OK...I couldn't go a whole game without making a comment. Boris making Duncan look like a rookie is just priceless. Boris of old. Nice.
Not a bad quarter, considering the defense the Suns brought four days ago has yet to show up. Someone needs to tell Kurt that he's not Ginobili. He's effective because he stands his ground against Duncan. Stop flopping. (Although he did cause Horry to step out of bounds when the whistle didn't blow on one Thomas flop.)
I told you after game two -- Raja Bell is having a spectacular series. 4-4 three pointers with 10:26 to go in the first half.
Tivo THAT moment. The referee from the farthest away and BEHIND THE PLAY makes the late call in favor of the Spurs.
That wasn't a moving screen that floored Nash?
What's French for wings because Diaw had his Red Bull?
If I hear about Parker's impending nuptials one more time, I'm going to go out and buy a plasma TV just so I can throw up all over it. THAT'S how disgusting it's getting.
Amare has Finley on him, and Raja drives? Can we see some smart basketball, please? Stupid decisions are costing the Suns some big possessions.
Ten bucks says that the next game is called very differently. It better be.
The refs are trying VERY hard not to call Duncan for his fourth.
I only have one more thing to say for this game, as it's being played.
If it takes undercutting leapers, kicking people's feet from under them when they're in the air, kneeing guys in the nuts, and flopping on every defensive play to win a title, then I don't want one. I want to watch the best team win, not the cheapest.
Get ready for a game 4 Suns blowout. This series is going 7, and it ain't gonna be pretty until the Suns do to the Spurs at USAC in game 7 what they did to both Los Angeles teams last year.
May 12, 2007
May 11, 2007
Mind Games of Chance
The Spurs came into this series cocky. They respect the Suns' talent, and they know that the Suns won't be an easy out. But they came in thinking something that only Steve Nash and Mike D'Antoni had the stones to say - the Suns have no heart, and the Spurs are the better "team".
Right after their win in game one, the Spurs had to be thinking just that. "We own these guys." A little later, the thought had to have crept in. "We played great defense, but they missed some open shots, and Steve Nash couldn't play the last crucial minute. That was good for us. We still won by five."
By the time they finished dinner and got into their hotel beds, they must have been thinking, "It's a good thing we're in their heads. Lucky for us."
So a few questionable calls and non-calls, a few open looks missed (Amare makes one of 11 in the paint, and Leandro misses the few three point tries he gets), and a 15 minute promo for Grey's Anatomy, and the Suns lose by five. Doubt had to have crept in sometime late Tuesday night.
And then to find out that Kurt Thomas is starting, and still not prepare for him? The Suns outplayed the Spurs at both ends of the court in that game (after doing a pretty good impression for parts of game one), and the Suns won by 20.
Do the Spurs REALLY feel lucky? Do they?
They should, because they should be in an 0-2 hole going home. And now Amare invites the wrath of the media and league office to the party. Sure, they declined, but don't you think that they might make a casual showing at some point, just to see how the party is going? Unless Gregg Popovich got a call from the league earlier today saying that he shouldn't worry about a league version of arthroscopic surgery to repair its waning ratings, I would say that it might just be weighing on his mind a little bit.
He'll probably ignore it, as a good coach should. But I don't suspect that Bowen and Ginobili will handle it in a professional manner. Amare wasn't just calling out the Spurs for their questionable play. He is inviting a retaliation by someone on the Spurs. Amare is firmly in their heads, and now those players will either watch their game when the officials aren't looking, or they are going to try something sneaky that no Sun will let go unnoticed.
Either way, the Spurs are welcoming disaster. If they take the high road and clean up their side, it is going to take effort. And I believe that the Suns will at least match that effort. If they take the low road, which is what I would count on, then Amare gets angry, Marion gets focused, and Steve gets nasty. It might get ugly, but the Suns are now prepared for it.
Amare did the right thing, I think. Steve Nash said the team needed to bring even more energy on the road, and Amare supplied some fuel to keep them motivated. I believe that Amare will respond. That's why he said it. He plans to be the first in line to attack the Spurs and dare them to foul.
If that happens, and I believe it will, then there is no real reason to believe that San Antonio will win another game this series. Yes, one could make the case that championship teams don't go down that easily. But that championship team looked pretty ordinary to me for most of game two and in parts of game one.
Amare Stoudemire went a long way to paint the Spurs as the bad guy in this series. Judging by the inaudible reaction from Bruce Bowen supporters, I'd say that it's a role that fans are willing to place the Spurs in. "That's just how Bowen plays. He's always played dirty." OK, so he can be the bad guy, and we don't have to feel guilty, right?
The national media are doing their best to support the Spurs and denounce Amare Stoudemire's statement. But no one has come close to saying that Amare was wrong. Everyone saw the video, everyone saw the kick. How are they going to paint a positive spin on that? They don't. They say things like, "That's just playoff basketball," and, "The physicality is more intense in the playoffs." They are basically saying that the Spurs own the Suns, and all that the Suns can do is complain.
Too bad so many people have seen the video and agree that Bowen plays dirty. No matter what people might say, it is clear that the Suns are the good guys in this series, and the Spurs are the outlaws. There is no denying it. And in classical American entertainment, doesn't the good guy always win? Isn't that why Hollywood makes so much money? I wonder if the league would like to make that kind of cash.
Probably.
It just seems to me that certain individuals in the media do not like the Suns and can't let go of the perception that the Suns aren't a defensive team. And it's an argument that anyone who knows basketball will shy away from. After the game, Greg Anthony or someone with a similar IQ tried to play the Suns defensive effort as a one shot deal.
It is all so stupid, and I just want to know one thing. What kind of person needs his ego boosted up so much that someone has to go on national television and talk about how great they are, and how full of shit the other guys are?
The Spurs were fortunate to win game one. They were told that the Suns couldn't execute down the stretch. The Spurs were blown out in game two. They were told that the Suns were just desperate. Now the Spurs have to be told that, contrary to public record, they are in the Suns' heads.
I ask again - who is in whose head?
Right after their win in game one, the Spurs had to be thinking just that. "We own these guys." A little later, the thought had to have crept in. "We played great defense, but they missed some open shots, and Steve Nash couldn't play the last crucial minute. That was good for us. We still won by five."
By the time they finished dinner and got into their hotel beds, they must have been thinking, "It's a good thing we're in their heads. Lucky for us."
So a few questionable calls and non-calls, a few open looks missed (Amare makes one of 11 in the paint, and Leandro misses the few three point tries he gets), and a 15 minute promo for Grey's Anatomy, and the Suns lose by five. Doubt had to have crept in sometime late Tuesday night.
And then to find out that Kurt Thomas is starting, and still not prepare for him? The Suns outplayed the Spurs at both ends of the court in that game (after doing a pretty good impression for parts of game one), and the Suns won by 20.
Do the Spurs REALLY feel lucky? Do they?
They should, because they should be in an 0-2 hole going home. And now Amare invites the wrath of the media and league office to the party. Sure, they declined, but don't you think that they might make a casual showing at some point, just to see how the party is going? Unless Gregg Popovich got a call from the league earlier today saying that he shouldn't worry about a league version of arthroscopic surgery to repair its waning ratings, I would say that it might just be weighing on his mind a little bit.
He'll probably ignore it, as a good coach should. But I don't suspect that Bowen and Ginobili will handle it in a professional manner. Amare wasn't just calling out the Spurs for their questionable play. He is inviting a retaliation by someone on the Spurs. Amare is firmly in their heads, and now those players will either watch their game when the officials aren't looking, or they are going to try something sneaky that no Sun will let go unnoticed.
Either way, the Spurs are welcoming disaster. If they take the high road and clean up their side, it is going to take effort. And I believe that the Suns will at least match that effort. If they take the low road, which is what I would count on, then Amare gets angry, Marion gets focused, and Steve gets nasty. It might get ugly, but the Suns are now prepared for it.
Amare did the right thing, I think. Steve Nash said the team needed to bring even more energy on the road, and Amare supplied some fuel to keep them motivated. I believe that Amare will respond. That's why he said it. He plans to be the first in line to attack the Spurs and dare them to foul.
If that happens, and I believe it will, then there is no real reason to believe that San Antonio will win another game this series. Yes, one could make the case that championship teams don't go down that easily. But that championship team looked pretty ordinary to me for most of game two and in parts of game one.
Amare Stoudemire went a long way to paint the Spurs as the bad guy in this series. Judging by the inaudible reaction from Bruce Bowen supporters, I'd say that it's a role that fans are willing to place the Spurs in. "That's just how Bowen plays. He's always played dirty." OK, so he can be the bad guy, and we don't have to feel guilty, right?
The national media are doing their best to support the Spurs and denounce Amare Stoudemire's statement. But no one has come close to saying that Amare was wrong. Everyone saw the video, everyone saw the kick. How are they going to paint a positive spin on that? They don't. They say things like, "That's just playoff basketball," and, "The physicality is more intense in the playoffs." They are basically saying that the Spurs own the Suns, and all that the Suns can do is complain.
Too bad so many people have seen the video and agree that Bowen plays dirty. No matter what people might say, it is clear that the Suns are the good guys in this series, and the Spurs are the outlaws. There is no denying it. And in classical American entertainment, doesn't the good guy always win? Isn't that why Hollywood makes so much money? I wonder if the league would like to make that kind of cash.
Probably.
It just seems to me that certain individuals in the media do not like the Suns and can't let go of the perception that the Suns aren't a defensive team. And it's an argument that anyone who knows basketball will shy away from. After the game, Greg Anthony or someone with a similar IQ tried to play the Suns defensive effort as a one shot deal.
It is all so stupid, and I just want to know one thing. What kind of person needs his ego boosted up so much that someone has to go on national television and talk about how great they are, and how full of shit the other guys are?
The Spurs were fortunate to win game one. They were told that the Suns couldn't execute down the stretch. The Spurs were blown out in game two. They were told that the Suns were just desperate. Now the Spurs have to be told that, contrary to public record, they are in the Suns' heads.
