azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
May. 22, 2005 12:00 AM
This is where the Suns were supposed to wind up. This is where the Spurs are always supposed to be and have been every other year since 1999.
For a Suns team that dramatically surpassed preseason expectations, just meeting postseason expectations won't do. The Suns have their chests out and heads up as they ready for today's Game 1 of the Western Conference finals, the franchise's first appearance in 12 years.
For example:
• Asked his thoughts on defending a perennial MVP candidate (Tim Duncan), Suns forward Shawn Marion said, "I am, too."
• Asked about facing a team with many players who have won two championship rings with the Spurs, Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said, "Yeah, but you don't play with rings."
• Asked about stepping up in quality from Dallas to San Antonio, Suns post man Amaré Stoudemire said, "We still have the advantage with the bigs, the guys in the paint - me and Shawn. We can outquick and outrun Tim (Duncan) and (Nazr) Mohammed."
If confidence can be contagious, it's good that the Suns locker room is full of optimism - despite what happened in the regular season with San Antonio. The Spurs were the only team to have a winning record against Phoenix, going 2-1 with their only loss coming without Duncan and Manu Ginobili.
"We didn't have a lot of success against them this year," said Suns guard Steve Nash, who is on a spectacular postseason tear. "So it's going to be a big challenge for us. But we feel like were a team that's continually improving, and if we continue to show the poise and fight we've shown thus far in the playoffs, I think we'll be good."
Even throughout their campaign to a league-high and franchise-best-tying 62 wins, the Suns have acknowledged that the Spurs were still the Western favorites.
"Their experience is a factor as far as understanding how to win and understanding the situation," said Suns guard Jim Jackson, who will remain in the starting lineup with Joe Johnson at least out for Game 1. "We've grown up so much since the Memphis series (a first-round sweep) that it's going to help us.
"The Spurs have a certain demeanor about them. They're very methodical about what they do. It's going to be a test for us to inflict our will on them and play the way we want."
It was a rapid turnaround for the Suns to play a day game today after arriving home from their Dallas triumph early Saturday. San Antonio needed the rest just as much for Duncan, who is recovering from a left ankle sprain that counters the right ankle he sprained three times this season. Duncan did not practice Saturday.
With the Spurs intent on denying the Suns' three-point shots, Stoudemire averaged 38.7 points (on 73.3 percent shooting) and 7.0 rebounds in the regular-season series. Duncan averaged 30.5 points (on 65.5 percent shooting), 15.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists.
"We can't guard him (Duncan) one-on-one, just like they can't guard Stoudemire one-on-one," D'Antoni said. "Nobody can. So our schemes have to be tight, and we'll have to show a lot of heart and we'll have to run."
Suns defeat Mavericks 4 games to 2
Game 1
May 9 at Phoenix: Suns 127-102.
Steve Nash was awarded his MVP trophy and the Suns played like All-Stars, shooting down the Mavericks behind AmarÈ Stoudemire's 40 points, 25 of which came in the first half. Shawn Marion and Nash added
Game 2
May 11 at Phoenix: Mavs 108-106.
Dirk Nowitzki hit a fadeaway jumper in the closing seconds to help Dallas take the home-court edge away. Mavs swingman Michael Finley added 31 points. Stoudemire kept the Suns in it with 30 points and 16 rebounds.
Game 3
May 13 at Dallas: Suns 119-102.
Phoenix held a 97-96 lead in the fourth quarter before going on a 15-0 run and taking back the home-court edge. Stoudemire again shouldered the offensive load, collecting 37 points, and Nash added 27 points and 17 assists.
Game 4
May 15 at Dallas: Mavs 119-109.
Nash could not miss, it seemed, and yet the Suns could not get over the hump. Nash finished with 48 points, mainly because Dallas chose to stop Stoudemire and let Nash shoot. Josh Howard led Dallas with 29 points.
Game 5
May 18 at Phoenix: Suns 114-108.
Nash lifted his MVP stature a little more, scoring 34 points, handing out 12 assists and pulling down 13 rebounds. Jim Jackson and Stoudemire also were terrific as Phoenix pushed Dallas one game from elimination.
Game 6
May 20 at Dallas: Suns 130-126 (OT).
With the appropriate dramatics for a close-out game, Nash delivered a clutch, score-tying three-pointer with 5.7 seconds remaining. Phoenix needed every one of Nash's 39 points, as well as Marion's 38 points and 16 rebounds.
