Suns May 2006 Archive

• No Raja Again For Suns In Game 4

  Dallas Morning News | May 30, 2006

  Suns guard Raja Bell will miss his third consecutive game on Tuesday with a calf injury.

• Suns Talk Of Fatigue, And Nash Tired Of It

  Dallas Morning News | May 30, 2006

  Down 2-1 in the Western Conference finals and facing what they call a must-win Game 4 tonight, the Phoenix Suns talked about mental and physical fatigue.

• Suns Face A Must-Win Game 4

  AP | May 29, 2006

  After losing Game 3, where they only scored 36 points in the second half, the Suns know that they will need to be more aggressive in Game 4.

• Raja Could Return For Game 4

  Journal Sentinel | May 29, 2006

  Raja Bell did not play in Game 3's loss, but could return to the lineup for Game 4 Tuesday night, coach Mike D'Antoni said.

• Nowitzki And Mavs Defeat Suns 95-88; Take 2-1 Series Lead

  ESPN | May 28, 2006

  As Dallas prepared for Game 3, Mavericks coach Avery Johnson urged his team to play with the same desperation it showed in a Game 2 victory.

• Bell Out For Game 3 Vs. Mavs

  East Valley Tribune | May 27, 2006

  Suns guard Raja Bell will miss Game 3 of the Western Conference finals Sunday against Dallas

• Bell Off Crutches On Friday, Magnetic Test For Saturday

  Arizona Republic | May 27, 2006

  Raja Bell was off crutches Friday and walking with a sleeve on his left leg, where he has a partially torn calf muscle.

• Mavs Take Control In The 4th Quarter

  J.T. Magee/RealGM | May 27, 2006

  Dallas, led by both Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard, took control of Game 2 in the fourth quarter and won 105-98.

• Van Horn Expected To Start At Center

  Star-Telegram | May 26, 2006

  To combat Suns’ perimeter-based frontcourt of Tim Thomas, Shawn Marion and Boris Diaw, Keith Van Horn is expected to start at center instead of Erick Dampier in Game 2.

• Amare Will Return With The #1

  ESPN | May 26, 2006

  Amare Stoudemire will be giving up his #32 jersey and will wear #1 next season

• Raja Bell Out For Game 2, Josh Howard Day-To-Day

  ESPN | May 25, 2006

  Raja Bell will be out for game two of the Suns versus Mavericks series

• Morning News: Cuban Unhappy With Late Game Developments?

  Dallas Morning News | May 25, 2006

  After the game, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was in the coaches' offices viewing tape of the final few moments of the loss to the Suns, and according to the Dallas Morning News what he saw on film might not make him happy.

• Nash Hears Boos In Dallas

  Dallas Morning News | May 25, 2006

  MVP Steve Nash fielded several questions Wednesday about the possibility of being booed in Game 1, according to the Dallas Morning News.

• Mavericks Lose Howard Early

  Dallas Morning News | May 25, 2006

  Josh Howard only lasted six minutes in Wednesday night's 121-118 Game 1 loss to the Suns after spaining his right ankle in the first quarter.

• Thomas Will Only Play If Ready

  Arizona Republic | May 24, 2006

  The Suns need all the frontcourt help they can get and a return of Kurt Thomas would give them a huge lift.

• Mavs' Diop Has Broken Nose, Will Wear Shield

  ESPN | May 23, 2006

  DeSagana Diop broke his nose in Game 7 against the San Antonio Spurs and will wear a face shield Wednesday night for the opener of the Western Conference finals against Phoenix, the Associated Press is reporting.

• D'Antoni Couldn't Take Chance On Kurt Thomas In Critical Game

  East Valley Tribune | May 23, 2006

  Suns coach Mike D’Antoni admitted floating the idea of Thomas playing for the first time since suffering a stress fracture in his right foot in a game of such magnitude was more gamesmanship than game-time decision, according to a report in the East Valley Tribune.