I ask again - who is in whose head?
Mouth Amare Blows Again
Oh, Amare done did it again.
"We'll take care of them pretty quick."
"Kurt Thomas is starting game two."
"The Spurs are a dirty team."
The coaches wince, the team collectively cringes. Amare has become the postseason mouthpiece for the Suns. The outspoken, thought checking, cliche spewing youth minister of paint ball speaks his mind again, and people lose their nuts.
The Suns took care of the Lakers pretty quick, as expected by everyone not named Greg Anthony. People forgot about the comment.
Kurt Thomas started game two, and Amare's excitement was validated as the Suns not only won convincingly, but put a world class beat down on the Spurs. Didn't Amare tip them off?
Twice now, Amare Stoudemire has given the opposition fuel to pump out more wins against the Suns. Third time's the charm? Doubtful. Despite any hope that may be generated by this amusing spin from My SA.
Pardon me, but I'd like to take this opportunity to call bullshit.
For starters, there is a lot more context to the story than has been revealed over the last day or so. Amare didn't just come out and say that the Spurs were a dirty team. He was asked about a play in the second half of game two, when he went up weakly on a wide open dunk, then came down awkwardly. And this was two days after the game. If the Spurs were in the Suns' heads, particularly Stoudemire's, doesn't it stand to reason that the first thing Amare would have thought after that play was that Bowen cheap shotted him? Would it not have surfaced on its own much sooner?
Who knows. I sure don't, but I still believe that if the Spurs were truly in Stoudemire's head, he would have said something much sooner. This is the same Amare who, when asked if he had a series prediction, said "no." Or maybe he was just saving the good stuff for just such an occasion. But that suggests a certain amount of premeditation. Like he wanted to say something. Like he wanted to go on the attack.
That's a confident beast, the one who takes initiative against a three time champion. And a smart one, it seems. He did clarify during the same interview that he was talking specifically about Bowen and Manu Ginobili.
Who's in whose head?
Amare obviously respects Tim Duncan and the other Spurs because he went out of his way to double out two players. And none of the other Suns players or coaches have chimed in on Amare's statements. So this must be between Bowen, Ginobili, and Stoudemire.
Considering that Amare Stoudemire is averaging 23.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 2.5 blocks through two games against San Antonio, I find it difficult to envision how any Spurs player can be in Amare's head.
Bowen and Ginobili? Hardly effective through two games.
Through two games, the Suns have ripped the heart out of the Spurs. The Spurs top perimeter defender and offensive spark plug are not a part of this series as it stands. The Suns can stop Tony Parker and they can make Duncan earn his points. Yet this reporter from San Antonio believes that all the above is negated by Amare's comments?
That's odd. It seems to me that Amare is working his way into their heads even more. Look at the state of affairs in the NBA. The referees are under a microscope, and the Spurs have been given relatively favorable treatment since the Joey Crawford incident. (Manu man-loving Amare's leg isn't a foul?)
The Spurs have been getting breaks. They barely won the first game, then got blown out in the second game. How will they fare when the league suddenly starts watching for these "dirty plays"? How are Ginobili and Bowen, who are already not having good series by anyone's standards, going to get themselves in the game when the refs are looking for that little extra "inadvertent" contact?
This could be the best move the Suns could have pulled. The team made San Antonio look ordinary in the second half. The Spurs did not look like a championship team in that game, admit it. The Suns had to find something extra to bring into game three.
Phoenix blew out San Antonio, so the Suns had no major adjustments to make that Popovich is, more than likely, already preparing for. Steve Nash said that he was pleased with Tuesday night's energy, but that they would have to bring even more to San Antonio if they want to win. What better way to get into the Spurs heads and derail their plans than to point the eye of the league directly to the point on which Gregg Popovich and his staff are currently focused?
Careful with those "defensive adjustments," Coach. The league will be watching.
Now the Suns have to back up their starting center. No way can they leave him hangin' in the middle of the biggest playoff series in Suns history. They have to bring it. Amare called out the Spurs most controversial players because he believes he can. If he believes that he can, then his team will.
This could still very well be a six game series. The Suns know that they can beat the Spurs. The team proved it in convincing fashion this week. They should now believe that they will never lose to the Spurs again. The Suns can now climb that mountain and plant the big purple flag with the Phoenix rising from the flames on the peak of Mount Whine-more.
*Edit: 1-22-2009: Yeah...it backfired BIG time, didn't it? I can be such a homer sometimes.*
"We'll take care of them pretty quick."
"Kurt Thomas is starting game two."
"The Spurs are a dirty team."
The coaches wince, the team collectively cringes. Amare has become the postseason mouthpiece for the Suns. The outspoken, thought checking, cliche spewing youth minister of paint ball speaks his mind again, and people lose their nuts.
The Suns took care of the Lakers pretty quick, as expected by everyone not named Greg Anthony. People forgot about the comment.
Kurt Thomas started game two, and Amare's excitement was validated as the Suns not only won convincingly, but put a world class beat down on the Spurs. Didn't Amare tip them off?
Twice now, Amare Stoudemire has given the opposition fuel to pump out more wins against the Suns. Third time's the charm? Doubtful. Despite any hope that may be generated by this amusing spin from My SA.
So first Amare gave the Lakers motivation to make a long series. Then he gave the Spurs time to prepare for Kurt Thomas. And now he's told the world that the Spurs are indeed within the confines of the Suns orange and purple cranium.A huge part of [Bowen's] game is making an opponent uncomfortable, and Stoudemire all but confirmed Bowen is doing his job against the Suns.
-Mike Finger, San Antonio Express-News
Pardon me, but I'd like to take this opportunity to call bullshit.
For starters, there is a lot more context to the story than has been revealed over the last day or so. Amare didn't just come out and say that the Spurs were a dirty team. He was asked about a play in the second half of game two, when he went up weakly on a wide open dunk, then came down awkwardly. And this was two days after the game. If the Spurs were in the Suns' heads, particularly Stoudemire's, doesn't it stand to reason that the first thing Amare would have thought after that play was that Bowen cheap shotted him? Would it not have surfaced on its own much sooner?
Who knows. I sure don't, but I still believe that if the Spurs were truly in Stoudemire's head, he would have said something much sooner. This is the same Amare who, when asked if he had a series prediction, said "no." Or maybe he was just saving the good stuff for just such an occasion. But that suggests a certain amount of premeditation. Like he wanted to say something. Like he wanted to go on the attack.
That's a confident beast, the one who takes initiative against a three time champion. And a smart one, it seems. He did clarify during the same interview that he was talking specifically about Bowen and Manu Ginobili.
After taking in all the information one person can consume on one trivial subject, I'm left with one question.Tim [is] a class act. He’s not a dirty player at all. I just think Bruce and Manu Ginobili are guys that are dirty.
Who's in whose head?
Amare obviously respects Tim Duncan and the other Spurs because he went out of his way to double out two players. And none of the other Suns players or coaches have chimed in on Amare's statements. So this must be between Bowen, Ginobili, and Stoudemire.
Considering that Amare Stoudemire is averaging 23.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 2.5 blocks through two games against San Antonio, I find it difficult to envision how any Spurs player can be in Amare's head.
Bowen and Ginobili? Hardly effective through two games.
Through two games, the Suns have ripped the heart out of the Spurs. The Spurs top perimeter defender and offensive spark plug are not a part of this series as it stands. The Suns can stop Tony Parker and they can make Duncan earn his points. Yet this reporter from San Antonio believes that all the above is negated by Amare's comments?
That's odd. It seems to me that Amare is working his way into their heads even more. Look at the state of affairs in the NBA. The referees are under a microscope, and the Spurs have been given relatively favorable treatment since the Joey Crawford incident. (Manu man-loving Amare's leg isn't a foul?)
The Spurs have been getting breaks. They barely won the first game, then got blown out in the second game. How will they fare when the league suddenly starts watching for these "dirty plays"? How are Ginobili and Bowen, who are already not having good series by anyone's standards, going to get themselves in the game when the refs are looking for that little extra "inadvertent" contact?
This could be the best move the Suns could have pulled. The team made San Antonio look ordinary in the second half. The Spurs did not look like a championship team in that game, admit it. The Suns had to find something extra to bring into game three.
Phoenix blew out San Antonio, so the Suns had no major adjustments to make that Popovich is, more than likely, already preparing for. Steve Nash said that he was pleased with Tuesday night's energy, but that they would have to bring even more to San Antonio if they want to win. What better way to get into the Spurs heads and derail their plans than to point the eye of the league directly to the point on which Gregg Popovich and his staff are currently focused?
Careful with those "defensive adjustments," Coach. The league will be watching.
Now the Suns have to back up their starting center. No way can they leave him hangin' in the middle of the biggest playoff series in Suns history. They have to bring it. Amare called out the Spurs most controversial players because he believes he can. If he believes that he can, then his team will.
This could still very well be a six game series. The Suns know that they can beat the Spurs. The team proved it in convincing fashion this week. They should now believe that they will never lose to the Spurs again. The Suns can now climb that mountain and plant the big purple flag with the Phoenix rising from the flames on the peak of Mount Whine-more.
*Edit: 1-22-2009: Yeah...it backfired BIG time, didn't it? I can be such a homer sometimes.*
May 9, 2007
Kurt Thomas is the Key
Dirty.
He plays tough. He plays hard.
That's why the Suns tied the series with San Antonio. Kurt Thomas came in and did the dirty work. Irony at its purest.
All year long, when it came time to talk the Suns, experts from Michael Wilbon to Tim Legler to Joe Schmo hustling pool at the corner bar said that the Suns would have won the championship last year with a healthy Amare Stoudemire. It was high praise for Stat. He was seen as the difference between a Western Conference Finals wash out and an NBA title.
Everyone forgot about Kurt. Even Coach Mike D'Antoni. Boris Diaw was praised for his role in the series against Dallas, and was subsequently rewarded with a salary cap saddling contract. Boris played great replacing Kurt Thomas at center, he won the Most Improved Player award, so who could really complain much when he compromised his $10 million per year demand with the Suns offer of $8 million? It seemed fair. Sort of.
