Steve Nash has released a video endorsing gay marriage. There has been a lot on this topic recently about gays in sports, especially after Phoenix Suns president and CEO Rick Welts’ revealing he is gay, its good to know that there are NBA players who are on their side.

Charles Barkley recently said he knows he played with gay players, and emphasize this stance in identifying that he himself being a minority, it would do a great disservice to his own cause to criticize some one else.

Barkley had this to say  in an interview on ESPN radio interview:

Any professional athlete who gets on TV or radio and says he never played with a gay guy is a stone-freakin’ idiot,’ Barkley said. ‘I would even say the same thing in college. Every college player, every pro player in any sport has probably played with a gay person.
I find it refreshing and inspiring that players are backing this. Sexual orientation has little impact whatsoever on your ability to play basketball, so why discourage and possibly dilute the talent pool with fear mongering and hatred, based out of basically fearing something you do not understand.

Good for you Steve Nash, and Charles Barkley, way to be vocal leaders and ambassadors for things that matter in life, on and off the court.

It will be nice when we can one day live in a world where we do not care about sexuality, but care more so about winning together in the game of life.

Ironically as I was checking up on game 4 of the Western Conference Finals the Beatle’s song “Here Comes the Sun” was playing on my computer. I couldn’t imagine a better song coincidentally playing while Phoenix gave the Lakers all they could handle awhile evening the series to 2-2 tie.

I guess what really substantiates this series will be if either team can step up and win on the road. I know it sounds cliche, but in what I consider this years playoffs to be one of the largest snooze fests in NBA playoff history, and this post season could use a big road win to make things lively again for the first time since round 1.

Based on games 1 and 2 at the Staple Center, it seems somewhat unlikely that the Suns can win there, but they have to win there if they want to advance. I hope they win there, for the sake of the NBA playoffs having a resurgence, revival, and possibly again have a pulse.

Kobe, wanna play game 5 here????

When analyzing games 3 and 4 it seems to be the exact scenario for the Lakers in US Airways Arena. Kobe Bryant put up insane numbers, and absolutely dominated but his insatiable appetite for individual statistical greatness didn’t amount to a Lakers victory.

The glaring discrepancy: Lamar Odom was the lone bench player worth squat during game 4, meanwhile Phoenix’s bench lambasted the Lakers with nine 3-pointers and 54 points. That’s what I consider making up for crappy performances by the Suns in games 1 and 2.

So what do we expect for game 5? Will Phoenix’s bench continue to terrorize the Lakers’ bench? Phil Jackson is a great motivator, and the Lakers are on their home court, both of which would make one think that the Lakers indeed possess the uppe hand.

Perhaps Channing Frye has finally awoken for good in these playoffs, perhaps he will shrivel under the pressures of the Staples Center. But if Frye and his shot are on, it creates major problems for the Lakers defensively.

However, what sports fan does not want to root for Steve Nash to make it to the finals? Toss out all other aspects to this analysis, and take the collective consciousness of all NBA fans, put it in a blender, then a centrifuge. What percentage of this mental mush would be rooting for Nash and the Suns versus the Lakers?

Nash has never been there.

Kobe is a great player, but his arrogance tarnishes the ability of most NBA fans to root for him to make it there, when deciding between him and Nash.

Nash has never been there.

Karma alone is on the side of the Suns.

]]> http://protectthepaint.com/2010/05/26/here-come-the-suns/feed/ 0 http://protectthepaint.com/2010/05/13/phoenix-suns-steve-nash-is-the-real-mvp/ http://protectthepaint.com/2010/05/13/phoenix-suns-steve-nash-is-the-real-mvp/#comments Thu, 13 May 2010 10:31:32 +0000 Adam Sedie http://protectthepaint.com/?p=4321

LeBron James is a superhuman-insane-we -really-broke-any-possible-or-conceivable-mold type basketball player. He won this years MVP award in convincing fashion. We all know this, or should know this, or eventually will come to know this.

