Tonight at 7pm EST we get a look at the cream of the Eastern crop in the Boston Celtics as they play host to the Phoenix Suns, in a game that is sure to have all the intensity of a possible NBA Finals preview. 

The Celtics come in with the best record in the NBA at (55-15) while the Suns are coming off a tough overtime defeat to the Pistons and having their 7-game winning streak snapped. 

Tonight the Suns need not only be focusing on the game at hand, but the season at large.  If the Suns get out of the stacked Western Conference this could be the team standing in the way of their first ever title. 

Boston is the #1 rated defense in the league and in the pre Shaq era Phoenix has always been ousted by physical, defensive minded teams.  No matter how gaudy Phoenix's offensive numbers have been over the past few seasons they run into a brick wall come playoff time, and that wall has worn a San Antonio Spurs jersey.  When it came down to grinding out a tough playoff game the Suns were simply overmatched in a 7 game series.  You can't expect a team to display the consistency it takes to win a championship without playing defense.

Continue reading "Suns vs. Celtics a Possible Finals Preview"

During Wednesday night's loss to the Boston Celtics, Suns players and fans could all but join in while the Celtic following made it clear who they thought was the league's most valuable player.  As Kevin Garnett stepped to the line with 6 minutes left in the game, the crowd began chanting M-V-P, and KG preceded to go about business as usual, netting two free throws and then making his way back down the floor on defense. 

Sounds familiar to many Suns fans as they've been inclined to voice their MVP choice at every such opportunity for the two time winnner and Suns point guard, Steve Nash. 

That being said, the home crowd has been rather silent this year as Nash steps to the line, not to mention the fact that his percentage has dipped below 90% this season; we'll forgive him, but for a man who narrowly missed out on adding a third personal trophy to his mantle last season, where is the MVP talk for Steve? 

Continue reading "Amare: MVP?"

On Saturday night the Suns defeated the Nets 110-104.  Not exactly an impressive victory, but with Steve Nash a bit hobbled, suffering from shoulder spasms, the Phoenix big men kept the Suns afloat, and lead them to a much needed win, as every win seems necessary at this pivotal point in the season. 

Shaq took control in the paint and played, as Mike D’Antoni called it, “vintage.”  He finished with 17 points, shot 7-10 from the line, grabbed 7 rebounds, and in typical Shaq fashion, ripped the net off on a dunk attempt, causing a nine minute delay.  Amare Stoudemire added another page to his MVP resume scoring 33 points on 12-15 shooting and pulling down 15 boards. 

The Phoenix win puts the Suns in a first place tie with the Los Angeles Lakers for the Pacific Division, LA holds the tie breaker, and just one back from the New Orleans Hornets for the Western Conference lead and that coveted number 1 playoff seed. 

Continue reading "Suns Within 1 of Top Spot in West, Share Pacific Lead"