You’ve heard the slogan “Ignite the Future” as it relates to the Phoenix Suns, but after this Phoenix Suns Retro Diary, you might think the new slogan should be “Ignite the Tank.” We’ll be doing this from time-to-time so if you enjoy this diary, let us know and we’ll do it more often.
7:05 – The National Anthem, when sung live, always gives me goosebumps. Seriously, if you came up behind me and started singing, I’d probably get all bumpy.
No. I will not call him “Plumdog” ever. NEVER. (NBA.com photo)
7:08 – I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — I LOATHE the “Plumdog” nickname for Miles Plumlee.
7:10 – The ref seriously just did a quick tip WWE style. Evil Earl Hebner lives!
7:12 – Tied 2-2. Noticing the Suns really dropping back instead of crashing the offensive glass. The Kings doing the opposite.
7:16 – 11-6 Suns and it’s all Dragic. No…seriously. Dragic has 11 so far and he’s been on the floor three times. He’s tough as a $2 dollar steak (h/t Jim Ross), but that’s not a strategy for long-term success.
7:22 – Kings running an out-of-bounds play that looks like something you learn in 5th grade…straight line and all.
7:25 – Tied 14-14. One second after I ask what Ben McLemore is doing (nothing), he takes it strong to the basket and gets to the foul line. I love his potential, but he’s getting lost offensively out there.
7:27 – I love — LOVE — Markieff Morris having an attitude, when he can control it. He was just baited into a technical by DeMarcus Cousins. Can’t afford to do that.
7:30 – Tied 21-21. DeMarcus Cousins may have gone hiking before the game and forgot to change his shoes. They are that ugly.
7:39 – End of 1st. Tied 27-27. Feels like the Kings should be winning this game. Dragic started hot and kept the Suns going. We’re now doing something strange with Geico and a lizard. Don’t ask.
7:44 – 32-29 Kings lead. John Salmons completely ignored Jimmer Fredette not once, but twice. Surprising to nobody, the Kings got zero points out of it.
7:48 – 37-29 Kings lead. Not having Eric Bledsoe in the lineup really, REALLY hurts the offense. When Dragic has to sit, there’s just nobody there to create.
Great to be aggressive, but he’s really pressing and it’s hurting his game. (NBA.com photo)
7:52 – 42-37 Kings lead. I’m loving Archie Goodwin’s aggressiveness, but he’s really pressing. It’s as if he doesn’t realize how much time he actually has when he’s at the rim.
7:59 – 50-43 Kings lead. Every time I think Miles Plumlee has a chance to be a permanent starter in this league, I watch him play some kind of matador defense that makes Steve Nash look like Gary Payton.
8:06 – 55-50 Kings lead at the half. Gerald Green scored 20 in the first half and is feeling it. You could say he has the….green light. I know, I know. Seriously, though — nobody is going to block his jumper. If he just elevates instead of his constant pump fakes, he’d be much better off.
8:22 – Back from the half and the good play is still in the lockerroom somewhere. Some ugly play through the first minute. It’s like Boogie’s shoes are infiltrating the rest of the players.
8:26 – 55-53 Kings lead. Gerald Green continues his torrid pace, hitting another 3-pointer. He now has 23 on 6-of-7 from the 3-point line.
8:32 – 62-53 Kings lead. The offense has gone stagnant and DeMarcus Cousins is creating space for his teammates. The Suns continue to leave guys wide open at the free-throw line and the Kings aren’t missing.
8:38 – 68-55 Kings lead. Suns current lineup is Ish Smith, Archie Goodwin, Dionte Christmas, Marcus Morris and Markieff Morris. Operation Tank is in effect.
8:49 – 76-64 Kings lead. The lull in my postings was due to a promotion in which they put a larger man (which they called husky) in a medium t-shirt, then asked him to take a halfcourt shot to win a Kia. Dude would NOT have fit into said Kia.
8:54 – 86-68 Kings lead. John Salmons just hit a contested three. I’m going to keep doing this but I’ll be honest — Gerald Green is making jump passes and Dionte Christmas is getting major run. This isn’t turning out well.
9:00 – 89-73 Kings lead. Gerald Green has three points since the Kings took Ben McLemore off of him. Dragic has just six points after his hot start. It’s no wonder they are running out of gas. Back-to-back isn’t an excuse, as the Kings are in the same spot.
9:03 – 93-80 Kings lead. Suns doing everything they can to scrape back into this one. Dragic continues to work hard and the Kings are starting to turn the ball over.
Tucker as a bench guy on a contender? Yeah. Photo Credit: Michael Dunlap, HoopsHabit.com
9:09 – 93-85 Kings lead. P.J. Tucker makes a huge three to get the Suns close, but DeMarcus Cousins does his thing on the other end and gets back to the free-throw line. Crowd is loud for this place being half full.
9:13 – 97-89 Kings lead. Suns in the penalty with 2:30 left. They’re in the “jack up all the 3’s” mode. It worked to get them close, but it’s not going to win them the game. Just as I say it, Dionte Christmas pulls up for three in transition and the ball goes the other way. As I was saying…
9:17 – 102-96 Kings lead. Suns get back into it, force a tough Greivis Vasquez 3-point attempt with time running out on the shot clock…and Goran Dragic taps him on the arm to get called for a foul. All three FT’s are good and the Kings extend to nine.
9:24 – 113-106 Kings win. In the end it was a battle of bad basketball against really bad basketball. The Suns got back into it shooting a ton of threes, but they couldn’t stop Isaiah Thomas and DeMarcus Cousins. When Eric Bledsoe isn’t in the house, it’s Tankapalooza 2014.