The thing is, James is also the most important piece in my argument as to why the MVP award should:

1. Be awarded with heaviest considerations based on how far the player leads his team into the postseason.
2. How this player performs during the postseason (call this the 2007 Dirk Nowitzki clause).
3. Apply deeper levels of analysis to scrutinize the MVP candidates supporting cast, and ask how hard would it be for the supporting cast to make the playoffs without the player.
4. Assess the actualization of expected performance. This aspect should be used in all tie breakers.

It is unfortunate that this award must be decided before the post season plays out. When considering these 4 core ideas, it goes without question that Steve Nash is truly this years MVP.

One eye? No problem. That is the definition of MVP.

Nash took a team that was in moderate to severe turmoil, who almost made a throng of liquidation panic-induced trades, and led his team into the playoffs by whipping out a 17-4 record during March and April. During this span Nash quarterbacked a 10-game winning streak while battling through a barrage of minor injuries. Then came the start of the playoffs.

In the 1st round of the playoffs Nash fought off a hip injury, and the Suns defeated a pesky Blazers team in 6 games. His game was definitely not perfect, but he was always present when it counted, and that is what it takes to make an MVP.

LeBron murdered the Bulls in the first round. He absolutely killed them. However, it is arguable that the Portland Trailblazers are a far better team than Chicago currently is. Even as injury riddled as the Blazers are, I would put my money on Portland over Chicago in a 7 game series anyday.

When it comes down to it, Nash has been more of a leader and more valuable to his team the longer his team has been in the playoffs, which is extremely difficult for someone age 36 to do.

LeBron evaporated in game 5 in Cleveland, meanwhile, Nash returned to game 4 against the Spurs with an eye that looked like he walked straight out of a Rocky film and back on the floor. He hit crucial 4th quarter shots with vision in only one eye.

Tell me that is not the type of leadership that MVP awards where not conceived from.

One of strongest arguments as to why Nash is the true MVP can simply based on my 3rd reason. Did anyone actually believe that Phoenix had a legitimate chance to still be in the playoffs?

Nash was everywhere in round 2, shredding up the Spurs and making it look easy, while showing the world simultaneously that he might be the toughest whiteboy from Canada the league has ever seen, while inspiring us all to be a little tougher.

The point is Nash inspired us. Was it Muhamed Ali-esque? Perhaps mildly at best ,if at all. But to me his injuries seemed a lot more real, painful and difficult to overcome than Paul Pierces bullshit knee injury during the 2008 finals, or MVP LeBron’s mystery elbow injury that he seemingly plays through easily. Come on, lets face it, LeBron is a cyborg unit sent back from the year 2029 to assassinate Sarah Connor. How could he possibly be injured?

Little 6’3″and 178 pound Nash took a killer elbow to the eye from 6’11″ gigantic 260 pound Tim Duncan, had some stitches, and came back and played blinded in one eye. MVPs are tough, they don’t make excuses. Even if the LeBronanator and Cleveland lose, he can always say he was injured. Nash would never make those excuses.

If anyone picked the Phoenix Suns to be in the Western Conference Finals this season I would call them a liar unless they had a time stamped wager voucher from Las Vegas to prove they put their money where their mouth is.

GM Steve Kerr was being heavily scrutinized for the Shaquille O’Neal failure. Shaq had been traded, ironically if you have been following this post, to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Cavaliers got better, and the Suns got thinner, no pun intended.

So basically the Suns started the year with Amare Stoudemire, Jason Richardson, a handful of young guys many teams would balk at the chance of acquiring, and two starters both past 35 years old in Grant Hill (37) and Steve Nash (36).

LeBron’s Cavs entered this season on the opposite end of the spectrum: heavily favored to win it all.

The Cavs acquired Shaq, while dumping a crappy Ben Wallace and invisible Sasha Pavlovic on Phoenix. Phoenix fans where probably slapping their foreheads as they read that news. Then at the trade deadline, the Cavs acquired Antawn Jamison, further bolstering their roster heading towards the playoffs.

