Game Blog: 2010 Playoffs Round 2 - Spurs vs. Suns, Game 4

[KuntryDude]

Oh well, Suns > Spurs (this yr). Pop gets totally ass raped by Gentry.

[Juanobili]

ughh

it just hit me :(

[Budkin]

LOL Tim going for the 3.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Pop smiling after the game. Fuck you old man.

[DPG21920]

These Suns have some serious balls to come into SA and sweep the Spurs on their own court.

Very sad day for the Spurs to go out like this. Very sad day to see a Tim led team swept on their own floor while playing sloppy ball.

[polandprzem]

fucking nash bitching about his eye

[Mal]

The Suns can beat the Lakers. I'm not sure if Stern will allow it, but they definitely have the tools.

Launching and making threes

[tlongII]

The Suns just performed an exorcism.

[Chieflion]

The rebuilding has to start from within. A sweep is very telling.

[j.dizzle]

damn duncans body language has been pretty shitty all series

[Cant_Be_Faded]

Just look at the genuine smiles from pop, duncan, manu, d robinson


they had accepted this fate long ago.

[TIMMYD!]

The only good I can think of right now is that Splitter might come over. But it's only a partial goodness.

[polandprzem]

too late for a battle spurs players

[TampaDude]

and we missed 9 FTs this game... :(

Yup...and this is not the only playoff game we've lost at the stripe, either. :bang

[LakerHater]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CqDk4jAv_Y4/S-US6TL_OOI/AAAAAAAACx8/r5ISSKR44Vk/s400/06.jpg

[Shastafarian]

The Suns can beat the Lakers. I'm not sure if Stern will allow it, but they definitely have the tools.

I've been going back and forth on who I would like to see win that series.

On one hand you have the Suns, who are populated with guys like A'm'a'r'e and Richardson. Makes me wanna root for the Lakers. However, if the Suns make it to the finals, then the East is assured the title. If the Lakers go I could see them winning. It's a hard choice but in the end, I just don't give a fuck.

[Spurs Brazil]

Spurs put a great fight. Suns is a much better team

[alchemist]

the guys ran out of gas simple as that, plus the Suns couldn't miss a shot if Jesus was defending them 1-on-1

[Budkin]

The Suns can beat the Lakers. I'm not sure if Stern will allow it, but they definitely have the tools.

Please God.

[Pistons < Spurs]

The Suns played great. They hustled and defended all series long and kept their composure through every run the Spurs made. Hopefully Nash's eye isn't an issue in the next round for them, I'm looking forward to see them play the Lakers.

[Spurologist]

Just look at the genuine smiles from pop, duncan, manu, d robinson


they had accepted this fate long ago.

Pissing me off to no end

[Borosai]

And that's why the Spurs were fighting for the 7th seed.

[KuntryDude]

Season over. A few made free throws wouldve done the trick!

[NewJerSpur]

On the Spurs part: Missed FT's, easy opportunities at the basket, didn't fight as hard for loose balls, went away from what was effective on offense, and failed to consistently defend the 3-point line

On the Suns side: Battled for every loose ball/rebound, knocked down the shots given to them, made FT's, switched up defenses

[DPG21920]

It makes me want to puke watching Amare talk about sweeping the Spurs while sweating on the Spurs floor. Makes me want to spit.

[Pauleta14]

I'm sad, but congratulation to the Suns, they deserved it they play more like a team than us, that's what basket ball is about!

We shouldn't point out any of our big 3, they did their best with what they had...

Now let's look at a brighter future without Bonner, Mason and I hope/dream Jefferson.

[sonsftw]

fucking nash bitching about his eye

Wow get outta here. His eye was freaking closed.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

Pissing me off to no end

Not me.

I don't think just because they can be genuinely nice after getting swept that it means they did not try their hardest on the court.

It's just the nature of their personalities.

Plus I think Pop does not have anything personal against Gentry.

[DPG21920]

:lol the Banner was changed faster than anything I have ever seen.

[Brazil]

Congrat to the suns once again !
I will root for them against the lakers.
Spurs players and FO showed they are classy as usual.

