Phoenix Suns 2011-12 Season Notebook

[JP Inawat]

PHOENIX SUNS 2011-12 SEASON NOTEBOOK

WIN-LOSS RECORDS

Opponent	W	L
Philadelphia 76ers	1	1
Charlotte Bobcats	2	0
Milwaukee Bucks	1	1
Chicago Bulls	0	2
Cleveland Cavaliers	1	1
Boston Celtics	1	1
Los Angeles Clippers	1	3
Memphis Grizzlies	1	2
Atlanta Hawks	1	1
Miami Heat	0	2
New Orleans Hornets	3	1
Sacramento Kings	3	1
New York Knicks	0	2
Utah Jazz	2	1
Los Angeles Lakers	1	3
Orlando Magic	2	0
Dallas Mavericks	1	3
Brooklyn Nets	1	1
Denver Nuggets	1	3
Indiana Pacers	1	1
Detroit Pistons	1	1
Toronto Raptors	1	1
Houston Rockets	2	1
San Antonio Spurs	2	2
Oklahoma City Thunder	1	3
Minnesota Timberwolves	1	2
Portland Trail Blazers	3	1
Golden State Warriors	2	2
Washington Wizards	1	1

GAME DETAILS
November 1

Dallas Mavericks	86
Phoenix Suns	79

Media Notes:

• A third quarter collapse caused the loss, with Phoenix only scoring 8 to Dallas' 23.
  
• Frye and Hill had double-doubles (18 Pts, 11 Rebs and 14 Pts, 10 Rebs)
  
• Nash had 19 Pts, 6 Asts and Gortat had 10 Rebs.
  
• The Suns shot 10% from long range.

November 3

Phoenix Suns	108
Los Angeles Lakers	124

Media Notes:

• Poor defense in the third quarter allowed 38 points from the Lakers.
  
• The Lakers dominated in rebounding (45-32), assisting (36-27), and blocking (9-5).
  
• Steve Nash had 29 points, Michael Redd added 23 points.
  
• Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum and Ramon Sessions combined for 78 of the Lakers' 124.

November 5

Phoenix Suns	95
Utah Jazz	105

Media Notes:

• Utah outrebounded Phoenix 51-39.
  
• Steve Nash scored 32 points and dished 8 assists.
  
• Shooting was the major factor. (UTA - 46.4%/53.3%/86.4%; PHX - 36.4%/35.3%/80.6%)

November 6

Sacramento Kings	82
Phoenix Suns	88

Media Notes:

• Phoenix Suns' first win this season.
  
• Steve Nash's potential final game with the Phoenix Suns, scoring 10 points and dishing 8 assists.
  
• Grant Hill with 15 points and 17 rebounds.
  
• Michael Redd lead the Suns in scoring with 21, with Lin adding 16 and Gortat 11.

November 10

Detroit Pistons	96
Phoenix Suns	102

Media Notes:

• Josh Smith's first game with the Phoenix Suns.
  
• Josh Smith with 31 points and 7 rebounds.
  
• Grant Hill's potential final game with the Phoenix Suns, scoring 10 points and pulling down 9 rebounds.
  
• All 5 of Detroit's starters scored double digits (Monroe with 25, Favors with 11, Mbah A Moute with 14, Mayo with 16, Harris with 15). Two of them double-doubles. (Monroe with 11 rebounds, Favors with 13 rebounds.
  
• The Suns got to the foul line for 35 free throw attempts. 30 of them went in.

November 12

Golden State Warriors	93
Phoenix Suns	113

Media Notes:

• Antawn Jamison's first game with the Phoenix Suns.
  
• Josh Smith with 28 points and 12 rebounds.
  
• Jeremy Lin added 24 points, and Jared Dudley added 19 points off the bench.
  
• The Suns' first win this season leading by 20 points or more.

November 16

Memphis Grizzlies	79
Phoenix Suns	99

Media Notes:

• Seven Suns players scoring in double digits. (Smith with 21, Lin with 14, Jamison and Gortat with 13, Redd and Fields with 11, Dudley with 10.)
  
• 4th straight win for the Phoenix Suns.
  

November 18

Utah Jazz	94
Phoenix Suns	116

Media Notes:

• Six Suns players scored in double digits. (Josh Smith with 26, Jeremy Lin with 21, Antawn Jamison with 20, Marcin Gortat with 16, Michael Redd with 15 and Jared Dudley with 10.)
  