Fine. We knew it was a bad deal when it happened, we just didn't want the Lakers to grab him.
Lost in all this was Kurt Thomas' role in last season's ill-fated, injury riddled team. It was he, manning the middle as the Suns tore off to an unexpected 36-17 start, putting them on pace to win 55+ games. It was also in Kurt's absence due to a stress fracture in his right foot (thank you, Injury God) that the Suns finished the season on a 16-13 limp to the playoffs. Also in that stretch, the Suns defense went from yielding 44% field goal shooting and 101 points per game to allowing 47% shooting and 103 points per game.
Oddly enough, through the first 53 games of the season, the Suns were averaging over 108 points per game on the offensive side of the court.
Yet D'Antoni has been hesitant to use Kurt against the Spurs in the playoffs and regular season. Why? Tim Duncan is the sole purpose for Kurt Thomas' existence in purple and orange. Kurt was brought to the valley per Amare's request specifically to guard Tim Duncan. So what the hell took Coach so long?!
He wanted to run. Funny thing - D'Antoni is, for all intents and purposes, a brilliant coach. He has vision, he has insight, he has an ego. That should be excusable, as arrogance is the number one side effect of brilliance. We can forgive him, so long as he figure it out in time.
But it's not so much his arrogance that kept him from making the Thomas adjustment. He is so committed to running, to proving jackasses from Charles Barkley to John Hollinger wrong. It wasn't so much arrogance as it was induced ignorance. He got so committed to scoring over 100 points per game that he said 100 is the key number for the series. Score 100 points, and your chances are good.
If he just took a moment to reflect on the teams to whom his Suns are garnering comparisons, as well as his own from last year, he would have seen that using Kurt Thomas was not only safe, but absolutely essential.
A running team hasn't won a title in nearly 20 years. The last one to do it was the Showtime Lakers of Magic Johnson. Not coincidentally, that is also the team that this Suns team is compared to the most. Only three teams won a championship between 1980 and 1988, and they all had two things in common. They all had point guards running the show, and they all had big men in the middle.
Boston, Philadelphia, Los Angeles.
Dennis Johnson, Maurice Cheeks, Magic Johnson.
That's a serviceable trio of point guards, to say the least, but that's not the big one. The Suns have a two-time MVP, after all.
Robert Parish, Moses Malone, Kareem Abdul Jabbar.
These three teams put points on the board on their title runs, and they all had big, slow, paint rangers. Although no one would ever confuse Kurt Thomas with any of those three, his role with Phoenix is basically the same as theirs were for their respective teams. He's there to control the paint, grab 8-10 rebounds a game, make three or four 18 foot jumpers, let the guards and forwards run, and let the team play one on one defense with minimal double teams.
He did that when the 2006 Suns were running up 108 points per game in the regular season.
So was I surprised with last night's outcome? Not really. Was anybody? Probably nobody in Phoenix.
Kurt Thomas does something for the Suns that Malone, Abdul Jabbar, and Parish did for their teams. He brings the BIG playoff intangible. He brings versatility.
The Suns can continue to jack up the scoreboard with or without him in there. He doesn't slow the team down in a significant way - not in a way that opposing defenses don't already do. But if the Suns need to run against a smaller, more athletic team, like Golden State, for example? Kurt can take a series off, rest up those aging knees, and let the Suns run to their little heart's content.
When it comes time to bring the big hearts, though, then Kurt Thomas allows the Suns to play teams like San Antonio, Utah, and Detroit straight up.
According to my estimation, it wasn't the absence of Stoudemire that denied the Suns a championship last season. The Suns were close enough without him, and only the absence of Kurt Thomas and a hobbled Raja Bell kept them from reaching the 2006 Finals. Put a healthy Bell and Thomas on that court against Dallas and Miami, and you're talking a run away champion.
The Suns didn't need Stoudemire last season. They needed Kurt Thomas. And they need him again this season. He's doing a bang up job on Duncan, letting the other Suns play D (thank you Shawn and Raja for handling your respective assignments in championship fashion). And his jump shot is keeping the San Antonio defense honest. Well, in game two, it did.
Kurt Thomas is the key to the Suns winning a championship. Without him, it will not happen. With him, it absolutely will.
He plays tough. He plays hard.
That's why the Suns tied the series with San Antonio. Kurt Thomas came in and did the dirty work. Irony at its purest.
All year long, when it came time to talk the Suns, experts from Michael Wilbon to Tim Legler to Joe Schmo hustling pool at the corner bar said that the Suns would have won the championship last year with a healthy Amare Stoudemire. It was high praise for Stat. He was seen as the difference between a Western Conference Finals wash out and an NBA title.
Everyone forgot about Kurt. Even Coach Mike D'Antoni. Boris Diaw was praised for his role in the series against Dallas, and was subsequently rewarded with a salary cap saddling contract. Boris played great replacing Kurt Thomas at center, he won the Most Improved Player award, so who could really complain much when he compromised his $10 million per year demand with the Suns offer of $8 million? It seemed fair. Sort of.
Fine. We knew it was a bad deal when it happened, we just didn't want the Lakers to grab him.
Lost in all this was Kurt Thomas' role in last season's ill-fated, injury riddled team. It was he, manning the middle as the Suns tore off to an unexpected 36-17 start, putting them on pace to win 55+ games. It was also in Kurt's absence due to a stress fracture in his right foot (thank you, Injury God) that the Suns finished the season on a 16-13 limp to the playoffs. Also in that stretch, the Suns defense went from yielding 44% field goal shooting and 101 points per game to allowing 47% shooting and 103 points per game.
Oddly enough, through the first 53 games of the season, the Suns were averaging over 108 points per game on the offensive side of the court.
Yet D'Antoni has been hesitant to use Kurt against the Spurs in the playoffs and regular season. Why? Tim Duncan is the sole purpose for Kurt Thomas' existence in purple and orange. Kurt was brought to the valley per Amare's request specifically to guard Tim Duncan. So what the hell took Coach so long?!
He wanted to run. Funny thing - D'Antoni is, for all intents and purposes, a brilliant coach. He has vision, he has insight, he has an ego. That should be excusable, as arrogance is the number one side effect of brilliance. We can forgive him, so long as he figure it out in time.
But it's not so much his arrogance that kept him from making the Thomas adjustment. He is so committed to running, to proving jackasses from Charles Barkley to John Hollinger wrong. It wasn't so much arrogance as it was induced ignorance. He got so committed to scoring over 100 points per game that he said 100 is the key number for the series. Score 100 points, and your chances are good.
If he just took a moment to reflect on the teams to whom his Suns are garnering comparisons, as well as his own from last year, he would have seen that using Kurt Thomas was not only safe, but absolutely essential.
A running team hasn't won a title in nearly 20 years. The last one to do it was the Showtime Lakers of Magic Johnson. Not coincidentally, that is also the team that this Suns team is compared to the most. Only three teams won a championship between 1980 and 1988, and they all had two things in common. They all had point guards running the show, and they all had big men in the middle.
Boston, Philadelphia, Los Angeles.
Dennis Johnson, Maurice Cheeks, Magic Johnson.
That's a serviceable trio of point guards, to say the least, but that's not the big one. The Suns have a two-time MVP, after all.
Robert Parish, Moses Malone, Kareem Abdul Jabbar.
These three teams put points on the board on their title runs, and they all had big, slow, paint rangers. Although no one would ever confuse Kurt Thomas with any of those three, his role with Phoenix is basically the same as theirs were for their respective teams. He's there to control the paint, grab 8-10 rebounds a game, make three or four 18 foot jumpers, let the guards and forwards run, and let the team play one on one defense with minimal double teams.
He did that when the 2006 Suns were running up 108 points per game in the regular season.
So was I surprised with last night's outcome? Not really. Was anybody? Probably nobody in Phoenix.
Kurt Thomas does something for the Suns that Malone, Abdul Jabbar, and Parish did for their teams. He brings the BIG playoff intangible. He brings versatility.
The Suns can continue to jack up the scoreboard with or without him in there. He doesn't slow the team down in a significant way - not in a way that opposing defenses don't already do. But if the Suns need to run against a smaller, more athletic team, like Golden State, for example? Kurt can take a series off, rest up those aging knees, and let the Suns run to their little heart's content.
When it comes time to bring the big hearts, though, then Kurt Thomas allows the Suns to play teams like San Antonio, Utah, and Detroit straight up.
According to my estimation, it wasn't the absence of Stoudemire that denied the Suns a championship last season. The Suns were close enough without him, and only the absence of Kurt Thomas and a hobbled Raja Bell kept them from reaching the 2006 Finals. Put a healthy Bell and Thomas on that court against Dallas and Miami, and you're talking a run away champion.
The Suns didn't need Stoudemire last season. They needed Kurt Thomas. And they need him again this season. He's doing a bang up job on Duncan, letting the other Suns play D (thank you Shawn and Raja for handling your respective assignments in championship fashion). And his jump shot is keeping the San Antonio defense honest. Well, in game two, it did.
Kurt Thomas is the key to the Suns winning a championship. Without him, it will not happen. With him, it absolutely will.
Series Thoughts and Observations
I couldn't think of anything to write after the Suns lost on Sunday. I thought it was because the loss put me in a mood less conducive to writing, but I don't think so anymore.
No.
It wasn't that it was depressing. It was just so cryptic. I was missing something. It was a classic game, I knew that. It just took a better-than-the-original sequel to put things in perspective.
Suns fans may not realize part of this yet, but I think that they'll come around eventually. That game one loss was a bit of a heart breaker filled with tons of ifs, wouldas, and couldas. There was an interesting subplot to that game that I have yet to see in the corporate media.
