Phoenix (24-3) at San Antonio (22-6)
Preview - Box Score - Recap
Game Info: 8:30 pm EST Tue Dec 28, 2004
TV: KUTP, FxSW Add to Calendar
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The Phoenix Suns will try for their 12th straight victory when they meet the San Antonio Spurs in a showdown of the top two teams in the Western Conference.
The Suns have looked dominant in staking claim to the best record in the NBA, winning 20 of their last 21 games. Phoenix leads the league in scoring, averaging 109.3 points. During its latest winning streak -- it won nine in a row earlier this season -- Phoenix has scored at least 100 points in each game.
Phoenix is just three victories short of the franchise mark of 14 straight, set from Dec. 1-Dec. 30, 1992.
The Suns' 11th straight win came on Sunday, a 106-94 victory over Toronto. After squandering a 20-point lead, the Suns went on a decisive 12-0 run midway through the fourth quarter.
Amare Stoudemire scored 33 points and Steve Nash had 18 and 13 assists to become the first NBA player to register 10 or more assists in 11 consecutive victories.
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Nash also tied a franchise record with 10 or more assists in 11 consecutive games. Kevin Johnson did it twice, during the 1990-91 and 1993-94 seasons.
``That's a huge accomplishment for any point guard,'' Stoudemire said. ``Steve's the best point guard in the league. That's just the way Steve plays. That's his determination. He comes out great every night.''
Nash will be pressed to set the tempo for Phoenix on Tuesday as it will be facing the league's stingiest defense.
San Antonio is allowing just 85.2 points per game and has been holding opponents to just 41 percent shooting.
The Spurs are coming off a 107-90 win over Boston on Sunday. Tony Parker had a season-high 27 points. He shot 11-for-17 from the floor and is shooting 55 percent over the past 15 games. In the Spurs' first 13 games, he managed only 39 percent from the floor.
``I was rushing, you know, maybe forcing a lot of shots,'' said Parker, who signed a $66 million contract extension in late October. ``Now I'm just taking my time and letting it come. The more I am feeling comfortable, the more I want to take shots.''
Devin Brown added 17 points, including four 3-pointers, for San Antonio and Bruce Bowen finished with 15. Tim Duncan had 14 points and 11 rebounds to keep his perfect record against Boston intact. He hasn't lost to the Celtics since they missed out on drafting him in 1997.
The Suns play 13 of their next 19 games on the road. Phoenix is an NBA-best 11-1 away from home.
STANDINGS (through Dec. 26): Suns - 1st place, Pacific Division. Spurs - 1st place, Southwest Division.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Suns - F Quentin Richardson, F Shawn Marion, C Stoudemire, G Nash, G Joe Johnson. Spurs - F Bowen, F Duncan, C Rasho Nesterovic, G Manu Ginobili, G Parker.
TEAM LEADERS: Suns - Stoudemire, 25.6 ppg; Marion, 11.5 rpg; Nash, 11.2 apg. Spurs - Duncan, 22.7 ppg and 12.1 rpg; Parker, 5.7 apg.
2003-04 SEASON SERIES: Spurs, 4-0.
LAST MEETING: March 27; Spurs, 105-76. At San Antonio, Duncan had 14 points and 10 rebounds in just 18 minutes as the Spurs rolled. Stoudemire led the Suns with 20 points but shot just 8-of-19 from the field.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Suns - 11-1 on the road; Spurs - 13-1 at home.
INJURIES: Suns - C Jake Voskuhl (appendectomy). Spurs - F Linton Johnson (ankle); F-C Sean Marks (back); G Romain Sato (knee).
All I know is that I am going to be at this game and Beno and Rasho better show up. If they don't Slovenia better look out. I am liable to go off on them.
If you want to discuss any issue with me, meet me at halftime.
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn gggggggggggg ITTTTTTTTTTTTT.
