Archive for April, 2008

The setting Suns

Here’s what went down today on G&A:

* Short show today following more Diamondbacks’ dramatics at Chase Field. Cue pinch-hitter Micah Owings.

* The Suns are done. Gambo & Ash broke the full spectrum of the season including the Shaq trade, the Suns’ late-game collapses against the Spurs, Steve Nash’s inability to make shots and plays after Game 2, and the uncertain future of Mike D’Antoni. G&A agree Steve Kerr should explore trading Nash if he can get fair value (a quality 2-guard or young point guard/draft picks) in return. Gambo places more blame on Nash than D’Antoni in the Spurs’ series. Gambo feels the window has closed on the Suns. Ash feels this current team can still compete in the west.

Tomorrow: ESPN NBA Tim Legler

Do-or-die for Suns

Here’s what went down Tuesday on G&A:

* Do-or-die tonight for the Suns in San Antonio. Gambo & Ash discussed the harsh reality of the season possibly ending and Mike D’Antoni’s tenure coming to an abrupt end in Phoenix. How will Steve Kerr and Robert Sarver pick up the pieces if the Spurs prevail in Game 5?

* TNT sideline reporter David Aldridge joined the guys from the Alamo City. Aldridge believes the Spurs will wrap up the series tonight.

* Valley fan-favorite David Stern is at it again. The Commissioner suspended not a single player following last night’s Celtics-Hawks tussle last night in Atlanta. Stern must have had a poor look at things. Oh wait, he was nearly sitting courtside. Ash is furious at Stern’s inconsistencies and thinks it’s time to for a fresh face to run the NBA. Gambo is perplexed by Stern’s decisions, but doesn’t believe in any NBA conspiracy theories.

* The Diamondbacks won again, ho-hum. Anyone notice this team is now 19-7? Chad Qualls continues to put out fires out of the bullpen. Gambo trusts Qualls more than ANY pitcher on the roster. G&A know any player in the Snakes’ line-up can hurt you at the plate. Gambo feels this team is on the brink of something special this season-like a World Series title.

* Giants’ rich-guy Barry Zito is in the bullpen. Gambo thinks he’s the biggest waste of money in baseball history. Ash says Russ Ortiz has to rank right up there. We took calls.

* ESPN’s Tim Kurkjian shared his thoughts on the D-Backs, the surprising Tampa Bay Rays, and the sudden decline of Zito.

Wednesday: Game 5 re-cap following the Diamondbacks’ matinée against Houston.

 
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Audio: Daron Sutton interviews Vin Scully

Audio: Daron Sutton interviews Vin Scully

 
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Diaw steps up and the Suns see another day

Here’s what went down Monday on G&A

* The Suns survived a sweep and now face another elimination game tomorrow in San Antonio. G&A agree it was nice to see Boris Diaw step up and play to his potential, for once. Ash thinks the Suns can win Game 5. He also loved the fact that Mike D’Antoni played his bench, but wondered why he left his starters in when the game was clearly out of line. Gambo was impressed with D’Antoni’s adjustments, but doesn’t think the Suns will survive this series.

* San Francisco Giant Barry Zito is the most expensive long-reliever in baseball history. He’s 0-6 and with a 7.53 ERA. Gambo thinks Zito was one of the worst free-agent signings in baseball history.

* The Cards wrapped up their draft weekend yesterday afternoon. G&A would have liked to see the Red Birds take running back Rashard Mendenhall with the 16th pick instead of corner Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, but understand that cornerback was a position that needed an upgrade and depth. Gambo wonders if the small-school Cromartie can consistently match-up against much better NFL-ready talent at the next level like he did at the Senior Bowl. Both love the selection of D-lineman Calais Campbell with the 50th overall pick.

* We were joined by their 3rd-round pick and former LSU star receiver Early Doucet. The former Tiger caught 160 passes and 20 TD’s during his 4-year career in Baton Rouge.

* The Diamondbacks won another series beating Jake Peavy and the Padres yesterday in San Diego as Brandon Webb improved to 6-0. The Snakes also called up prized pitching prospect Max Scherzer. G&A love the idea of getting the kid a sample of life in the big leagues.

Tomorrow: ESPN MLB analyst Tim Kurkjian

 
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Could D’Antoni’s job be in jeopardy?

Here’s what went down Friday on G&A

* Tonight is the night. Suns vs. Spurs - Game 3. G&A wonder if Phoenix can get over the mental hurdle that Greg Popovich’s team presents. Ash believes the Spurs are the most-hated team by Arizona sports fans. We took calls.

* G&A also shared their thoughts on the uncertain status as Mike D’Antoni as Suns’ head coach should the Spurs wrap up the series with ease.

* Mavs’ talented swingman Josh Howard admitted to ESPN Radio in Dallas that he smoked pot over the summer. G&A were amused that he told his story on Michael Irvin’s radio show.

* The NFL draft starts tomorrow. We were joined by two local high school and college draft prospects. Former Corona del Sol High and ASU star Mike Pollak is expected to be one of the top centers selected. Former Highland High and UA star linebacker Spencer Larsen also joined the show to discuss the weekend. Larsen is expected to be a mid-round selection.

