SB Nation Arizona - Phoenix Suns vs. New Orleans: Suns fall behind big but rally back for overtime winhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46593/arizona-fave.png2012-11-24T12:16:43-07:00http://arizona.sbnation.com/rss/stream/34479732012-11-24T12:16:43-07:002012-11-24T12:16:43-07:00Did The Phoenix Suns Stumble On A Renaissance?
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<figcaption>Jennifer Stewart-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Two games is a tiny sample size that does not mean the Phoenix Suns are fixed, but they are putting the pieces in the right spots to become the best basketball team they can be.</p> <p>When <span>Alvin Gentry</span> made changes to the line-ups and adjusted the rotation it seemed, at least on the surface, as a band-aid to a larger looming issue with the team lacking a true superstar type player. In this situation the team cannot change the meal they have on their plate, but they can move the sides around the plate and adjust the serving sizes to make it more appealing.</p>
<p>That in a sense is what we all did on Thursday during Thanksgiving and what Gentry did a few days before that moving <span>Shannon Brown</span> and <span>Markieff Morris</span> into the starting line-up.</p>
<p>The team is learning they are about the sum of the parts and not the parts individually. Coming into the season the talk was about how <span>Michael Beasley</span> and <span>Goran Dragic</span> could be stars for the team, even 20+ point scorers on a nightly basis. The talk was pre-mature and proving to be false.</p>
<p>Those parts interestingly enough can be moved around the plate with ease to make the right combination depending on the need or preference. When they need to go small, add some energy, or get tougher they just look across the bench for a substitution as easily as anyone can look across the dinner table and say, "pass the stuffing."</p>
<p>As the season has progressed the parts are becoming more and more interchangeable. On any given night the final five on the court can be different and equally as effective as the previous group. It is not about who starts for this team, more about who is capable of finishing the game at the time.</p>
<p>By no means are these Phoenix <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Suns</a> on the same level as those mid-00's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/">Detroit Pistons</a> teams that were able to play at a high level and win a Championship with nine different players playing 20 minutes a night and balanced shooting down the roster, but they are building off of a similar blueprint.</p>
<p>Now that was a team built around an elite defense and situational scoring. The Suns are not elite on the defensive end, but has gotten pretty good at the situational shooting.</p>
<p>Time will tell if the Suns have one All-Star on their roster let alone the five that the Pistons featured. Again, this is not a comparison, but rather an observation of what this team can be if they gain consistency and the focus required out of their key players nightly.</p>
<p>At the very least the bench is playing at a high enough level to mask the inefficiencies of the starters alleviating the pressure from Beasley who has been struggling this season. He is the wildcard in this renaissance for the Suns and the barometer on whether or not they can break through the top as a team.</p>
<p>Beasley is the closest thing to a star this team has and is not playing at a high level, but his struggles are being masked by the great play of Tucker. The former D-League and EuroLeague player has come in and proved to be a more valuable commodity than two top five picks at his position.</p>
<p>Versatility stretches into the the paint as <span>Marcin Gortat</span>, Jermaine O'Neal, <span>Luis Scola</span>, and Morris are becoming interchangeable parts on both ends of the floor.</p>
<p>Of the four Scola has struggled the most this season, but he plays hard every play and stretches the defense with his 18-foot jumper that is becoming automatic. When someone is not performing they have someone waiting in the wings to come in and take their spot.</p>
<p>That is the evolution of the offense that at one point never played their bench to a unit that has been in the top five of the league over the past few seasons. Gaining consistency and executing will help along the way, which is why playing the likes of the Blazers and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-orleans-hornets">Hornets</a> helps them, but does not define them.</p>
<p>Can they play at this level every night? Yes, that is a will not a skill, but in the end it comes down to how effective can it be against the upper echelon of the NBA, not just those floating just below or just under the Suns at this point in the season.</p>
<p>Don't call it a revolution, but it is a renaissance in Suns basketball, an era defined by depth, execution, and playing well rounded basketball.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/2012/11/24/3685312/suns-renaissanceKristofer Habbas2012-11-24T10:22:48-07:002012-11-24T10:22:48-07:00PJ Tucker drives Suns' OT win over Hornets
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<figcaption>Jennifer Stewart-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>The Phoenix Suns came out on top in overtime versus the New Orleans Hornets, but getting there wasn't easy.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Phoenix Suns</a> defeated the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-orleans-hornets">New Orleans Hornets</a> in overtime on Friday night, 111-108. It was a wild game, with the Suns driving back from a 19-point deficit in the third quarter, then losing their own 8-point advantage in the fourth. <a href="http://www.brightsideofthesun.com">SB Nation's Suns blog Bright Side of the Sun</a> has a full recap up, and it reflects the kind of game it was for Phoenix. They describe the start of the third quarter comeback:</p>
