Series notebook: Suns owner not too chicken to mock self

[Kori Ellis]

Series notebook: Suns owner not too chicken to mock self
Web Posted: 05/23/2005 12:00 AM CDT

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA052305.3S.BKNspurs.notebook.29eaadaa6.html


Back on March 9, when the Spurs played the Suns at America West Arena without injured Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver rankled the Spurs a bit when he flapped his arms, wing-like, and mouthed "chicken" from his courtside seat opposite the Spurs' bench.

A few days later, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich took his own tongue-in-cheek shot at Sarver when he said he was happy to have discovered the answer to one of life's mysteries.

"In life, a lot of questions don't get answered for us," Popovich said. "I still don't know where Jimmy Hoffa is buried. I don't know who 'Deep Throat' was in Watergate. But now I know who was under the San Diego Chicken outfit all of those years."

So before tipoff for Sunday's Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals between the Spurs and Suns, Popovich looked across the court to where Sarver usually sits and saw, instead, someone dressed as the San Diego Chicken.

Sarver showed up a few minutes later, wearing a Shawn Marion jersey. He was nearly as effective against the Spurs as Marion, too. Marion scored only three points on 1-for-6 shooting.

Robinson return unlikely: Popovich said Spurs forward Glenn Robinson, who missed Game 1 after the death of his mother, is not likely to rejoin the team for Tuesday's Game 2.

Johnson still sitting: Suns guard Joe Johnson, who has been sidelined since fracturing his orbital bone in Game 2 of Phoenix's playoff series against Dallas, missed Sunday's game against the Spurs, as expected.

Johnson still has blood in his left eye and also is recovering from a concussion. Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni said he isn't too hopeful about having Johnson available in Game 2.

Where's the D? Phoenix guard Steve Nash and D'Antoni both emphasized that the biggest reason for the Suns' loss was not their offensive mistakes, but rather their inability to slow down the Spurs at the other end of the floor.

"When things got kind of hard," Nash said, "we didn't quite dig deep enough."

Said D'Antoni: "We think we can make shots. But it's going to come down to stopping people."

Richardson's woes continue: Phoenix swingman Quentin Richardson, who went 7 for 24 from the field in his last two games against Dallas, couldn't shake his cold shooting against the Spurs.

Richardson scored only seven points on 3-of-7 shooting, and one of those baskets came on a last-minute short jumper after the outcome had been decided.

So is he getting frustrated?

"A little bit," Richardson said. "The whole thing is that I am never going to stop shooting, so I don't really press myself that hard."

Brown visits specialist: Devin Brown visited with a spine specialist in California, who told him his back will eventually heal without surgery.

Brown visited Bob Watkins in California during the Spurs' series against Seattle. Watkins is a PGA consultant who also has treated David Robinson.

"He said he didn't see anything long-term," Brown said. "It could take two weeks, or it could take a month, but it's going to come back. It's just a slow process."

Brown has a herniated disc in his lower back, which forced him onto the injured list March 22. The injury also robbed him of much of his strength in his right leg.

"(Saturday) I actually took off on my right leg and laid it up," Brown said. "It wasn't as high as I would normally go, but compared to what I've been seeing, there was a lot of improvement."

20-point quartet: The Spurs haven't had four players score 20 points in a playoff game since they lost 138-132 to Portland in Game 5 of the 1990 Western Conference semifinals.

Terry Cummings led the Spurs with 32 points. David Robinson had 27, Willie Anderson 23 and Sean Elliott 21.

Mike Finger, Mike Monroe and Johnny Ludden

[Gerryatrics]

Johnson still sitting: Suns guard Joe Johnson, who has been sidelined since fracturing his orbital bone in Game 2 of Phoenix's playoff series against Dallas, missed Sunday's game against the Spurs, as expected.

Johnson still has blood in his left eye and also is recovering from a concussion. Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni said he isn't too hopeful about having Johnson available in Game 2.

His eye looked horrible. I hope he doesn't try to play until his eye is a hundred-percent, I'm worried it might fall out if he gets hit or it may just pop like a grape in his eye socket. Let it heal JJ.

[Kori Ellis]

His eye looked horrible. I hope he doesn't try to play until his eye is a hundred-percent, I'm worried it might fall out if he gets hit or it may just pop like a grape in his eye socket. Let it heal JJ.

I agree .. it looks horrible. But it's much improved from just two or three days ago. I think they are targeting Game 3 for his return. You are right though, his long term health is what's important.

[boutons]

'But it's going to come down to stopping people."

The Suns haven't "stopped" anybody all year, so Mike is talking about the Spurs stopping the Suns.

[timvp]

Hopefully Devin can get healthy sometime soon. It would be great to match a healthy JJohnson with a heathly DBrown in game three.

[Experiment2100]

Richardson's woes continue: Phoenix swingman Quentin Richardson, who went 7 for 24 from the field in his last two games against Dallas, couldn't shake his cold shooting against the Spurs.

