vs. Spurs Game 2- Win or its over?

[frdbtr]

It is fine if it's aother players but not Amare. I thought the 2nd foul on Amare was BS. He got two fouls in 4 mins!! What a star treatment for him... lol

No, the overall calls are decent. In fact, I think they favor us in the end because of home court.

But when we try to be physical with Duncan, Duncan IS going to get his shares of calls either on defense/offense end. And refs seem to be very picky about Amare's defense.

Amare is going to get quick fouls as long as he continues to play defense with his hands. He needs to learn to move his feet better and then he will not get so many cheap calls.

 

[jibikao]

Amare is going to get quick fouls as long as he continues to play defense with his hands. He needs to learn to move his feet better and then he will not get so many cheap calls.

I don't understand why Amare can't move his feet faster. I mean he is probably the quickest center out there!

Is he saving his energy on the offense end or he just doesn't know how to move his feet?


Another thing I've noticed from all Suns' defenders is that WE LOVE TO JUMP. Man, how many fouls we give out because we jump to the guy when he fakes? Dirk has drawn at least 5-6 from Marion (or more) and the same goes to Q and Amare only wants to jump up to block the ball when the guy is under the basket.

 

[Cheesebeef]

For what it's worth, remember that the Suns lost the first two games at home to the Bulls in 1993, and ended up just a few seconds away from forcing Game 7 in that series. Some of you will say, "Michael Jordan is God yada yada," but the point is, the Suns were still in that series even after dropping those first two home games.

but again - ultimately - they lost and that team was healthier than ours. JJ is much more important to this team than Ced was to the '93 team. In addition to that, at least we had shown the ability to beat the Bulls as opposed to us this season with the Spurs.

They have to win tonight - anyone thinking any different is folling themselves.

 

[jibikao]

but again - ultimately - they lost and that team was healthier than ours. JJ is much more important to this team than Ced was to the '93 team. In addition to that, at least we had shown the ability to beat the Bulls as opposed to us this season with the Spurs.

They have to win tonight - anyone thinking any different is folling themselves.

Agree. If we lose tonight... we are done. Unless Spurs has some major injuries as well in Game 3/4.

Right now, as long as Duncan STANDS on the court, it's going to make a huge difference. That's why Duncan WANTs to play. He could have rested a few more days before playing against Suns.

Now, they took Game 1 and the whole thing looks pretty ugly.

While I think this team is capable to fighting back and they've shown it against Mavs, without JJ, we are in bad shape. Nobody can really guard Parker and Nash is play MORE MINS than Parker for god's sake. There is no way Nash won't be worn down in the 4th quarter.

So Barbosa has to give his A+ game EVERY game now in order for us to have a CHANCE to beat Spurs.

I think Duncan is going to have his way against us with or without Hunter. Hunter may slow him down a littel but Hunter also hurts our offense.

 

[Chaplin]

They have to win tonight - anyone thinking any different is folling themselves.

Well, I certainly won't play the foll.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

the difference with spurs and other teams we have beaten so far.

Is that spurs, when they turn it on, they just blitz us and beat us confidently. Game 1, they got the shots that they wanted, they executed to the T. It wasnt based on some rhythmic shooter, those Barry 3pointers were planned off the coaching book.. and they executed. The only lucky break for the spurs in that last quarter was the Parker missed FTs and the second chance rebound... other than that The spurs had as beat.

It may be the OT win at dallas, that seemed to have taken its toll on marion more so than Bowen could of done. But they scored 43 points in the last quarter, when they were supposed to be tired from playing high offense... this team is supposed to be 50/50 to get 120+ and beat us... But so far, the two games where the suns got to run.. they beat us in our own game.

Forgive me if Im pessimistic. But, this team is too smart of a cohesive unit to be beaten simply by suns high offense. We need stops, and we arent getting it especially without our 2nd best defender.

Its time for D'Antoni to actually try something against the spurs, instead of trying to see if they are going to be hot from field. They have an interior scorer and a couple of penetrator... they are not Dallas, they can miss outside and still score inside.


My best plan would be to let their anchor... Duncan, to try to beat us by himself... dont allow him to get his teammates playing well in the offensive end.. it will rub off in the defensive end and put them out of confidence.

Amare will score his 30+ they let him, Nash will get his 12+ assists and contribution from the scoring... but Q needs to be a factor. Marion will not score 3 points again thats for sure... atleast this series. Hunter is fired up against this team, and I think he should get the chance to play more minutes.... we need stops and we need to distrupt their team offensive rhythm... let Duncan dominate and take his offensive impact away from his teammates.

i completely agree. do to them what they do to us. try to play duncan straight up. if you have to bring in voskuhl to do so, do it. stick to everyone else like white on rice. put nash on bowen and let one of our bigger guys guard parker and get physical with him.

 

[English on tour]

for whats its worth - i have been watching the games over here and seen no reason why we cant bounce back to tie this one and with our record on the road to get back home at 2-2 is not out of the question.

 

[elindholm]

i have been watching the games over here and seen no reason why we cant bounce back to tie this one and with our record on the road to get back home at 2-2 is not out of the question.

