ducks
05-19-2007, 11:17 AM
Suns get run over
DISAPPOINTED AGAIN: Another playoff exit again leaves title-hungry Suns short of goal 3-STAR EFFORT: Duncan, Parker, Ginobili
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
May. 19, 2007 12:00 AM
SAN ANTONIO - The Suns were like the best relay team in the NBA, but that is not enough to outlast the league's top-class marathoners.
The pedigree of the Spurs came shining through again Friday as they closed out the Suns' season with a 114-106 Game 6 victory at AT&T Center to win their Western Conference semifinal series 4-2.
As the Suns fell to 6-15 against San Antonio since Steve Nash's return to Phoenix, the Spurs' substance, experience and efficiency proved better than the Suns' style, speed and fun. And beyond the pain of a bruising series, with the evidence on Nash's legs, the Suns mostly felt shock over anguish.
"It feels like we're going back home for Game 7 but we're not," Phoenix's Shawn Marion said.
The Suns will be left to re-evaluate their beliefs, as a third wonderful regular season was followed with a third postseason that fell short of the NBA Finals.
No season's expectations were higher than this one - Nash had declared this his best team. But Phoenix will either wonder if is it built to handle the playoffs' more physical play, or to lament the suspensions of Amaré Stoudemire, who scored 38 Friday - much like he had 42 when the Spurs eliminated the Suns two years ago - and Boris Diaw for coming onto the court in reaction to Robert Horry's flagrant fouling of Nash in Game 4.
Last year, there were tears after elimination. As Friday turned to Saturday, there mostly was anger and shock boarding the Suns bus to the off-season.
"I have a lot of faith in our team," said Nash, who had a scoreless, one-assist third quarter as the Spurs opened what had been a close game. "To lose the way we did is difficult. It would've been difficult to lose anyway, but for such a non-factor in the series to play such a big part is tough.
"I don't know what the outcome would've been if we went home tied with a full team."
Nash had only three points until the final nine minutes Friday, and San Antonio cut off his playmaking in the third quarter, pulling away after the game had stayed within a possession for nearly the entire first half. The Suns knew the Spurs would be the better defensive team with the better rebounders and more clutch players, but the Spurs also made more three-pointers in the series and often were the ones with the unstoppable pick-and-roll.
"They will be the champions," Suns guard Leandro Barbosa said after his breakthrough season ended with a four-game shooting slump.
Phoenix wanted to limit the scoring damage to Tim Duncan this series, but San Antonio's persistent efforts to get Manu Ginobili going carried over and the "big three" - Tony Parker included - set the Suns. Duncan scored 24 Friday. Parker had 30 points and Ginobili came off the bench for 33 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.
"The 'big three' hit every shot that was important," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said.
After two playoffs that ended in the conference finals, Phoenix's best title hope yet ended a round earlier in a game marked by uncharacteristic sloppiness (18 turnovers) and a defensive regression that saw it allow 114 points and 48.9 percent shooting. The Spurs hit 14 of 20 shots in the time it took to turn a 59-58 Suns lead into a 92-72 San Antonio bulge three minutes into the fourth.
Nash turned aggressive with his shot to try to rally Phoenix, but it was too late to overcome such a hole.
"We are ready to take the next step and learn from all angles, " said Stoudemire, who hit 14 of 28 field goals and nine of 10 free throws. "It starts now. We have to get over this."
The theme of hotly, tightly contested play was established in a 23-23 first quarter Friday, but it really came much earlier in the series, when San Antonio dictated tempo and Bruce Bowen established a physical brand of defense that derailed Nash's abilities at times, particularly with fellow all-defensive first-teamer Duncan double teaming. Phoenix looked beaten down in the second half as the Spurs' physical, grinding defense continued to tap Nash's powers into mortality.
"Bruce did a hell of a job on him," D'Antoni said. "He was all over him. It was (officiated) a certain way. They let him beat him a bit. Steve was out of sort for a while, but you're talking about the best player in the last 10 years. He can't be Superman every night."
