Spurs vs. Suns - Dec. 17 Game Blog

[ShoogarBear]

Majerle is an idiot. "I'm sure that's not what Pop wanted". No, that's exactly what he wanted.

[RashoFan]

9.9 left 98 Suns 95 Spurs

[loveforthegame]

Did we really go to Bowen?

[TDfan2007]

what the fuck is anyone but Tim or Manu doing shooting the ball?

[slayermin]

95-98

Spurs need a three.

[DannyT]

98-95 phx.....9.9 to go spurs ball

[TBMTF]

9 seconds.

[AnotherArgie]

Fuuuuck!

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Interesting game, pity we got done.

[ShoogarBear]

what the fuck is anyone but Tim or Manu doing shooting the ball?Bowen was wide open. The Spurs will look for that shot.

[m33p0]

crap

[DannyT]

bonner in for mikey

[Capt Bringdown]

Just you want: a shot from your least skilled offensive player when the game's on the line. WTF?

[lefty]

Horryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

[DannyT]

bonner in for timmy

[RashoFan]

:madrun :pctoss :ihit :makemyday :cuss :spless:
That about sums it up for me...:lol

[ShoogarBear]

No Horry?

[Leetonidas]

Wow, that was so anti-climactic.

[m33p0]

double crap

[DannyT]

game over

manu lost the ball

good game fellas

[Sp Ginobili 20]

Wtf...

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Just you want: a shot from your least skilled offensive player when the game's on the line. WTF?

Wide open 3 in the corner, Spurs will take it every time. Bowen's won many a game with that shot.

But it doesn't ALWAYS go down.

[boutons_]

wow, Suns just played better ball, even defense.

[Tek_XX]

fire pop

[AnotherArgie]

Why the chinese commentators laugh every time they see Bonner?

[ShoogarBear]

Suns announcers are in ecstasy. The win proves the Suns are the NBA champions.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

I'm pissed

[lefty]

What

The

Fuck

[DannyT]

100-95 phx final

[Capt Bringdown]

Bitter loss
Please don't blame the refs, Spurs choked at the end.

[loveforthegame]

We need to sit Manu once Parker comes back. The man isn't right.

[Budkin]

Not bad considering we didn't have TP tearing them up. Still sucks to lose ground though.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Manu, fark, that was AWFUL.

Oh well.

[easjer]

Well, it was a good game, all things considered. Certainly not the Spurs best outing, but they were so close all the way through. Too bad they blew it at the end.

But at least the vBookie comes in.

[lefty]

Why the chinese commentators laugh every time they see Bonner?

Because it's the 1st time they see someone like him

[Sweetey]

FUCK !!! FUCK !! FUCK !!

And Dallas just beat the Magic by 3 pts. Fucked-up night !!



:madrun :madrun :madrun :madrun

[Admidave50]

Manu's been sucking very much these last couple of games!

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Refs were crap, but I don't blame them for the loss.

We were non-clutch when it mattered.

[TampaDude]

Ginobili has been teh suckage these past few games...

[Behrooz24]

This is like that movie Vacancy

Pretty good til the shitty end :pctoss

[TDfan2007]

wow...way to lay an egg in crunch time...

[Budkin]

Suns announcers are in ecstasy. The win proves the Suns are the NBA champions.

:lmao I want to hear them in May.

[boutons_]

2 bad games by Manu, then a very mediocre game tonight, shooting 33%.

Spurs win by the 3G, and die by the 3G, 1 of 14. wow

[lefty]

TP will beat the crap out of them next time we meet them

He's clearly an upgrade over Vaughn :ihit :ihit

[Capt Bringdown]

Wide open 3 in the corner, Spurs will take it every time. Bowen's won many a game with that shot.

But it doesn't ALWAYS go down.
A bad read from Bowen. He was 0-4 for the game. Not the guy you want to shoot.

[milkyway21]

grr, i hate it that these crybabies were the first one to win @ the AT&T.

but that they struggled to win this one w/ no Parker, is good news to me

GRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!

:lmao

[porscha]

:bang :bang :bang :bang :bang :bang :bang :bang :bang :bang :bang

[Tippecanoe]

i have this slight hunch that if tony parker played, the scores woulda been reversed

[BonnerDynasty]

Spurs need to fucking find their defense.

[manubili]

bad day

[E20]

Nice one Manu. :rolleyes

[TwoHandJam]

Tough loss but I honestly think the Suns are weaker than last year. We had a chance to pull it out even without TP who usually shreds the Suns defense and Manu having a very poor shooting night. With TP covering Nash and Bowen free to smother Hill, the Suns likely lose this contest - probably by double digits.

The Suns played a good game but their interior is as soft as ever and will again be their downfall in the playoffs.

