What they need is outside shooting. Barry is solid from beyond the arc, but he's also a defensive liability. Ginobili's alright. But Parker's range doesn't extend beyond 20 feet, and Bowen and Horry are too old. Who are they gonna rely on in the playoffs? Matt Bonner?
Thank you. Despite all of this, the Spurs hung with the Suns until near the end. This was the type of game the Spurs normally win but this year's team has serious issues. Bowen's big decline in defense and Horry & Finley playing like complete dogs have hurt the Spurs. Some of the pundits this morning are writing that this win was a "defining game" for the Suns. I disagree, they just took down a team on a back-to-back that doesn't look like a contender right now. Do some of you Sun-worshippers now see they aren't some magical team that can't be beaten by a fully-manned Rockets team? By far, the Mavs are our toughest matchup.
I think Tim Duncan has become more "guardable" as well... notice the Suns started playing him straight-up when Manu was going off, and Duncan missed a couple of hook shots, as well as a turnaround.
Timmy has been great this year. He's not the problem at all. Last night he missed a bunch of easy shots, which makes it all the more remarkable the Spurs hung around so long before they collapsed.
i don't understand why folks think the Rockets can hang with the Suns...especially if Yao is not in game shape. the Suns always run up and down on us. i think you guys are gettign a bit too arrogant about it and not giving the Suns enough credit.
b/c they have no answer to the T-mac that is playing for us now... just like they had no answer for him 2 years ago when we beat them twice in their place. I'm not saying we'd win easily... but the Suns get beat by big/athletic swing-men who can dribble the ball (T-mac, Kobe, Dirk), and almost got beat by Manu tonight, despite the Spurs missing some terribly easy/wide-open shots. Yao has never "dominated" the Suns, unless you count his 20+ rebounds in one of the games 2 years ago.
TD had a bad night, but at the first three quarters, Park and Manu were going insane, that is why Spurs hung around deep into the 4th, but you can clearly feel that they don't have a chance to win that game at all. Suns is the last team you want to face with a close score deep in the 4th quarter, as their offense, FT, 3 points are better than anybody. What makes it worse is their balanced offense. They were without Bell yesterday. They can probably sustain injuries better than any other team (except one from Nash). The reason Mavs can handle Suns is because they are equally as quick, and much better in defense. Houston's only chance is Yao shows up big and put Amare into foul trouble, otherwise, you might pray for a miracle (insane 3 piont shootings), injury to Nash, etc. Don't be fooled by the game we played against them last time. Don't overate JVG's defense. Count the fact that Nash may wear down as the season goes on as a positive though.
True, but I'd argue he has been dominating Amare pretty well. Amare does not do well against Yao's height.
Tmac may beat anyone if hes healthy, in that sense he does give us an edge; Manu almost did that yesterday but being 12 points down is like nothing to the Suns. They can easily outscore you in no time. Tmac can draw a hole but they can probably make it up by fastbreaks, now if Amare is in foul trouble while Yao can play, that can be the difference maker.
The reason many of us will not give the Suns "champion-level" credit is because, until they prove that their style can win everything, they are lacking some elements found in almost all championship teams (note I said almost): 1. Dominant player in the clutch. No doubt Nash or Stoudamire could be that type of player, but have they proven this consistently? 2. Tough defense. Again, they have the tools, but they have to be able to execute it. 3. Having been in the Finals. Every team has to reach this point like Dallas did last year, but the fact is that Phoenix still hasn't gotten there yet. Once they break through, like the Colts in football this year, then they'll get past #3. I've been following the Suns ever since the early 1990's with Barkley, KJ, and Majerle, and it's always been the same with them. High-powered offensive teams led by great point guards (KJ, Kidd, Marbury - OK, I thought he was going to be great, and Nash), always make the playoffs, inevitably get beat by teams that shut their high-powered offense down. It's the same year after year after year with that team. So, basically, until their whole squad stays healthy the entire year, until they prove their style can win in the playoffs, I'm putting Dallas, San Antonio, and even Houston with a healthy Yao above them in a 7-game series. If they win it all, I'll be the first to tip my proverbial hat to them. Said the same about Dallas last year but they now meet all 3 criteria (well maybe not #1, depends on which Dirk shows up). I would not, would not count San Antonio out.
Sorry to amend my own post- they did, of course, reach the Finals in 1993- I was referring to this squad. It's great having debates with my friends in Phoenix. They say, "Na, na, we're better than Houston, blah, blah". My response: 1976 & 1993 vs. 1994 & 1995. That's the Suns' legacy- they're a right-column, consolation-prize team until they win it all.