* The Diamondbacks beat the Dodgers last night, but it wasn’t without controversy. LA second baseman Jeff Kent and manager Joe Torre were ejected after Kent allegedly failed to keep his foot on the bag during a late-inning force play which eventually led to a Diamondbacks’ insurance run. Gambo thinks Kent should have been given the benefit of the doubt regardless of his foot was on the base or not.

 
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Must-win Game 3

Here’s what went down Thursday on G&A

* G&A peeked ahead to tomorrow’s monumental, must-win Game 3 for the Suns at US Airways Center. Is this series over? Mike D’Antoni sure doesn’t seem to think so. KTAR reporter Craig Grialou joined the guys to discuss today’s practice and the status of Grant Hill.

* Our ESPN NBA analyst Tim Legler said the Suns are still alive, but only if they can some how keep Parker and Ginobili out of the paint, something they haven’t done in the first two games. “Legs” expects this series to go seven.

* The NFL draft is 48 hours away. G&A shared their thoughts on what the Red Birds might do with the 16th pick. Both agree the most glaring need is at running back and cornerback. Gambo would love to see Illinois running back Rashard Mendenhall fall into the Cards lap. Head coach Ken Whisenhunt checked in to discuss this weekend’s prospects. Whiz thinks this draft is deep and quality players can be found in the 3rd and 4th-round. He also feels there’s less pressure on the club to pick that “can’t miss” player since, for once, they’re not picking in the Top 10.

* Speaking of prospects, former ASU safety Josh Barrett discussed his pre-draft expectations. Barrett is expected to be selected in the 2nd of 3rd-round and could be moved to outside linebacker at the next level.

* Laker star Kobe Bryant continues to dominate the game in so many different ways. He dropped 49 points and added 10 assists last night’s win over the Nuggets. G&A discussed where Kobe ranks among the all-time greats of this era (the 80’s and beyond). Gambo is amazed by Kobe’s greatness, but doesn’t know where to rank him among the all-time greats. We took calls.

Tomorrow: former ASU center, now draft prospect Mike Pollak, former UA linebacker and draft candidate Spencer Larsen, and ESPN college football analyst Mark May

 
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Coach Whisenhunt previews the draft with G&A

Ken Whisenhunt chats about the upcoming draft with Gambo & Ash. Whisenhunt goes over the Cardinals strategy, and talks about a couple of players the Cardinals are looking at.

 
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Audio: Suns vs. Spurs - Thursday practice

Amare Stoudemire feels that playing at home could get the Suns right back into the series. Stoudemire also thinks that no big changes are needed in the Suns game plan.

Steve Nash thinks the Suns are right with the Spurs and just need things to go their way at home.

Mike D’Antoni doesn’t expect a lot of changes in Game 3. Coach likes what the Suns are doing defensively and feels the problems are on the offensive end. D’Antoni also discusses Grant Hill’s situation and what the fans are feeling.

 

 

 
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Talk to the skipper: Bob Melvin

Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin: BoMel isn’t looking too far into his club’s lead in the National League West. The Diamondbacks skipper siad their 5-game stretch against the NL West - starting Wednesday in Los Angeles - will tell a lot about the Diamondbacks.

 
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Punk-A-Duncan

Here’s what went down Wednesday on G&A:

The Spurs continue to own the Suns in the playoffs. Ash thinks it’s time Mike D’Antoni employs the same strategy and slows the pace of the game by fouling Tim Duncan (Punk-A-Duncan).

Gambo thinks Umberto is the key to the series because he opens up the floor for Ginobili and Parker by setting great screens and pounding the offensive glass. Gambo thinks the Suns need to play smarter and it’s time for LB, Diaw, Raja, and gimpy Grant Hill to step up their games. G&A agree it will take an amazing effort for the Suns to win this series.

Yawn. The Diamondbacks won another series. The Snakes now 15-5 and running away with the NL West at least for now. Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin checked in for his weekly segment. BoMel says this is a key 5-game stretch against the NL West, starting tonight in LA, before breaking away from division play.

ASU athletic director Lisa Love checked in for her weekly segment to discuss Pat’s Run and the spring football game last weekend at Sun Devil Stadium. Love also applauded junior forward Jeff Pendergraph for not testing the NBA draft waters and returning for his senior season.

Breaking news mid-way through the show as the Cowboys acquired troubled Titans’ cornerback Pacman Jones for a fourth round pick. G&A discussed if this trade makes sense for either team.

Pro Bowler Anquan Boldin wants out of Arizona. Cardinals’ GM Rod Graves says they are not shopping their talented receiver and will not re-negotiate his deal until it expires in 2010. Gambo likes that the Cards aren’t budging on Q’s request, but think they would be wise to take offers. Ash thinks the Red Birds should do everything in their power to keep him, but only if it makes sense financially.

Future HOF’er John Smoltz struck out his 3,000th batter last night in Atlanta. Gambo wondered why only 23,000 bothered to show up.

Sharks center Jeremy Roenick also checked in to discuss his big game (2 goals, 2 assists) as San Jose eliminated Calgary last night.

Thursday: ESPN NBA analyst Tim Legler, Cards’ head coach Ken Whisenhunt, ASU draft prospects Mike Pollak & Josh Barrett

 
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