Spurs vs. Suns Game Three Previews: Down 0-2, Spurs face key game vs Suns

[duncan228]

Down 0-2, Spurs face key game vs Suns (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=txsunsspurs)

Phoenix at San Antonio (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2010050724)
Game info: 9:30 pm EDT Fri May 7, 2010
TV: ESPN
By Paul J. Weber

Before the Spurs finished off the Dallas Mavericks, coach Gregg Popovich confronted George Hill before Game 6.

“So Georgie, what are we going to get tonight?” Popovich asked. “The George Hill that’s in attack mode, or the George Hill that is trying to make sure everyone is happy?”

The way the Western Conference semifinals are going with Phoenix, it’s a conversation Popovich hopes Hill will remember.

San Antonio returned home Thursday trailing the Suns 2-0 - the most commanding lead Phoenix has built in a decade of postseason misery against the Spurs. The Suns have lost four consecutive playoff series to San Antonio since 2003, and Steve Nash has never gotten past the four-time NBA champions in six tries in his career.

Heading into Game 3 in San Antonio on Friday night, the Suns are already halfway to revenge.

“Our theme against these guys is, ‘No way, they will not go quietly in the night,”’ Suns coach Alvin Gentry said Thursday. “And they won’t. We understand that going down there. We understand that we have to play at a real high level to try to get a game down there.”

Fourteen teams in NBA history have climbed back from a 0-2 deficit, among them the Spurs in 2008 against New Orleans. But an exasperated Popovich was in no mood to reminisce about that after losing Game 2 on Wednesday night.

“No, I won’t think about that at all,” Popovich said. “These guys are grown men. They don’t need me to say, ‘Now remember the Hornets fellas. We’ve got to really pull it together for Game 3.’ Maybe I’ll talk about the Gipper but I’m not going to talk about the Hornets.”

A topic he’d much rather discuss is Hill, who has struggled after a breakout first-round series against the Mavericks. Hill has scored just 25 combined points in Games 1 and 2 against the Suns, and was in foul trouble Wednesday.

Hill averaged nearly 20 points in the final four games against Dallas, including becoming the first player other than Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili or Tony Parker to lead the Spurs in scoring in 41 playoff games.

Popovich has so far stuck with Hill in the starting lineup against the Suns, while Parker has averaged 23 points off the bench.

In his second season, Hill has gone from an atrocious shooter taken 26th in the 2008 draft to supplanting Parker in the starting lineup. He’s become a trustworthy 3-point shooter, a dependable defender and, as early as the start of this season, Popovich dubbed him his favorite player.

During Hill’s emergence early in the playoffs, Popovich went even further.

“Usually guys are role players or they’re star players,” Popovich said. “He’s going to progress from role player to star player.”

It’s a comment that carries import. The Spurs have long turned second bananas into essential complementary players, from Avery Johnson to Robert Horry to Bruce Bowen and Michael Finley.

But Popovich doesn’t see Hill as just another side piece. Against the Mavericks, Popovich grew frustrated with Hill for doing what most guards in his position would - prioritize getting his three All-Star teammates on the court involved.

Popovich told Hill to stop deferring to the Big Three. How often has he told another player that?

“Sometimes to be a great leader you got to be a great follower, and he’s been a great follower in his short time with us,” said Popovich, adding that Hill will become one of “those rare guys” to elevate to a main role.

For now, Hill is just trying to get the Spurs a win in whatever role he can.

“They play well at home like we play well at home,” Hill said after Game 2. “We just have to take care of our home and try to come back in here and steal a win.”

The Spurs went 3-0 at home against Dallas in the first round.

“It’s a tough place to play,” Suns guard Jason Richardson said. “But if we stick to the things we normally do and play defense the way we have been playing we have a chance.”

*********************

Team Stat Leaders

Points
Amar'e Stoudemire Pho 23.1
Tim Duncan SA 17.9

Rebounds
Amar'e Stoudemire Pho 8.9
Tim Duncan SA 10.1

Assists
Steve Nash Pho 11.0
Tony Parker SA 5.7

*********************

Series Breakdown (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/playoffs/2010/saspho)

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/playoffs/2010/saspho

[dbreiden83080]

Spurs will win..

