Suns-Spurs Round 2 Game 5

Pregame

OK. So we're all done talking about league stupidity for a few minutes, and hopefully for the rest of the season. I will be doing a transcript of David Stern's interview on PTI from today, and he will be exposed as the lying, manipulative prick that he is. It should be fun, especially once I get all the relevant games downloaded and transferred.

As usual, it's tough to know what to expect with this game. The energy and officiating have been all over the place, and I don't know how Stern's vindictiveness will come into play. Will the Suns get favorable calls to make up for the league's unjust solution to Monday night's Spurs meltdown? Or will Stern be so upset and defensive over EVERYONE questioning him that he'll instruct the refs to screw the Suns royally?

This game will go a long way in determining the near future of the NBA.

In the mean time, there are some funny doin's over at the Purple Palace. Several fans wearing bicycle helmets and bandages in preparation for sitting close to the Spurs players. There's a sign showing love to the Chuckster for his defense of Amare and Boris (what a quick turn around - we ARE forgiving).

Kenny thinks that Steve needs to have a 30 point, 18 assist game. Well, it's possible, I guess. I certainly hope that Nash has those numbers at the end of this game. And Chuck calls the Spurs "Stepford Wives" for just playing the way they do all the time. No let downs expected by San Antonio. Anyway...let's get this party started, and see if I can keep this up all game long. It might not be as comprehensive as the first round series, but I'll try to get as much in as I can.

LET'S GO SUNS!!!

1st Quarter

10:35 Tip goes to Parker. Nash immediately swipes it. KT's first try doesn't go, and I hope that's not a sign of things to come. Interesting note: Bowen is giving Nash noticeably more space. And Duncan gets called for the foul on the Leandro drive. LB needs to make his free throws this game. He's been bad from the field and at the line lately, but he gets both to go. Marion goes for the rebound off Duncan's missed, and Oberto pushes off. Foul favors the Suns. That's two.

9:22 Marion should NOT be shooting threes in this game. Another Duncan miss and WHOOOOAAAA!!!! NICE scoring drive by LB! Then Marion gets popped on Oberto's multipivot pump fake. Standard call, and he makes them both.

6:30 Nash goes long on the shot over Duncan. Suns are booing the Spurs every time, which is cool. Thomas strips Duncan, but TD recovers, and KT gets called for standing there. That's one for SA. Marion's working the glass as best he can, but he's going up against three Spurs. KT goes up against Bowen and misses, but Marion is fouled by Parker on the rebound. Then Trix gets loose inside and throws it down. Nice pass by Kurt. Suns are getting hurt by the lack of size, even with the volley ball effort by KT and Trix. Marion breaks free again, and the Suns are down only one point. 9-8 Spurs. Timeout Pop.

Someone want to call the Ritz and harrass Horry?

4:33 Parker gets the friendly road bounce on the leaner. Too bad. Marion takes Elson to the hole and it works out nicely for the good guys. Marion is everywhere as he steals it, but doesn't have the down court passing skills that Nash does, and it's a turnover after LB and TP roll on the floor. KT hits the open jumper YAY! Parker cannot guard Barbosa in the open court, and the refs support my observation. It's Parker's second. Nice.

2:55 Junior comes in, but it's Nash missing the floater. Good thing Marion is on the court...he stuffs it home, then comes back and hits a BIG three!!! D-3 on the Suns for some mysterious reason. Shawn Marion looks possessed, and that bodes well for the Suns. Finley misses the tech, and Pop goes small with Duncan as the only big on the floor. WOAH!!! THOMAS DRIVES AND SCORES, BLOWING BY DUNCAN!!! Big man's got a first step! Ball is deflected out of bounds on the next possession after Ginobili still can't score on Bell, and we get to hear the Pussycat Dolls get us all hot and bothered for Heineken as we go to the TV time out. 19-11 Suns.

I had other stuff written, but stupid IE closed by itself. Burke is in and Nash gets his first break with less than a minute left. Lotta nothing to talk about since the crash, so I'll try and remember what I wrote. I'll fail, but so long as everyone knows I had some nice stuff written. 24-11 Suns

Suns are shooting 9-21 for 43% shooting, but the Spurs are only 5-20. 15 rebounds to 8 for the Spurs is a VERY good sign. Good thing Pop went small.

