Foiled yet again
The opportunity presented itself: Phoenix had a back-to-back, and they decided to save Shaquille O’Neal for Minnesota, presumably a more-difficult opponent. But the Shaqless Suns had more trouble than they expected with the Oklahoma City Thunder, falling behind 31-26 early in the second quarter and still behind late in the fourth, at which point God Steve Nash took matters into his own hands, rattling off bucket after bucket, finally dishing to Matt Barnes to put the Suns up 99-98, and that’s how it ended.
Nash, stopping off at the Ford on his way to the Hall of Fame, had 20 points, 15 assists, and 8 rebounds; the reliable Amare Stoudemire tossed in 22 points of his own, and the Suns shot a respectable 53.9 percent from the floor.
You could argue that Nash played 42½ minutes to pile up all those stats, and he did; but the Kevin Durant Show ran over 44 minutes, in which KD knocked down 29 points. The Thunder won several of the stat categories: rebounds, 40-34; points in the paint, 44-36; steals, 13-6.
Scott Brooks seems to be experimenting with twin point guards. Tonight, Russell Westbrook got the points (15, versus five assists) and Earl Watson got the dimes (13, against two points). With Nick Collison in foul trouble early, Chris Wilcox stepped up for 18 points and six boards. The crowd, back to sellout level, did what it could. Ultimately, though, Steve Nash owned this game. And if the Thunder lost by one, well, you have to wonder if maybe they wouldn’t have lost by thirty-one under the previous regime.
And now, it’s off to Cleveland, where King James will wreak havoc.
Flack »
26 November 2008 · 2:56 pm
I think the Oklahoman summed it up: fans were disappointed, but not disgusted.
Losing’s one thing, being repeatedly publicly pummeled is another.