NBA GAME OF THE WEEK: CELTICS VS SUNS

GAME OF THE WEEK – BOSTON @ PHOENIX 

Sunday 2:30pm PST US Airways Center ABC TV

BREAKING IT DOWN

Funny, just before the All-Star break, Amare Stoudemire was on the trading block, apparently heading somewhere such as Chicago or Portland because, well, because Robert Sarver, owner of the Suns, is nuts and doesn’t have a clue what the hell he is doing. After someone presumably smacked him hard upside the head in order to bring him back to reality, Mr. Sarver realized maybe he’d be better off firing Terry Porter who replaced Mike D’Antoni in the worst way possible, turning their exciting run and gun offense into a slow-down “just throw the ball inside to Shaq” offense to no avail. So far so good as the Suns absolutely destroyed the Clippers in their first game after the break, 140-100 giving new coach, Alvin Gentry, a 1-0 record.

Out with  In with

THE HERO: STEVE NASH

The hell Nash has been through since last year’s mid-season trade for Shaquille O’Neal turned the upstart Suns into a slow-moving dinosaur offense. Then, Nash learns his friend and coach, Mike D’Antoni would not be retained. Not to make things any easier for Steve, GM Steve Kerr then traded two solid, funadamentally sound role players in Boris Diaw and Raja Bell to the Bobcats for scorer (and not much of anything else) Jason Richardson. Then, rumors were swirling that Stoudemire might get traded instead of Shaq and actually, there’s a possibility that Shaq, Stoudemire or Nash would get traded. Sheesh. If only we knew Nash’s pain.

THE VILLAIN: AMARE STOUDEMIRE

Considering how often it seems Amare kind of mails it in on defense and steps it up only on offense, Suns fans, and, I’m sure, teammates as well, are starting to get frustrated and fed-up with Stoudemire’s “me first” game. However, after “praying” that the Suns don’t trade him before Friday’s deadline, Stoudemire has to try to prove to his hometown fans that he really does want to play for them and is willing to do whatever it takes. 5 rebounds is simply not acceptable for a 6-11 power forward that can jump through the roof. Besides, when we’ve seen him put up 30-15 plenty of times, there’s no need he can’t be more consistent with those numbers. Even with Shaq.

THE VET: KEVIN GARNETT

Didn’t think I’d ever put KG in a positive light, did you? Well, normally I wouldn’t being that I’m a Lakers fan and all but in this situation, knowing what I know about my time watching the NBA, Garnett is perfect for the Vet category during this game. If you remember, KG went through some similar notions while with the Timberwolves years ago when Stephon “Starbury” Marbury wanted out of Minnesota because he wasn’t making as much as KG. Yeah, that’s actually not typed wrong. Those are facts. If anybody out there thinks Starbury is insane because of that, just look at what he’s doing now: sitting on the New York Knicks bench doing just about nothing. Only me and most NBA teams would rather have nothing than Starbury.

THE X-FACTOR: SHAQUILLE O’NEAL

Anybody who truly doesn’t like the Big Cactus has issues with the world. How can you not dig a 7-2, 350 pound dude who comes out of his All-Star introduction with a Jabbawockeez mask and begins dancing with them?! Hate his game all you want but hating Shaq is a big no-no in my book since he might just be the most entertaining basketball and possibly sports star of all time. Also, in this game, if he can take care of the inside tandem of Garnett and Kendrick Perkins, the Suns will run away with this game. If he’s slow to his moves and slow to the boards, the Celtics will win. Yep, it’s that simple.

THE SAGE SAYS:

Had the Suns kept Terry Porter on, I’d take the Celtics but since Robert Sarver and Steve Kerr were actually smart and axed Porter in favor of players’ coach Alvin Gentry, I think the Suns will play will be energized for about 2-4 weeks to make their owner and GM think they made the right call. After that, who knows if they’ll maintain their intensity but for this game, I see the Suns winning in Phoenix.

Suns win, 101-94