Phoenix Suns Blog – Page 64 – NBA Blog

Shaq snowed out of his own All-Star party

I hate to keep talking about snow and slush at Dallas NBA All-Star weekend — and don’t worry, the actual events start tonight, and then everything will probably be all about basketball and fun — but here’s another All-Start party story of note.

TMZ reports:

Shaquille O’Neal was supposed to host a party last night in Dallas for NBA All-Star Weekend — that is, until the biggest blizzard in the city’s history got in the way.

TMZ spoke to a manager of Aura Nightclub in uptown Dallas who told us that before Shaq arrived at the club, the record-setting snowfall blew out some electrical transformers … leaving everyone standing in the dark.

Sounds like this happened to lots of people.

But, that was just Thursday. The weekend really kicks into gear tonight (Friday). And while there’s slush all over Dallas, it’s done snowing, so all should go well for everyone from now on.

Channing Frye a rare big-man three-point shooter

It’s 2010 NBA All-Star weekend, and Phoenix Suns center Channing Frye, who emerged as a terrific outside shooter this season, is in the NBA Three-Point Shootout.

Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic reports (via blog):

Will Channing Frye be more 2008 Steve Nash or 2005 Quentin Richardson?

Nash finished last in his most recent try at the Three-Point Shootout two years ago. Richardson won the thing as a Sun in 2005.

Four-time participant and 1997 Shootout victor Steve Kerr, the Suns’ GM, likes Frye’s chances and figures he is a better candidate than teammate Jared Dudley, whose 46.9 percent 3-point shooting ranks third in the NBA and ahead of Frye’s 43.3 percent.

“He shoots it so easily,” Kerr said. “I always felt big strong guys might have a bit of an advantage, like Dirk. They just shoot it so easily. Channing’s got such a quick release and he doesn’t have to use a lot of legs. In theory, he could do pretty well.

Whether he wins the event or loses, it’ll be fun seeing the 6-11, 245-pound Frye go at it.

Bobcats win in Phoenix for the first time

Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer reports:

The defense came back and so, too, did the Charlotte Bobcats.

After watching three quarters of the Phoenix Suns dropping 3s from everywhere, they tightened up in the fourth quarter – way up. They held the Suns to 29 percent shooting in the final quarter, pushed this game into overtime, and held on 114-109.

This broke a three-game losing streak and lifted the Bobcats to 22-22. The Bobcats swept the Suns, winning in Phoenix for the first time in six tries.

The did all that on Stephen Jackson’s 30 points (including the 3-pointer that forced overtime) and some remarkable poise and defense from ex-Sun Boris Diaw. He had a key block of Steve Nash’s jump shot on a late defensive switch and held Suns star Amare Stoudemire to 12 points and five rebounds.

Diaw (24 points and 11 rebounds) can be too nonchalant for his own good, but that seems to change whenever he faces former teams. He used to wipe up on the Atlanta Hawks as a Sun and now he’s 3-0 as a Bobcat playing the Suns.

Leandro Barbosa out one month

Phoenix Suns guard Leandro Barbosa will undergo surgery on his right wrist to remove a cyst, the club announced today.

The surgery is schedule to take place this Tuesday, Jan. 26, and is expected to sideline Barbosa for approximately one month.

Currently in his seventh NBA season, the former Sixth Man of the Year is averaging 10.6 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 19.7 minutes this season. The 27-year-old Barbosa, who has appeared in 29 games this season (five starts), missed three games from Nov. 3-6 due to inflammation in his right wrist.

The Suns (25-19) return to the court tonight, taking on the Golden State Warriors (13-28) at US Airways Center at 7 p.m. The game can be seen locally on FOX Sports Arizona and heard on Sports 620 KTAR.

Suns trade Alando Tucker to Wolves for Jason Hart, then waive Hart

The Phoenix Suns today traded swingman Alando Tucker, a future conditional second-round pick and cash considerations to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for guard Jason Hart, the team announced. The Suns have waived Hart.

“We want to thank Alando for his service to our organization,” said Suns President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Steve Kerr. “He is a high-character person who has been a good teammate and a hard worker since arriving in Phoenix and we appreciate all of his efforts. We wish him well in Minnesota.”