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<p>Then <span>P.J. Tucker</span> and <span>Jermaine O`Neal</span> stepped onto the court. Everything changed.</p>
<p>The Suns became scrappier and played with a passion that had been missing. The energy ramped up noticeably and the Hornets lead was cut to a mere four points by the end of the third, capped off by a three-pointer by none other than Tucker at the buzzer.</p>
<p>At the beginning of the fourth, the Suns tried something new – running a Hornet off the three-point line. It worked! <span>Xavier Henry</span> had to step in and missed the runner. Two possessions later, the Suns took the lead on a three by Dudley, and then a fast-break finish by Scola put the Suns up by three.</p>
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<p>Tucker finished the game with 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting. His plus/minus on the night was plus-25, and O'Neal came out ahead of that at plus-29. The overtime period was "like a pair of prizefighters on their last breaths," says Bright Side of the Sun. The first four minutes of overtime saw only two points scored, a jumper by <span>Goran Dragic</span> that was sandwiched between eight misses, five by Phoenix and three by New Orleans. Things picked up after that, and baskets by Tucker and <span>Markieff Morris</span> put the game away for the Suns.</p>
<p>The<a href="http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2012/11/23/3684148/recap-suns-outlast-hornets-come-back-from-19-point-deficit"> full recap </a>contains even more craziness from the game, so don't miss it.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/phoenix-suns/2012/11/24/3685644/nba-suns-hornetsPete Holby2012-11-23T23:37:24-07:002012-11-23T23:37:24-07:00Don't Call It A Winning Streak? Suns Neat Hornets
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<p>This game paralleled eerily similar to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Phoenix Suns</a> only other overtime game of the season almost down to a T. Just like nine days ago, they got behind by massive margin, and then had to fight and claw back into the game.</p>
<p>So basically the Suns had them right where they wanted them.</p>
<p>"We got behind again, which I wish we could avoid doing, but we have a tendency when we do to tighten up our defense and do a good job. We went from being down 19 to being up 11 so that is a pretty good swing. We couldn't quite close it out. We had a couple of great looks that we could have gotten in that would have extended the lead, but you have to give them credit the way they just hung in there."</p>
<p>As much as Coach Gentry does not want this to be a trend, it is becoming the identity of the team. The second unit just plays with more intensity than the starter because that is what those guys do best.</p>
<p>What he is he going to do, have the bench start for the first five minutes and then run the starters out there?</p>
<p>In this type of game performances need to come from unexpected places, which is exactly what the team got from Markieff Morris, P.J. Tucker, and Jermaine O'Neal. They actually got career nights from Morris and Tucker and a turn-back-the-clock night from O'Neal.</p>
<p>Morris finished with a career high 23 points as he iced the game down from the free-throw line in overtime giving satisfaction to a very strong night.</p>
<p>"My confidence is on another level. I'm playing hard and I feel like my defense is bringing my offense," said Morris. "I just got in the gym. I told you back then when I was missing they would start falling and they are falling now."</p>
<p>That was complimented by an offensive out-burst, another career-high, and an overall great performance from Tucker with 15 points. Those 15 points came in a variety of ways as Tucker nailed two straight threes, got to the free-throw line and is relishing being played off of on the offensive end.</p>
<p>"I love it," exclaimed Tucker after the game. "Cheat off and I am going to shoot it and knock it down. Whatever happens happens, like I said I just play hard."</p>
<p>O'Neal didn't have a career night, he is a former All-Star, but as one Suns employee said after the game, "career high for Morris, Tucker, and the most points from O'Neal in a really, really long time."</p>
<p>Two reserves and a former reserve led the way in a major win before the team hits the road for the next 11 days. Don't call it a win streak, but the Suns have won two in a row.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/2012/11/23/3684544/suns-knock-off-the-hornets-behind-a-pair-career-highsKristofer Habbas2012-11-23T22:41:49-07:002012-11-23T22:41:49-07:00Suns complete comeback, win 111-108
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<figcaption>Christian Petersen</figcaption>
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<p>The Suns won their second straight game, knocking off New Orleans, 111-108, in overtime.</p> <p>Despite trailing by as many as 19 points, the <a href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Phoenix Suns</a> won their second straight game, defeating the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-orleans-hornets" class="sbn-auto-link">New Orleans Hornets</a>, 111-108, in overtime.</p>
