duncan228
04-25-2008, 07:02 PM
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2008/04/25/20080425suns0425.html
Now or never for Suns
by Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
The only sticking point about tonight's Game 3 for the Suns is whether it is a must-win situation or a can't-lose situation.
Either way, it's as vital as a heartbeat for Phoenix's NBA postseason life. Losing the first-round series' opening games in regrettable ways has smothered the positives, such as when the Suns led by 16 and 14 points on the road against the NBA champs.
Now, Phoenix needs to make its home court as valuable tonight as San Antonio did Saturday and Tuesday. Must win?
"Nobody's ever come back from 3-0, right?" Suns General Manager Steve Kerr said. "We need to win."
Asked if the Suns had to win Game 3 to win the series, Suns guard Steve Nash simply said "yes," qualifying it by adding that a 3-0 hole could be overcome if, say, the Spurs all sprained ankles getting off the bus before Game 4.
If the Suns are going to advance by winning four of the next five, which only 13 playoff teams have accomplished when in such a 2-0 predicament, they probably will need to go 3-0 at home.
"We've got to win here both games," Suns power forward Amaré Stoudemire said of Game 3 and Game 4 on Sunday. "Every game is a heart-rattling game, especially when you're home and down 0-2. We've got to have this one. If we win, we can turn this series around."
There is a strong chance that Phoenix will have to do so without forward Grant Hill, whose groin and lower abdominal strains have nullified his usual impact on games, anyway.
The Suns might tweak some weak areas, but the game plan remains the same as it was in two regular-season wins with Shaquille O'Neal and in Games 1 and 2.
"We feel like we've had the upper hand," said Suns coach Mike D'Antoni, who said the offense has been the team's larger issue. "We've got to play a little more carefree. We're a little tight right now."
The Suns will try to be more opportunistic in transition after scoring only 13 fast-break points in the first two games (they averaged 16.3 per game in the regular season with O'Neal), but they know they can score in droves against San Antonio. They scored 61 points in the first half Tuesday before struggling to score 11 in the third quarter.
Defensively, they will keep funneling penetrators to the lane, hoping that Phoenix's big men are better deterrents on Tony Parker's drives and that the Spurs' big three of Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili can't outscore the Suns if the role players are kept quiet.
"A couple more transition baskets and a little more tempo in our favor will help us, because there are some guys on our team who are struggling a bit," said Nash, whose team has been hamstrung by Hill's poor health and Leandro Barbosa's offensive struggles.
Phoenix made 8.5 3-pointers per game this season but has nine in two playoff games. Barbosa is seeking his first 3-pointer. Gordan Giricek is seeking his first 3-point attempt. Raja Bell went without a 3-point attempt for nearly 30 minutes Tuesday after hitting back-to-back 3-pointers in the first quarter.
The Suns hope that the Game 1 breakdowns in the clutch and the Game 2 stretch of two points in 11 minutes can't happen in a home arena that Bell said will be "on fire."
"I don't think any of us don't believe this is a situation we can come back from," Bell said. "We feel like we match up well. We've been in positions to win. We haven't done, that but there are a lot of encouraging things.
"A lot of people would probably ask how I could not feel bad about being down 0-2 and having lost the way we did, but I don't. Things happen. I'm excited about some of the things we're able to do and the way we're able to get those leads. . . .
"We're not beat. It's not over."
Now or never for Suns
by Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
The only sticking point about tonight's Game 3 for the Suns is whether it is a must-win situation or a can't-lose situation.
Either way, it's as vital as a heartbeat for Phoenix's NBA postseason life. Losing the first-round series' opening games in regrettable ways has smothered the positives, such as when the Suns led by 16 and 14 points on the road against the NBA champs.
Now, Phoenix needs to make its home court as valuable tonight as San Antonio did Saturday and Tuesday. Must win?
"Nobody's ever come back from 3-0, right?" Suns General Manager Steve Kerr said. "We need to win."
Asked if the Suns had to win Game 3 to win the series, Suns guard Steve Nash simply said "yes," qualifying it by adding that a 3-0 hole could be overcome if, say, the Spurs all sprained ankles getting off the bus before Game 4.
If the Suns are going to advance by winning four of the next five, which only 13 playoff teams have accomplished when in such a 2-0 predicament, they probably will need to go 3-0 at home.
"We've got to win here both games," Suns power forward Amaré Stoudemire said of Game 3 and Game 4 on Sunday. "Every game is a heart-rattling game, especially when you're home and down 0-2. We've got to have this one. If we win, we can turn this series around."
There is a strong chance that Phoenix will have to do so without forward Grant Hill, whose groin and lower abdominal strains have nullified his usual impact on games, anyway.
The Suns might tweak some weak areas, but the game plan remains the same as it was in two regular-season wins with Shaquille O'Neal and in Games 1 and 2.
"We feel like we've had the upper hand," said Suns coach Mike D'Antoni, who said the offense has been the team's larger issue. "We've got to play a little more carefree. We're a little tight right now."
The Suns will try to be more opportunistic in transition after scoring only 13 fast-break points in the first two games (they averaged 16.3 per game in the regular season with O'Neal), but they know they can score in droves against San Antonio. They scored 61 points in the first half Tuesday before struggling to score 11 in the third quarter.
Defensively, they will keep funneling penetrators to the lane, hoping that Phoenix's big men are better deterrents on Tony Parker's drives and that the Spurs' big three of Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili can't outscore the Suns if the role players are kept quiet.
"A couple more transition baskets and a little more tempo in our favor will help us, because there are some guys on our team who are struggling a bit," said Nash, whose team has been hamstrung by Hill's poor health and Leandro Barbosa's offensive struggles.
Phoenix made 8.5 3-pointers per game this season but has nine in two playoff games. Barbosa is seeking his first 3-pointer. Gordan Giricek is seeking his first 3-point attempt. Raja Bell went without a 3-point attempt for nearly 30 minutes Tuesday after hitting back-to-back 3-pointers in the first quarter.
The Suns hope that the Game 1 breakdowns in the clutch and the Game 2 stretch of two points in 11 minutes can't happen in a home arena that Bell said will be "on fire."
"I don't think any of us don't believe this is a situation we can come back from," Bell said. "We feel like we match up well. We've been in positions to win. We haven't done, that but there are a lot of encouraging things.
"A lot of people would probably ask how I could not feel bad about being down 0-2 and having lost the way we did, but I don't. Things happen. I'm excited about some of the things we're able to do and the way we're able to get those leads. . . .
"We're not beat. It's not over."