Fatigue

[George O'Brien]

The winner of Game 6 will be the team with most energy. Both teams used so much energy in Game 5, you have to wonder if they have anything left.

The fatigue factor is clearly wearing on Nash. He is playing with more heart that the Mavs thought he had, but he is clearly not the same guy when playing so many minutes.

The one good thing about the schedule is that they would not play game 7 until Monday. I hope they can finish it out in Game 6, but if not at least they will have a chance to recouperate.

Another plus, the Mavs lost, so that series continues and neither will get a chance to rest

 

[BillsCarnage]

The one good thing about the schedule is that they would not play game 7 until Monday. I hope they can finish it out in Game 6, but if not at least they will have a chance to recouperate.

Another plus, the Mavs lost, so that series continues and neither will get a chance to rest

Exactly. If it goes 7 then Nash will get three days of rest. If they close it tomorrow he'll get an extra day waiting for the Mavs/Spurs series to finish. Either way Nash will at least get one day of rest.

The Suns have played the most games of any team i the PO's - 13gms in 23 night i believe. It'll take its toll eventually especially when they have to scrape harder because there is no inside game.

 

[CaptainInsano]

The Suns are very tired, if we get over the clippers that is all I am hoping for, the tank is just too dry to be able to fend off the mavs (I am counting on them winning) with nash unable to shoot and no inside presence. Dallas has outside shooters, inside presence, slashers, and are really only showing weakness on defense at times. The way we could theoretically beat them is to play our game very fast and shoot above decent for threes which is now completely out the window with how tired we are.

If KT is able he really needs to come back against the mavs to give us any chance. If he came back we could actually play pretty well at a slower game with defense and pick and roll. Give out more fouls to the slashers and get some more rebounds. We need him more now then ever. There is just no way without him now that grant layed an egg. Tack on house laying an egg and what are we supposed to do?

 

[D-Dogg]

Suns win by 14...lead by double digits late in the game..Clips make a run but a couple of threes by the suns stifle the run, and the suns aren't worrying from 3 minutes left in the fourth on.

GL in the WCF...I'm very interested to see how you match up with the Mavs...you lose to the Spurs, but have a great chance against the Mavs.

 

[az1965]

Suns win by 14...lead by double digits late in the game..Clips make a run but a couple of threes by the suns stifle the run, and the suns aren't worrying from 3 minutes left in the fourth on.

GL in the WCF...I'm very interested to see how you match up with the Mavs...you lose to the Spurs, but have a great chance against the Mavs.

I don't think we will win by 14, if at all. All of the games except game 2 where we were blown out, have been very close and I don't see any reason that it will change. Our shooting is still struggling, Nash is struggling big time from parameter.

Agree with second point on matching well with Mavs.

 

[Suns_fan69]

GL in the WCF...I'm very interested to see how you match up with the Mavs...you lose to the Spurs, but have a great chance against the Mavs.

Even as late as the start of the playoffs I would agree but after watching bits and pieces of the Spurs so far in the second season has convinced me otherwise. In short, the injuries and fatigue look like they've really taken a toll on the team. Mavs have exploited them with speed and that is one of our strengths.

 

[HooverDam]

I agree w/ D Dogg that the Suns will win game 6 easily. Im basing this on the silly notion that the Suns havent really played a good game yet in this series, so perhaps they are "due". I do firmly believe that the Suns are one of the best conditioned teams in the NBA. Marion was the only guy on the floor in 2OT that had any spring in his step. I think if the Suns can come out quick and hot early, it may snowball and finish the Clippers off.

As far as the WCF go, I hope its Suns-Mavs. But I hope the Spurs push the series to 7 games and that the next two games are nice and physical (though I wish injuries on no one). That would hopefully give the Suns a nice breather, as theyd start the WCF on the road. Marion is one of the fews guys in the league who can guard Dirk pretty well, so maybe the Suns would have a chance (especially if KT was able to go for 10-20mins a game). Also, the Mavs can run, which is actually GOOD for the Suns. The Mavs can be wooed into a running game against the Suns, but they arent as good at it. No one in the league can run w/ the Suns (just ask Sir Charles ), but I think the Mavs might try.

Then, I'd hope to meet Miami in the finals (who the Suns seem to be able to just out run).

