Are these first 2 games must win's for the Suns?

[dbreiden83080]

Given how great a road team the Spurs are and have been for years in the playoffs is it crucial that the Suns win both these home games to serve notice to the Spurs that they are ready to beat them finally.

[Xylus]

I honestly don't think home court advantage is going to mean anything in this series. The Spurs and Suns are great home teams and great road teams.

[jman3000]

i feel more confident in the spurs when they're on the road. i've also always felt that the spurs are always most vulnerable in the 1st game of a series... whether it be home or away. if the spurs steal game 1... the suns are in for a long (short really) series.

[GrandeDavid]

Spurs need at least one of these, so yes...I suppose that means that these first two are crucial for Phoenix.

[timvp]

If the Suns lose Game 1, you'd have to think that it'd damage their confidence pretty substantially. That's why the Spurs need to go out and get it.

:smokin

[Marcus Bryant]

Of course. The Spurs are a better road team than home, but that is in the first couple of games of a series.

[ducks]

suns lose the first 2 it is over

[dbreiden83080]

i feel more confident in the spurs when they're on the road. i've also always felt that the spurs are always most vulnerable in the 1st game of a series... whether it be home or away. if the spurs steal game 1... the suns are in for a long (short really) series.

Spurs i feel will be ready to win games 3 and 4 at home. The Denver game 1 was a wake up call for them. They were surprised by how physical the Nuggets played them and they adjusted to it after that. Whatever major adjustments need to be made will probably come in the first 2 games of this series.

[Spursfan101]

Spurs gotta win game one...

[dbreiden83080]

Spurs gotta win game one...

Why?

[td4mvp21]

Spurs just need to win 1 game of the 2, it doesn't matter which one. Suns must do the same.

[ducks]

suns must win both games

[spursfaninla]

I think the Spurs have their best chance at winning if they win one in phoenix. But Spurs fans should not fool themselves into thinking that if the spurs do get one of the first two, that winning the whole thing is guranteed.

All phoenix needs to do is win one of the games in SA....if they are 2 and 2 at the end of 4 games, they have home court advantage, and that is all they need.

If this series goes 7, it will be 50/50 for the spurs to win it. If the spurs are going to win, their best chance will be in 6, winning one at phoenix, both at home and then closing out at home.

[Vingianx]

Spurs just need to win this series

[JMarkJohns]

This isn't vs. Dallas where any team can win on any court any given night. San Antonio will be a bitch of an out for Phoenix, and if they lose one of the first two, it's going to be near impossible. Not impossible, but it's going to be incredably hard.

I think for this Suns team, yes, they really need to take both games. Put the pressure on San Antonio to win four of five vs. them. That's going to be tough for the Spurs.

If the Suns win both games at home to start, they have better than 80% chance of winning the series. If they lose one of the first two games, itdrops to probably around 30-to-40%. If they lose both, they can kiss their season goodbye, they are losing in six.

[T Park]

:lol

[td4mvp21]

This isn't vs. Dallas where any team can win on any court any given night. San Antonio will be a bitch of an out for Phoenix, and if they lose one of the first two, it's going to be near impossible. Not impossible, but it's going to be incredably hard.

I think for this Suns team, yes, they really need to take both games. Put the pressure on San Antonio to win four of five vs. them. That's going to be tough for the Spurs.

If the Suns win both games at home to start, they have better than 80% chance of winning the series. If they lose one of the first two games, itdrops to probably around 30-to-40%. If they lose both, they can kiss their season goodbye, they are losing in six.

Agreed, except I think even if they lose 1, they still have a 40-50% chance of winning. They have experience now.

[JMarkJohns]

Agreed, except I think even if they lose 1, they still have a 40-50% chance of winning. They have experience now.

I say they have 50% tops to win this series.

If they lose one of the first two games in Phoenix, they have to do their damnedest to steal one from San Antonio in the next two. They can't afford to go down 3-1 going back to Phoenix. It's not about experience, so much as probability, and I don't see the Suns having better than a 40% chance of winning this series if they lose one of their first two. They still can, it's just going to be an effer of a time.

[timvp]

As it stands, this series is near a coin flip. If the Spurs had homecourt advantage, I'd be booking my hotel in Oakland or Salt Lake City for Game 3 of that series.

But the Spurs don't have HCA and with a team as explosive and as talented as the Suns, they aren't going to be a pushover by any stretch of the imagination. If Phoenix gets hot, I don't think anyone can guard them ... especially when they get to warm up in the first two games of the series at home.

[Dre_7]

Spurs will split the first two and win two at home, lose at PHX and win again at home.

Spurs in 6.

[Kevin Blackistone]

As it stands, this series is near a coin flip. If the Spurs had homecourt advantage, I'd be booking my hotel in Oakland or Salt Lake City for Game 3 of that series.

But the Spurs don't have HCA and with a team as explosive and as talented as the Suns, they aren't going to be a pushover by any stretch of the imagination. If Phoenix gets hot, I don't think anyone can guard them ... especially when they get to warm up in the first two games of the series at home.


It will take either 4 games of running and gunning against the best transition D that has really never let them do it before, or 4 games of being on a shooting tear, made more difficult since the Spurs should be challenging a lot of those shots and wearing down the Suns on both ends of the court. Getting that kind of shooting and execution for 4 games against a grinding type defense that really makes you work is extremely hard to do. Iverson, Anthony, and the rest of the Nuggets tore people up consistently throughout the season after their lineup solidified, but the grinding from game to game against the Spurs D wore them completely out by game 5.