I noted before the series started that this series between the San Antonio Spurs and the Phoenix Suns would be all about style. The match ups were the big talk in the beginning among my privileged colleagues. But that talk has since turned to style - how this series is a clash between the league's best offense against the championship defense of the Spurs, or how the Suns are out to prove once and for all that up tempo, marginally defensive basketball can win the NBA title again.
That is, after all, what we are witnessing with this series. But did you notice this in game one? The Suns shot 50% from the field to San Antonio's 47.5% It was a half court game, though. The Suns played solid defense on Sunday all game long, and they were beating the Spurs in the half court. Then the second half came, and the Spurs showed the Suns that the Texans can beat the Suns at their own game - they ran off 60 points in the half.
The game itself was about two teams coming out to prove that they could win playing the other team's game. The Spurs beat the Suns at the running game after the Suns beat the Spurs at the half court game.
That's not the cool part, though.
The Suns came out in game two of this series, and they put a world class beat down on the former champions. They did it playing San Antonio's game by holding the Spurs to 42% shooting for the game. And they did it by playing their own game of shoot-the-lights-out offense, evidenced by their 64.2% torrid love affair with placing the ball within the net in varying degrees of delicacy, ranging from feather-soft touch to two-handed, rim rockin' jam, over the last three quarters.
So what has made this series a classic already?
The upstart Suns are a perfect offensive team. The champion Spurs are a killer defensive team.
Two styles.
Only one wins.
They duke it out on the streets of national television. Each jabbing and lunging, feeling each other out, finding the other's weak points and exploiting their own strengths.
And the Suns have shown through two games that they are better at both styles than the mountain they have to climb. This is going to be a classic series.
Suns in 6.
No.
It wasn't that it was depressing. It was just so cryptic. I was missing something. It was a classic game, I knew that. It just took a better-than-the-original sequel to put things in perspective.
Suns fans may not realize part of this yet, but I think that they'll come around eventually. That game one loss was a bit of a heart breaker filled with tons of ifs, wouldas, and couldas. There was an interesting subplot to that game that I have yet to see in the corporate media.
I noted before the series started that this series between the San Antonio Spurs and the Phoenix Suns would be all about style. The match ups were the big talk in the beginning among my privileged colleagues. But that talk has since turned to style - how this series is a clash between the league's best offense against the championship defense of the Spurs, or how the Suns are out to prove once and for all that up tempo, marginally defensive basketball can win the NBA title again.
That is, after all, what we are witnessing with this series. But did you notice this in game one? The Suns shot 50% from the field to San Antonio's 47.5% It was a half court game, though. The Suns played solid defense on Sunday all game long, and they were beating the Spurs in the half court. Then the second half came, and the Spurs showed the Suns that the Texans can beat the Suns at their own game - they ran off 60 points in the half.
The game itself was about two teams coming out to prove that they could win playing the other team's game. The Spurs beat the Suns at the running game after the Suns beat the Spurs at the half court game.
That's not the cool part, though.
The Suns came out in game two of this series, and they put a world class beat down on the former champions. They did it playing San Antonio's game by holding the Spurs to 42% shooting for the game. And they did it by playing their own game of shoot-the-lights-out offense, evidenced by their 64.2% torrid love affair with placing the ball within the net in varying degrees of delicacy, ranging from feather-soft touch to two-handed, rim rockin' jam, over the last three quarters.
So what has made this series a classic already?
The upstart Suns are a perfect offensive team. The champion Spurs are a killer defensive team.
Two styles.
Only one wins.
They duke it out on the streets of national television. Each jabbing and lunging, feeling each other out, finding the other's weak points and exploiting their own strengths.
And the Suns have shown through two games that they are better at both styles than the mountain they have to climb. This is going to be a classic series.
Suns in 6.
Who's Your Daddy?
I just want to give a special mad props to Raja Bell.
He made at least one spectacular drive to the basket last night. Raja had the open jumper on the play that I recall, and I expected him to take it and nail it. But he surprised me - and maybe all of us - when he lowered his head and went strong to the hole, scoring over Tony Parker. The whole Spurs defense, especially Parker, looked like they didn't know what just hit them. The game changed noticeably after that, I think.
It was a great move, and needs to be added to his highlight reel along with his game 1 gem. For those with short term memory difficulties: It was the play where Raja found a cutting Leandro Barbosa with a blind bounce pass from one knee. People may not be noticing it, yet, but I'm telling you - Raja Bell is having a spectacular series against the Spurs. And not just shutting down Manu Ginobili. Raja is making plays on the offensive end.
Watch for it.
He made at least one spectacular drive to the basket last night. Raja had the open jumper on the play that I recall, and I expected him to take it and nail it. But he surprised me - and maybe all of us - when he lowered his head and went strong to the hole, scoring over Tony Parker. The whole Spurs defense, especially Parker, looked like they didn't know what just hit them. The game changed noticeably after that, I think.
It was a great move, and needs to be added to his highlight reel along with his game 1 gem. For those with short term memory difficulties: It was the play where Raja found a cutting Leandro Barbosa with a blind bounce pass from one knee. People may not be noticing it, yet, but I'm telling you - Raja Bell is having a spectacular series against the Spurs. And not just shutting down Manu Ginobili. Raja is making plays on the offensive end.
Watch for it.
Why the Suns Won Game 2
So Mike D'Antoni inserted Kurt Thomas into the starting lineup, replacing James Jones, whose minutes were significantly reduced. Suns win, convincingly. The national media wonder aloud, "How could the Suns win if Kurt didn't stop Duncan?"
Although that defensive adjustment was integral in shutting down Tony Parker - no one had to double off Duncan - it was not the most important adjustment made by Coach D'Antoni. It's rather ironic, too, that it was an offensive adjustment that won the game.
No team has negated the Suns' pick-and-roll like the San Antonio Spurs. They have a nasty habit of committing to defensive assignments and clogging the lane and cutting off passing lanes. And the D'Antoni and Nash coaching tandem didn't break that defense until last night, when it counted most.
Instead of Nash and his screen both rolling to the basket for a score, D'Antoni played the screen and roll for the switch. In the second half alone I counted about a dozen times when Nash and Amare Stoudemire switched screens and reset the offense. It was subtle, but it was sheer brilliance. The screen and roll is the one part of the game (any opponent) that Gregg Popovich has shut down in his championship career. It is a big reason why the Suns can score a lot of points against the Spurs, but still lose.
So what happened? Well, generally speaking in terms of my short term recall, Steve Nash invariably found himself staring down the barrel of Tim Duncan. Amare usually landed on Bruce Bowen. That, my fans, is mismatch heaven for the Suns. Suddenly Nash has a big guy he can ace to the hole or simply shoot over if need be.
Nash may have had a terrible shooting percentage for that game, but he did net 20 points (5-5 free throws) and hand off 16 assists. The adjustment worked, as Amare let loose for 27 points on 10 of 16 shooting - AFTER starting 0-4 from the field. He also imposed his will on the rim to the tune of 6 dunks.
And Raja Bell kept the defense honest by bagging 18 points of his own on 6-9 shooting.
So did the defensive adjustment win the game? Or did the adjustment just settle the defense?
I vote for the latter because that simple offensive adjustment - flying in the face of pundits and experts everywhere who said that the Suns needed to improve their D - opened up the offense in ways that would have won them game 1 of this series. That was a FIVE POINT loss, and it wasn't decided until the final minute. The Spurs shot 50% in that game.
Still think it was a defensive adjustment?
Although that defensive adjustment was integral in shutting down Tony Parker - no one had to double off Duncan - it was not the most important adjustment made by Coach D'Antoni. It's rather ironic, too, that it was an offensive adjustment that won the game.
No team has negated the Suns' pick-and-roll like the San Antonio Spurs. They have a nasty habit of committing to defensive assignments and clogging the lane and cutting off passing lanes. And the D'Antoni and Nash coaching tandem didn't break that defense until last night, when it counted most.
Instead of Nash and his screen both rolling to the basket for a score, D'Antoni played the screen and roll for the switch. In the second half alone I counted about a dozen times when Nash and Amare Stoudemire switched screens and reset the offense. It was subtle, but it was sheer brilliance. The screen and roll is the one part of the game (any opponent) that Gregg Popovich has shut down in his championship career. It is a big reason why the Suns can score a lot of points against the Spurs, but still lose.
So what happened? Well, generally speaking in terms of my short term recall, Steve Nash invariably found himself staring down the barrel of Tim Duncan. Amare usually landed on Bruce Bowen. That, my fans, is mismatch heaven for the Suns. Suddenly Nash has a big guy he can ace to the hole or simply shoot over if need be.
Nash may have had a terrible shooting percentage for that game, but he did net 20 points (5-5 free throws) and hand off 16 assists. The adjustment worked, as Amare let loose for 27 points on 10 of 16 shooting - AFTER starting 0-4 from the field. He also imposed his will on the rim to the tune of 6 dunks.
And Raja Bell kept the defense honest by bagging 18 points of his own on 6-9 shooting.
So did the defensive adjustment win the game? Or did the adjustment just settle the defense?
I vote for the latter because that simple offensive adjustment - flying in the face of pundits and experts everywhere who said that the Suns needed to improve their D - opened up the offense in ways that would have won them game 1 of this series. That was a FIVE POINT loss, and it wasn't decided until the final minute. The Spurs shot 50% in that game.
Still think it was a defensive adjustment?
May 8, 2007
Steve Nash is a Point Gua'd
*Before reading, please click play on this video. Don't watch it, just listen to it. This entry has a sound track.
Boston. Celtics. Bob Cousy.
No one else in the history of the Association compares to Steve Nash in ball handling skills. His dribbling displays are the moments that make legends out of ball players. Cousy's most famous moment - dribbling out the clock and avoiding the foul in the closing seconds of a Finals win. That's a legendary ball handler. Nash may never have been in the Finals as of yet, but that in no way diminishes the brilliance of his handle.
New Orleans/Utah. Jazz. Pistol Pete Maravich.