 

[D-Dogg]

I don't think we will win by 14, if at all. All of the games except game 2 where we were blown out, have been very close and I don't see any reason that it will change. Our shooting is still struggling, Nash is struggling big time from parameter.

Agree with second point on matching well with Mavs.

Here's a deal...if the Suns win the next game by ten or more, you change that god-awful sig file you have to something else that has class, and doesn't exude thuggishness behavioer on your team's title run. I don't care what you replace it with, other than it doesn't distinguish thug play by "The Kid" or anything Laker-related.

I feel good asking for this, because I know I will win.. can you give up the offensive sig file if your guys advance with a ten point margin tomorrow?

The onus is on you. Are you a fan of the Suns, or a fan of dirty play? That is the question......

 

[zett]

Here's a deal...if the Suns win the next game by ten or more, you change that god-awful sig file you have to something else that has class, and doesn't exude thuggishness behavioer on your team's title run. I don't care what you replace it with, other than it doesn't distinguish thug play by "The Kid" or anything Laker-related.

I feel good asking for this, because I know I will win.. can you give up the offensive sig file if your guys advance with a ten point margin tomorrow?

The onus is on you. Are you a fan of the Suns, or a fan of dirty play? That is the question......

And if we don't win by 10 you quit posting on the suns forum for the rest of the year

 

[Djaughe]

Lets ease up folks.

D-Dogg has a point and was making a reasonable bet.

We're past the lakers - It was a great first round...but we should focus on today.

 

[nowagimp]

The Suns are very tired, if we get over the clippers that is all I am hoping for, the tank is just too dry to be able to fend off the mavs (I am counting on them winning) with nash unable to shoot and no inside presence. Dallas has outside shooters, inside presence, slashers, and are really only showing weakness on defense at times. The way we could theoretically beat them is to play our game very fast and shoot above decent for threes which is now completely out the window with how tired we are.

If KT is able he really needs to come back against the mavs to give us any chance. If he came back we could actually play pretty well at a slower game with defense and pick and roll. Give out more fouls to the slashers and get some more rebounds. We need him more now then ever. There is just no way without him now that grant layed an egg. Tack on house laying an egg and what are we supposed to do?

I agree with most of the post, but I'll offer some optimism in addition. IF KT does come back, it will free Diaw to create more, play less D against bruisers like Kaman and Brand. That may allow Nash to play less. House will have a better chance to contribute against Dallas as some of his potential defenders on the mavs are not too tall. House seems to be really bothered by a hand in the face from a taller defender. He's been guarded by 6'6" guys all playoffs. Maybe he can play some against terry and harris. I also think Dallas has less effective shot blockers and is less physical than the clippers, and Nash may be defended by smaller defenders as well. The suns may be able to get more points in the paint with no one on the Mavs matching up well with Diaw(Brand has really done a decent job). Barbosa may also find drives to the hoop less difficult without all those good clipper shot blockers. IF all this happens, and the young dallas guards are a little sloppy with the handle, the suns have a chance. And IF(a big if) the suns get by Dallas, it may be Miami(not detroit) in the finals, and I like that matchup (with KT back) for the suns.

All that said I think the Mavs will probably win, but the suns do have a chance if they can rest a little and get more out of the bench than they did in the first two series.

 

[Chaplin]

Rest will do wonders for this team if they advance. The Spurs/Mavs and Pistons/Cavs series all had an extra day last weekend to rest, the Suns have not. In fact, since the playoffs started, I think they have played every other day the entire time. I don't remember a single time where they had two days off in a row so far.

 

[jibikao]

Rest will do wonders for this team if they advance. The Spurs/Mavs and Pistons/Cavs series all had an extra day last weekend to rest, the Suns have not. In fact, since the playoffs started, I think they have played every other day the entire time. I don't remember a single time where they had two days off in a row so far.

Actually, after the very first game, we had 2-day rest. I remember the very first game was on Sunday and we didn't play the next game until Wed.

 

[Louis]

The winner of Game 6 will be the team with most energy. Both teams used so much energy in Game 5, you have to wonder if they have anything left.

The fatigue factor is clearly wearing on Nash. He is playing with more heart that the Mavs thought he had, but he is clearly not the same guy when playing so many minutes.

Agreed.

One thing that concerns me though is that D'Antoni has just about narrowed it down to a 6 man rotation with Jones getting a handful of minutes as the 7th man.

The Suns really don't have anyone else on the bench to count on, but the Clippers have a few more guys they can use.