Thinking comparatively, aren’t the Phoenix Suns the team that far and away, with perhaps only Kevin Durant and the Thunder mentionable in this capacity, that have superseded all expectations this season.

In my book, that makes Steve Nash MVP, and makes me despise the NBA system of MVP and award voting. Was this year as bad as Dirk in 2007? No. LeBron is definitely still in the hunt, albeit by a thin thread, but it makes you wonder, what really is the definition of an MVP, if it isn’t Steve Nash?

When you get it wrong, you really get it wrong. My prediction of the Phoenix Suns chances against the Spurs have not only been shattered into smithereens, but the Suns are now on the verge of completing the exact “bizarro” version of my prediction, and eliminating the Spurs with either a clean sweep, or by game 5 back in Phoenix.

And when I say bizzaro, I mean it, there is nothing typical about how the Suns claimed game 3 in San Antonio.

In Game 3 Amare Stoudemire only scored 7 points, Steve Nash didn’t have double digit assists, and three Suns players (Jared Dudley, Louis Amundson, and “starting” center Jarron Collins) amassed 0 points in a combined 36 minutes of run. On paper, this looks like the outcome would have no chance of rolling in the Suns favor.

Somehow Goran Dragic explodes in the second half, with 4 for 4 three point shooting ( 5 for 5 total), ending up with 26 points in 17:27 minutes of run.

Alvin Gentry nor any of his teammates could fathom this happening, that is how bizarre this game truly was.

Thanks for the lift Goran!

What about Steve Nash? Nash was on the bench getting plenty of rest while enjoying Dragic terrorize the Spurs guards. No seriously, George Hill and Tony Parker might be crying themselves to sleep tonight biting their pillows out of the fear that Dragic might invade their dreams and hit countless 3 point shots on them. Kind of like counting sheep, but in the nightmarish form of Dragic and his lethal stroke.

On that note, where in the world is the “A” game of Tony Parker and George Hill? What in the world happened?

After basically dousing the Mavericks with gasoline and setting them on fire during the first round, these two have fizzled and self-extinguished themselves. At this point I seriously doubt they could hit water even if they were tossing basketballs into the San Antonio River Walk.

The only thing good for the the Spurs is that we are all bearing witness to how unbelievably gifted Manu Ginobili truly is. If you ever enjoy basketball strictly for the purity of watching good basketball, all favorites and team faith aside, you owe it to yourself to watch Ginobili and slowly enjoy his game in like you would a fine wine.

Unfortunately for the Spurs,  Ginobili is supposed to be the player that puts them over the top, not the guy who has to carry the entire load. That’s Tim Duncan’s job.

Duncan has been somewhat decent offensively but he has shown an inability to hang with the Suns defending the pick and roll, which used to be his bread and butter. Looks like Steve Nash is heading towards the Most-Valuable-Old-Dude-Who-Still-Got-It award for this series.

The bottom line is Steve Nash and Alvin Gentry have the Suns in unfamiliar territory. The Suns are poised to eliminate the Spurs and proceed the Western Conference Finals, something they have been unable to do during the Tim Duncan era.

Steve Nash has a hurt hip. Tim Duncan has ailing knees. There are many things that could be written in an attempt to elaborate the potential outcome of this second round Western Conference playoff series between the San Antonio Spurs and the Phoenix Suns, but no other factors will have a larger impact.

Steve Nash and Tim Duncan share similarities in that their teams will ride their performances and perform accordingly. It’s the same old song and dance, however, the dancing part is getting harder these days as these savvy veteran’s bodies continue aging and deteriorating.

How's that hip doing Nash?

Suns First Round Synapsis

Nash did manage to gimp around the court as the Suns eliminated the Blazers. He was the inspirational leader leading a team without a center, possessing only one strong defender in Grant Hill, defeating a Portland team playing without its best player.

Realistically, can anyone argue that Brandon Roy was nowhere near his regular self?  Additionally, how would argue the Blazers roster was so depleted by injuries that it didn’t resemble Swiss cheese?

