Planet Orange: Too Little Too Late?

Before the Fredstrom gets going, he has to tell you his favorite moment from last night's game.  So you know how the players all greet each other with high fives and thug hugs? Well Shaq greets Jazz Center Mehmet Okur with the customary European double-cheek kiss.  The Fredstrom doesn't know if Shaq was trying to be culturally sensitive or just a clown, but Okur immediately wipes both sides of his face to get those Shaqtus germs off himself.

In and of itself that is funny, but here's the kicker! Okur misses his first 4 free throws which at the time were crucial.  He shot 2-6 from the line (33%) well under his season avg. of 83%.  On the other hand Shaq goes 4-6 with 2 HUGE free throws in the last 2 minutes!

It's too bad the Suns didn't ditch Porter 10 games earlier.  Gentry has the bench playing well, giving the starters some much needed rest.  This bench was vital in the Lakers upset, the Denver game Monday night, and of course last night. Viva La Gentry!

Is it too little too late?  Will the Suns catch the Mavs?  If they beat Portland tonight they will only be 3 games behind the Blazers.  Should be interesting!

One of the Most Incredible Dunks Ever!

Check out this video...amazing the guy didn't kill himself!

Remember!  If you are reading this in your email, you have to go to the blog to watch the video.

Momma Always Said There'd Be Days Like This...

After last night's loss to the Lebron's, The Fredstrom has some thoughts...

- Sometimes it's just the other team's night. Cavs shoot 17-33 3pt FG's.

- Sometimes the other team has a star player that gets star treatment. Lebron 43 mins. 0 fouls

-Also see the non-call on J. Richardson's 360 dunk.

-Sometimes that star is just a big freak of nature. See three triple doubles in a row.

- Sometimes you have idiots on your team. Trying to do a flashy and unnecessary 360 dunk in a close game when you know that Lebron is on the other team.  It doesn't matter that he was in the backcourt when you took off...just ask Leandro how it felt in the first quarter. SWAT!

-Also see Matt Barnes 4 turnovers in the first 4 mins.

-Sometimes your team gets deflated after losing 5 in a row and know deep down that they don't have a chance to make the playoffs. Just see the Suns starting lineup introductions.

-Talk about unenthused!

- They looked like they were walking the Green Mile, not getting ready to play a very important nationally televised game.

-Sometimes you force a coach out and bring in a GM that is clueless.

- See hiring Terry Poorter, letting go the winningest coach in the last 5 years, bringing Shaq here, bringing J. Rich in a guy that doesn't think so good, trading away draft picks like Andre Igoudala, Luol Deng, and Rajon Rondo. Nice job Sarver...but you sure do wave that foam finger well. You were so close the last few years, it was bad luck that caused some of the misfortune not lack of talent.  Say all you want about defense winning championships..I don't see the Celtics or Lakers, or Cavs for that reason keeping the Suns to 85 points...combined they have held the Suns to 103 points per game.

-Sometimes you just have bad luck.

-See the entire Suns history.

Whether the Suns have given up, gassed out, or just don't have it anymore, it's disappointing to say the least.  The Suns fans are not ready to watch Planet Busted Orange rebuild.  They aren't ready to watch a team win 20 games.  Sarver needs to get it together and so does Steve Kerr. Are you going to make some big moves for the 2010 summer, i.e. Lebron, D. Wade, Dirk, Bosh, Amare? Or just be mediocre and try to hit the draft?  With Nash done, Shaq done, and possible Amare, Sarver should have some serious jack to land some real talent on Planet Orange.

The formula for winning championships: Get two perennial all-stars, a rebounder, and surround them with 3point shooters. - See Houston Rockets, see Chicago Bulls, see San Antonio Spurs, see last year's Celtics.

Go get D. Wade, Kopono, J.J. Reddick and Kevin Durant. Keep guys like Lou Amundson Dudley, and Barbosa. The Suns don't have a guy that can hit the big shot.  See Roger Mason and his four game winners this year, see James Posey in last year's playoffs.

Not Sure if You Saw This...

With the SUNS setting and Planet Orange imploding the Fredstrom has to find a way to keep himself entertained. Where else does one turn but to youtube?! This is a riot!

