Pressure

[FromWayDowntown]

I noted this excerpt from Dan Bickley's column and it got me to wondering again about just exactly what the stakes are for each team in this series:


If the Suns win these next two games at US Airways Center, they erase all the bad stuff that went down in southern Texas. They put all the pressure back on the defending NBA champion Spurs, and it could be a prelude to D'Antoni's greatest triumph.

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/sports/articles/0425bickley0425.html

That tracks, to some degree what Marc Stein wrote on Sunday about this series:


It's two of the teams from the NBA's short list of clubs capable of winning the whole thing. Two teams -- yes, both -- for whom a first-round exit would be considered disastrous.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2008/columns/story?page=FirstRoundBests-080422

I just wonder who really has the pressure on them in this series. I don't see how the Suns can ever really be the team that is playing without pressure, because for them, winning this series is everything; they completely mortgaged their future in the hope of beating San Antonio and if they fail in that effort, their sesaon will be a failure and their future will be in some significant doubt.

Meanwhile, the worst thing that happens to the Spurs at this point is they blow a 2-0 lead to an extremely good basketball team and fail to repeat. But the fact that they're in position to repeat would certainly seem to suggest that they have no real legacy at stake here. 5 titles in 10 years is certainly better than 4 in 10 years, but 4 in 10 years is among the best runs in NBA history. Should the Spurs happen to lose this series -- not a prediction; merely a hypothetical -- it hardly seems like the stuff of devastation and it certainly would never seem apparent that the Spurs would be the team facing pressure to avoid a loss for any reason beyond a desire to advance in the playoffs.

I guess to me, this series is an isolated thing for the Spurs at this point, and I don't see the insistence in the media that there's anything more at stake here for the Spurs than winning a playoff series. On this other hand, this series is everything for the Suns and the future direction of the franchise and the legacies of its current players all hang in the balance.

[m33p0]

looks like you answered your own question.

the suns have everything to play for. this is it for them, even if they plan to stick together for another year. the pressure is on in Game 3 for them. and given the Spurs' history especially in last year's playoffs, they are like sharks when they smell blood. Game 3 will be like a backdoor closeout game for the Spurs. Win game 3, and the Spurs can watch the Suns bleed to death.

[mardigan]

Suns are at home. Suns made a franchise changing trade. Suns are down 2-0. Suns havent been able to get past the Spurs since they got Nash. All the pressure is on the Suns, all of it.

[SAGambler]

Originally Posted by Dan Bickley

If the Suns win these next two games at US Airways Center, they erase all the bad stuff that went down in southern Texas. They put all the pressure back on the defending NBA champion Spurs, and it could be a prelude to D'Antoni's greatest triumph.

It only means they start over even again. Spurs still retain HCA. And until the day the Suns win in SA, just how the hell does the pressure move to the Spurs? Typical journalistic bullshit.

[Kermit]

UdaHCLlBkWU

[Harry Callahan]

The Spurs are playing with house money at this point. They like winning championships.

The Suns on the other hand have done nothing really, and even a first round win over the Spurs (not a likihood right now) would not erase the many failures of the past. The Suns are not winning a championship now or in the future.

The pressure is all on the Suns. Their coach, GM, and key players, all have their long term futures hanging in the balance.

The Spurs will do their thing, with several players and their coach going in the basketball HOF down the road.

[michaelwcho]

The pressure is on the Suns. Like every missed important free throw weighs on a shaky shooter, and each yipped putt adds to the golfer's eventual retirement, each defeat snatched from the jaws of victory have to make the Suns' throats even tighter.

On the contrary, the Spurs have already accomplished every reasonable goal--titles, Olympics, MVPs, etc. This could be a slight negative in terms of hunger, but they sure look hungry enough to me.

But all this is overrated. Nash will always come to play, Stoudemire will make key mental errors and get bullied on D, Shaq will miss free throws and play poor defense, and Barbosa will disappear more often than not. Whether this adds up to a Spurs win or Suns win is hard to say.

[hater]

Phoenix has got so much more to lose. Think about it, they mortgaged their future by bringing old shaq who will probably suck even more next year. Nash is getting old too. This is it for them. It's now or never.