:flag:

[duncan228]

Top 10 storylines of second round (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/chris_mannix/05/06/second.round.storylines/)
Chris Mannix
SI.com

Phoenix's X-factors
Urban Myth No. 345: The Suns' success on offense is tied directly to the performance of Steve Nash and Amar'e Stoudemire. It's true that the two need big games to keep the Suns in contention, but with defenses keying on the dynamic duo, the pressure shifts to Phoenix's role players -- specifically Jason Richardson, Channing Frye and Jared Dudley -- to make big shots. So far, so good: The troika is knocking down nearly 50 percent of their shots in the postseason.

Richard Jefferson's effectiveness
It's no secret that the free-wheeling Jefferson has struggled in San Antonio's complex read-and-react system this season. But Jefferson had better get it together, fast. His duds in Game 1 of San Antonio's first- and second-round series' played a significant role in the Spurs digging an early hole. Against Phoenix, Jefferson has a favorable matchup, whether it's against the 37-year-old Grant Hill or 6-foot-3 Steve Nash checking him on the defensive end. That's a matchup he has to win.

George Hill's play
Hill's importance to the Spurs is two-fold: As a starter, Hill enables Gregg Popovich to keep a proven scorer (in this case lightning bug Tony Parker) with the second unit, an important dynamic in the Spurs' rotation. And against Phoenix, Hill's offense is counted on to put pressure on Nash and make the Suns' superstar work on the defensive end. Those variables make Hill the biggest wild card in San Antonio's second-round series.

[Agloco]

Top 10 storylines of second round (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/chris_mannix/05/06/second.round.storylines/)
Chris Mannix
SI.com

Phoenix's X-factors
Urban Myth No. 345: The Suns' success on offense is tied directly to the performance of Steve Nash and Amar'e Stoudemire. It's true that the two need big games to keep the Suns in contention, but with defenses keying on the dynamic duo, the pressure shifts to Phoenix's role players -- specifically Jason Richardson, Channing Frye and Jared Dudley -- to make big shots. So far, so good: The troika is knocking down nearly 50 percent of their shots in the postseason.



Winner, winner, chicken dinner.

[hunterxaz]

Suns hopefully split the series, to come back to PHX 3-1. Winning both would be sweet. What better way to send you guys packing, eh?

Go Suns!

[Sigz]

Spurs are done.

[m33p0]

Suns hopefully split the series, to come back to PHX 3-1. Winning both would be sweet. What better way to send you guys unpacking, eh?

Go Suns!

home game, see.

[ducks]

frye 26% shooting on road last series

CROWD IN SA BETTER BE LOAD AND ON HIM

[duncan228]

Time for Spurs to panic? Hardly. (http://www.statesman.com/sports/pro/time-for-spurs-to-panic-hardly-675208.html)
Cedric Golden, Commentary

An NBA playoff series doesn't start until someone loses at home.

By that logic, the San Antonio Spurs are far from finished.

Sure, the Phoenix Suns are up 2-0 in their Western Conference semifinal, but all the Suns did was win the games they were supposed to win.

Were we surprised the Suns got their up-tempo game going on their home court, winning the first two games in a series against the Spurs for the first time in 17 seasons? No.

Were we surprised that lesser players such as Channing Frye and Jared Dudley combined for 34 points and six three-pointers? No.

Were we surprised that Steve Nash turned the clock back to his MVP days to average 26 points and eight assists the first two games? No.

What will surprise us?

It will surprise if the Spurs don't hold serve at home these next two games. They played well enough to win Game 2 — outside of the 18 offensive rebounds Phoenix corralled — and if the 18 points from the enigmatic Richard Jefferson is any indication, the Spurs should be fine.

They have been here before. Two years ago, Chris Paul's New Orleans Hornets took the first two games against the Spurs, but San Antonio responded by winning four of the next five games. That's what will have to happen this year if the Spurs are to continue their postseason reemergence and get to the Western Conference finals.

When asked about the New Orleans series, Gregg Popovich was in no mood to revisit history.

"Maybe I will talk about the Gipper if I'm going to talk about the Hornets,'' he said. "They're grown and they know what they have to do."

This is no time to hit the panic button. Veteran ballclubs like San Antonio won't fold their tents at the hint of some adversity. Phoenix is better than it used to be, but the seventh-seeded Spurs have found something late in the season. They're healthy and Tim Duncan appears to have his legs back.