Spurs First Round Synapsis

Tim Duncan was hindered by knee problems allowing Dallas’ plethora of bigs like Erick Dampier and Brendan Haywood to slow him down and somewhat contain him, yet the Spurs managed to ride the hot hands of George Hill and Manu Ginobili to eliminate the Mavericks.

The Mavericks had all their players active, and even though Dirk Nowitski and company played well, they were not good enough to beat the Spurs.

Major First Round Performance Difference between Spurs and Suns:

Even when the Spurs best player is not 100%, the Spurs can still manage to overcome a top notch team like the Dallas Mavericks.

Do you think the Suns would have been able to defeat the Mavericks? I truly doubt it.

That being said, here are a few crucial questions I asked myself in deliberating the outcome of the series, eventually convincing myself that the Spurs will devour the Suns.

How do the Suns contain or stop Tim Duncan?

Duncan and the Spurs face off against a Suns team lacking any dominant, defensive-minded big men that will occupy space in the middle or put any significant pressure on Duncan. Expect Duncan to cause severe damage in this series.

How will Nash deal with his hip injury and continue to remain effective?

Nash is one of the best point guards in the game, hands down, but will Nash and his sore hip have anything left in the tank to finish games after chasing George Hill and Tony Parker around for 40 minutes?

Running on a bump hip is one thing, but having to crouch down into a defensive stance while moving full speed laterally while also trying to stay in front of lightning quick players like Hill and Parker is an entirely different story.

Having to defend either player will take a huge toll on Nash’s injured hip, possibly leading to extended time on the bench due to soreness or because of foul trouble by being caught out of defensive position.

George Hill has been on fire lately, and as soon as Parker is inserted off the bench, the Spurs are tossing another certified NBA starter against the Suns second unit if Nash cannot log big minutes.

How do the Suns stop the Spurs from having their way inside, and then outside?

Duncan is one of the best passing big men to ever play the game, and will surely make the Suns pay when they collapse on him with nimble passes to wide open Manu Ginobili, George Hill, or Matt Bonner. Yeah, I said it, Matt Bonner.

Good work fellas.... It's Bonner time!

Western Conference Round 2 Playoff Outcome Summary:

I will honestly be very surprised if the Suns can make this series last longer than 5 games. That being said, who would have counted on the Suns posting a 54-28 record this year, based on how they played the year before. If Nash can shake off his injury he can make the impact to maybe help the Suns win a second game, but that is about it.

Look for the Spurs to shine like Ginobili’s ever-expanding bald spot as they make their way into the Western Conference Finals.

Deron Williams has always been my vote for the NBA’s best overall point guard. In game 2 of the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs he put his team on his back, and without starters Andrei Kirilenko and Mehmet Okur, led the Utah Jazz to a 114-111 win in Denver. The Jazz tied the series 1-1, with Williams scoring 33 points on 7-14 shooting with 14 assists.

With the Jazz heading back to Salt Lake City for the next 2 games, Williams’ stellar play gave the Jazz the shift in momentum to carry over and capitalize on with home court advantage for games 3 and 4.

Williams led the Jazz to steal game 2 in Denver

Deron Williams has elevating his game to a higher level than we have ever seen before. I firmly believe this season marks his ascension into the position as the NBA’s best overall point guard. If he continues leading the shorthanded Jazz to victory over the Nuggets, it will be extraordinarily difficult to argue.

Some people, of course, will immediately argue that Steve Nash and Chris Paul are higher on the food chain, the so-called alpha dogs, but I beg to differ. No discredit or disrespect to Nash or Paul, after all,  as they are both perennial All-Stars.

Nash is a 2-time MVP. And even though Nash does age like a rare vintage, once his motor slows down, his game will decline swiftly.

Which brings us to Williams. He is a monster, plain and simple. At 6’3″ and a solid 210 pounds, he has the frame to basically beast inside and can do what neither Nash or Paul can: dominate smaller guards while taking punishment in the paint like no other guard in the league can.