In the 2OT game, the Clips played 3 guys over 50 minutes, 2 over 30 minutes, 1 over 20 minutes, and 2 more than 15 minutes.

The Suns meanwhile played 2 guys over 50 minutes, 3 over 40 minutes, 1 over 30 minutes, and 1 player 16 minutes.


Keys to the game

* Rebounding- Tim Thomas needs to get back at it. 4 won't do it tonight
* 3 point shooting- Marion should not be shooting from that far out
* Free throw shooting- in 2 of 3 wins the Suns have made more free throws than the Clips
* Do not led Vlad shoot open 3s
* Attack Kaman - after the 1st quarter he became ineffective when Marion started running the court

One thing that is going against the Clips, is that Cassell and Brand are playing more 2 man ball as the series goes on, which takes the other guys out of the mix.

 

[elindholm]

In fact, since the playoffs started, I think they have played every other day the entire time. I don't remember a single time where they had two days off in a row so far.

You are correct, sir!

Funny how the officials' bungling of Game 4 against the Lakers is still costing the Suns.

 

[Chaplin]

In fact, since the playoffs started, I think they have played every other day the entire time. I don't remember a single time where they had two days off in a row so far.

You are correct, sir!

Funny how the officials' bungling of Game 4 against the Lakers is still costing the Suns.

jibikao is right, they were off on a Monday and Tuesday after Game 1 of the Laker series, but since April 30th, they've been every other day.

 

[jibikao]

jibikao is right, they were off on a Monday and Tuesday after Game 1 of the Laker series, but since April 30th, they've been every other day.

Yeah, I would rather much have 2 day rest between game 4 or 5 than the very first game.

 

[az1965]

Here's a deal...if the Suns win the next game by ten or more, you change that god-awful sig file you have to something else that has class, and doesn't exude thuggishness behavioer on your team's title run. I don't care what you replace it with, other than it doesn't distinguish thug play by "The Kid" or anything Laker-related.

I feel good asking for this, because I know I will win.. can you give up the offensive sig file if your guys advance with a ten point margin tomorrow?

The onus is on you. Are you a fan of the Suns, or a fan of dirty play? That is the question......

It's a deal.

I don't support "thuggishness", if that is a word. I do support Raja's stance on it. Constant elbowing by the arrogant and officials / NBA's prefrential treatment by turning their heads away. That is a fact like it or not.

 

[elindholm]

Heck, if the Suns win by double digits tonight, I'll even change my signature file. Uh, if anyone wants me to, that is.

 

[Nash]

elindholm, if you do decide to change your signature do me a favor and open my eyes to the profundity in it. I just don't have a clue what it says.

Fatigue : real wishfult thinking - We explode early on and sustain it through entire first half and build a sizeable need so that Nash needs to play very few minutes in the 2nd half. Barbo and Diaw take care of the ball, JJ comes in and plays his ass off for a spot on the team and probably House gets shooting practice like he did against the Lakers.
Asking for too much?? you never know what these Suns will do. Even they don't!

 

[elindholm]

elindholm, if you do decide to change your signature do me a favor and open my eyes to the profundity in it. I just don't have a clue what it says.

I don't either, that's the point. It's from an online translation program of an Argentine (I think?) article about last summer's world championships. Someone else posted it, and I thought that excerpt was hilarious.

 

[Nash]

I don't either, that's the point. It's from an online translation program of an Argentine (I think?) article about last summer's world championships. Someone else posted it, and I thought that excerpt was hilarious.

dang! elind, thats the end of you. you do know Djaughe is Argentinian right? Apparently he is 6'3+, 200+ pounds. He's coming for ya'
God Bless You! See you on the other side.

 

[elindholm]

dang! elind, thats the end of you. you do know Djaughe is Argentinian right? Apparently he is 6'3+, 200+ pounds. He's coming for ya'
God Bless You! See you on the other side.

Dammit, so much for my 50-50 prediction.

 

[Yuma]

Thread title: Fatigue

Fatigue? You betcha! I'm STILL recovering from last game. I don't know how I will get through tonight's game. If it goes OT, I'll be sucking wind. That's for sure!

 

[az1965]

It's a deal.

D-Dogg: On the flip side, how about if Suns don't win by double digits? Can you have this in your sig: "I love Suns" or "I'm a Suns fan"??