In most cases, second-tier players like Dudley and Frye won't put up the big numbers they posted at home. Road games are a different animal, and those free-flowing jumpers that found the bottom of the net are harder to make away from their comfort zone. If the Suns' bench can outscore the Spurs 31-24 in San Antonio, then there will be a problem. Only until then will San Antonio have real difficulties.

"At the end of the day, we really haven't done anything except exactly what we're supposed to do, which is hold serve at home," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said Wednesday night.

Once upon a very recent time, the upstart Oklahoma City Thunder erased a 2-0 lead and forged a tie after four games — against the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, of all teams. This is possible.

Here's what to look for tonight:

Duncan will become the focus of the Spurs' offense.

Amare Stoudemire has averaged 32.7 points against Duncan in head-to-head meetings, but Duncan gets 24 against the Suns' big man. The Spurs must attack Stoudemire because the Suns have little to offer off the bench against Duncan if Stoudemire sits.

Popovich should start Tony Parker.

He has torched the Suns in the past — he averaged 29.6 points in San Antonio's 4-1 series win just two years ago — and a lathered-up Parker making 36-year-old Nash work harder on defense is a good thing. It's time to bring George Hill off the bench and get Parker involved early.

The Spurs will slow it down.

The difference in tempo was obvious in the first two games. Phoenix wants to run at every opportunity, while the Spurs run selectively. It's time for San Antonio to take the air out of the ball and give Duncan a chance to put his half-court stamp on this series.

San Antonio is 0-4 in these playoffs when it gives up 100 points or more, and 4-0 when it holds an opponent under 100.

If the Spurs are to win one for the Popper, they must hold to the script and add to their 3-0 playoff record at home.

This series is just starting.

[spursfan1000]

I see Spurs winning this game in a blowout or Suns winning a close game...either one, I can't see Spurs finishing out a close game against the Suns.

[spurs10]

Yes, there is no need to panic yet......I hope they are all seriously pissed off and ready to go for the throat. G!S!G!!!!

[duncan228]

Phoenix Suns try to keep their edge with 2-0 lead over San Antonio Spurs (http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2010/05/06/20100506phoenix-suns-edge-san-antonio-spurs.html)
by Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic

The Phoenix Suns already have become a lot of things that the basketball world thought they were fruitlessly chasing.

They are better defenders who come up with stops in the crunch. They are resilient competitors who shake off blown leads and big deficits. Their rotation is deep and diverse, enabling them to turn games in different ways and at different times (http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2010/05/06/20100506phoenix-suns-bench-role-players.html).

But can they be ruthless too? Can they find a killer instinct? Can they win without a pressing need?

That is the next challenge for the Suns, as they take a 2-0 Western Conference semifinal lead to San Antonio for Game 3 Friday night and Game 4 on Sunday night (http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2010/05/06/20100506san-antonio-spurs-must-win-phoenix-suns.html).

They played this season bent to show that last season fell apart because of poor construction with Terry Porter and Shaquille O'Neal as foundations.

Past the midway point this season at 26-21, they had few believers again, with even a playoff spot in question. But Phoenix has been the West's best since late January, going 34-9 - more than a small sampling of evidence. Even against San Antonio and all the playoff-elimination memories this matchup brings, the Suns have to fight off any sort of comfort level. If they start thinking about the tall task of San Antonio winning four of five games, they will lose their edge to get just another two wins (http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2010/05/05/20100505phoenix-suns-san-antonio-spurs-game-2.html).

Die-hard Spurs

"We keep emphasizing that this team (the Spurs) is never going to give up," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. "They don't have it in them. They really don't. Everybody buried them before the playoffs started. . . . Everybody buried them after the first game in Dallas. They are not going anywhere.

"We understand that we have to play at a real high level to try to get a game down there. It will not be easy. We'll have to play better than we did in either one of these (first two) games."

The Suns seldom can get away with a victory while shooting 42 percent. But this team is more capable than Suns teams of the past because it can get by in different ways (http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2010/05/05/20100505phoenix-suns-dan-bickley-versions.html): second chances, free throws, 3-point shooting and key late-game stops in Game 2.

"Usually, that (poor shooting) spells doom for us," Gentry said. "What our guys decided is 'OK, we're not shooting the ball. Well, OK, we've got to find a different way to win the game.' These guys are starting to take pride in their defense.

"They're really disappointed that San Antonio shot what they shot the other night."

The Spurs shot 51 percent after Phoenix held Portland and San Antonio to 43 percent shooting over seven playoff games.

