Attacking The Boards: Where Atlanta Lost Its First Game

The Phoenix Suns, despite losing their most poignant offensive option this summer, still play the best fast-paced basketball in the league. Steve Nash is so good at pushing the tempo, setting up his offense, getting his players moving and dominating the game with his picture perfect shot. Turnovers and getting everybody back into the swing of things was preventing Nash from distributing the ball as well as he usually does over the first few games of the season but the Suns came out and looked very strong against the previously undefeated Hawks in Atlanta.

The Suns dominated the contest for two and a half quarters, but a barrage of three’s from Jamal Crawford, Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson got the Hawks rolling near the end of the third quarter and clutch baskets down the stretch from Johnson, Crawford and Al Horford nearly got the Hawks an impressive comeback victory. But a pull-up mid-range two from Nash and a beautiful post-up from Channing Frye in the final 20 seconds (the 10 inch smaller Mike Bibby was guarding him) got the Suns the win. The Hawks couldn’t repeat last season’s heroics against the Suns in nearly the same situation as a Joe Johnson drive into the lane produced no positive results.

Nash finished with 19 points on seven-of-11 shooting and had a stretch where nobody could stop him from pouring in jumpers. He also had five rebounds and 15 assists, to just two turnovers no less. Nash also iced the game with four free throws late, capping off his magnificent game.

Last season, the Suns’ role players like Grant Hill and Jason Richardson got their looks by committee. Whenever Steve Nash found them, they got their looks. That plan of attack has continued this season, only there are more touches to go around without Amare. And in this game the balance of the offense was fantastic for Phoenix. Six players scored in double figures and everybody that played had at least six points.
Richardson continued his weekend hot streak by going for 21 points with three triples, Grant Hill had 14 and six, and Hedo Turkoglu had his first really impressive stretch for Phoenix, knocking down three straight three’s before becoming a non-factor down the stretch. Still, he filled it up for a pinch and finished with 11 points, four rebounds and four assists. Not quite the versatility he displayed in Orlando, but he’s adjusting to his role slowly.

The Suns’ bench continued their impressive play in this game as well. Josh Childress had a crucial 11 points and six rebounds in his return to Atlanta (for whatever reason, he was booed) and Jared Dudley played his regular role as an irritant and outstanding hustle player, dropping 15 points on five-of-eight shooting with a pair of AND-1′s while grabbing six rebounds. Also, you’d be hard pressed to find me a more impressive shot maker for a back-up point guard than Goran Dragic who seems to hit big time three’s when his team needs it the most.

Not a bad game for Atlanta, they just took two quarters too long to get their shots to fall. Al Horford and Joe Johnson were just monsters and they ate up a porous Suns defense all night long. After struggling from the field to start the season, Joe Johnson had his best shooting night of the young year, knocking down 15 of his 27 shots for 34 points while adding the usual seven rebounds and six assists. He’s not a max player, but games like this show you why it was hard for the Hawks to just let him go. The motion offense has taken a lot off his shoulders, but he is still relied upon to make big plays and he comes up with good results most of the time.

Horford was even more impressive and his performance so far this season has been masterful. 30 points on 13-of-16 shooting. Yes folks, he missed three shots while scoring 30 points. Mid-range jumpers and a lot of pretty post moves that got him some good looks at the rim. Oh, and he had 10 rebounds, five assists, two blocks and a steal. Horford is playing the best basketball of any big man that doesn’t play for the Lakers right now and it is really a joy to watch. You have to congratulate the Hawks on resigning this guy. He’s good enough to be the cornerstone of a franchise.

Josh Smith was impressive as well, scoring 19 points on six-of-10 shooting with a pair of wide open two point jumpers that the Suns forced him to take. Its not a shot you want him to take when he’s covered, but its good to see him swish that look when its in the flow and the defense is conceding it. Smith added nine boards, four assists and three steals.

The Hawks did have 29 assists to 14 turnovers, but scoring wasn’t easy for anyone other than Smith, Horford and Johnson and a late surge from Crawford wasn’t enough to cover for his very poor start.
I know its early, but Phoenix is not getting a lot of good from Robin Lopez. He only played 19 minutes in this game and in that time he only grabbed one rebound while giving up a lot of easy looks to Horford. Something to keep an eye on going forward.

Written by Mark Travis