azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 1, 2005 12:00 AM
The Suns' defensive plan was always there, but they found success Monday with better execution and the real Joe Johnson.
It's the difference between Spurs forward Tim Duncan passing over Suns guard Steve Nash out of the trap or Suns guard Johnson, whose taller, bigger body must make Nash's trap feel like a mosquito's to Duncan.
It's the difference between Spurs guard Tony Parker getting the lane for easy shots and layups to Parker firing shots from 18 feet and beyond.
Phoenix made tweaks to its defense that were successful in Game 4's win Monday but will probably have to continue to change against a team sharp enough to find answers for Game 5 tonight at America West Arena.
Certainly, Johnson's return has made the Suns' efforts to double Duncan in the post more successful.
"It's a big difference," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said. "You get him (Duncan) on his heels and the pass is just not quite as good. His (Johnson's) body does that."
The Suns also did a better job of adhering to a seasonlong theme of making teams shoot over them, a method the Lakers used successfully in last year's playoffs against San Antonio. Phoenix packed the paint and went under screens to take away Parker's drives. He was 5 of 17 from the field with three scores coming on layups in the first six minutes of the game.
Parker's speed is a tough matchup, but Johnson's size and positioning has Parker in a quandary.
"It's a big difference running into that mountain back there," D'Antoni said.
Hunter's lessons
Suns center Steven Hunter can frustrate his bench professors at times as he learns lessons during this playoff series. He nearly cost himself a chance to learn more tonight when he stepped onto the court as Amaré Stoudemire and Manu Ginobili had a minor incident. He put himself at risk to be suspended.
"I'm worried a little but because I never had intentions of leaving the bench," Hunter said. "In my eyes, I knew it wasn't a fight so I thought I could go out on the court and calm Amaré.
"I regret going out there and I won't do it again."
He is also learning how to guard Duncan straight up.
"I've got to be physical with him," Hunter said. "I have to outsmart him because he anticipates moves."
Free throws
• The Suns worked out four draft prospects Tuesday: Georgia Tech guard B.J. Elder, Sam Houston State power forward/center Eddy Fobbs, Clemson forward Sharrod Ford and Syracuse swingman Josh Pace.
• Johnson said relatives and friends were the ones most hesitant about his return from a displaced orbital fracture. He said, "Everybody told me to take my time. A lot of people told me, 'Don't come back.' "
• Not only has no NBA team ever come back from an 0-3 hole to win, no team in a conference finals has come back from 0-3 to force a Game 7. Only one (the 1962 Pistons) even got to a Game 6. Phoenix already became the first playoff team to shake off a 0-3 hole and a Game 4 halftime deficit to get a win.
• Stoudemire is the first Suns player to have four straight 30-plus scoring games in the playoffs.
• Phoenix allowed San Antonio 20 offensive rebounds Monday.
But if the Spurs are crashing the offensive glass, they are not getting back and Phoenix has a better chance at running and setting up its perimeter shooters.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0601sunsnb0601.html
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 1, 2005 12:00 AM
The Suns' defensive plan was always there, but they found success Monday with better execution and the real Joe Johnson.
It's the difference between Spurs forward Tim Duncan passing over Suns guard Steve Nash out of the trap or Suns guard Johnson, whose taller, bigger body must make Nash's trap feel like a mosquito's to Duncan.
It's the difference between Spurs guard Tony Parker getting the lane for easy shots and layups to Parker firing shots from 18 feet and beyond.
Phoenix made tweaks to its defense that were successful in Game 4's win Monday but will probably have to continue to change against a team sharp enough to find answers for Game 5 tonight at America West Arena.
Certainly, Johnson's return has made the Suns' efforts to double Duncan in the post more successful.
"It's a big difference," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said. "You get him (Duncan) on his heels and the pass is just not quite as good. His (Johnson's) body does that."
The Suns also did a better job of adhering to a seasonlong theme of making teams shoot over them, a method the Lakers used successfully in last year's playoffs against San Antonio. Phoenix packed the paint and went under screens to take away Parker's drives. He was 5 of 17 from the field with three scores coming on layups in the first six minutes of the game.
Parker's speed is a tough matchup, but Johnson's size and positioning has Parker in a quandary.
"It's a big difference running into that mountain back there," D'Antoni said.
Hunter's lessons
Suns center Steven Hunter can frustrate his bench professors at times as he learns lessons during this playoff series. He nearly cost himself a chance to learn more tonight when he stepped onto the court as Amaré Stoudemire and Manu Ginobili had a minor incident. He put himself at risk to be suspended.
"I'm worried a little but because I never had intentions of leaving the bench," Hunter said. "In my eyes, I knew it wasn't a fight so I thought I could go out on the court and calm Amaré.
"I regret going out there and I won't do it again."
He is also learning how to guard Duncan straight up.
"I've got to be physical with him," Hunter said. "I have to outsmart him because he anticipates moves."
Free throws
• The Suns worked out four draft prospects Tuesday: Georgia Tech guard B.J. Elder, Sam Houston State power forward/center Eddy Fobbs, Clemson forward Sharrod Ford and Syracuse swingman Josh Pace.
• Johnson said relatives and friends were the ones most hesitant about his return from a displaced orbital fracture. He said, "Everybody told me to take my time. A lot of people told me, 'Don't come back.' "
• Not only has no NBA team ever come back from an 0-3 hole to win, no team in a conference finals has come back from 0-3 to force a Game 7. Only one (the 1962 Pistons) even got to a Game 6. Phoenix already became the first playoff team to shake off a 0-3 hole and a Game 4 halftime deficit to get a win.
• Stoudemire is the first Suns player to have four straight 30-plus scoring games in the playoffs.
• Phoenix allowed San Antonio 20 offensive rebounds Monday.
But if the Spurs are crashing the offensive glass, they are not getting back and Phoenix has a better chance at running and setting up its perimeter shooters.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0601sunsnb0601.html
