Western Conference Finals Game 2- Spurs @ Suns Game Thread

[newfan101]

This is reminding me of the Lakers-Suns series in the conference finals when KJ and Chambers had their first year together. They've run into a battle tested team that gets key calls and makes all the key plays in the crunch. I hope, unlike that year, these Suns win at least one or two games. I think there is a little more hope for the future too, because Stoudemire's ceiling is so high.

BTW, that ________________ Horry is killing us again and all he did here was throw a towel in Ainge's face. We're the ONLY team the SOB played for that he didn't make a big shot for in the playoffs.

I was thinking the same thing. This feels just like 89'. We just couldn't get a stop down the stretch in any of the 4 games against the Lakers, and it's happening exactly the same way in this series. Incidently, this Spurs team is SO much more composed down the stretch than the team that won the championship two years ago. I actually think this Suns team could beat that Spurs team.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I was thinking the same thing. This feels just like 89'. We just couldn't get a stop down the stretch in any of the 4 games against the Lakers, and it's happening exactly the same way in this series. Incidently, this Spurs team is SO much more composed down the stretch than the team that won the championship two years ago. I actually think this Suns team could beat that Spurs team.

I just remember Orlando Wolridge going nuts on us at the end of those first two games in LA. Ugh - it hurt more bakc then because I was so young and didn't understand the history of the game and trial and tribulations teams have to go through before they find out EXACTLY what it takes to win at the elite level.

This is that painful step - the great teams take them eventually - the ******* - like the Kings whine and complain and never learn their lesson - hopefully that won't be us (I don't believe it will!).

 

[cly2tw]

i
because well, we haven't played D all season long. No one can really dispute that - it really most of the time was a matter of wearing people down and just continuing to score and bomb threes. Well - they met they're match - a team that can defend AND run with us.

Only practice makes you a master at what you do. We never needed to practise much of those close end-game defense against a good team. The defensive nuances are just not that engrained with our players, including Nash. Sometime, it's just a little more attention to the situation, a little more concentration, and maybe more coaching preparation that makes the diffenrence. Our average athletic talent is no doubt much higher than the Spurs', even the best in the NBA. But just like Nash overcoming his "least-athletic" by studying all angles of the game and exploit this knowledge to his advantage, the Spurs as a team know the game a lot better than the Suns that compensate for the little athletic disadvantage they give up to us.

But I'm hopeful that we can still come back to the series when JJ comes back. Amare has been improving literatally from game to game, on both ends of the court. Even if we lose the series, he'll be back next year with vengence. And for next year, I'd like the team to vary their offensive looks a bit by letting players other than Nash handle the ball more. We have then the option to fall back on Nash initiated offense in crucial situations. Despite the effectiveness, the opponents seem to have figured out to a certain extent how to contain the damage of Nash-led attacks. It went off only later when Spurs defense became a bit lax, maybe due to tiring. So, variation can only be good.

 

[Chaplin]

you're totally right AJ. But everyone remembers what we did to the Lakers the next year - right? Kicked their ass and their 64-18 record into the Pacific Ocean.

I actually expect the same next year. Probably not be the best record in the league - come in as a 3 seed, but then, we'll be ready and tested.

I'm not so sure about that. I think we can effectively breeze through our own division--its the leaders in the other divisions that hurt us (although Seattle might not even be the same team). I think we will be able to definitely win our division--it's just a matter of finding a way to get some defense--we do that, and we have as good a chance as any team, including San Antonio, to end up with the best record in the league again.

 

[DeAnna]

And for next year, I'd like the team to vary their offensive looks a bit by letting players other than Nash handle the ball more. We have then the option to fall back on Nash initiated offense in crucial situations. Despite the effectiveness, the opponents seem to have figured out to a certain extent how to contain the damage of Nash-led attacks. It went off only later when Spurs defense became a bit lax, maybe due to tiring. So, variation can only be good.

The Spurs offense looked very efficient - I think the announcers called it a 'motion offense' as oppposed to ours that is really a Nash offense. So when Nash is out, fogettaboutit. I noticed a lot of 'standing around' tonight while Nash was dribbling, looking for someone to get open. Nobody moved toward the basket so Nash had to take a lot of tough shots.

I also think Hunter screws up our offense. On more than one occassion I saw Marion run out to the corner spot only to find.... Stevn Hunter?? What the heck was he doing standing by the 3 pt line by the corner? So Shawn had to move to another spot. Argh!!

 

[Brazil]

Had Phoenix Suns one timeout to take, yet?

If they had, why didn't they take it?!

 

[jibikao]

Had Phoenix Suns one timeout to take, yet?

If they had, why didn't they take it?!

they had no time out in the end.

 

[jibikao]

The Spurs offense looked very efficient - I think the announcers called it a 'motion offense' as oppposed to ours that is really a Nash offense. So when Nash is out, fogettaboutit. I noticed a lot of 'standing around' tonight while Nash was dribbling, looking for someone to get open. Nobody moved toward the basket so Nash had to take a lot of tough shots.

I also think Hunter screws up our offense. On more than one occassion I saw Marion run out to the corner spot only to find.... Stevn Hunter?? What the heck was he doing standing by the 3 pt line by the corner? So Shawn had to move to another spot. Argh!!

Nash's 3-4 turnovers from trying to pass it out. If it weren't for his hot shooting in the 2nd quarter, we won't be up by 1pt at half.

Nash is better off shooting than passing since Q just stood there waiting for Nash to pass to him, WHILE Horry was anticipating the pass. Maybe Q wants to "move" a bit to get himself more open?

Spurs totally shut down our permieter shooting. Q is rarely open and the only way for us to score is from Nash's penetration.