az1965
Love Games!
Suns cast new light on NBA playoff basketball
By Gene Wojciechowski
ESPN.com
Archive
A few things you should know before you continue reading:
I picked the Miami Heat. I didn't just pick the Heat to beat the Chicago Bulls, but I picked the Heat to beat everybody: the Bulls, the Detroit Pistons, the other Eastern Conference survivor, the Western Conference finalist, Dream Team I, the 1972 USSR team, Spyda and the streetballers, Nick Nolte's Western University Dolphins ... everybody.
Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images
Steve Nash sets the pace for the trend-setting Suns.
I also picked the Dallas Mavericks to beat the Golden State Warriors in the opening round.
First of all, Charles Barkley is no longer in my 5. Come to think of it, neither is Dirk Nowitzki, who played as if someone slipped him a LUNESTA before each game of the series. I don't know what the German word is for "ralph on yourself," but that's what the supposed league MVP did. Seriously, doesn't Nowitzki know the rules allow for him to do something other than miss 28-footers? You don't lose your visa for driving the lane and getting fouled, big fella.
Anyway, that's over with. I'm going to miss those close-ups of Mavs owner Mark Cuban as his head was about to explode, but I know the feeling. That's how I felt when the Heat played older than Pat Riley's hair gel.
OK, so I'm not Hubie Brown. Under normal circumstances I'd take March Madness over the NBA playoffs. First of all, you never hear anybody talking about their NBA playoff office pool, so how exciting can it really be, right? And second, the playoffs last longer than the rainy season in the Philippines. This year's version started on April 21 and, if the Finals go seven games, won't end until June 21.
Not only do the playoffs go on forever, but postseason NBA hoops usually morphs into a half-court game, won by teams that squeeze every last second out of the shot clock, play glove-like D, and emphasize post play. That's how the Heat won the title a season ago. Remember? They grinded down Cuban's Mavs like cigarette butts, fed the ball to Shaq, or relied on Dwyane Wade to bail them out. It worked, but it was as fun as watching your old man vacuum the basement.
So I'll admit it: I was this close to stiffing the NBA this postseason. Nothing personal, but there's only so many times I can watch somebody make an entry pass to Diesel in the low post. If PBS had a hoops team, the Heat would be it.
But there's hope for these playoffs -- and this league -- because of what's happening on the other side of the country. Not the Oakland side, though Golden State's Baron Davis could start in my backcourt anytime. The guy is so tough I think his beard could beat up Nowitzki.
Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images
Mike D'Antoni encourages Steve Nash and the Suns to run and gun.
No, I'm talking about the airport team in the next time zone over: PHX.
The Phoenix Suns might not be the best team in the league, but they're the most entertaining. Davis' Warriors are fun, but they're like watching a litter of Labrador puppies. They don't seem to have a clue, but they overpower you with their energy. Nothing wrong with that. But the Suns are the closest thing to an NBA savior. Maybe not a savior, but an actual reason for the casual fan to turn on his plasma in April, May and June -- and keep it on.
I've got nothing against the Warriors, Bulls, Pistons, New Jersey Nets, the LeBrons, Utah Jazz or San Antonio Spurs. But there's only one team I'd pay money just to watch scrimmage. There's only one team I'd stay up to watch despite an early wake-up call the next morning.
The Suns.
NBA commish David Stern ought to send a thank you note to Suns coach Mike D'Antoni. D'Antoni coaches as if he'll get fined if the Suns don't shoot every 11 seconds. But they're not chuckers. Chuckers shoot and hope -- sort of like Nowitzki did in the Warriors series. Instead, the Suns have a plan. And the plan is to freak you out by sheer numbers. They score until you drop. They never get tired. It's the only team in the league that could function with a 10-second shot clock.
Yeah, I've got a bit of a man crush on the Suns. How can you not love a team that plays a faster game than everyone else? League MVP Steve Nash (I don't care if Nowitzki is the favorite to win the thing; Nash makes everyone around him better) can beat you on the break with the dribble -- that's a given. But the Suns can also beat you on the break by passing the ball. They make it look so effortless and eloquent.
The Suns should be required viewing because they share the ball so well. It's as if they don't care which one of them scores the most points. They play as if they're best friends.
D'Antoni has the league's highest scoring team, the league's most unselfish team, the league's most diverse team, the league's fastest team (Leandro Barbosa runs like his shoes are on fire) and the league's best combination of young and less young. I don't know if they'll beat the Spurs in the second round (Nash looked like he got whacked by Floyd Mayweather in Sunday's loss to San Antonio), but I at least hope it goes seven games.
The more Suns, the better.