DISAPPOINTED AGAIN: Another playoff exit again leaves title-hungry Suns short of goal 3-STAR EFFORT: Duncan, Parker, Ginobili
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
May. 19, 2007 12:00 AM
SAN ANTONIO - The Suns were like the best relay team in the NBA, but that is not enough to outlast the league's top-class marathoners.
The pedigree of the Spurs came shining through again Friday as they closed out the Suns' season with a 114-106 Game 6 victory at AT&T Center to win their Western Conference semifinal series 4-2.
As the Suns fell to 6-15 against San Antonio since Steve Nash's return to Phoenix, the Spurs' substance, experience and efficiency proved better than the Suns' style, speed and fun. And beyond the pain of a bruising series, with the evidence on Nash's legs, the Suns mostly felt shock over anguish.
"It feels like we're going back home for Game 7 but we're not," Phoenix's Shawn Marion said.
The Suns will be left to re-evaluate their beliefs, as a third wonderful regular season was followed with a third postseason that fell short of the NBA Finals.
No season's expectations were higher than this one - Nash had declared this his best team. But Phoenix will either wonder if is it built to handle the playoffs' more physical play, or to lament the suspensions of Amaré Stoudemire, who scored 38 Friday - much like he had 42 when the Spurs eliminated the Suns two years ago - and Boris Diaw for coming onto the court in reaction to Robert Horry's flagrant fouling of Nash in Game 4.
Last year, there were tears after elimination. As Friday turned to Saturday, there mostly was anger and shock boarding the Suns bus to the off-season.
"I have a lot of faith in our team," said Nash, who had a scoreless, one-assist third quarter as the Spurs opened what had been a close game. "To lose the way we did is difficult. It would've been difficult to lose anyway, but for such a non-factor in the series to play such a big part is tough.
"I don't know what the outcome would've been if we went home tied with a full team."
Nash had only three points until the final nine minutes Friday, and San Antonio cut off his playmaking in the third quarter, pulling away after the game had stayed within a possession for nearly the entire first half. The Suns knew the Spurs would be the better defensive team with the better rebounders and more clutch players, but the Spurs also made more three-pointers in the series and often were the ones with the unstoppable pick-and-roll.
"They will be the champions," Suns guard Leandro Barbosa said after his breakthrough season ended with a four-game shooting slump.
Phoenix wanted to limit the scoring damage to Tim Duncan this series, but San Antonio's persistent efforts to get Manu Ginobili going carried over and the "big three" - Tony Parker included - set the Suns. Duncan scored 24 Friday. Parker had 30 points and Ginobili came off the bench for 33 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.
"The 'big three' hit every shot that was important," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said.
After two playoffs that ended in the conference finals, Phoenix's best title hope yet ended a round earlier in a game marked by uncharacteristic sloppiness (18 turnovers) and a defensive regression that saw it allow 114 points and 48.9 percent shooting. The Spurs hit 14 of 20 shots in the time it took to turn a 59-58 Suns lead into a 92-72 San Antonio bulge three minutes into the fourth.
Nash turned aggressive with his shot to try to rally Phoenix, but it was too late to overcome such a hole.
"We are ready to take the next step and learn from all angles, " said Stoudemire, who hit 14 of 28 field goals and nine of 10 free throws. "It starts now. We have to get over this."
The theme of hotly, tightly contested play was established in a 23-23 first quarter Friday, but it really came much earlier in the series, when San Antonio dictated tempo and Bruce Bowen established a physical brand of defense that derailed Nash's abilities at times, particularly with fellow all-defensive first-teamer Duncan double teaming. Phoenix looked beaten down in the second half as the Spurs' physical, grinding defense continued to tap Nash's powers into mortality.
"Bruce did a hell of a job on him," D'Antoni said. "He was all over him. It was (officiated) a certain way. They let him beat him a bit. Steve was out of sort for a while, but you're talking about the best player in the last 10 years. He can't be Superman every night."