Both teams come with a gameplan. They have a certain style and they execute their style. The Suns, as we all know, are a push-it-up team. They love to get the rebound and either dribble it up or pass it up through Nash to get quick open shots. They have a lot of movement in screening to get the real good perimeter shooters that they have open. It’s been a very, very successful way of playing that is difficult to defend against.

Utah plays a speed game, but it’s more of a deliberate type game. They like to move from side to side and then punch it into the low post. Phoenix doesn’t do that very much. If Phoenix is going to have success against Utah, they’re going to have to be really sharp with their offense because Utah’s defense is very physical and very demanding. In this game, Utah has big guys like Boozer and Kirilenko who can play inside, but their big guys also have the ability to drive the ball to the basket or step outside like Okur and shoot the ball from three-point range.

This game is another one of the tremendous point guard matchups that seem to happen on a nightly basis in the Western Conference. Steve Nash has been great again early on this season leading the league in assists and Deron Williams is really becoming a nightly force in this league. The other night against Miami I thought Nash showed a little fatigue and the fact that Williams is bigger, stronger and more physical than Nash won’t make him an easier cover for Steve when they match up.

I don’t think there is any doubt that Steve Nash is the best point guard in the game right now, but there are some other guards that are moving in behind him. Deron Williams is one of those guards. Williams has the whole package with the ability to step outside and hit the three, as well as drive the ball to the basket and finish in spite of contact. He’s Jerry Sloan’s type of player – a tough, hard-nosed guard who can play defense. Jerry has really given him a lot of freedom out on the court and he’s done a great job of running the offense.

After their loss against Miami, several players and Coach Mike D’Antoni were noticeably disturbed by their recent defensive performances. There is no doubt that they have a tremendous offensive team, but when Minnesota puts up 87 points through three quarters on you and the Heat score 117 points, there is a realization that you just can’t win with offense only. And this is nothing new. In fact, it has been a point of contention among many around the league for the last few years. Can the Suns win a title with their style of play? I wouldn’t be surprised if after that loss to Miami Mike highlighted their defensive breakdowns in the film sessions. Either that or they’re working on different drills where they can develop a better defensive style. You can factor in fatigue as a reason for their performance against Miami, but a lot of people would agree that they need to sharpen up their defense. They have people who can play defense, it’s just a matter of getting everybody on the same page.

The Jazz are a team that is disciplined offensively and defensively. However, like all teams they do get away from their schemes. When Sloan was a guard, you just couldn’t come rolling through the lane to catch an easy pass or attempt an easy shot. He was very physical. In turn, he wants to see his guards and his big men to mix it up in the low post. What he has probably talked about the last few games is that they need to be more physical, have more focus and do a better job overall on both ends of the floor. Jerry is a tremendous NBA coach and he will get those guys moving in the right direction soon enough.

Another excellent matchup within this game will be that of Carlos Boozer and Amare Stoudemire. Both are strong and physical and neither one backs down. Finally healthy, Boozer is a major factor on the boards who likes to mix it up down low. Stoudemire is fearless as well and has added range to his jumper this season to the point of feeling comfortable near the three-point line. The matchup between these two young horses is definitely something to watch.

Grant Hill has done a tremendous job since he joined the Suns. I love to watch him play. He’s got a great feel for the game and can pretty much do it all – drive to the basket, shoot the three-pointer, defend – and he doesn’t get rattled. He really knows how to play basketball.

Thankfully for the Jazz, Andrei Kirilenko has refocused better than many would have thought after his preseason comments about wanting to be traded and is showing the talent that made him one of the game’s most versatile and indispensable players prior to his shaky year last season. Kirilenko is one heck of a player who fills the stat sheet with his passing, rebounding, scoring and shotblocking.