This prank was amazing...it takes about 6 minutes and is well worth it.



Should the Suns make a push for the playoffs just to be ousted by the Lakers in the first round and miss a lottery pick. Or just coast the rest of the way to get a lottery pick to help rebuild next year?

Planet Orange Gets a Black Eye!

Should have been wearing these glasses player!

Okay so now Amare is out for 8 weeks because of an eye surgery...not good timing at all! Good news is that the Suns can still sneak into the playoffs and have him ready a week or so before they start.

Garnett is out for this Sunday's game and again other teams in the West are falling apart.  Sweet Lou and the rest of the bench will need to step it up, like really step on it- like J. Rich and his gas pedal with a 3 year-old in the back seat! Eat your carrots Amare! Get back quick!

If for some reason the Suns don't get far because of this eye-poke..that would be yet another spell of bad luck for our beloved Planet. From the Kareem coin flip, to the John Paxson dagger, to the Joe Johnson face break, to the Amare microfracture, the suspensions, and that darn Tim Duncan 3pt. prayer last year in the playoffs....man that was tough to bring up. The Fredstrom remains optimistic and wonders if you feel the same?

Planet Orange Burning Brighter?

Coach Poorter has been cast out like space garbage and Planet Orange is burning a whole light brighter.  The players are using words like "freedom" and "fun!" Yes, it is the PaperClips, and yes they are injured, and just a flat out horrible team, but the Suns look like they have just been released from Porterwitz- straight up running for their lives and the Fredstrom couldn't be happier.

The Suns body language is different, they are having fun again. The Suns are smiling more and there are plenty of high-fives to go around.  The Suns are communicating better on defense and it is showing.  They are mixing up the defense with a steady balance of man-to-man and zone.  Their points in the paint have been redonkulous not to mention their assist per game and shooting percentage.

Even though the games haven't been close, Gentry seems less afraid to play his bench than both Porter and D'Antoni, this should allow the starters, mostly Nash and Shaq to have fresher legs during those late 4th quarter minutes.  The Fredstrom likes!  You don't see Poopovich or the Phil panic and put their stars in with more than 8 mins to go in the fourth, they come in well rested and usually finish strong. The more the bench plays the more confidence they get-the better they will be-the more rest the starters will get, etc.  Shoot, Nash already looks 10 years younger...and his turnovers are way down, he just looks cleaner.

On the flip side whipping the Clips twice and even beating Oak City tomorrow doesn't mean a whole lot.  How will the Suns show up against the Celts on Sunday?  Will this team be able to move up into a 3, 4, or 5 seed in the West?  With the Hornets dumping salary, T-Mac out for the season, Manu and his health problems, The Oden's bone chips, and the underachieving Jazz, the Suns may just do it. Either way, it's fun to be a Suns fan again and it's exciting to see what the next thirty games will bring! Your thoughts?

Cards Come Up Short, But So Did the Steelers!

Wow! What a game!

The Fredstrom could talk about how this epic game looked a lot like the Suns v. Spurs in the playoffs.  He could touch on the face mask call that should have been off-setting or how the 100yd. interception TD return should have been a 99 yd. one.  How about the roughing the place holder call, while it didn't cost the Cardinals any points they did end up losing valuable time that would have helped towards the end of the game. But you can't cry over the refs, you can't leave the fight in the judges' hands. Make a stop, make Pittsburgh kick a field goal and tie it...or better yet, throw the ball in the first half like you did in the 2nd!  The Hurry-Up offense worked pretty well, wonder what the outcome would have been if it was used the whole game?

    But the Fredstrom digresses...

Congratulations for a great season!  It was a fun ride and they deserved to be there.  Now let's see if the Bidwell's dig a little deeper into their pockets to keep the core of this team together.  

Unfortunately the Arizona sports fan has to look forward to Planet Meltdown.  Hopefully Captain Poorter will get a clue or be jettisoned to the coaching junk yard.  Is it just the Fredstrom or does every picture of Coach Poorter look like he's either confused or no one's listening?

The Fredstrom especially likes the one with Dan Marjele (the other defensive specialist) where they look completely confused or the one with Porter just scratching his head!