2nd Quarter

9:18 Marion comes out and reminds TD how to use the glass. Nash still rests, and Parker comes in after LB's first foul. I don't understand why the crowd isn't chanting Dirty. Maybe it will just distract Kurt. G-Knob gets an open lane, then Raja nails a three. Ugh. Ginobili misses a desperation three, and Burke forgets that he's supposed to box out Oberto. He makes up for his transgression by fouling. Sit down, big fella. Nash comes back. Suns playing REALLY small with Trix at center. Still, it's effective. Junior misses a wide open three...not cool. Oberto tries to post LB, and he decides that it'll be easier just to run him over. Offensive foul. 28-17 Suns.

8:55 Junior misses the puppy that Steve so beautifully set up, but the refs bail him out with a foul on Elson. I don't know if it was a good call, yet, but I'll take it. Junior needs to hit these FTs to get his groove going. 1-2 isn't good enough. LB sends Parker to the floor for his 2nd foul, and the TV wants us to buy things. The energy was great coming out, but it's settled down ever so slightly. I think it works better with KT in there to balance the small line up D'Antoni's throwing at the Spurs. But he's old and needs his rest, so we can't have that for a full 48. If he gives us 30 minutes tonight, this should be cool. 29-17 Suns.

OK...the Elson foul on Junior was a good call. He was late and got some arm.

7:03 Parker gets 1 of 2 free throws, then Bowen kicks the ball out of bounds. Raja misses the sideways runner, KT gets the rebound to Junior who doesn't care about the three point line. Good deal, as he hits the two. Elson knocks Junior down under the basket as the Spurs score. It's wiped clean, and LB misses. Darn. Bowen no good on the long shot, and Suns are rebounding like mad. YEAH!!! Jones can't make up his mind in the corner, juking TP out of his socks, but when he finally does, he gets the three. FINALLY! Bell fouls Duncan, who gets one of two. 33-20 Suns.

5:09 Jones gets screwed on that loose ball, and the ball goes back to San Antonio after great scrambling D by Phoenix. Finley's desperation three doesn't like the rim, and Marion draws Elson's third foul on the blocking call. Suns favor, I think. OH LOOK! Tim Kempton's illegitimate son is in for SA, and Marion makes both freebies. Bell drives in, but Duncan can't be called for EVERY foul, can he? FINALLY Bonner gets the travel call, as his pivot foot was everywhere except where he planted it. Suns fans were waiting for that one. 35-22 Suns as corporate America seduces us again.

Funny how that first quarter just blitzed by, but the second is taking longer. As long as the Suns win, I don't are if it takes all night.

3:12 Dammit. Suns forget that a clock is on, and the overpassing kills them. Duncan finally gets glass, but he has to do it over the shorter marion. Speaking of the Matrix, that's another three off a nifty behind the back pass from Steve. Duncan used to be a volleyball player, but his window washing days are over for now. Great hustle by Barbosa, but it goes just off Nash's fingers out of bounds. Raja needs to get going through the lane. Forget this three point crap for now, Raja...attack the rack. Get your former swim team buddy in foul trouble. Another timeout? Already? OK. 38-24 Suns.

1:35 Thomas will NOT let Timmy score, and Barbosa makes it ahead of the pack. Nice fast break. Damn. A great block by KT on Parker wasted as the rebound mistakenly goes back to the Spurs. Duncan finally scores on Thomas, but it took transition. Suns have missed their last two and Duncan gets by KT again. It's a 20 second breather for Coach D'Antoni. Suns 40-30.

34.9 Yes. Nash scores over Duncan, but Bell is 1-6. Get it to the rack, my friend. Nash is just a wee bit too late to draw the charge on TD, and it's a pair of free throws coming. 1-2. Ginobili rushes out to Thomas on the perimeter, and I have no clue why. Neither does he, apparently, as he's popped for his first foul. Beauty of a 360 by Nash pass to Marion who scores off the runner. And Popovich calls a time out? With 34 seconds left in the half? Seriously? 44-31 Suns.