San Antonio defeats Seattle 4 games to 2
GAME 1: Spurs 103-81
At San Antonio: Tony Parker and Tim Duncan each scored 11 points in the first quarter as the Spurs built a big lead and never trailed. San Antonio shot 67 percent (12 of 18) in the first quarter. Parker finished with a game-high 29 points. Seattle's Ray Allen and Vladimir Radmanovic sprained ankles in the loss.
GAME 2: Spurs 108-91
At San Antonio: Manu Ginobili made 9 of 11 shots from the field and scored 28 points to lead San Antonio to a 2-0 lead in the series. Allen played despite a sprained right ankle and led Seattle with 25 points. The victory was San Antonio's sixth in a row since losing to Denver to start the first round.
GAME 3: SuperSonics 92-91
At Seattle: Duncan missed a short turnaround jumper as time expired, allowing Seattle to escape with its first victory. San Antonio shot just 8 for 16 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter. Duncan had 23 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks in the loss. Allen didn't score in the fourth quarter but led Seattle with 20 points.
GAME 4: SuperSonics 101-89
At Seattle: Allen scored 32 points as Seattle never trailed en route to tying the series. Luke Ridnour chipped in 20 points and handed out six assists. Duncan scored 35 points and grabbed 10 rebounds but got little help from teammates.
GAME 5: Spurs 103-90
At San Antonio: Ginobili, benched in the Denver series, returned to the starting lineup and scored 39 points. The Argentine made 10 of 15 field goals and 15 of 17 free throws. Ginobili and Nazr Mohammed combined to score San Antonio's first 20 points of the third quarter as the Spurs pulled away. It was the fifth victory for the home team in five games.
GAME 6: Spurs 98-96
At Seattle: Duncan scored 12 points in the fourth quarter, including the game-winning layup with less than a second left as San Antonio ended the series on Seattle's home floor. Ginobili set up the play by penetrating to the left side of the foul line and tossing a pass to Duncan in the post for a shot off the glass. Duncan, who missed his first nine shots, did not make a basket until the third quarter and suffered a minor ankle injury.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0522suns-preview0522.html
The Arizona Republic
May. 22, 2005 12:00 AM
This is where the Suns were supposed to wind up. This is where the Spurs are always supposed to be and have been every other year since 1999.
For a Suns team that dramatically surpassed preseason expectations, just meeting postseason expectations won't do. The Suns have their chests out and heads up as they ready for today's Game 1 of the Western Conference finals, the franchise's first appearance in 12 years.
For example:
• Asked his thoughts on defending a perennial MVP candidate (Tim Duncan), Suns forward Shawn Marion said, "I am, too."
• Asked about facing a team with many players who have won two championship rings with the Spurs, Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said, "Yeah, but you don't play with rings."
• Asked about stepping up in quality from Dallas to San Antonio, Suns post man Amaré Stoudemire said, "We still have the advantage with the bigs, the guys in the paint - me and Shawn. We can outquick and outrun Tim (Duncan) and (Nazr) Mohammed."
If confidence can be contagious, it's good that the Suns locker room is full of optimism - despite what happened in the regular season with San Antonio. The Spurs were the only team to have a winning record against Phoenix, going 2-1 with their only loss coming without Duncan and Manu Ginobili.
"We didn't have a lot of success against them this year," said Suns guard Steve Nash, who is on a spectacular postseason tear. "So it's going to be a big challenge for us. But we feel like were a team that's continually improving, and if we continue to show the poise and fight we've shown thus far in the playoffs, I think we'll be good."
Even throughout their campaign to a league-high and franchise-best-tying 62 wins, the Suns have acknowledged that the Spurs were still the Western favorites.
"Their experience is a factor as far as understanding how to win and understanding the situation," said Suns guard Jim Jackson, who will remain in the starting lineup with Joe Johnson at least out for Game 1. "We've grown up so much since the Memphis series (a first-round sweep) that it's going to help us.
"The Spurs have a certain demeanor about them. They're very methodical about what they do. It's going to be a test for us to inflict our will on them and play the way we want."
It was a rapid turnaround for the Suns to play a day game today after arriving home from their Dallas triumph early Saturday. San Antonio needed the rest just as much for Duncan, who is recovering from a left ankle sprain that counters the right ankle he sprained three times this season. Duncan did not practice Saturday.
