| 23 October 2009
The Big Guns - you know our Amar'e and Channing Frye to name a couple - never made a sound against the Trailblazers last night. Nary a pop was heard nor a puff of smoke seen. Nothing - that's right - nothing.
'Twas the Sound of Silence.
The lack of firepower was most noticable in Frye's ugly numbers from beyond the arc. Yes - we do admit to cheering for the new addition from Day One because he's advertised as a Big Man Who Can Nail It From 3-Land but apparently the groundhog saw his shadow yesterday and told Channing to cool it because the big guy went cold as ice and hit nada - zilch - in four attempts from beyond the arc.
Maybe the thought of playing against his former buddies put some fear into the former Blazer - stranger things have happened. But suffice it to say Frye's dismal outside shooting was coupled with a dearth of rebounding as he dragged down only one all night. But he was not alone in this ugly night. No - not even close.
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Amar'e Stoudemire's scoring production dropped from a pre-season average of 16.4 ppg to just nine points as the Suns flailed about the court. That's when they were showing any energy on the floor at all - please wipe the third quarter from your memory banks. And STAT didn't make up the difference with his own great rebounding. SURPRISE!
No - Amar'e grabbed only two off the defensive boards all night - a meager contribution to the mere 28 total rebounds the Suns snagged all night. A team total that was a full 22 fewer than the Trailblazers pulled down and four less than Portland grabbed on the defensive end alone.
The only true highlight reel player was Jared Dudley who once again showed why he's no longer a scrub. Hitting three shots from far away and wracking-up 13 points, Dudley had more of an impact in his 22 minutes court time than anyone else on the team. Jared was sooo good that Aunt Nellie even said she likes his eyes. And his three rebounds didn't hurt either.
So with less than a handful of days left before the games actually count for something - where does Coach Alvin Gentry turn to? Besides digging for the owner's checkbook and getting a center who does rebound - a Ben Wallace with good knees to compliment Channing's outside efforts - it may be the bench. And, with an average of 8.1 ppg in while playing an average of 18 minutes a pre-season game, Dudley could be the man.
Giving Jared an extra ten minutes playing time next game wouldn't hurt. Let's see how his legs hold-up and rest Grant Hill and Amar'e so they don't develop late season health issues.
C'mon Coach - give Duds a start. 
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