My prediction:
Suns 105 Spurs 98
Rasho < Amare (but Duncan will probably guard him a lot)
Parker = Nash (Nash more consistant and more assists, but Parker better D)
Manu >>>> Joe Johnson
Bowen = Shawn Marion (they're both so good defensively)
Duncan >>>>>>> Q-Rich
SPurs bench >>>>>>> Suns
So, Spurs have the advantage in 3 key areas: Manu, Duncan, and their bench. They should be able to handle them.
You're a homer.
Rasho sucks
Nash is an allstar
Shawn Marion is an allstar
Amare is an allstar
Suns have a better record and are destroying teams.
Duncan is the Spurs only allstar.
Suns > Spurs.
You've got to be kidding.
Marion >> Bowen. Not even close. Bowen will need help and luck to hold him down.
Amare >>>> Rasho. This one is even less close.
Nash still can't (and won't) defend a fire hydrant, but is otherwise better overall than Parker right now. TP, however, has dominated him for stretches in the past.
Johnson is averaging 15 pts, 5 boards, 3 assists and shooting nearly 50% on 3-pointers. Manu is better, but it's not like it's no contest.
Duncan is not going to be guarding Q-Rich.
The Spurs only decided advantages are their bench and their interior defense. But if they don't come to play transition defense, they're going to get blown away.
Marion is so much better than Bowen, its not close at all. 20 points, 12 reb, 2 blks, 2 stls, 2 ass
I mean I like Bowen but Marion is just amazing, in both defensive prowess and scoring ability. Oh and he is 48% from the field atm.
Right now, I would take the Suns.. But if and a big if Pop decides to pound the ball down low where the Suns still don't have a defined 5 .. It would be interesting to watch.
Guys, that's what they have done against ugly defenses, they are coming to San Antonio...you should be thinking positive instead of negative. The spurs can stop everyone on that team from scoring alot of points, everyone has to step up thought. Like our early streak, we need to defend and run. That's how easy buckets come.
Marion is good, but he's not that good when bowen is defending him. Bowen is smaller and weaker, but I think he's a better defender.
Expect it to be a good game. The struggles will come from both teams since defense and offense clashes are never good. However I do think the spurs will win, your an idiot if you think that the streaks and stats matter on this game. Just look at the teams and make a decision.
The thing is Marion is somewhat of a defensive stopper as well, the suns would be stupid to put him on bowen, he will probably guard ginobilli limiting his effectiveness as well. Bowens D in terms of positioning, and awareness but he lacks marions steals and shot altering/blocking abilities.
Never the less it will be a fun game to watch and one I hope we win.
Can Marion keep up with Manu?
If so, Manu will have a tough game trying to shoot over Marion. However, I think Manu should do fine slashing.
I don't think Marion will be on Manu.. there is no way he can keep up with him...^ answering your question.
It will be bowen on him...that's what I'm thinking. The thing is...the suns will only have 1 person to step up in the game, and more than likely it will be Stat... because he's done it in the past. I don't think Marion will do much of a difference other than the boards.
Shawn Marion is a lot better than Bruce Bowen. A whole lot better.
Steve Nash is better than Parker, but he's not that much better...Don't let Nash's stats, earned playing in uptempo offenses, fool you,...he's not that much better than Tony Parker.
Nash has played with a lot of coaches who loves guard oriented, uptempo offenses...and he's also played with a lot of good scorers...He's not that much better of a PG than Parker...the major difference between them is experience. I gurantee you that Tony Parker can guard Nash a lot better than Nash can guard Parker...
Suns had beaten Phil,NJ,Chi,NO,LAC,Chi,Mil,Utah,Port,GS,Cha,Orl,Wa s,Den,& Dal...(note:no Indiana,no Detroit, or Miami)
lost to;
Minny, Cle, & Sac.
SA had beaten power teams such as Detroit, LAL,Miami,Dallas(2x),others...lost to non-power teams such as Toronto, Orlando, Memphis...
