duncan228
04-20-2008, 08:34 PM
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5gtlERJkZ6F2OLzCgwQ-ryBepXFpQ
Phoenix Suns regroup after disheartening Game 1 loss to Spurs
SAN ANTONIO — For the Phoenix Suns, Sunday was for mourning.
So said coach Mike D'Antoni the day after his team was on the losing end of a 117-115 double-overtime thriller against the San Antonio Spurs that saw the defending champions hit two clutch threes and later the game-winning layup with less than two seconds left.
"It's a long series and they've held home court one game and that's it," D'Antoni said. "They dodged a bullet. We didn't catch a bullet, they just dodged a bullet."
The Spurs took the day off Sunday after the marathon that was Game 1. Game 2 is Tuesday before the best-of-seven series shifts to Phoenix.
"Nothing's lost," D'Antoni said. "Today is a day of mourning, but come Monday we'll start getting our spirits up and we'll attack it on Tuesday."
On Tuesday, the Suns will try to pick up the road win they'll need to get out of the first round and past the Spurs. If Shaquille O'Neal, who the Suns hope is the missing piece of their playoff push, can stay on the court, that might make it tougher for San Antonio.
"I think foul trouble is what helped them out a lot," Phoenix forward Amare Stoudemire said. "With me, Shaq and Boris (Diaw) in foul trouble it takes away three of the top players on the team."
In Game 1, things fit together for the Spurs just well enough to pull out the win. San Antonio first hit two game-saving three-pointers. The first was from Michael Finley to send the game to overtime, the second was from Tim Duncan - who knocked down his first three of the season - to force a second extra period.
Then Manu Ginobili hit the game-winning layup for the Spurs with 1.8 seconds on the clock in the second overtime for the win.
"It's a great win, but at the same time you can't be satisfied," Spurs guard Tony Parker said after the win. "Phoenix, their job is to try and get one (in San Antonio.) And so they get a second chance on Tuesday."
Duncan had 40 points and 15 rebounds. When O'Neal was on the floor, he had some success against Duncan. Two of his four blocks were on Duncan shots.
For the Suns, things were looking much better early than they were late. Phoenix had a 16-point lead in the first half, and was up by six heading into the fourth quarter.
But the Suns were plagued by foul trouble throughout. O'Neal played limited minutes in the first half and by the end of the third quarter he, Stoudemire and reserve Diaw each had four fouls.
O'Neal also sat for about 3 1/2 minutes late in the fourth quarter after Spurs coach Gregg Popovich started intentionally fouling the 52 per cent career free-throw shooter.
"If you have to use mathematical strategies to beat me, it won't work," O'Neal said after the loss. "I'm not going to change my game. Hopefully, they'll let me play."
Stoudemire had 33 points before fouling out with 12 seconds left in the first overtime.
"That sixth foul is what hurt me a little bit," he said. "Because I definitely wanted to be out there, and I felt if I was out there we could have won the game."
In addition to the fatigue factor from playing a 58-minute game, both teams had injury problems on Saturday.
The Suns' Grant Hill is still recovering from a groin injury and played just 28 minutes - the least of any Suns starter - in Game 1. San Antonio's Parker got knocked in the head early in the game and said "the whole game my head was pounding, like a big headache."
Phoenix Suns regroup after disheartening Game 1 loss to Spurs
SAN ANTONIO — For the Phoenix Suns, Sunday was for mourning.
So said coach Mike D'Antoni the day after his team was on the losing end of a 117-115 double-overtime thriller against the San Antonio Spurs that saw the defending champions hit two clutch threes and later the game-winning layup with less than two seconds left.
"It's a long series and they've held home court one game and that's it," D'Antoni said. "They dodged a bullet. We didn't catch a bullet, they just dodged a bullet."
The Spurs took the day off Sunday after the marathon that was Game 1. Game 2 is Tuesday before the best-of-seven series shifts to Phoenix.
"Nothing's lost," D'Antoni said. "Today is a day of mourning, but come Monday we'll start getting our spirits up and we'll attack it on Tuesday."
On Tuesday, the Suns will try to pick up the road win they'll need to get out of the first round and past the Spurs. If Shaquille O'Neal, who the Suns hope is the missing piece of their playoff push, can stay on the court, that might make it tougher for San Antonio.
"I think foul trouble is what helped them out a lot," Phoenix forward Amare Stoudemire said. "With me, Shaq and Boris (Diaw) in foul trouble it takes away three of the top players on the team."
In Game 1, things fit together for the Spurs just well enough to pull out the win. San Antonio first hit two game-saving three-pointers. The first was from Michael Finley to send the game to overtime, the second was from Tim Duncan - who knocked down his first three of the season - to force a second extra period.
Then Manu Ginobili hit the game-winning layup for the Spurs with 1.8 seconds on the clock in the second overtime for the win.
"It's a great win, but at the same time you can't be satisfied," Spurs guard Tony Parker said after the win. "Phoenix, their job is to try and get one (in San Antonio.) And so they get a second chance on Tuesday."
Duncan had 40 points and 15 rebounds. When O'Neal was on the floor, he had some success against Duncan. Two of his four blocks were on Duncan shots.
For the Suns, things were looking much better early than they were late. Phoenix had a 16-point lead in the first half, and was up by six heading into the fourth quarter.
But the Suns were plagued by foul trouble throughout. O'Neal played limited minutes in the first half and by the end of the third quarter he, Stoudemire and reserve Diaw each had four fouls.
O'Neal also sat for about 3 1/2 minutes late in the fourth quarter after Spurs coach Gregg Popovich started intentionally fouling the 52 per cent career free-throw shooter.
"If you have to use mathematical strategies to beat me, it won't work," O'Neal said after the loss. "I'm not going to change my game. Hopefully, they'll let me play."
Stoudemire had 33 points before fouling out with 12 seconds left in the first overtime.
"That sixth foul is what hurt me a little bit," he said. "Because I definitely wanted to be out there, and I felt if I was out there we could have won the game."
In addition to the fatigue factor from playing a 58-minute game, both teams had injury problems on Saturday.
The Suns' Grant Hill is still recovering from a groin injury and played just 28 minutes - the least of any Suns starter - in Game 1. San Antonio's Parker got knocked in the head early in the game and said "the whole game my head was pounding, like a big headache."