50 cent
06-02-2005, 12:42 PM
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylc=X3oDMTBpYTg2ZTBwBF9TAzk1ODYxOTQ4BHNlYwN0 bQ--?slug=sk-playoffs060105&prov=yhoo&type=lgns Sorry if this has been posted, but I haven't seen it...
Spurs show the way
By Steve Kerr, Yahoo! Sports
June 1, 2005
Yahoo! Sports' NBA analyst Steve Kerr makes his points on the postseason in his playoff notebook.
San Antonio 101, Phoenix 95
The question facing the Phoenix Suns entering the postseason was: Can a running team win in the playoffs? But after Phoenix's long run finally was stopped by the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, a new question should be asked.
Can anyone beat the Spurs?
In difficult circumstances, San Antonio came through with a gutsy 101-95 series-clinching victory in Game 5. San Antonio took everything the Suns threw at them, and showed why they're a championship contender year after year. The Spurs defended, hit big shots, rarely turned over the ball and survived an amazing performance by Amare Stoudemire to win the Western Conference finals.
The theme of this series was fourth-quarter execution, and the team with the championship pedigree – the Spurs – came up big when it counted.
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San Antonio knew where it was going with the ball each time down the court – into Tim Duncan – and his teammates played off of him. He scored 31 points, grabbed 15 boards and anchored a strong defense that opened the third quarterwith a game-altering 15-2 run. Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker each hit big shots in the closing minutes to help seal the victory. It is their penetration and attacking nature that makes this team so difficult to cover, as the Suns found out. Phoenix swarmed Duncan all night, but it couldn't keep the Spurs' guards out of the paint.
The Spurs now will enjoy seven days off to rest and prepare for what they hope is a third NBA title in seven seasons. The finals begin June 9 at the SBC Center.
The Suns finished a magical season with a disappointing loss, but they have gained valuable experience as they move forward. History shows that championship teams must go through painful playoff losses before hoisting the trophy.
The lesson the Suns learned in the series is that at this level, they must be more consistent with their defense and rebounding. The critics may say "I told you so," but I believe Phoenix can play its up-tempo style and win a championship someday. But the Suns need to be able to stop teams when they have to. The "Showtime" Lakers of the '80s were the best running team in the NBA. But when it came to crunch time, they could gut it out and make stops because they were tough, smart and disciplined.
The Suns showed much-improved defense in Games 4 and 5 of this series, but they never showed a consistent ability to make a four- or five-minute defensive stand that could change the game. That's what the Spurs did to open up the second half, and it won them the game.
And that's why they're headed back to the finals.
Spurs show the way
By Steve Kerr, Yahoo! Sports
June 1, 2005
Yahoo! Sports' NBA analyst Steve Kerr makes his points on the postseason in his playoff notebook.
San Antonio 101, Phoenix 95
The question facing the Phoenix Suns entering the postseason was: Can a running team win in the playoffs? But after Phoenix's long run finally was stopped by the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, a new question should be asked.
Can anyone beat the Spurs?
In difficult circumstances, San Antonio came through with a gutsy 101-95 series-clinching victory in Game 5. San Antonio took everything the Suns threw at them, and showed why they're a championship contender year after year. The Spurs defended, hit big shots, rarely turned over the ball and survived an amazing performance by Amare Stoudemire to win the Western Conference finals.
The theme of this series was fourth-quarter execution, and the team with the championship pedigree – the Spurs – came up big when it counted.
ADVERTISEMENT
San Antonio knew where it was going with the ball each time down the court – into Tim Duncan – and his teammates played off of him. He scored 31 points, grabbed 15 boards and anchored a strong defense that opened the third quarterwith a game-altering 15-2 run. Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker each hit big shots in the closing minutes to help seal the victory. It is their penetration and attacking nature that makes this team so difficult to cover, as the Suns found out. Phoenix swarmed Duncan all night, but it couldn't keep the Spurs' guards out of the paint.
The Spurs now will enjoy seven days off to rest and prepare for what they hope is a third NBA title in seven seasons. The finals begin June 9 at the SBC Center.
The Suns finished a magical season with a disappointing loss, but they have gained valuable experience as they move forward. History shows that championship teams must go through painful playoff losses before hoisting the trophy.
The lesson the Suns learned in the series is that at this level, they must be more consistent with their defense and rebounding. The critics may say "I told you so," but I believe Phoenix can play its up-tempo style and win a championship someday. But the Suns need to be able to stop teams when they have to. The "Showtime" Lakers of the '80s were the best running team in the NBA. But when it came to crunch time, they could gut it out and make stops because they were tough, smart and disciplined.
The Suns showed much-improved defense in Games 4 and 5 of this series, but they never showed a consistent ability to make a four- or five-minute defensive stand that could change the game. That's what the Spurs did to open up the second half, and it won them the game.
And that's why they're headed back to the finals.