[boutons_]

Tim's best game of the season, Spurs lose

[RonMexico]

Watch it again - Hill buried his shoulder in Horry's stomach. Definite charge.

I'm sure you also thought Oberto didn't pull Diaw's arm.

[TampaDude]

2 bad games by Manu, then a very mediocre game tonight, shooting 33%.

Spurs win by the 3G, and die by the 3G, 1 of 14. wow

5 of 23.

Damn...Spurs should've won this game by double digits...when the fuck is Parker coming back???

[TDfan2007]

Way to piss away a great game by Tim...again...

[ShoogarBear]

A bad read from Bowen. He was 0-4 for the game. Not the guy you want to shoot.BS. If Pop didn't want him taking a wide open 3 from his usual spot, then they shouldn't have had him in the game, or they shouldn't have passed it to him standing there.

That's exactly the shot everyone on the Spurs will tell you they wanted.

[ShoogarBear]

Tim's best game of the season, Spurs loseVaughn's best game of the season, Spurs lose.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

forget the wasted game on tim's part

I don't know the next time we'll see a 7-10 outing from vaughn for 14 points

[Amuseddaysleeper]

shoogarbear, great minds think alike! :lol

[RonMexico]

Tough loss but I honestly think the Suns are weaker than last year. We had a chance to pull it out even without TP who usually shreds the Suns defense and Manu having a very poor shooting night. With TP covering Nash and Bowen free to smother Hill, the Suns likely lose this contest - probably by double digits.

The Suns played a good game but their interior is as soft as ever and will again be their downfall in the playoffs.

Parker rarely covers Nash.

Nash had a poor shooting game... Amare had only 15 pts... both teams had guys that didn't show up completely out there... Bell was 1 of 6 from 3 when he had a lot of open looks. Diaw airballed a few shots.

It would have been a better win if Parker were in. He doesn't always "shred" them (aka Game 2 of the Semis last year).

[BonnerDynasty]

I think MOJO blacks out the game here in SA.... :depressed

Why do they do this?

[TampaDude]

Oh, well...at least it's just December...see you Suns fuckers in the playoffs...get ready to get swept!

[RonMexico]

BS. If Pop didn't want him taking a wide open 3 from his usual spot, then they shouldn't have had him in the game, or they shouldn't have passed it to him standing there.

That's exactly the shot everyone on the Spurs will tell you they wanted.

It's a shot he hit to down the Suns last year.

[Capt Bringdown]

they shouldn't have had him in the game, or they shouldn't have passed it to him standing there.

Yes, I agree.

[Alexxx]

:bang :madrun :bang

[RobSM64]

Why do they do this?


probably to get one to buy NBATV, and/or since they pass the game locally.

[Budkin]

Not to mention Hill won't be in the Suns lineup in the playoffs. :lol

[UV Ray]

Parker rarely covers Nash.

Nash had a poor shooting game... Amare had only 15 pts... both teams had guys that didn't show up completely out there... Bell was 1 of 6 from 3 when he had a lot of open looks. Diaw airballed a few shots.

It would have been a better win if Parker were in. He doesn't always "shred" them (aka Game 2 of the Semis last year).

I agree. Suns didn't play all that well and still managed a W on the Spur's court. Nash was MIA in the first half and Bell needs to step it up offensively.

[milkyway21]

unless a player from Phoenix can completely cover Tim Duncan they have the chance against the Spurs in the playoffs. Releasing Thomas was not a good move. 36 pts + 17 rbds, if I'm a Suns fan, I'd be worried esp in the playoffs. It was Duncan who was the highest scoring Spur in the 2nd rnd of 2007 playoffs.

Unless of course Tim Duncan is hit by an asteroid(as they say:lmao). :smokin

[DazedAndConfused]

I wouldn't get too worried over a regular season loss. This is exactly what happened to LAL against GSW last Friday. When a team has that big of a chip on their shoulder sometimes there is just nothing you can do to win the game. Sometimes it's just not your night regardless of how well you play.

You better believe the Suns went out tonight and gave it their all. They put it all on the line and barely squeaked out with a victory. GSW did the same against the Lakers after having lost the last 9 games. The good news is that it was still a close game and you didn't even have Parker playing, the bad news is that your 1st home loss is to the Suns.

On a side note, why the hell do the Sun's offense give you so much trouble? I know they give everyone trouble, but it seems like their offense is tailor-made to break your defense down.

[CarefreeAZ]

Tough loss but I honestly think the Suns are weaker than last year. We had a chance to pull it out even without TP who usually shreds the Suns defense and Manu having a very poor shooting night. With TP covering Nash and Bowen free to smother Hill, the Suns likely lose this contest - probably by double digits.

The Suns played a good game but their interior is as soft as ever and will again be their downfall in the playoffs.