Therefore, if:
1) Spurs play their tempo and offensive game complete with ball movement and decent shooting
2) Spurs play D at consistent level

Spurs win.

[JMarkJohns]

It will take either 4 games of running and gunning against the best transition D that has really never let them do it before, or 4 games of being on a shooting tear, made more difficult since the Spurs should be challenging a lot of those shots and wearing down the Suns on both ends of the court. Getting that kind of shooting and execution for 4 games against a grinding type defense that really makes you work is extremely hard to do. Iverson, Anthony, and the rest of the Nuggets tore people up consistently throughout the season after their lineup solidified, but the grinding from game to game against the Spurs D wore them completely out by game 5.

Therefore, if:
1) Spurs play their tempo and offensive game complete with ball movement and decent shooting
2) Spurs play D at consistent level

Spurs win.

I agree, which is why they really need to win both in Phoenix to start the series to have a good shot at winning. I think they may be able to squeek out a win or two in a slowed style, but that's only relevant if they have that 2-0 lead.

[Kevin Blackistone]

I agree, which is why they really need to win both in Phoenix to start the series to have a good shot at winning. I think they may be able to squeek out a win or two in a slowed style, but that's only relevant if they have that 2-0 lead.

It's going to be interesting. I don't think the Spurs can win playing a running game and allowing Amare to go completely nuts again as they did in '05, and I don't think Phoenix can win in a slowed down, grind out style. Tempo over the series will probably decide this one.

[JMarkJohns]

Then we disagree, but only slightly. I don't believe either can win consistantly playing the other's style, but I think eacch team is good enough to maybe steal a game or two playing at the other's pace.

Overall, we are very close to being in complete agreement.

[Kobulingam]

What have most of you been smoking?

Spurs going to sweep these bitches.

[Man of Steel]

I think if SA wins either game 1 or 2--it will put an incredible amount of pressure on the Suns.

I see the Spurs winning game one and the Suns taking game 2.

Spurs will win games 3 and 4.

Spurs will close it out in Phoenix in game 5.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

The Suns right now, going off their presser after game 5, are afraid of us. Getting swept two years ago, is even a psychological advantage on our part.

I think if the Spurs pounce on them early, the Suns' self-doubts will promulgate with each passing game. :hungry: :hungry: :hungry:

[jmard5]

If the Spurs win any one of the first two games, Suns will play catch up.

[Gaddabout]

I think Game 1 is a must for Phoenix. More importantly, I think the Suns need to win the 4th quarter of Game 1. They need confidence they can close out the Spurs from Game 1. If the Suns, say, take an 8-point lead into the 4th quarter and merely hold on for a 2-point win, it's just as damaging to them as losing. The Suns took 4th quarter leads into 3 of 5 games against the Spurs in 2005 and won only once. They took 4th quarter leads into 2 of 3 games against the Spurs this season, but lost one of them in OT (first one in San Antonio).

FWIW, the Suns are historically bad in Games 2. I have no idea why.

[Kevin Blackistone]

Then we disagree, but only slightly. I don't believe either can win consistantly playing the other's style, but I think eacch team is good enough to maybe steal a game or two playing at the other's pace.

Overall, we are very close to being in complete agreement.

After re-reading my post I could see that I wasn't clear - I was talking about a series win. Sorry for the lack of clarity in the post. I know on any given game either the Spurs could win a shootout or the Suns could win a grinder, but neither will win 4 of 7 in that fashion. We are in agreement.

[JMarkJohns]

Believe it or not, I actually don't want a game one trouncing for the Suns. I want their three-point shot to fall, but not fall at a great percent. I want things to be hard enough they have to work for the win, showing themselves they can win when everything isn't going right and realizing things won't be easy every game.

I actually HATE a blowout. Maybe not come the fourth quarter, but, as evidenced in game three vs. Los Angeles, an early lead based off of perimeter shots falling at a better than average clip can lead to them becoming passive and reliant on them, then once they stop falling, they are like a deer in headlights, not knowing anything other than chucking it after faling to develop an all-around offensive game.

I'm not as worried about that vs. the Spurs because I don't expect their to be near as many perimeter opportunities vs. San Antonio, but the overall thought it still pertinent. Suns need to be in a battle. As crazy as it sounds, I want Phoenix to be ahead by no more than 10 at any point in the game until the late fourth.

They just play harder when the game is still in doubt.

[Man of Steel]

I think Game 1 is a must for Phoenix. More importantly, I think the Suns need to win the 4th quarter of Game 1. They need confidence they can close out the Spurs from Game 1. If the Suns, say, take an 8-point lead into the 4th quarter and merely hold on for a 2-point win, it's just as damaging to them as losing. The Suns took 4th quarter leads into 3 of 5 games against the Spurs in 2005 and won only once. They took 4th quarter leads into 2 of 3 games against the Spurs this season, but lost one of them in OT (first one in San Antonio).

FWIW, the Suns are historically bad in Games 2. I have no idea why.

And the Spurs usually suck in the first game of a series...

[Kevin Blackistone]

If the Suns lose Game 1, you'd have to think that it'd damage their confidence pretty substantially. That's why the Spurs need to go out and get it.

:smokin

They went out and got it, and game 2 is less than 40 hours away. Does this game 1 win stick it to Phoenix's confidence and spell doom for game 2 and the series, or do the Suns bounce back?