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The smile on Steve Nash's face told the story, but he was more than willing to add words to the picture after the Suns slugged out an 85-77 win Friday night over Boston, the kind of game they have so often lost in the past. How much difference can one guy make? Well, when he's 7-foot-1 and 320 pounds of Shaquille O'Neal, the answer is: a lot.
Read Jerry Brown's blog, Rim Shots
"We're not the small, skinny guys anymore," Nash said. "Things have changed a lot in a short time. He gives us a presence. It's nice to be on the other end of the battle for a change."
The Suns still have two months and 27 games to work out some of the kinks that led to 24 turnovers and 42 percent shooting against the Celtics. But Phoenix doesn't expect to obliterate the triple-digit mark in the postseason - experience tells them it won't happen - and games in May and June will look a lot like the one Friday, a game coach Mike D'Antoni referred to as a "knock-down, drag-out affair."
The Suns not only survived, they left with the feeling they could - and would - do it again. They get another chance today against the East's other top team, the Detroit Pistons.
"In a seven-game series, you've got to win four and the offense won't be perfect," forward Grant Hill said. "In the past we had to be perfect, the offense had to hit on all cylinders. Three of the four games (in a series), I think we can do that. But that one game when things aren't clicking - maybe you're at home, maybe on the road - you've got to play good defense and gut out those wins. (Friday) I think we showed we can do that.
"Boston is a good defensive team, but we outrebounded them (50-32), played tough 'D' and won ugly. We kind of played like an East Coast team."
And while O'Neal made only one basket - coming off a nifty double-screen on a set play for an uncontested layup - his 14 rebounds were his most in a year and his impact wasn't lost on those outside the Suns locker room.
"People tend to think that the big fella doesn't have a lot left in the tank. I beg to differ," Boston's Kevin Garnett said. "You (media) say that we don't really have to guard him. But he is an influence out there and he is still a force to be reckoned. What more can I say? You can see the physicality level go up with him being here."
Hill has averaged 11.5 rebounds in two games alongside O'Neal - about what Shawn Marion grabbed without Shaq.
"He gets rebounds, but he also clears everybody out so the rest of us can get rebounds," Hill said. "He's physical, he's a champion and he knows what it takes."
MORE RIPPLES
The Suns are still dead last in the league in offensive rebounds and opponents' offensive rebounds. But in two games with O'Neal, there has been a complete reversal.
The Suns have averaged 14 offensive rebounds (up from 8.5) and have given up an average of 7.5 (down from 14.2). That's a swing from minus-5.7 to plus-6.5.
And for a Phoenix defense that has been good defending the first shot, it could be a huge component moving forward - less chances for the opposition, and more for the best-shooting team in the league.
"It's all the little things. We used to have nightmares blocking out on (opponents') foul shots, but he takes care of that," coach Mike D'Antoni said. "We've been 30th (in offensive rebounds) for four years. When we get to 29th, we'll have a celebration."
More...
Read Jerry Brown's blog, Rim Shots
"We're not the small, skinny guys anymore," Nash said. "Things have changed a lot in a short time. He gives us a presence. It's nice to be on the other end of the battle for a change."
The Suns still have two months and 27 games to work out some of the kinks that led to 24 turnovers and 42 percent shooting against the Celtics. But Phoenix doesn't expect to obliterate the triple-digit mark in the postseason - experience tells them it won't happen - and games in May and June will look a lot like the one Friday, a game coach Mike D'Antoni referred to as a "knock-down, drag-out affair."
The Suns not only survived, they left with the feeling they could - and would - do it again. They get another chance today against the East's other top team, the Detroit Pistons.
"In a seven-game series, you've got to win four and the offense won't be perfect," forward Grant Hill said. "In the past we had to be perfect, the offense had to hit on all cylinders. Three of the four games (in a series), I think we can do that. But that one game when things aren't clicking - maybe you're at home, maybe on the road - you've got to play good defense and gut out those wins. (Friday) I think we showed we can do that.
"Boston is a good defensive team, but we outrebounded them (50-32), played tough 'D' and won ugly. We kind of played like an East Coast team."
And while O'Neal made only one basket - coming off a nifty double-screen on a set play for an uncontested layup - his 14 rebounds were his most in a year and his impact wasn't lost on those outside the Suns locker room.
"People tend to think that the big fella doesn't have a lot left in the tank. I beg to differ," Boston's Kevin Garnett said. "You (media) say that we don't really have to guard him. But he is an influence out there and he is still a force to be reckoned. What more can I say? You can see the physicality level go up with him being here."
Hill has averaged 11.5 rebounds in two games alongside O'Neal - about what Shawn Marion grabbed without Shaq.
"He gets rebounds, but he also clears everybody out so the rest of us can get rebounds," Hill said. "He's physical, he's a champion and he knows what it takes."
MORE RIPPLES
The Suns are still dead last in the league in offensive rebounds and opponents' offensive rebounds. But in two games with O'Neal, there has been a complete reversal.
The Suns have averaged 14 offensive rebounds (up from 8.5) and have given up an average of 7.5 (down from 14.2). That's a swing from minus-5.7 to plus-6.5.
And for a Phoenix defense that has been good defending the first shot, it could be a huge component moving forward - less chances for the opposition, and more for the best-shooting team in the league.
"It's all the little things. We used to have nightmares blocking out on (opponents') foul shots, but he takes care of that," coach Mike D'Antoni said. "We've been 30th (in offensive rebounds) for four years. When we get to 29th, we'll have a celebration."
More...