• 5th straight win for the Phoenix Suns.
  
• 3rd straight win for the Phoenix Suns leading by 20 points or more.
  
• The Suns shot very well shooting 53.7% from the field and 75% from deep.
  

November 19

Phoenix Suns	93
San Antonio Spurs	105

Media Notes:

• Josh Smith scored 25, and Jeremy Lin added 23. Michael Redd also added 18.
  
• Antawn Jamison with a double-double scoring 15 and rebounding 11.
  
• The Suns could not stop Tony Parker who went off for 41 points.
  
• The Suns shot only 55% from the charity stripe. The Suns also turned the ball over 13 times compared to the Spurs' 9.
  
• Third straight road loss for the Suns.
  

November 22

Toronto Raptors	94
Phoenix Suns	74

Media Notes:

• Steve Nash's first return to Phoenix since being traded.
  
• Nash put up 26 points and 9 assists on 45 minutes, Lin put up 20 points and 6 assists on 39 minutes.
  
• The Raptors out-passed the Suns 29-18.
  
• Breaks the Suns' 5-game home win streak.
  

November 23

Phoenix Suns	99
Houston Rockets	104

Media Notes:

• The Suns gave up an 18-point lead in the first quarter and spent the rest of the game trying to catch up, and just fell short by 5.
  
• The Suns only shot 25% from long range.
  
• Pau Gasol scored 39. Marcus Camby rebounded 18. Marc Gasol put up 18 points coming off the bench.
  
• Third straight loss for the Suns, fourth straight on the road.
  

November 25

Brooklyn Nets	119
Phoenix Suns	117

Media Notes:

• The Suns' first overtime game this season. Also the Suns' first overtime loss this season.
  
• Jeremy Lin with a season-high 14 assists.
  
• Fourth straight loss for the Suns.
  

November 30

Indiana Pacers	94
Phoenix Suns	124

Media Notes:

• Breaks the Suns' 4-game losing streak.
  
• The Suns shot 58% from the field.
  
• Michael Redd with 27 points, Jeremy Lin with 24, Marcin Gortat with 23.
  

December 2

Denver Nuggets	92
Phoenix Suns	91

Media Notes:

• The Suns shot 0-11 from deep.
  
• The Suns gave up 21 offensive rebounds, which resulted in significantly less field goal attempts.
  
• This loss sucks so much. XD
  

December 4

Atlanta Hawks	100
Phoenix Suns	99

Media Notes:

• The Suns' second straight loss by one point.
  
• The Hawks had a better field goal percentage (51.3% to 43.0%)
  
• Gortat with 20 points, Jamison and Lin with 19 each.
  

December 6

Portland Trail Blazers	89
Phoenix Suns	88

Media Notes:

• The Suns' third straight loss by one point.
  
• The Hawks had a better field goal percentage (45.2% to 42.2%)
  
• Gortat with 22 points, Michael Redd with 21, and Josh Smith with 19. Gortat also grabbed season-high 16 boards.
  

December 7

Phoenix Suns	98
Golden State Warriors	108

Media Notes:

• The Suns had 10 less field goal attempts
  
• Fourth straight loss for the Suns. The Suns are still winless from the road this season.
  
• Michael Redd with 28 points and 10 assists.
  

December 9

New York Knicks	107
Phoenix Suns	104

Media Notes:

• The Suns' losing streak reach 5.
  
• The Suns' 2nd overtime loss this season.
  
• Josh Smith with 28 points, Marcin Gortat with 21.
  

December 10

Phoenix Suns	82
Los Angeles Clippers	92

Media Notes:

• The Suns' losing streak reach 6.
  
• JaVale McGee's first game with the Suns, scoring 14 points and grabbing 12 boards.
  
• The Suns are still winless from the road.
  

December 12

New Orleans Hornets	92
Phoenix Suns	104

Media Notes:

• Breaks the Suns' 6-game losing streak.
  
• The Suns' 1st win this month.
  
• Michael Redd with 26 points. Josh Smith with 16 points and 15 rebounds.
  

December 14

Phoenix Suns	84
Dallas Mavericks	92

Media Notes:

• Marcus Camby, Jermaine O'Neal, Gilbert Arenas and Travis Outlaw's first game with the Suns.
  
• It almost doesn't make sense how we got 12 less possessions considering our great rebounding game.
  

December 16

Phoenix Suns	82
Memphis Grizzlies	112

Media Notes:

• The Suns' first loss by 30 points or more.
  