On the other hand, the Spurs are already champions, we have 2 great prospects coming next year. TP, Manu and Duncan are still within their prime. and it's an even year.

[bdubya]

Pressure for this game is definitely all on the Suns.

But for the series as a whole, there's some pressure on the Spurs to not pull a Miami, right? Kind of embarrassing if the defending champs are a first-round out.

[Ronaldo McDonald]

Pressure for this game is definitely all on the Suns.

But for the series as a whole, there's some pressure on the Spurs to not pull a Miami, right? Kind of embarrassing if the defending champs are a first-round out.

Miami didn't play the Suns when they lost in the frst round.

[oboymeetsogirl]

Personally I hate to see good coaches on the hot seat, and if the Suns get swept you can bet that Kerr & co. will need to seriously consider a change. But of course, as a Spurs fan, I certainly don't want to see our team losing two, three games just so d'Antoni can make a good show and keep his job.

The Spurs, however, have really exposed the Suns' weaknesses. Bickley made a good point about the fact that the Spurs can Hack-a-Shaq all they like because they have plenty of players who can use up their fouls. But the Suns can't play Hack-a-Timmy-or-Bruce because they basically have no bench depth -- at least none that d'Antoni seems to trust.

Yet the only way I can see the Suns really pulling this series out is if they do give their bench players a chance to shine. Like the Cavs last year, they need at least a couple of "Boobies" to save the day. Because they sure as hell can't depend on an exhausted (and defense-deficient) Nash, a clueless Amare, and a pooped out, 52% foul shooting Shaq to save the day in their second halves.

[Harry Callahan]

Like the Cavs last year, they need at least a couple of "Boobies" to save the day.

Don't we all need a couple of "Boobies" to get through this life.

:flag:

[ancestron]

All the pressure is on the Suns. No doubt about it. How well they deal with that pressure, we will see tonight, but their track record in these situations is not very impressive at all.
The reason the Suns always lose to the Spurs is simple. They have no depth. Thus they can't sustain the energy level necessary to continue hitting shots as the game progresses and defenses tighten, and hitting those shots is their only hope, since Mike D'antoni seems to not believe in defense. It is one thing to tell your guys to play better defense and defend hard, and another to actually teach them HOW to defend.
Same situation with the Suns now as it was 3 years ago. They suck at D and have no bench. You would think ol' three first names would have learned at least that by now.

[sandman]

Don't we all need a couple of "Boobies" to get through this life.

:flag:

Amen, brother

[easjer]

Well, in terms of long-term implications, the pressure is on the Suns to win. The Spurs and their fans would like a repeat, but the legacy is what it is, and people are already pretty settled in how they will see it, you know?

In terms of this game, again, pressure is on the Suns big-time. This is must win for them, in a way that game 2 was (imo) for the Spurs (and why I expect the Suns will win tonight - the worst that happens to the Spurs is still being up a game in the series and increased pressure in Game 4 to maintain their series lead). But the first post you write is dead on that it shifts the immediate pressure to the Spurs if the Suns win tonight and the next one.

Spurs have the psychological edge right now. Suns believed the first game was a fluke, lucky shots, foul trouble, that's all. Second game had no foul trouble, had Suns on the floor, on point with a huge lead and the Spurs ended up schooling them. That had to hurt their confidence a lot. If they win tonight, confidence is restored, and if they tie the series up, any advantage the Spurs had evaporates, and the pressure of the series reverts back to them.

I really would like them to slam the dagger home tonight and win one, because then the Suns will bleed out and the series will be over before May. I'm not expecting it, but I'm hoping for it all the same.

But there is a difference between the pressure within the series and the pressure of the future implications of the series. The Suns should be worried because Shaq improved their matchup with the Spurs, but didn't really improve them anywhere else. NO, Utah, LA all look like they could beat them up, so I think they are screwed whatever happens. The most they get from this is a moral victory over the Spurs in a playoff series.

[Leetonidas]

I think if you're facing an insurmountable 3-0 deficit, the pressure if obviously on the Suns.

[FromWayDowntown]

My point has little to do with Game 3 specifically and everything to do with the series in general.

