Suns/Spurs

by Dave on May 17, 2007 12:23 AM PDT in News

Well, the Suns almost pulled out a game that I believe surely would have led them to a championship. In the end the game was too much in the Spurs' style though. Both teams made mistakes but the Spurs can win making mistakes better than the Suns can. If it turns out that the Suns lose the series this will forever be an "almost" moment for their fans. There's something about these Suns though, much like their early 90's counterparts, that says "almost". Tonight was an opportunity for that to change and it didn't. However they're sure to contend seriously next year. This is more than I can say for the Spurs. Last year everybody thought they were done when they lost to Dallas and I said they had another run left in them and picked them to win it all this year (which they very well might do). But this is it...at least for the current incarnation of the team. When you need an Horry hip check into the boards to make it you're approaching the end and I think they know it. Don't get me wrong, they're still going to be great. They'll be an upper seed for a few years yet. But this feels like their last serious threat for a ring. I'll be curious to see if and when Pop turns the reins over. That will be a major sign also.

One thing that stood out clearly to me was that even with the semi-sloppy duel this level of basketball is light years ahead of where the Blazers are. You could compare the two games but only the way you compare your Friday night home poker game to a high-stakes professional match. Both the Spurs and the Suns are able to think and play twelve steps ahead of us. I hope by the end of next season that gap is shortened to half a dozen or so.

--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)

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darn it!

those suspensions irk me.

I had predicted the suns for the win! They still have a chance, so we'll see. I just don't like the odds against it now!

maybe they'll have a little more determination and fire now. They have the better team but they don't always play to their full potential.

by ratbastird on May 17, 2007 5:45 AM PDT reply actions

Nash ain't getting any younger either

It's not going to be long before the entire West shifts in power. Dallas, SA, Pho, those teams are either in their prime right now or on the downside of their prime. Utah could be the team that's the next 'favorite' in the West. With some good decisions Portland could be right up there soon.

by leeroyjenkins on May 17, 2007 8:07 AM PDT reply actions

yup

Another reason i'm surprised phoenix gave up sergio... can you imagine a better mentor than Steve? A better team than the suns?

by ratbastird on May 17, 2007 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions

Simmons

Anyone else read Bill Simmons' piece on HorryGate (sorry, I had to) and how the NBA has systematically screwed up the physical aspect of the game with each rule change they've made? It's a really great piece of analysis -- yeah, especially from a guy who's lately become an annoying parody of himself -- and I'm curious what others think.

(One complaint: His assertion that flopping is some sort of brand new phenomenon. Please. Flopping's been around a while. Our man Scottie Pippen was one of the greatest practitioners the game's ever seen. Some of his Bulls Era Flops should be in the Hall of Fame.)

by Toast on May 17, 2007 9:32 AM PDT reply actions

Pippen?

I think Reggie miller and then stockton/horn might be the real winners!

oh... and this cracked me up!

"as Cowens was running, he snapped and suddenly charged Newlin like a free safety, bodychecked him at full speed (much, MUCH harder than Horry's foul on Nash) and sent poor Newlin careening into the press table at about 35 mph. Then he turned to the same ref and screamed ...

"NOW THAT'S A F------- FOUL!"

by ratbastird on May 17, 2007 11:36 AM PDT up reply actions

What a series...

The Spurs(Duncan especially) had a terrible 1st half offensively. They scored 33 points. That's why it surprised me that Kerr focused on the Suns' offense/Marion's 20 points instead. They held the Suns to 44 points(110 avg/game during reg. season) on 43% shooting-that's good D.

It's just like the Mavs/GS series: if the Suns/GS can't force turnovers or get rebounds, they can't get in transition where both teams and especially Marion thrive offensively. Once Duncan and company got on track in the half-court(55 2nd-half points vs. Marion-4) it was a different game.

The Suns missed an opportunity, but the series isn't over by any means. However they HAVE to excecute better in the half court. By that I mean they need to stop settling for 3s and contested jump shots. They need to get more attempts in the paint and more trips to the line. The team that gets the most makes at the charity stripe is undefeated in the series.

They Suns have to get Duncan in foul trouble like in game 4, so he doesn't have the opportunity to get 5 blocks like he did in game 5. They need to run that Nash/Amare-2 man game into the ground. They scored 7 out of the 9 times they ran that play in game 4, including 3 makes in a row at the end to help steal the victory.

Suns outlook-I don't like the comparison to the 90's team because the current team is younger, and far more talented. 3 of the Suns' best players(Barbosa, Diaw, Amare)still have alot to learn. For example Amare(age 25) is 1st team all-league this year, but was 2nd in the league in personal fouls, and always looks uncomfortable in the low-post. Nash is aging, but look how long Stockton was effective wihtout the young, talented supporting cast to rely on. I think the Suns have at least 3 (even better thatn this year) title shots with Nash.

Spurs-Bowen, Barry, and Finely are close to the end, but they all still have 1-2 productive years left. They are important, but far easier to replace than the "Big 3". With arguably the best management in the league, I woudn't be too worried if I'm a Spurs fan. Duncan is the oldest of the Big 3(31), but I think he can be productive enough along with the other 2 to continue legitimate contention for the next 5 years.

Also consider how the team was able to sleep-walk through the 1st half(Duncan epecially) this year, then "turn it on" after the all-star break. The only 2 trade-offs are seeds and awards. Duncan doesn't care about awards, because he wants more rings. Pop doesn't care much about the seeds, because they have the veteran talent to split the 1st 2 road games in any series and steal the home-court.

by JMblazerfan on May 17, 2007 11:45 AM PDT reply actions

i thought they could pull it out

and i still think they can pull it out. Don't count them out of anything yet. They are going to be at full strength both of the next games, and Horry (who's season should be over IMHO) will be gone for the next game. While he's not exactly a cornerstone player, he is still vital when the games get close and this next one should be another nail biter with the Suns at full strength pulling it out and headed back to phoenix for a game 7 in front of an obnoxious home crowd. Go Suns.

written by the Blazer Thoughts artist formely known as "Scott R"

by saregister on May 17, 2007 2:39 PM PDT reply actions