BREAKING NEWS! Spurs are "Centerless" for game 2. Robinson injured. Willis suspended

[se7en]

Can you believe this? Could the Suns be more lucky than this. Willis gets suspended for the flagrant foul on Williams. They say Robinson probably won't play because he twisted his knee at the end of the last game when he took the bogus charge against Marbury. Our one major weakness is lack of a quality starting center. Now we don't have to worry about it for game 2. Looks like Frank can go small for all of game 2 now. Wow, to walk out of San Antonio with 2 wins would be amazing. With those 2 out or at least playing on one leg we have a real shot.

The only draw back to fantasizing about a 2-0 series lead is flashbacks from 94 and 95 when we dropped series leads to Houston. But this is a different team. Much better defensively than the old Barkley/KJ teams and a bit more athletic.

Anyhow it is sweet to see that we won't need a center in game 2. WOOHOO. Go Suns!!!

 

[notakiddfan1]

Well, Tim Duncan can always slide over to center. It really doesn't matter who you call the "center", because Tim Duncan is 7 foot and will probably end up guarding our biggest man on the floor anyway. I'm kind of worried though, because I think the Spurs looked better with Malik Rose on the floor than David Robinson anyway.

 

[slinslin]

I think Tim Duncan being 7 foot is not the truth.

I don't think he looks much taller than Amare and definately shorter than Nowitzki or KG.

David Robinson is probably the best player they had to put on Amare and since the Suns were actually double teaming on Robinson that could turn out to be a huge advantage.

 

[Joe Mama]

I don't know slin. Tim Duncan sure looks like he is 7 ' to me. Also, he tends not to stand up straight. I think Kevin Garnett is closer to 7 '1".

Make no mistake. Tim Duncan is the best defender on the San Antonio Spurs. He can guard Amare Stoudemire, but they're trying to avoid any chance of foul trouble.

Does this mean we will see even more of Malik Rose?

Joe Mama

 

[elindholm]

Does this mean we will see even more of Malik Rose?

Probably. I hope he doesn't have a big game with a million dunks and offensive rebounds. The Suns have a real habit of forgetting about him.

 

[slinslin]

Duncan will be challanged to guard Amare because Amare is much more athletic and that is the reason I think they put Robinson on him.

Rose will probably start and that will make their bench worse.

I just know that we should go to Amare if they start Rose and put him on Amare.

Rose is also not nearly the shotblocking presence that Robinson is. Robinson was probably their best player last night.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

that is still great news for the suns. I just hope that they worked on their defense rotation all day today. should be another great game tomorrow

 

[elindholm]

By the way, I'll believe that David Robinson's sitting out a playoff game when I see it. Stars have a funny way of suddenly getting just healthy enough to play.

 

[notakiddfan1]

I guess now that I think of it, David Robinson was tough yesturday. It's just because of how aggressively we were doubling Tim Duncan. Obviously when we did that, Spurs were diving towards the hoop and Ducan was finding them consistently, and unless we change it that won't change. However, when David Robinson was the man diving to the hoop, it was impossible for Stephon Marbury or even Shawn Marion to step in there and be any kind of factor at detering the 7'2 David Robinson. If Malik Rose is in there, he's still crafty around the basket, but nothing can make up for 4 or 5 inches of height.

That being said, Rose has hurt us a lot in the past. 3 years ago when San Antonio was without Tim Duncan, Rose and Samake Walker really stepped up to fill the void. Rose, in my opinion, can give the Spurs more statistically than David. The Suns could benefit from the lane being a little more open, though.

 

[Cheesebeef]

This really doesn't have to do with this subject - but I wanted to bring it up anyway. Al you who live in Phoenix and post on this board better have freaking tickets for firday and sunday';s games. Just out of curiosity, I checked to see availability for game 3 and you can still get tickets (in groups of four no less!) all over the stadium. I don't care what you have to do - rob a bank, hit up your grandmother, or make your friends buy tickets with you, BUT SELL THOSE GAMES OUT! It's pathetic if that doesn't happen. Hell, I read Minnesota was 2,000 short of capacity - don't let us be Minnesota!

If I didn't already have plans next weekend, you can bet your ass I would be driving in to town from LA to go to both games and you can bet your ass that I will be at at least two game here in Los Angeles WHEN we play the Lakes in round 2 - but sell those damn games out - making AWA Rock like it did in the eraly to mid-90s - but for God's sake - don't do the Let's Go Suns cheer before the game - we always lose when that happens. Bring on Game 2! Bring on AWA AND BRING ON THE FUTURE!

 

[JCSunsfan]

I don't believe it. Robinson will play, even if he's on crutches. This is potentially the last series of his career.

The Spurs know they cannot afford to go down 2-0. What are you going to save him for--his golf game next fall?

The moment we start to think this series will be easy--is the moment we become losers.

One game at a time--take no prisoners.

 

[Joe Mama]

I must be the only one here who is afraid of the San Antonio Spurs going small. Is Steve Smith injured? I can't believe Gregg Popovich hasn't put him in the game yet to bury those open three-point shots the Spurs have had every time they've played the Suns.

I really think a lineup of Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, Malik Rose, and two of the following players (Ginobilli, Jackson, or Smith) would give the Phoenix Suns trouble.

And I have a hard time believing David Robinson isn't going to play.

Joe Mama

 

[Charles V]

I must be the only one here who is afraid of the San Antonio Spurs going small. Is Steve Smith injured? I can't believe Gregg Popovich hasn't put him in the game yet to bury those open three-point shots the Spurs have had every time they've played the Suns.

