Finn's NBA today - November 6

Finn's NBA today - November 6
By Tony Finn \| Published 11/6/2007 \| NBA \| Unrated

Tony Finn Managing Editor and Director of Operations for Sports Grumblings LLC, is nationally published covering the National Football League, Major League Baseball, College Football and has been a FSWA Writer of the Year finalist. Involved with Fantasy Sports since 1973, Tony has hosted radio and internet broadcasts that include the 'Dog and Tony Show' with NFL draft analyst D.J Boyer, 'Football Central', 'Finn on Sports', 'Gridiron Gamblers', and is the Senior NFL analyst for the PBS broadcast of "NFL Intellect". View all articles by Tony Finn Finn's Tuesday take on the NBA... GAMES ON TAP Phoenix at Charlotte +6 / 210 (7 PM EST) Less than a week into the season, and neither I nor Suns MVP guard Steve Nash is excited with the way the Phoenix is playing and being without big man Amare Stoudemire for the second straight game is concerning. Nash and the Suns are not expected to have Stoudemire tonight when they visit a good and undefeated Charlotte Bobcats team -- and I am bucking the strong trend that the Bobcats, who have never defeated Phoenix, will tonight. After being embarrassed in a 119-98 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in their home opener on Friday, the Suns (2-1) bounced back with a 103-92 victory over Cleveland on Sunday. Stoudemire did not play against Cleveland because of swelling in his right knee, and is listed as day-to-day. The All-Star center had arthroscopic surgery on the knee Oct. 2, and indicated he will be a game-time decision. "It all depends on how I feel," Stoudemire said after the Suns practiced on Monday. "If I feel good tomorrow, then I'll play. If not, then I'll sit it out. There's no pressure being put on me by the staff or the trainers." The Suns open a four-game road trip with this matchup against the Bobcats, who have dropped all six meetings with Phoenix since entering the NBA for the 2004-05 season. In its three victories at Charlotte, Phoenix has won by an average of 18.4 points. Four-time All-Star Shawn Marion had 23 points and 12 rebounds Sunday, and is averaging 21.8 points and 12.5 boards in his career against Charlotte. Charlotte (2-0) hung on for a 90-88 victory over Miami on Sunday, moving two games over .500 for the first time in franchise history. The Bobcats wasted all of a 16-point fourth-quarter lead before Jeff McInnis hit two free throws with 1.8 seconds left to seal the victory. Charlotte beat Milwaukee 102-99 in Friday's home opener, and have never started a season with consecutive home wins. This will be Charlotte's first game of the season against a Western Conference opponent. The Bobcats went 9-21 against those teams last season but this isn't a team lacking in confidence and the six points at home offers sports investors value. Charlotte plus the six points at home vs. Phoenix Finn's NBA Season Record 4-2 AP NEWS AND NOTES STARS Monday -Jason Terry, Mavericks, scored 31 points in a 107-98 victory over Houston. GOOD START Dallas defeated Houston 107-98 on Monday to improve to 3-1, which is notable only because they were 0-4 at this point last season, with a 41-point loss to Houston mixed in. Dallas went on to win 67 games, matching the fifth-most in league history, before getting bounced in the first round of the playoffs. STRONG IN DEFEAT Tracy McGrady had 35 points and eight assists, and Yao Ming had 21 points and 11 rebounds, but Dallas handed Houston its first loss of the season, 107-98 on Monday night. McGrady, who came in as the league's leading scorer and received the Western Conference's first player of the week award this season, was 12-of-31 from the field. SIDELINED Swelling in Amare Stoudemire's right knee could sideline him for the second game in a row when Phoenix begins a four-game road trip Tuesday night at Charlotte. The All-Star forward had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Oct. 2. He missed virtually all the 2005-06 season after microfracture surgery on his left knee. SPEAKING ''He just had that look in his eye and his shot really looked good. We are very surprised when he misses; we're kind of spoiled these days.'' - Dallas coach Avery Johnson, on Jason Terry's 31 points in the Mavericks' 107-98 win over Houston on Monday.