Suns get chance to end TNT curse
by Paul Coro - Dec. 17, 2009
The Arizona Republic
TNT studio analyst Kenny Smith could never quite understand why he and his on-air partner, Charles Barkley, get such a bashing from Suns fans for what they say on TNT about the Suns.
But when they are always talking about Suns' losses, it is hard to put much shine on the Suns.
No foe has proven more difficult for the Suns than TNT, which blows up on them every time as if they are Wile E. Coyote. Phoenix has lost 16 consecutive games broadcast by TNT, dating back to the 2008 playoff series against San Antonio and even including two preseason outdoor games in Indian Wells, Calif. The Suns will try to solve the NBA's most confounding losing streak tonight at Portland, the last place they won a TNT game in March 2008 when Raja Bell held Brandon Roy to six points.
"That's the funniest, most interesting fact I've heard," Smith said. "We get a lot of flack, especially Charles, about badgering the Suns. Now, I understand why people would think that because we're always seeing them lose.
"I hope the curse doesn't continue. I will take everything off the mantle."
The Suns would seem to be TNT-friendly. Barkley is a Valley resident who is in the Suns' Ring of Honor. TNT game analyst Doug Collins is a Valley resident and friend of the franchise with close relationships to the coach, Alvin Gentry, and general manager, Steve Kerr. Kerr worked as a TNT analyst before becoming the Suns' GM.
TNT means tough matchups but it does for every other participant too. Over the streak's timeline, the Suns are 73-38 (.658) in all other games.
"It's bizarre," Kerr said. "What are the chances of losing 16 in a row? I know the competition's tougher but it's not like we don't beat good teams on ESPN . There's no explanation.
"Let's pin it on Charles. He brings that negative vibe all the time."
There is a new variable in the works tonight. Marv Albert lost his voice and TNT has turned to Gary Bender, the Suns' play-by-play voice for Fox games, to fill in tonight with Reggie Miller. The Suns are 9-0 with Bender calling games because he works the home ones.
"That's a lot of pressure," Bender said. "Someone told me one time, 'If I'm responsible for winning or losing, they better pay me a lot more money.' "
Bender said Gentry told the team Tuesday, "We're tired of losing on TNT. We've decided to bring in our own guy. We're going to stop this right now."
Most TNT opponents are difficult, although Phoenix was a heavy favorite to beat New Orleans without Chris Paul four weeks ago and lost 110-103. Only four of the 16 losses have been at home. Hardly any of the games even have been close.
The Suns' TNT losses have come by an average of 11.2 points. The only games they almost won were a Jan. 15 game at Denver, when Grant Hill was tripped on a potential game-winner with no call, and this year's Indian Wells preseason trip, when rookie Earl Clark missed a late 3-pointer to tie. Otherwise, there are only ugly moments, like Roy's 52 points a year ago and losses of 19, 26 and 13 to the Lakers.
"That's still terrible," Suns forward said. "We've got to be better.
"One, it has to do with the competition. Two, after a while, it's mental. People do think about it early on. It's a different team than last year. I guarantee we're going to win one game on TNT this year. I don't know what game but we will win one."
Only four Suns remain from the start of the streak - Nash, Hill, Amar'e Stoudemire and Leandro Barbosa. Barbosa feels the TNT curse most, averaging 8.0 points and shooting 32.8percent in those games. The streak started in the 2008 playoffs when Hill battled a hernia. The first loss came when they blew a 14-point lead to San Antonio by not scoring for the first six minutes of the second half in the series' Game 2.
"I blame Sean Marks," Hill joked.
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