His passing ability more than equals his dribbling skills. Soccer didn't teach him how to use his hands, so it would seem that Steve has an inate sense of what the ball has to do in order to reach it's target. How does he get away with it? In Nash's case, it is all sleight of hand. The ball spins wildly in his palm, his hips constantly shifting position. He's ambidextrous, so he switches to his left hand. The ball hesitates at his soft touch, and then it rockets past the defender, changing direction on the bounce just enough to hit his cutter at the numbers. Watching a Suns game with Nash is like having a video of infinitely varying passes playing on a perpetual loop.
I've always known that Nash was special, and I was sad to see him leave for Dallas. His poor start there only made matters worse, and I knew those gutless fans would rue the days they ever booed him. Steve has always had mad skills. It was just a matter of time.
But I learned something new about Steve Nash on Sunday, May 6, 2007. I watched that game on the biggest screen I have ever seen in a house, and I saw some amazing things in that gut wrenching game one loss. Steve Nash is old school in a bad ass way. He pulled a move that I've only seen one player do in a big playoff game, I believe against the Lakers.
Detroit. Pistons. Isiah Thomas.
I try to forget Isiah the coach and General Manager. I do my best to remember Isiah the baller. I have help from NBA Classic and the series of NBA Finals classic games/guards/dunkers/etc. Sunday afternoon, I got an old school highlight move by Steve Nash.
Isiah was a bull dog. He had a low, quick crossover that could break a cat's ankles. His movements were so tight that it seemed he would explode at any moment. A couple of crossovers and juke steps, and he blew by Byron Scott or whoever was guarding him. It wasn't just the quickness. It was that toughness he brought to the move that made it his own. He hunched over, lowered his shoulders, and dared the defender to come at him. That has to be a new level of intimidating, going against a player that believes in his talent more than he believes in God himself.
I saw that in Steve on Sunday. Despite the loss, he doggedly kept his team in that game. He had an Isiah-like game with 31 points and 8 assists. He carried the Suns to the last minute of that game.
I watched that game on Sunday, and never once did I forget that this was no ordinary game. This was Steve Nash in Classic NBA mode, bringing the wine and blood to the same party. I can't help but think that, if that game had occurred 20 years ago, would Nash have been in that game for the last minute, blood dripping on the floor and eyes burning from adhesive fumes?
And the question after the game was, did it matter that Nash wasn't allowed to play with a bloody nose? A lot of people say no. A lot of people are incredibly ignorant, too. Coincidence?
Of course it mattered. We are talking about a player, bloody and sweaty with an angry sneer on his brow, waiting to come in and take over that game. Would he have won it for the Suns? No one can say for sure. But could he have? Hell, yes.
Nash is a two time League Most Valuable Player. He didn't get those awards on accident. He got them from the very people who are now questioning the Suns' ability to get it done in the playoffs. He got those awards from the same people who are now saying, "It wouldn't have mattered."
Steve Nash is old school. Steve Nash is 13 players from the 70s and 80s rolled into one skinny white tough little package.
Sure, the Suns lost game one. But I didn't see that game. I saw an historic event as Steve Nash played like a three-time League Most Valuable Player.
Larry Bird.
We're watching history.
Boston. Celtics. Bob Cousy.
No one else in the history of the Association compares to Steve Nash in ball handling skills. His dribbling displays are the moments that make legends out of ball players. Cousy's most famous moment - dribbling out the clock and avoiding the foul in the closing seconds of a Finals win. That's a legendary ball handler. Nash may never have been in the Finals as of yet, but that in no way diminishes the brilliance of his handle.
New Orleans/Utah. Jazz. Pistol Pete Maravich.
His passing ability more than equals his dribbling skills. Soccer didn't teach him how to use his hands, so it would seem that Steve has an inate sense of what the ball has to do in order to reach it's target. How does he get away with it? In Nash's case, it is all sleight of hand. The ball spins wildly in his palm, his hips constantly shifting position. He's ambidextrous, so he switches to his left hand. The ball hesitates at his soft touch, and then it rockets past the defender, changing direction on the bounce just enough to hit his cutter at the numbers. Watching a Suns game with Nash is like having a video of infinitely varying passes playing on a perpetual loop.
I've always known that Nash was special, and I was sad to see him leave for Dallas. His poor start there only made matters worse, and I knew those gutless fans would rue the days they ever booed him. Steve has always had mad skills. It was just a matter of time.
But I learned something new about Steve Nash on Sunday, May 6, 2007. I watched that game on the biggest screen I have ever seen in a house, and I saw some amazing things in that gut wrenching game one loss. Steve Nash is old school in a bad ass way. He pulled a move that I've only seen one player do in a big playoff game, I believe against the Lakers.
Detroit. Pistons. Isiah Thomas.
I try to forget Isiah the coach and General Manager. I do my best to remember Isiah the baller. I have help from NBA Classic and the series of NBA Finals classic games/guards/dunkers/etc. Sunday afternoon, I got an old school highlight move by Steve Nash.
Isiah was a bull dog. He had a low, quick crossover that could break a cat's ankles. His movements were so tight that it seemed he would explode at any moment. A couple of crossovers and juke steps, and he blew by Byron Scott or whoever was guarding him. It wasn't just the quickness. It was that toughness he brought to the move that made it his own. He hunched over, lowered his shoulders, and dared the defender to come at him. That has to be a new level of intimidating, going against a player that believes in his talent more than he believes in God himself.
I saw that in Steve on Sunday. Despite the loss, he doggedly kept his team in that game. He had an Isiah-like game with 31 points and 8 assists. He carried the Suns to the last minute of that game.
I watched that game on Sunday, and never once did I forget that this was no ordinary game. This was Steve Nash in Classic NBA mode, bringing the wine and blood to the same party. I can't help but think that, if that game had occurred 20 years ago, would Nash have been in that game for the last minute, blood dripping on the floor and eyes burning from adhesive fumes?
And the question after the game was, did it matter that Nash wasn't allowed to play with a bloody nose? A lot of people say no. A lot of people are incredibly ignorant, too. Coincidence?
Of course it mattered. We are talking about a player, bloody and sweaty with an angry sneer on his brow, waiting to come in and take over that game. Would he have won it for the Suns? No one can say for sure. But could he have? Hell, yes.
Nash is a two time League Most Valuable Player. He didn't get those awards on accident. He got them from the very people who are now questioning the Suns' ability to get it done in the playoffs. He got those awards from the same people who are now saying, "It wouldn't have mattered."
Steve Nash is old school. Steve Nash is 13 players from the 70s and 80s rolled into one skinny white tough little package.
Sure, the Suns lost game one. But I didn't see that game. I saw an historic event as Steve Nash played like a three-time League Most Valuable Player.
Larry Bird.
We're watching history.
Suns-Spurs Round 2 Game 2
Marv Albert and Steve Kerr working the mics. TNT is going classic on us with that one.
Looking good so far. Nash attacking Bowen, Thomas muffling Duncan, Stoudemire getting aggressive on the glass. Marion needs to hit that open three, though. All things considered, though, a promising start.
Sad how the media is writing the Suns off already, talking about what moves the Suns will make in the off season, and what it would mean if the Spurs go up 2-0 on the Suns tonight. No faith. No insight into the last game. San Antonio didn't dominate, so there's no reason to write the Suns off.
Interesting that Marion is out for Diaw. Stay in bounds, Raja.
A late whistle benefits Parker? What a shock. As was the case the other day, the Suns player got the worst of it all the way around. Let's keep this even, refs. I guess not, as Duncan goes to the line as a reward for solid defense by Amare. Think that ref wants to keep his job? Joey Crawford, where are you?
Apparently Duncan gets called for one foul in every four he actually commits.
Would be nice if Diaw would make an open shot. He got three attempts on his first one and missed all three. Amare isn't much better, both sitting at 0-4 each.
After the first quarter, it's plain to see. It's not the rebounding, it's not the turn overs, and it's not the foul shooting. It's the Suns making only 6 of 23 shots. And how many of those were good looks? At least half the misses, from my count. That's not going to get it done against any team, let alone the Spurs.
I don't know what they have in their heads that makes them think that an open shot is challenged, but they need a shrink to get rid of it at this point. Boris Diaw does not want a championship. Time to go to the seven man rotation.
Someone needs to remind Kerr that the Suns are also missing shots they normally make. And he's a part owner.
I like that. Leandro attacking Parker is our best match up right now. Tire Parker out (or in any other NBA city, get him in foul trouble), and let LB have at it. They'll eventually have to stick Bowen on him, and that would be good for Nash.
But they've got to be more menacing on the glass. Yeah, it's even, but the Suns need to dominate the glass to make this a convincing win. And with so many missed shots, there's no real reason the Suns should have only four offensive rebounds.
How does Parker make THAT shot with Marion all over him and the clock expiring?
If that ball hadn't gone to Horry, the refs would have called a late goal tend. Don't worry Spurs fans.
Suddenly both teams are 12-33, as the Suns defense shown with Duncan on the bench. Now he's back in, so the Suns have to make a more concerted effort to attack the defensive glass. The Spurs have out-rebounded the Suns on the offensive end 5-0 since the last check in. Not good, especially with TD sitting for a big stretch.
More of that, please. Nash dissecting the defense (no, the Spurs defense is not constructed with Adamantium) and getting it to open shooters who actually make their open shots. Yes, I'd like a second and third helping of that brand of basketball.
Ginobili REALLY loves Amare. First the nut crack, now the bear hug? And of course The Nose gets away with it. Nash says "Fuck You, Duncan" and draws the charge...his third foul. Gee...how's it feel, Pop?
Diaw, Diaw, Diaw - MAKE THE OPEN SHOTS!!!
Suddenly, the Spurs look like any other team in the league.
Seven point lead works for me. Could have been ten, but you pick your poison, I guess. This better keep up because the Suns are outplaying the Spurs big time.
Consider that San Antonio only scored 17 points in that quarter after that Bowen three. The Suns scored 30. Definitely will take more of that.
BONUS!!!
Magic Johnson gives a great big shout out to Jey as he compares Nash and Nowitzki, explaining what makes an MVP.
