GhostofAlfrederickHughes
06-01-2005, 05:03 PM
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/marty_burns/06/01/suns.spurs/index.html?cnn=yes
Too little, too late
Suns' soft underbelly places season on brink
Posted: Wednesday June 1, 2005 2:26PM; Updated: Wednesday June 1, 2005 2:26PM
by Marty Burns
They were hungry. They were focused. They were intense. And, yes, they showed they had some steak to go with all that sizzle.
But the Suns didn't so much beat the Spurs in Monday night's Game 4 as they survived them. It took a maniacal performance by Amare Stoudemire in the final minutes -- and a few bad bounces and missed foul shots for San Antonio -- for Phoenix to keep alive its dream season. For example, Spurs fans still believe Stoudemire's block of Duncan's dunk should have been ruled goaltending. Even if it wasn't, the fact remains that only a split second and maybe two inches kept it from being a potential three-point play for the Spurs that would have tied the game.
Some are saying the Suns are "back in the series" with the Spurs. Sorry, but let's not get carried away. Phoenix is going to have to come out Wednesday night in Game 5 and do it all over again before anybody can say with a straight face that the Suns have a chance to make history and be the first team to come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series.
The problem for Phoenix is that it is way too soft under the basket. The Spurs scored 106 points in Game 4, the fourth straight game San Antonio has cracked the 100-point threshold. The Spurs also outrebounded the Suns 45-37 in Game 4, including a whopping 20-7 advantage on the offensive boards. The bottom line is Phoenix, as in the Dallas series, has yet show an ability to close down the lane and prevent Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Nazr Mohammed and Robert Horry from either driving to the rim or feasting on crumbs off the offensive glass. It's almost impossible to win a playoff series with that kind of tissue paper defense, even for an offensive machine like the Suns.
Yes, Joe Johnson's return makes a difference. He was able to help slow Tony Parker (5-of-17 shooting in Game 4). He also gives Phoenix another deep shooter to goose their offense, enabling them to offset some of those defensive weaknesses. But Parker is not likely to miss as many open shots the next game, and Spurs coach Gregg Popovich will make adjustments.
The Suns have not been able to stop San Antonio's offense all series, and it's doubtful they will suddenly be able to do it now for more than a game or two. They must hope that Johnson's presence enables them to at least shave a few points off the Spurs total, while translating those few additional stops into fast break opportunities at the other end. It also wouldn't hurt if Duncan continued to brick his free throws.
The Suns might be able to pull off a victory in Game 5. They have a little confidence now, and America West Arena will be rocking. A break here or there, a friendly call from the refs (maybe on one of Ginobili's wild drives to the basket), a little Amare Mania at the end, and it's not impossible they could force a sixth game back at San Antonio. Then the pressure would shift squarely to the Spurs to win and avoid a Game 7 in Phoenix ...
But one gets the feeling Duncan and the Spurs are quietly angry about blowing Game 4. They will view Wednesday night's game as an opportunity to redeem themselves. On the road, against a hostile crowd, the Spurs will likely come out very focused. It will be very tough for the Suns to win even this game, let alone Game 6 in San Antonio.
The good news for Phoenix is that, win or lose, it has shown some backbone. The Suns at least didn't get swept. Now Phoenix knows how young guys such as Stoudemire and Johnson respond to being down 3-0 on the road. With a little more defensive toughness underneath the basket, the Suns could be a force for years to come. It's probably too late to save this season, but there's reason for Phoenix fans to feel good regardless of what happens in Game 5.
Too little, too late
Suns' soft underbelly places season on brink
Posted: Wednesday June 1, 2005 2:26PM; Updated: Wednesday June 1, 2005 2:26PM
by Marty Burns
They were hungry. They were focused. They were intense. And, yes, they showed they had some steak to go with all that sizzle.
But the Suns didn't so much beat the Spurs in Monday night's Game 4 as they survived them. It took a maniacal performance by Amare Stoudemire in the final minutes -- and a few bad bounces and missed foul shots for San Antonio -- for Phoenix to keep alive its dream season. For example, Spurs fans still believe Stoudemire's block of Duncan's dunk should have been ruled goaltending. Even if it wasn't, the fact remains that only a split second and maybe two inches kept it from being a potential three-point play for the Spurs that would have tied the game.
Some are saying the Suns are "back in the series" with the Spurs. Sorry, but let's not get carried away. Phoenix is going to have to come out Wednesday night in Game 5 and do it all over again before anybody can say with a straight face that the Suns have a chance to make history and be the first team to come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series.
The problem for Phoenix is that it is way too soft under the basket. The Spurs scored 106 points in Game 4, the fourth straight game San Antonio has cracked the 100-point threshold. The Spurs also outrebounded the Suns 45-37 in Game 4, including a whopping 20-7 advantage on the offensive boards. The bottom line is Phoenix, as in the Dallas series, has yet show an ability to close down the lane and prevent Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Nazr Mohammed and Robert Horry from either driving to the rim or feasting on crumbs off the offensive glass. It's almost impossible to win a playoff series with that kind of tissue paper defense, even for an offensive machine like the Suns.
Yes, Joe Johnson's return makes a difference. He was able to help slow Tony Parker (5-of-17 shooting in Game 4). He also gives Phoenix another deep shooter to goose their offense, enabling them to offset some of those defensive weaknesses. But Parker is not likely to miss as many open shots the next game, and Spurs coach Gregg Popovich will make adjustments.
The Suns have not been able to stop San Antonio's offense all series, and it's doubtful they will suddenly be able to do it now for more than a game or two. They must hope that Johnson's presence enables them to at least shave a few points off the Spurs total, while translating those few additional stops into fast break opportunities at the other end. It also wouldn't hurt if Duncan continued to brick his free throws.
The Suns might be able to pull off a victory in Game 5. They have a little confidence now, and America West Arena will be rocking. A break here or there, a friendly call from the refs (maybe on one of Ginobili's wild drives to the basket), a little Amare Mania at the end, and it's not impossible they could force a sixth game back at San Antonio. Then the pressure would shift squarely to the Spurs to win and avoid a Game 7 in Phoenix ...
But one gets the feeling Duncan and the Spurs are quietly angry about blowing Game 4. They will view Wednesday night's game as an opportunity to redeem themselves. On the road, against a hostile crowd, the Spurs will likely come out very focused. It will be very tough for the Suns to win even this game, let alone Game 6 in San Antonio.
The good news for Phoenix is that, win or lose, it has shown some backbone. The Suns at least didn't get swept. Now Phoenix knows how young guys such as Stoudemire and Johnson respond to being down 3-0 on the road. With a little more defensive toughness underneath the basket, the Suns could be a force for years to come. It's probably too late to save this season, but there's reason for Phoenix fans to feel good regardless of what happens in Game 5.