SB Nation Arizona - Heat roll Suns, 124-99https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46593/arizona-fave.png2012-11-06T16:47:53-07:00http://arizona.sbnation.com/rss/stream/33717512012-11-06T16:47:53-07:002012-11-06T16:47:53-07:00 Miami offense looks like Phoenix attack of old
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/782jUu65YsT1pfUL-eoto_Cb2N4=/0x249:2612x1990/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/2789807/155593473.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Mike Ehrmann</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Phoenix Suns got blasted by the Miami Heat on Monday, and LeBron James and crew did it with a nasty pick-and-roll game.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hothothoops.com/">Miami Heat's</a> 124-99 victory against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Phoenix Suns</a> on Monday elicited much negative fan reaction. The Suns are bad, the Heat are good. Phoenix's season will be a long one, and Miami's additions of <span>Ray Allen</span> and <span>Rashard Lewis</span> make them much more deadly than last year's championship team.</p>
<p>But it wasn't the mere dissection of Phoenix's defense that was the thing to watch. It was how they did it.</p>
<p>Seth Pollack at Bright Side of the Sun <a href="http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2012/11/5/3607282/final-score-phoenix-suns-miami-heat" target="_blank">thought the Miami pick-and-roll game look similar to Phoenix's own when Steve Nash was around. </a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2012/11/5/3607282/final-score-phoenix-suns-miami-heat" target="_blank"></a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>They now look an awful like the Suns with their highly efficient, fast-paced pick and roll game. Utilizing a variety of ball handlers and roll men they force the defense to collapse quickly or get beat for a quick bucket in the lane. Even if the rotations are on point, Ray Allen is alone in the corner to drain a three after the ball swings quickly from inside to the perimeter to the open man.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Miami had 65 points by halftime, and it wasn't even very dependent on <span>LeBron James</span>, who cruised to 23 points and hardly needed to take over the game. James put up 23 points and had 10 rebounds in 30 minutes of play.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the Heat torched Phoenix with wide open three-pointers thanks to the pick-and-roll game, hitting 15-of-26 from long range. <span>Mario Chalmers</span> hit all three of his attempts and Allen netted 3-of-4. </p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/phoenix-suns/2012/11/6/3611368/nba-suns-heatKevin Zimmerman2012-11-06T08:18:52-07:002012-11-06T08:18:52-07:00Miami uses familiar offense to down Suns
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/GxcHKMhlsWc57iwjOcjyVN0isgQ=/0x280:2835x2170/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/2758659/155603540.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Mike Ehrmann</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Heat had little trouble taking down the Suns on Monday night, using the same offense that Phoenix made famous years ago.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Phoenix Suns</a> fell, 124-99, to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hothothoops.com/">Miami Heat</a> on Monday night, and the offense utilized by Lebron James and his teammates should have looked familiar to Suns fans. The Heat were using the quick-tempo offense that was was run to perfection years ago in Phoenix.</p>
<p>Seth Pollack of <a href="http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2012/11/5/3607282/final-score-phoenix-suns-miami-heat" target="_blank">Suns blog Bright Side of the Sun </a>noticed the similarities, and says the offense is a change from Miami's typical isolation-heavy looks:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Miami's offense finally seems to be living up to their potential after a few years of stagnant isolation play. They now look an awful like the Suns with their highly efficient, fast-paced pick and roll game. Utilizing a variety of ball handlers and roll men they force the defense to collapse quickly or get beat for a quick bucket in the lane.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The Heat were sharing the ball well, with 32 assists on 47 made field goals. That led to some highly-efficient offense, as Miami hit 53 percent of their two-pointers and 58 percent of their threes. </p>
<p>Phoenix falls to 1-3 with the loss, while the Heat improved to 3-1. The Suns take the court again on Wednesday night as they visit the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/charlotte-bobcats">Charlotte Bobcats</a>. The Bobcats have played just two games so far this season, winning their opener before dropping their last to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Mavericks</a> on Saturday.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/phoenix-suns/2012/11/6/3608836/nba-suns-heatCraig Powers2012-11-06T07:01:03-07:002012-11-06T07:01:03-07:00Heat outshine Suns with 3-point shooting
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/P6N9MoIakHnErwCF3JSaXIYhEu8=/0x594:2920x2541/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/2743763/155593469.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Mike Ehrmann</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Phoenix Suns drop to 1-3 with a 124-99 loss to the NBA champion Miami Heat.</p> <p>It's silly to think that the rebuilding <a href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Phoenix Suns</a> actually stood a chance against the mighty <a href="https://www.hothothoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Miami Heat</a> Monday night near South Beach. The Suns hung in there as long as they could, but the Heat showed the Suns just how much farther -- and how many top-flight players -- is needed to be champions last season and favorites to repeat this season.</p>
<p>The Heat didn't even need <span>LeBron James</span> and <span>Dwyane Wade</span> in the fourth quarter. The dynamic duo sat on the bench for much of that time period after scoring 23 and 22 points, respectively. While James and Wade figured to get their points, the Suns didn't rotate fast enough on defense to keep the Heat from good ball movement and finding the open shooter, in most cases <span>Ray Allen</span>, <span>Mario Chalmers</span> and <span>Rashard Lewis</span>.</p>