<p>The Suns fell behind early as New Orleans jumped out to a 31-23 lead after the first quarter. The Hornets came out shooting well, making 12 of 18 shots in the opening quarter. They cooled off in the second quarter, shooting just 42.9 percent, but the Suns were unable to take advantage. Phoenix cut the Hornets lead to six and the score was 53-47 at halftime.</p>
<p>Things looked bleak for the Suns in the third quarter as New Orleans extended its lead. The Hornets used a 14-2 run to build a 19-point lead, but Phoenix answered right back. Trailing by 19, the Suns went on a 14-2 run of their own to cut the lead back to seven. <span>P.J. Tucker</span> hit a three-point shot as the quarter expired to pull Phoenix within four points.</p>
<p>Phoenix stayed hot to start the fourth quarter, opening the quarter on a 17-2 run to build an 11-point lead of their own. New Orleans, however, had an answer as they clawed back to tie the game with 17.8 seconds to play. <span>Jared Dudley</span> had a three-point shot to win the game in regulation, but missed.</p>
<p><span>Markieff Morris</span> scored four of his career-high 23 points in overtime. The Suns never trailed for the entire overtime period. <span>Roger Mason Jr.</span> had a chance to force a second overtime, but he missed as time expired, and the Suns held on. In addition to Morris, five other Suns scored in double-figures, including <span>Goran Dragic</span>, who finished with 20 points.</p>
<p><span>Ryan Anderson</span> scored a game-high 34 points. Anderson made 8 of 13 three-point attempts. <span>Greivis Vasquez</span> scored 25 points and dished out 14 assists in the losing effort.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/phoenix-suns/2012/11/23/3684540/nba-suns-hornetsMark Sandritter2012-11-23T18:43:31-07:002012-11-23T18:43:31-07:00New Orleans Present Unique Match-Ups For Suns
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<p>The Phoenix Suns (5-7) hosting the New Orleans Hornets (3-7) has lost some of it's luster as a point guard battle with both of the main eventers heading over to Los Angeles in the off-season. Both of them. Now the door is open for the young guys to step out of their shadows, spreading their wings as basketball players.</p>
<p>That will be an interesting match-up with Greivis Vasquez and Goran Dragic running the show respectively now. Vasquez, as Head Coach <span>Alvin Gentry</span> described is a, "a herky jerky" type player and is having a good start to the season. He will have Roger Mason Jr. to lean on now in the starting line-up as he replaces rookie <span>Austin Rivers</span> as has struggled early on.</p>
<p>Dragic has played very well on both ends of the floor, which is something that Vasquez does as well.</p>
<p>This new point guard duel will not have the same panache as the Nash-Paul showdowns. For the most part this will be a controlled, defensive game where the bench and the three-point line will be the determining factor in who inches closer to .500 on the season.</p>
<p>Part of that will be playing with two different styles depending on which unit is in the game at the time. Will they run two different styles depending on the unit on the floor?</p>
<p>"It could be, it definitely could be," said Coach Gentry before the game. "One of the things we try to do is be consistent in everything we do, but I also think as a coach you have to be able to make adjustments. That is what I try to tell the guys all the time, you have to be able to adjust."</p>
<p>Time will tell if the adjustments are for the better or just short-term band-aids on a much larger issue.</p>
<p><b>Starting Line-Ups</b></p>
<p>PG - <span>Goran Dragic</span> v. <span>Greivis Vasquez</span></p>
<p>SG - <span>Shannon Brown</span> v. <span>Roger Mason Jr.</span></p>
<p>SF - <span>Michael Beasley</span> v. <span>Al-Farouq Aminu</span></p>
<p>PF - <span>Markieff Morris</span> v. <span>Ryan Anderson</span></p>
<p>C - <span>Marcin Gortat</span> v. <span>Robin Lopez</span></p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Suns</a> Inactives: N/A</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-orleans-hornets">Hornets</a> Inactives: <span>Anthony Davis</span> (foot)</p>
<p><b><span>Monty Williams</span> on Robin Lopez this year:</b></p>
<p>"He has done a great job trying to anchor our defense. I had no idea he worked that hard and he is growing every day. He is a sponge man, he is playing well. This is a big game for him and we are going to try to win it for him."</p>
<p><b>More Monty on playing the Suns:</b></p>
<p>"I always feel like playing against Coach Gentry you get a team that executes well. He still has a mix of D'Antoni's offense, which is something that Coach Gentry worked under for a few years. They attack you in transition. They run zone a little bit. They have guys who can shoot the ball with Morris and (Marcin) Gortat backing to the basket that is as dynamic as you can get. They are doing a good job."</p>
<p><b>Interesting Stat: </b>December 25<sup>th</sup>, 2008</p>
<p>That was not only Christmas Day in the valley, but also the day Roger Mason Jr, then with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/">San Antonio Spurs</a>, knocked down a game winning three against the Suns as time expired. Of course, it was with the Spurs. GUARD THE CORNER GUYS!</p>
<p><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZzPQBwSWIO0" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/2012/11/23/3683934/new-orleans-present-unique-match-ups-for-sunsKristofer Habbas2012-11-23T12:00:51-07:002012-11-23T12:00:51-07:00Suns vs. Hornets Coverage
