NBA
Regular Season Round 34: Phoenix Suns - Indiana P. 116-99
Date: December 2, 2014
The Suns were not looking to turn around anything tactical for Tuesday night's game. They admittedly were doing some soul-searching, looking to recapture last season's spirit by asking themselves some questions. The Suns put three questions on their locker room white board after Monday's practice about what being a tough player, playing hard and being a leader mean? Each player wrote their answers but what they did in Tuesday night's 116-99 victory was more eloquent. Against a team with no interest in running, the Suns gave them no choice by racking up 38 points to pass their season high of 24 in the third quarter. The backcourt that clicked to win two-thirds of its games together last season looked like that dynamic duo again, as Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe recorded season highs on the same night to run away from the Pacers. "It's a tough match-up," Indiana coach Frank Vogel said of Bledsoe and Dragic. "They have incredible speed with the basketball." Dragic has recorded season scoring highs in consecutive games in Isaiah Thomas' ankle injury absence. Dragic matched Sunday's season high of 22 in Tuesday's first half and finished with 34, using a mix of fastbreaks, drives and five 3-pointers to resemble last season's All-NBA third-team performer. "The rim looked bigger and bigger every time I took a shot," Dragic said. "it was just one of those nights where you know you're going to make a lot of shots. It was a good game for us, especially because it was a must-win." He made 11 of 15 shots to take the scoring lead for a second consecutive game after not doing so in the first 17 games. Bledsoe followed up Dragic with 21 points in the second half, when the Suns outscored the Pacers 62-43 by turning around their defense to hold Indiana to 36.6 percent shooting. "This game really was easy for us," Bledsoe said. The Suns shot 50 percent, made 12 3-pointers, limited turnovers to 12 and scored at least 26 in each quarter. "Doing what needs to be done, when it needs to be one, the way it needs to be done, whether you feel like it or not," one player wrote on the board in response to what being a tough player means. That seemed to resonate Tuesday night when they had a more consistent, fourth-quarter effort that eventually turned with a 12-0 fourth-quarter run driven by Dragic and Bledsoe for a 106-88 lead with 4:18 to go. "It was a big talks for us all the last two days of having that enthusiasm, having that energy and not working somebody and outworking somebody," Suns coach Jeff Hornacek said. "I think these guys took to heart what we talked about, some of the things they actually talked about, and this is how we think they can play." The question about defining a tough guy also included, "BEING TUCK!!!" the contribution from Tuesday night's new starter – P.J. Tucker. He replaced Marcus Morris at small forward, where Tucker started 81 games last season. He grabbed seven rebounds in 23 minutes while Marcus Morris had seven points and six rebounds in 23 reserve minutes. Following a frequent defensive trend this season, the Suns went from allowing 59.1 percent shooting in the first half to 36.6 percent shooting in the second half. They needed to take better advantage of their home court, where they are 6-4, especially before a trip in which they will be underdogs at Dallas, Houston and the Los Angeles Clippers. Dragic's board contribution to the "playing hard" question was "Don't choose games. Be ready for every game," in reference to losses to losing teams Utah, Charlotte and Orlando in November. Thirteen steals and five blocked shots helped spur fastbreaks but the Suns were running better in numbers anyway. Dragic said the team is in better condition than it was earlier in the season. "Sometimes, we only have the point guard running but everybody was running this time and our point guards were making some good decisions," Hornacek said. Courtesy of: azcentral.com
Terms:
Field Goals : 2PM-A (2 point Field Goal made-attempts) 3PM-A (3 point Field Goal made-attempts) FTM-A (free throws made-attempt)
Rebounds : OFF (Offensive) DEF (Defensive) TOT (total)
Fouls : CM (Committed) RV (received)
