Why Suns fans should be rooting for the Spurs

[Covert Rain]

To ambchang,
Dude go away with your series analysis, one thing we dont need right now is a Spurms fan telling us what our players should have done.

We hate the Spurs before this series and we will after this season.

Not surprised. Troll Spurs are like roaches. They check in but they don't check out.

 

[justAndy]

I won't root for the Spurs for the following reasons:
1: Bowen
2: Ambchang

 

[Hat]

I wish.... At least I wouldn't have to worry about where next months rent was coming from.

I' m just an everyday NBA fan. I also happen to think that if you're making more money per month than most people will ever see in a lifetime, the least you can do is put forth a little effort and shoot FT's accurately.

Perhaps 20 million per year doesn't buy as much work ethic as it once did. Sad indeed.

Shaq has put a lot of work into his FT shooting. Problem is he has physical abnomalities (big hands) that makes shooting a ball difficult. Try taking a nerf ball or undersized basketballs and throw at the rim 15 ft away

 

[Covert Rain]

I won't root for the Spurs for the following reasons:
1: Bowen
2: Ambchang

OMG.

 

[ambchang_]

I won't root for the Spurs for the following reasons:
1: Bowen
2: Ambchang

Honoured I have such a strong impact on you.

I didn't know I can control people without ever meeting them. Thanks for letting me know about my place in your life, whoever you are.

 

[cobbler]

Shaq has put a lot of work into his FT shooting. Problem is he has physical abnomalities (big hands) that makes shooting a ball difficult. Try taking a nerf ball or undersized basketballs and throw at the rim 15 ft away

I really dont buy that excuse. How do you explain Yao or Dirk? Their hands are just as big. And I have personally seen Shaq shoot 70-80% at practice over 50 to 100 shots.

I guarantee you if i took a volleyball (basically the ratio between my hands vs Shaq's and a bball) and i played with that ball for 20 years and practiced free throws, i could shoot 50%.


....blindfolded!!!

 

[ambchang_]

Shaq has put a lot of work into his FT shooting. Problem is he has physical abnomalities (big hands) that makes shooting a ball difficult. Try taking a nerf ball or undersized basketballs and throw at the rim 15 ft away

Didn't stop Bob Lanier (76.7%), Yao Ming (82.6%), or even Rik Smits(77.3%)

 

[justAndy]

Honoured I have such a strong impact on you.

I didn't know I can control people without ever meeting them. Thanks for letting me know about my place in your life, whoever you are.

The common cold has an impact on me.
I have an impact on some people.
Even other Spurs fans are embarrased by you.

 

[Greg Popovich]

Wow--6 pages--I hoped to provoke a discussion--but this is great.

For the record--

I have enjoyed the Suns since the days of Barkley, Dan Marjle, Kevin Johnson. I always liked the Suns.

I favor Steve Nash and it pains me to see the criticism of him in this series.

Don't get me wrong--I get lots of flack. Last year, I was really upset at Robert Horry's actions and even felt that SA had forfeited its moral right to continue. I also felt the suspensions were not justified and had posted a thread, basing my argument on the rules themselves and stated the rule could be preserved without alteration and still absolve the Suns players' actions without suspensions.

I guess this alone may weaken my status as a Spurs fan.

I just felt in my gut that Horry's actions and the league's suspensions horribly tainted what otherwise was a classic series. As a Spurs fan, I was conflicted. Yes--I do love the Spurs. But I was conflicted about the way they were playing the game. I hated the way that Horry acted towards Nash and the subsequent suspoensions that I even stated that I hoped the Suns would take the series.

I guess the means that I have less loyalty to the Spurs than many other fans.

But that is the way that I feel.

And yes--I get tons of grief by my family and friends. Last year, when I argued these points, I was like a loner. I was an outcast.

All because of a game?

As for hack a shack...

If you read Spurstalk lately, you'll find a lot of Spurs fans who hate this tactic as well. It might be allowed under the rule. But I think overal it cheats the fans who want to see teams compete at the highest level.

All that being said, I was wondering how many Suns fans would be able to join with me in the coming days.

I guess I got my answer.

Can't really say that I blame anybody.

Years ago, Spurs and Laker fans hated each other's teams with a passion.

That might become resurrected this year if the Spurs reach the WCF against LA.

So maybe I should re-phrase the question.

If LA and SA meet in the WCF--which team would you take more pleasure in seeing getting beat?

 

[SirStefan32]

If LA and SA meet in the WCF--which team would you take more pleasure in seeing them getting beat?

While I dislike the Spurs (current roster, not the organization), I could never take pleasure in LA winning anything. Their organization, players and fans are the most arrogant bunch of pricks one can imagine. Basically if it was the Devil himself vs the Lakers, I could not support the Lakers.

 

[Cheesewater]

While it's a wash really in terms of my hate for each teams players, coaches and fans, out of the whole lot there's actually ONE guy I like...

Ronny Turiaf.

So, gun to my head, I would prefer Ronny Turiaf to win the WCF in the matchup between the Lakers and the Spurs. If all of the other players, coaches, and fans of both teams were too...tired, shall we say...to go on, that would make it more palatable. The Finals would be a one-on-one with Turiaf vs. Garnett or something.