"Dirk, take a lesson from your best friend!"
Beautiful. And I don't even like the guy.
Chuck states the obvious again. If the Suns want to win this game and this series, Marion and Stoudemire need to be involved. Say it with me, Suns fans, "DUUUUUHHHHHH!"
For those who didn't notice, or those who did and wondered, yes, I am half-assing it today. I'm watching the game first and writing second. Sorry that it's not as in depth, but I'm determined to enjoy this series.
Business, baby. Let's get down to it.
Amare doesn't get a foul call again. Typical. But isn't it beautiful to see him bull his way through, expecting heavy contact, and STILL getting the monstrous two-handed slam? I'll take a serving of that, too. Bring around for the whole family, please.
So let me get this straight...Duncan gets in trouble, can't handle the ball, so the ref bails him out. What a crock.
Silly turnovers. Keep giving it to Amare, just clear the lane for him to work.
Nice of TNT to be riding Duncan's jock. Just long enough to miss a play by Leandro. Sounded exciting, too. Too bad we don't get to see it.
Number 4 on Duncan. Guess who's about to go off for about 10 points.
I guess I was wrong. Who knew the Suns would suddenly make bad decisions to close out the quarter? And who knew the refs would suddenly swallow their whistles? Is consistency too much to ask for? I believe so.
Bell...player of the game. He was quiet in the third quarter, but he is shooting 6-9 for 18 points, attacking the basket, and keeping the tempo up in Nash's absence. Don't like those 4 turnovers, though. So long as he makes up for it on the offensive end as he has been doing, we can overlook that deficiency.
I don't care if Marion doesn't score another point. He needs to help dominate the glass in this final quarter. Fill the lanes on what few breaks the Suns get, and just attack every missed shot.
It would be nice if Leandro heated up. If he gets a couple of his classic clutch threes, this game would be over quickly. Ten minutes to go, and we'll see what happens. Just keep the Keds on the accelerator.
MEEP MEEP!!!
Am I the only one who just saw Duncan lay a kick at Marion on that rebound?
Under 6 minutes to go, and the Suns are up by 17 points. Amazing what can happen when guys fight for every inch. They actually make plays and get calls.
Pop can't be happy about that transition three attempt from Barry. Must be why a replacement is coming in.
2:49 left in the game, 94-76 Suns. I made some comments the last few days to the effect that the Suns need a convincing win tonight to shut up the media and prove that they can win this game. Is this convincing enough? Yes.
James Jones has played less than five minutes, so it seems that D'Antoni really is going for the 7 man rotation in this series now. That's fine because, if the Suns make it through to the next round, Kurt Thomas won't play as much later. Use him now. This is why we brought him in.
Suns still need to win two in a row somewhere along the line. Hopefully game three will be the second.
Oh...NOW LB hits a three!
Yeah...that was convincing enough for me. I just hope they don't have one of their infamous post-blowout stinkers in game three.
And my vindication du jour:
Suns shoot 52.6% for the game after starting 26% in the first quarter. That's a 64.2% clip for the last three quarters. San Antonio shot 42.9% for the game. Spurs defense what, now?
Point is, the Suns maintained their season long defense against San Antonio, then made their own open shots. It's all about field goal efficiency with this series. The Spurs cannot win this series as long as the Suns play with that desperate energy and hit their open shots. The Suns defense is just too good to allow San Antonio's mediocre and methodical offense to put together the kinds of runs that the Suns can.
Yeah...I said it.
Looking good so far. Nash attacking Bowen, Thomas muffling Duncan, Stoudemire getting aggressive on the glass. Marion needs to hit that open three, though. All things considered, though, a promising start.
Sad how the media is writing the Suns off already, talking about what moves the Suns will make in the off season, and what it would mean if the Spurs go up 2-0 on the Suns tonight. No faith. No insight into the last game. San Antonio didn't dominate, so there's no reason to write the Suns off.
Interesting that Marion is out for Diaw. Stay in bounds, Raja.
A late whistle benefits Parker? What a shock. As was the case the other day, the Suns player got the worst of it all the way around. Let's keep this even, refs. I guess not, as Duncan goes to the line as a reward for solid defense by Amare. Think that ref wants to keep his job? Joey Crawford, where are you?
Apparently Duncan gets called for one foul in every four he actually commits.
Would be nice if Diaw would make an open shot. He got three attempts on his first one and missed all three. Amare isn't much better, both sitting at 0-4 each.
After the first quarter, it's plain to see. It's not the rebounding, it's not the turn overs, and it's not the foul shooting. It's the Suns making only 6 of 23 shots. And how many of those were good looks? At least half the misses, from my count. That's not going to get it done against any team, let alone the Spurs.
I don't know what they have in their heads that makes them think that an open shot is challenged, but they need a shrink to get rid of it at this point. Boris Diaw does not want a championship. Time to go to the seven man rotation.
Someone needs to remind Kerr that the Suns are also missing shots they normally make. And he's a part owner.
I like that. Leandro attacking Parker is our best match up right now. Tire Parker out (or in any other NBA city, get him in foul trouble), and let LB have at it. They'll eventually have to stick Bowen on him, and that would be good for Nash.
But they've got to be more menacing on the glass. Yeah, it's even, but the Suns need to dominate the glass to make this a convincing win. And with so many missed shots, there's no real reason the Suns should have only four offensive rebounds.
How does Parker make THAT shot with Marion all over him and the clock expiring?
If that ball hadn't gone to Horry, the refs would have called a late goal tend. Don't worry Spurs fans.
Suddenly both teams are 12-33, as the Suns defense shown with Duncan on the bench. Now he's back in, so the Suns have to make a more concerted effort to attack the defensive glass. The Spurs have out-rebounded the Suns on the offensive end 5-0 since the last check in. Not good, especially with TD sitting for a big stretch.
More of that, please. Nash dissecting the defense (no, the Spurs defense is not constructed with Adamantium) and getting it to open shooters who actually make their open shots. Yes, I'd like a second and third helping of that brand of basketball.
Ginobili REALLY loves Amare. First the nut crack, now the bear hug? And of course The Nose gets away with it. Nash says "Fuck You, Duncan" and draws the charge...his third foul. Gee...how's it feel, Pop?
Diaw, Diaw, Diaw - MAKE THE OPEN SHOTS!!!
Suddenly, the Spurs look like any other team in the league.
Seven point lead works for me. Could have been ten, but you pick your poison, I guess. This better keep up because the Suns are outplaying the Spurs big time.
Consider that San Antonio only scored 17 points in that quarter after that Bowen three. The Suns scored 30. Definitely will take more of that.
BONUS!!!
Magic Johnson gives a great big shout out to Jey as he compares Nash and Nowitzki, explaining what makes an MVP.
"Dirk, take a lesson from your best friend!"
Beautiful. And I don't even like the guy.
Chuck states the obvious again. If the Suns want to win this game and this series, Marion and Stoudemire need to be involved. Say it with me, Suns fans, "DUUUUUHHHHHH!"
For those who didn't notice, or those who did and wondered, yes, I am half-assing it today. I'm watching the game first and writing second. Sorry that it's not as in depth, but I'm determined to enjoy this series.
Business, baby. Let's get down to it.
Amare doesn't get a foul call again. Typical. But isn't it beautiful to see him bull his way through, expecting heavy contact, and STILL getting the monstrous two-handed slam? I'll take a serving of that, too. Bring around for the whole family, please.
So let me get this straight...Duncan gets in trouble, can't handle the ball, so the ref bails him out. What a crock.
Silly turnovers. Keep giving it to Amare, just clear the lane for him to work.
Nice of TNT to be riding Duncan's jock. Just long enough to miss a play by Leandro. Sounded exciting, too. Too bad we don't get to see it.
Number 4 on Duncan. Guess who's about to go off for about 10 points.
I guess I was wrong. Who knew the Suns would suddenly make bad decisions to close out the quarter? And who knew the refs would suddenly swallow their whistles? Is consistency too much to ask for? I believe so.
Bell...player of the game. He was quiet in the third quarter, but he is shooting 6-9 for 18 points, attacking the basket, and keeping the tempo up in Nash's absence. Don't like those 4 turnovers, though. So long as he makes up for it on the offensive end as he has been doing, we can overlook that deficiency.
I don't care if Marion doesn't score another point. He needs to help dominate the glass in this final quarter. Fill the lanes on what few breaks the Suns get, and just attack every missed shot.
It would be nice if Leandro heated up. If he gets a couple of his classic clutch threes, this game would be over quickly. Ten minutes to go, and we'll see what happens. Just keep the Keds on the accelerator.
MEEP MEEP!!!
Am I the only one who just saw Duncan lay a kick at Marion on that rebound?
Under 6 minutes to go, and the Suns are up by 17 points. Amazing what can happen when guys fight for every inch. They actually make plays and get calls.
Pop can't be happy about that transition three attempt from Barry. Must be why a replacement is coming in.
2:49 left in the game, 94-76 Suns. I made some comments the last few days to the effect that the Suns need a convincing win tonight to shut up the media and prove that they can win this game. Is this convincing enough? Yes.
James Jones has played less than five minutes, so it seems that D'Antoni really is going for the 7 man rotation in this series now. That's fine because, if the Suns make it through to the next round, Kurt Thomas won't play as much later. Use him now. This is why we brought him in.
Suns still need to win two in a row somewhere along the line. Hopefully game three will be the second.
Oh...NOW LB hits a three!
Yeah...that was convincing enough for me. I just hope they don't have one of their infamous post-blowout stinkers in game three.
And my vindication du jour:
Suns shoot 52.6% for the game after starting 26% in the first quarter. That's a 64.2% clip for the last three quarters. San Antonio shot 42.9% for the game. Spurs defense what, now?
Point is, the Suns maintained their season long defense against San Antonio, then made their own open shots. It's all about field goal efficiency with this series. The Spurs cannot win this series as long as the Suns play with that desperate energy and hit their open shots. The Suns defense is just too good to allow San Antonio's mediocre and methodical offense to put together the kinds of runs that the Suns can.
