Suns Now The More Physical Team?

[btimsah]

In the Suns win on Sunday we witnessed a changing of the guard. Typically the officiating between these two juggernauts benefits the more physical Spurs. Not today. Today features Spur fans crying about the officiating because Shaq, Amare, Bell and Hill out-muscled the once bigger, stronger San Antonio Spurs.

The Suns were ice-cold from 3pt range, but so were the Spurs. In large part because of generally better defense.

As a Suns fan, I've been complaining about our lack of a defense/physical presence for years. With the win over the Spurs today I thought I saw a team committed to defense and rebounding. I saw a team, bigger and more physical than the Spurs. Yes this was one game and undoubtedly the Spurs can play better. But so can the Suns..

And unfortunately for both teams, their both just one of what is a huge consortium of great teams in the west. I really think the Hornets/Lakers and Rockets might be the best 3 teams in the league, but who knows?

[ChumpDumper]

sunfan starts thread after win

[timvp]

Yeah, we covered this at around the time of the trade.

And it's pretty damn lame that I couldn't find a Sun Fan after the last game where they lost against the Spurs. Now they are out in full force. I've never seen an entire fan base disappear from the internet like the Suns did back in February.

Props.

[mavsfan1000]

Shaq gets away with so many fouls. Dampier would never get those calls. I hate the nba.

[ludda]

yes we can make a lot of general assumptions after one regular season game

[timaios]

Suns are boring.

[slayermin]

Suns are boring.

:lol

[ShoogarBear]

Suns are boring.:lmao :lmao :lmao

[ClingingMars]

IT'S THE REGULAR SEASON.

-Mars

[spursfan09]

In the Suns win on Sunday we witnessed a changing of the guard. Typically the officiating between these two juggernauts benefits the more physical Spurs. Not today. Today features Spur fans crying about the officiating because Shaq, Amare, Bell and Hill out-muscled the once bigger, stronger San Antonio Spurs.

The Suns were ice-cold from 3pt range, but so were the Spurs. In large part because of generally better defense.

As a Suns fan, I've been complaining about our lack of a defense/physical presence for years. With the win over the Spurs today I thought I saw a team committed to defense and rebounding. I saw a team, bigger and more physical than the Spurs. Yes this was one game and undoubtedly the Spurs can play better. But so can the Suns..

And unfortunately for both teams, their both just one of what is a huge consortium of great teams in the west. I really think the Hornets/Lakers and Rockets might be the best 3 teams in the league, but who knows?

Wow its only one game. The suns needed to adjust playing with Shaq right? Well The Spurs need to adjust playing against Snaq to. Yeah congrats though on the win on Sunday afternoon during the regular season. It's going to take alot more than that to take whats ours.

[ploto]

It happens more now than I could have ever believed- Spurs fans griping that the opponent was too physical and got away with too much.

[batboy]

Najera playing 1 on 5 is more physical than the Suns.

[timaios]

Winning is overrated !

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

The Suns made the Shaq move to match up better with San Antonio...and they do now. I'm not convinced that the Spurs won't be up for a grind it out seven game series though. All in all the Spurs were not real sharp, and haven't looked real sharp yet.

The bigger problem the Suns will have is actually beating enough other teams to make the post season in the West.

[T Park]

It happens more now than I could have ever believed- Spurs fans griping that the opponent was too physical and got away with too much.

Go drink drano and sleep slumpbuster.

[spursfan09]

It happens more now than I could have ever believed- Spurs fans griping that the opponent was too physical and got away with too much.

:rolleyes

I'm sure you know all about the physicality of a basketball game. AFter all you are a fan of Rasho.

[ludda]

The Suns made the Shaq move to match up better with San Antonio...and they do now. I'm not convinced that the Spurs won't be up for a grind it out seven game series though. All in all the Spurs were not real sharp, and haven't looked real sharp yet.

The bigger problem the Suns will have is actually beating enough other teams to make the post season in the West.

Do they though? Maybe, but Spurs played pretty shitty.

[slayermin]

If TD plays like he did today, we will lose to Phoenix. He didn't seem very focused on a strategy to attack Shaq. I expect him to be better on April 9th.

[ChumpDumper]

It happens more now than I could have ever believed- Spurs fans griping that the opponent was too physical and got away with too much.Blocked out all those posts about Rasho's being Charmin-soft as a Spur, did you?

[JMarkJohns]

Yeah, we covered this at around the time of the trade.

And it's pretty damn lame that I couldn't find a Sun Fan after the last game where they lost against the Spurs. Now they are out in full force. I've never seen an entire fan base disappear from the internet like the Suns did back in February.

Maybe for every non-Spurs fan, the site should institute a wait period on posters who've gone more than a month without posting? Like maybe a five day moratorium?

Maybe this would backfire?

Maybe I'm just bored at work and have just gone crazy?

I know, I know... you ask, "What do you mean, 'just'?!"

Touche' ...

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Do they though? Maybe, but Spurs played pretty shitty.

