Preparing for Game 5

[azirish]

If Amare and Boris are suspended, it is extremely unlikely the Suns could win game 5. Unfortunately, if they lose game 5 it would mean the Spurs could win it all in San Antonio in game 6.

If they can play, the Suns should be favored. The fact that they have proven they win in San Antonio is a huge mental boost for the Suns.

The most remarkable stat in game 4 was that the Suns out rebounded the Spurs 39-32 and limited the Spurs to just 6 offensive rebounds. The Suns were described as playing with despirate intensity in a game where battling became fierce.

In past games, the Spurs have suggested that the Suns were "soft" because they let the Spurs extremely rough play get to them. The Suns refusal to back down and eventual comeback led to a flagrant foul by Robert Horry.

In the post game interviews, the Spurs acted shell shocked in a way that was not evident after game 2. In game 2, the Spurs were pretty clear that they had not been "physical enough", which seemed to be confirmed in game 3. But in game 4, the Spurs were about as physical as they can play and it wasn't enough.

Game 5 promises to be a real donnybrook, whether Amare and Boris are playing or not. But if the are playing, the Suns have a good chance of winning because they know they can take the Spurs best shot.

 

[Gaddabout]

I think the Suns are about to go small in a way they've never gone before. Three-guard lineups. Four-guard lineups. Scrambling double and triple teams.

Well, Marion wanted to be the man. Now he gets to earn his paycheck and put his money where is mouth is. Quite literally.

 

[azirish]

I think the Suns are about to go small in a way they've never gone before. Three-guard lineups. Four-guard lineups. Scrambling double and triple teams.

Well, Marion wanted to be the man. Now he gets to earn his paycheck and put his money where is mouth is. Quite literally.

If both Amare and Boris are suspended, it will be interesting to see who will be used. Even D'Antoni can't expect to get by with a 6 man rotation.

As improbable as it sounds, I think Banks could be the guy he'd use. He's a very hard nosed defender and might be a little bit of help if he just doesn't shoot.

I guess there might be a chance that Burke could get some minutes as long as he is not put on Duncan, which would be a disaster. He might play some when Elson is in the lineup because Elson is not a big offensive threat.

It doesn't look pretty.

 

[az1965]

You would need forwards and centers, so I would say Burke and Rose may get short minutes.

 

[Cheesebeef]

if only Amare is suspended, I'm predicting something REALLY RIDICULOUS.

Doris ****** actually becomes BORIS DIAW for one game and gives us a legit shot to win. Last year, we DID take a game from the Spurs without Amare, but Marion and Diaw both had HUGE games. We may have paid Diaw about 40 million more dollars than he deserved, but if he's not suspended, we find out exactly why we did it. He rises from the ashes like the Phoenix and everyone else plays out of their head in front of a raucus crowd and we STUN SA without Amare.

that being said, I fully expect both of our guys to be suspended and for me to be furious.

 

[cly2tw]

I think the Suns are about to go small in a way they've never gone before. Three-guard lineups. Four-guard lineups. Scrambling double and triple teams.

Well, Marion wanted to be the man. Now he gets to earn his paycheck and put his money where is mouth is. Quite literally.

Actually, compared to hie previous disappearing acts in crucial playoff series, Marion has been doing fine in this one aside from game 1. He is not worth the 16 mil he earns, but has been playing reasonably well when Spurs defense focused on the others on the Suns. His contribution did keep us afloat for some stretched periods there and here, for us to be able to stage the come back in game 4.

 

[Gaddabout]

Actually, compared to hie previous disappearing acts in crucial playoff series, Marion has been doing fine in this one aside from game 1. He is not worth the 16 mil he earns, but has been playing reasonably well when Spurs defense focused on the others on the Suns. His contribution did keep us afloat for some stretched periods there and here, for us to be able to stage the come back in game 4.

Yep. He was critical to last night's win when Amare went out. I can't say he was clutch, but you can't deny his contributions.

