The game started out like the last few, with Phoenix falling way behind early behind hot shooting from AI. In the 2nd quarter, Phoenix was already down 18, and by halftime Melo and AI had combined for 36 points. But, midway throught the 2nd quarter, Raja Bell gave a hard foul to Linus Kleiza and drew a Flagrant Foul. Replays showed a hard foul, not a flagrant foul, but it seemed to ignite the Suns who closed out the half with a 15 -6 run, and ended up down only 5.
Presciently, we predicted that field goal % would determine the outcome, and that bore out as Phoenix shot 55% and Denver only 47%. A few other stats from the box score:
- Melo had a KG-like stat line with 32 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and only 1 turnover
- Pheonix had 30 assists, and Denver only 12
- Amare Stoudemire shoots only 1 free throw, and played only 28 minutes
None of that really tells the whole story. I was amazed to read this morning that Shawn Marion was a little peeved. "It's the first time in a long while that I've touched the ball a lot and gotten into the offensive flow...You can't score without the ball." In retrospect, I've seen Nash look for Stoudemire and Barbosa more, and the back-door stuff hasn't been there so much for Marion. At the same time, it sounds like sour grapes. This team doesn't run set plays for people, they execute in a flow and if he's not in the flow then it's not entirely everyone else's fault.
D'Antoni didn't seem to buy it, though, "If he supplies the energy we'll supply the possibilities on the floor". The beginnings of locker room discord? Let's hope not. I trust the MVP to get them on the same page, even if he has to look for Marion a little more.
For all the complaints about Shawn Marion I wish he were back on the Suns now. They need his energy and defense.
Posted by: arizona bankruptcy attorney | April 16, 2009 at 06:27 PM