Updated: May 13, 2006, 8:12 PM ET
Scouting report: Clippers vs. Suns Game 4
Scouts Inc.
Clippers-Suns
Suns Defense: Vladimir Radmanovic can be an easy guy to forget when he is not hitting his shot, but you can't leave him. The Suns will put Raja Bell on him earlier to prevent him from heating up. Marion guarded Sam Cassell well in the second half of Game 3, and with Thomas on Brand, any pick-and-roll was easily switched into Marion on Brand instead of a smaller Phoenix guard. Phoenix needs to continue to bring a double team on Kaman when he turns to the paint; it is an easy forced turnover.
Clippers Defense: The Clippers seemed more focused on using Brand out on the perimeter, helping on Nash than playing defense in the post. Los Angeles is not going to allow Nash to just drive past one defender and dictate his offense. Despite a poor scoring performance from Nash, the Suns can still win, and all the substitutions aimed at slowing down the Suns really hurt the Clippers' offense. This series is at its best and most balanced when the following lineups are in:
The best matchups
PHX - LAC
Nash - Cassell
Bell - Maggette
Marion - Mobley
T. Thomas - Brand
Diaw - Kaman
Pick: Clippers in six.
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YAHOO PREVIEW
Phoenix at LA Clippers Preview -
Game Info: 8:00 pm EDT Sun May 14, 2006
TV: TNT
PLAYOFF SERIES: Western Conference semifinals; Suns lead 2-1.
The Phoenix Suns are perhaps the NBA's most dangerous offensive team. They also may be one of the best at making adjustments.
After re-emphasizing rebounding and defense with winning results in their last game, the Suns look to push the Los Angeles Clippers to the brink of elimination when the teams meet in Game 4 at Staples Center.
Phoenix played like its high-scoring self in the series opener, and won a wide-open contest 130-123 on Monday. After that game, Los Angeles didn't try again to keep up with the fast-paced Suns in Game 2, outrebounding Phoenix 57-26 and playing tough defense in a 122-97 rout Wednesday.
The lopsided victory had the Clippers looking to take control of the series, but it was the Suns' turn to change their approach Friday night. Shawn Marion had 32 points and 19 rebounds, and helped to shut down Los Angeles point guard Sam Cassell in a 94-91 victory.
Marion limited the high-scoring guard to six points as the Suns held the Clippers to 42.2 percent shooting from the field, down from a combined 56.9 percent in the first two games, and managed to outrebound Los Angeles 47-46 after being dominated on the glass Wednesday.
"Everyone was going in to help each other, that's what it was," said Marion, who was held to 13 points in Game 2. "It was a team effort tonight. We all went in collectively to rebound and we did that."
Marion led the Suns' team effort on defense by hounding Cassell into 2-for-10 shooting from the floor. Cassell scored 51 points in the first two games.
The Suns also did a good job against Los Angeles power forward Elton Brand, who scored 40 points in the opener and 27 points in Game 2. Phoenix limited Brand to 20 points on 7-of-17 shooting Friday, another strong defensive effort on one of the Clippers' top players that allowed the Suns to win despite shooting only 37.2 percent.
"I think there are times that we play good defense," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said. "You don't win 54 games by just out-shooting people. We can play some good defense. We just do it in spots."
The Suns had lost eight straight playoff games when they scored less than 100 points. Phoenix also won a game decided by three points or less for the first time in eight contests.
"Give me those numbers before the game -- 37 percent, 94 (points) -- I'm thinking we're winning this game," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. "But they keep surprising us."
Steve Nash was held below 15 points for the third time in four games, but the league's two-time defending MVP hit a 14-footer with 3.6 seconds left to seal the win.
"Sometimes in games when you're struggling, you hope that you get a last chance to make up for a blown performance," said Nash, who was 3-for-9 from the field and 0-for-4 from 3-point range. "I was happy just to do a little something for the guys because they all did a lot for me."
Desperate to even out the rebounding battle after Game 2, D'Antoni replaced James Jones in the starting lineup with 6-foot-10 Tim Thomas, and Thomas responded with another strong postseason performance, finishing with 19 points and 14 rebounds.
