Suns/Magic preview
The Magic (15-7, 8-2 home) look to cool off the hottest team in the NBA, the Phoenix Suns. The Suns are 13-6 and 5-4 road, but have won 10 games in a row, 12 of 13 overall, and 5 consecutive road games. They currently hold the 6th spot in the tough Western Conference. PHO is coming off a 114-84 rout of CHA on SUN. Six players scored in double figures for the Suns, led by Amare Stoudemire with 22 pts 12 rebs. Boris Diaw added 17 pts.
PHO is led by All-Star G Steve Nash, averaging 21 ppg and 11.7 assists. F Shawn Marion averages 20.4 ppg and 9.3 rebs. G Leandro Barbosa 18.4 ppg, G Raja Bell 16.9 ppg, Stoudamire 15.8 ppg and 8 reb, and F Boris Diaw 9.3 ppg. Stoudemire has recorded a double-double in 7 of the last 8 games, while Nash has had 5 games in a row with a double-double. PHO is averaging 128 ppg in their last 5 games, and 112.2 ppg for the year, while allowing 106.3 ppg. The Magic is averaging 94 ppg, while allowing 92.4 ppg.
It's highly doubtful that the Magic will hold PHO to 92 pts, so they better bring their offense with them for this game. Magic have not scored over 100 pts the last 9 games, and 12 of their last 13. PHO has beaten the Magic in 6 of the last 8 meetings. Magic are 1 1/2 pt favorites (www.pinnaclesports.com).
PHO is led by All-Star G Steve Nash, averaging 21 ppg and 11.7 assists. F Shawn Marion averages 20.4 ppg and 9.3 rebs. G Leandro Barbosa 18.4 ppg, G Raja Bell 16.9 ppg, Stoudamire 15.8 ppg and 8 reb, and F Boris Diaw 9.3 ppg. Stoudemire has recorded a double-double in 7 of the last 8 games, while Nash has had 5 games in a row with a double-double. PHO is averaging 128 ppg in their last 5 games, and 112.2 ppg for the year, while allowing 106.3 ppg. The Magic is averaging 94 ppg, while allowing 92.4 ppg.
It's highly doubtful that the Magic will hold PHO to 92 pts, so they better bring their offense with them for this game. Magic have not scored over 100 pts the last 9 games, and 12 of their last 13. PHO has beaten the Magic in 6 of the last 8 meetings. Magic are 1 1/2 pt favorites (www.pinnaclesports.com).
posted by Mike from Illinois @ 4:30 AM
3 Comments:
At 9:41 AM,
Matt said…
Last year we matched well with the high octane offense of PHO and won an exciting game. I am sure with Amare back, although not a force that he used to be, it might be different. Mike is absolutely right that PHO can score in so many ways that Magic cannot afford to be lackadaisical on offense. It is, however, essential to try to limit the output of Nash, Stoudemire and Marion, which is easier said than done. The good news is that Nash is not a bruising PG like Billups who abused all our guards.
I look forward to Big Figure's pre-game assessment.
At 3:42 PM,
Big Figure said…
Three keys to a magic victory.(1)turnovers-this is not the type of team you can turn the ball over against and win the game,their small scrappy and quick and primarily rely on fast break offense,giving them extra shot attempts will only make it tougher to stay with their high octane offense on the score board,the magic must take care of the ball.(2)Pick and roll defense-expect to see the pick and roll a million times,nash doesnt post,so he runs the Pnr to death,none of their wing players post so they'll run it also,our bigs must flash out high and cut of the dribble and our guards cant get lost going over or under their screens,or we'll see alot of open jumpshots and lay-ups tonight.(3)Points in the piant/defense of the paint-the magic must take the ball to the basket,i've been crying out for this for about 2 weeks now because tonights game will depend on it,you cant get into a running game with the suns,you have to be able to defend your own paint and score in their's,they shoot jumpshots whether they are good shots or not so we should be able to make them miss,and the fact that they are very undersized means we should be able to control the boards,why not take the ball to the basket on the other end to put some pressure on nash and barbosa,and at the same time we cant let either one of them get uncontested lay-ups.
At 3:48 PM,
Big Figure said…
If the magic play tonights game the way they've played the last 3,this will be a loss,the magic came out sharp against philly scoring 31 pts in the first quarter,but that faded throughout the game and they only managed about 50 pts the next three quarters,i want to see better second half efforts from jameer,darko and battie,being aggressive and going to the basket.
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