NBA Western Conference Finals

[The Electrifyer 0]

Holy crap, did anybody notice San Antonio scored 43 points in the fourth quarter? When's the last time the Spurs did that?!

[razazteca 0]

Looking at the box score of Game 1, I see that the Suns only had 3 players in double figures: Stoudemire 43, Nash 29, Jackson 20. Even though Nash had 13 assist you can see that most of them went to Amare which shows that the role/bench players were as useful as Erik Dampier.

[Ripper 0]

Bench...players.....what are those? We don't have those in phoenix sir.

 

We had a starting lineup where all 5 played over 40 minutes and averaged over 15 points. You can guess what they got out of the bench.

 

And though I like Jim Jackson, I think they need to stop pretending that trading Casey jacobson, Marj Lampe, and Jackson Vroman for him was a GOOD deal. Thats a 7 footer with a midrange jumper, a defensive minded, offensive rebounding Power forward and a accurate shooter and had Thunder Dan type hustle and was probably the teams 2nd best perimeter defender. That was NOT a good trade at all, and I think that the pre Jackson team would be fairing better right now and would be much deeper.

[razazteca 0]

Bo Outlaw, Walter McCarty, Jake Voskuhl should of played for Richardson since he did nothing but get into foul trouble.....at least the Matrix got some rebounds to start the fastbreaks. Talk about about defensive dominance.....Marion had 38 points and 16 rebounds in the last game against the Mavs but was held down to 7 points and 9 rebounds by the Spurs.

[Dangerous A 0]

For the Suns to have even a chance, they are going to have to get better production from Marion (duh!), however that is not going to be easy. He's got Bowen all over him on the offensive end and Marion has to deal with Duncan on the defensive end. Steven Hunter is going to be the key here if the Suns are going to have a chance because Marion stuck playing the 4 defensively while not having plays called for him because of Bowen is going to kill the Suns. Hunter needs to be able to stay in the game to alleviate pressure off of Stoudamire and Marion.

[Ripper 0]

marion didn't have a good game because he didn't Touch the ball. It had nothing to do with defensive pressure. he only took like 7 shots when he has been taking 19 per game. They got into their screen and roll offense and never looked back. He simply didn't get the ball. Marion has slaughtered the Spurs everytime he has played them mostly because of when they run those Iso's for him, and they didn't do it last night. Who the need production out of is Q, because he has looked lost on the court since the first round.

 

Their D did slow down the fast break and stop any production that Barbosa would have gotten out of the game. But besides that, the Spurs really didn't have a good defensive showing last night. They just had a better offensive scoring than the suns.

[Guest Vitamin X]

I was pretty happy with Hunter's performance last night as well for the Suns. Barbossa made two incredibly idiotic plays, though, both in the third quarter. One was where he intercepted a pass on defense and flew up the court, and when he got to the offensive end, instead of going for fastbreak points, he made a no-look pass.. right to Tony Parker, who took it back to the Spurs' end and got an assist for some points. This is when it was a 2-point, 3-point game as well. The other was when he got on the offensive end and got too excited and visibly just completely ran out of bounds, again when the game was real tight.

 

Nash made some real idiotic turnovers as well, as if he wasn't watching where the hell the ball was going half the time. If they keep their turnovers to a minimum, the Suns should be unstoppable, and you could see their offense was really wearing down on the Spurs late in the game. I think that just might be the way this whole series will go, with the Spurs jumping out to an early lead and the Suns wearing them down the whole game with their transition/fastbreak game.

 

I'm still anticipating a hell of a series, and hopefully, a Suns win.

[Guest ShamRock]

If the Spurs win tonight in Phoenix, I predict a sweep.

[razazteca 0]

A sweep would be nice but is not realistic the series will go to 6 games.

[alfdogg 0]

Why do they have Mohammed on Nash?

[razazteca 0]

Because the Spurs are playing zone defense? And 2 steals by Nazr says that it is working.

[razazteca 0]

Spurs score 31 in the 1st quarter just like game 1 so I expect another 130-125 final score.

[razazteca 0]

If the Spurs win tonight in Phoenix, I predict a sweep.

I'm going to have to agree with you now. The Suns are no different than the Mavs which is all offense with no defense. As you can see the Spurs team is damn near perfect as they can run up and down the court all day or shut the opponet down with dominating defense. There is nothing outside of lazyness can stop the Spurs from winning this series.

[Spicy McHaggis 0]

This series is over. In this series, the Spurs remind me of Year 2 of the Lakers championship run. They basically have been toying with the Suns and then turning it on when they need to win. Unbelievable.

