SenorSpur
05-01-2010, 02:36 PM
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2010/04/29/20100429phoenix-suns-san-antonio-spurs.html
Phoenix Suns now looking to settle score against San Antonio Spurs
Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2010/04/29/20100429phoenix-suns-san-antonio-spurs.html#ixzz0mhwtiTCx
by Dan Bickley, Republic columnist - Apr. 29, 2010 11:50 PM
The Arizona Republic .
PORTLAND, Ore.
They ruined the party, muted a city, and eliminated a dangerous team. And still the Suns filed off the court without a trace of euphoria.
This was business. Now, it's personal.
After a stout and much-appreciated 99-90 victory over the Trail Blazers on Thursday in R.I.P. city, here's some friendly advice:
Forget about basketball for a few days. Leave the Tim Duncan voodoo dolls in the drawer. Conserve your energy until it matters. Armageddon - and the Spurs - will be here soon enough.
"It's great. It's an honor," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. "I told our guys we really don't look at past history. This team has never played San Antonio in the playoffs. That's the way we look at it."
Good luck with that one, coach.
Before Game 6, Gentry also spent some time talking about the NHL playoffs. He told his team about the hard-luck Coyotes, and the top-seeded Capitals. Both teams toiled all season for home-ice advantage, only to lose a Game 7 in their own building.
It's not like NBA players to care about ice hockey. But the Suns were listening. Unlike many previous losses this season, they recovered after squandering a big lead in the second half.
The Suns won this game with end-game tenacity. They clamped down in the fourth quarter. Amar'e Stoudemire carved up Portland with his passing skills, further proof of how far he's come in one season. Jason Richardson provided two tons of perimeter offense, and Steve Nash made some huge plays down the stretch.
It was a strange night for Nash, whose brother Martin was playing soccer in the same city for the Vancouver Whitecaps. He had more turnovers than assists, and at times, you wondered if his back was acting up all over again. Yet when it came time for the hammer, he delivered, like always.
"He was struggling," Gentry said. "But at the end of the day, we were going to win or lose with Steve Nash in the game."
This was not an upset. This was not unexpected. But this was a wonderful night for the franchise, which atoned for a playoff-less season last year. And it was more than a bit ironic that earlier in the game, the Blazers handed an autographed Terry Porter jersey to a lucky fan in the stands.
The upcoming series certainly will be a nice diversion.
If you haven't noticed, our sporting image has been taking a beating.
Phoenix Suns now looking to settle score against San Antonio Spurs
Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2010/04/29/20100429phoenix-suns-san-antonio-spurs.html#ixzz0mhwtiTCx
by Dan Bickley, Republic columnist - Apr. 29, 2010 11:50 PM
The Arizona Republic .
PORTLAND, Ore.
They ruined the party, muted a city, and eliminated a dangerous team. And still the Suns filed off the court without a trace of euphoria.
This was business. Now, it's personal.
After a stout and much-appreciated 99-90 victory over the Trail Blazers on Thursday in R.I.P. city, here's some friendly advice:
Forget about basketball for a few days. Leave the Tim Duncan voodoo dolls in the drawer. Conserve your energy until it matters. Armageddon - and the Spurs - will be here soon enough.
"It's great. It's an honor," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. "I told our guys we really don't look at past history. This team has never played San Antonio in the playoffs. That's the way we look at it."
Good luck with that one, coach.
Before Game 6, Gentry also spent some time talking about the NHL playoffs. He told his team about the hard-luck Coyotes, and the top-seeded Capitals. Both teams toiled all season for home-ice advantage, only to lose a Game 7 in their own building.
It's not like NBA players to care about ice hockey. But the Suns were listening. Unlike many previous losses this season, they recovered after squandering a big lead in the second half.
The Suns won this game with end-game tenacity. They clamped down in the fourth quarter. Amar'e Stoudemire carved up Portland with his passing skills, further proof of how far he's come in one season. Jason Richardson provided two tons of perimeter offense, and Steve Nash made some huge plays down the stretch.
It was a strange night for Nash, whose brother Martin was playing soccer in the same city for the Vancouver Whitecaps. He had more turnovers than assists, and at times, you wondered if his back was acting up all over again. Yet when it came time for the hammer, he delivered, like always.
"He was struggling," Gentry said. "But at the end of the day, we were going to win or lose with Steve Nash in the game."
This was not an upset. This was not unexpected. But this was a wonderful night for the franchise, which atoned for a playoff-less season last year. And it was more than a bit ironic that earlier in the game, the Blazers handed an autographed Terry Porter jersey to a lucky fan in the stands.
The upcoming series certainly will be a nice diversion.
If you haven't noticed, our sporting image has been taking a beating.