True the interior defense has never been a strong presence but the Suns are getting better weakside help with Skinner and Marion and getting more blocked shots. When Nash does guard Parker TP usually has his way - like game one of the playoffs. However, the suns usually switch Marion on TP and that seemed to slow Parker down.

[milkyway21]

I hope this game will stop the whining

[TwoHandJam]

Parker rarely covers Nash.
Don't know what games you're watching but Parker usually covers Nash for most of the game. He's gotten quite good at defending him on the pick and rolls with Amare. Bowen is usually only put on Nash in endgame situations although he might draw the assignment with Parker playing if Nash is having an exceptional night.


Nash had a poor shooting game... Amare had only 15 pts... both teams had guys that didn't show up completely out there...
Agreed.


It would have been a better win if Parker were in. He doesn't always "shred" them (aka Game 2 of the Semis last year). One game doesn't establish a trend. I haven't looked up Parker's recent stats vs. the Suns but I'm fairly sure he scores above his averages against them. Nash isn't known for his defense and the Suns have always had poor shotblocking.

[Amarelooms]

Oh, well...at least it's just December...see you Suns fuckers in the playoffs...get ready to get swept!

Thats just dumb...the Spurs probably cant sweep any team come playoff time let alone the Mavs or Suns :elephant

[duncan228]

Losing is never fun.
It was an intense game.

And Duncan. Duncan is simply amazing.
To watch him have the game he had was wonderful.
Would have been even better with a win, but it's always good to see him play like he did tonight.
When he wants it he's got it. Even when he's not 100% yet from the ankle injury.

He wants the repeat.
December will come and go.
June is what will matter.
And this year I see him holding both trophies.

[loveforthegame]

It's hard to be upset with the loss. We were in position to win but turnovers happen and against a good team it will cost you.

We're playing teams that were in the playoffs last year and we're 3-3 in that stretch without Duncan and/or Parker and Ginobli sucking in most of them. I'll take that stat anytime.

It's a shame to see Duncan's game wasted but it should worry the Suns more than the Spurs. Finley and Vaughn had nice games but we needed more from Ginobli and Barry to win this one.

[yourcheatinheart]

muahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahttp://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q21/meeks4president/576953119_94280fd71d_o.jpg

[UV Ray]

News Flash: Before tonights game the Suns had lost three of the last four games. If anything the Suns consider this win encouraging.

[yourcheatinheart]

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q21/meeks4president/douche.jpg

[Jeremy]

Hehe, how about the minute distributions? Pop actually played his guys heavier minutes than D'antoni did. Finley, 40 minutes?!

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=271217024

[BonnerDynasty]

They were who we thought they were.

Good luck taking on all 3 of our stars AND our 3 pointers come playoff time.

Suns are toast. I'm not scurred.

[easjer]

i have this slight hunch that if tony parker played, the scores woulda been reversed


Well, if I employ logic utilized by Matt Bullard and the Rockets announcing team - if Parker had played, well, you know he's averaging 20+ points, so you add that in, and the Spurs have won by 15. Easy.

:lol

[yourcheatinheart]

Oh, well...at least it's just December...see you Suns fuckers in the playoffs...get ready to get swept!


you couldn't sweep a floor, well maybe against this guy you could. http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q21/meeks4president/lebron-james.png GO SUNS!!!

[CubanMustGo]

Hehe, how about the minute distributions? Pop actually played his guys heavier minutes than D'antoni did. Finley, 40 minutes?!

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=271217024

(a) Phoenix didn't have its Finals MVP out with injury. Well, Phoenix wouldn't know what a Finals MVP is, true, but I digress.
(b) D'Antoni plays his seven guys all year, not just one game like Pop did tonight.

Enjoy the W, you deserved the win. Just remember it's December.

[Capt Bringdown]

LOL, I always find excuses after tough losses amusing. Rarely, if ever do you hear "oh well, it was just a regular season game, it's meaningless until the playoffs etc" after a big win.

[SAtown]

Just got back from the game. Great playoff-like atmosphere, and the best I've experienced in a regular season game in over 10 years. I guess the refs had a lot to do with that...

[TampaDude]

Thats just dumb...the Spurs probably cant sweep any team come playoff time let alone the Mavs or Suns :elephant

Uh...how many games did the Finals go this year??? :lol

[UV Ray]

LOL, I always find excuses after tough losses amusing. Rarely, if ever do you hear "oh well, it was just a regular season game, it's meaningless until the playoffs etc" after a big win.


:tu

[easjer]

LOL, I always find excuses after tough losses amusing. Rarely, if ever do you hear "oh well, it was just a regular season game, it's meaningless until the playoffs etc" after a big win.