Yeah...I said it.
Steve Nash is a Good Defender
Seriously. He is. But before getting all riled up, consider my careful use of adjective. He is a "good" defender, not a "great" defender or even a good one-on-one defender.
Steve Nash is a smart player. He is a player who understands his strengths, which is why he is such a great passer, excellent shooter, and superior decision maker on the court. He maximized his strengths to be the best player he could be.
He also recognizes his weaknesses, which is also why he is such a great passer, excellent shooter, and superior decision maker. He's not a quick, explosive athlete. He's not a drive-the-lane-slam-dunk kind of player on the offensive end, so why do people expect him to be a spectacular defender on the other end?
Watch Steve play defense tonight. It's very subtle, but Dan and EJ talk about it all the time. Nash plays defense with his head, not his athleticism. He doesn't swipe at balls or gamble on steals because he doesn't have quick hands or an explosive first step to get the jump on loose balls in the back court. The game one incident that resulted in a bloody and battered Steve Nash is not the norm. He'll go for a steal like that maybe once a game. Same thing with blocked shots. He doesn't do it that often, but when he does, I need to see about three replays to believe my eyes.
That's why he's not a good one-on-one defender. Steve Nash plays defense sort of like a post player. He watches the ball, and he moves his feet. Think of Allen Iverson going straight up against Tim Duncan. That's how it is when Tony Parker goes up against Steve Nash. Chances are, Parker's going to get by. But that's what the weak side is for, and the Suns' weak side defense always seems to be waiting for the next bus.
Unless Nash is playing the weak side. Ever wonder why Steve draws so many charges? Watch when he's on the defensive weak side, and there's ball penetration. Notice how Nash always keeps one eye on his man, and one eye on the ball. Then watch as the penetrator commits, Steve darts to position outside the circle a step before the ball handler gets there. It's like a defenseman tackling a forward from the blind side in football proper.
He plays smart defense. He stays low, keeps his hips square, and trusts his back side. His footwork is paramount to his weak side defense, and he is one of the league leaders in taking charges. That's a "good" defender. He is a player who minimizes his weaknesses and maximizes his strengths. It may not be to All Defense First Team standards, but it's what coaches want to see. He only averages about two fouls a games, so you know he's making smart plays.
So is he a great defender? No. But he is better than people seem to realize.
If the team behind him would ever let what Steve says sink in, then maybe the team would be recognized for its defense more. You played with no heart on Sunday. You play smart, you play with heart, and you beat championship caliber teams. Teams like the San Antonio Spurs. You play like that, and you win championships. It's only natural that the talent level of the Suns takes care of the rest. They're too good not to win, and Steve Nash is why. Why they don't listen, I do not know.
Be smart, guys. Listen to your captain. That goes double for you, Boris. And Shawn...you know that Steve's right, so what are you going to do? This city loves you, and we want to see YOU win this title. Don't let us down. Be the Matrix.
Don't let Steve Nash out-defend you.
Steve Nash is a smart player. He is a player who understands his strengths, which is why he is such a great passer, excellent shooter, and superior decision maker on the court. He maximized his strengths to be the best player he could be.
He also recognizes his weaknesses, which is also why he is such a great passer, excellent shooter, and superior decision maker. He's not a quick, explosive athlete. He's not a drive-the-lane-slam-dunk kind of player on the offensive end, so why do people expect him to be a spectacular defender on the other end?
Watch Steve play defense tonight. It's very subtle, but Dan and EJ talk about it all the time. Nash plays defense with his head, not his athleticism. He doesn't swipe at balls or gamble on steals because he doesn't have quick hands or an explosive first step to get the jump on loose balls in the back court. The game one incident that resulted in a bloody and battered Steve Nash is not the norm. He'll go for a steal like that maybe once a game. Same thing with blocked shots. He doesn't do it that often, but when he does, I need to see about three replays to believe my eyes.
That's why he's not a good one-on-one defender. Steve Nash plays defense sort of like a post player. He watches the ball, and he moves his feet. Think of Allen Iverson going straight up against Tim Duncan. That's how it is when Tony Parker goes up against Steve Nash. Chances are, Parker's going to get by. But that's what the weak side is for, and the Suns' weak side defense always seems to be waiting for the next bus.
Unless Nash is playing the weak side. Ever wonder why Steve draws so many charges? Watch when he's on the defensive weak side, and there's ball penetration. Notice how Nash always keeps one eye on his man, and one eye on the ball. Then watch as the penetrator commits, Steve darts to position outside the circle a step before the ball handler gets there. It's like a defenseman tackling a forward from the blind side in football proper.
He plays smart defense. He stays low, keeps his hips square, and trusts his back side. His footwork is paramount to his weak side defense, and he is one of the league leaders in taking charges. That's a "good" defender. He is a player who minimizes his weaknesses and maximizes his strengths. It may not be to All Defense First Team standards, but it's what coaches want to see. He only averages about two fouls a games, so you know he's making smart plays.
So is he a great defender? No. But he is better than people seem to realize.
If the team behind him would ever let what Steve says sink in, then maybe the team would be recognized for its defense more. You played with no heart on Sunday. You play smart, you play with heart, and you beat championship caliber teams. Teams like the San Antonio Spurs. You play like that, and you win championships. It's only natural that the talent level of the Suns takes care of the rest. They're too good not to win, and Steve Nash is why. Why they don't listen, I do not know.
Be smart, guys. Listen to your captain. That goes double for you, Boris. And Shawn...you know that Steve's right, so what are you going to do? This city loves you, and we want to see YOU win this title. Don't let us down. Be the Matrix.
Don't let Steve Nash out-defend you.
May 6, 2007
Almost Famous
So I've been sitting up here in Flagstaff, and I've come to a frightening realization. I've spent most of my life working in the entertainment industry, albeit on a, shall we say, under-the-radar sort of way. I never went for the big time, though, even though I always felt that I wanted to. I always wanted to set an example, a new standard of how people in that industry are perceived.
Now that I'm older and have been out of the industry, I've had a chance to look back, do some research, and I've come to the conclusion that I don't want any part of it. Normal people are raised to the level of demi-deity, and they forget who they are. And once at that level of celebrity, it's impossible to go back and be considered "normal". Yuck.
Being here in Flagstaff has been rather strange for me. I write under the assumption that nobody is paying attention or that no one truly cares. It was all just supposed to be my thoughts. It helps to get them out of the system, even if it's only for myself to read.
Then Kelly Dwyer showed up, and changed all that. Suddenly people are paying attention, and that's the last thing I ever wanted. Writing in the room with someone else there is eye opening. It is a very real reminder that yes, indeed, people are reading.
I'm a loner, though. I like sitting in a hole away from the rest of the world because I've been formed by this new American culture into a character that closely resembles a classic sociopath in that I'm more comfortable dealing with people through an intermediary device, such as television or the Internet. Basically, I more easily associate with others as a concept developed by the media. I'm a TV character of sorts.
That's not what I want to be. I like sitting secluded it a far off place with no contact whatsoever. I'm a regular Hollywood recluse that hides out online.
So I need to step back and take a breather. I need to get back to focusing on myself when I write, and forget that people are watching. I can't comment on that world while I'm a part of it. I can't be aware of readers because it makes me feel as if I have to live up to a false impression of a human being. So I'm going to make a concerted effort to write more about the life and philosophy part of it all. Life isn't all Suns and entertainment.
There are some beautifully fucked up things going on in the world, and I want to sit back and soak it all in. I want to do it anonymously, but I want to comment on things. Not just the Suns. If I'm going to be appreciated for my writing, then I'm going to make sure that it's about every silly cynical little thing I can think of.
So it's not all bad, knowing that someone's watching. It's one more thing to rebel against. Always a philosophy of mine - give the audience what they didn't know they wanted. It's an odd concept, but it works. People like pleasant surprises. It makes them feel like you, the artist, respects their intelligence to give them something new.
So the Suns lost today, and I'm kinda bummed out. It's hard to write about them after a loss, especially an ugly one. There were positives, but I think it's best to deal with the negatives. Fixing those would cure everything. But it's not for me to say, so I'm going to just write some crap about wanting to get off the ride for a while. We'll see how this whole thing turns out.
Who knows. It could end with me blowing my brains out live on the 7:00 news.
Now that I'm older and have been out of the industry, I've had a chance to look back, do some research, and I've come to the conclusion that I don't want any part of it. Normal people are raised to the level of demi-deity, and they forget who they are. And once at that level of celebrity, it's impossible to go back and be considered "normal". Yuck.
Being here in Flagstaff has been rather strange for me. I write under the assumption that nobody is paying attention or that no one truly cares. It was all just supposed to be my thoughts. It helps to get them out of the system, even if it's only for myself to read.
Then Kelly Dwyer showed up, and changed all that. Suddenly people are paying attention, and that's the last thing I ever wanted. Writing in the room with someone else there is eye opening. It is a very real reminder that yes, indeed, people are reading.
I'm a loner, though. I like sitting in a hole away from the rest of the world because I've been formed by this new American culture into a character that closely resembles a classic sociopath in that I'm more comfortable dealing with people through an intermediary device, such as television or the Internet. Basically, I more easily associate with others as a concept developed by the media. I'm a TV character of sorts.
That's not what I want to be. I like sitting secluded it a far off place with no contact whatsoever. I'm a regular Hollywood recluse that hides out online.
So I need to step back and take a breather. I need to get back to focusing on myself when I write, and forget that people are watching. I can't comment on that world while I'm a part of it. I can't be aware of readers because it makes me feel as if I have to live up to a false impression of a human being. So I'm going to make a concerted effort to write more about the life and philosophy part of it all. Life isn't all Suns and entertainment.
There are some beautifully fucked up things going on in the world, and I want to sit back and soak it all in. I want to do it anonymously, but I want to comment on things. Not just the Suns. If I'm going to be appreciated for my writing, then I'm going to make sure that it's about every silly cynical little thing I can think of.
