Kori Ellis
05-30-2005, 03:16 AM
Spurs expect Suns to be more physical
Paul Coro and David Vest
The Arizona Republic
May. 30, 2005 12:00 AM
SAN ANTONIO - San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said Sunday that he expects Phoenix to play more physically in tonight's Game 4.
That may be the first time someone anticipated that from Phoenix this season. That is just not the Suns' way. They fouled less than any team in the league by design. They kept the pace flowing then, but the lack of defensive aggression with San Antonio is not even feeding the other end.
San Antonio's patience and efficiency have picked Phoenix apart. When the Suns do get a stop, they seldom run like the 62-20 regular-season team.
Tim Duncan's deep posting ability and the Spurs guards' unobstructed drives are drilling the Suns.
"Seattle wanted to hit us hard every time," Spurs guard Tony Parker said, referring to when he and Manu Ginobili penetrated. "Denver, same thing. Maybe Phoenix is using another strategy. They are just different."
Duncan is getting stronger and quicker as the series goes. He appeared gimpy at times against Seattle, which pounded him with Jerome James and Danny Fortson. His presence has unraveled Phoenix's help defense.
That Seattle series also has San Antonio on guard tonight. Leading 2-0, the Spurs lost Game 3 and got into a six-game tussle.
"They (the Suns) are not going to lay down for anybody," San Antonio's Bruce Bowen said.
Amaré hurting
Amaré Stoudemire injured his right elbow on a third-quarter dunk Saturday and sat out Sunday's practice. He hesitated when asked whether he would play tonight, then said: "Probably so." :rolleyes He hurt his left elbow in the Dallas series.
"It's real sore and stiff," Stoudemire said.
Style points
The buzzards are circling the Suns' season, waiting to descend, and many are questioning whether their playing style is a reason for their exit. It even has Stoudemire, a long proponent of having someone else play center, wondering.
"It's tough because with this style of play, there tends to be a little helter-skelter play going on. In the playoffs, you can't afford that," Stoudemire said. "Every possession is valuable. It's tough to play that way."
Suns coach Mike D'Antoni and MVP Steve Nash were both handling such inquiries Sunday. D'Antoni deflected it, saying "the margin of victory is thin" in this series with four or five baskets making the difference.
"You can say whatever you want, but I think the biggest difference is that No. 21 (Duncan) is a terrific player," Nash said. " . . . If we played walk-it-up basketball, I think we'd have a much harder time."
Been there
Spurs forward Robert Horry is poised to leapfrog into third place on the NBA's all-time list for postseason game appearances.
Horry enters tonight's Game 4 against the Suns with 190 playoff games on his résumé.
Karl Malone and former Suns player and coach Danny Ainge are tied for third on the list, three games ahead of Horry.
Unless he's injured, or suddenly finds himself stuck on the Spurs bench, Horry will move past Ainge and Malone this postseason.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (237) and Scottie Pippen (208) are first and second on the list, respectively.
"He's just doing the right thing every time and the right moment with big shots, big rebounds and great plays on defense," Parker said.
Paul Coro and David Vest
The Arizona Republic
May. 30, 2005 12:00 AM
SAN ANTONIO - San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said Sunday that he expects Phoenix to play more physically in tonight's Game 4.
That may be the first time someone anticipated that from Phoenix this season. That is just not the Suns' way. They fouled less than any team in the league by design. They kept the pace flowing then, but the lack of defensive aggression with San Antonio is not even feeding the other end.
San Antonio's patience and efficiency have picked Phoenix apart. When the Suns do get a stop, they seldom run like the 62-20 regular-season team.
Tim Duncan's deep posting ability and the Spurs guards' unobstructed drives are drilling the Suns.
"Seattle wanted to hit us hard every time," Spurs guard Tony Parker said, referring to when he and Manu Ginobili penetrated. "Denver, same thing. Maybe Phoenix is using another strategy. They are just different."
Duncan is getting stronger and quicker as the series goes. He appeared gimpy at times against Seattle, which pounded him with Jerome James and Danny Fortson. His presence has unraveled Phoenix's help defense.
That Seattle series also has San Antonio on guard tonight. Leading 2-0, the Spurs lost Game 3 and got into a six-game tussle.
"They (the Suns) are not going to lay down for anybody," San Antonio's Bruce Bowen said.
Amaré hurting
Amaré Stoudemire injured his right elbow on a third-quarter dunk Saturday and sat out Sunday's practice. He hesitated when asked whether he would play tonight, then said: "Probably so." :rolleyes He hurt his left elbow in the Dallas series.
"It's real sore and stiff," Stoudemire said.
Style points
The buzzards are circling the Suns' season, waiting to descend, and many are questioning whether their playing style is a reason for their exit. It even has Stoudemire, a long proponent of having someone else play center, wondering.
"It's tough because with this style of play, there tends to be a little helter-skelter play going on. In the playoffs, you can't afford that," Stoudemire said. "Every possession is valuable. It's tough to play that way."
Suns coach Mike D'Antoni and MVP Steve Nash were both handling such inquiries Sunday. D'Antoni deflected it, saying "the margin of victory is thin" in this series with four or five baskets making the difference.
"You can say whatever you want, but I think the biggest difference is that No. 21 (Duncan) is a terrific player," Nash said. " . . . If we played walk-it-up basketball, I think we'd have a much harder time."
Been there
Spurs forward Robert Horry is poised to leapfrog into third place on the NBA's all-time list for postseason game appearances.
Horry enters tonight's Game 4 against the Suns with 190 playoff games on his résumé.
Karl Malone and former Suns player and coach Danny Ainge are tied for third on the list, three games ahead of Horry.
Unless he's injured, or suddenly finds himself stuck on the Spurs bench, Horry will move past Ainge and Malone this postseason.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (237) and Scottie Pippen (208) are first and second on the list, respectively.
"He's just doing the right thing every time and the right moment with big shots, big rebounds and great plays on defense," Parker said.