Playoffs 2010: Western Conf Finals, Game 6 – Lakers At Suns Game Thread

[AfroSuns]

PHOENIX (AP)—Steve Nash(notes) says he’s no “Joe Namath who walked in in his fur coat” but the Suns playmaker is not backing away from his post-game promise that Phoenix will beat the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals.
Not might win, not try hard to win, not hope to win.
“I just said we’re going home and win Game 6 and come back in Game 7,” Nash said after practice on Friday. “Take it how you want to take it.”
The Suns didn’t seem devastated by Thursday night’s last-second 103-101 loss in Los Angeles. Quite the opposite. The close call seemed to bolster their belief they can win this series, even though the Lakers are up 3-2 and can advance to the NBA finals for the third straight year with a victory in Phoenix on Saturday night.
“There’s some really good things that we did last night, some things to build on,” the Suns’ Grant Hill(notes) said. “I think the main thing is the confidence that we can beat this team. Obviously we’ve done it twice, and we’ve got to try to do it twice more.”
Nash’s assurance may not have packed the flamboyance of Namath’s famous guarantee that his huge underdog New York Jets would beat Baltimore in the Super Bowl, but it was enough to rile Game 5 hero Ron Artest(notes).
“That’s like no respect for us. There’s no respect. That’s how it’s been for a long time this season. I’m sure we’ll talk about it,” Artest said before the Lakers left Los Angeles on Friday. “Coaches have no respect for the Lakers at all. They have no respect for me. The players don’t respect—a lot of the guys don’t respect. … I’m sure Kobe heard that (what Nash said), and I’m sure he’ll do his part tomorrow.”
Artest’s comments came after he was fined for showing up late for practice on Friday.
Phoenix rallied from 18 down in the second half to tie at 101-101 when Jason Richardson(notes) banked in a 3-pointer with 3.5 seconds to play. The Lakers pulled it out when Kobe Bryant(notes) threw up an air ball and Artest hustled to retrieve it, then banked in a shot at the buzzer.
“It was a great moment for him, for our team,” the Lakers’ Derek Fisher(notes) said. “Ron has really sacrificed a lot for our team. He’s a big part of our team. A lot of things he does go unnoticed on the stat sheet, but he’s committed to doing one thing, and that’s helping us win.”
The home team has won every game so far in this series, which looked to be a Lakers romp after Los Angeles scored 128 and 124 points and shot 58 percent in the first two games. Suns Coach Alvin Gentry turned to a zone defense and, buoyed by a raucous home crowd, Phoenix won the next two. Game 5 was the first truly close finish of the series.
The Suns have won six straight playoff games at home since losing to Portland in their first-round opener. The Lakers can earn their 31st trip to the NBA finals by ending that streak.
“We don’t plan on going to Phoenix and losing three times on their home court,” Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson said. “We’re not making this trip over there just to fill a date. We’re going over there to win a game. We’re highly motivated for this game, but we understand that if it has to go seven, we’re damn well ready to come back home and defend our home court again. This is a series that has taken a lot of different faces to it in the course of these five games, and we don’t expect Game 6 to be any different.”
Hill said the only constant for either team in the series has been the magnificence of Bryant, who is averaging 33 points, 9.6 assists and 7.4 rebounds in the five games. Bryant had 30 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists on Thursday night.
“He’s made unbelievable shots,” Hill said, “against our man-to-man, against our zone. I mean, the guy’s due for an off game. I mean he’s just hit some shots like you wouldn’t believe. We watched the film (of Game 5) and there was one shot he took where it wasn’t contested. Other than that every shot for the most part was a hand in his face. He’s been awesome.”
The difference has been how much help he gets from his teammates. On Thursday it was Pau Gasol(notes) (22 points) and Fisher (21).
This could be the last, and most important, game Amare Stoudemire plays for the Suns. The All-Star power forward can opt out of the final year of his contract after this season and said chances are “50-50” that he will be back.
“We’ve played all season for this game,” he said. “We’ve got to take advantage of it. It’s all about determination now.”
Richardson blamed the loss on himself because he failed to box out Artest on Bryant’s errant last shot.
“I boxed out every time but one,” he lamented.
But Nash said no one on this team is pointing fingers.
“We all make mistake and it’s misleading to pin the game on the last play when there were hundreds of plays at both ends of the court that determine the game,” Nash said. “We lost the game. J-Rich did a lot of great things for our team and we believe in him. We need him, so I don’t place any blame on him.”
Nash had a series high 29 points and 11 assists on Thursday night, his 117th playoff game, more than any other player in NBA history who has not made it to the finals. He didn’t expect to get this far with this undersized group of overachievers and the 36-year-old point guard may never get this close again.
“I thought we could make the playoffs. I thought we could get out of the first round and who knows what happens from there,” he said. “But to be right here with a real opportunity where we believe, that’s pretty outstanding and special.”

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2010052921

Carry the battle to them. Don't let them bring it to you. Put them on the defensive and don't ever apologize for anything ~ Harry Truman

Go Suns!!!!!!

 

[Tyler]

This is how I feel right before bed the night before game 6.

You must be registered for see images

 

[TJ]

“That’s like no respect for us. There’s no respect. That’s how it’s been for a long time this season. I’m sure we’ll talk about it,” Artest said before the Lakers left Los Angeles on Friday. “Coaches have no respect for the Lakers at all. They have no respect for me. The players don’t respect—a lot of the guys don’t respect. … I’m sure Kobe heard that (what Nash said), and I’m sure he’ll do his part tomorrow.”