 

[Chaplin]

if only Amare is suspended, I'm predicting something REALLY RIDICULOUS.

Doris ****** actually becomes BORIS DIAW for one game and gives us a legit shot to win. Last year, we DID take a game from the Spurs without Amare, but Marion and Diaw both had HUGE games. We may have paid Diaw about 40 million more dollars than he deserved, but if he's not suspended, we find out exactly why we did it. He rises from the ashes like the Phoenix and everyone else plays out of their head in front of a raucus crowd and we STUN SA without Amare.

that being said, I fully expect both of our guys to be suspended and for me to be furious.

How can you expect BOTH guys to be suspended? My guess is that they'll be fined and that's it. If Bruce Bowen can knee a guy in the groin and kick someone's Achilles and not get suspended, then how can you suspend a couple guys who never got into the play, and as far as I'm concerned, never really left the bench area in the first place.

 

[Cheesebeef]

How can you expect BOTH guys to be suspended?

because I'm a pessimist.

My guess is that they'll be fined and that's it. If Bruce Bowen can knee a guy in the groin and kick someone's Achilles and not get suspended, then how can you suspend a couple guys who never got into the play, and as far as I'm concerned, never really left the bench area in the first place.

i really think you're looking at this with purple-rose colored glasses Chap - especially as far as amare's concerned. The guy was absolutely ON THE COURT and the letter of the law states, yada, yada, yada. Personally, I think it's a stupid rule, especially if that player composes themselves and steps back like amare did, but the league has always been VERY stern(no pun intended) with this rule and there's no doubt that amare broke it IMO. Diaw maybe not, but I'll be SHOCKED and STOKED if Amare's able to play on Wednesday. But I don't think that will be the case.

 

[Chaplin]

because I'm a pessimist.



i really think you're looking at this with purple-rose colored glasses Chap - especially as far as amare's concerned. The guy was absolutely ON THE COURT and the letter of the law states, yada, yada, yada. Personally, I think it's a stupid rule, especially if that player composes themselves and steps back like amare did, but the league has always been VERY stern(no pun intended) with this rule and there's no doubt that amare broke it IMO. Diaw maybe not, but I'll be SHOCKED and STOKED if Amare's able to play on Wednesday. But I don't think that will be the case.

Of course I am. Your standard defense against ANYTHING I ever say.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Of course I am. Your standard defense against ANYTHING I ever say.

dude, watch the tape - EVERYONE agrees that Amare wasn't NEAR the bench. Don't take it so personal - I just don't know how you can say Amare wasn't on the court and was clearly in the bench area when he very clearly was on the court, which by the letter of the law is a violation worth a suspension. There's video evidence of it.

believe me, I hope to God you're right, but I'd be shocked if you were.

 

[azirish]

Do we really need this many threads on the same topic?

 

[hsandhu]

if only Amare is suspended, I'm predicting something REALLY RIDICULOUS.

Doris ****** actually becomes BORIS DIAW for one game and gives us a legit shot to win. Last year, we DID take a game from the Spurs without Amare, but Marion and Diaw both had HUGE games. We may have paid Diaw about 40 million more dollars than he deserved, but if he's not suspended, we find out exactly why we did it. He rises from the ashes like the Phoenix and everyone else plays out of their head in front of a raucus crowd and we STUN SA without Amare.

that being said, I fully expect both of our guys to be suspended and for me to be furious.

At this point, I'd actually be relieved if just amare got suspended. If he is out, but boris is in, we still have that screen roll threat (and I think w/o amare boris will step up, oberto/elson are like diop was on him last year).

If we have at least boris, and amare is out, there could be a huge rallying effect not only with the team, but the fans. Unlike raja being out, this game will be in phx, and our fans will be (rightfully so) furious amare is out, and hopefully can lift our team in game 5.

We really need at least one of those two guys.

BTW if anyone on our side is out, Horry deserves AT LEAST two games, one for the hockey check, and one for throwing an elbow at rajas throat.

