You forgot the biggest factor of all: Amare "The Beast" Stoudamire not being available for the final 5+ minutes.
Yes but it would not have come to that had Shaq's Ft issue not changed the momentum. The things I listed are stuff that Suns could have corrected.
No he didn't. Duncan got a wide open 3 and made it. If I had to have someone had a wide open 3 it would be duncan except he made it. He could have fouled to prevent the 3, but give me Duncan taking a 3 any day of the week.
It's kind of foreboding for the rest of the conference to see Tim Duncan put in a performance like this. Manu and Parker are great players - but this team goes as Duncan goes - and if he's going to play like this it's not going to go well for anyone else out West.
Don't feel too bad for the Suns. They played a heck of a game in San Antonio, and it took the Spurs 58 minutes to close it out. The way I see it, the Suns lost this game more than the Spurs won it, and it's not to take away at all from the defending champs' clutch performance down the stretch (that's why they have 4 rings to their names in a decade). What has to be of concern for the Suns is to learn how to close games out, that's been a running 'theme' of theirs late in the season (the commentators pointed that out before the game even started). The Suns should have confidence that they can beat this team; they should have won this game. The Shaq trade has undeniably solidified their defense and their chances in ousting their arch nemesis: the Spurs. The Suns defense is just so much superior to what they did in the past. Shaq is so big inside that his mere presence enables other players to concentrate on shutting down the perimeter, instead of doubling and tripling Duncan down low. They really need to take advantage of their short window of opportunity with Shaq to beat the Spurs and then just worry about the rest later. Despite their near collapse in this game, I still expect them to win the next game and go back home with a very good chance of taking a commanding lead in the series.
Tigermission, I agree. Suns actually have the advantage in this series and if they are mentally strong then they will treat this loss as a no biggie. It took some timely shots and a huge game by Duncan to win the game at home. When the Suns made the Shaq trade I thought that this would open things up for Amare and Nash because Shaq commands so much attention. It seems to working now but I thought Nash wasn't as aggressive as he should have been. Suns are most dangerous on offense when Nash is looking to score just as much as he is looking to create. The overtime showed that. As for the closing out thing you mentioned, I am not sure if the Shaq trade helps them in that regard. In closing moments Shaq will be sent to FT line more often than not. Shaq has to do most of his damage in the first 3 quarters.
Ehhh... you don't think Marion might've been able to keep Ginobili from getting to the rack at will? And on an unrelated note, mad props to Timmy for hitting that three.
Shaq would have had Dantoni not taken him out The guy made so many mistakes, not playing the post, not using Grant Hill, overusing a Frenchie, not fouling Timmay, taking Shaq out on a defensive possesion at the last second. Who goes small in a situation like that?
He didn't take him out on a defensive possesion. The Suns originally had the ball down by three. He took out Shaq so that the Spurs wouldn't foul Shaq. It worked, because Nash hit the three to tie. However, San Antonion never called time out on their last possesion so Shaq was on the bench at the end of the game. Great game.
I was interested to see if this series would be as entertaining as the Spurs-Mavs series of 2006. After today's game, it looks like it might be better. What an amazing game!
This was one of the greatest playoff games I have ever seen. In any sport. I think the Suns had this game when they had that 16 point lead. They should have just killed the Spurs there. Instead the Spurs did what they do best, when their offense isn't clicking they slowly break you down and begin to expose you. Then once their offense comes into rhythm, it is extremely hard to prevent them from taking control.
My friends and I watched the game live and they both Suns fans, I wasn't going for SAS but when Finley made his 3 pointer, I was kind of happy. I didn't believe it when Duncan made his 3 pointer, my friends were so pissed off.
Ginobili took it right at Shaq for the game winner. Phoenix is still a very poor defensive team with Shaq.