Blocks : FV (In Favor) AG (Against)
Other terms : MIN (minutes) AST (assists) ST (steals) TO (Turnovers) PTS (points) RNK (ranking)
Regular Season Round 34: Phoenix Suns - Indiana P. 116-99
Date: December 2, 2014
The Suns were not looking to turn around anything tactical for Tuesday night's game. They admittedly were doing some soul-searching, looking to recapture last season's spirit by asking themselves some questions. The Suns put three questions on their locker room white board after Monday's practice about what being a tough player, playing hard and being a leader mean? Each player wrote their answers but what they did in Tuesday night's 116-99 victory was more eloquent. Against a team with no interest in running, the Suns gave them no choice by racking up 38 points to pass their season high of 24 in the third quarter. The backcourt that clicked to win two-thirds of its games together last season looked like that dynamic duo again, as Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe recorded season highs on the same night to run away from the Pacers. "It's a tough match-up," Indiana coach Frank Vogel said of Bledsoe and Dragic. "They have incredible speed with the basketball." Dragic has recorded season scoring highs in consecutive games in Isaiah Thomas' ankle injury absence. Dragic matched Sunday's season high of 22 in Tuesday's first half and finished with 34, using a mix of fastbreaks, drives and five 3-pointers to resemble last season's All-NBA third-team performer. "The rim looked bigger and bigger every time I took a shot," Dragic said. "it was just one of those nights where you know you're going to make a lot of shots. It was a good game for us, especially because it was a must-win." He made 11 of 15 shots to take the scoring lead for a second consecutive game after not doing so in the first 17 games. Bledsoe followed up Dragic with 21 points in the second half, when the Suns outscored the Pacers 62-43 by turning around their defense to hold Indiana to 36.6 percent shooting. "This game really was easy for us," Bledsoe said. The Suns shot 50 percent, made 12 3-pointers, limited turnovers to 12 and scored at least 26 in each quarter. "Doing what needs to be done, when it needs to be one, the way it needs to be done, whether you feel like it or not," one player wrote on the board in response to what being a tough player means. That seemed to resonate Tuesday night when they had a more consistent, fourth-quarter effort that eventually turned with a 12-0 fourth-quarter run driven by Dragic and Bledsoe for a 106-88 lead with 4:18 to go. "It was a big talks for us all the last two days of having that enthusiasm, having that energy and not working somebody and outworking somebody," Suns coach Jeff Hornacek said. "I think these guys took to heart what we talked about, some of the things they actually talked about, and this is how we think they can play." The question about defining a tough guy also included, "BEING TUCK!!!" the contribution from Tuesday night's new starter – P.J. Tucker. He replaced Marcus Morris at small forward, where Tucker started 81 games last season. He grabbed seven rebounds in 23 minutes while Marcus Morris had seven points and six rebounds in 23 reserve minutes. Following a frequent defensive trend this season, the Suns went from allowing 59.1 percent shooting in the first half to 36.6 percent shooting in the second half. They needed to take better advantage of their home court, where they are 6-4, especially before a trip in which they will be underdogs at Dallas, Houston and the Los Angeles Clippers. Dragic's board contribution to the "playing hard" question was "Don't choose games. Be ready for every game," in reference to losses to losing teams Utah, Charlotte and Orlando in November. Thirteen steals and five blocked shots helped spur fastbreaks but the Suns were running better in numbers anyway. Dragic said the team is in better condition than it was earlier in the season. "Sometimes, we only have the point guard running but everybody was running this time and our point guards were making some good decisions," Hornacek said. Courtesy of: azcentral.com
 INDIANA P. (coach: Rick Carlisle)99 |
