Concern?

[orhe]

i don't know about you guys but i am not happy with these long rest.

the suns might come up w/ more defensive schemes during these 3 daysthat might stifle the spurs, combine this with our futile attempts of stopping phoenix, i am so worried!

i hope during the rest pop and co. comes up w/ a better defensive plan.

[PM5K]

Did you just say defense and Suns in the same sentence ?

[orhe]

^^ :)

[Kori Ellis]

the suns might come up w/ more defensive schemes during these 3 daysthat might stifle the spurs

They didn't come up with any defense over an 82 game season, I wouldn't worry about it now.

The Spurs need to clamp down on D a little more though.

But the Suns can't be sleeping well ... they are down 0-2 heading to S.A. They shot frickin' 57% from the floor and LOST!!

[PM5K]

They shot frickin' 57% from the floor and LOST!!

That's like having a keg of beer, a Ferrari, and still not getting laid during Mardi Gras.....

[SpursFanDan]

Did you just say defense and Suns in the same sentence ?
my thoughts exactly... and the rest will be good for timmy. Kori had a good point also.. you can't just turn on the D... it doesnt matter how much you scheme.

[timvp]

Nash will still be the worst defensive player in the building in game three. Nash might as well stay on the other end of the court. He only gets in the way of players who actually attempt to play defense.

[ShoogarBear]

D'Antonio and Co. will no doubt be designing a master plan to hold the Spurs to under 70% shooting in the fourth quarter.

[Chris]

That's like having a keg of beer, a Ferrari, and still not getting laid during Mardi Gras.....
:owned

[PM5K]

Might have been funnier had I mentioned having a handfull of beads :lol

You can't get em all right...

[Tek_XX]

Three days is perfect for this team, it's long enough to maybe heal some nagging wounds but not so long as to get rusty.

[Chris]

The more rest for Tim the better.

[Catharsis]

But the Suns can't be sleeping well ... they are down 0-2 heading to S.A. They shot frickin' 57% from the floor and LOST!!

16 TOs, falling to an early double digit deficit and being out shot by seven attempts will also hurt--it's also not like the Spurs shot 30% from the field.

[TDMVPDPOY]

TD is more hungry now and his determined to win another ring its probaly because he went out in 2000 against suns due to knee injury aarrgggg

[Catharsis]

TD is more hungry now and his determined to win another ring its probaly because he went out in 2000 against suns due to knee injury aarrgggg

If that's why he's motivated, he needs to get his priorities straight.

[T Park]

Suns fans are gettin testy hahahaha.

[mavsfan1000]

The suns actually play decent defense when they are rested. They play their starters too much so they get fatigued and it shows more on the defensive end.
The suns were worn down after a tough series against Dallas but these 3 days off will revive this Phoenix team. I still expect San Antonio to win but Phoenix will put up more of a fight.

[WalterBenitez]

i don't know about you guys but i am not happy with these long rest.

the suns might come up w/ more defensive schemes during these 3 daysthat might stifle the spurs, combine this with our futile attempts of stopping phoenix, i am so worried!

i hope during the rest pop and co. comes up w/ a better defensive plan.

I am concerned , because SA let them scores "easily", I think SA must refocus in its D

[Extra Stout]

I'm not concerned about the long rest.

The Suns are making a lot of mistakes in their approach to Game 3.

They are counting on a big lift from Joe Johnson in his first game back. MISTAKE. He'll be rusty, tentative, and uncomfortable trying to adjust to playing with the mask. If he's expected to body up on Parker, he'll be on the bench in foul trouble super-fast.

They are expecting the Nash-Stoudemire scorefest to continue unabated, thinking they need only build on that. They figure they'll continue to shoot 55% or better, and just need to dial up the defense a bit. MISTAKE. Three days' rest may allow Steve Nash to get over his fatigue, but it's going to disrupt that nice little rhythm he was in. They can't expect him to put up 30 points and 12 assists every game. Nor can they expect to have an easy a time at SBC Center as they did at AWA, regardless of their road record. This isn't the regular season -- they should have figured that out by now.

