Celtics too much for Suns. Boston cruises to easy win in Phoenix

(Photo: AP Photo/Paul Connors) Rajon Rondo scored 32 points on his 23rd birthday and Ray Allen added 31  as the Celtics beat the Suns 128-108  in Phoenix. It was the first loss of under Alvin Gentry for the Suns (31-24) and came against a better Boston (45-12) team.

It began as a was very enterteining game for much of the first half with both teams trying to run and convert every available chance on offense. Then the Celtics took over.

Rondo, Ray Allen and later on Paul Pierce (28 points) had the best of Nash, Barbosa and Dragic, and their suspect defense, for most of the game.
The Suns shot badly in the first two periods (47 percent, 1-of-6 from 3-point range) and played even worse on defense as the Celtics, shooting 56 percent, took a 68-54 half time lead. Rondo had 22 points and Allen added 21 in the first half alone.

The Suns become a very average (beatable if you prefer) team if they fail to score from outside. If opposing defense can close the lanes, protect the basket and focus only on Nash and Barbosa without having to deal with outside shots, everything becomes much easier.
 
While the Celtics begun to run away the Suns failed to give them an answer as a team. Nash tried to respond by himself to every basket scored by Rondo on him thus disrupting the team rhythm on offense. Steve even got nervous with the Officials in the making and somewhat righfully so, I believe.

Barbosa led a short lived Suns come back attempt only to be held back yet again by Rondo and Pierce. Boston took a 13-point lead to the final period and cruised to the end.

Of course, without Amare the Suns rotation was a bit short and some of the forwards need to step up, either Hill or Barnes. If you consider the fact that the Suns guard shot a combined 11-for-30 from the field in the first half.

With both teams missing their inside presence with Stoudemire and Garnett out the game was supposed to be a run and gun affair. While the Suns missed Stoudemire on offense the Celtics were supposed to miss Garnett on both ends. The Suns were terrible from outside for the first three quarters and were ourebounded, and outplayed overall by the Celtics.

“I just thought overall they outplayed us. We didn’t get a lot of calls or bounces – a lot of their shots were going in and a lot of ours weren’t – but I still think the bottom line is they played better” as Nash said after the game.

The Suns went out to run and tried to do that for 48 minutes, even with Shaq on the court. His current role seems to be similar to what D’Antoni had in mind: control the board on defense, make a quick first pass to start transition and play the occasional post up play. Did you see Shaq trailing on the fast break? Gotta love that.

I loved the way the Suns tried to play anyway, as a team. They passed the ball well at times, often going for the extra pass, and tried to help each other on defense as well. Despite losing I still think Phoenix could make a run at the Playoffs in the West.

Next up, a meeting with Raja and Diaw as the Suns hosts the Bobcats on Tuesday night.

Yours truly, Steve Fan

Subscribe to your favorite Phoenix team or sport or Follow us on Twitter.