I completely agree. The Suns will need to get a few more lucky breaks -- like maybe Barry missing an occasional three-pointer -- but if they can win tonight and somehow get Johnson back for Game 3, it's anyone's series.

 

[Chaplin]

i have been watching the games over here and seen no reason why we cant bounce back to tie this one and with our record on the road to get back home at 2-2 is not out of the question.

I completely agree. The Suns will need to get a few more lucky breaks -- like maybe Barry missing an occasional three-pointer -- but if they can win tonight and somehow get Johnson back for Game 3, it's anyone's series.

Absolutely, you can't stress that enough. This series is FAR from over. I don't know if we'll win this evening, but I do expect a better showing. That much is a given.

(Eric, how long ago was the last time you and I agreed THIS much on anything??)

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

i see so much optimism for jj on the board. and i gotta tell you all, it's somewhat baffling to me. look how difficult it is for players to return to play after an injury layoff during the regular season. and you're gonna tell me that with the intensity raised a few notches in the conference finals that jj's gonna be able to return and offer us a tremendous boost? i don't see it. emotionally, yes, actual play on the court, i'm betting no.

sorry to seem like a pessimist, but i think i'm being a realist.

i think we'll win tonight. if we don't that gorilla is growing to grape ape proportions . . .

 

[Chaplin]

i see so much optimism for jj on the board. and i gotta tell you all, it's somewhat baffling to me. look how difficult it is for players to return to play after an injury layoff during the regular season. and you're gonna tell me that with the intensity raised a few notches in the conference finals that jj's gonna be able to return and offer us a tremendous boost? i don't see it. emotionally, yes, actual play on the court, i'm betting no.

sorry to seem like a pessimist, but i think i'm being a realist.

i think we'll win tonight. if we don't that gorilla is growing to grape ape proportions . . .

Realist, pessimist, which is it? Remember, this isn't Vince Carter or Baron Davis. This is Joe Johnson, who is as close to an "Ironman" as you can get. Will there be rust? Sure. But you sell him short assuming that he won't play well.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Realist, pessimist, which is it? Remember, this isn't Vince Carter or Baron Davis. This is Joe Johnson, who is as close to an "Ironman" as you can get. Will there be rust? Sure. But you sell him short assuming that he won't play well.

it's more than him not playing well. it's players returning to former roles. it's been a while since jjax has had to come off the bench and get into the flow immediately as a 6th man must. he'll have to readjust. marion and q also have to adjust their spot up positions as they've shifted since jj's been out.

the combination of jj's rust and the readjustment factor just lead me to beleive that we're not gonna get some incredible shot in the arm at the most crucial point in the year as so many of you believe.

and who is more realistic, the guy who thinks the injured guy is gonna play sub-par or the guy who thinks the injured guy is gonna come to the rescue? come on . . . this is real life, not a fairy tale.

 

[ajcardfan]

i see so much optimism for jj on the board. and i gotta tell you all, it's somewhat baffling to me. look how difficult it is for players to return to play after an injury layoff during the regular season. and you're gonna tell me that with the intensity raised a few notches in the conference finals that jj's gonna be able to return and offer us a tremendous boost? i don't see it. emotionally, yes, actual play on the court, i'm betting no.

sorry to seem like a pessimist, but i think i'm being a realist.

i think we'll win tonight. if we don't that gorilla is growing to grape ape proportions . . .

Like I said on another thread, quite often the team lets down after a guy returns and lays an egg. For the latest example, see last night's game between the Heat and Pistons. (Yes, I know the fact that the Pistons are a hell of a lot better than the Wizards was the major factor. But, there's little doubt that guys like Haslem, Jones, Dooling, and Wade did not play with the fire they did when Shaq was out.) Even if Jackson plays surprisingly well, it won't be surprising if some other guys don't.

 

[Chaplin]

JJ2 ain't no rookie. I think you sell him short having to go back to the bench. Who knows? Maybe Mike will bring JJ off the bench instead, at least in his first game.

 

[playstation]

alright, so the general consensus is that a loss tonight means the suns aren't winning this series. it doesn't matter too much either way. this season has been too much of a success for the spurs to affect it. we;ve got a young talented superiorly conditioned team that will come back more experienced and deeper next year. keep in mind, prior to this year, JJ2 and Nash we're the only players that'd been to the conf. finals. Now, the whole team has been there, and as a group no less. if we get killed this series, i see our guys working over the summer looking for serious payback next year. i mean, the worse we get killed, the more payback.

i'd even be willing to go to crazy lengths, like if the suns get swept by the spurs, and stay healthy next year, i'd bet on them to win 70 next year. that's how much respect i have for how much amare will develop his game this summer, how much JJ will get better, how much more talent bryan colangelo will bring in, how many contracts sarver will sign, how much more cohesive this entire group will become. i am sold on this team, and next year i see amare as a top 3 MVP candidate to go along with our current MVP. The future is bright here in phoenix!

don't get me wrong, i'm savoring the moment, but it never crossed my mind that this'll be the last time i'll see this wonderfulness.

 

[jandaman]

Another pessimist/realist call.

If we lose tonight, Duncan will either need to re-aggrevate his ankle injury or Ginobili's thigh contusion to come back, to take them out of Game 4-5... for us to even have a chance.


I'd hate to be sweeped....