Capt. Bringdown indeed. :lol

I'm too pumped after a win to sit around dissecting it.

But it's not entirely true, you know - there has been plenty of bitching about wins and excuses for poor play and there HAVE been people reminding folks to chill after a win, because it's early on.

[TampaDude]

you couldn't sweep a floor, well maybe against this guy you could. http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q21/meeks4president/lebron-james.png GO SUNS!!!

Spoken like a true fan of a ZERO-RING team...see you in May, whiners! :lol

[tp2021]

Well, if I employ logic utilized by Matt Bullard and the Rockets announcing team - if Parker had played, well, you know he's averaging 20+ points, so you add that in, and the Spurs have won by 15. Easy.

:lol

and if elson played? FORGET ABOUT IT! suns would've been run right out of the gym. :drunk

[loveforthegame]

Hehe, how about the minute distributions? Pop actually played his guys heavier minutes than D'antoni did. Finley, 40 minutes?!

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=271217024

Finley averages 24 minutes for the season so he can go 40 minutes here and there. Besides he was one of the few players actually contibuting for the Spurs otherwise I think Barry or possibly Udoka would have seen the floor if Finley was stinking it up.

[Amarelooms]

Uh...how many games did the Finals go this year??? :lol

East maybe not a Western team and certainly not the Suns. Just pray you get by without facing the Mavs again :elephant

[milkyway21]

I agree. Suns didn't play all that well and still managed a W on the Spur's court. Nash was MIA in the first half and Bell needs to step it up offensively.are you trying to say, IF Nash and Bell ONLY played well, it could have been a blow-out?

Hmmn, you forget to mention the fact that Manu didn't play well too. He can score easily 35 on you guys, if you just try to remember in the last 2 yrs.

[T Park]

Yeah that Tony Parker guy not being there had zero effect.

[Amarelooms]

are you trying to say, IF Nash and Bell ONLY played well, it could have been a blow-out?

Hmmn, you forget to mention the fact that Manu didn't play well too. He can score easily 35 on you guys, if you just try to remember in the last 2 yrs.

Easily score 35? HAHAHAHAHAHA who is Manu now Jordan?

SPURS HOMERS STFU ALREADY. How old are you people 12? All these bullshit comments....Spurs gonna sweep the Suns....er Manu gonna drop 35....er Parker was out and if he would have played Spurs win by 50. LOL you Spurs homers are too much :elephant

[SpurOutofTownFan]

This is fuel for the conspiracy theorists about Pop not willing to coach the ASG. Lost against the coach who wants, at home, etc. Nice statement.

[SpurOutofTownFan]

Easily score 35? HAHAHAHAHAHA who is Manu now Jordan?

SPURS HOMERS STFU ALREADY. How old are you people 12? All these bullshit comments....Spurs gonna sweep the Suns....er Manu gonna drop 35....er Parker was out and if he would have played Spurs win by 50. LOL you Spurs homers are too much :elephant

I can't recall you were this vivid before.

[T Park]

Parker rarely covers Nash.

Nash had a poor shooting game... Amare had only 15 pts... both teams had guys that didn't show up completely out there... Bell was 1 of 6 from 3 when he had a lot of open looks. Diaw airballed a few shots.

It would have been a better win if Parker were in. He doesn't always "shred" them (aka Game 2 of the Semis last year).


Yeah and Brian Skinner is gonna hit those 20 footers again too. Right.


I'll take the Spurs half court defense.

WIth Parker in there, that allows Bowen to guard a Marion or in this case Grant HIll.

Good game tonight. If Ginobili had had any kind of decent game the Spurs win in a rout.


No big deal to me. Big ups on the efforts from Vaughn, another solid to good effort from Michael Finley.

Guy I was dissapointed in?

Brent Barry.

Lots of open shots, lots of oppurtunites, and he just wasnt there.


Come on Brent you can do better than that!!

[UV Ray]

are you trying to say, IF Nash and Bell ONLY played well, it could have been a blow-out?

Hmmn, you forget to mention the fact that Manu didn't play well too. He can score easily 35 on you guys, if you just try to remember in the last 2 yrs.

Las Vegas just called. They want your money.

[easjer]

Yeah that Tony Parker guy not being there had zero effect.


Hey, I've already effectively proven that the Spurs would have scored 115 with Tony Parker in the game.

And someone else has made an excellent case for Francisco Elson. Not only would he have blocked 2 shots (so now, the Suns score is really 96), he would have scored at least 4 points off garbage points. So, really, the Spurs won by 23. I was going to add that Elson would undoubtedly picked up some rebounds that led to Suns points, but since those were effectively negated by the fast break points off Elson's turnovers, I decided to let it slide this time.

