Filed under: Suns, Timberwolves
PHOENIX -- Before the Suns snapped their three-game losing streak with a 128-122 win over the Timberwolves on Wednesday, Alvin Gentry cautioned about expecting too much out of Robin Lopez, who would make his first appearance in the team's lineup since suffering a knee injury back on Nov. 14."He's not the cavalry," Gentry said.
While that might be true -- Lopez by himself isn't the cure for the many issues that have plagued Phoenix during the first part of its season -- the opposite appeared to be the case, at least for one night. Just consider all of the areas the Suns had struggled in recently that seemed to magically go smoothly with Lopez back in the starting lineup.
Offense: It's no secret that the Suns are a team that needs to score at a blistering pace to win games. But over their last three -- all losses -- the team averaged just 97 points per game, far below its league-leading average of 109.
Against Minnesota, Phoenix exploded for 128 points, its second-highest total of the season. Lopez's presence helps tremendously in terms of the way he's able to screen for Steve Nash, and also make the defense respect him inside, which frees up the shooters on the perimeter for open looks. During the team's three-game losing streak, teams were staying home on the shooters and forcing Nash to try to carry the scoring burden almost entirely by himself. In this one, Nash attempted only four shots, while dishing out a season-high 19 assists.
Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/12/16/robin-lopez-returns-to-suns-makes-impact-felt-immediately/
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