HoopWatch

Even though the Phoenix Suns got their butts kicked, 83-105, by the Eastern Conference leaders Detroit Pistons last night, I still believe they passed their toughest week ever, winning two of three games against perennial playoff-bound teams.

Phoenix started their week by routing the Houston Rockets, 103-82, last March 12. Leandro Barbosa, the prime candidate for the sixth man of the year, led the Suns attack as he tied a career-high 32 points.

Then on Wednesday night, March 14, the Suns overhauled a 15-point fourth quarter deficit, and two-time MVP Steve Nash scored the last ten points for the Suns in 55 seconds to force overtime.

The NBA leaders battled thru two extensions, and Phoenix emerged as victors in a highly emotional, playoff-like-atmosphered game.

Amare Stoudemire led all scorers with 41 points and also had 10 caroms. Nash had a near triple-double of 32 points, 16 assists and 8 rebounds.

The Suns may have been emotionally spent by that game, before they went to that Detroit game. They trailed almost the whole game and they appeared exhausted except for Nash. Stoudemire may have 24 points and 15 rebounds, but he also committed a disastrous seven turnovers. The Suns, as a whole, had a disgusting 22 TOs. And they went just 2-of-15 from the three-point line, a very disappointing percentage.

Nash had 20 points on 8-of-9 shooting, but he got no help from the other Suns. They may have drained all their energy against Dallas, that they were unable to overcome a seven-point deficit, which stood from the second canto till the third. The Pistons led 87-72 at the start of the fourth, and never looked back.

The Pistons were hitting from almost anywhere. They shot 8-of-14 from rainbow country. Reserve guard Flip Murray scored a season-high 25 points on 12-of-16 shooting from the field. He played extended minutes, due to the groin injury suffered by starter Chauncey Billups midway in the second period.

Rasheed Wallace added 20 points, including 4-of-6 threes and Chris Webber had 17 for Detroit, who went 5-0 in their Western trip, a very impressive run.

The Pistons dictated the tempo, continually getting the ball to the post, where the bulk of their points came from. They also played tenacious defense, limiting the Suns to their lowest output and their second worst loss of the season.

With the loss, Phoenix went back to being behind by 3½ games to the Mavericks for the league’s best record. They currently stand at 49-14.

The Suns just need to finish off the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night to cap a very challenging week where they would have faced all playoff bound ballclubs. And I know they will bounce back from this horrible defeat and get that win in Denver. (photos courtesy of yahoonba)