It's clear enough, using Rocket's logic, that the Spurs had a definitive win tonight. I refuse to believe anything else, because it's pretty well laid out here.

[T Park]

Las Vegas just called. They want your money.

47 in Phoenix in the middle of the year, and 30 points multiple times says I'd win that bet spanky.

[T Park]

And someone else has made an excellent case for Francisco Elson

I honestly think Elson wouldn't have played much.

Hes way too dumb to play against a good executing team like the Suns.

[easjer]

I honestly think Elson wouldn't have played much.

Hes way too dumb to play against a good executing team like the Suns.


AHEM, Rockets logic. Elson would have been spectacular. Clearly. We win by 23 points if Elson and Parker play. Do the math yourself if you don't believe me. Just carry the 9 - it's 26.


(this is why you need to stay in school. kids)

((and why our kids will probably not go to public school in Houston))

[UV Ray]

47 in Phoenix in the middle of the year, and 30 points multiple times says I'd win that bet spanky.

You're living in the past T-boy.

[Nash2Amare]

i have this slight hunch that if tony parker played, the scores woulda been reversed
Meh. Vaughn played very, very good tonight, 7-10 is highly efficient, 4 asts, and a +4. That without Parker and the way that TD played should pull out a win.
I just don't see how you're allowed to use that excuse since when we bring up last year's playoff series and how Amare was out Game 5 and how we lost down the stretch can't be used, we barely lost and with him? "Scores woulda been reversed???" He is a monster in big games, and late in games since we put the pick and roll in to use.
This means ZERO since it's December, we're playing like trash and your guys' defense isn't into playoff form yet. January 31st will be a better measure.

Good game.


EDIT: Also, so many IF's can be used. IF the Suns used Amare like they used to, but for some reason now ignore him. IF Nash was healthy, he would have shot lights out. IF Ginobili wasn't in a slump. IF Parker played. IF Elson played.
Tough game, we got some work to do as you may be able to tell, wasn't the usual "Suns" game.

[Nash2Amare]

Yeah and Brian Skinner is gonna hit those 20 footers again too. Right.


Yes. He's a very good outside shooter, surprisingly.
This year he has a eFG% of 52% from outside. (http://www.82games.com/0708/07PHO12A.HTM)

He's been money from outside.

[T Park]

Once again I reiterate, I will let Brian Skinner shoot 20 foot jump shots all day. If you as a Suns fan are ok with that, you need your head examined.


You're living in the past T-boy.

Yeah that GInobili guy is washed up.

he wont break 30 points ever again.

(what, he posted back to back 37 point nights? oops...)

[Jeremy]

I find the excuses for the Spurs to be very funny, considering how poorly the Suns played.

Shawn Marion 9 and 6?

Nash only 10 and 10?

Amare 17 and 6?!

Barbosa only 6-19 from the field.

And Bell with only 9 points on terrible shooting.

When is all of that going to happen in a game again?

And not to mention Steve Nash was the Suns' leading rebounder with 8 boards!

[T Park]

Meh. Vaughn played very, very good tonight, 7-10 is highly efficient, 4 asts, and a +4. That without Parker and the way that TD played should pull out a win.
I just don't see how you're allowed to use that excuse since when we bring up last year's playoff series and how Amare was out Game 5 and how we lost down the stretch can't be used, we barely lost and with him? "Scores woulda been reversed???" He is a monster in big games, and late in games since we put the pick and roll in to use.
This means ZERO since it's December, we're playing like trash and your guys' defense isn't into playoff form yet. January 31st will be a better measure.



You can use the excuse all you want. We never said Amare missing the game didn't mean anything. It was all AMare and Boris's fault that they missed the game and you can't blame anyone but the Suns themselves for losing that game. BTW, the Series was lost in game 1 ON Your home floor, and getting spanked on national TV. Thats when it was lost.


BTW, so you think Parker would've only put 14 and 4 on the Suns?

He would've have been more agressive and gott 26 and 8 maybe?

Nahhhh

[T Park]

When is all of that going to happen in a game again?



Prob the same game that Tony Parker doesn't play and Ginobili shoots 6 of 19.

[T Park]

BTW Suns fan, your bringing up
"Well our guys shot bad"

Uh, you don't think the Spurs defense had ANYTHING to do with that do you?

[Jeremy]

Game 1 was lost when Nash was out with injury.

[T Park]

Game 1 was lost when Nash was out with injury.

So Nash not being on the floor allowed Barbosa to commit an inbounding foul?

:lmao

Right on Suns fan, right on.

[ShoogarBear]

Game 1 was lost when Nash was out because the Suns trainer was too much of a dumbshit to take him back in the locker room and stitch him.

[Nashfan]

Crappy T call on Bowen's complaint about the OBVIOUS forearm shiver that Nash threw on that last play as he passed.

