on December 11th and will meet up for the first time since then Friday night in Charlotte.
Jason Richardson and Jared Dudley were sent to Phoenix in exchange for forward Boris Diaw, guard Raja Bell and guard Sean Singletary. With no clear victor in the trade the result on the court will have to stand as proof and it appears Charlotte (17-25) got the better of the deal as they have won four of their last five.
In their last game, on Wednesday, the Bobcats improved to 10-9 since the trade with a 101-86 home victory over Memphis. Diaw and Bell have been paying off in spades for Charlotte. Diaw is averaging 13.6 points along with Bell’s 12.1 since the trade.
Charlotte looks to continue their momentum, win two straight and defeat Phoenix for the first time in its five year history on Friday. As it stands right now, Charlotte is only 2 ½ games out of the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.
The Suns (23-17) have bested the Bobcats in each of their eight previous games, but have little confidence left after losing four of their last five overall. Phoenix is 10-7 since the trade and is tied with Dallas for the final playoff spot in the West. Many of those 10 victories came early on after the trade. Now the Suns have been struggling as was evidenced in their 114-109 loss to New York on Wednesday.
Jason Richardson, who came over in the trade, did his best to earn his team a victory by posting 27 points against 20 points for Shaquille O’Neal. Richardson has averaged 15.7 points since joining the Suns.
This will be the first matchup of the teams this season. Last year, with a lot of the components of each team’s current squad on the other team, Charlotte lost both games by an average of 23 points.
Portland -4 1/2 vs. Phoenix
The fans in Portland may hold current Suns' coach Terry Porter in high esteem, but he will be vilified if his team can continue its winning ways by beating the hometown hero Trail Blazers Thursday night.
Porter helped the Blazers to two NBA finals appearances in his 10 seasons in the Rose Garden. He now will step into those surroundings as the suddenly surging Suns (15-10) look for their third straight win and fifth win in six games. It was a special few nights for Porter as Monday night his Suns spoiled the return of Mike D'Antoni by beating the visiting New York Knicks 111-103 in Phoenix. Then Tuesday he was honored in the Rose Garden as Portland retired his number 30 while the fans gave him a standing ovation.
While that is a great honor, Porter may be more proud of his team's recent play. Steve Nash scored 21 points as the Suns topped 110 points for the fourth straight games. This is quite an offensive turnaround for a team who averaged 99.9 points per contest through the first 20 games of the season in the transition from D'Antonio's high flying offense to Porter's more balanced attack. The win over the Knicks was all the more impressive considering Shaquille O'Neal was out of the lineup for the second straight game due to a death in his family. O'Neal is expected back for Portland.
Perhaps the legend of Porter helped the Blazers (16-10) in their destruction of Sacramento 109-77 on the night in which the former player was honored. Brandon Roy netted 29 and followed up his career-best game of 38 against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday. Joel Przybilla grabbed 14 rebounds in the game and Portland led in that category 59-38. That is Portland's highest board total since a December 2004 contest against Boston.
The Portland Trail Blazers will look to beat the Phoenix Suns for the first time in 10 games Thursday night.
Los Angeles -4 1/2 vs. Phoenix
It seems it is always a big deal whenever Shaquille O'Neal goes up against the Lakers. O'Neal usually has a lot to say about Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson and the rest of his former, and perhaps, future team. During the buildup to the game O'Neal mentioned that he may like to end his career Laker. Pardon Los Angeles if they did not get very excited since at 8-1, they are doing just fine without him. He went further to say that the trouble that he and Bryant had were fueled by Jackson.
With the Shaq-Kobe-Phil drama the sideshow, the real story should be that the top teams in the Pacific Division are meeting up in Phoenix as O'Neal's Suns (8-4) welcome in the Lakers.
Los Angeles has moved on in the big man world when they acquired 7-footer Pau Gasol last season. Gasol helped power the Lakers through the tough Western Conference into the NBA Finals and is averaging 17.6 points and 10 rebounds per game. Andrew Bynum who was injured through the Lakers playoff run has returned this season as well, contributing 10.8 points and 8.9 boards per contest.
The Lakers suffered their first loss of the season on Friday to Detroit at the Staples Center but was able to bounce back nicely with a 116-109 win against the Bulls. In that contest Gasol eclipsed his season-high of 34 points and Bynum has 18 points, nine boards and three blocked shots.
O'Neal perhaps has done more talking that playing well this season. He has been fined twice this season, totaling $60,000 for hard fouls and altercations. On the court he has struggled at times, including the Suns 109-97 loss at Utah Monday night in which O'Neal had only one rebound for the first time since 1999.
The last time the teams met was the first time that O'Neal met the Lakers in the rival Suns' uniform. Shaq and the Suns lost 130-124. Overall Los Angeles has won three of the last four meetings. Phoenix was winless in both home games against the Lakers last season. This season Los Angeles is the lone perfect road team in the NBA at 4-0, while the Suns are a pedestrian 3-2 at US Airways Center.