Nash or Paul have a chance this deep in the paint vs. Birdman?

Albeit Deron Williams just received his first All Star nod this season, we must acknowledge that Williams has played superbly throughout his career while doing so within the confines of an extremely-disciplined-Jerry-Sloan-controlled system. It’s logical to argue that Nash and CP3 might not share the same succeed that Williams has within Sloan’s tight-wound system.

If you viewed the 2010 NBA All Star game, you witnessed Deron Williams unleash his athleticism and an aggressive, above the rim style of play most people were unaware of.

This talent is something we do not see on a regular basis as a member of the Jazz. As much as I love Steve Nash and CP3, I believe this All Star game helped us all catch a glimpse of how much of a self-sacrificing, natural “true point guard” Williams is. If the Jazz continue further into the playoffs, Williams will be the the catalyst that brings them there.

While watching the Orlando Magic play Boston Celtics on ABC Sunday, I heard Jeff Van Gundy discuss the idea of bringing back some of the all time great 3-point shooters to compete in the 3-Point Contest during the All Star Weekend festivities.

This got me thinking.

Why stop there? I asked myself.

Why not bring back the Old Timers Game? Maybe rename it? Call it the NBA Legends Challenge? Don’t blame me, it seems like the NBA loves anything with the term “Challenge” in the namesake of these events.

If someone could convince Michael Jordan to do it, the league would have to do it. Not only that, but if Jordan did agree, the remaining candidates would likely follow suit. Who would turn down an opportunity to take the court with Jordan one more time?

Some might ask, “What’s the point, can they even still play?” Michael Jordan can.

From an NBA marketing standpoint, there is one pertinent reason to consider this: Michael Jordan.

We all want to see him, no matter what. The NBA and the world should try to squeeze every drop of Michael Jordan’s game out of him before he is fossilized by old age. He could roll in on a wheel chair, and we still would watch.

End of Story.

Jordan recently called Jay Leno a dumbass after Leno asked him if he could still dunk. If that is the case, Jordan can most certainly still play. He often works out with the Bobcats, so you know he is relatively close to game shape.

Why have a game such as the Rookie Challenge before the All Star game? Or possibly a better question: Why have an NBA Skills Challenge?

Why have a game that risks injuries to players with their entire careers ahead of them, versus guys that don’t?

What about the Karl Malones and John Stocktons? Why not put together a squad of retired players, slap as many 1992 Olympic Dream Team players as possible, and reignite the Old Timers Game?

I am convinced the NBA Skills Challenge is the worst idea in NBA All Star Weekend event history. Why not lose it for something meaningful for the history of the game?

Charles Barkley was on Jay Leno and told his national television audience that he was going to lose weight. This kind of game could help him find the motivation to actually do it. Barkley is a fierce competitor in need of goals to remain motivated. Maybe this is just what he needs. Maybe this game could help ex-NBA players remain active and healthy.

Watching the legends play during an NBA Legends Challenge provides multiple generations the opportunity to bond and share a piece of NBA history. Families can experience, share tales from their past, and reinforce the NBA’s history and lineage.

From a business perspective, this has far greater reach towards instilling a devoted following for future generations. I relish in the thought of seeing myself telling a kid about how great Jordan was while watching an Old Timers Game. Wouldn’t you?

Surely there are tons of players people would want to see, but to kick things off, and help fire up the interest level, the most important legends would be a requirement in order to make this successful.

Here is a list of candidates definitely worthy of consideration for a 2010-11 NBA Old Timers Game:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Rik Smits, Reggie Miller, Mark Jackson, Penny Hardaway, Allan Houston, Dennis Rodman

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Magic Johnson, Chris Mullin, Charles Barkley, John Stockton, David Robinson, Karl Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon, James Worthy, Chris Webber, Kevin Johnson, Vlade Divac, Steve Nash*, Grant Hill*

* Denotes players technically old enough to be considered old timers, yet are still active in the NBA. Obviously this is a joke.