Richardson scored only seven points on 3-of-7 shooting, and one of those baskets came on a last-minute short jumper after the outcome had been decided.

So is he getting frustrated?

"A little bit," Richardson said. "The whole thing is that I am never going to stop shooting, so I don't really press myself that hard."


Is Richardson the Suns' Hedo/Steve Smith/(insert crappy spur playoff performer for 01 or 02.)

[maxpower]

Where's the D? Phoenix guard Steve Nash and D'Antoni both emphasized that the biggest reason for the Suns' loss was not their offensive mistakes, but rather their inability to slow down the Spurs at the other end of the floor.

"When things got kind of hard," Nash said, "we didn't quite dig deep enough."

Said D'Antoni: "We think we can make shots. But it's going to come down to stopping people."

Hey look at that...they might actually be subscribing to the edict that defense actually wins playoff games.

[nkdlunch]

Sarver showed up a few minutes later, wearing a Shawn Marion jersey. He was nearly as effective against the Spurs as Marion, too. Marion scored only three points on 1-for-6 shooting.


:lol

[nkdlunch]

Said D'Antoni: "We think we can make shots. But it's going to come down to stopping people."


The Suns are gonna play defense? What happened to his promise of keeping the run-and-gun game and not changing the way they play?? :rolleyes

[SirChaz]

The Suns are gonna play defense? What happened to his promise of keeping the run-and-gun game and not changing the way they play?? :rolleyes


Who said they didn't try to play defense.

I don't think you can go 31-10 on the road in the NBA without playing some defense. They are a young team that hasn't had to play as much defense. Nobody ever claimed it was part of thier style.


Spurs haven't had 4 players over 20 points in 5 years? Pretty impressive game by the Spurs yesterday. Let's see if they can keep it up.

[GoSpurs21]

Who said they didn't try to play defense.

I don't think you can go 31-10 on the road in the NBA without playing some defense. They are a young team that hasn't had to play as much defense. Nobody ever claimed it was part of thier style. The suns admit they didnt play defense, they won those games by outshooting the opponents

that's the flaw with their system, if they cant out score you they cant stop you either, so they lose

[SirChaz]

The suns admit they didnt play defense, they won those games by outshooting the opponents

that's the flaw with their system, if they cant out score you they cant stop you either, so they lose


What did the Suns admit? Do you have a quote or a link?

They didn't play very good defense in the fourth quarter yesterday if that is what you mean. More specifically they gave too many second chances to the Spurs.


Where did anyone say it was their goal not to play defense? Why would anyone play a style that is designed to be porus defensively? The question is how effective can they be at playing defense and how effective to they have to be to win.

It is not Spurs defense because they don't have Duncan but much of the Suns offense is and has been generated from thier defense.

[nkdlunch]

Guess you haven't been reading NBA news this season. I don't have a specific link, but all season long and in the playoffs the Suns have been saying they won't change their style of play for the playoffs. Which is the run-and-gun style and not playing w/a defensive strategy. Of course they will play some defense, everyone does, but real "defense" as us Spurs know it, they admitted they'll never play.

[SirChaz]

Guess you haven't been reading NBA news this season. I don't have a specific link, but all season long and in the playoffs the Suns have been saying they won't change their style of play for the playoffs. Which is the run-and-gun style and not playing w/a defensive strategy. Of course they will play some defense, everyone does, but real "defense" as us Spurs know it, they admitted they'll never play.


I have been following the Suns for years.

I have never heard them say either directly or indirectly that their style is predicated on a lack of defense. If you have some facts or quotes to back up your opinion then I would like to hear it otherwise that is all it is.

Some Mavs fans were trying to say because the D'Antoni teaches to not foul that is the same as "giving up" on defense but I disagree. Fouling all the time hoping you don't get called for it is not playing good defense.

Good defense means forcing missed shots without fouling.

[boutons]

"their style is predicated on a lack of defense"

Not past Suns, the only Suns of any interest this week are these d'Antoni Suns who are completey predicated on offense, with defense a necessary evil they obviously don't execute, no matter how often they talk about defense.

[Useruser666]

So are you saying the Suns play defense?

[MadDog73]

I don't understand why Amare is not considered a defensive talent.

He blocks shot and pulls down boards very well.

[iminlakerland]

I was actually in chat yesterday after the game and i was asking AHF if the suns had changed their mascot lol....i was like i saw a chicken, everyone thought i was insane but im glad to know i really really saw a chicken!

[Useruser666]

Suns Offensive Defensive numbers:

Playoffs

115.8 ppg (1st)

108.8 oppg (3rd)

7 ppg Diff.


Spurs Playoff stats:

101.2 ppg (7th)

93.0 oppg (4th)

8.2 ppg Diff.

[nkdlunch]

I have been following the Suns for years.

I have never heard them say either directly or indirectly that their style is predicated on a lack of defense. If you have some facts or quotes to back up your opinion then I would like to hear it otherwise that is all it is.

