The moment it happened - Jumaine Jones played

Nov 11, 2006 - Phoenix, AZ - Phoenix Suns 96, Memphis Grizzlies 87 - Box Score

Well... after Coach D'Antoni promised we'd see more grit and effort from our beloved Suns. We did. And without our heartbeat, Raja Bell. The Suns made cupcakes out of the Memphis Grizzlies. Going on a stretch of the game between the 2nd and 3rd quarters where the Suns outscored the Grizz 55-12!

Everyone is talking about Amar-knee Stoudemire's knee except him. He's talking about a monster night he had making the Grizzlies crap their pants and on the boards to go along with his 25 point performance on 10-14 shooting. First post-surgery double-double if you're counting from home (first of many more).

The actual moment it all came together for the Suns - I'm talking about how the Suns season took a dramatic change in the second quarter when Coach D pulled the Jumaine Jones card - Now I like Jumaine, he's a dirt worker and he plays hard; just imagine if he was good!

Jumaine James got his first action in a Suns jersey and it was the turning point of the season. I mean it. My wife pondered angrily "what the hell is HE doing out there?" Then it hit me... The rest of the Suns were probably thinking the same thing. It woke them up. It caught them off guard (all of us too!)

Jumaine let his presence be felt on the stat sheet too! 0-7 shooting (0-5 from 3pt land), a travelling call, 2 fouls and 3 rebounds in 13 special minutes. 0 points couldn't have been more effective.

It was 39-38 Grizzlies up when Jumaine Jones came out of the game for a breather. It was 86-54 when supersub Pat Burke came into the game during the third quarter for his first action this season. Mop up time! Yeah, he went 0-3 pretending to play shooter instead of a 6'10" big body and banger. Then Eric Piatkowski came in to make any argument for his entry into the 3pt contest (0-3 in 4 minutes) go far, far away.

The Suns bench guys blew it bigtime. Amare, Nash, Marion, Barbosa and Diaw had to close the game out and the Suns finished with 7 points for the quarter...Seven.

So Coach clearly sent two messages in the game. #1) You need to play hard. If you don't Jumaine Jones will for you. And #2) The scrubs need to play hard. Or you won't and the starters will for sure.

Memphis scouting report: Mike Miller is either gay or wants us to think he is. That hairband he wears is super-beyond ridiculous. Sixth man all right. Maybe he should switch jerseys with #22.

The Rookie looked like he's gonna be good. He looked like a rookie at times, but 14 and 9, that's not bad.

I'll always remember Stromile Swift as a Houston Rocket.

Chucky Atkins - consummate pro. He had 20 pts, 5 assists and 4 rebounds in a yeoman's effort.

Maybe I'm being blatently sarcastic, but I think the Grizz miss Pau Gasol. But yeaaahh.... Umm cough cough... The FIBA World Championships are ummm... cough cough... still a great idea.


Six days off!!! Six whole days!!!

next game - Saturday home against Philly and then to complete ANOTHER back-to-back, at Utah on Saturday...