Gee, Artest. I wonder why people have no respect for you.

 

[Hayduke]

Artest’s comments came after he was fined for showing up late for practice on Friday

1 year and a little pressure and he's already breaking down mentally. All Lakers know he is a weak link at this point... as well as Bynum (due to his knees).

 

[splitsecond]

I just realized the Ron Ron is the reason I won't be able to buy beer in the 4th quarter tonight. No respect!

 

[Hat]

Gee, Artest. I wonder why people have no respect for you.

Reminds me of Iverson's rant on practice

"It's just practice..."

 

[AzStevenCal]

Reminds me of Iverson's rant on practice

"It's just practice..."

I always considered that more of a tantrum than a rant.

Steve

 

[Cheesebeef]

we will win tonight.

 

[Ronin]

I think the Suns will win, so I've decided to go to the WWE smackdown event tonight (in Las Cruces, NM).....instead of watching tonights game.
Go Suns!

 

[Tyler]

Im sitting at home watching the game and will have the UFC event recording to watch afterwards.

 

[Bert]

oooook Ron Ron, if you need any more motivation to win game 6 then you're already in trouble. You had your moment of glory, nobody cares what you have to say or if you actually manage to form a thought in that BB of a brain you have.

 

[az1965]

Hmm... so no one has any respect for the Lakers. What a bunch of bums and losers.

 

[Cheesebeef]

you want to see some stats that will make you sick? Since 1989, In our last 5 elimination games in the WCF, we're 1-4... AT HOME.

1988 - Down 3-0 to the Lakers we play tough, but lose at Veterans
1989 - Down 3-2 to the Blazers, we play really well in the first half, KJ pulls a hammy is out for the second half, Horny goes nuts with 36, we have a 4 point lead with a buck thirty left and we lose... at Veterans.
1993 - Tied at 3-3, Barkley goes nuts with 44 and 24 and so do the refs giving up 58 foul shots. We FINALLY win at home in a close out game in the WCF.
2005 - Down 3-1 to the Spurs, we don't really put up much of a fight and lose at AWA
2006 - Down 3-2 to the Mavs, we get out to an 18 point lead and completely wilt, losing by 9... at home.

1-4... we've seen teams celebrate a WCF 4 out of 5 times on our home court in the modern era. And that doesn't even speak to losing Game 6 of the Finals at home to the Bulls or Game 7 of the WCF to the Rockets. That's just too many crushing losses at home, in what are either championship rounds or deciding series. THAT HAS TO STOP TONIGHT.

PROTECT HOME-COURT. SEND IT TO 7.

ANYTHING'S POSSIBLE.

 

[elindholm]

This is a different Suns team. If they lose, it will be because they're outplayed, not because they give it away. I'm confident of that.

 

[AfroSuns]

This is a different Suns team. If they lose, it will be because they're outplayed, not because they give it away. I'm confident of that.

+1 if the Lakers win tonight it will be because they played better not because the Suns showed up over-confident or demoralized.

 

[Absolute Zero]

Good read here on why the Suns are in this sucker:

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/Phoenix-Suns-still-have-a-shot-against-Los-Angeles-Lakers

 

[mjb21aztd]

alright lets go suns I just ordered some pizza, got beer all I need is a suns win for a perfect night. I'm not going to say eaither way if we win or lose tonight just praying the suns have a good night . GO SUNS BEAT LA

 

[Covert Rain]

I want to see the Suns blow out the Lakers. F.....this close game crap. F....this winning in the last 2 minutes. I want to see a Suns 20 point blow out. That will send the Lakers back to L.A. worried.

Go Suns.

 

[az1965]

Good read here on why the Suns are in this sucker:

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/Phoenix-Suns-still-have-a-shot-against-Los-Angeles-Lakers

good analysis

 

[ninous26]

I want to see Amare dunk on Lamar Odom then give him the stare down after that.

I'd also love to see kobe get stuffed when he tries to go for a fancy shot.

 

[Renz]

Good read here on why the Suns are in this sucker:

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/Phoenix-Suns-still-have-a-shot-against-Los-Angeles-Lakers

The Lakers closed out OKC and Utah on the first attempt, both on the road, yet they lack a "killer instinct"? Try again, Charley.

 

[AzStevenCal]

The Lakers closed out OKC and Utah on the first attempt, both on the road, yet they lack a "killer instinct"? Try again, Charley.

I'm not sure what he's basing that on but I can see some justification for it. If you just look at the on-paper talent difference between the Lakers and their playoff opponents this should have been a very easy postseason. The fact the Lakers let the Thunder and now the Suns hang around this long has to be disconcerting to Phil.

Of course, as a Suns fan, I'm grateful these games aren't played on paper. Let's face it, despite the talent difference, the Lakers will have to feel more than a little fortunate if they do win this series.

Steve

 

[D-Dogg]

Charles Barkley just gave his pre-game guarantee pick...the Suns.

Sorry guys...Chuck has spoken. I was petrified he was going to pick the Lakers, then let out a huge sigh of relief.

 

[S_Nash]

Been a long 2 days waiting for this one.

C'mon boys, let's take it back to LA for game 7!!!

 

[dodie53]

go suns!