[Death In June]

Well, it was bound to happen eventually. The spurs are just not put together very well, and Tim is not capable of carrying the load at 34 years old. Hopefully, they blow up the team this offseason. They're more than just a couple of pieces away.

[NewJerSpur]

I'm sad, but congratulation to the Suns, they deserved it they play more like a team than us, that's what basket ball is about!

We shouldn't point out any of our big 3, they did their best with what they had...

Now let's look at a brighter future without Bonner, Mason and I hope/dream Jefferson.

Bonner might still come back for the Vet minimum, Mase is gone, and RJ might re-up for the money....though I'd rather not see him in a Spurs uniform.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

It makes me want to puke watching Amare talk about sweeping the Spurs while sweating on the Spurs floor. Makes me want to spit.

amare is the only suns player on this team I do not like.



But its been a very very long time since a team beat the Spurs in the playoffs and I actually did not hate their guts and wish them the worst moving forward.

I haven't felt like this in prob like 10 years.

I actually am going to actively cheer the suns in their quest to Banish the Demon in the WCF's

[Shastafarian]

Damn, that feels fucking GOOD.

It feels fucking good to just make it to the WCF? :lol Suns fans never change

[ShoogarBear]

:lol the Banner was changed faster than anything I have ever seen.

Slomo has had his finger on the button for the last half-hour.

[Borosai]

There's no excuse for getting swept. None. Not for this team.

Props to the Suns for playing well and playing consistently.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Well done Suns, and good luck in the next round. I doubt you can beat the Fakers, but I'd sure love to see it.

As for us, well, valiant try Spurs, but you simply never found the rhythm and chemistry to roll to another ring this year. Love the blooding the youth got though, and the franchiose looks well set with youth going forward. Looking forward to next season.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Well done Suns, and good luck in the next round. I doubt you can beat the Fakers, but I'd sure love to see it.

As for us, well, valiant try Spurs, but you simply never found the rhythm and chemistry to roll to another ring this year. Love the blooding the youth got though, and the franchiose looks well set with youth going forward. Looking forward to next season.

[carina_gino20]

You know what, as badly, as sloppily as the Spurs played for some stretches there, they gave all they had. And that's really all I could ask for. They tried but they just didn't have enough firepower. The Suns are simply the better team this year.

[hunterxaz]

the guys ran out of gas simple as that, plus the Suns couldn't miss a shot if Jesus was defending them 1-on-1

Suns shot 45%, you shot 46%.

[DPG21920]

F everyone in the West. Go East.

[Pauleta14]

Damn, that feels fucking GOOD.


I know...

[angelbelow]

GG. didnt expect to lose this series so i didnt watch any of the games except for tonight. Lets have a strong offseason and come back harder next year.

[MannyIsGod]

LOL @ everyone bitching about excuses. Who gives a shit if there's an excuse or not? The only thing that matters is the score and the Suns have scoreboard. I could understand the indignation if the Spurs weren't a mediocre team most of the year but com'on.

[NewJerSpur]

Defnitely looking foward to Djuan adding to his game offensively next year and George continuing to develop. They were HUGE against Dallas.

[pku47]

Not even a close serial, but feeling proud we fight to the end. Sorry to see the sunset of Duncan era, sorry to see the big 3 getting older, especially sorry for Dice.
.

[Shastafarian]

amare is the only suns player on this team I do not like.



But its been a very very long time since a team beat the Spurs in the playoffs and I actually did not hate their guts and wish them the worst moving forward.

I haven't felt like this in prob like 10 years.

I actually am going to actively cheer the suns in their quest to Banish the Demon in the WCF's

You don't dislike Richardson? Dude brought his son in a car with him while he was drunk off his ass. Oh and if memory serves that was AFTER he forgot the kid at a club.

[NewJerSpur]

F everyone in the West. Go East.

:tu

Magic or (dare I say it) CELTICS BABY, LOL. Rooting mainly for Dwight and Jameer to get their 1st rings.....not LeBron though.