 

[mathbzh]

If Amare is suspended why not Diaw?

If Amare and Diaw are out... game 5 is lost.
If Diaw is in AND step up we have a shot.
If neither is suspended.. Suns leads 3-2

 

[JulieSpursFan]

I'm a Spurs fan and though I'm obviously unhappy about the ending, I think this has been a thrilling series. But some of you guys are definitely blinded by your bias. The refs were DEFINITELY in your corner last night. All those fouls called on Duncan were ridiculous. One of the main reasons you won was because Pop stupidly kept Duncan on the bench for most of the last five. You also finally managed to pull yourselves together and play excellent ball at the 11th hour. Horry's foul was obviously flagrant and Spurs fans are pissed about it (go on Spurstalk.com) and most think he deserves a one or two game suspension. But I have to say, believe it or not, Steve Nash was my favorite (non-Spur) NBA player until last night. Yeah, he got shoved, but the theatrical way he fell and splayed himself out as if he was just murdered....well, sorry guys, but that was some of the most obvious flopping I've ever seen. It was so fake it was hilarious. He acts like he's dead and then pops up like a jack-in-the-box to charge after Horry. And you guys are calling him "classy". OMG! I know some of our own guys do some flopping, but Steve Nash is the MVF (Most Valuable Flopper) of the NBA. Jeez. FWIW, I hope Amare and Boris are not suspended (even though, by the rules, they earned it ). Horry, of course, has to be suspended. But you guys should count your lucky stars for some of the crap your players weren't called on last night.

 

[KloD]

I'm a Spurs fan and though I'm obviously unhappy about the ending, I think this has been a thrilling series. But some of you guys are definitely blinded by your bias. The refs were DEFINITELY in your corner last night. All those fouls called on Duncan were ridiculous. One of the main reasons you won was because Pop stupidly kept Duncan on the bench for most of the last five. You also finally managed to pull yourselves together and play excellent ball at the 11th hour. Horry's foul was obviously flagrant and Spurs fans are pissed about it (go on Spurstalk.com) and most think he deserves a one or two game suspension. But I have to say, believe it or not, Steve Nash was my favorite (non-Spur) NBA player until last night. Yeah, he got shoved, but the theatrical way he fell and splayed himself out as if he was just murdered....well, sorry guys, but that was some of the most obvious flopping I've ever seen. It was so fake it was hilarious. He acts like he's dead and then pops up like a jack-in-the-box to charge after Horry. And you guys are calling him "classy". OMG! I know some of our own guys do some flopping, but Steve Nash is the MVF (Most Valuable Flopper) of the NBA. Jeez. FWIW, I hope Amare and Boris are not suspended (even though, by the rules, they earned it ). Horry, of course, has to be suspended. But you guys should count your lucky stars for some of the crap your players weren't called on last night.

Who's blinded by their bias? Flop? Oh that's rich.

 

[cly2tw]

Actually, I was quite somber middle of game 4 in realization that the Spurs owned us and was innerly giving up hope to get out of this series the winner. The reason is how they handled Nash till middle of the 4th and how they never let Diaw and LB be a factor, without the familiar assistance of the refs.

We are too dependent on Nash's domination without reliable alternatives for sustained stretches. The disciplined Spurs figured us out and we seemed to be out of our tricks.

After this game, however, there is still hope that despite the problem of our offense strangled by the great Spurs defense, we hung in there with will power and grit and executed when it counted most.

I think that Amare was held out for almost the entire 2nd qrt made him fresh for the late game comeback. And one reason Spurs didn't play as well defense in the 4th was probably that they gave out too much earlier. They didn't trap Nash as energetic as earlier, which made Bowen resorting to his tripping-gripping tactics, but this time not allowed by the refs.

Anyway, if Nash again shows signs that he could not solve the Spurs defense well enough early on in game 5, we better rest him and hope we could use/untrack Diaw, LB to keep us afloat till later in 2nd half. So, prepare a bit more of offense around Diaw and LB. Play defense. And hope we have a chance late in the game.