How ironic :lol :lol

[UV Ray]

Once again I reiterate, I will let Brian Skinner shoot 20 foot jump shots all day. If you as a Suns fan are ok with that, you need your head examined.



Yeah that GInobili guy is washed up.

he wont break 30 points ever again.

(what, he posted back to back 37 point nights? oops...)


No, it's just not as likely as the probability that he won't have 37 on any given night.

[DazedAndConfused]

I laugh everytime I hear a fan say, "IF we had so and so we woulda won". There is no guarantee that come playoff time you'll have all your players. You gotta win with what you got. Accept that you lost to a team that outplayed you tonight. There's no shame in that, PHX is #2 in the WC.

[m33p0]

Game 1 was lost when Nash was out with injury.

Game 1 was lost because Tim Duncan had 33 points shooting 50% and 16 rebounds 8 of which were offensive, 3 block shots while commiting only 2 personal fouls. that's dominance for you.

[Jeremy]

So Nash not being on the floor allowed Barbosa to commit an inbounding foul?

:lmao

Right on Suns fan, right on.

Barbosa may not have even been out there, if Nash was.

And that was not the only stupid thing Barbosa did in crunch time with Nash out.

[FromWayDowntown]

I thought the Suns did a great job tonight of defending the 3 point line. The Spurs missed some good looks, to be sure, but the Suns did a nice job for the most part of staying with shooters at the arc and denying too many wide-open looks from distance.

The Suns know, I think, that they can't really deal with Duncan, so it makes sense to run odd doubles at him and to stay attentive to shooters at the arc as much as possible.

That is to say, I thought the Suns actually employed a good defensive strategy tonight. It will be interesting to see how Parker's penetration will affect that strategy -- if they want to stay with shooters, the lane is going to be wide open for Tony and that one big the Suns use will have to make a tough decision if Tony's able to get into the paint.

On the whole, I was fairly indifferent about the loss. The Spurs didn't play a great game and neither did the Suns. It was the typical wrestling match between these teams and the Suns made just enough plays at the end to win it. Tim's aggression at the rim wasn't rewarded by the officials tonight and I thought his inability to make the Suns pay with fouls was part of the Spurs' 4th quarter struggle, but when push comes to shove, the Spurs have to find more offense outside of Duncan if they're going to beat Phoenix. I think it will be there when it matters most, but it clearly wasn't there tonight.

[UV Ray]

I thought the Suns did a great job tonight of defending the 3 point line. The Spurs missed some good looks, to be sure, but the Suns did a nice job for the most part of staying with shooters at the arc and denying too many wide-open looks from distance.

The Suns know, I think, that they can't really deal with Duncan, so it makes sense to run odd doubles at him and to stay attentive to shooters at the arc as much as possible.

That is to say, I thought the Suns actually employed a good defensive strategy tonight. I will be interesting to see how Parker's penetration will affect that strategy -- if they want to stay with shooters, the lane is going to be wide open for Tony and that one big the Suns use will have to make a tough decision if Tony's able to get into the paint.

On the whole, I was fairly indifferent about the loss. The Spurs didn't play a great game and neither did the Suns. It was the typical wrestling match between these teams and the Suns made just enough plays at the end to win it. Tim's aggression at the rim wasn't rewarded by the officials tonight and I thought his inability to make the Suns pay with fouls was part of the Spurs' 4th quarter struggle, but when push comes to shove, the Spurs have to find more offense outside of Duncan if they're going to beat Phoenix. I think it will be there when it matters most, but it clearly wasn't there tonight.


Excellent analysis. You could really see this play out towards the end of the game.

[Nashfan]

(a) Phoenix didn't have its Finals MVP out with injury. Well, Phoenix wouldn't know what a Finals MVP is, true, but I digress.
(b) D'Antoni plays his seven guys all year, not just one game like Pop did tonight.

Enjoy the W, you deserved the win. Just remember it's December.

Guess you don't realize that Nash has been playing injured, so he wasn't at his best in this game by a longshot. I don't think the Suns played their best, but I am happy they gutted out a win against the Spurs. :)

[Nashfan]

and if elson played? FORGET ABOUT IT! suns would've been run right out of the gym. :drunk


Get real, like Elson is a difference maker. :lol

[Nashfan]

Sure looks like a lot of whining from quite a few Spurs fans tonight. I don't think you have the right to call Suns fans whiners anymore after what I have read on this board tonight. The refs didn't lose the game for the Spurs.

[jn77]

Sure looks like a lot of whining from quite a few Spurs fans tonight. I don't think you have the right to call Suns fans whiners anymore after what I have read on this board tonight. The refs didn't lose the game for the Spurs.