[DPG21920]

LOL @ everyone bitching about excuses. Who gives a shit if there's an excuse or not? The only thing that matters is the score and the Suns have scoreboard. I could understand the indignation if the Spurs weren't a mediocre team most of the year but com'on.

You can't understand, how even with expectations tempered, that the Suns sweeping the Spurs is absolutely brutal?

[TampaDude]

Congrats to the Suns...now go beat the Lakers...PLEASE!!!

[Cant_Be_Faded]

You don't dislike Richardson? Dude brought his son in a car with him while he was drunk off his ass. Oh and if memory serves that was AFTER he forgot the kid at a club.

Nope. I've liked him and every member of the 2007 Golden State Warriors team because they destroyed the Mavs in the greatest upset in NBA history, paving the way for the Easiest Championship in Spurs History.

[Pauleta14]

Kenny and Barkley pointing out Pop should have started Tony from game 1...

[Shastafarian]

Kenny and Barkley pointing out Pop should have started Tony from game 1...

Not only should Parker have started, Manu should've come off the bench.

[TampaDude]

Nope. I've liked him and every member of the 2007 Golden State Warriors team because they destroyed the Mavs in the greatest upset in NBA history, paving the way for the Easiest Championship in Spurs History.

Heh...yeah, there is that. :lol

[MannyIsGod]

You can't understand, how even with expectations tempered, that the Suns sweeping the Spurs is absolutely brutal?

Not really. I didn't expect much out of these Spurs and I'll admit that I let my imagination run wild after the opening round but the Suns did a good job bringing me back to reality.

This isn't the Spurs team of a few years ago. And this certainly isn't the same Suns team being coached by D'antoni. They're good, and they play a good brand of basketball.

Any ire that I do posses is not aimed at any of the Spurs core but at gutless players like Roger Mason.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

LOL

Mason and Bonner are the two most gutless FA acquisitions the Spurs have made in AGES

[DPG21920]

I agree with being realistic. I agree the Suns have been playing incredible; I have been saying this for over a month. I still cannot believe the Spurs got swept. Losing is losing, but to me, being swept is makes losing significantly worse.

[resistanze]

Have to agree that the sweep is very hard to get over.

[marini martini]

Yay hay we beat the Mavs!!!

Better team won with the Suns!!!

I will be watching & cheering for the Suns to kick the Laker's sorry azz!!

[marini martini]

:toast

[MannyIsGod]

I can understand that. I dunno, its like I said earlier in this thread that to me getting swept in 2001 was far worse than this. Duncan was in his prime and David was still damn good but they only had one ring. Nearly a decade later we've had some incredible success and a new generation of Spurs come and provide this franchise with a hell of a legacy.

In some ways I've been expecting these type of days to return for some time. Maybe thats why its easier to accept. 01, 04, 95, and 06 all also hard their parts in making me feel OK about this season because those heartbreaks were so much worse than this one.

[Budkin]

Yay hay we beat the Mavs!!!

Better team won with the Suns!!!

I will be watching & cheering for the Suns to kick the Laker's sorry azz!!:toast

:tu I'm still happy about beating the Mavs. That was satisfying as hell after this shitty season.

[DPG21920]

For sure. This is not a comparative thing for me. This is an in the moment thing. Getting swept sucks. This is clearly not the most heartbreaking loss all things considered.

[marini martini]

:tu I'm still happy about beating the Mavs. That was satisfying as hell after this shitty season.


Yep!!!:toast

[ShoogarBear]

I can understand that. I dunno, its like I said earlier in this thread that to me getting swept in 2001 was far worse than this. Duncan was in his prime and David was still damn good but they only had one ring. Nearly a decade later we've had some incredible success and a new generation of Spurs come and provide this franchise with a hell of a legacy.

In some ways I've been expecting these type of days to return for some time. Maybe thats why its easier to accept. 01, 04, 95, and 06 all also hard their parts in making me feel OK about this season because those heartbreaks were so much worse than this one.

Thing is, when the Spurs were swept in 2001 it was to a team on its way to a championship. We knew the Spurs were good, just not good enough.