Sure there are risks for older players to incur injuries, but these guys are gamers. You don’t become an NBA legend unless you played through all sorts of painful injuries.

To help avoid injuries, this game would follow suit with the All Star game. No one wants to get killed on the court, and some preventative measures would need implementation to achieve a balance between keeping the game competitive and interesting while keeping people being slaughtered.

For instance, Bill Laimbeer and Rick Mahorn would not be invited to the game. Bruiser types and cheap shot artists would have to excluded for the sake of self preservation.

Many of these guys would love to strap on some shoes, rehash their old moves, and show us what legendary tricks they still have up their sleeves.

Speaking of shoes, I smell a another vintage Nike retro issue marketing campaign/sponsorship deal making this more lucrative for all.

There would be the ugly moments such as turnovers and a degradation in those first steps, but who can really argue that this has more importance and entertainment value for the fans and players than a skills competition?

The 2010 NBA All-Star starters were named live today on TNT at 7:00 PM EST.

There has been much discussion about issues with the voting, focusing specifically on Tracy McGrady, whom played in only 6 games, averaging 3 points a game this season. He is currently at home, exiled from the Rockets as they seek out a suitor for a trade.

Allen Iverson has also been a topic of massive debate. AI has played for two teams and conferences this season, and after failing in Memphis, foudn himself back in Philly, and is about to be named to his 11th all star game. He is averaging 14.8 points, 4.5 assists, and 3 rebounds a game. Those are hardly All-Star caliber stats for a 76ers team with a losing record of 13-28.

Iverson fails in comparison to the Easts best guard, Rajon Rondo, who is averaging 14 PPG, .527 FG%, 9.6 APG, 4.1 RPG, 2.5 SPG, on a team whose winning record is 27-13.

Here are the voting results for the starters:

• Carmelo Anthony (Forward)
• Tim Duncan (Forward)
• Amar’e Stoudemire (Center)
• Kobe Bryant (Guard)
• Steve Nash (Guard)

• Kevin Garnett (Forward)
• LeBron James (Forward)
• Dwight Howard (Center)
• Dwyane Wade (Guard)
• Allen Iverson (Guard)

It is very fortunate that the Western Conference’s Steve Nash leapfrogged Tracy McGrady, ousting him in the waning moments to overtake the starting guard position. It saved the league further embarrassment after Allen Iverson was voted in.

Here is a list of players notably deserving to start:

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Chris Kaman

If not Chris Kaman, Tim Duncan should have been listed on the ballot at the center position. Both players are having substantially better years for their teams than Stoudemire. Kaman has been a beast this year, and has been leading the Clippers to respectability this season.

Kevin Durant

Durant is the reason to move Duncan to center. Durant as one of the starting forwards only makes sense. Durant is the league’s third leading scorer, and his team is in playoff contention this season after only winning 23 games total last year.

The fact that he is in Oklahoma obviously hurts his chances due to low national visibility, the only reason that logically explains, albeit unjustly, Durant’s exclusion from the Western Conference starting line up.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Rajon Rondo

Rondo has experienced some of the worst bias in fan voting I have ever witnessed. Rondo has been nothing less than the best Point Guard in the Eastern Conference all season long. He is member of one of  the best teams in the East. He averages 5 more assists per game shooting 10% better from the field than Iverson.

Rondo has helped his team overcome injuries to Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett and continue to win to the tune of a 27-13 record.

Aren’t All-Stars supposed to be star players on winning teams? Out of fairness to any other player starting this years All-Star game, Iverson is the only player on team with a losing record.

Ironically, the 76ers have as many wins as Boston has losses: 13. One would hope that fact alone should make voters rethink whom they vote for.