[Guest Vitamin X]

I'm doubting this series is yet over. From what I read in the recap, Nash still gave them a shot to win towards the end and the Spurs came out on top with a couple extra plays more to get the 3-point win. That doesn't scream sweep to me, but the key here may be fatigue, considering the Spurs were the second team to advance in the second round, and the Suns were last, and had only one days' rest until the San Antonio series started.. Both games have been close with the Spurs turning it on and making just a couple more plays than Phoenix has in the end. I have faith in the Suns to extend this series, possibly to seven games. They'll both have plenty of time to rest and plan out a strategy until their next game Saturday night, which could prove crucial.

[Guest Smues]

The next game is Saturday? So much for me thinking the Conference Finals would move quicker then the first two rounds.

[Ripper 0]

If the Spurs win tonight in Phoenix, I predict a sweep.

I'm going to have to agree with you now. The Suns are no different than the Mavs which is all offense with no defense. As you can see the Spurs team is damn near perfect as they can run up and down the court all day or shut the opponet down with dominating defense. There is nothing outside of lazyness can stop the Spurs from winning this series.

2 games, 10 points difference from the team missing its best perimeter defender, shooter, and backup point guard/2 guard/small forward. When Joe Johnson plays in game 3 we will get to see PRETTY much the whole team, plus the Suns on games with more than one day rest are pretty tough to beat.

 

The suns had the best road record in the league this year (31-10) and I have no doubt that they could take back the advantage.

 

How anyone can say the Spurs are dominating in this EXTREMELY close games is beyond me, but this ain't gonna be a sweep.

[iliketurtles 0]

The key is Marion. If he can't do anything like he hasn't been for the longest time for the Suns, it's going to be a sweep.

 

Nash and Amire are literally caring this team on their backs.

 

Spurs take it in at the most 6. I don't see this going more than 5 games, actually. And I'm not saying that just because I like Duncan (which is basically the only reason why I want the Spurs to win.)

[Damaramu 0]

Extremely close? This game was close but Game 1 was an ass whipping once the 4th quarter started.

[Guest news_gimmick]

I wouldn't call a 7 point win an ass whipping, especially when the difference was two wide open 3 pointers by Brent Barry. If Barry doesen't hit those shots, that game was still up for grabs.

[Dangerous A 0]

I like the other analogy I heard the other night in that the Spurs weaknesses (offensive droughts) are not as bad as the Suns weaknesses (NO Defense, whatsoever). Thing is the Spurs CAN score and play uptempo while the Suns can't stop anybody. I mean the big 3 for SA all had big nights again. (Duncan-30, Ginobili-24, Parker-24)

[Damaramu 0]

I wouldn't call a 7 point win an ass whipping, especially when the difference was two wide open 3 pointers by Brent Barry. If Barry doesen't hit those shots, that game was still up for grabs.

The Spurs scored 40 points in the 4th quarter. That game was pretty much over when they got on in that quarter.

 

The difference was 2 Brent Barry wide open 3's? The difference in a lot of games is one player making a shot. I never understood that argument. "Well if he didn't do this then you wouldn't have won!" Well no shit. That's why they won. And you know what? He did it! So why discuss it?

 

"If Peyton Manning didn't throw those 4 TD's then the Colts would not have won this game! So don't be telling me that it wasn't close!"

 

And the fact that he was wide open is a showing of how shitty the Suns defense is. They can try to outscore San Antonio but it's not going to happen obviously when they can't hold San Antonio at all.

[Ripper 0]

The Suns are down to their big TWO and they are killing the spurs. Using your logic, the Spurs suck at defense.

 

Amare and Nash are running the same play over and over because the Spurs can't stop it. That is what is keeping Marion out of the game, because they are going with what works. He is still giving them his rebounding, defense and that matters more than his scoring. At the end of the day Joe Johnson was shooting 60% from the 3 point line and starting , which allowed Jim Jackson to be the bench player and gave Nash rest(seeing as Barbosa is giving them nothing at the backup point)

 

Joe Johnson is the backup pointguard and starting two guard on a run heavy defense. The suns(nash in particular) is simply wearing out at the end of the games because he is having to play more minutes(46 last night) because his backup is not there. Yes one player changes the entire aspect of the game. I am tired of people saying how GREAT San Antonio has been on D and how horrible the suns have been when both games have been close. Yes the Spurs scored 11 more points than the suns in the fourth, but the suns outscored them by 10 in the third. They still scored 32 points in the fourth. That isn't great San Antonio D, that is great San Antonio O and that O was Brent Barry. They didn't whoop ass in any way shape or form.