• Suns Defeat Clippers Will Face Mavericks In Western Conference Final

  RealGM.com | May 23, 2006

  Steve Nash will lead the Phoenix Suns, his current team versus the Dallas Mavericks, his former team in the Western Conference finals.

• Thomas Says Bulls Tried To Put 'Doesn't Work Hard' Label On Him

  Washington Post | May 22, 2006

  Tim Thomas expeced great things when he was traded to Chicago, but he was quickly shown that he wasn't what the Bulls wanted.

• Kurt Thomas Might Be Available For Game 7

  SI.com | May 20, 2006

  Kurt Thomas has not played since breaking his right foot against Boston on Feb.

• Dunleavy: "We Have No Road Fear At All"

  Graham Flashner/RealGM | May 19, 2006

  The Phoenix Suns will host a Los Angeles club again in a Game 7. Mike Dunleavy and the Clippers are confident that a different result will occur.

• Clippers Beat Suns 118-106 To Force Game 7 On Monday

  aol.com | May 19, 2006

  With their backs against the wall, the Los Angeles Clippers came out fighting.

• Clippers Confident Of Playing Game 7

  Orange County Register | May 18, 2006

  With the L.

• LeBron, Kobe And Nash Lead All-NBA First Team

  Press Release | May 17, 2006

  The NBA has announced the All-NBA teams on Wednesday. Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Shaquille O'Neal and LeBron James made it to the first team.

• Bell's Three-Pointer Saves Suns' Game 5

  AP | May 17, 2006

  Shawn Marion and Elton Brand each played 54 minutes of a grueling double-overtime Game 5, which ended with the Suns miraculously defeating the Clippers by a final score of 125-118.

• Kaman Hopes To Play Against Suns

  Orlando Sentinel | May 16, 2006

  The Associated Press is reporting that Clippers center Chris Kaman is hopeful of being available for Game 5 as the series with the Suns, tied at 2-2, moves back to Phoenix.

• Nash's Slump Related To Injury?

  Arizona Republic | May 15, 2006

  When asked how Steve Nash was feeling after Game 4, his reply was ominous.

• Clippers' Kaman Misses Game With Bad Shoulder

  KFAN | May 15, 2006

  Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman missed the team's 114-107 win over the Phoenix Suns in Game 4 with a bad right shoulder.

• Cassell And Brand Flirt With Triple-Doubles In Game 4 Win

  Houston Chronicle | May 14, 2006

  The Clippers evened their playoff series versus Phoenix on Sunday behind a near triple-double performance from Sam Cassell, who finished with 28 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists.

• Nash And LeBron Share Sporting News MVP

  Houston Chronicle | May 12, 2006

  Steve Nash and LeBron James tied for the Sporting News MVP award, beating out Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki. The award is voted on by the front offices of every NBA team.

• Magic, Michael And Charles To Own A Team Together?

  Chicago Tribune | May 12, 2006

  "It would be unbelievable. I really think we can do it," said Magic Johnson about owning a team with Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley as his partners.

• Clippers Push The Suns Around In Game #2

  ESPN | May 11, 2006

  Elton Brand and the Los Angeles Clippers pushed the smaller Phoenix Suns around on their home court Wednesday night, dominating the boards 57-26, in a 122-97 rout that evened the best-of-seven series at 1-1.

• RGM Radio: MVP Award And Newsday's Greg Logan On The Nets And Knicks

  RealGM | May 10, 2006

  In this week's edition of RealGM Radio, Aaron Bronsteter and co-host James Gould are joined by RealGM columnist Tyler Sherkin for a panel discussion about Steve Nash receiving his second straight MVP award.

• Jerry Colangelo To Stay In Phoenix In 2006-2007

  East Valley Tribune | May 9, 2006

  Despite the departure of his son to Toronto, Jerry Colangelo intends to fulfill the remainder of his three-year contract that he signed with Robert Sarver.