Some Mavs fans were trying to say because the D'Antoni teaches to not foul that is the same as "giving up" on defense but I disagree. Fouling all the time hoping you don't get called for it is not playing good defense.

Good defense means forcing missed shots without fouling.

Sorry man but 103 opponent PPG is not playing defense.

[boutons]

Amare is poor rebounder, 2nd on the Suns, given his amazing athleticism, jumping, quickness.

He should have averaged a double in season, just like Shawn. It's only his 3rd year. He will get a lot better in the areas where he's just average.

[Spurminator]

Again, the Suns' defensive numbers during the season were not anywhere close to worst in the league, They fell about in the middle in terms of defensive efficiency. This was due to their philosophy of keeping teams off of the foul line as much as possible. They make guards beat them by allowing them to shoot.

It was a successful defensive philosophy in the Regular Season, but it is dangerous against teams with dominant post players and guards who can penetrate at will, both of which the Spurs have.

[SPARKY]

The Suns play defense. Just not good defense.

[MiNuS]

Suns don't like resistance. Point in case: D'Antoni couldn't put enough pressure to the resistance(defense)of the Dasani water bottle!


what a joke!That coach is a joke!
pussys

[beirmeistr]

[QUOTE=Kori Ellis]Series notebook: Suns owner not too chicken to mock self
Web Posted: 05/23/2005 12:00 AM CDT

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA052305.3S.BKNspurs.notebook.29eaadaa6.html


Back on March 9, when the Spurs played the Suns at America West Arena without injured Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver rankled the Spurs a bit when he flapped his arms, wing-like, and mouthed "chicken" from his courtside seat opposite the Spurs' bench.

A few days later, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich took his own tongue-in-cheek shot at Sarver when he said he was happy to have discovered the answer to one of life's mysteries.

"In life, a lot of questions don't get answered for us," Popovich said. "I still don't know where Jimmy Hoffa is buried. I don't know who 'Deep Throat' was in Watergate. But now I know who was under the San Diego Chicken outfit all of those years."

--------------
Oh, man. That quip by Popovich is a classic.

[nkdlunch]

With owners like these, who needs mascots? :lol

[Fouled Out]

In life, a lot of questions don't get answered for us," Popovich said. "I still don't know where Jimmy Hoffa is buried. I don't know who 'Deep Throat' was in Watergate. But now I know who was under the San Diego Chicken outfit all of those years."

POP IS BRINGING IT ALSO!!!!!!!! GO SPURS GO!!!!!!! :lol

[Chris]

Suns Offensive Defensive numbers:

Playoffs

115.8 ppg (1st)

108.8 oppg (3rd)

7 ppg Diff.


Spurs Playoff stats:

101.2 ppg (7th)

93.0 oppg (4th)

8.2 ppg Diff.


Those numbers are playoff ratios?

[ShoogarBear]

They didn't play very good defense in the fourth quarter yesterday if that is what you mean. More specifically they gave too many second chances to the Spurs.


The Spurs shot 72% in the fourth quarter. Kind of tough to blame second chances when there were very few second chances to be had.

[AZLouis]

To say the Suns don't play defense is a bit of an overstatement.

Marion and Amare are exceptional defenders and JJ is a pretty good defender.

Overall the Suns do allow a lot of points but their point differential is pretty good. Actually it's the 2nd best point differential, only behind the Spurs. The Suns outscore their opponents by an average of 7.12 and the Spurs are at a 7.80 clip. Pretty close.

SA is #2 in blocks and the Suns are #9. SA is #17 in steals and Phoenix is #22.

Also, during the season the Suns were 33-16 when their oppponent scored 100 points. The spurs were 3-8.

[ladiesman]

Good defense means forcing missed shots without fouling.

Well, at least they aren't fouling....

[SirChaz]

The Spurs shot 72% in the fourth quarter. Kind of tough to blame second chances when there were very few second chances to be had.


I just watched it again. I guess I was thinking of early in the period when Barry got 5 points directly from second chances.

The Suns defense kind of collapsed after Barry hit those two threes. Up until then I thought it was going pretty well.

After the Spurs TO at 5:02 Barry hits b2b threes and the Suns get their next 10 points from the FT line(8) and one offensive rebound(2) untill Q hit a fade away with 40 seconds left. Highlights in that stretch were two turnovers when players did not step up to receive a Nash pass, three Parker layups, and an awesome finger roll past Q and Nash by Ginobili.

Lessons learned I hope. Don't front Duncan with Hunter 15 feet from the basket and make Barry put it on the floor to get a shot.

[Extra Stout]

The Spurs shot 72% in the fourth quarter. Kind of tough to blame second chances when there were very few second chances to be had.The Spurs missed six shots, and got the offensive rebound on four of the six misses.

Basically, until they started clanging from the line once the Suns had to foul, the Spurs were averaging better than 2 points per possession in the fourth quarter.