We start the season against the team that people think are going to beat us in the West, Utah. We have other ideas though. Well, to be more specific, Harms has other ideas with 33 points and 6 assists as we take out the last quarter and the game 104-97. Marshod had 21 points and 9 rebounds but it was Cam who was most impressive with 14 points, 12 assists and 8 rebounds while only taking 10 shots. He was willing to defer often for the best of the team. The Jazz have too much talent on their team if you can believe that and a well timed trade of two good players for one great player could put them over the edge. Gamal Hicks won’t go anywhere though with 22 points, 9 assists, 7 rebounds and 6 steals before fouling out.
Phoenix Suns 1-0
After a 41-12 third quarter our first home game was done and dusted, destroying the Lakers 109-75 behind Harms’ 32 points and 8 assists. It wasn’t all fun and games as Cam strained his knee and even though he won’t miss any games, he’ll be hurting. Everyone got at least 11 minutes which was great for team morale. Nathan Gordon is starting at PG which is a stupidly dumb idea and finished with 13 points and 7 assists.
Phoenix Suns 2-0
Cam is hurting but he’s trying not to show it, playing 28 minutes for 11 points but we got by just the same, beating Denver 110-86. Marshod was our best with 32 points while Darryl filled in for foul troubled Sam with 12 points and 8 rebounds. Scott Dwiggins had 17 points for the Nuggets but they shot 34% from the field which is never going to win any games.
Phoenix Suns 3-0
The Lakers try again to beat us and even though it was closer than last game, it wasn’t close. Harms was fantastic with 28 points and 8 assists as we beat them again 114-101. Marshod helped with 26 points while Pin and Sam added 21 points and 21 rebounds. Nathan Gordon had a better game with 25 points and 10 assists but they just couldn’t keep up.
Phoenix Suns 4-0
Another team to try and claw one back from us is Utah and they have finally tried to play Nathaniel Jackson and Scott Oates together. Sure it didn’t work out that well with Jackson having 25 points and Oates only putting up 12 points but I hope they stick with it. We beat them anyway 129-109 with Harms and Marshod totaling 64 points between them while Pin had a nice game with 15 points and 9 rebounds.
Phoenix Suns 5-0
Marshod went off on Abel Williams with 35 points on only 16 shots as we beat out our old teammates 116-104 and their Indiana friends. Harms had 20 points and 11 assists but shot badly at 4/14. Ish Faye was a star with 29 points and 13 rebounds while Winston and Abel both fouled out. Winston is loving it there in Indiana though, averaging nearly 20 points and 10 assists in this new season.
Phoenix Suns 6-0
Even the mighty Detroit Pistons cannot defeat us as we take the win on their home court 103-88. Harms was again our best with 21 points and 12 assists while Marshod led all scorers with 30 points. Cam is still hurting and going up against an All Defensive First Teamer in Williams Shine it was never going to work as he went 1/7 for 2 points. The centre battle was outrageous though with Jamie McMillian having 26 points and 16 rebounds but only shot 8/24. The reason for that was Sam Russell who, in only 21 minutes before fouling out, had 8 points, 13 rebounds and 9 blocks. Outrageous!
Phoenix Suns 7-0
I know it’s only seven games in but here are some stats on Michael Harmon –
27.0 points, 7.9 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 2.9 A/T ratio, 10.6/16.9 FG or 62.7%, 28.6 PER, 16.1/16.9 drives stopped per game or 95.8% and 29.3 efficiency. Not only is he doing on the board he’s doing it on scoreboard he’s lighting up the advanced stats as well.
He doesn’t let the hype slow him down with 26 points and 14 assists in our 123-101 rout of the Riders. We have a big four tonight as Harms, Cam (23 points, 9 assists), Marshod (21 points, 8 rebounds) and Pin (25 points, 16 rebounds) score 95 points to nearly outscore San Diego themselves. Cliff Havens goes 10/26 for 29 points for the losers.
Phoenix Suns 8-0
Cam’s fully healthy again and showed his pleasure in that fact by mangling the Wolves with 26 points and 8 assists as we win again 109-74. Harms and Marshod help him out with 48 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists as this was done before it even started. Minny was so bad that their leading scorer was Justin Marshall with all of 10 points.
Phoenix Suns 9-0
The next victim in our rampage is Minnesota (again) as we rack up our tenth win with a 104-84 slaughter. Cam had 21 points and 8 assists while Pin is getting very comfortable in the starting line-up with 16 points and 16 rebounds. Derrick Culuko has got another starting gig and is making the most of it with 17 points and 9 rebounds in the loss.
Phoenix Suns 10-0
It’s sad seeing such greats like Jack Dawkins, Kenneth Long and Tiburcio Tommasini suffer so badly in their old age as the Bucks are sitting at 2-11 and going nowhere fast. We heap on some more misery with a 107-87 win as Harms put up 23 points and 9 assists. Cam had a great game with 14 rebounds and Sam went 7/11 for 14 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks. Tony Myers was the best for the Bucks with 21 points while Jack had 14 points and 13 rebounds and Kenneth Long went 3/12 for 6 points.
Phoenix Suns 11-0
We withstand a 19 point, 9 rebound, 9 assist game from Joe Adras to beat the Kings 111-98. Adras might have had a great game but they didn’t have anyone else to back him up. We did with Harms and Cam had 21 points each while Roman put up 11 points and 3 blocks off the bench. Sam’s having trouble keeping out of foul trouble, averaging 4.3 fouls a game after fouling out again tonight.
Phoenix Suns 12-0
Our last game of the month was another win to cap off our perfect month as Marshod had 27 points and 8 rebounds to lead us to a 117-103 win over Utah. Pin added 17 points and 12 rebounds while Darryl went 4/4 for 15 points in 14 minutes. Phil Magnum has become a decent player in his third year with 22 points and 7 assists but was undone by Gamal Hicks’ 4/17 shooting night.
Phoenix Suns 13-0
As you can expect, we’re leading the league but not by much as San Antonio are 7-1 and right behind us. San Diego are in third but a fair way behind us and the Spurs at 10-6. Milwaukee are sitting at the bottom of the conference at 2-12 but have some company in Minnesota at 3-13.
The Hornets have bolted out of the gates in the East at 7-2 but have three teams breathing down their necks with Detroit, Atlanta and Miami all with four losses. Boston are the worst team in the conference at 4-14 which is strange as it’s usually Philadelphia but don’t fear, the Sixers are second last at 4-9.
Phoenix Top Points
Marshod Anderson – 25.5
Michael Harmon – 23.8
Cameron Brown – 15.2
Phoenix Top Assists
Michael Harmon – 8.2
Cameron Brown – 6.4
Jason Collins – 2.8
Phoenix Top Rebounds
Pin-zhen Yuan – 9.8
Sam Russell – 7.5
Marshod Anderson – 6.3
League Leaders
Points – Juia Henchoz (ORL) – 31.7
Assists – Ryan Cornell (BKL) – 16.3
Rebounds – Reggie Smith (NYK) – 11.4
Blocks – Adam Bell (MEM) – 4.6
Steals – Arthimus Smallwood (HOU) – 3.3
Efficiency – Ryan Cornell (BKL) – 31.7
Rookie Leaders
Points – Jabari McPherson (MIL) – 13.4
Assists – Jabari McPherson (MIL) – 8.6
Rebounds – Phil Walker (WAS) – 5.2
Blocks – Brian Forman (IND) – 0.5
Steals – Jabari McPherson (MIL) – 0.8
Efficiency – Jabari McPherson (MIL) – 17.6