Sterns at Suns 8:30 TNT

[FArting]

By BRETT HUSTON, STATS Writer
During their decade-long run as the NBA's model franchise, the San Antonio Spurs seemed like they often could flip a switch once the playoffs began. With the way they've looked lately, just getting there might be an issue.
The Spurs (28-16) look to avoid their first four-game losing streak in more than four years on Thursday when they continue their nine-game road trip against the Phoenix Suns, who are looking for their eighth win in nine games.
San Antonio was the third seed in the Western Conference in last year's playoffs, but got the best of the favored Suns in the conference semifinals, winning the series in six games en route to its fourth NBA title in nine seasons.
Things started off well enough for the Spurs in 2007-08, as they opened 17-3 and looked every bit like the defending champions. But since Dec. 11, San Antonio is just 11-13, and has dropped three straight games.

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They haven't lost four consecutive games since Nov. 28-Dec. 3, 2003.
"We're not playing good," guard Manu Ginobili said. "The worst part is with the kind of record we have now and the way we're playing, I don't see that we're playing with a sense of urgency. You need to play every game like it's Game 7 of the finals and we're not."
As the Spurs have struggled - they are just 8-11 on the road - Southwest Division rivals Dallas and New Orleans have pulled ahead of the defending champs. Just eight games separate the best team in the Western Conference from the worst, and the Spurs have fallen to the sixth seed.
Injuries have played a part in San Antonio's inconsistency. Ginobili and Tim Duncan have missed time as has Tony Parker, who sat out Tuesday's 88-85 loss at Seattle to rest a bone spur in his left heel.
Parker, averaging 19.2 points and 6.1 assists, won't play in Phoenix and there is no timetable for his return. San Antonio, also missing 3-point specialist Brent Barry (calf), is 1-4 without Parker in the lineup this season.
"They're going to come in wounded and desperate and needing a win and so that's probably when they're the most dangerous," said Suns coach Mike D'Antoni. "We know that at the end of the year they'll be right there with the best teams and you've got to go through them, they're the champs."
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was not about to use Parker's absence as an excuse for the his team's loss Tuesday to the lowly SuperSonics, who ended a 14-game losing streak.
"That's irrelevant. That had nothing to do with it," Popovich said. "Teams lose guys and have nicks all the time. The Sonics played the Spurs and the Sonics won. That's the bottom line."
With Parker missing due to a sprained ankle on Dec. 17, Phoenix (33-13) won 100-95 at San Antonio despite Duncan's 36 points.
It was the Suns' first regular-season win in San Antonio in eight tries, and it came in the teams' first meeting since Phoenix had its season ended by the Spurs in May.
Not that revenge was a motivating factor.
"A win is a win, it doesn't matter if it's the Spurs or any other team," Suns forward Shawn Marion said at the time.
The Suns have won three straight and seven of eight, including a 125-92 rout of Atlanta on Tuesday -- their most lopsided victory this season.
Amare Stoudemire has been on a tear for Phoenix, averaging 25.8 points in the last four games while shooting 72.7 percent from the field.
Stoudemire is shooting a career-best 59.5 percent this season, one of the top five marks in the NBA.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2008013121

Sterns 96
Suns 106

Nash

 

[dreamcastrocks]

What a great night for TV, between the Suns/Spurs, Lost premiere, and the Democratic debate, we don't have enought tuners to watch everything.

 

[jbeecham]

What a great night for TV, between the Suns/Spurs, Lost premiere, and the Democratic debate, we don't have enought tuners to watch everything.

Also, Dallas plays Boston & the Lakers play Detroit.....

 

[nowagimp]

What a great night for TV, between the Suns/Spurs, Lost premiere, and the Democratic debate, we don't have enought tuners to watch everything.

With that group of choices, one tuner is all I need(the suns).

 

[nowagimp]

Also, Dallas plays Boston & the Lakers play Detroit.....