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<figcaption>Christian Petersen</figcaption>
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<p>This is a new New Orleans Hornets team, but a franchise that the Phoenix Suns have traditionally had a lot of success against and could have continued success against them with the inexperience that they have.</p> <p></p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Phoenix Suns</a> (5-7) come in "hot" getting a much needed win ending a three game losing streak while the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-orleans-hornets">New Orleans Hornets</a> (3-7) are heading in the opposite direction having now lost five games in a row. This will be the first meeting between the two teams who each had a long summer, intertwined with one another.</p>
<p>Over the summer restricted free-agent guard <span>Eric Gordon</span> flirted with the Suns as both parties were very interested in bringing the star who has been a fringe All-Star for years.</p>
<p>The restricted part of free-agency however meant that the Hornets could match any offer and did so to make sure the prize of the Chris Paul Trade was staying put long term. In the end Gordon has done about as much for the Suns as he has his own team with being out indefinitely with a sore right knee.</p>
<p>For Hornets this team is all about youth with only two players seasoned more than four years in the NBA including former Sun Hakim Warrick. The Hornets youth (average age 24.38) and potential has to make fans of the valley envious, but also excited at the prospects of beating a young, struggling team.</p>
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<p><b>Game Time: 7:00 PM</b></p>
<p><b>TV/Radio: Fox Sports Arizona/ Arizona Sports 620</b></p>
<p><b>Projected Starting Lineups:</b></p>
<p>PG - <span>Goran Dragic</span> vs. <span>Greivis Vasquez</span></p>
<p>SG - <span>Shannon Brown</span> vs. <span>Austin Rivers</span></p>
<p>SF - <span>Michael Beasley</span> vs. <span>Al-Farouq Aminu</span></p>
<p>PF - <span>Markieff Morris</span> vs. <span>Anthony Davis</span> (Questionable: left ankle) or <span>Ryan Anderson</span></p>
<p>C - <span>Marcin Gortat</span> vs. <span>Robin Lopez</span></p>
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<p><b>Key Matchup</b></p>
<p><b>Shannon Brown vs. Austin Rivers: </b>These two have a lot of parallels as great offensive players, but at times overly ambitious shot takers. Over the years Brown has learned his craft putting it out to perfection so far this season while Rivers is still learning on the fly. Rivers has yet to find his rhythm in the league only scoring in double-digits twice this season and shooting 31.2% overall as a high profile scorer coming out of college.</p>
<p>The other side of this, a stat that is not really a stat, is that the Suns have done a good job targeting rookies this season. In three out of the five wins this year a rookie was on the wrong side of a motivated Sun, whether it be <span>Kim English</span>, <span>Dion Waiters</span>, or <span>Meyers Leonard</span>, the outcome tipped the balance in the favor of the Suns. Twice it was Brown lighting up the scoreboard and he has a good chance to do it a third time here against a below average defender in Rivers.</p>
<p><b>Key Stat: </b>37.8%</p>
<p>That is the percentage opponents shoot against the Hornets from three on the season. They have given up 96 total made threes on the season (9.6 a game), which could be huge for the Suns who have struggled from deep this season despite hitting 7 last game.</p>
<p><b>What to Watch For: </b>Will Anthony Davis play? If he does the Hornets have an arsenal of bigs to throw at the Suns making Ryan Anderson that much more potent threat coming off of the bench. The Hornets are clearly building around Davis even at this juncture in his career so game planning for them minus Davis is like any team in the league minus their superstar.</p>
<p><b>Can <span class="sbn-auto-link">Robin Lopez</span> Get His Revenge: </b>Whenever I see Lopez on the court all I think is, "Hulk Smash," and that is something that he will look to do against his former team. The Suns gave him a chance and then shipped him off to make room for Jermaine O'Neal and <span>Luis Scola's</span> minutes this season. Last game out Lopez had 17 free-throw attempts, which was exactly what he totaled in the previous nine games overall.<b> </b></p>
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<p><b>Also: </b>Step up and get your tickets for December Phoenix Suns home games today for <a href="http://www.nba.com/suns/page/black-friday-splash">Orange Friday</a>. When you purchase any tickets for games in the month of December they will be 50% off of face value.</p>
<p><b>The Bench: </b>The new bench brigade has a different look, but so far, through one game, has wielded similar results. Last game they were able to score 46 points collectively and on the season they are scoring 35.6 PPG as a unit. As it seems, no matter the faces, the unit is very productive and brings the energy. The Hornets have one of the most explosive bench units in the league averaging 37.1 PPG having outbursts of 56, 50, and 49 already this season.</p>
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<p><b>For full <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link">Suns</span></span> coverage</b> head over to <a href="http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/" target="_blank"><b>Bright Side of the Sun</b></a>.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/phoenix-suns/2012/11/23/3681920/suns-vs-hornets-coverageKristofer Habbas