This sweep means that the Spurs aren't very good at all. It also should be a wake-up call to anyone who thinks that just a couple of tweaks are needed.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

At least Manu is not making any excuses in post game.

[ShoogarBear]

:tu I'm still happy about beating the Mavs. That was satisfying as hell after this shitty season.

In retrospect, it's quite apparent the only reason the Spurs beat the Mavs was because Carlisle had no idea how to use his personnel.

[DPG21920]

I think everyone's eyes were opened earlier this year. Everyone knew the moves did not work out and that the Spurs were good, but not contenders.

[MannyIsGod]

For sure. This is not a comparative thing for me. This is an in the moment thing. Getting swept sucks. This is clearly not the most heartbreaking loss all things considered.

Yeah, it does suck. There's no doubt about that.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

Thing is, when the Spurs were swept in 2001 it was to a team on its way to a championship. We knew the Spurs were good, just not good enough.

This sweep means that the Spurs aren't very good at all. It also should be a wake-up call to anyone who thinks that just a couple of tweaks are needed.

You guys are both right.

I am totally agreeing with Manny.

The 2001, hell the 2002, the .04 series, the 06 mavs meltdown, even the 08 loss.

These all hurt so much worse.
Last years hurt even worse than this because it was first round and it was to those fucking mavs


This year we all knew we were not that good. We all knew we were not healthy. We all knew Timmy was running out of gas.
We still won 50 games, made it to the second round, banished our 2nd biggest rival (and put the future of their greatest franchise player in doubt)

So what, we still kicked some ass this season, and I'm wishing the Suns all the best.

We're not contenders any more, most of us were saying this prior to the season even beginning.

But our core is still so bad ass that we made it to the final 8.

[TampaDude]

:tu I'm still happy about beating the Mavs. That was satisfying as hell after this shitty season.

:toast

[Cant_Be_Faded]

The biggest thing about this sweep that hurts is that we all need to realize that the Duncan Championship Era is over.

But most of us already knew that in our hearts long ago.

[MannyIsGod]

Thing is, when the Spurs were swept in 2001 it was to a team on its way to a championship. We knew the Spurs were good, just not good enough.

This sweep means that the Spurs aren't very good at all. It also should be a wake-up call to anyone who thinks that just a couple of tweaks are needed.

A lot really depends on how good Splitter actually is when he comes over and how much improvement we see out of Hairston, Blair, and Hill. Providing those guys can become better contributers next year I'm not so sure they're THAT much worse.

The biggest fault the Spurs showed this series was the lack of a bench. Fixing that goes a long way to helping the big 3 actually look like the big 3.

[DPG21920]

Splitter, if 1) He actually comes over & 2) He is decent, should go a long way to helping Tim out.

Spurs need to infuse some youth and energy into the lineup. Replacing RJ with a guy like Malik (not saying him specifically, but someone who can defend well and that can theoretically space the floor in more of a true role) should help a lot.

But I don't see anything being enough to make the Spurs better than LA, ORL, CLE.

[marini martini]

So does any one think if Pop retires & we get a new coach, things might change next season????

[TampaDude]

LOL @ VC asking Barkley what it's like to win a championship... :lmao

[DPG21920]

No. Pop had a pretty bad year coaching imo, but it was not even close to the main reason why the Spurs struggled. Even Pop's bad year was not that bad compared to other coaches.

It was just gimmicky compared to what you are used to getting. But it is hard when your main guys like TP and RJ had such tough years.

[Cherry]

So does any one think if Pop retires & we get a new coach, things might change next season????

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[MannyIsGod]

I guess now we'll see if Hill is indeed capable of carrying it to the next level and if a healthy Tony can return to carrying this team.

[ShoogarBear]

Even if Splitter does come over, and Hill and Blair continue to improve, there's a 75% chance that the 2010-2011 Spurs will have nobody on the All-NBA team.

Maybe I'm being overly pessimistic, but I just don't see championship contender.