Wow. Marion is now 7-7 after that 1-4 start. He's got 20. Ginobili makes a move and scores, and Steve slows it down to leave one possession each. Bell still can't find the basket from long range, and G-Knob can't either as the buzzer sounds. 44-33 Suns. More to come after my break.

Halftime

Interesting: There seems to be a bit of a storm brewing outside. The wind is picking up, the shades are flying, and the doors are rattling. I wonder if it's related to November 4, 2001.

No halftime analysis, since I just got back. But I do have a funny thought. Matt Bonner is known by the ignorant Spurs, fans, and media as "The Red Rocket", presumably because he has red hair. But anyone who watches South Park religioously knows better. That's some sick shizzle, right there.

Wow. Marion already has 20-11 for Phoenix. Amazing. Kerr thinks Bowen can contain Shawn? Is he serious? Did he play basketball?

3rd Quarter

10:55 Let's hope that KT got some oxygen at half time. Offensive foul on Leandro? No complaints from the Suns...good deal. Duncan finally makes one over KT, but LB still can't hit. He's coming up short, so it's gotta be nerves. Nash misses the lay in after the foul ON BOWEN?!?! It's only his first foul, though. Odd. Nash makes both free throws, and it's 46-35 Suns.

10:37 Duncan drives and is promptly fouled by Thomas. Not exactly a good call, as TD's shoulder rams KT. He misses the first, but not the second. 46-36 Suns.

8:52 Argh. Thomas goes up and down, and forgets to shoot. Ginobili back doors on Raja. Ginobili misses a three badly, but the long rebound goes right to Duncan who scores on KT again. Hmmm...we're getting a bit sloppy. Nash double dribbles, but Bowen may have swatted it. Still goes against Nash, and Duncan is attacking KT hard. Spurs are on a 9-2 run, somehow, and it's Suns by 4, 46-42.

6:05 KT will NOT be denied, even in traffic, and he breaks the drought. Parker scores, then so does KT. Nash challenges Parker, and KT comes down with the miss. Ugh. LB can't score over Duncan. Finley gets an open three that barely grazes the rim, then Raja gets called for the charge on a moving Ginobili. Bad. Duncan rides KT's back, but gets away with it. But the ball goes off him out of bounds, then Nash promptly turns it over. Then the Spurs do, too, and we're back to an 8 point lead. Marion fouls Duncan on the double team. 52-44 Suns.

4:11 Good defense, but Finley still hits the three. Bowen then runs over Marion, and the crowd at USAC is happy. Say it with me, folks...DIRTY! DIRTY!! DIRTY!!! If Duncan keeps riding Thomas like that, he's going to have to stick a quarter in his ass. Bell misses AGAIN. This should be a run away, but the Suns are missing open looks. Then again, so are the Spurs as Barry misses. Now it's ugly. Pop agrees, and stops the clock. 52-47 Suns.

2:24 More of the same, still. Marion flashes in, but it's another Duncan block. Interesting that TD is guarding Marion now. Nash nails it. LB can't get a break as he picks up his fourth when Duncan elbows him out of the way. Crap call. Good thing G-Knob missed. YES! Bell finally makes a nice clean three. The crowd was behind him as he caught it, and that may help. Ginobili strips Bell, but no foul on the reach in. Marion counters by mugging Knob. Bell vents his frustration at the other end, then gets a T. 57-50 Suns.

NASH FOR THREE!!! And it's back to a ten point lead. Damn. Bowen actually makes a three. OH MY FUCKING GOD!!! Ginobili gets rewarded for the flop and LB picks up his fifth foul. What a joke of a call. LB had the path, Knob rammed right into him. Bullshit. Then Bowen travels. Some nice passingall over the court, but Marion misses. Nash drives and scores while hanging in the air, and floating ever so gently across the lane. A different look from Hockey Nash we've seen lately. Then Knob beats the shot clock with a three. Nash drives, and Bowen gets popped for the free foul. His third, but he should be out already if LB is. 62-56 Suns.