So it's not all bad, knowing that someone's watching. It's one more thing to rebel against. Always a philosophy of mine - give the audience what they didn't know they wanted. It's an odd concept, but it works. People like pleasant surprises. It makes them feel like you, the artist, respects their intelligence to give them something new.
So the Suns lost today, and I'm kinda bummed out. It's hard to write about them after a loss, especially an ugly one. There were positives, but I think it's best to deal with the negatives. Fixing those would cure everything. But it's not for me to say, so I'm going to just write some crap about wanting to get off the ride for a while. We'll see how this whole thing turns out.
Who knows. It could end with me blowing my brains out live on the 7:00 news.
Suns-Spurs Round 2 Game 1
Hello...hello...hello...Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me.
Is there anyone home?
I'm not. I'm sitting in the basement of a condo in Flagstaff owned by one Butler D. Black Jesus. Everything's cool. Just getting ready to watch the game on a very large screen front projection television. I am here to watch the game with another fan, and basically just watch the game. Meaning, I will not be doing a live play by play during the game. I haven't seen a single playoff game because the writing distracts me from the action. I want to watch this game.
So enjoy the game. I will probably update something between quarters just to distract myself from the commercials. The game is on, Black Jesus rejectifies Timmy. To be continued.
I'm not liking the game so far. The refs have already established a presence that predictably favors the Spurs. Nine foul shots to one in favor of San Antonio. Five team fouls for the Suns to two on San Antonio. It sucks, but the Suns are forcing turnovers, as Raja takes the charge. THAT'S a first team All Defense.
So the Suns defense is doing very nicely, as BJ gets the steal. They're just missing open shots, but tides are turning as Diaw gets it off inside and draws the foul on Ginobili. His second. Nice. Get that mother flopper off the court. And one, Diaw seems nice and confident. I don't expect the bad trends to continue, though. The Suns are defending well, and that always results in good things, even if the shots aren't falling early. Barbosa impresses, but he's not going to keep missing. He'll get into the lane or hit a clutch three, and all will be well in House of the Rising Suns. (Sorry...game's on, and I can't be bothered being clever.)
Back to the game. See ya at half time.
Well that's a nice offensive foul non-call. Why is Duncan shooting a free throw when it was his left elbow that cleared out Stoudemire? That is an illegal play. Now Amare has his second foul. They're playing good defense and not getting rewarded for it. And Matrix comes to life as Bell feeds him for the fast break lay in. That's beautiful basketball, and the crowd shows their appreciation at a very high decibel. Pop recognizes this, and very quickly calls the troops back. He doesn't want us to see what he's planning, so the TV tells us what to buy.
It's an up and down game. Not getting many breaks in the foul calls, but they are responding with solid defense and quick baskets. As long as those open shots start to go in, this will be a Suns run away in the second half. We're wondering if they'll hit 50 by the break, and they have. We still have two and a half minutes. Leandro thanks Dan D'Antoni and Steve Nash, and he shows his appreciation by scoring 11 points to Nash's 14. He's keeping pace with the MVP, but the refs job us by allowing Duncan to yank Amare to the floor. Three fouls. But the crowd has life, and are giving it to the refs.
Fuck the refs. Blow up for the Suns. Think Oakland. Turn off the Arena soundtrack, and force the fans to bring the noise. The team is doing its part, but I'd like to see those fans get more behind their team, and less in front of the refs. Suns just need to hit their open shots. That's all.
Well, I'm shocked to see that the Suns are actually shooting 50% for the game. That's cool. But they only lead by two. The Spurs are out-rebounding the Suns 7-2 on the offensive end, but the Suns have taken 44 shots to San Antonio's 38. Suns are forcing turnovers, 10-5. And they now have 11 fouls to the Spurs' 9. So why have the Spurs out shot the Suns 16-6 from the foul line? Well, that third foul on Stoudemire was key, but wasn't a shooting foul. Oh, well. Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, Shawn Marion, Raja Bell and Leandro Barbosa are all better than their counterparts on the Spurs. I gotta believe that the Suns are going to do something nasty in the second half.
Do people really watch Lost? So many that they have the production budget for those slick ads and exotic locations? Wow.
Oh, look. Half time is over. I totally missed the half time crap. Good. They probably didn't see what I saw. It would have ruined my mood.
Post game.
Damn. Now I look stupid.
At least I can take solace that the things I said would win this series are the exact things Phoenix did not do.
They started shooting 50% while holding San Antonio to 47.5%. Everything switched in the second half, with the Spurs getting called for 25 fouls to the Suns' 20. It was the obligatory end of tight game free throw contest that made it look bad in the box score.
Bottom line...Suns didn't hit their open shots to keep their shooting percentage up. And their defense, although well played, was undermined by some good clutch shooting from Duncan and Parker. That's a nice sign, though. Can't do much about the other team making huge shots when they're contested. Now the Suns have to win one in San Antonio, which I believe they can do. I don't know about doing it twice, though, so I may have to alter my pre-series prediction of Suns in 6. Could be five, could be seven.
I'll wait and see how things go Tuesday. If the Suns come out and get a convincing win (not easy, convincing), then the momentum of the series could permanently turn in the Suns' favor.
It was a good game for the most part. Nice and competitive with lots of good highlights on both ends of the court for both teams.
Here's to forgetting the refs and remembering that the Suns are the better team. Have faith, be positive, and Karma will take care of the rest.
Just nod if you can hear me.
Is there anyone home?
I'm not. I'm sitting in the basement of a condo in Flagstaff owned by one Butler D. Black Jesus. Everything's cool. Just getting ready to watch the game on a very large screen front projection television. I am here to watch the game with another fan, and basically just watch the game. Meaning, I will not be doing a live play by play during the game. I haven't seen a single playoff game because the writing distracts me from the action. I want to watch this game.
So enjoy the game. I will probably update something between quarters just to distract myself from the commercials. The game is on, Black Jesus rejectifies Timmy. To be continued.
I'm not liking the game so far. The refs have already established a presence that predictably favors the Spurs. Nine foul shots to one in favor of San Antonio. Five team fouls for the Suns to two on San Antonio. It sucks, but the Suns are forcing turnovers, as Raja takes the charge. THAT'S a first team All Defense.
So the Suns defense is doing very nicely, as BJ gets the steal. They're just missing open shots, but tides are turning as Diaw gets it off inside and draws the foul on Ginobili. His second. Nice. Get that mother flopper off the court. And one, Diaw seems nice and confident. I don't expect the bad trends to continue, though. The Suns are defending well, and that always results in good things, even if the shots aren't falling early. Barbosa impresses, but he's not going to keep missing. He'll get into the lane or hit a clutch three, and all will be well in House of the Rising Suns. (Sorry...game's on, and I can't be bothered being clever.)
Back to the game. See ya at half time.
Well that's a nice offensive foul non-call. Why is Duncan shooting a free throw when it was his left elbow that cleared out Stoudemire? That is an illegal play. Now Amare has his second foul. They're playing good defense and not getting rewarded for it. And Matrix comes to life as Bell feeds him for the fast break lay in. That's beautiful basketball, and the crowd shows their appreciation at a very high decibel. Pop recognizes this, and very quickly calls the troops back. He doesn't want us to see what he's planning, so the TV tells us what to buy.
It's an up and down game. Not getting many breaks in the foul calls, but they are responding with solid defense and quick baskets. As long as those open shots start to go in, this will be a Suns run away in the second half. We're wondering if they'll hit 50 by the break, and they have. We still have two and a half minutes. Leandro thanks Dan D'Antoni and Steve Nash, and he shows his appreciation by scoring 11 points to Nash's 14. He's keeping pace with the MVP, but the refs job us by allowing Duncan to yank Amare to the floor. Three fouls. But the crowd has life, and are giving it to the refs.
Fuck the refs. Blow up for the Suns. Think Oakland. Turn off the Arena soundtrack, and force the fans to bring the noise. The team is doing its part, but I'd like to see those fans get more behind their team, and less in front of the refs. Suns just need to hit their open shots. That's all.
Well, I'm shocked to see that the Suns are actually shooting 50% for the game. That's cool. But they only lead by two. The Spurs are out-rebounding the Suns 7-2 on the offensive end, but the Suns have taken 44 shots to San Antonio's 38. Suns are forcing turnovers, 10-5. And they now have 11 fouls to the Spurs' 9. So why have the Spurs out shot the Suns 16-6 from the foul line? Well, that third foul on Stoudemire was key, but wasn't a shooting foul. Oh, well. Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, Shawn Marion, Raja Bell and Leandro Barbosa are all better than their counterparts on the Spurs. I gotta believe that the Suns are going to do something nasty in the second half.
Do people really watch Lost? So many that they have the production budget for those slick ads and exotic locations? Wow.
Oh, look. Half time is over. I totally missed the half time crap. Good. They probably didn't see what I saw. It would have ruined my mood.
Post game.
Damn. Now I look stupid.
At least I can take solace that the things I said would win this series are the exact things Phoenix did not do.
They started shooting 50% while holding San Antonio to 47.5%. Everything switched in the second half, with the Spurs getting called for 25 fouls to the Suns' 20. It was the obligatory end of tight game free throw contest that made it look bad in the box score.
Bottom line...Suns didn't hit their open shots to keep their shooting percentage up. And their defense, although well played, was undermined by some good clutch shooting from Duncan and Parker. That's a nice sign, though. Can't do much about the other team making huge shots when they're contested. Now the Suns have to win one in San Antonio, which I believe they can do. I don't know about doing it twice, though, so I may have to alter my pre-series prediction of Suns in 6. Could be five, could be seven.
I'll wait and see how things go Tuesday. If the Suns come out and get a convincing win (not easy, convincing), then the momentum of the series could permanently turn in the Suns' favor.
It was a good game for the most part. Nice and competitive with lots of good highlights on both ends of the court for both teams.
Here's to forgetting the refs and remembering that the Suns are the better team. Have faith, be positive, and Karma will take care of the rest.
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