You must be registered for see images attach
By Gene Wojciechowski
ESPN.com
Archive
A few things you should know before you continue reading:
I picked the Miami Heat. I didn't just pick the Heat to beat the Chicago Bulls, but I picked the Heat to beat everybody: the Bulls, the Detroit Pistons, the other Eastern Conference survivor, the Western Conference finalist, Dream Team I, the 1972 USSR team, Spyda and the streetballers, Nick Nolte's Western University Dolphins ... everybody.
You must be registered for see images attach
Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images
Steve Nash sets the pace for the trend-setting Suns.
I also picked the Dallas Mavericks to beat the Golden State Warriors in the opening round.
First of all, Charles Barkley is no longer in my 5. Come to think of it, neither is Dirk Nowitzki, who played as if someone slipped him a LUNESTA before each game of the series. I don't know what the German word is for "ralph on yourself," but that's what the supposed league MVP did. Seriously, doesn't Nowitzki know the rules allow for him to do something other than miss 28-footers? You don't lose your visa for driving the lane and getting fouled, big fella.
Anyway, that's over with. I'm going to miss those close-ups of Mavs owner Mark Cuban as his head was about to explode, but I know the feeling. That's how I felt when the Heat played older than Pat Riley's hair gel.
OK, so I'm not Hubie Brown. Under normal circumstances I'd take March Madness over the NBA playoffs. First of all, you never hear anybody talking about their NBA playoff office pool, so how exciting can it really be, right? And second, the playoffs last longer than the rainy season in the Philippines. This year's version started on April 21 and, if the Finals go seven games, won't end until June 21.
Not only do the playoffs go on forever, but postseason NBA hoops usually morphs into a half-court game, won by teams that squeeze every last second out of the shot clock, play glove-like D, and emphasize post play. That's how the Heat won the title a season ago. Remember? They grinded down Cuban's Mavs like cigarette butts, fed the ball to Shaq, or relied on Dwyane Wade to bail them out. It worked, but it was as fun as watching your old man vacuum the basement.
So I'll admit it: I was this close to stiffing the NBA this postseason. Nothing personal, but there's only so many times I can watch somebody make an entry pass to Diesel in the low post. If PBS had a hoops team, the Heat would be it.
But there's hope for these playoffs -- and this league -- because of what's happening on the other side of the country. Not the Oakland side, though Golden State's Baron Davis could start in my backcourt anytime. The guy is so tough I think his beard could beat up Nowitzki.
You must be registered for see images attach
Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images
Mike D'Antoni encourages Steve Nash and the Suns to run and gun.
No, I'm talking about the airport team in the next time zone over: PHX.
The Phoenix Suns might not be the best team in the league, but they're the most entertaining. Davis' Warriors are fun, but they're like watching a litter of Labrador puppies. They don't seem to have a clue, but they overpower you with their energy. Nothing wrong with that. But the Suns are the closest thing to an NBA savior. Maybe not a savior, but an actual reason for the casual fan to turn on his plasma in April, May and June -- and keep it on.
I've got nothing against the Warriors, Bulls, Pistons, New Jersey Nets, the LeBrons, Utah Jazz or San Antonio Spurs. But there's only one team I'd pay money just to watch scrimmage. There's only one team I'd stay up to watch despite an early wake-up call the next morning.
The Suns.
NBA commish David Stern ought to send a thank you note to Suns coach Mike D'Antoni. D'Antoni coaches as if he'll get fined if the Suns don't shoot every 11 seconds. But they're not chuckers. Chuckers shoot and hope -- sort of like Nowitzki did in the Warriors series. Instead, the Suns have a plan. And the plan is to freak you out by sheer numbers. They score until you drop. They never get tired. It's the only team in the league that could function with a 10-second shot clock.
Yeah, I've got a bit of a man crush on the Suns. How can you not love a team that plays a faster game than everyone else? League MVP Steve Nash (I don't care if Nowitzki is the favorite to win the thing; Nash makes everyone around him better) can beat you on the break with the dribble -- that's a given. But the Suns can also beat you on the break by passing the ball. They make it look so effortless and eloquent.
The Suns should be required viewing because they share the ball so well. It's as if they don't care which one of them scores the most points. They play as if they're best friends.
D'Antoni has the league's highest scoring team, the league's most unselfish team, the league's most diverse team, the league's fastest team (Leandro Barbosa runs like his shoes are on fire) and the league's best combination of young and less young. I don't know if they'll beat the Spurs in the second round (Nash looked like he got whacked by Floyd Mayweather in Sunday's loss to San Antonio), but I at least hope it goes seven games.
The more Suns, the better.