So it seems that the league called the refs at half time and asked them what the hell they were doing. They respond by giving 5 free throws to the Spurs, and only 2 to Phoenix. Maybe they need to make it look realistic?

4th Quarter

10:24 How many times is Duncan going to hang all over Thomas and get away with it? KT misses, but Marion is there yet again. Bell ends up with another three. Maybe he's heating up? Let's hope so. Ginobili takes a few shuffle steps with Jones all over him, but it's a three second violation instead. Just as good. Wow. Thomas is showing his TCU days as he works the screen and roll with Nash, takes two steps in, then gets hammered by Duncan. He makes both free throws. 67-56 Suns.

9:21 Duncan gets swatted by KT, but Ginobili gets the rebound and jumps into Bell for the foul and gets two free throws. Why? Because the league makes no sense. Nash bounces the ball back door to Thomas, but Steve forgets that it's not LB and it rolls out of bounds beneath KT's reach. Finley manages a fade away in the lane, but barely. Thomas is getting aggressive to the rim, but he misses and Knob answers with a 3. KT needs to stick with the jumper for now. 67-63 Suns.

Suns are turning it over a bit too much, but a couple of those were dubious offensive fouls. We'll have to check the tape later.

7:06 Ton Loc implores us "Let's do it". Marion does, and gets the freebies thanks to a shove by Oberto. WHAT THE HELL?! Bowen hits a three after Raja gets laid out by Oberto with no call. Jones gets the ball underneath from LB, and it's good. Now Knob hits another three. DAMN! LB just CANNOT HIT! ANOTHER open three for him. Nash airs out a lay up, and there's a question whether or not Bowen fouled him again, which he did. Thank you, replay. 71-69 Suns.

5:42 Nash is in love with the behind the back, but Thomas just can't handle it. It's time for him to take over, and he responds with a three ball. At the 6:00 mark, it's Nash's time to take over the game. Ginobili can't understand why the refs actually called a foul on him. Thomas took a pae from Knob's book. KT then gets a basket on the other end, and-one, thanks to Duncan's third foul. 77-69 Suns.

3:10 Ginobili gets through, but it's excusable. It was a good play. So was Jones' play at the other end from Nash. Oh...NOW Finley hits threes. Then for some reason, Junior is called for a foul after BOWEN runs into him? This is sickening. FNALLY Nash gets the call as he gets to the spot just before an out of control Parker. Then Knob fouls Junior on the drive. Thomas back taps Junior's miss, and Nash gets it. But he misses the leaning three, and then Knob throws the ball away. Nash goes into traffic, Duncan blocks. No foul, of course. Duncan gets a few extra steps underneath, then Knob gets three free throws as Nash flies into him. Hes disgusted with himself. 79-77 Suns.

2:55 Geez. Thomas gets hacked by Duncan on the shot attempt, but the refs disagree. But it goes out of bounds, and it will be Suns ball. Suns are leading in every category, but still find themselves only up by 2. It makes no sense at first glance, but the Suns have 3 more turnovers (dubious) and five fewer free throw attempts (also dubious).

1:08 Parker ties it after the in bounds is taken away. Then Marion says "Gimme that lead back!" Duncan misses against Marion, but a late whistle indicates that Marion MUST have fouled. No way Duncan misses that close! he makes both free throws, and it's tied again. Nash passes up an open Marion, then misses the lay up. Then Knob gets called for a trip on Bell. It was a flop, but it's Ginobili. He should appreciate it. WHY DOES LB KEEP CHALLENGING DUNCAN?!?!?! Knob turns it over in transition. Time out...thank God. 81-81.

Bad pass by Nash means Marion misses, then Bowen hits a three. Then Marion inexplicably goes for a three with time on the clock. I'm out for now. I need to watch this. Some bad execution going on, and I wish Nash would just take over and win it. 84-81 Dirties.

Thank you, David Stern. Thank you for handing game five to San Antonio. Thank you for taking away our two best post players. Thank you for taking away Phoenix's chances to take the ball inside down the stretch. Thank you for taking away our clutch free throw opportunities. I hope you die a slow, torturous death starting tomorrow. And thank you for the favorable calls in the first half, only to switch it up in the second. Fuck the NBA.