No More Tricks From The Magic: Suns Sweep Series 107-101

The Phoenix Suns held strong to their lead on Saturday as the Orlando Magic mounted a comeback in the second half but Boris Diaw provided too much for the visitors who dropped the season series with a 107-101 Suns win.

It was another installment of the Battle of the Bigs as Amare went toe to toe with Dwight Howard for the second time this season. The last match was all Amare and Saturday night they continually went at each other.

Each man was trying to establish position in the post on the other but neither wanted to concede. The result, for the most part the two men basically cancelled each other out. Neither had their customary huge nights but the difference was Amare's defense.

Amare held Howard to 10pts and five rebounds on 5-12 shooting and kept him off the charity stripe, where Dwight ended up 0-2. Offensively, Amare was 5-8 shooting and managed to pull a double-double of 12pts 10 rebounds. Amare wins again.

It almost looks as if Dwight is intimidated by Amare's presence.



Shawn Marion took a page from the Gilbert Arenas playbook because his defensive swag was simply phenomenal. Shawn was active all night, guarding numerous different players and snatching five steals. Offensively he was his usual all-star self but the inbounds play with .8 seconds left was pogolicious. Who else but Shawn could jump high enough to corral the lofty inbounds pass and pogo-jump fast enough to get the shot off within .8 seconds to beat the buzzer at the half? Shawn Marion is a special player.

I have to give credit to Jameer Nelson and the Magic for furiously storming back into the game after the Suns just rolled over them most of the night. They never gave up and were within three in the final minutes of the game.

They made some bad plays down the stretch at a point when we weren't able to score either. Still, the better team won behind the confidence to close out games.

The Suns customarily had six players in double figures, led by Steve Nash with 23. But, the player of the night was Boris Diaw who played with a ton of energy and was one rebound short of a triple-double.

19pts 11asts 9reb was the stat line on 9 of 12 shooting from a cache of offensive weapons. Boris has all the tools to be a big time scorer in the league. The prettiest play all night was when Boris took a full head of steam to the left block and in one motion easily shook his defender with a classy fake pass and then dropped in the baby hook.



Boris will be an all star in the coming few years.

He makes the right decision on 9 out of 10 plays. He plays like Jason Kidd but more fluid and more offense. I don't think he has found his stride just yet but he could average a triple double if he wanted to. I think that because the Suns have so much firepower he hasn't had to step up and he's concentrating on ball movement and getting a win. On a night when Amare had his hands full, Boris took over. We're winning (nine straight) and all is well.