| Suns Bring Brooms Out, Sweep Memphis Authored by J.T. Magee - May 2, 2005 - 2:36 am
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Phoenix scored 39 points in the first quarter and never looked back, beating the Memphis Grizzlies 123-115. Joe Johnson led all six Suns who scored in double figures, scoring 16 of his 25 points in the first quarter. MVP-candidate Steve Nash scored 24 points and had nine assists, but had seven of the team's series high 19 turnovers.
Shawn Marion had his fourth double-double of the series, scoring 23 points, grabbing 11 rebounds and adding 3 steals and 3 blocks, all while shooting 10-13 from the field. Jim Jackson came off the bench to contribute 19 points, Amare Stoudamire scored 18 points, 8 from the free throw line and Quentin Richardson scored 14 points.
Each Sun that took a shot, except for backup point guard Leandro Barbosa, who missed his only field goal attempt, shot over 50% from the floor.
Memphis never led after the first quarter. Never.
Great sign for the #1 seed, bad sign for the Grizzlies. Pau Gasol tried to do it all for Memphis, who was facing turmoil before the game. Gasol led seven Girzzlies in double figures, scoring a game-high 28 points. Point guard Jason Williams scored 20 points, including 4 three pointers, and had 8 assists.
Reserve shooting guard Dahntay Jones came off the bench to score 14 points. Shooting guard Bonzi Wells was not in the arena for the game. Wells, whose only appearance was in Game 3, apparently got in an argument with Mike Fratello before the shoot-around and was told not to dress. Game 3 might have been Wells' last as a Grizzlie. Wells is in the last year of his contract. Not too smart when you're trying to earn another contract for next year. It's too bad.
Wells is a talented player, but his reputation has gotten the best of him in more than one situation.
Phoenix looked and played like the #1 seed again. They forced Memphis into some tough shots and out-rebounded them by nine. Not the biggest margin, but those rebounds le d to 16 fastbreak points. In the first quarter. They also got to the line an unbelievable 49 times, thanks in part to Memphis getting into the team penalty just seven minutes into the second and fourth quarters.
All they need in any series from here on out is one win at home, because they've proven that they can win in the playoffs and on the road. The Suns will get some needed rest for its starters, waiting while the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets battle it out in their playoff series. This is a great sign for Phoenix. That series, tied at 2-2, will not be completed until, at the minimum, Thursday.
That's four days of extra rest for the starters, who averaged over 39 minutes per game. Nash's back and hamstring, which kept him out for a few games in the regular season, and Marions sprained wrist, are going to get the rest they need.
Overall, the series tested the Suns' chances of playing-playoff basketball. It tested whether their free-flowing offense could handle Memphis' scrappy style and depth. While the Grizzlies, at times, exploited some of the Suns' weaknesses, the Suns retorted that they can come back the very next possession and bury a three, get a dunk from either of their forwards or get an easy bucket thanks to Nash.
For those doubters that said they couldn't, well, they proved you wrong by crushing Memphis in four games, and they'll prove it against either Houston or Dallas.
Both teams will be tired after their long playoff series, and Phoenix will make sure they do what they have done and did and done and did against Memphis: Run, play aggressive when you have to, play shut down defense when you have to, and run. And run. And run. |