[Borosai]

I would love to see Malik get a fair shot at the SF position. He won't do worse than Jefferson, that's guaranteed. Let him play through his growing pains and see how he develops.

Personally, I still think the Spurs can contend for another title, but they have to make the right moves. Youth is key, but balanced talent is a must. No more one-dimensional players. And of course, become a great defensive team again.

[alchemist]

Splitter, if 1) He actually comes over & 2) He is decent, should go a long way to helping Tim out.

Spurs need to infuse some youth and energy into the lineup. Replacing RJ with a guy like Malik (not saying him specifically, but someone who can defend well and that can theoretically space the floor in more of a true role) should help a lot.

But I don't see anything being enough to make the Spurs better than LA, ORL, CLE.
Out of the remaining teams left, only Orlando/Atlanta/Phoenix are bad match ups. The rest of these teams the Spurs match up well with, it's unfortunate that we saw one of those teams that I mentioned.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

Parker leads the team with +5 and Dice the only other Spurs player in positive with +1

[Cant_Be_Faded]

Even if Splitter does come over, and Hill and Blair continue to improve, there's a 75% chance that the 2010-2011 Spurs will have nobody on the All-NBA team.

Maybe I'm being overly pessimistic, but I just don't see championship contender.

If we can somehow get 2008 Parker back, we got our alpha player right there, all-nba accolades or no.

[DPG21920]

Even if Splitter does come over, and Hill and Blair continue to improve, there's a 75% chance that the 2010-2011 Spurs will have nobody on the All-NBA team.

Maybe I'm being overly pessimistic, but I just don't see championship contender.

I agree. It would take an amazing amount of luck for the Spurs to find 2-3 more "perfect fit" role players that can come in and strengthen the depth and infuse defensive energy.

It would also take a pretty impressive trade. Even if the Spurs do improve, they are still behind LA, ORL, CLE & PHX. What if they improve as well?

[duncan228]

Updated.

Suns fight off Spurs for first time in five tries to advance to conference finals (http://espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=300509024)

Steve Nash's right eye was swollen shut. He had six stitches beneath a bandage on his eyebrow, while the purplish lump was darkening another shade.

And that fourth quarter?

"I couldn't see anything," Nash said.

One good eye was plenty.

Nash scored 10 of his 20 points while his eye gradually shut more and more in the fourth, and the Phoenix Suns swept the San Antonio Spurs from the Western Conference semifinals with a 107-101 win Sunday night. It was long-awaited redemption for the Suns, who had been booted from the playoff by the Spurs four times since 2003.

"That was ugly," Suns forward Channing Frye said walking off the court.

He wasn't talking about Nash's eye, though it would've fit. Nash was accidentally struck by one of Tim Duncan's elbows in the third quarter and briefly went to the locker room.

Nash came back with an ice pack on his eye when he finally returned to the court. Even then, it wasn't back into the game right away -- first he lay on the court with the ice still on his head.

"He looked like Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini," Suns forward Grant Hill said. "It forced him to focus 'cuz he was shooting out of one eye."

It was reminiscent of the 2007 West semifinals, when Nash had his nose sliced open when he and Tony Parker collided head-to-head in Game 1. The gash in Nash's nose bled profusely, and the Suns went on to lose the series.

Not this time.

"Obviously I'm very sad and very mad that we lost, but at the same time I'm happy for Nash and [Amare] Stoudemire," Parker said. "Because every year they played hard against us and it never went their way. This year, it went their way."

Stoudemire led the Suns with 29 points. He is the only Suns player who was on each of those Spurs-ousted teams over the last seven years, but rather than rejoice, Stoudemire coolly walked off the court.

The Suns still have work to do.

They'll either play the Los Angeles Lakers or the Utah Jazz in the West finals. The Lakers lead that series 3-0, and no team in NBA playoff history has ever come back from that deficit to win.

Add these Spurs to that list.

"We thought from our past experience that we could do some things to control the series, but they just outplayed us," Duncan said. "All in all, they just outplayed us."