]]> http://protectthepaint.com/2010/01/21/2010-all-star-starters-announced-on-tnt/feed/ 0 http://protectthepaint.com/2009/12/30/boston-celtics-vs-phoenix-suns-nba-game-of-the-week/ http://protectthepaint.com/2009/12/30/boston-celtics-vs-phoenix-suns-nba-game-of-the-week/#comments Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:48:52 +0000 Adam Sedie http://protectthepaint.com/?p=3467

The Boston Celtics have a lot on the line tonight. They play Phoenix tonight staring a potential 3-game losing streak in the face. The game can be viewed  live on NBATV at 9:00 PM EST.

Can Garnett slow Amar'e down tonight? (Credit: picapp.com)

Phoenix is reeling with confidence after crushing the Los Angeles Lakers118-103 on Monday night. Steve Nash and the Suns have been on fire at home, boasting a 12-2 home record this year. Amar’e Stoudamire is playing like the Amar’e of old, putting up 20 and 10 over the month of December.

It has already been discussed how Boston is hurting without Paul Pierce. The Celtics have dropped off dramatically without Pierce in the line up, and have lost to the likes of the Clippers and the Warriors.

Not a good sign before heading down to Phoenix for tonight’s game.

Can Kevin Garnett or Ray Allen step it up against the Suns and push Boston over the top? Rajon Rondo has been a monster, but without a huge game from Garnett or Allen, it seems like Boston cannot put together a win.

What this game should come down to tonight is which teams second unit performs best. Boston managed to squeeze out 15 points from their bench versus the Warriors. Phoenix’s bench scored a total of 52 points against the Lakers. Jared Dudley led the way with 19 points and 7 rebounds. This disparity in bench scoring favors the Suns.

How can your bench only score 15 points against Golden State? The Warriors are not taught to play defense. The Celtics will be facing the top scoring team in the league tonight. The Warriors are the second highest. You do the math.

Steve Nash disassembled the Lakers on Monday. (Credit:picapp.com)

Can Boston avoid a third straight road loss?

Will Rajon Rondo be able to slow down or aggravate Steve Nash’s game?

Can the Celtics second unit compete with the Suns?

Can Boston compete without Paul Pierce?

These seem to be the most pertinent questions heading into tonight’s game, and it will be a battle worth catching from the moment the ball tips off.

The Orlando Magic (17-5) experienced a blowout loss in Salt Lake City last night. After scoring 60 first half points, Utah closed the gap, and with their confidence thriving, held off the Magic 120-111. They are in Phoenix tonight to face of against the Suns (15-7), who have recently not faired well out on the road, dropping 4 out of the last 5. The game airs live at 10:30 PM EST on ESPN.

For Phoenix, heading back home is a blessing. The Suns have already played a league high 15 road games this season, and the wear and tear has been showing lately. Even though Nash and company will not admit it, their exhaustion has led to losses by large margins to New York (126-99), Cleveland (107-90) and the Lakers (108-88).

Phoenix is coming into this game on two days rest and those 2 days are huge for veterans Nash, Grant Hill, and Amare Stoudemire.

Orlando has showed it has been tough to beat on the road going 2 of 3 on their recent road trip. Those 2 victories were against the Clippers and Warriors. Dwight Howard played his usual game and Vince Carter dropped in 34 last night. However, it could not offset a combined 2 points from Jason Williams and Michael Pietrus. Orlando must get more output from all of their starters to win tonight.

Ryan Anderson had 20 points and 10 rebounds the last time these teams matched up in Orlando on November 4^th.

Will Orlando have the energy on back to backs? (Credit: Picapp.com)

The question will is: Can the Magic perform at a high enough level on back-to-back road games against two tough Western Conference teams? Utah methodically used their disciplined offensive system leading to Deron Williams exploding with 32 points and 15 assists.

Steve Nash had mediocre numbers the last time they played Orlando. Jason Richardson and Grant Hill were both held scoreless during the game. Phoenix lost 122-100.To make matters worse for the Suns, the Magic beat them without Rashard Lewis while he was serving his 10-game suspension to start the season.

With Jameer Nelson on the shelf due to his knee injury, Nash will duel it out with Jason Williams. It will be interesting to see how Nash and his Suns fair tonight against the Magic.