The efforts of Thomas and Marion on the boards helped prevent a repeat performance by Brand and Chris Kaman, who combined for 26 rebounds Wednesday. That duo had only 16 on Friday night, and D'Antoni will likely continue to use whatever personnel he can to prevent his team from losing the battle on the boards.
"They made some great adjustments and won," Brand said. "We had some mismatches and we didn't match up well. Going bigger helped them on the boards. They went big but were still able to spread the floor with their shooters."
After the pivotal victory by the Suns in Game 3, the Clippers will be desperate to avoid going down 3-1 with the series headed back to Phoenix for Game 5.
"Our backs are now against the wall. We put ourselves in this situation and we understand what we are facing," Cassell said. "We will, as a team, find a way to come back. Trust me, this team will come to play next game."
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Suns - 2nd seed; beat Los Angeles Lakers 4-3,
West first round. Clippers - 6th seed; beat Denver Nuggets 4-1, West first round.
PROBABLE STARTERS:
Suns - F Thomas, F Marion, C Boris Diaw, G Nash, G Raja Bell.
Clippers - F Quinton Ross, F Brand, C Kaman, G Cuttino Mobley, G Cassell.
PLAYOFF TEAM LEADERS: Suns - Nash, 21.2 ppg and 9.7 apg; Marion, 10.6 rpg.
Clippers - Brand, 22.0 ppg and 9.8 rpg; Shaun Livingston, 5.4 apg.
Scouting report: Clippers vs. Suns Game 4
Scouts Inc.
Clippers-Suns
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Suns Offense: The Suns will continue to get good position in the post if the Clippers run bigger men out on Steve Nash to slow him down and Tim Thomas drags Elton Brand to the outside to defend his shooting. Starting Thomas, Shawn Marion and Boris Diaw strengthens the front line defensively but also allows Phoenix to get more rebounds. The Clippers might stay straight up with Shaun Livingston guarding Nash, so that Los Angeles can keep Brand out of foul trouble. The quickness of the frontline of Phoenix has made the Clippers look slow. When Brand isn't in the middle blocking shots, it allows the Suns to be more aggressive and get fouls on the Clipper big men. Suns Defense: Vladimir Radmanovic can be an easy guy to forget when he is not hitting his shot, but you can't leave him. The Suns will put Raja Bell on him earlier to prevent him from heating up. Marion guarded Sam Cassell well in the second half of Game 3, and with Thomas on Brand, any pick-and-roll was easily switched into Marion on Brand instead of a smaller Phoenix guard. Phoenix needs to continue to bring a double team on Kaman when he turns to the paint; it is an easy forced turnover.
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Clippers Offense: Brand is finding Cuttino Mobley on a skip pass out of a double team. Los Angeles ignored the post in too many possessions and settled for outside shots. If Marion is defending Cassell again out on the post the Clippers shouldn't run any screens for Cassell, just keep Marion out on the wing to allow for more space for Brand and Kaman. The Clippers were very confused on where to be positioned on offense late in Game 3. This is not entirely Livingston's fault, but Cassell has to be on the floor in a close game late, not a player who is two years out of high school running the point. Corey Maggette has had a tough time getting any calls. His game is getting to the foul line, and he could lose some aggressiveness if the referees don't give him some calls. Clippers Defense: The Clippers seemed more focused on using Brand out on the perimeter, helping on Nash than playing defense in the post. Los Angeles is not going to allow Nash to just drive past one defender and dictate his offense. Despite a poor scoring performance from Nash, the Suns can still win, and all the substitutions aimed at slowing down the Suns really hurt the Clippers' offense. This series is at its best and most balanced when the following lineups are in:
The best matchups
PHX - LAC
Nash - Cassell
Bell - Maggette
Marion - Mobley
T. Thomas - Brand
Diaw - Kaman
Pick: Clippers in six.
---------------------------------------------------
YAHOO PREVIEW
Phoenix at LA Clippers Preview -
Game Info: 8:00 pm EDT Sun May 14, 2006
TV: TNT
PLAYOFF SERIES: Western Conference semifinals; Suns lead 2-1.