“I want to thank Jason Hart for being a consummate professional with us,” said David Kahn, Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations. “This was a very hard trade to make precisely because Jason has been so helpful to our team both on and off the court. We wish him well… “We are eager to have Alando join us this week. Everything we know about him is that he is a hard working young man who has not had the opportunity for significant playing time.”

The 6-6, 205-pound Tucker was originally selected by the Suns with the 29th overall pick (first round) in the 2007 NBA Draft. In two-plus seasons in Phoenix, the Wisconsin product has appeared in 47 games with the Suns, including 11 appearances in 2009-10 in which he averaged 3.9 points in 6.5 minutes. The Lockport, Ill.-native owns career NBA averages of 4.3 points and 1.0 rebounds in 8.5 minutes.

Coming off a 15-point win over the NBA-leading LA Lakers, the Suns (20-12) return to action Wednesday night, hosting the Eastern Conference-best Boston Celtics (23-7) at US Airways Center at 7 p.m. Phoenix time. The game can be seen locally on FOX Sports Arizona and heard on Sports 620 KTAR.

Read fan reaction and share your own opinion in this forum topic.

Suns re-assign Taylor Griffin to D-League

The Phoenix Suns yesterday assigned rookie forward Taylor Griffin to the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by Suns President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Steve Kerr.

The 6-7, 238-pound Griffin will spend his second stint in Iowa after he was originally assigned to the Energy on Dec. 7, starting both games he appeared in and averaging 13.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 4.0 steals in 37.0 minutes before being recalled Dec. 14.

Griffin was selected by the Suns with the 48th overall pick (second round) of the 2009 NBA Draft and has appeared in two games this season for Phoenix.

Leandro Barboa returns

Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic reports:

Leandro Barbosa still might have been sore, but the Suns did not hurt for having him back.

The guard returned to action from an ankle sprain after missing nearly four weeks, recording 12 points and four assists in 21 minutes during the Suns’ 124-93 rout of the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night at US Airways Center.

Barbosa helped stretch a four-point lead to eight during his first nine minutes of action in the second quarter, when he scored six points by penetrating on the baseline, off a curl and on an isolation drive. It was a one-on-one speed element that the Suns had missed.

“I was feeling comfortable out there,” Barbosa said.

Suns recall Taylor Griffin from D-League

The Phoenix Suns have recalled rookie forward Taylor Griffin from the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by Suns President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Steve Kerr.

Originally assigned to Iowa on Dec. 7, the 6-7, 238-pound Griffin started both games he appeared in, averaging 13.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 4.0 steals in 37.0 minutes. Griffin shot 68.8 percent from the field in those contests, both Energy wins.

Griffin was selected by the Suns with the 48th overall pick (second round) of the 2009 NBA Draft and has appeared in two games this season for Phoenix.

Owners of a 17-game home win streak dating back to last season, the Suns (16-8) return to action Tuesday night, taking on the San Antonio Spurs (12-9) at US Airways Center at 7 p.m. The game can be seen locally on FOX Sports Arizona and heard on Sports 620 KTAR.

Suns assign Taylor Griffin to Iowa Energy of D-League

The Phoenix Suns have assigned rookie forward Taylor Griffin to the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by Suns President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Steve Kerr.

The 6-7, 238-pound Griffin was selected by the Suns with the 48th overall pick (second round) of the 2009 NBA Draft and has appeared in two games this season for Phoenix. The Oklahoma product is expected to appear in both of the Energy’s home games this Friday, Dec. 11 and Saturday, Dec. 12 against the Dakota Wizards.

The Suns (15-6) return to action Tuesday night, taking on the Dallas Mavericks (14-7) at American Airlines Center at 6:30 p.m. Phoenix time. The game can be seen locally on My45 and heard on Sports 620 KTAR.

Raja Bell out at least three months after wrist surgery

Golden State Warriors guard Raja Bell underwent successful surgery today to repair ligament damage in his left wrist, the team announced.

Following the surgery, which was performed by Dr. Paul Perlik at Presbyterian Orthopedic Hospital in Charlotte, NC, Bell will have his wrist immobilized for six (6) weeks, at which point he will begin rehabilitation.

He is expected to be sidelined a minimum of three (3) months.