With the Spurs intent on denying the Suns' three-point shots, Stoudemire averaged 38.7 points (on 73.3 percent shooting) and 7.0 rebounds in the regular-season series. Duncan averaged 30.5 points (on 65.5 percent shooting), 15.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists.
"We can't guard him (Duncan) one-on-one, just like they can't guard Stoudemire one-on-one," D'Antoni said. "Nobody can. So our schemes have to be tight, and we'll have to show a lot of heart and we'll have to run."
Suns defeat Mavericks 4 games to 2
Game 1
May 9 at Phoenix: Suns 127-102.
Steve Nash was awarded his MVP trophy and the Suns played like All-Stars, shooting down the Mavericks behind AmarÈ Stoudemire's 40 points, 25 of which came in the first half. Shawn Marion and Nash added
Game 2
May 11 at Phoenix: Mavs 108-106.
Dirk Nowitzki hit a fadeaway jumper in the closing seconds to help Dallas take the home-court edge away. Mavs swingman Michael Finley added 31 points. Stoudemire kept the Suns in it with 30 points and 16 rebounds.
Game 3
May 13 at Dallas: Suns 119-102.
Phoenix held a 97-96 lead in the fourth quarter before going on a 15-0 run and taking back the home-court edge. Stoudemire again shouldered the offensive load, collecting 37 points, and Nash added 27 points and 17 assists.
Game 4
May 15 at Dallas: Mavs 119-109.
Nash could not miss, it seemed, and yet the Suns could not get over the hump. Nash finished with 48 points, mainly because Dallas chose to stop Stoudemire and let Nash shoot. Josh Howard led Dallas with 29 points.
Game 5
May 18 at Phoenix: Suns 114-108.
Nash lifted his MVP stature a little more, scoring 34 points, handing out 12 assists and pulling down 13 rebounds. Jim Jackson and Stoudemire also were terrific as Phoenix pushed Dallas one game from elimination.
Game 6
May 20 at Dallas: Suns 130-126 (OT).
With the appropriate dramatics for a close-out game, Nash delivered a clutch, score-tying three-pointer with 5.7 seconds remaining. Phoenix needed every one of Nash's 39 points, as well as Marion's 38 points and 16 rebounds.
San Antonio defeats Seattle 4 games to 2
GAME 1: Spurs 103-81
At San Antonio: Tony Parker and Tim Duncan each scored 11 points in the first quarter as the Spurs built a big lead and never trailed. San Antonio shot 67 percent (12 of 18) in the first quarter. Parker finished with a game-high 29 points. Seattle's Ray Allen and Vladimir Radmanovic sprained ankles in the loss.
GAME 2: Spurs 108-91
At San Antonio: Manu Ginobili made 9 of 11 shots from the field and scored 28 points to lead San Antonio to a 2-0 lead in the series. Allen played despite a sprained right ankle and led Seattle with 25 points. The victory was San Antonio's sixth in a row since losing to Denver to start the first round.
GAME 3: SuperSonics 92-91
At Seattle: Duncan missed a short turnaround jumper as time expired, allowing Seattle to escape with its first victory. San Antonio shot just 8 for 16 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter. Duncan had 23 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks in the loss. Allen didn't score in the fourth quarter but led Seattle with 20 points.
GAME 4: SuperSonics 101-89
At Seattle: Allen scored 32 points as Seattle never trailed en route to tying the series. Luke Ridnour chipped in 20 points and handed out six assists. Duncan scored 35 points and grabbed 10 rebounds but got little help from teammates.
GAME 5: Spurs 103-90
At San Antonio: Ginobili, benched in the Denver series, returned to the starting lineup and scored 39 points. The Argentine made 10 of 15 field goals and 15 of 17 free throws. Ginobili and Nazr Mohammed combined to score San Antonio's first 20 points of the third quarter as the Spurs pulled away. It was the fifth victory for the home team in five games.
GAME 6: Spurs 98-96
At Seattle: Duncan scored 12 points in the fourth quarter, including the game-winning layup with less than a second left as San Antonio ended the series on Seattle's home floor. Ginobili set up the play by penetrating to the left side of the foul line and tossing a pass to Duncan in the post for a shot off the glass. Duncan, who missed his first nine shots, did not make a basket until the third quarter and suffered a minor ankle injury.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0522suns-preview0522.html