• The Suns are still winless from the road.
  

December 17

Phoenix Suns	86
New Orleans Hornets	85

Media Notes:

• Breaks the Suns' 2-game losing streak.
  
• The Suns' second victory of two against the Hornets.
  
• The Suns first road victory this season.
  
• Josh Smith with 32 points.
  

December 20

Oklahoma City Thunder	106
Phoenix Suns	83

Media Notes:

• Marcus Camby with 5 rejections.
  
• The Suns' starters totalling only 61 points.
  

December 23

Washington Wizards	112
Phoenix Suns	98

Media Notes:

• Terrible 2nd quarter allowing the Wizards to score 33 while only scoring 18.
  
• Josh Smith with 34 points.
  

December 26

Phoenix Suns	96
Minnesota Timberwolves	77

Media Notes:

• An example of a great game by the Suns.
  
• Arenas led the team in scoring with 28 points.
  

December 26

Phoenix Suns	95
Washington Wizards	74

Media Notes:

• Josh Smith led the Suns in scoring with 21 points.
  
• The Suns just played an all-around better game.
  

December 28

Phoenix Suns	91
Charlotte Bobcats	81

Media Notes:

• Josh Smith led the Suns in scoring with 24 points, with Jeremy Lin adding 23.
  
• The Suns didn't get Bobcat'd!
  

December 30

Phoenix Suns	109
Chicago Bulls	114

Media Notes:

• Marcus Camby with 24 points and 13 rebounds.
  
• The Suns couldn't hang on in overtime after catching up on the fourth quarter.
  
• The Suns' third overtime loss this season.
  

January 1

Phoenix Suns	93
New York Knicks	102

Media Notes:

• Gilbert Arenas with 23 points.
  

January 4

Philadelphia 76ers	81
Phoenix Suns	104

Media Notes:

• Steve Nash's second return game to Phoenix as a member of the opposing team since being traded from Phoenix.
  
• Good first and third quarters secured a good win.
  
• The Suns with 51%/55%/77% shooting opposed to the 76ers' 37%/17%/74%.
  

January 6

Miami Heat	106
Phoenix Suns	69

Media Notes:

• The Suns' worst loss this season.
  

January 7

San Antonio Spurs	78
Phoenix Suns	80

Media Notes:

• This is the first time the Suns won by 5 points or less against a contending team this season
  
• Josh Smith with 18 points and 3 blocks, Marcus Camby with 15 boards and 2 blocks.
  

January 10

Phoenix Suns	114
Denver Nuggets	88

Media Notes:

• The Suns' biggest win on the road this season.
  
• Gilbert Arenas with 20 points and 11 assists. Josh Smith added 20 points, Antawn Jamison with a team-high 22 points.
  

January 12

Los Angeles Clippers	79
Phoenix Suns	74

Media Notes:

• The Suns had 3 too many turnovers.
  
• Camby, Smith and Jamison combined for 36 rebounds. Deandre, Griffin and Carmelo combined for 40 rebounds.
  

January 12

Cleveland Cavaliers	98
Phoenix Suns	76

Media Notes:

• Fields replaced Lin as a starter
  
• Marcus Camby with team-high 22 points.
  

January 17

Phoenix Suns	84
Sacramento Kings	87

Media Notes:

• The Suns could have definitely shot the ball better, going 37%/19% from the field.
  
• Back-and-forth game until the very end.
  

January 18

Phoenix Suns	83
Los Angeles Clippers	92

Media Notes:

• The Suns crucially gave up 16 points more than they made in the 4th quarter.
  
• Camby with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Josh Smith with 14 rebounds. Camby and Smith with 3 blocks each.
  

January 20

Los Angeles Lakers	104
Phoenix Suns	89

Media Notes:

• Bynum and Bargnani combined for 60 points.
  

January 22

Oklahoma City Thunder	108
Phoenix Suns	84

Media Notes:

• Oklahoma City shot 51.2% from the field.
  
• Josh Smith led the team in scoring with 29 points and added 3 blocks.
  

January 24

Phoenix Suns	91
Orlando Magic	59

Media Notes:

• Phoenix limited Orlando to 28.6%/15.4% shooting from the field.
  

January 26

Phoenix Suns	81
Miami Heat	100

Media Notes:

• The Suns couldn't overcome a sub-par 1st half.
  

January 26

Phoenix Suns	98
Atlanta Hawks	80

Media Notes:

• Gilbert Arenas shot 5-of-9 from deep.
  