The Phoenix Suns are perhaps the NBA's most dangerous offensive team. They also may be one of the best at making adjustments.
After re-emphasizing rebounding and defense with winning results in their last game, the Suns look to push the Los Angeles Clippers to the brink of elimination when the teams meet in Game 4 at Staples Center.
Phoenix played like its high-scoring self in the series opener, and won a wide-open contest 130-123 on Monday. After that game, Los Angeles didn't try again to keep up with the fast-paced Suns in Game 2, outrebounding Phoenix 57-26 and playing tough defense in a 122-97 rout Wednesday.
The lopsided victory had the Clippers looking to take control of the series, but it was the Suns' turn to change their approach Friday night. Shawn Marion had 32 points and 19 rebounds, and helped to shut down Los Angeles point guard Sam Cassell in a 94-91 victory.
Marion limited the high-scoring guard to six points as the Suns held the Clippers to 42.2 percent shooting from the field, down from a combined 56.9 percent in the first two games, and managed to outrebound Los Angeles 47-46 after being dominated on the glass Wednesday.
"Everyone was going in to help each other, that's what it was," said Marion, who was held to 13 points in Game 2. "It was a team effort tonight. We all went in collectively to rebound and we did that."
Marion led the Suns' team effort on defense by hounding Cassell into 2-for-10 shooting from the floor. Cassell scored 51 points in the first two games.
The Suns also did a good job against Los Angeles power forward Elton Brand, who scored 40 points in the opener and 27 points in Game 2. Phoenix limited Brand to 20 points on 7-of-17 shooting Friday, another strong defensive effort on one of the Clippers' top players that allowed the Suns to win despite shooting only 37.2 percent.
"I think there are times that we play good defense," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said. "You don't win 54 games by just out-shooting people. We can play some good defense. We just do it in spots."
The Suns had lost eight straight playoff games when they scored less than 100 points. Phoenix also won a game decided by three points or less for the first time in eight contests.
"Give me those numbers before the game -- 37 percent, 94 (points) -- I'm thinking we're winning this game," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. "But they keep surprising us."
Steve Nash was held below 15 points for the third time in four games, but the league's two-time defending MVP hit a 14-footer with 3.6 seconds left to seal the win.
"Sometimes in games when you're struggling, you hope that you get a last chance to make up for a blown performance," said Nash, who was 3-for-9 from the field and 0-for-4 from 3-point range. "I was happy just to do a little something for the guys because they all did a lot for me."
Desperate to even out the rebounding battle after Game 2, D'Antoni replaced James Jones in the starting lineup with 6-foot-10 Tim Thomas, and Thomas responded with another strong postseason performance, finishing with 19 points and 14 rebounds.
The efforts of Thomas and Marion on the boards helped prevent a repeat performance by Brand and Chris Kaman, who combined for 26 rebounds Wednesday. That duo had only 16 on Friday night, and D'Antoni will likely continue to use whatever personnel he can to prevent his team from losing the battle on the boards.
"They made some great adjustments and won," Brand said. "We had some mismatches and we didn't match up well. Going bigger helped them on the boards. They went big but were still able to spread the floor with their shooters."
After the pivotal victory by the Suns in Game 3, the Clippers will be desperate to avoid going down 3-1 with the series headed back to Phoenix for Game 5.
"Our backs are now against the wall. We put ourselves in this situation and we understand what we are facing," Cassell said. "We will, as a team, find a way to come back. Trust me, this team will come to play next game."
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Suns - 2nd seed; beat Los Angeles Lakers 4-3,
West first round. Clippers - 6th seed; beat Denver Nuggets 4-1, West first round.
PROBABLE STARTERS:
Suns - F Thomas, F Marion, C Boris Diaw, G Nash, G Raja Bell.
Clippers - F Quinton Ross, F Brand, C Kaman, G Cuttino Mobley, G Cassell.
PLAYOFF TEAM LEADERS: Suns - Nash, 21.2 ppg and 9.7 apg; Marion, 10.6 rpg.
Clippers - Brand, 22.0 ppg and 9.8 rpg; Shaun Livingston, 5.4 apg.