Who knows if the Robinson situation has changed things, but Popavich took exception to a reporter asking him what he was going to change after the loss.

He said

If we won by a point, we wouldn’t have to change anything. You lose by a point, you don’t have to change anything. That doesn’t make any sense to me.

I havent watched the Spurs closely enough this season to know for sure, but didnt they win 60 games playing the style of ball that we saw yesterday? I can imagine them changing after a freaky loss like that.

 

[se7en]

Joe that game plan might be fine for winning 60 games against the rest of the NBA but it didn't and doesn't work against the Suns. You ask why don't the Spurs pass out to open shooters for easy 3's? The answer is that they can't do that against the Suns.

I don't know if anyone is aware of this, but the Suns were the BEST in the NBA in 3 point field goal DEFENSE. Can you believe that the Suns were 1st in that category/ Incredible! If 3 point shooting is the Spurs strength it will also be their downfall against this Suns team.

I think that is one of the keys to why the Suns have owned the Spurs. Popovich knows it as well. I had heard by one of the announcers that before the game he told his players to stop shooting 3's. Unfortunately for them they didn't listen. They ended up going 5 for 24 against the #1 3 point field goal defense.

If thier plan is to keep shooting 3's, then bringing in slow old players like Smith and Kerr is not going to help them. Our speed will continue to shut them down like we have all year. The 4-1 record speaks for itself. This is no fluke folks.

 

[SirStefan32]

Joe, I am not afraid of the Spurs going small. Suns small lineup is better than San Antonio's.

Anyways, with or without the Admiral, I think the Spurs are afraid of the Suns.

Stefan

 

[Joe Mama]

I sure hope you guys are right. A 2-0 series lead with the next few games at America West Arena would be fantastic.

Joe

 

[Matrix31]

If Robinson doesnt play that not only helps Amare, it helps Stephon a lot, which in turn will help the whole team. With out the two shot blockers stephon can drive much more and either get a nice easy shot or dish it to someone else. This would be a huge break if true. It doesnt guarentee a win but it definately doesnt hurt.

 

[JS22]

Hey Matrix. You're a regular over at the ESPN boards, right?

 

[PhiLLmattiC]

Originally posted by Joe Mama
I don't know slin. Tim Duncan sure looks like he is 7 ' to me. Also, he tends not to stand up straight. I think Kevin Garnett is closer to 7 '1".

Make no mistake. Tim Duncan is the best defender on the San Antonio Spurs. He can guard Amare Stoudemire, but they're trying to avoid any chance of foul trouble.

Does this mean we will see even more of Malik Rose?

Joe Mama

When Duncan came into the league he was 6'10 and Garnett was 6'11. I expected Garnett to grow but not Duncan. They always mess with these kind of stats.

 

[PhiLLmattiC]

Originally posted by Matrix31
If Robinson doesnt play that not only helps Amare, it helps Stephon a lot, which in turn will help the whole team. With out the two shot blockers stephon can drive much more and either get a nice easy shot or dish it to someone else. This would be a huge break if true. It doesnt guarentee a win but it definately doesnt hurt.

Marbury was just strolling through the lane and when he got to the basket he jus lobbed it over whoever was there. He made it look so easy I don't think robinson and duncan together really have a chance to guard him anyway. Since when does a center take a charge against a guard instead of going straight up and contesting the shot. I think they know they can't stop marbury by now they'll probably play a lot harder defense on marion and amare.

Robinson played the best defense on amare but i remember one time when amare faced up, blew by him going to the left then cranked it on him. I really only see Robinson posing a threat on offense because he would cut to the middle whenever duncan was double teamed and no one would be able to get up high enough to contest his shot. If FJ sets up a defense taht has someone meet him at the box before he gets a chnce to but in then the suns have no problem.

 

[SirStefan32]

I'm gonna be traveling all day and evening, can't watch the game. This really really really really sucks!

Is the game going to be on the net? I hope I can at least listen to it during the trip.

Anyways, Suns win 98-89

GO SUNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stefan

 

[reedykat]

I think that the Spurs will be quite a handful without a center. They will be like a wounded animal with it's back against the wall.
We will have to match their intensity from the start. There is no doubt in my mind that we can and will rise to the occassion.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Sportsline is reporting that Robinson is definitely out for game 2 with a small cart tear in his knee. He hopes to play on Fri.

http://cbs.sportsline.com/nba/story/6328697

I don't fear SA small ball. DRob adds so much to the SA interior with rebounding, defense, and "keep em honest" scoring.

Again, the key to SA is Duncan, and this makes Duncan's job that much harder. He's got to defend Amare at least some of the time. We can now double him easier, and Amare is going to be a Monster inside.

The challenge for the Suns coaching staff is to figure out how SA might adjust and have an answer if that adjustment works.

The Suns offensive strategy is very simple. ATTACK THE BASKET.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Sportsline is reporting that Robinson is definitely out for game 2 with a small cart tear in his knee. He hopes to play on Fri.

http://cbs.sportsline.com/nba/story/6328697

I don't fear SA small ball. DRob adds so much to the SA interior with rebounding, defense, and "keep em honest" scoring.

Again, the key to SA is Duncan, and this makes Duncan's job that much harder. He's got to defend Amare at least some of the time. We can now double him easier, and Amare is going to be a Monster inside.

The challenge for the Suns coaching staff is to figure out how SA might adjust and have an answer if that adjustment works.

The Suns offensive strategy is very simple. ATTACK THE BASKET. If we start heaving 3's, we give up our advantage and we will lose--devastatingly.

 

[Joe Mama]

I expect the Phoenix Suns will see a lot of zone defense tonight.

Joe