• Thomas Will Wait To Decide On Staying

  Arizona Republic | May 9, 2006

  According to the Arizona Republic, Tim Thomas has not really thought about what he is going to do next season, and is just enjoying his time with the Suns in the playoffs.

• Brand's 40 Can't Keep Up With Suns' 130

  RealGM | May 9, 2006

  Elton Brand scored 40 points for the Clippers on Monday in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals, but it wasn't enough to keep up with the Suns, who knocked off the 'other' team from Los Angeles by a final score of 130-123.

• Nash Officially Named MVP For 2nd Straight Season

  Press Release | May 7, 2006

  Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns was named the winner of the Maurice Podoloff Trophy as the NBA's Most Valuable Player for the 2005-06 season, the NBA announced today.

• Thomas Loves Playing In Phoenix, Hopes To Re-Sign

  NY Times | May 7, 2006

  Tim Thomas was frustrated with how his situation in Chicago was perceived, but he is now happy he found a home in Phoenix.

• Nash Expected To Receive Second MVP On Sunday

  ESPN | May 7, 2006

  The Phoenix Suns have scheduled a news conference for Sunday at which, according to ESPN News Services, it is expected guard Steve Nash will officially be named MVP for the second straight season.

• Nash Injured In Suns' Rout Of Lakers

  RealGM | May 6, 2006

  That 'Hallway Series' that had Los Angeles buzzing early this week will not happen this season, as the Phoenix Suns blew out the Lakers on Saturday night by a final score of 121-90.

• Nash: "We Did This For Raja"

  East Valley Tribune/L.A. Times | May 5, 2006

  Leandro Barbosa filled in for the suspended Raja Bell and was the receiver of an unintentional Kobe Bryant elbow, which required four stitches.

• Kobe Drops 50, But Suns Force Game 7

  USA Today | May 5, 2006

  Kobe Bryant scored all but one of the Lakers' 13 points in overtime, and finished with a career-playoff high 50 in Game 6 on Thursday, but the Suns got the last laugh, winning 126-118 in overtime to force a Game 7.

• Bryant On Bell: 'Do I Know This Guy?'

  USA Today | May 4, 2006

  "Maybe he wasn't hugged enough as a kid." -- Kobe Bryant on why Raja Bell may be attacking him verbally

• Bell: "(Kobe's) A Pompous And Arrogant Individual"

  San Jose Mercury News | May 3, 2006

  On Wednesday, Raja Bell called Kobe Bryant "a pompous and arrogant individual.

• Barkley Estimates He Has Lost $10 Million Gambling

  ABCNews.com | May 3, 2006

  Charles Barkley estimates that he has lost about $10 million while gambling in his lifetime.

• No Raja In Game 6

  Press Release | May 3, 2006

  If the Suns hope to extend their first round series to a Game 7 back in Phoenix, they will have to find someone other than Raja Bell to defend Kobe Bryant in Game 6.

• Suns Back To Old Form Taking Game 5; Bell And Bryant Ejected

  LA Daily News | May 3, 2006

  The Suns win a much needed Game 5, but will they have defensive specialist and sharpshooter Raja Bell for Game 6?

• Nash And The Suns Move On And Are Ready For Redemption

  USAToday | May 2, 2006

  There was a 'pity party' on the Suns' charter back to Phoenix after their difficult loss to the Lakers in Game 4, but they have moved on and are ready to get back into the series.

• Diaw Named NBA's Most Improved Player

  Press Release | May 1, 2006

  Boris Diaw of the Phoenix Suns was named the winner of the 2005-06 NBA Most Improved Player Award, the NBA announced today.

• Kobe Burns Suns With Buzzer-Beater In OT

  Sports Illustrated | May 1, 2006

  The Los Angeles Lakers needed two last-gasp shots from Kobe Bryant to beat the Phoenix Suns, and two uncharacteristic mistakes from Phoenix star Steve Nash.