| FIELD GOALS | REBOUNDS | FOULS | BLOCKS | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | NAME | MIN | 2PM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OFF | DEF | RB | AS | F | RV | ST | FV | AG | TO | PT | RNK | +/- |
| 00 | HaMMRQU, eIF | 46 | 1-63 (38.7%) | 5-5 (5%) | 4-4 (655%) | 3 | 1 | 65 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 60 | 61 | 5 |
| 33 | Hall, AIlIBIj | 87 | 6-3 (80%) | 5-6 (5%) | 5-8 (5%) | 5 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 8 | -6 | 5 |
| 86 | WRsU, giLad | 89 | 0-68 (36.9%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 65 | 9 | 5 |
| 48 | WiUsIj, C.z. | 80 | 3-9 (09.6%) | 6-8 (05%) | 4-3 (90%) | 5 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 63 | 7 | 5 |
| 88 | CIpRlijd, ChQasUIphRQ | 83 | 8-8 (655%) | 6-4 (44.4%) | 4-4 (655%) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 65 | 0 | 5 |
| 60 | AlIij, gIjild | 84 | 4-9 (38.7%) | 5-8 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 5 | balRs, C.z. | 86 | 0-1 (24.4%) | 6-4 (44.4%) | 3-3 (655%) | 5 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 69 | 64 | 5 |
| 8 | AUuZVRF, eIdjRF | 85 | 4-2 (49.0%) | 6-8 (05%) | 5-5 (5%) | 6 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
| 3 | AZIli, vuas | 67 | 3-9 (09.6%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5-6 (5%) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 68 | 5 |
| 82 | bihajBa, oij | 60 | 8-8 (655%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 5 |
| 7 | eudRJ, giBnij | 8 | 6-6 (655%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 5 |
| 0 | SllRj, viLIF | 8 | 6-8 (05%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 6 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 5 |
| 38 | WhaUUajDUIj, AhiFjR | 8 | 5-5 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| wIUil | 49-98 (06.3%) | 3-64 (45.2%) | 64-69 (91.0%) | 2 | 44 | 36 | 85 | 83 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 67 | 77 | 25 | |||
 PHOENIX SUNS (coach: Jordan Ott)116 |
| FIELD GOALS | REBOUNDS | FOULS | BLOCKS | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | NAME | MIN | 2PM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OFF | DEF | RB | AS | F | RV | ST | FV | AG | TO | PT | RNK | +/- |
| 8 | mlRdsIR, qQaZ | 47 | 65-61 (18.0%) | 6-3 (80%) | 3-0 (25%) | 5 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 89 | 87 | 5 |
| 6 | gQiDaZ, GIQij | 40 | 1-7 (11.9%) | 0-1 (24.4%) | 9-9 (655%) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 43 | 49 | 5 |
| 66 | bIQQas, biQVaRff | 45 | 1-63 (38.7%) | 5-8 (5%) | 4-4 (655%) | 6 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 60 | 68 | 5 |
| 88 | OluBlRR, balRs | 82 | 8-3 (05%) | 5-5 (5%) | 8-1 (44.4%) | 3 | 4 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 60 | bIQQas, biQZus | 84 | 4-0 (15%) | 5-5 (5%) | 6-8 (05%) | 5 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 5 |
| 69 | wuZVRQ, O.z. | 84 | 8-3 (05%) | 5-8 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 6 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 5 |
| 63 | GQRRj, GRQild | 86 | 6-4 (44.4%) | 3-2 (05%) | 6-8 (05%) | 5 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 60 | 9 | 5 |
| 35 | wIllaLRQ, SjUhIjF | 62 | 5-6 (5%) | 6-6 (655%) | 5-5 (5%) | 8 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 5 |
| 86 | vRj, SlRx | 60 | 5-8 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| WiQQRj, w.z. | 8 | 5-6 (5%) | 6-6 (655%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 5 | |
| 85 | GIIdTaj, SQZhaR | 8 | 6-8 (05%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5-6 (5%) | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 5 |
| qjjas, wFlRQ | 8 | 5-5 (5%) | 5-6 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | -6 | 5 | |
| 34 | eijdIlph, AhiLlaV | 8 | 5-5 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 5 |
| wIUil | 46-16 (05.2%) | 68-80 (32.5%) | 62-81 (17.8%) | 7 | 40 | 33 | 62 | 67 | 5 | 64 | 0 | 5 | 68 | 661 | 663 | |||
Terms:
Field Goals : 2PM-A (2 point Field Goal made-attempts) 3PM-A (3 point Field Goal made-attempts) FTM-A (free throws made-attempt)
Rebounds : OFF (Offensive) DEF (Defensive) TOT (total)
Fouls : CM (Committed) RV (received)
Blocks : FV (In Favor) AG (Against)
Other terms : MIN (minutes) AST (assists) ST (steals) TO (Turnovers) PTS (points) RNK (ranking)