The Suns really wanted that game and it did not help to piss off Stoudamire. But boy, I was surprised the could win that after Raja Bell went down. They got Bell to guard Manu. Not only did they lose him, but they aren't deep to begin with. They probably don't win that game if it weren't for being a back-to-back for the Spurs...but I do think they can finally beat them in the playoffs. SJC, Yeah, I agree. Barbosa looks like Drexler with his head down. did anyone else get really annoyed with the camera work in that game? The from-above angle and the courtside birds eye-view angle are for REPLAYS...that live! dammit. Besides that, there were multiple times where the Spurs made a basket and the Suns do their Magic/Laker's impression by taking the ball out of the basket...pass to Nash...Nash to Barbosa...score in 3 seconds. But the camera director is using the wrong camera and we basically miss the play....grrrrrr
anybody caught mike hampton sitting courtside, next to the scorers table? He got shown on tv a few times.
Barbosa does not look like Clyde, now Oscar Torres did. Plus Barbosa has that weird looking shot that always seems to go in though.
did u watch inside the nba afterwards? charles and kenny were talking about the amare/flopnobli thing and compared it the kobe/flopnobli incident charles mentioned a former teammate of his 'clyde drexler' flailed his arms like kobe after a jumper too. saying its just a natural reaction.
7 game series are totally different animals than a regular season game. A series is like a chess match, with coaches with good players making moves, counter moves, and then countering again. You have to look at the coaches. Pops has proven he can get it done. The coach most like Pops to me is JVG. The coach with the best 12 players is probably Avery. And the coach with the best 8 players is probably D'Antoni. But JVG has a very decent squad that is not that far behind the first two guys in terms of talent and brains. In fact, I think if you combine talent and brainpower, JVG's 12 are as good as anybody's. So, the difference a lot of times comes down to coaching.................and dare I say, half-court defensive play. Even in last night's game, Pops squad controlled tempo for all but the last 5 minutes. They were down in the 80s with 5 minutes left. The ONLY reason PHX walked away from them was they became too reliant on the 3 ball and they couldn't hit the ocean the last 5 minutes. I'm sorry, a healthy McGrady and Yao doesn't let that happen. And on most nights, Pops won't let that happen with his squad either. Believe me, there is no team, NO team that is going to have it easy in the West. Whoever wins the West is going to have to beat at least two of Phoenix, Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston. Phoenix and Dallas don't want to have to do that anymore than we do. They are just as concerned about having to be drug through 7 games against us and San Antonio as we are having to go through Dallas and Phoenix or SA. They're all gonna be tough. But we are right there......if we get healthy and stay healthy. And Phoenix is in an even more precarious position than we are. What happens to them if Nash goes down with an injury in April? That's a one trick pony come playoff time. What happens to Dallas if Nowitzki tears a knee up in April? Game, set, match right there. We have survived and thrived without Yao. Hopefully, we bring in Atkins or Francis after a buy out and we pick up another decent big that can defend, board, and hit the jump shot, and I like our chances just as well as anybody. I am not afraid of anyone in a 7 game series with a healthy squad. They will all be tough. And we may lose, but we will give them all more than they want and we might just..........win.
You are wrong on Parker's range. By this I will assume you do not watch the Spurs often. Parker has solid 3-point range - he just does not like using it. It has to be a set shot though. Ginobili is not alright - he is solid NBA star - he is as good as they come as far as 2-guards are concerned.
I meant Ginobili's alright behind the 3-point line. He's not a 50% shooter like Barry, but he can get hot from beyond the arc. If Parker has solid 3-point range, he sure does a good job of hiding it. He always steps a few feet inside the line before attempting a jumper.
Considering that prior to last night, the Suns had not won 1 game against any of the elite teams in the west including Mavs, Spurs, Lakers, Jazz, I'd say I agree with the pundits. The only saving grace was they had a 2-0 record against the Rockets.
What you and the pundits should realize is the Spurs have been struggling recently. The Rockets beat them at home, they smoked Memphis (of course), got a gift from the Lakers and just lost the night before to a weakened Jazz team. It seems obvious the Spurs aren't the Spurs right now. I can see the point about being 0-6 before today, and if the Spurs had been on a roll, last night would indeed have been a defining game. Their two wins against the Rockets were not a saving grace because we didn't have our full team. In fact, I think we would have won in Phoenix if Yao hadn't got in foul trouble. The way we tore thru them in the 3rd quarter to erase the lead reminded me of 04/05 (127-107). Don't misunderstand me: I believe the Suns are a championship contender but they are not as good as their record indicates. They feast on lots of easy baskets against mediocre teams. Compared to their normal excellence, the Spurs were only mediocre last night. If I had to rank the likelihood of a making the Finals from the West, the Mavs would be #1 followed by the Rockets (if completely healthy) then the Suns and Spurs. I still think it's possible the Spurs get their act together and go on a major roll before the season ends.