The Suns are planning to drive to the hoop, thinking they can get into Duncan and draw fouls. MISTAKE. It's one thing to take what the defense gives you, but if the Suns force the issue, they'll get a heavy dose of being forced to the baseline into help defenders, which means lots of turnovers, lots of blocks and altered shots, and lots of offensive fouls. If Nash or Stoudemire end up on the bench in early foul trouble, this game quickly will start to resemble Denver Game 2, Seattle Game 1, or one of the epic ass-kickings the Lakers put on the Spurs back in 2001.

[MadDog73]

If Nash or Stoudemire end up on the bench in early foul trouble, this game quickly will start to resemble Denver Game 2, Seattle Game 1, or one of the epic ass-kickings the Lakers put on the Spurs back in 2001.

Hope you're right Extra Stout. You make some great points.

The biggest thing I'm worried about it not JJ on offense (even if he's not off, which he probably will be, he'll just be taking points away from Nash and Amare).

No, I'm worried about JJ on defense. Spurs have been outscoring the Suns not because the Spurs are defending, but because the Spurs are simply outscoring them. If JJ can disrupt Manu or Tony, then the Spurs offense could falter and cause serious problems.

What do you think? Possible?

[ladiesman]

This is like '03 WCF against the Mavs.... The mavs came out with Raja bell on Parker, and Nash on Bowen. Difference that year... I can't believe I'm going to say this, Dallas played better Defense that the suns have this year.....

Sun fans, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't JJ shooting like over 50% from 3 pt land in the playoffs?..............

ladiesman

[boutons]

For 3G's, Joe J's shooting 56%, Jim J 50%, the Suns are shooting 44%.

But the Suns are shooting a lot less 3G's against the Spurs, so the Spurs have pretty much nullified the Suns' season-long weapon.

Pop said the Spurs will be trying some new approaches in the Spurs solid defense, while the Suns really don't have any defensive approach to adjust.

I'm sure the Spurs will be well prepared by Pop, esp on defense, so the Suns may see some nasty surprises Sat night, while the only new item the Suns will have if JJ.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

While I think that Joe J's might have been the +4 pts that the Suns needed in Phoenix, I just don't think the Spurs are going to let this thing be that close in San Antonio. I think the Suns needed the rest more than the Spurs did, but I don't foresee any kind of let down from the Spurs. I think the best way to put it is by comparing the other conference final. If you watched game 2 you could sense that the Pistons felt like, "Well, we managed to take one in Miami and that's all we really needed to do." The Spurs on the other hand came out with every bit of intensity that the brought in game 1. If I may dust off an old bit of terminology from the '99 season, these Spurs have "mental toughness."

[ca®lo]

"i don't know about you guys but i am not happy with these long rest.

the suns might come up w/ more defensive schemes during these 3 daysthat might stifle the spurs, combine this with our futile attempts of stopping phoenix, i am so worried!"

dont u think that the SPURS will also come up with even MORE defensive schemes during the 3 day break and make em even better against the suns? :)

[Budkin]

As long as the Spurs ratchet up the defense and stop letting the Suns get the shots they want, they will be fine. We are really lucky to have them playing like they have and still be up 2-0 coming home. Game 3 is huge for the Spurs; they really need to step on their throats and go up 3-0. Then the series will truly be over.

[kskonn]

I can't believe I just saw the Suns and the words "come up with defense to stifle the spurs" right...... Suns shot well the problem is that they are not going to shoot much better thatn 57% percent and they are not going to get more shot attempts. The spurs have been doing a great job of using the clock on every posession, thus limiting the suns shot attempts.

At this point Joe Johnson could score 30, all that means is the Jackson and hunter won't get the numbers they have been getting. There is no more room for them to dispurse shots. the shots are just not there...!!!