Suns Spot
Suns Spot | Oh, No He Didn’t
Posted on 12/31/10 by Chris Coffel » No Comments
Previous week’s games
12/26/2010 Clippers 108, SUNS 103
12/29/2010 76ers 123, SUNS 110
Upcoming week’s games
12/31/2010 SUNS vs Pistons, 7 p.m., Fox Sports Arizona
01/02/2010 SUNS @ Kings, 7 p.m., My45
01/05/2010 SUNS vs Lakers, 8:30 p.m., ESPN
Marcin Gortat had some words for his new teammates following their loss to Philadelphia. Photo by Barry Gossage/Getty Images.
“I think we need to be in the gym every day for three hours, learn the rotations and everything from the beginning. There are so many things we are doing bad and I can’t find an explanation.”
This is what new Suns center Marcin Gortat had for his new teammates after Wednesday night’s embarrassing loss to the Philadelphia 76ers at US Airways Center. He didn’t stop there, though.
“I’m trying to get some rebounds and stops, but unfortunately there is not too many opportunities to rebound because the 76ers are scoring 120-something points. It is just frustrating. It is frustrating as hell; I’m not going to lie. It is a reality check for me, going from a team who is winning to a team who is losing, and we are the worst defensive team in the league.”
Clearly, the Polish Hammer isn’t too happy with how things have gone in his first three games on Planet Orange, and he shouldn’t be. The loss to the Heat is understandable. Losses to lowly teams like the Clippers and 76ers aren’t.
Things need to change and they need to change quickly and it must start on the defensive end. Offense isn’t a problem. Some were concerned the Suns’ scoring would take a big hit with the loss of Jason Richardson, but others have picked up the slack. What is so concerning is how much worse the defense has become.
I realize the team needs time to build chemistry with the new guys on board, but lack of chemistry is no excuse for lack of effort. Allowing 123 points to a Philadelphia team playing without its centerpiece, Andre Igoudala, just can’t happen. (Hell, it can’t happen with Iggy).
Despite the Suns’ defense being absolute garbage (and that’s putting it nicely), the Suns are fortunately still right in the thick of things in the playoff hunt. With 50 games to go, the Suns are a mere two-and-a-half games back of eighth-seeded Portland. There’s plenty of time to turn things around.
Gortat said what needed to be said. He was brought here to help on the defensive end, and he’s quickly making it known that he’s not happy with things thus far. Hopefully, this will be the boost the Suns need. When a player, especially a new guy, rips his teammates, it can go one of two ways: the players respond positively, or they block him out and keep him on the outside.
I can’t imagine these Suns players responding negatively. The Suns get their first crack and righting the ship tonight against the Pistons. If all goes well, the Hammer won’t have to come down again.
Suns Spot | It’s Going to Take Some Time
Posted on 12/24/10 by Chris Coffel » 1 Comment
Previous week’s games
12/17/2010 Mavericks 106, SUNS 91
12/19/2010 SUNS 113, Thunder 110
12/20/2010 Spurs 118, SUNS 110
12/23/2010 Heat 95, SUNS 83
Upcoming week’s games
12/26/2010 SUNS @ Clippers, 1 p.m., My45
12/29/2010 SUNS vs 76ers, 7 p.m., Fox Sports Arizona
It’s been just about a week since the Phoenix Suns pulled off the blockbuster trade that sent Hedo Turkoglu, Jason Richardson and Earl Clark to the Orlando Magic in exchange for Vince Carter, Marcin Gortat, Mickael Pietrus, $3 million in cash and a first-round draft pick.
Last night, when the Suns squared off against the Miami Heat at US Airways Center, two of those pieces, Gortat and Pietrus (Carter missed the game with a sore knee), made their Phoenix debut. The results weren’t so great.
The Suns struggled mightily offensively despite getting many open looks. It just wasn’t the Suns’ night. If you weren’t Jared Dudley, you couldn’t buy a basket. Pietrus and Gortat failed to have much of an impact, but they each showed flashes as to why the Suns picked them up.
Mickael Pietrus takes aim. Photo by Barry Gossage/Getty Images.
Gortat was the main piece of the trade for the Suns. His addition to the Phoenix roster gives the Suns two legitimate centers for the first time I can remember in my lifetime. It’s quite the luxury to be able to have either Robin Lopez or Gortat on the floor at all times.
In last night’s game against the Heat, the Polish Hammer only pulled down four rebounds, however, he seemed to really get in there and fight for every missed shot. On the offensive side of the ball, Gortat only scored four points, but I actually felt like he showed he has more of an offensive game than advertised.
While Gortat’s first game as a Sun was mediocre at best, and even that’s a stretch, there were two things in particular that I really liked. The first was his mobility. He’s actually much faster and agile than I realized. He seemed to get up the court quickly, which will make it easy for him to fit in with the Suns’ style of play. The best thing that caught my eye from Gortat is what happens when he scores. Anytime he scores a basket, the US Airways Center’s PA plays “Hammer Time.” You can’t beat that.