The Suns are keeping one of the more remarkable stories of the playoffs going. Three months after Phoenix was on the brink of trading Stoudemire and calling it a season, the Suns are returning to the West finals for the first time since 2006.

General manager Steve Kerr has said it would've taken an offer "really good for us to break up the team," and good thing it never came along.

Phoenix sealed its third trip to the West finals since 2005, and gets another crack at returning to the NBA finals for the first time since 1993.

Parker scored 22 points to lead the Spurs, who were swept out of the playoffs for the first time since 2001. It was an abrupt ending for the Spurs, who will have a summer to chew on some uncomfortable questions facing the winningest franchise of the last 13 years.

Any season that doesn't end with a ring is a failure for the four-time champions. The three years since their last title is in an eternity in San Antonio and, as been the case since the 2007 finals, time isn't on the side of their aging core.

Manu Ginobili, who will be 33 next season, signed a three-year extension in March. Duncan will be 35 when his contract is up in 2012. But could the Spurs part with Parker, who enters the summer with an expiring deal and a cheaper replacement behind him in Hill?

Back at the All-Star break, it was the Suns who were thinking about the future when a Stoudemire trade seemed imminent. The Suns instead kept the team together, and Stoudemire got to enjoy Phoenix beating the Spurs in the playoffs for the first time since 2000.

"It feels great, but the past is the past," Nash said. "It's definitely rewarding to beat the Spurs. For me personally, it feels great. I have a tremendous amount of respect for this franchise."

Game notes
The Suns pulled off their first sweep since ousting Memphis from the first round in 2005. ... Texas Gov. Rick Perry had a front-row seat to the Spurs' exit while sitting next to team owner Peter Holt for the first half.

[kromediablo]

Now how are yall feeling about that Malik hairston for Dragic trade?....not real good mannnn

[Jeremy]

Suns are going to win tonight. Just look at Steve Nash's face in the Suns' shootaround video from this morning.

Also, Amare is due for a monster game, especially after scoring 7 points in Game 3 and being well-rested.

I told ya! And look at Nash's face now. LOL.

[EricB]

Now how are yall feeling about that Malik hairston for Dragic trade?....not real good mannnn



You mean malik hairs ton Dejuan Blair and five hundred grand?!?

[spurs10]

It was a sad way to see the season end. Those turnovers in the 2nd quarter were the beginning of the end. As obvious that the Suns were the deeper team, they didn't look that great tonight...our TO's and FT's gave the game away. We were either trying too hard or not hard enough...can't figure out which. I guess it doesn't matter either way now. Hope you all have a great summer...

[Vash01]

Worse than a loss...if Nash's eye is screwed up for the foreseeable future, it helps LA that much more

Nash has a full week to recover from the injury. Based on personal experience I can say that he will be fine. He will continue to look bad, but he will see clearly and there will not be any pain. I have had a similar injury (not basketball related). However, I did see an ophthalmologist to make sure there was no injury to the eye. I assume Nash will see one too, and hopefully his eye is OK too.

However, last year Stoudemire had an eye injury during a game. It did not seem like a serious one, but he got detached retina and he missed several months. So there should be some concern about Nash's eye, but in his case it looked more like an injury above the eye, near the eyebrow. The blood running down his face looked scary, but it also tells me the injury was near the eyebrow and probably not to the eye. The eye was shut due to swelling.

[SpurOutofTownFan]

Don't want to take anything out of the Suns. They were the clear winners this time around.

I was waiting until the morning to post here because I didn't want to post right after the game. The Spurs played an overall good game based on their capabilities and what the adversary allowed them to do.

Going back to my first sentence, it's pretty hard to beat a team that's so hot from 3pt range, with or without a hand in front of the shooter.

I don't expect the Suns to be as successful against LA. I thought the Spurs were a worse matchup for LA than Suns is. Suns are weak on the post against LA. The Spurs were better prepared in that department. I'm sure LA is salivating at this right now.

This next series (provided LA advances which will probably be the case in 4 or 5 games) will be decided on the post. LA is just too big and I don't expect the Suns to be so lucky from 3pt range.. yes.. I said it.. lucky