Spurs >>Suns
SeguSpur: Seegu: "You're a homer".
Rasho sucks
Nash is an allstar
Shawn Marion is an allstar Amare is an allstar
Suns have a better record and are destroying teams. SO ARE SPURS!Duncan is the Spurs only allstar.
Suns > Spurs. BS
The Truth = Spurs deeper and just as talented = Parker and Ginobli are everybit as good as Marion and Nash right now. Suns playing a high tempo system that inflates stats = period.
Spurs have almost same point differential despite some close loses. Suns won't know what hit them.
Spurs win easy = Mark it down!!
Defensive matchups only matter in this game from the Spurs point of view. Phoenix has some good defenders, but that isn't their game these days, and they don't want to get into a defensively keyed game with the Spurs. I think they will try to score as much as they can and dare the Spurs to keep up.
You are kidding right? Marion is one of the most athletically gifted players in the league. Very fast, very long and has great hops.I don't think Marion will be on Manu.. there is no way he can keep up with him...^ answering your question.
Have you ever seen him play?
Marion is supremely athletically gifted but I would not trade the verve and under pressure skill that is Manu anytime for him. Marion has disappeared to many times in past in big games - he might be changing but I doubt it.
MadDoc
The Suns play 13 of their next 19 games on the road. Phoenix is an NBA-best 11-1 away from home.
intersting
Say what you want, but the person said Marion could not keep up with Manu, which is bull . Athletically, the one was has to "keep up" is Manu.Marion is supremely athletically gifted but I would not trade the verve and under pressure skill that is Manu anytime for him. Marion has disappeared to many times in past in big games - he might be changing but I doubt it.
When has Marion disapeared? I'm not arguing the claim, but the only time I can remember him peforming subpar was against our very own Spurs in the 2002-2003 playoffs. Considering that he did have Bruce Bowen guarding him not to mention Robinson and Duncan patrolling the baselines which just happens to be his favourite area to operate, his performance wasn't that bad.
Let's just see Marion do it when it counts this year, as I said I may be wrong but to me his game is pure athletism and little else although he has improved his three this year. Also, why could he and Amare if they are so great not lead the Suns last year to at least the playoffs?
Per Manu, he is the man. If unleashed or playing on the team like the Suns Manu could easily average 20+ a game.
Maybe I am a homer, but have you ever heard Barkley yell Marion like Manu? - Manu just has something special - 2 rings, Olympic Gold etc, European MVP and championship etc. Marion may develop but lets not get carried away with him until they actually do something when it counts - ie, in the playoffs.
This will be a great game
I can't wait
Speculation. If unleashed Manu could average 20. Marion does, and has done for a while. Also, he is the best rebounding SF in the league (when he plays SF) and a fantastic defender.Per Manu, he is the man. If unleashed or playing on the team like the Suns Manu could easily average 20+ a game.
I don't want to argue Marion > Manu or Marion < Manu, but to say that Marion cant keep up athletically with Emanuel is stupid. Bottom line.
I am not the one getting carried away.Marion may develop but lets not get carried away with him until they actually do something when it counts - ie, in the playoffs.
That's ok. I will.
Marion < Manu
Wow, informative.
Manu and Marion are both great players in their own way. Marion is one of the fastest and quickest players in the NBA. He can def. keep up with Manu but I don't think Manu will defend Marion or vice versa, very much.
Here is how the opening tip matchups for Phoenix go, in my view:
PF Marion on Rasho
C Stoudamire on Duncan
SF Richardson on Ginobili
SG Johnson on Bowen
PG Nash on Parker
The mismatch is in the size in the post and it will be key for the Spurs to exploit the differential. If Marion and Stoudamire get into some foul trouble, Steven Hunter will need to defend Duncan and Marion will have to slide down.
Outlaw hasn't been playing much but if the Spurs start winning the size matchup, I expect Bo to get some time, to help protect the stars' minutes.
Tough game to call due to the crazy matchups.
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