Suns Edge Celtics 85-77, Who Fall For 3rd Game In a Row to Western Conference

The big test Western Conference road trip is not going so well for the Eastern Conference leading Boston Celtics (41-12), who fell to the Phoenix Suns 85-77 at US Airways Center in Phoenix. "This West is no joke," said Boston's Kevin Garnett, who finished the evening with 19 points and only 5 rebounds, and got little help from his Celtics teammates. After starting the year 16-0 against the Western Conference, the Celtics have lost the first 3 games of their 5 game road trip out west. The Suns improved to 38-17 on the year (2nd in the Western Conference), and 22-2 against the Eastern Conference. The top 3 teams in the West are seperated by only 1/2 game at the top of the standings, with the Suns and Los Angeles Lakers battling neck and neck atop the Pacific Division.

Rick Scuteri/AP Photo

Shaquille O'Neal only scored 4 points in his second game with the Suns, but grabbed 14 boards and was constantly igniting Suns fast break opportunities by looking ahead to guard Steve Nash with great outlet passes. O'Neal and forward Amare Stoudemire (28 pts, 6 reb, 3 blk) helped the Suns dominate the paint, outrebounding the Celtics 50-32, and didn't give up many easy looks. Boston scored a season low 30 points in the 1st half, and only shot 38.5% from the field for the game. Without even being asked about his teammates, O'Neal offered up praise for Stoudemire immediately after the game, saying "Amare Stoudemire is the best big man in the game right now -- period, bar none. I didn't know he was that good. But talking to him and watching him play, he's the best big man in the game at 25, and I mean that. I'm not just saying that to pump him up." The addition of O'Neal allows Stoudemire to move to his natural power forward position, and provides the Suns with the ability to pound the ball down low and defend the paint. By taking O'Neal out, they can then slide Stoudemire back to center and insert another guard like Leandro Barbosa and play uptempo small-ball, if they want to push opposing teams who don't play good transition defense.

Boston will finish out their road trip with relatively easy games at Portland on Sunday night and the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night, which will helpfully cure the shooting woes of Paul Pierce (5 points on 2 for 13 shooting) and Ray Allen (11 points on 3 for 12 shooting).