 

[JulieSpursFan]

Actually, I was quite somber middle of game 4 in realization that the Spurs owned us and was innerly giving up hope to get out of this series the winner. The reason is how they handled Nash till middle of the 4th and how they never let Diaw and LB be a factor, without the familiar assistance of the refs.

We are too dependent on Nash's domination without reliable alternatives for sustained stretches. The disciplined Spurs figured us out and we seemed to be out of our tricks.

After this game, however, there is still hope that despite the problem of our offense strangled by the great Spurs defense, we hung in there with will power and grit and executed when it counted most.

I think that Amare was held out for almost the entire 2nd qrt made him fresh for the late game comeback. And one reason Spurs didn't play as well defense in the 4th was probably that they gave out too much earlier. They didn't trap Nash as energetic as earlier, which made Bowen resorting to his tripping-gripping tactics, but this time not allowed by the refs.

Anyway, if Nash again shows signs that he could not solve the Spurs defense well enough early on in game 5, we better rest him and hope we could use/untrack Diaw, LB to keep us afloat till later in 2nd half. So, prepare a bit more of offense around Diaw and LB. Play defense. And hope we have a chance late in the game.

Yours is a very reasonable post (fyi- Spurs fan here). Both teams are IMO the best in the league and this is a breathtaking series. The series could go either way at this point.

 

[JulieSpursFan]

Who's blinded by their bias? Flop? Oh that's rich.

Hey, I admitted that some of our players flop...especially the international ones. I'm a San Antonian, so am definitely biased toward the Spurs, but I'm not blinded by it.

 

[Mulli]

Blinded by the Spurs,
Wrapped up by the flop,
You know Ginobili in the paint.

 

[JulieSpursFan]

Blinded by the Spurs,
Wrapped up by the flop,
You know Ginobili in the paint.

I don't get it. Is that a Haiku?

 

[Mulli]

I don't get it. Is that a Haiku?

Sung to the tune of Springstein's "Blinded by the Light."

 

[JulieSpursFan]

Sung to the tune of Springstein's "Blinded by the Light."

Clever!

 

[Dr. Dumas]

I'm a Spurs fan and though I'm obviously unhappy about the ending, I think this has been a thrilling series. But some of you guys are definitely blinded by your bias. The refs were DEFINITELY in your corner last night. All those fouls called on Duncan were ridiculous. One of the main reasons you won was because Pop stupidly kept Duncan on the bench for most of the last five. You also finally managed to pull yourselves together and play excellent ball at the 11th hour. Horry's foul was obviously flagrant and Spurs fans are pissed about it (go on Spurstalk.com) and most think he deserves a one or two game suspension. But I have to say, believe it or not, Steve Nash was my favorite (non-Spur) NBA player until last night. Yeah, he got shoved, but the theatrical way he fell and splayed himself out as if he was just murdered....well, sorry guys, but that was some of the most obvious flopping I've ever seen. It was so fake it was hilarious. He acts like he's dead and then pops up like a jack-in-the-box to charge after Horry. And you guys are calling him "classy". OMG! I know some of our own guys do some flopping, but Steve Nash is the MVF (Most Valuable Flopper) of the NBA. Jeez. FWIW, I hope Amare and Boris are not suspended (even though, by the rules, they earned it ). Horry, of course, has to be suspended. But you guys should count your lucky stars for some of the crap your players weren't called on last night.

Why are you so unhappy about the ending? You can chat it up all you want on Spurtalk.com about how unhappy you are with cheap-shot Horry, but the bottom line is that I'm pretty sure you will take the swap of Horry being out along with Amare and Boris. To say that they deserved to be tossed is lamn.

Nash was body checked and you want to call it a flop..classic. When the Spurs are on offense, at least one Spur falls to the floor on each play. So go back to Spurstalk and piss off.

 

[HooverDam]

Sung to the tune of Springstein's "Blinded by the Light."

Manfred Mann version is better.