Pietrus’ debut wasn’t much better. He struggled with his shot, missing all four of his three-point attempts. On the plus side, Pietrus kept active on the offensive end, which allowed him to get wide open for those three-point shots. They didn’t fall last night, but he’ll hit those shots. He’s coming back from an injury that has had him out since mid-December and he’s trying to mesh with a new team, so we knew rust would be there.
Defensively is where Pietrus will really make an impact. Even in the relatively brief 13 minutes he played last night, you can see how much of a pest he is on defense. He stays right up in the face of the offensive player and allows him no room to operate.
While last night’s game may not have been the best indication of it, this trade will benefit the Suns greatly. The defense will be much improved and the offense won’t miss a beat (you can disregard the 83 points Phoenix scored last night — that won’t be the norm).
The next four games for Phoenix are very winnable and we should see the debut of Carter. I anticipate these games will give the Suns the chance to work in the new guys and get in a rhythm. Then the push for the playoffs begins.
Suns Spot | To Make a Move or Not
Posted on 12/17/10 by Chris Coffel » No Comments
Previous week’s games
12/10/2010 Trail Blazers 101, SUNS 94
12/15/2010 SUNS 128, Timberwolves 122
Upcoming week’s games
12/17/2010 SUNS @ Mavericks, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
12/19/2010 SUNS @ Thunder, 5 p.m., My45
12/20/2010 SUNS @ Spurs, 6:30 p.m., My45
12/23/2010 SUNS vs Heat, 8:30 p.m., TNT
Twenty-four games into this current NBA season and the Phoenix Suns have certainly been up and down. They currently stand in the 8th spot in the Western Conference with a record of 12-12 and are kicking off a tough three-game road trip tonight in Dallas against the streaking Mavericks.
As of December 15, players that were signed during the offseason are now eligible to be traded. The February trade deadline will get here quicker than people think. It’s soon going to be time for the Suns to decide if they’re happy with what they have this year and move forward as is or try and make a move. This is where things get tricky.
Right now, it’s pretty hard to gauge what the Suns have and what they need. Yes, we know more size, better rebounding and better defense would definitely be ideal. With that said, we are just now seeing our first glimpse of how good this current squad can be with a healthy Robin Lopez in the middle.
The results from Wednesday’s game against Minnesota are encouraging. Lopez had 12 points and eight rebounds in just more than 20 minutes. His defense looked pretty solid, and his sized made it much easier for guys like Channing Frye to grab more boards than normal. So much easier, in fact, that the Suns actually out-rebounded the Timberwolves, who are tops in the league in rebounding.
Is Hedo Turkoglu available on the trade market? Photo by Barry Gossage/Getty Images
Even if Lopez does continue to improve or even exceed expectations for this season, an extra big body would still be a very nice addition. So, if Lance Blanks and Lon Babby decide making a move is in the best interest of the team, the next step would be to figure out what type of move to make.
Many are already saying it’s time to blow things up, trade Steve Nash and start all over from square one. I’m not one of these people. It’s far too early for a bold move of that nature. In fact, I don’t expect that moment to come at all this season.
The bigger question for me is how soon should the Suns make a move. Do they try and make a small trade now by packaging Earl Clark and possibly a draft pick or someone like Josh Childress for a player of Sacramento Kings forward Jason Thompson’s caliber (I’m not saying the Suns could get Thompson because I’m unsure that the Kings would move him to a division foe) or do they hold off until February to see if something better becomes available?
In February, teams become a little more willing to pull the trigger. Especially teams that think they’re just one veteran away from making a run. Maybe this February some team out there will get desperate and feel like Hedo Turkoglu is that veteran. At this point, it’s still too early to tell.
Odds are the Suns will make a move at some point this season, however, it’s highly unlikely that it’ll be a huge trade, since there really isn’t anyone out there that will want Hedo. Jason Richardson could possibly net some talent, but currently he’s too valuable to the team. My hope is Blanks and Babby are able to work some magic and make a small move that has a huge impact.
Suns Spot | Get Out and Watch the Game
Posted on 12/10/10 by Chris Coffel » No Comments
Previous week’s games
12/03/2010 SUNS 105, Pacers 97
12/05/2010 SUNS 125, Wizards 108
12/07/2010 Blazers 106, SUNS 99
12/08/2010 Grizzles 104, SUNS 98
Upcoming week’s games
12/10/2010 SUNS vs Blazers, 7 p.m., Fox Sports Arizona
12/15/2010 SUNS vs Timberwolves, 7 p.m., Fox Sports Arizona
So, the Phoenix Suns are at home facing off against an NBA foe at US Airways Center and you were unable to score tickets. Bummer, right? Not entirely. Thereare plenty of places around the arena were you can watch the game while enjoying great food and drink in a fantastic atmosphere.