• The Suns shot 58.8% from deep.
  

January 29

Phoenix Suns	88
Cleveland Cavaliers	84

Media Notes:

• Jeremy Lin back to playing Starter minutes.
  
• Marcus Camby and Josh Smith with 20 points each. Josh Smith adds 4 blocks to his stat line.
  

January 31

Phoenix Suns	102
Philadelphia 76ers	110

Media Notes:

• The Suns couldn't overcome a subpar 1st half.
  
• The Suns missed 11 free throws shooting only 66.7%, which could be a factor in the loss.
  
• Josh Smith with a team-high 25 points, with Antawn Jamison adding 21.
  

February 1

Phoenix Suns	95
Boston Celtics	90

Media Notes:

• Josh Smith with 24 points, Jeremy Lin with 21 points.
  
• The Suns finishes their 6-game cross-conference road trip with a win bringing their record to 4-2.
  

February 4

Chicago Bulls	110
Phoenix Suns	75

Media Notes:

• The Bulls outshot the Suns 54.9%/62.5%/88.2% to 37.2%/18.2%/71.4%.
  

February 6

Minnesota Timberwolves	95
Phoenix Suns	76

Media Notes:

• The Wolves outshot the Suns 47.4%/36.8%/80.0% to 36.1%/27.3%/69.6%.
  
• The Suns seemed to have forgotten how to play at home after 6 games on the road.
  

February 8

Memphis Grizzlies	99
Phoenix Suns	80

Media Notes:

• Steve Nash led Memphis with 37 points and 10 assists while Josh Smith led Phoenix with 34 points and 12 rebounds.
  
• The Suns tried starting Jermaine O'Neal and Landry Fields in favor of Marcus Camby and Gilbert Arenas (for some reason.. XD)
  

February 10

Sacramento Kings	90
Phoenix Suns	94

Media Notes:

• Free throws made the difference in this game.
  
• Breaks the Suns' 3-game home losing streak.
  

February 15

Phoenix Suns	95
Denver Nuggets	96

Media Notes:

• Very close game until the bitter end.
  
• Marcus Camby led the team in scoring with 21.
  

February 16

Houston Rockets	83
Phoenix Suns	95

Media Notes:

• The Suns had a good 2nd half.
  
• Marcus Camby led the team in scoring with 23.
  

February 22

Boston Celtics	85
Phoenix Suns	73

Media Notes:

• The Celtics out-defended the Suns.
  
• Marcus Camby with 4 blocks. Arenas with team-high 17 points.
  

February 25

Charlotte Bobcats	86
Phoenix Suns	92

Media Notes:

• The Suns did not get Bobcat'd!
  
• Marcus Camby led the team in scoring with 27 points, and added in 15 rebounds.
  

February 27

Phoenix Suns	105
Houston Rockets	97

Media Notes:

• The Suns burned the Rockets in the first quarter.
  
• Josh Smith led the team in scoring with 28 points.
  

March 1

Milwaukee Bucks	92
Phoenix Suns	95

Media Notes:

• The Suns played good defense and rebounding, limiting the Bucks to 10 less field goal attempts.
  
• Josh Smith led the team in scoring with 26 points.
  

March 3

Orlando Magic	72
Phoenix Suns	88

Media Notes:

• All of the Suns' starters shot 50% from deep (even Marcus Camby.)
  
• Close game until the 4th quarter.
  
• Josh Smith with team-high 19 points, Marcus Camby with 15 rebounds.
  

March 5

Phoenix Suns	90
Dallas Mavericks	91

Media Notes:

• The Suns fell short of a 4th quarter comeback
  
• Antawn Jamison and Jeremy Lin with 21 points each.
  

March 6

Phoenix Suns	83
New Orleans Hornets	94

Media Notes:

• Josh Smith shot 3-for-20 from the field.
  
• Antawn Jamison led the team in scoring with 21 points.
  

March 9

San Antonio Spurs	100
Phoenix Suns	112

Media Notes:

• Big first half from Phoenix
  
• Antawn Jamison with team-high 33 points
  

March 11

Minnesota Timberwolves	100
Phoenix Suns	97

Media Notes:

• Close game until the very end.
  
• Camby led the team in scoring with 26.
  

March 12

Phoenix Suns	113
Portland Trail Blazers	93

Media Notes:

• A great 2nd half sealed the victory for the Suns.
  
