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Game Thread #5 -- vs. Phoenix

By sungo

(Note: About the banner ad. These SB Nation sites require a ton of server space, bandwidth and technical support. These services are not free and the advertising is necessary. The ad placement, while not ideal, does not bother me all that much. But you should know that it is beyond my control, and I've yet to receive a single dime in compensation for all this crap I am turning out. I do it for the love of the game and those tender midnight phone calls I get from Beno Udrih. He's cute when he's drunk.)

The Spurs welcome the struggling Suns to town. The game is being televised on ESPN in HD. You haven't lived until you've witnessed the difference HD makes. You guys should come over sometime.

Amare is starting tonight. Probably in place of the all-of-the-sudden portly (by NBA standards) Boris Diaw. Who knew French food could make you fat? Bill Simmons, with his trademark style, had an interesting analysis of the Amare situation:

Here's the best analogy I can come up with: Imagine going to Vegas with a group of buddies, one of whom just got canned from his job and dumped by his girlfriend. Now you're walking around Vegas with him and you're ready for a 12-hour gambling binge ... only here's your unemployed, depressed buddy looking like death warmed over and saying stuff like, "I'm not sure how many hours I have in me tonight, I'm supposed to get a call from my ex at midnight" and "I can't gamble that much, I'm already knee-deep into my savings." And you know he's coming back strong some day, but right now, all you know is that he's standing behind the table while everyone else is playing, making annoying comments and secretly resenting the fact that you guys are cutting loose and having fun ... and you wish he'd go up to the room, only you feel guilty for wishing that, and that makes it even worse. Would that ongoing subplot affect the mood of the group all weekend? I say yes.

Anyway, Amare Stoudemire is playing the role of the Unemployed/Separated Guy In Vegas on the Suns. And it's hurting them. Now you know why they signed a comedic genius like Jalen Rose -- this team needs a good laugh.

I wonder if he actually believes that, or he just thought it would make for an interesting analogy? Does it matter? What's his primary goal, to inform or entertain? Where am I going with this? Nowhere. I have to get back to work.

Comments? Thoughts? Carrot cake recipes? Post away.

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