<p>The Suns (1-3) were in it for a half though they trailed 24-11 at one point. When <span>Goran Dragic</span> hit a three with 2.1 seconds left in the first quarter, the Suns seemed to be in a good spot. But <span>Norris Cole</span> hit a running 3-pointer from 45 feet out to give the Heat a nine-point lead in what was a sign of things to come for the Suns.</p>
<p>It was 65-53 at halftime.</p>
<p>The Heat made 15 of 26 3-point shots for the game. Already the NBA's top offensive team, the Heat look to be even better than last season now that they've added a pair of proven scorers in Allen and Lewis to go along with James, Wade and <span>Chris Bosh</span>.</p>
<p>That the Suns scored 99 points was more a product of the pace of the game, not their shooting from the field. Phoenix made only 40 percent of its shots for the game.</p>
<p>The Suns have to chalk this loss up to just not being as talented as the Heat. They will be out-manned on the court on plenty of nights against other teams; wins will come from hard work and better defense more than anything else. On Monday, <span>Marcin Gortat</span> turned in his typical double-double that the Suns need from him every night. Same from <span>Luis Scola</span>, who scored 15 points with eight rebounds.</p>
<p>The Suns have to get more from <span>Michael Beasley</span>. After a forgettable opening night performance, it appeared the forward had gotten going, as he scored 16 and 22 points in the next two Suns games. But he regressed Monday with only seven.</p>
<p>The Suns get a chance for a road win on Wednesday against the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/charlotte-bobcats" class="sbn-auto-link">Charlotte Bobcats</a>. We'll see what they've learned from sharing the floor with a champion.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/phoenix-suns/2012/11/6/3608040/suns-vs-heat-someone-got-burned-and-it-wasnt-the-defending-nba-champsJose Romero2012-11-05T20:38:09-07:002012-11-05T20:38:09-07:00LeBron James and Heat coast past Suns, 124-99
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ULoRZ6m9KINzs1X3nw99dmF6jEM=/0x204:2920x2151/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/2739153/155593469.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Mike Ehrmann</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Phoenix lost by 25 on Monday in a game that was just as close as the score indicated.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Phoenix Suns</a> dropped to 1-3 on the young season Monday with a 124-99 loss to the defending champion <a href="https://www.hothothoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Miami Heat</a>.</p>
<p>LeBron James finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds in 30 minutes of play. Dwyane Wade finished with 22 points on 9 of 14 from the field.</p>
<p>Shannon Brown led the Suns with 18 points in 21 minutes off the bench. Luis Scola had 15 points and eight boards.</p>
<p>New Miami guard Ray Allen became the 24th player in NBA history and fourth active player to reach 23,000 points.</p>
<p>The Heat dominated from the opening tip, beginning the game on a 10-2 run. They led 30-16 after the game's first 10 minutes.</p>
<p>Phoenix never led, and the game was never particularly close after the first quarter. At one point in the fourth, Miami led by 30 points.</p>
<p>The Suns play two of their next three games this week on the road: Wednesday at the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/charlotte-bobcats" class="sbn-auto-link">Charlotte Bobcats</a>, Friday at home against the <a href="https://www.fearthesword.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cleveland Cavaliers</a>, and Saturday at the <a href="https://www.slcdunk.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Utah Jazz</a>.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/phoenix-suns/2012/11/5/3607744/nba-suns-heatjlpennington2012-11-05T16:19:31-07:002012-11-05T16:19:31-07:00NBA schedule: Phoenix heads to Miami
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/9nOhqXdLsjcVmYo1__TFlcrC89U=/0x362:3079x2415/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/2727905/20121031_ajl_as8_258.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jennifer Stewart-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>It won't be an easy task for the Suns to get back on the right track after losing to the Orlando Magic. They head to South Beach to take on the Miami Heat. </p> <p>After pulling ahead by as much as 14 over the <a href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Orlando Magic</a>, the <a href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Phoenix Suns</a> surrendered 40 points in the third quarter on their way to a 115-94 loss. <span>Luis Scola</span> finished the game with 24 points and <span>Michael Beasley</span> was right behind him with 22 of his own, but it wasn't enough to overcome the 24 points of <span>J.J. Redick</span> off the bench or the 22 points from <span>Glen Davis</span> or <span>Arron Afflalo</span>. The Suns will try to get back to win against one of the toughest teams to beat in the league, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hothothoops.com/">Miami Heat</a>.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Knicks</a> look to continue their hot start as they travel to the City of Brotherly Love to take on the <a href="https://www.libertyballers.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Philadelphia 76ers</a> tonight. The high flying <a href="https://www.indycornrows.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Indiana Pacers</a> will be in the Lone Star State to face the <a href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">San Antonio Spurs</a> as well.</p>
<p>On Thursday, two of the league's best young teams square off in what could be a NBA Finals match-up. The <a href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Oklahoma City Thunder</a>, struggling out of the gate, will head north to take on the <a href="https://www.blogabull.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago Bulls</a>.</p>
<p>Here's a look at the key upcoming games. For the full schedule, <a target="_blank" href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/schedules/weekly/2.html">head over to SI.com</a>.:</p>
<p>Monday, Nov. 5: Phoenix Suns at Miami Heat, 5:30 p.m. MT, Fox Sports Arizona</p>
<p>Monday, Nov. 5: Indiana Pacers at San Antonio Spurs, 6:30 p.m. MT, NBA League Pass</p>
<p>Wednesday, Nov. 7: Phoenix Suns vs. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/charlotte-bobcats" class="sbn-auto-link">Charlotte Bobcats</a>, 5 p.m. MT, Fox Sports Arizona</p>
<p>Thursday, Nov. 8: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Chicago Bulls, 6 p.m. MT, TNT</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/2012/11/5/3606752/nba-schedule-2012Michael Preston