I thought the Spurs looked just ok throughout most of their 11 game winning streak beyond Manu carrying the team on his back most nights. The Spurs have been winning with only a third of the team, or less, showing up most nights. That speaks to how good the Spurs are, but at the same time it starts making me nervous the closer we get to April. And this year the Spurs can't start the push too late or we'll be in the lower half of the playoff bracket before we know it.

I'm still anxiously anticipating the switch flipping ceremony.

I'm sure it's coming...soon.

[FromWayDowntown]

The bigger problem the Suns will have is actually beating enough other teams to make the post season in the West.

That is the part that seems absolutely clear.

I'm not convinced that the Suns are inherently more physical than the Spurs are at this point, but I am convinced that they were more aggressive when it mattered today. I still wonder, on a day that the Spurs really struggled to score, why Pop didn't really urge his team to push the ball more and make the Suns play transition defense. I can understand that the bigger picture of this month's brutal schedule might force some gameplan differences, but it certainly seems to me that the Spurs could push the ball against the Suns to get some easy baskets and that they really chose to be more methodical than necessary.

[ClingingMars]

Maybe for every non-Spurs fan, the site should institute a wait period on posters who've gone more than a month without posting? Like maybe a five day moratorium?

Maybe this would backfire?

Maybe I'm just bored at work and have just gone crazy?

I know, I know... you ask, "What do you mean, 'just'?!"

Touche' ...

i like it

like a day waiting period

-Mars

[E20]

The Suns are 4-6 and nearly lost to a shitty spurs team.

[JMarkJohns]

Don't do the nearly crap, please. Else I can mention they nearly defeated the Lakers and the Jazz, making their crappy 4-6 record look a little better at near 6-4.

A team wins, or it loses.

Just my opinion on it.

[Harry Callahan]

The Suns are not a physical team. Shaq is able to do what he does and not get fouls at times. I just think to completely change your style of play so late in the season is a major risk.

Spurs played like crap on the road and were in a one possession game with less than a minute to go. They have enough shooters to hit enough shots when it counts.

I think the Suns are screwed with their trade for O'Neal. They have no identity. They can't run well enough to blow out teams and they can't defend well enough in long stretches to grind out wins. I don't believe there has been a changing of the guard at all.

I know the Suns have little chance to get out the West now with the current makeup of their roster. They will not have HCA for any series in all likelihood. SA has proven they do not need HCA to advance.

The recent roster moves made by Phoenix expedites their decline in the next year or two. By 2009, the Suns will be a collection of Knuckhead players, coached by a knucklehead, and run by a neophyte who traded away their future in four or five shaky deals.

[ozgur1]

Yes wiht Shaqa they are more Physical.

[btimsah]

Wow. I guess I made the mistake of thinking Spur fans would understand how physical play and "letting them play" benefits the bigger, stronger team. You know, the team that fouls more?

Well, good luck the rest of the way. I'll go back to my Phoenix board because their more self-critical. You guys are almost all sunshine pumpers and major homers.

[Bruno]

A 3 month old kitten would have been more physical than Spurs today.

Duncan was especially soft on the offensive end at throwing jumpshots after jumpshots.

[OldDirtMcGirt]

The Suns are not a physical team. Shaq is able to do what he does and not get fouls at times. I just think to completely change your style of play so late in the season is a major risk.

Spurs played like crap on the road and were in a one possession game with less than a minute to go. They have enough shooters to hit enough shots when it counts.

I think the Suns are screwed with their trade for O'Neal. They have no identity. They can't run well enough to blow out teams and they can't defend well enough in long stretches to grind out wins. I don't believe there has been a changing of the guard at all.

I know the Suns have little chance to get out the West now with the current makeup of their roster. They will not have HCA for any series in all likelihood. SA has proven they do not need HCA to advance.

The recent roster moves made by Phoenix expedites their decline in the next year or two. By 2009, the Suns will be a collection of Knuckhead players, coached by a knucklehead, and run by a neophyte who traded away their future in four or five shaky deals.

Nobody likes a sore loser. The Suns are now much tougher and more physical, and more importantly, they are a physically big team. Shawn Marion was pussy who hated contact and doesn't care about winning. Shaq is a proven winner, tough guy, and one of the most physical players in the league.

[cornbread]

The most physical thing I saw from a Sun not named Shaq was Nash's flying backward flop into Bruce Bowen.

[OldDirtMcGirt]

The most physical thing I saw from a Sun not named Shaq was Nash's flying backward flop into Bruce Bowen.

Spurs fans should not complain about flopping. And if you don't think that the Suns played physical today, you've reached a whole new plateau of homerism.

[1Parker1]

Duncan's playing soft lately...looks like he's trying hard to get the refs to bail him out of calls. Though the lack of respect refs are showing him is starting to get scary.

[RonMexico]

Yeah, we covered this at around the time of the trade.

And it's pretty damn lame that I couldn't find a Sun Fan after the last game where they lost against the Spurs. Now they are out in full force. I've never seen an entire fan base disappear from the internet like the Suns did back in February.

Props.

I'll let all you know that I didn't disappear back in February. I came on and said that Amare choked the game away with the missed FTs... and Marion played a great 3 quarters, but did nothing in the 4th.

Amare still didn't have a great day at the line today, but they pulled out the W, so it's tolerable.