Not enough

San Antonio came out of the same 2-0 hole at the same stage against New Orleans two years ago but the Spurs have to be scratching their heads today. They shot dramatically better in Game 2. They cut Phoenix's fast-break points from 27 to eight to take care of their emphasis on transition defense. They received more from Richard Jefferson and George Hill, who scored 32 points combined.

But new problems arose. They put the Suns on the line for 37 free-throw attempts and allowed them 19 second-chance points.

"They're an incredible team that has been there before," Suns guard Steve Nash said. "They're as well-coached as anybody who has ever been in this league, so we know what they're made of and we've got to match it."

The Spurs are 0-4 this season at Phoenix but that problem can wait until a potential Game 5. For now, the Suns will draw motivation from their only visit of the season to San Antonio - a 113-110 loss on Feb. 28 with Jason Richardson missing a last-minute dunk attempt to tie. But even in that game, Phoenix scored 110 points. San Antonio has given up 110 this season in 14 games, five of which were by Phoenix.

"We feel like we haven't done anything," Suns forward Grant Hill said. "All we did was win at home.

"I'm sure a lot of people still feel San Antonio is going to win. We'll manage to keep that underdog mentality when we talk among each other. If they win Game 3, now they have momentum. We learned a lot from last series."

[Nodack]

We learned a lot from last series

They have learned a lot from the last four times they played in the playoffs when the Spurs knocked them out each time. The Suns are definitely not going to take the Spurs too lightly. They owe the Spurs payback big time.

[da_suns_fan]

Frye is much better at home versus on the road.

The crowds REALLY intimidate him. Hes much more hesitant and will pass up open shots if he misses his first few.

He's just mentally weak. I guess you cant expect THAT much from a bench guy but I hope its something the Suns' coaching staff is aware of.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Frye is much better at home versus on the road.

The crowds REALLY intimidate him. Hes much more hesitant and will pass up open shots if he misses his first few.

He's just mentally weak. I guess you cant expect THAT much from a bench guy but I hope its something the Suns' coaching staff is aware of.

At least there is some place in the world where Frye is good. Matt Bonner probably isn't even the best basket player player in his own house.

[timtonymanu]

At least there is some place in the world where Frye is good. Matt Bonner probably isn't even the best basket player player in his own house.

Exactly. Matt Bonner is just as bad at home as he is on the road.

[shelshor]

Referee Assignments
Fri. May 7
Phoenix @ San Antonio: Scott Foster; James Capers; Bill Kennedy

[duncan228]

Lopez update: Suns center Robin Lopez will be inactive for tonight's Game 3 at San Antonio. He continues to improve but Suns coach Alvin Gentry said Thursday that he is not ready to play. He last played March 26, when he was suffering from a bulging disk that pinched a nerve causing weakness in his right leg.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2010/05/07/20100507phoenix-suns-vs-san-antonio-spurs--game-3-guide.html

[RedRaider]

I have total faith in the Spurs right now, but I'm not saying it will be easy. This WILL go 7 games if Spurs win tonight. Write it down.

[duncan228]

NBA Playoffs Prop Bets – Suns vs Spurs Game 3 Part I (http://www.betus.com/sports-betting/nba-basketball/props/nba-playoffs-prop-bets-suns-vs-spurs-game-3-part-1-2010-05-7/)
by Aaron Torres
betus.com

Who’s ready to make some NBA Prop Bets?

With Game 3 of the Suns-Spurs series set to get under way, there are plenty of great ones on the board. Let’s look at some of the best, as we head into Friday night’s pivotal third game:

Steve Nash- Over 10 ½ Assists (-115) or Under 10 ½ Assists (-115): Where else would we start, other than with the NBA’s elite point guard?

Nash has been on fire in these playoffs, and all season long really, and despite being 36-years-old is playing as well as he ever has. So far this postseason, he’s been as good as advertised, averaging 17.8 points and 9.4 assists, and has been as instrumental as any player in the Suns going up 2-0 against San Antonio in their Western Conference semifinal.

However, Nash has not been dishing out the ball at the rate he did in the regular season, as he’s gone over 10 assists only one time in these playoffs. And speaking of these playoffs, it was Game 2 of this series, where Nash had his lowest assist output of the season, handing out only six.

Nash is still a superstar, and as good as any point guard in this league. But heading on the road, and not getting a ton of assists as it is, it seems unlikely he’ll go over 10 ½ in Friday night’s game. Take the UNDER in this prop NBA betting (http://www.betus.com/sports-betting/nba-basketball/).