Dallas will beat the KG-less celtics, but the bynum-less lakers at the pistons could be a good game.

 

[Rab]

I'll be at the game tonight booing the hell out of the Sterns. Can't wait!!!

 

[HooverDam]

I'll be at the game tonight booing the hell out of the Sterns. Can't wait!!!

Me too, I lucked into insanely good seats. There's a 100% chance that if Robert Horry comes flying into the stands at any point, I'll be punching him in the face with brass knuckles.

 

[TucsonDevil]

There's a 100% chance that if Robert Horry comes flying into the stands at any point, I'll be punching him in the face with brass knuckles.

I would pay good money to see that happen!

 

[nowagimp]

Me too, I lucked into insanely good seats. There's a 100% chance that if Robert Horry comes flying into the stands at any point, I'll be punching him in the face with brass knuckles.

Heck I'd just settle for rubbing heat linament in his face, it'd be hilarious. About 20 seconds later his eyes would be tearing uncontrollably. Heck he might be so blind as to hip check manu, thinking he was nash.

 

[Bufalay]

I want to see some violence tonight. I would love to see Amare kick the crap out of Horry or Bowen. I think Nash could take Manure. I think Sarcoph could be the wild card in such a fight. He doesn't seem like a fighter, but you can't bet against someone with a king tut beard in a fight.

 

[Griffin]

Everyone going to the game should boo every time the Spurs touch the ball. That atmosphere in the first quarter of game 5 was great.

(Of course, with the game being on TNT, many of us may not get to watch the first quarter)

 

[HooverDam]

Hm, looking at the stats, Horry has only played in 25 games this year (out of a possible 44), was he injured for a while? I wonder if he's just not seeing much time (Popovich seems to sort of save him for the playoffs from what I recall), I wonder if there's a chance he won't play tonight just to save a riot* from happening



*We don't riot in Phoenix, we're civilized in Phoenix.

 

[mjb21aztd]

Lets go suns beat the crap out of the spurs

Suns 114

Spurs 103

Leading Scorer Nash

 

[Mainstreet]

Me too, I lucked into insanely good seats. There's a 100% chance that if Robert Horry comes flying into the stands at any point, I'll be punching him in the face with brass knuckles.

If Horry comes flying into the stands the best thing to do is get out of your chair and let him go. No soft landings for Horry.

 

[HooverDam]

If Horry comes flying into the stands the best thing to do is get out of your chair and let him go. No soft landings for Horry.

Soft landings? ARE YOU CALLING ME FAT!?

 

[Mainstreet]

Soft landings? ARE YOU CALLING ME FAT!?

No. It's just the chairs are harder. Maybe you can get in a little hip check while he flys by like he did to Nash in game 4 of the playoffs.

 

[SO91]

Damn that, if he falls on you make sure he feels it anyway you can.

 

[HooverDam]

I enjoy all the planning for what to do if Robert Horry falls on me, as if that is at all a likely scenario. Im LOLing here.

 

[scoutmasterdave]

What a great night for TV, between the Suns/Spurs, Lost premiere, and the Democratic debate, we don't have enought tuners to watch everything.

Luckily, the debate ends before the Suns game begins, so my 2-tuner DVR can keep up with it all.

 

[dodie53]

Go Suns!

 

[AnonymouslyKnown]

No Tony Parker. If the Suns win, the Spurs have an excuse again. If the Spurs win, the Suns suck for not being able to beat the Spurs even when Parker is out.

 

[mojorizen7]

Payback like the pitcher in baseball is a fact of sports. If there is any payback on Horry(which there should be) tonight would be the best time to make it happen. Not in the middle of a playoff series. Thats just me. Not the SUNS.
Going out to watch it.
GO SUNS!

 

[Bufalay]

Hey Marion you aren't an all-star, go for 40 and 20.

 

[dodie53]

any links?

 

[tobiazz]

Ugh. Eddie Rush + Amare w/ 2 fouls.