[RonMexico]

The most physical thing I saw from a Sun not named Shaq was Nash's flying backward flop into Bruce Bowen.

Of course, it wouldn't be Bowen's flop after getting a hard (see: physical) screen from Amare. :rolleyes

[cornbread]

Spurs fans should not complain about flopping. And if you don't think that the Suns played physical today, you've reached a whole new plateau of homerism.
If you can't recognize the absurdity of that flop then you've reached a whole new blah blah blah blah.

[Agloco]

In the Suns win on Sunday we witnessed a changing of the guard. Typically the officiating between these two juggernauts benefits the more physical Spurs. Not today. Today features Spur fans crying about the officiating because Shaq, Amare, Bell and Hill out-muscled the once bigger, stronger San Antonio Spurs.

The Suns were ice-cold from 3pt range, but so were the Spurs. In large part because of generally better defense.

As a Suns fan, I've been complaining about our lack of a defense/physical presence for years. With the win over the Spurs today I thought I saw a team committed to defense and rebounding. I saw a team, bigger and more physical than the Spurs. Yes this was one game and undoubtedly the Spurs can play better. But so can the Suns..

And unfortunately for both teams, their both just one of what is a huge consortium of great teams in the west. I really think the Hornets/Lakers and Rockets might be the best 3 teams in the league, but who knows?

When you beat us in a playoff series AND win the championship the same year, I'll give you your props sir. Until then, congrats on your regular season victory and your 4-6 post-Shaq record.

One thing I will agree with you on: the Suns did seem to want to play some D today. They were making all of the effort plays down the stretch. It's not something I'm used to seeing from them. Perhaps this is a jumping off point for them, but I doubt it very seriously.

[Agloco]

Duncan's playing soft lately...looks like he's trying hard to get the refs to bail him out of calls. Though the lack of respect refs are showing him is starting to get scary.


I'm sure it's got nothing to do with the whole Joey Crawford issue eh?

[1Parker1]

:lmao Do people actually think the Suns played "physical" today? If you want to see a team play physical, watch the Utah Jazz or Detroit Pistons.

Suns did actually play some defense today, people may be confusing defense for physical play. I can understand though, seeing as how we have never seen the Suns play any defense prior to today. :)

[SenorSpur]

In the Suns win on Sunday we witnessed a changing of the guard. Typically the officiating between these two juggernauts benefits the more physical Spurs. Not today. Today features Spur fans crying about the officiating because Shaq, Amare, Bell and Hill out-muscled the once bigger, stronger San Antonio Spurs.

The Suns were ice-cold from 3pt range, but so were the Spurs. In large part because of generally better defense.

As a Suns fan, I've been complaining about our lack of a defense/physical presence for years. With the win over the Spurs today I thought I saw a team committed to defense and rebounding. I saw a team, bigger and more physical than the Spurs. Yes this was one game and undoubtedly the Spurs can play better. But so can the Suns..

And unfortunately for both teams, their both just one of what is a huge consortium of great teams in the west. I really think the Hornets/Lakers and Rockets might be the best 3 teams in the league, but who knows?

Unfortunately for your observation and worse for your team, one game does not a successful transition make. Your team is HORRIBLE defensively and in rebounding. In Shaq and Amare, you have two players who simply refuse to play defense. A commitment to defense goes beyond just a mere regular season game. It has to be done each and every game, each and every series and each and every play. That WILL NOT happen in PHx

[td4mvp21]

:lmao Do people actually think the Suns played "physical" today? If you want to see a team play physical, watch the Utah Jazz or Detroit Pistons.

Suns did actually play some defense today, people may be confusing defense for physical play. I can understand though, seeing as how we have never seen the Suns play any defense prior to today. :)

Shaq was very physical with all of our players. Other than that, you are right. The Suns, as a team, did not play physical. The Spurs have seen a lot worse with the Jazz, Pistons, and the Lakers of old, in terms of team physicality. As far as for one player, Shaq has probably been the single player that has been most physical with the Spurs.

They did play good defense. The Spurs helped them out a bit by playing like shit. We played shitty defense but the Suns helped us out a bit by shooting like shit from three's.

[Southwest Texas Fan]

The Suns did not want to lose another game and I believe they were really pumped up for this game especially playing in Phoenix. Things will be very different in a seven game series so it will be interesting to see if the Suns can replicate today’s performance like Shaq diving into the stands. It will be tough. But will see.

[BonnerDynasty]

no.

[BonnerDynasty]

Spurs have no excuse to lose to the Suns in the playoffs if the Suns are going to play Spurs pace 48 mins for 7 games.

I'll take the team that has been doing it for 10 years and won 4 championships with it.

[honestfool84]

If TD plays like he did today, we will lose to Phoenix. He didn't seem very focused on a strategy to attack Shaq. I expect him to be better on April 9th.


im going to that game.

woohoo! :spin

[Southwest Texas Fan]

Absolutely correct. But why did the Spurs not push the ball? I was thinking that Tony might be having issues with his ankle but his jumpers looked good.

[m33p0]

they have no choice but to be physical.

But why did the Spurs not push the ball?
playoff strategy.