I don't think the pressure to win this series will ever be greater on the Spurs than it is on the Suns. The Suns have to win; the Spurs would like to win. A loss for the Suns would be devastating; a loss for the Spurs would be disappointing. The Suns' future rides, to a large extent, on the outcome of this series; the Spurs are going in a new direction next season regardless of the outcome of this series.

I guess that because of all of those things, I don't get the notion that there could ever really be more pressure on the Spurs than on the Suns.

[Brutalis]

Suns are at home. Suns made a franchise changing trade. Suns are down 2-0. Suns havent been able to get past the Spurs since they got Nash. All the pressure is on the Suns, all of it.

Glad I looked at replies before I posted, my thoughts exactly.

[ancestron]

My point has little to do with Game 3 specifically and everything to do with the series in general.

I don't think the pressure to win this series will ever be greater on the Spurs than it is on the Suns. The Suns have to win; the Spurs would like to win. A loss for the Suns would be devastating; a loss for the Spurs would be disappointing. The Suns' future rides, to a large extent, on the outcome of this series; the Spurs are going in a new direction next season regardless of the outcome of this series.

I guess that because of all of those things, I don't get the notion that there could ever really be more pressure on the Spurs than on the Suns.

I think in the grand scheme of things, the Spurs are facing a whole different kind of pressure, but its not the kind that is going to mess with their heads.
In essence, they have everything to gain and nothing to lose. If they do happen to make it all the way back to the Finals and win, they will cement their legacy as one of the greatest teams to ever set foot on the hardwood, finally have their repeat, and always have it to hold onto for their career after its all said and done. The Spurs have been incredibly successful, but have never successfully defended their title. This is the one thing the Spurs have not been able to accomplish during this stretch of greatness, and they know it is their for the taking. But on the other hand, like you say, if they don't win it all, it won't be a devastating tragedy(it will for me personally, but you get the idea)
The pressure on the Suns is gretaer and more immediate for all those reasons you said.. Its a make or break kinda deal. If it doesn't work out for them this year, they really have no idea what next year will be like for them, if the shaq trade was a ridiculous move, if they'll ever get to the top of the mountain, etc.

[boutons_]

If the Spurs lose both @PHX, it's a new series with Spurs holding HCA. More pressure still on Suns

If the Spurs get a split, 3-1 and retain HCA with 2 games left @ATT, even more pressure on Suns.

If the Spurs win both @PHX, go 4-0, eliminating a top team on its home court AGAIN!, HUGE pressure on the Suns from their ownership and fans to say WHY? HOW? :lol

iow, the Suns are in deep doo-doo.

[BiZNicK]

[QUOTE=oboymeetsogirl;2428828]
Like the Cavs last year, they need at least a couple of "Boobies" to save the day. QUOTE]


I wish i had some "boobies" to save mine :toast

[samikeyp]

If the Spurs lose both @PHX, it's a new series with Spurs holding HCA. More pressure still on Suns

If the Spurs get a split, 3-1 and retain HCA with 2 games left @ATT, even more pressure on Suns.

If the Spurs win both @PHX, go 4-0, eliminating a top team on its home court AGAIN!, HUGE pressure on the Suns from their ownership and fans to say WHY? HOW? :lol

iow, the Suns are in deep doo-doo.

+1

[1Parker1]

There's different types of pressure facing each team. But pressure nontheless. Definitely greater for the Suns as they are unproven. But for the Spurs, I do think this is their best chance to get a repeat, something they have never done. For their own benefit and each player's personal reward, I think it would be amazing for them to win a championship in back to back years because as history has shown, it's very hard to do. Unlike the Suns though, this isn't the Spurs last chance at winning a championship with this core group, whereas for the Suns, I think it is. In that sense, of course the pressure is greater than the Suns.

Also, you have to think it'd be pretty hard on the Spurs to lose in the first round of a series, especially when they have a 2-0 lead, HCA, and are better coached and a smarter team. But regardless, I doubt losing would have any long term effects on them, unlike for the Suns.

[m33p0]

looks like you answered your own question.

the suns have everything to play for. this is it for them, even if they plan to stick together for another year. the pressure is on in Game 3 for them. and given the Spurs' history especially in last year's playoffs, they are like sharks when they smell blood. Game 3 will be like a backdoor closeout game for the Spurs. Win game 3, and the Spurs can watch the Suns bleed to death.
see?