Spurs fans whine for one night, Suns fans whine for the entire summer, and we can't call anyone whiners ...Fuck U Suns homers. The officiating sucked in the first half, no parker, weak bench play and you only win by 5? Enjoy another early postseason exit!

[notmyMVP]

Riight thats why Phoenix was blown out???
No one can live by Ifs or Maybes so the past is the past.
The Suns came into San Antonio tonight and beat the Spurs , and there can't be any of that "but we didn't have tony"crap because :
1) The Suns have beat a fully healthy Spurs team
2) Thats like me saying " The Spurs only beat us in game 5 because we didn't have Amare and Diaw "
Yeah the fuck right ... get over it, yall already have your championships god forbid someone beat you in DECEMBER,say good game and move on.

[Nashfan]

Spurs fans whine for one night, Suns fans whine for the entire summer, and we can't call anyone whiners ...Fuck U Suns homers. The officiating sucked in the first half, no parker, weak bench play and you only win by 5? Enjoy another early postseason exit!

Not all Suns fans whined. Me being one that didn't. You can't blame the officiating, thats weak. Yeah, no Parker hurt the Spurs but Nash is playing hurt so he wasn't up to par on his game at all tonight. I wouldn't expect that if he was healthy. You could also point to the fact that Raja, Nash and Marion all played horrible and we still won. Plus Barbosa took way too many shots and I think made 6 out of 19. I am just happy we gutted out a win at the Spurs arena with many of our players not shooting well and Amare playing like crap.

[FromWayDowntown]

Riight thats why Phoenix was blown out???
No one can live by Ifs or Maybes so the past is the past.
The Suns came into San Antonio tonight and beat the Spurs , and there can't be any of that "but we didn't have tony"crap because :
1) The Suns have beat a fully healthy Spurs team
2) Thats like me saying " The Spurs only beat us in game 5 because we didn't have Amare and Diaw "
Yeah the fuck right ... get over it, yall already have your championships god forbid someone beat you in DECEMBER,say good game and move on.

Interesting passion from a Wizards fan.

[Nashfan]

Riight thats why Phoenix was blown out???
No one can live by Ifs or Maybes so the past is the past.
The Suns came into San Antonio tonight and beat the Spurs , and there can't be any of that "but we didn't have tony"crap because :
1) The Suns have beat a fully healthy Spurs team
2) Thats like me saying " The Spurs only beat us in game 5 because we didn't have Amare and Diaw "
Yeah the fuck right ... get over it, yall already have your championships god forbid someone beat you in DECEMBER,say good game and move on.



:clap :clap

[milkyway21]

47 in Phoenix in the middle of the year, and 30 points multiple times says I'd win that bet spanky.he:D he: D


if Manu wasn't that a nuisance to Phoenix they wouldn't have spent a dime on Bell :lol

[Obstructed_View]

Game 1 was lost when Nash was out with injury.
He should learn how to avoid injuring himself when he tries to play defense.

[mystargtr34]

Great game by Timmy.... and Fin and Vaughan... and thats about it.

Suns deserved to win. good game

Spurs deserved to lose.

Now STOP FUCKING WHINING

[milkyway21]

He should learn how to avoid injuring himself when he tries to play defense.:lmao

[Cherry]

Great game by Timmy.... and Fin and Vaughan... and thats about it.

Suns deserved to win. good game

Spurs deserved to lose.

Now STOP FUCKING WHINING


Next game :hungry:

[RonMexico]

Don't know what games you're watching but Parker usually covers Nash for most of the game. He's gotten quite good at defending him on the pick and rolls with Amare. Bowen is usually only put on Nash in endgame situations although he might draw the assignment with Parker playing if Nash is having an exceptional night.

One game doesn't establish a trend. I haven't looked up Parker's recent stats vs. the Suns but I'm fairly sure he scores above his averages against them. Nash isn't known for his defense and the Suns have always had poor shotblocking.

Well, Bowen pretty much played Nash Games 3 through 6 in the Semis last year, but I'm sure Pop throws Parker on him from time to time in the regular. Not guarding Nash saves TP to attack the lane, which is where he would have made the most difference last night, as the Suns attempted to rotate out of double teams or as the shot clock ran down.

I'm not trying to discredit what Parker can do on both ends, because he's obviously a good player and had a great playoffs last year. Just I know that Bowen was on Nash almost all the time in the POs last year and Marion can contain Parker when he tries to play sound defense (he's no Bowen, but his length and quickness can disrupt TP's game).

[m33p0]

its usually bad news for the spurs if duncan has to statistically dominate a game in the first half. the rest of the squad have to take the load off so duncan will be rested in the second. that's where manu and/or tp often comes in. manu couldn't do it tonight. hopefully next time.

i think playing the suns with grant hill for the first time took the spurs off guard. his defense and clutch shooting were timely late in the game.