Tim Duncan- Over 10 ½ Rebounds (-110) or Under 10 ½ Rebounds (-110): Heading back home to San Antonio, you’ve really got to assume that the Spurs will be in much better shape to steal a win than they were in Phoenix. So does that mean that Duncan will return to his MVP form of a few years ago?

Probably not, but at the same time remember, he is still an above average rebounder and defender. He’s averaged 9.8 rebounds in these playoffs and exactly 10.5 in this series against the Suns. With no one other Amare Stoudemire to occasionally defend him, is there any reason to think that Duncan won’t get at least 11 rebounds?

The play here is the OVER. Duncan knows that this could be his last great postseason run in a Spurs uniform, and knows that a win in Game 3 isn’t optional, it’s mandatory.

He’ll have his best game of this series, and easily go OVER this NBA Playoffs prop bet.

Tony Parker- Over 25 ½ Points + Assists (-125) or Under 25 ½ Points + Assists (-105): After coming back from an injury late in the season, Parker has given way to George Hill in the starting lineup, and his numbers have suffered. Parker is averaging just 17 points and five assists in this postseason, both well below his career averages.

But while he’s still coming off the bench, Parker’s minutes have increased in this series over the last, and he’s responded with two great games against Phoenix, averaging 23 points and 5.5 assists in their two contests.

Back on his home court, and with the Spurs backs against the walls, expect Parker to have his best game yet.

There’s no reason to think that Parker won’t easily eclipse 25 ½ points and assists combined, meaning that when it comes to this NBA Playoffs Prop Bet, definitely take the OVER.

*********************

NBA Playoffs Prop Bets – Suns vs Spurs Game 3 Part II (http://www.betus.com/sports-betting/nba-basketball/props/nba-playoffs-prop-bets-suns-vs-spurs-game-3-part-ii-07-05-2010/)
by Aaron Torres
betus.com

Not sure who to bet on in tonight’s crucial Game 3 in the Suns-Spurs series?

No need to worry. Because even if you don’t like the point spread, there’s still plenty of great prop bets which might interest you. Let’s take a look at a few:

Steve Nash- Over 18 Points (Even) or Under 18 Points (-130): It probably comes as no surprise that early on this series, Nash has been the star of stars, as his 33 points carried the Suns in Game 1, and he followed that up with an equally impressive 19 point, six assist effort in Game 2.

And even going on the road, expect Nash to continue his torrid shooting from the field.

While Phoenix might not win this game straight up, Nash knows that this might be his last great run in a Suns uniform. Amare Stoudemire may be leaving in free agency this offseason, so it’s now or never.

Expect a monster game from Nash, both on offense and defense. And he will easily surpass the 18 point total, making this NBA Playoffs prop (http://www.betus.com/sports-betting/nba-basketball/props/) bet, a definite OVER.

Amare Stoudemire- Over 10 ½ Rebounds (Even) or Under 10 ½ Rebounds (-130): Speaking of Stoudemire, he is the one player besides Nash that needs to continue to play spectacularly in Game 3 if the Suns are to have a chance.

However, for all the talk about Stoudemire as an elite “big man,” he really doesn’t rebound like one, grabbing just seven a game in these playoffs. While he has gotten 24 in two games in this series so far, the play in this prop bet is the UNDER.

Stoudemire seems to drift in and out of games, and on San Antonio’s home court, in a game the Suns don’t need to win, it’d be easy to see him having a completely average game. While an average game for Stoudemire is better than a good game for most, he still won’t get 10 ½ or more rebounds. Again, take the UNDER.

Tim Duncan- Over 22 ½ Points (-115) or Under 22 ½ Points (-115): As good as he’s been throughout his career, Duncan is no longer a spring chicken, as he just passed his 34th birthday this past April. With that in mind, he’ll need to turn back the clock a bit, if the Spurs are to have any chance Friday night.

Expect Duncan to do just that.

We’re not saying that this is the same player that was a centerpiece of four championship teams, but with San Antonio desperate for a victory, Duncan will come through now that his team needs him like never before.

Duncan had 29 points in Game 2, and expect a similar performance in Game 3 as well.

The play in this NBA Playoffs Prop Bet is for Tim Duncan to go OVER 22 ½ points. Way over.