 

Basically what I am saying is that the suns have given up 10 more points in this series than the Spurs have. How is it that the Spurs are playing great D and the suns are horrible then? Either they are both playing good d or niether can stop the other. Simple as that.

[Damaramu 0]

The Spurs were the #1 defensive team over the year. If they didn't know how to play defense the Suns would be going off right now.

They do enough to keep the Suns from winning. That simple. They are a better team than the Suns.

Nash and Amare have fun and score a bunch but they pretty much keep the rest of the team from doing much of anything.

The Suns lost both of their home games. They are going back to San Antonio. And do the Spurs not have like the best home record in the league? I know the Suns have a great road record but what shot do they really have with the Spurs playing the way they are?

I'm pretty sure the close loss in the last game is 10x more frustrating for the Suns than a 30 point loss.

[Brett Favre 0]

Is Joe Johnson playing in Game 3? Because if he isn't, stick a fork in 'em. He's a better player than both Q-Rich and Jackson. Not only can he shoot the three, but he's a better Iso player, create on his own and others, good rebounder, their best defender other than Marion, and is also Steve Nash's backup. They still have a chance if he's back.

[razazteca 0]

The Suns strength is their high power offense which is suppose to wear down the opponets in the 2nd half of the game. If you look at the box score of Game 1 and Game 2 you will see the Suns get off to a hot start in the 3rd quarter out scoring the Spurs. But in the 4th the Suns forget to protect the 3 point line giving Robert Horry and Brent Barry a chance to win the game.

 

Big deal Joe Johnson is coming back to starting lineup which would mean......Bruce Bowen or Horry gets to shut him down. Marion was kept to 11 points in Game 2 and Jim Jackson was held down to 7 points. Adding one more offensive player only means that the Spurs will shutdown the other option. Steve Nash and Stodimare can carry the team by themselves but nobody else is going to get 25+ points.

[Brett Favre 0]

So Bowen shuts down JJ, who's going to shut down Marion? JJ adds an extra scorer, whether he gets shut down or not.

[Ripper 0]

Have you not noticed them leaving Q the fuck alone because he can't hit a shot? Have you not noticed that he can't play D? Have you not noticed Nashs shots being a little short in the 4th quarter? Its FATIGUE. He is playing the whole game. How could the guy backing him up not make a difference.

 

And once again, the Spurs haven't won a game conveincingly. You guys keep acting like they have gone out there and beat the suns down for 2 straight games, when in reality, it has been the suns playing well and building a lead for 3 quarters and wearing down in the 4th.

 

Spur have had the best D all year....whoppity fucking doo. They are still giving up over 110 a game in this series. If the Suns are playing HORRIBLE D then so are the Spurs. Yes, Duncan and Parker and Ginoblie conbined for 80 points in game 2, which somehow proves they aren't playing D. So what does it say that Amare Nash and Richardson combined for 84. You can't have it both ways. you are watching a offensive matchup and the Spurs haven't shown that they can stop the suns and the suns haven't shown they can stop the Spurs. The problem is, the Spurs are more prone to offensive droughts which is why the Suns still have a chance in this series.

 

Geez, you would think that noone saw Dallas comeback from 2-0 a few weeks ago they way you guys are calling two close games being the sign of the end.

[razazteca 0]

The problem is, the Spurs are more prone to offensive droughts

This is true but in this series the Spurs outscored the Suns in the 4th quarter + Timmy is making all of his FTs. And lets not forget that Timmy no longer has to carry the team byself anymore. The additions of Muhammond, Barry, and even Robinson give the team enough depth to make sure that there is always a backup. The main issue with the offense not keeping the lead was because of........RASHO playing center and never ever thinking about shooting the ball. I don't know what is wrong with him but I guess it had to be the fact that he played with Mark Madsen and that style rubbed off on him. But now with Muhammond and Horry being the backups for Timmy the offensive slump is no longer a big issue.

[Dangerous A 0]

Excellent point on not giving up on the Suns. Folks also need to remember that this Spurs team also had a 2 game advantage on the Lakers last year and then went on to drop 4 straight.

 

Getting back to the Spurs D, I think when you look at the whole game, they aren't locking down like they did in the regular season, however they are getting stops when they need to, which is in the 4th. The Suns can't get stops, period. The Suns lack of depth is hurting them as much as their lack of defense. In this series I think the only thing that can stop the Spurs is if they get ahead of themselves because they are up 2 going back home. I could see them getting lackadaisical and resting on their laurels with this series lead.