Suns fail to show up in Chicago

On a typical NBA road trip, like this 4-game on 6 days, a team will have at least one awful performance, one game that you basically know you’ll be losing the minute you enter the floor.

That was the case last night in Chicago as first pick Derrik Rose (18 points and 6 assists) and Ben Gordon (23 points) led the Bulls past the Suns 100-83.  It was 48-34 at the half but the Suns were out of it much earlier; they played the worst game of the year, or better yet, more or less failed to show up.

Phoenix was playing without Shaq - Why rest him against the Bulls when you could have done it in New Jersey or in Milwaukee tonight? - and Matt Barnes - Congratulations for the new twin babies ! . Suns were simply awful as they commited 18 turnovers and were outrebounded 47-33 by the Bulls.

In the end the game gave Coach Porter a chance to rest some of his starters in the final period as the Suns ended a promising 3-game winning streak. “It was disappointing. The way we started this game, we just didn’t seem to have the fire tonight“ concluded the Coach after the worst game of the year. 

Stoudemire led the Suns with 26 points while Robin Lopez (AP Photo/Paul Beaty), in his first NBA start, added 14 points and 7 assists.  

One last comment from Vinny Del Negro: “For whatever reason, we were moving the basketball, guys knowing their roles“; I can’t recall a coach telling the press the team played well by chance. Hey Vinny, you’re supposed to be in control there. I guess being a new coach you never know what to expect.

The Suns (4-2) are now expected to complete the road trip on a better note as they face the Bucks tonight (6:30 PM) in Milwaukee.

Yours truly, Steve Fan

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