Two spots I love in particular are Majerle’s Sports Grill and The Duce.
Majerle’s Sports Grill, located on 2nd Street and Washington inside the historic Fry building (the oldest commercial building in Downtown Phoenix), is always a solid choice. Owned by and named after Suns legend and current assistant coach Dan Majerle, Majerle’s Sports Grill offers a great variety of food and beverages served by a friendly staff.
Majerle's is the perfect spot to cheer on the Suns.
Majerle’s has been serving the Downtown area since 1992 and has built quite the reputation. The winner of multiple awards, including “Best Pre/Post Game Spot” from the Phoenix New Times, Majerle’s is certainly the place to be on game nights. Any seat in the house will guarantee you a great view of the game with the large selection of televisions placed throughout the bar.
Whether you’re looking to grab dinner while watching the game or just have a few drinks, Majerle’s is the place for you. If you are eating, I recommend the ham and swiss panini. It’s delicious!
The Duce is the new kid on block. Located just two blocks south of US Airways Center in a historic brick warehouse, The Duce is nothing like anything you’ve seen in the Valley before.
If you’re looking for somewhere with the in-arena atmosphere to watch the game, the Duce may be just the place for you. With a set of old bleachers from St. Mary’s High School and a large movie theater-style screen on which to project the game, the Duce makes you feel as if you’re actually inside the Purple Palace.
If you happen to get thirsty or hungry while watching Planet Orange take the court, the Duce has you covered with a fine assortment of food and drinks to keep everyone satisfied. Oh, and the food is served out of a shiny silver airstream trailer. Where else are going to find something that cool and unique?
I know what you’re thinking: “The Duce is located two blocks south of the train tracks? I’m not going all there way over there!” No worries, the Duce has got you covered! Just give them a call and they’ll send “Old School,” their 1968 school bus, on over to pick you up. And if school busses aren’t your thing and you would prefer to drive, the Duce also offer free valet parking. Yes, FREE valet parking.
You haven’t any excuses, Phoenicians. Get out, watch the game, and have a good time.
Suns Spot | Third Annual @PhoenixSuns Tweetup
Posted on 12/03/10 by Chris Coffel » No Comments
Previous week’s games
11/26/2010 SUNS 116, Clippers 108
11/28/2010 Nuggets 138, SUNS 133
12/02/2010 SUNS 107, Warriors 101
Upcoming week’s games
12/03/2010 SUNS vs Pacers, 7 p.m., Fox Sports Arizona
12/05/2010 SUNS vs Wizards, 6 p.m., My45
12/07/2010 SUNS @ Blazers, 8 p.m., My45
12/08/2010 SUNS vs Grizzlies, 7 p.m., Fox Sports Arizona
The Suns' third annual tweetup is Friday, December 10 at US Airways Center.
Next Friday, December 10, the Phoenix Suns will host their third annual tweetup presented by Discount Tire when the team faces off against the visiting Portland Trailblazers.
In case you’ve been living under a rock for the last few years and are unaware, a tweetup is an event where people from the popular social networking site Twitter meet up for a gathering.
Fans that purchase tickets to the tweetup get great seats (in group section with other tweeps!) at a discounted price and a free T-shirt. The event will also allow fans to enter US Airways Center early to watch the Suns warm up as well as be part of a “Twitter tailgate” in which fans are able to get food and drink specials at discount prices.
Throughout the game, Twitter contests will give fans the opportunity to win some sweet Suns prizes. The fun doesn’t stop there though, because after the game, fans attending the tweetup will get to join JMZ creator and Suns forward Jared Dudley for a private Q&A session.
After attending last year’s tweetup, I definitely recommend this to all Suns fans. It’s a great chance to meet other Suns fans (some that travel from out of state to make the game) and get the rare opportunity to ask an NBA player your very own question.
While Jared Dudley is the scheduled guest for this year’s Q&A, you never know who else may show up. During last year’s tweetup, former Sun Amar’e Stoudemire was the post-game guest, but surprise appearances were made by Suns head coach Alvin Gentry, broadcaster and Suns legend Eddie Johnson and Dudley. While we don’t know for sure, I’d be shocked if there wasn’t another Suns-related speaker talking to fans after the game.
If there is one Suns game you’re going to attend this year, this is the one. I’ll be there, so come hang out and say hi to your favorite Suns blogger.
For more information regarding the Phoenix Suns third annual tweetup, including ticket purchasing, please visit Suns.com.
The skinny on ‘Skinny’
Be on the lookout for the next issue of the DPJ magazine (out in January), as I will have an exclusive interview with one of the new faces on Planet Orange, Hakim Warrick.