In the old days, when someone would ask me this question I would say "Can a bomb go off in the arena while both teams are on the floor?" But I'm sure nowadays I'd get chastised for being offensive.

 

[TucsonDevil]

I might just take you up on that ....

This post season I gained a greater disdain for D'Antoni than I did for the Spurs. Therefore, I don't have that nasty taste in my mouth right now that I have in previous years. But the time Game 3 was in the 3rd quarter, I hated the Suns almost as much as the Spurs. It is clear the Spurs are just a good team with a great coach - one that coaches circles around little Mikey.

I will never be a Duncan fan, due to his whining and complaining. I also dislike Parker.... but I'll be a monkey's uncle if I haven't developed sort of a man-crush on Manu! That guy can ball! I love his game. Yeah, I hate the flopps and the over acting at times, but that little Argentinian has HEART and competes! I love that in players.


Besides, I don't like Chris Paul... reminds me too much of Isiah Thomas.

 

[nowagimp]

While I dislike the Spurs (current roster, not the organization), I could never take pleasure in LA winning anything. Their organization, players and fans are the most arrogant bunch of pricks one can imagine. Basically if it was the Devil himself vs the Lakers, I could not support the Lakers.

This is true except spurs fans have ambchang, who makes of for at least a half dozen arrogant laker fans. OK its a tossup, I just dont know who to support. Wait a minute, I'll take the pistons or celtics in the finals. I may skip a few of the playoff rounds until then.

 

[Lorenzo]

That's ridiculous. I am a Suns fan, and there have always been teams I liked to watch and wanted them to do well. Sacramento Kings (Bibby, Christie, Peja, Webber, Vlade, etc)were one of those teams, Orlando has been one of those teams. I don't see how liking another team and wanting them to do well is somehow not being loyal to your team.

you aren't getting what I'm saying. I don't have a second to favorite team....is your second to favorite team the spurs? if it is then you can say you disagree with me because that's the point I'm trying to make with GP.

 

[Lorenzo]

Ditto. As a Laker fan i have no problems rooting for other teams i enjoy watching if my team should be ousted. Heck, even when being ousted by the Suns, i could easily root for them against the Spurs or Mav's because I have followed Nash's career since his Santa Clara days. How does my rooting for the suns (a rival) over the spurs (a rival) diminish my loyality or fanship for the Lakers. I just dont get it.

are the suns your second to favorite team? that's my whole point. I don't see how fans can have other favorite teams. that's just my opinion. rooting for a guy or another team is different. read my post and you'll see that I made a comment similiar to yours.

 

[Lorenzo]

Its pathetic, to destroy the game of basketball like it was some kind of risk game or something. If the suns become a "hack a player flopping team", I just wont watch, its not worth my time.

as good as that sounds...you sticking by your guns and all.......I find it hard to believe that you wouldn't watch the suns if they were in the finals playing that type of game. I find it hard that any suns fan wouldn't watch and find it entertaining watching their team win it all.

 

[Lorenzo]

I have to agree here. As much as I say congrats to the Spurs for playing what I felt was a clean series, I have to root against them.

I think Pop is a great coach but I lost a ton of respect for him for using Bush league tactics to help beat the Suns. Phil Jackson who has taken shots all year at Shaq even basically called them bush league moves against the Suns.

I don't think the Spurs needed to resort to those tactics to win the series but they did. I don't know if Pop was so worried about the Suns this year that he felt he had to or not. I just know he did.

I can't route for the Spurs period. I hope the Hornets go all the way. That's who I am going for.

shaq is so dominate....skinner can't even get off the bench until the playoffs. the nba shouldn't change the rules for these guys because they can't make a free throw. maybe they should put empasis on making them. POP is a great coach and is great at exploiting another teams weakness. we should all be used to that by now.

 

[Lorenzo]

I call BS! So to win you would be cool to let SUNS players take out a knee? BS What is going on in spurs camp is taking away from the game I love!
I have always hated Manu as a player but I would LOVE him on our team!
This is not the same as bruce b. I respect the fact that he works so hard at D. (thats as far as it goes) YOU DONT WIN AT ALL COST! There are unwritten rules!

unwritten rule #1 i'd tell my team if I were a coach. win at all cost. that is the difference between being a winner and a loser. If the suns take your philosophy it just shows why they can't get it done. I don't think they hold that philosophy though. because then bell wouldn't of slammed kobe to the floor or went right after horry after the nash foul. everything the spurs do is highlighted by you and other suns fans because they are your nemisis.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

shaq is so dominate....skinner can't even get off the bench until the playoffs. the nba shouldn't change the rules for these guys because they can't make a free throw. maybe they should put empasis on making them. POP is a great coach and is great at exploiting another teams weakness. we should all be used to that by now.

As I have said repeatedly (which you texas fans choose to ignore) is that there are a lot of NBA players who shoot around 60% from the ft line. I don't want to see this "strategy" to become a common tactic in the NBA during the playoffs. I simply don't want to watch boring basketball.