• Jamison, Camby and Smith with a combined 74 points. Jamison with an additional 16 rebounds.
  

March 14

Phoenix Suns	97
Oklahoma City Thunder	94

Media Notes:

• The Suns' great play from the 2nd and 3rd quarter was enough to halt the Thunder's 4th quarter comeback.
  
• Josh Smith led the team in scoring with 29 points.
  

March 17

Golden State Warriors	83
Phoenix Suns	96

Media Notes:

• The Suns shut down the Warriors on the fourth quarter.
  
• Gilbert Arenas led the team in scoring with 27, with Jeremy Lin adding in 23.
  

March 18

Phoenix Suns	86
San Antonio Spurs	101

Media Notes:

• The Spurs took the lead in the second half.
  
• Tim Duncan out-blocked Smith and Camby.
  

March 21

Phoenix Suns	90
Utah Jazz	85

Media Notes:

• The Suns gave a great defensive effort through the game.
  
• Jeremy Lin led the team in scoring with 19 points.
  

March 23

Portland Trail Blazers	96
Phoenix Suns	105

Media Notes:

• The Suns pushed ahead in the 3rd quarter.
  
• Antawn Jamison led the team in scoring with 23 points.
  

March 25

Denver Nuggets	88
Phoenix Suns	70

Media Notes:

• The Suns dropped the game in the second half.
  
• Josh Smith shot only 21.7% from the field.
  
• Jeremy Lin led the team in scoring with 20 points.
  

March 27

Phoenix Suns	95
Brooklyn Nets	89

Media Notes:

• The Suns made more than half of the shots they took and pulled away in the closing minutes.
  
• Marcus Camby led the team in scoring with 24 points.
  

March 28

Phoenix Suns	82
Milwaukee Bucks	94

Media Notes:

• A bad loss for the Suns.
  
• Milwaukee pulled away in the second quarter.
  
• Josh Smith led the team in scoring with 19 points.
  

March 30

Phoenix Suns	79
Indiana Pacers	101

Media Notes:

• A worse loss for the Suns.
  
• The Suns need to get their game together if they still have hopes of making the playoffs.
  

March 31

Phoenix Suns	100
Toronto Raptors	95

Media Notes:

• Should motivate the Suns to continue their playoff push
  
• Josh Smith with 30 points, Marcus Camby with 25 points.
  

April 2

Phoenix Suns	83
Detroit Pistons	97

Media Notes:

• Phoenix couldn't withstand the Pistons during the latter three quarters.
  
• Josh Smith with 24 points.
  

April 5

Los Angeles Clippers	65
Phoenix Suns	92

Media Notes:

• The Suns won the entire game.
  
• Marcus Camby and Jeremy Lin with 20 points each.
  

April 7

Los Angeles Lakers	105
Phoenix Suns	73

Media Notes:

• The Lakers won the entire game.
  
• Josh Smith led the team in scoring with 18 points.
  

April 9

Phoenix Suns	75
Oklahoma City Thunder	105

Media Notes:

• Phoenix couldn't keep up with OKC's offensive prowess.
  
• Durant and Deron both with 26 points. Jamison led Phoenix with 16.
  

April 11

Phoenix Suns	97
Sacramento Kings	74

Media Notes:

• Josh Smith and Marcus Camby combined for 50 points.
  

April 13

Dallas Mavericks	91
Phoenix Suns	99

Media Notes:

• The Suns got an early lead in the first half.
  
• Jeremy Lin led the team with 23 points and 10 assists.
  

April 14

Phoenix Suns	87
Golden State Warriors	91

Media Notes:

• Phoenix rallied in the final quarter but couldn't overcome the deficit.
  
• Camby, Smith and Arenas are the only productive ones offensively, combining together for 49 points.
  

April 16

Phoenix Suns	94
Los Angeles Lakers	90

Media Notes:

• Phoenix made a big comeback victory.
  
• It was a very close game until the end.
  
• Josh Smith with 23 points, Antawn Jamison with 22.
  

April 17

New Orleans Hornets	85
Phoenix Suns	99

Media Notes:

• Phoenix pulled away in the second half.
  
• Smith with 21, Camby with 20, Arenas with 19 points.
  

April 14

Phoenix Suns	90
Portland Trail Blazers	87

Media Notes:

• The Suns finish the season strong to tie at 8th in the west, but lost to the Warriors in tiebreaker.
  
• Josh Smith with 27 to finish the season.