[Nashfan]

Great game by Timmy.... and Fin and Vaughan... and thats about it.

Suns deserved to win. good game

Spurs deserved to lose.

Now STOP FUCKING WHINING

Thank you :clap

[FromWayDowntown]

I'm not trying to discredit what Parker can do on both ends, because he's obviously a good player and had a great playoffs last year. Just I know that Bowen was on Nash almost all the time in the POs last year and Marion can contain Parker when he tries to play sound defense (he's no Bowen, but his length and quickness can disrupt TP's game).

I think Marion's length bothered Parker in the middle of the playoff series last year. By the end of the series, though, Parker had found ways to attack Marion, even if his shots didn't fall. More importantly, however, Marion's attention to Parker forced the Suns to find someone else -- usually Nash -- to send to double on Duncan. Forcing Nash to bring the double had a domino effect, in my estimation, because Duncan would find Bowen, who would force a rotation and change the matchup with Ginobili. The Spurs were able to get favorable matchups for Manu, whose offense was really the catalyst for the Spurs' wins in Games 5 and 6.

All of that is to say that Parker changes the game in this matchup by forcing the Suns into some really tough decisions about how to defend the Spurs. It may be that they think they've come up with solutions to some of those problems, and perhaps they have. My point is that I don't know that the Suns have the personnel to deal with all 3 of the Spurs biggest offensive threats without relying on some help and I think the minute that the Suns have to help, their defense is compromised.

I still think the Suns showed as much defensive effort as I've seen from them in the D'Antoni era in last night's game and I think that's certainly a step in the right direction for them.

We'll see if it can make the difference in the spring.

[Spurs Dynasty 21]

Spurs should not of lost that game, terrible D down the stretch


reminded me on that GM4 game where the Spurs blew a chance to go up 3-1

[TampaDude]

The Suns are just a fluke team with a fluke win. They only beat a team without Parker that they was supposed to beat. :lol

Seriously, though...good game, Suns...see you in the playoffs... :p:

[RonMexico]

I think Marion's length bothered Parker in the middle of the playoff series last year. By the end of the series, though, Parker had found ways to attack Marion, even if his shots didn't fall. More importantly, however, Marion's attention to Parker forced the Suns to find someone else -- usually Nash -- to send to double on Duncan. Forcing Nash to bring the double had a domino effect, in my estimation, because Duncan would find Bowen, who would force a rotation and change the matchup with Ginobili. The Spurs were able to get favorable matchups for Manu, whose offense was really the catalyst for the Spurs' wins in Games 5 and 6.

All of that is to say that Parker changes the game in this matchup by forcing the Suns into some really tough decisions about how to defend the Spurs. It may be that they think they've come up with solutions to some of those problems, and perhaps they have. My point is that I don't know that the Suns have the personnel to deal with all 3 of the Spurs biggest offensive threats without relying on some help and I think the minute that the Suns have to help, their defense is compromised.

I still think the Suns showed as much defensive effort as I've seen from them in the D'Antoni era in last night's game and I think that's certainly a step in the right direction for them.

We'll see if it can make the difference in the spring.

I agree with you on a lot of points, and have alternative thoughts on others... especially with the Suns able to deal with Parker, Duncan, and Manu on the court at the same time. Still, I hope that Grant Hill might be able to provide some extra defensive help, especially if Skinner is able to make Duncan work hard on the other end. Also, I had said that when Marion tries hard to defend, then he can disrupt Parker. It's when he doesn't that he gives Parker a chance to create.

[Jeremy]

BTW, this was the Spurs' first home loss (playoffs, Finals, pre-season, or regular season) since the Horry/Nash incident.

[RonMexico]

BTW, this was the Spurs' first home loss (playoffs, Finals, pre-season, or regular season) since the Horry/Nash incident.

Jeremy, they wouldn't have lost if Parker were playing... everyone knows he goes for 30 against the Suns every time and never turns the ball over.

This obviously ignores the fact that when Nash goes for 18 pts and 14 assists, he's contributing at least 46 of his team's points... when Parker goes for 32 and 2 assists, he's contributing at least 36 points.

[dav4463]

Bottom line is that the Spurs aren't going 41-0 at home.

The Suns are a good team. Their greatest strength is point guard (Nash).

Spurs were MINUS their starting point guard (Parker) who happens to be a guy who plays Nash as well as anybody in the league.

If Parker plays, Spurs win.

Without Parker, Spurs almost won.

What would happen if Spurs with Parker plays Suns without Nash? 120-88 Spurs !!!

No worries!

[Obstructed_View]

What would happen if Spurs with Parker plays Suns without Nash?
Far fewer Suns fans on the game blog.