 

[Lorenzo]

I know what you are talking about. I agree he needs to work on that area more. My question is where is the SPORT in fouling Shaq the way the spurs did? what is the difference in Molone putting an elbo in an eye? It doesnt belong in the game! Thats why there needs to be a rule change.

malone putting an elbow to your face is a saftey concern. making the baddest big man on the planet shoot some free throws is another thing. if they want to start calling intentional fouls fine. if that is a rule in place already.....but then teams can just get smarter with the way they foul him.

 

[Lorenzo]

As I have said repeatedly (which you texas fans choose to ignore) is that there are a lot of NBA players who shoot around 60% from the ft line. I don't want to see this "strategy" to become a common tactic in the NBA during the playoffs. I simply don't want to watch boring basketball.

you texas fans? funny one...group me with the spurs fans and rockets? please.

don't watch the playoffs anymore then. because the playoffs are not the same as the regular season. teams foul dampier almost anytime he gets the ball down low. you don't see me crying. and if a team started hacking him off the ball.....I'd imagine avery would of been smart enough to sit him down and not replace him with another poor FT shooter. that's just my texas brain at work.

 

[wsupkid]

malone putting an elbow to your face is a saftey concern. making the baddest big man on the planet shoot some free throws is another thing. if they want to start calling intentional fouls fine. if that is a rule in place already.....but then teams can just get smarter with the way they foul him.

you just commented on my other post WIN AT ALL COST.

Deal with it, it is bad for the game and the rule should be changed.

 

[nowagimp]

as good as that sounds...you sticking by your guns and all.......I find it hard to believe that you wouldn't watch the suns if they were in the finals playing that type of game. I find it hard that any suns fan wouldn't watch and find it entertaining watching their team win it all.

I have an appreciation for basketball first, especially team basketball, then the suns. I also think coaches have too many timeouts, call 'em every time the opposition makes 3 baskets in a row. As a "showtime basketball fan" I abhor "hack a shaq", fouls off the ball that give the defense an advantage by using no talented stiffs to take fouls. Theses guys come into the game to take a foul and leave on the next opportunity, eeeuch! I like the idea of a choice of shots or possession, except for the last 2 minutes of the game. "Hack a whomever" encourages a slowing down of the game to glacial proportions and also the use of talentless hacks on the floor(as hackers). By the way, allowing grabbing, handchecks, hipchecks on the perimeter by big thugs, moving screens, and tons of no calls also encourages the use of low skill "muscle" players, "specialists". I cant understand how any real fan of the game would accept that garbage. Hacking the shooter is another thing entirely, especially down low when they have an easy shot. The combination of tons of no calls, grabbing, moving screens just destroys the enjoyability of the game. Add "hack a whomever" and it just gets worse. Watching guys parade to the foul line looks like a game of horse, its hardly interesting to me. Steve Kerr would still be playing if that was the game.

I actually enjoyed last years suns team more. The only reason the suns needed a big was that they let go of KT. You can believe what you want, its your prerogative. I can say that I wont be watching every game I can next year, not even close. There are plenty of pursuits that compete very well with boring basketball games.

 

[Lorenzo]

you just commented on my other post WIN AT ALL COAT.

Deal with it, it is bad for the game and the rule should be changed.

and if malone were on my team I'd be fine with him. I wouldn't want him to be an idiot.. intentionally throwing an elbow because that isn't winning at all costs. that's putting yourself in danger of getting suspended. sending a terrible free throw shooter to the line would be a smart thing.

 

[Lorenzo]

I have an appreciation for basketball first, especially team basketball, then the suns. I also think coaches have too many timeouts, call 'em every time the opposition makes 3 baskets in a row. As a "showtime basketball fan" I abhor "hack a shaq", fouls off the ball that give the defense an advantage by using no talented stiffs to take fouls. Theses guys come into the game to take a foul and leave on the next opportunity, eeeuch! I like the idea of a choice of shots or possession, except for the last 2 minutes of the game. "Hack a whomever" encourages a slowing down of the game to glacial proportions and also the use of talentless hacks on the floor(as hackers). By the way, allowing grabbing, handchecks, hipchecks on the perimeter by big thugs, moving screens, and tons of no calls also encourages the use of low skill "muscle" players, "specialists". I cant understand how any real fan of the game would accept that garbage. Hacking the shooter is another thing entirely, especially down low when they have an easy shot. The combination of tons of no calls, grabbing, moving screens just destroys the enjoyability of the game. Add "hack a whomever" and it just gets worse. Watching guys parade to the foul line looks like a game of horse, its hardly interesting to me. Steve Kerr would still be playing if that was the game.

I actually enjoyed last years suns team more. The only reason the suns needed a big was that they let go of KT. You can believe what you want, its your prerogative. I can say that I wont be watching every game I can next year, not even close. There are plenty of pursuits that compete very well with boring basketball games.

ok you got me. you are loyal to your philosophy. I like bball. free throws are part of the game. I strongly dislike the spurs. but I'm not going to cry about something different every season because they continue to win.