SpursFanFirst
05-13-2007, 01:31 AM
Spurs take control
Nash, Stoudemire struggle as Suns start to fade away
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/ian_thomsen/05/13/suns.spurs/index.html?cnn=yes
SAN ANTONIO -- This series is leaking away from Phoenix. The Suns lost Game 1 in the final minute while Steve Nash was bench-ridden with a bloodied nose. Game 3 on Saturday was a culmination of details -- poor production from Nash and Amare Stoudemire, and overwhelming performances from Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili.
And yet with 3:22 remaining, the Suns were within a manageable six (99-93). So what is the moral of San Antonio's ultimate 108-101 victory? Should the Suns take comfort that they had a chance to win on a bad night? Or will they be discouraged by the Spurs' perennial ability to close out quarters, exploit mismatches and turn most of those crucial details their way?
"We've just got to play hard and compete, that's all it is," said Nash (16 points, 11 assists and 5 turnovers), who missed all nine of his shots before going 6 for 8 down the stretch. "It is a little more physical (in this series), but that's great. That's the way it should be."
Ginobili had gone 9 for 34 over three and a half games when he was accidentally poked in the eye by Shawn Marion while driving to the basket in the third quarter. No foul was called, so Ginobili responded with a kind of vigilante justice: As his new shiner formed like a pirate's tattoo, he singlehandedly outscored the Suns 10-3 to end the quarter and give the Spurs an 80-72 lead. That display further inspired Duncan, who exploited Kurt Thomas down low for 13 points in the fourth quarter. It was altogether a monstrous 33-point, 19-rebound, three-block statement from a former MVP who has been accused the last two years of showing his age. He spryly reminded everyone that he is still only 31.
The fans here had been slow to react to Stoudemire's pregame accusation that Bruce Bowen is a dirty player (an argument lacking in both imagination and common sense, by the way :lol : Hasn't the last half-decade proved that criticizing Bowen's tactics is like complaining about George W. Bush's service in the national guard? That horse is dead). But give Michael Finley credit for having developed a sense of theatrical timing over his 12 NBA seasons. By upfaking Stoudemire and then remaining in a fetal curl upon the floor after Stoudemire had fouled him on the hip midway into the first quarter, Finley focused the crowd's hatred upon the Suns' most explosive star. And then by waiting until the end of the half to throw down his first field goal of the evening -- a booming three with 7 seconds left -- Finley sent the Spurs into their locker room with a 55-53 advantage to flip over a half dominated otherwise by the Suns.
Until then the Suns had been having their way. They weren't feeling pressure either from the situation or from the Spurs. Most impressive was their swarming defense, which made it difficult for the Spurs to score going to the basket. Meanwhile the Suns were scoring in transition, and Marion and Raja Bell were knocking down jumpers whenever the Spurs threatened to make a run.
But that formula could last only so long. Nothing was going down for Nash: His jumpers and layups bounced around the inside of the iron before popping out like ping-pong balls from a lottery machine. But the Suns couldn't lean on Stoudemire (21 points in 20 minutes) either, because he spent most of the game in foul trouble. ``I felt great when I was on the court,'' he said, smiling. "It will be a different story Monday.''
The Suns recognize they're asking a lot of Stoudemire to essentially offset the low-post production of Duncan. "He's still figuring it out, he's still a young player,'' said Nash. "He got caught a couple of times in some tough situations. He has to try to not let it happen again, but there's no guarantees.''
Stoudemire made it sound as if he had been hoping to fix the spotlight on himself by condemning Bowen. "I've never been in that type (of) environment before, but it felt great,'' he said. "It definitely seemed like a challenge from the fans. It was a lot of motivation. I hope they keep it up.''
He needn't worry that they'll do their job. The question is whether he can do his. If Stoudemire can extend his Game 3 production over 40 minutes, then Game 4 might turn into the classic showdown we've been waiting for.
Nash, Stoudemire struggle as Suns start to fade away
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/ian_thomsen/05/13/suns.spurs/index.html?cnn=yes
SAN ANTONIO -- This series is leaking away from Phoenix. The Suns lost Game 1 in the final minute while Steve Nash was bench-ridden with a bloodied nose. Game 3 on Saturday was a culmination of details -- poor production from Nash and Amare Stoudemire, and overwhelming performances from Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili.
And yet with 3:22 remaining, the Suns were within a manageable six (99-93). So what is the moral of San Antonio's ultimate 108-101 victory? Should the Suns take comfort that they had a chance to win on a bad night? Or will they be discouraged by the Spurs' perennial ability to close out quarters, exploit mismatches and turn most of those crucial details their way?
"We've just got to play hard and compete, that's all it is," said Nash (16 points, 11 assists and 5 turnovers), who missed all nine of his shots before going 6 for 8 down the stretch. "It is a little more physical (in this series), but that's great. That's the way it should be."
Ginobili had gone 9 for 34 over three and a half games when he was accidentally poked in the eye by Shawn Marion while driving to the basket in the third quarter. No foul was called, so Ginobili responded with a kind of vigilante justice: As his new shiner formed like a pirate's tattoo, he singlehandedly outscored the Suns 10-3 to end the quarter and give the Spurs an 80-72 lead. That display further inspired Duncan, who exploited Kurt Thomas down low for 13 points in the fourth quarter. It was altogether a monstrous 33-point, 19-rebound, three-block statement from a former MVP who has been accused the last two years of showing his age. He spryly reminded everyone that he is still only 31.
The fans here had been slow to react to Stoudemire's pregame accusation that Bruce Bowen is a dirty player (an argument lacking in both imagination and common sense, by the way :lol : Hasn't the last half-decade proved that criticizing Bowen's tactics is like complaining about George W. Bush's service in the national guard? That horse is dead). But give Michael Finley credit for having developed a sense of theatrical timing over his 12 NBA seasons. By upfaking Stoudemire and then remaining in a fetal curl upon the floor after Stoudemire had fouled him on the hip midway into the first quarter, Finley focused the crowd's hatred upon the Suns' most explosive star. And then by waiting until the end of the half to throw down his first field goal of the evening -- a booming three with 7 seconds left -- Finley sent the Spurs into their locker room with a 55-53 advantage to flip over a half dominated otherwise by the Suns.
Until then the Suns had been having their way. They weren't feeling pressure either from the situation or from the Spurs. Most impressive was their swarming defense, which made it difficult for the Spurs to score going to the basket. Meanwhile the Suns were scoring in transition, and Marion and Raja Bell were knocking down jumpers whenever the Spurs threatened to make a run.
But that formula could last only so long. Nothing was going down for Nash: His jumpers and layups bounced around the inside of the iron before popping out like ping-pong balls from a lottery machine. But the Suns couldn't lean on Stoudemire (21 points in 20 minutes) either, because he spent most of the game in foul trouble. ``I felt great when I was on the court,'' he said, smiling. "It will be a different story Monday.''
The Suns recognize they're asking a lot of Stoudemire to essentially offset the low-post production of Duncan. "He's still figuring it out, he's still a young player,'' said Nash. "He got caught a couple of times in some tough situations. He has to try to not let it happen again, but there's no guarantees.''
Stoudemire made it sound as if he had been hoping to fix the spotlight on himself by condemning Bowen. "I've never been in that type (of) environment before, but it felt great,'' he said. "It definitely seemed like a challenge from the fans. It was a lot of motivation. I hope they keep it up.''
He needn't worry that they'll do their job. The question is whether he can do his. If Stoudemire can extend his Game 3 production over 40 minutes, then Game 4 might turn into the classic showdown we've been waiting for.