Grading the Game: Suns 104, Heat 96

Offense:

For the forth straight game the Suns shot at least fifty-percent from the field. The Suns shot 50.6% last night in Miami thanks in part to the second half heroics that the “ageless wonder” Steve Nash (really, who thought he’d be this good?). Nash had 25 of his 30 points in the second half and made an impressively efficient 11-of-15 shots attempted.

Along with Nash, Amare Stoudemire and Jason Richardson’s shooting helped the Suns keep their shooting above the fifty percent mark. Stoudemire had 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting, while Richardson added in 14 points making 6 of his 13 shots.

The three combined for a 22-for-37, 60%, from the field and scored a combined 60 points. The rest of the team shot 17-for-40, 43%, and combined for 44 points.

While it was a tale of two squads when it came to shooting, free throws were an overall team concern (as always Steve Nash you can be excused from this conversation). If you remove Nash’s four makes on four attempts, the Suns shot an abysmal 13-for-23 from the charity stripe. Not acceptable in rec league basketball–believe me I’ve experienced it– let alone in the NBA.

Grade:

B

Defense:

I can’t believe I’m typing this but, I was thoroughly impressed with the Suns’ defense. No one will confuse them for the San Antonio Spurs and they are still flawed when it comes to individual defense but the team effort was impressive against the Heat.

The Suns held the Heat to 40% from the field and kept Dwayne Wade to a season low 23 points. They played their toughest defense in the forth quarter holding Miami to 15 points and forcing them to miss ten of their fifteen shots.

The Suns rotated to the spots they needed too, played great help defense and fought for lose balls all night. Even the newest Sun Jarron Collins contributed down low against the Heat’s Jermaine O’Neal.

Grade:

B+

Rebounding:

Before Monday the Suns had out rebounded their opponents in two of their first three games, Minnesota being the lone exception. They made it three out of four games in Miami.

The team looked solid on the boards as Grant Hill continued his torrid rebounding pace grabbing a team high twelve boards, upping his season average to over ten a game. Amare Stoudemire also strong on the boards finishing with eleven for the night.

Jarron Collins may have only had 2 rebounds but his impact was felt in the second half. His great boxing out of Miami’s bigs allowed Stoudemire, Hill and others to get to rebounds that easliy could have been second chance possessions for the Heat.

Grade:

B

Ball handling:

It’s becoming a pattern. The Suns are scoring a lot of points, racking up a lot of assists but turning over the ball a lot as well. They had twenty-one assists and fourteen turnovers last night. Everyone expects Steve Nash to commit a few turnovers being the primary ball handler. It’s the Suns big men who need to protect the ball better. They accounted for half of the lost possessions on the night (Stoudemire 3, Frye 3, Amundson 1).

Grade:

C

Overall Game GPA: 2.88 GPA

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