boutons
01-22-2005, 12:47 PM
Overtime breakdown
Nash return not enough to halt Spurs
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 22, 2005 12:00 AM
Basketball utopia nearly returned Friday.
The Suns might have been down to nine players after trading for Jim Jackson, but one of them was Steve Nash.
Nash returned to the court along with Phoenix's confidence, swagger, dizzying style and spunk. That was not enough to take down San Antonio, the outright NBA favorite, which rallied from a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat Phoenix 128-123 for the Suns' sixth straight loss.
It was as good as a loss gets. It said that Phoenix belongs among the elite. It screamed "Nash for MVP" until Tim Duncan took over in overtime to make his own statement.
Phoenix's defense crumbled through a 40-point fourth quarter, and when the Spurs scored on six of their first seven overtime possessions.
San Antonio maintained the league's best record, 33-9, but Phoenix at least reminded everyone how it was once 31-4.
After Nash left hurt early in the second of five straight losses, the Suns never were the same. It was not just that the man who makes nearly every on-court decision was gone. It meant an instant makeover for a team that did not know how to dress any differently than its usual fast-paced glitz.
Back to a comfortable look, Nash's teammates stepped up. Joe Johnson had more points and assists than Nash at halftime. After a scoreless first quarter, Shawn Marion ripped off 28 points and 12 rebounds in the middle two quarters.
Best of all, Amaré Stoudemire was to be feared again. Stoudemire scored 15 points in his first 13 minutes on the court, finding the jumper range that makes Phoenix's spread look daunting for even the league's most respected defense. Quentin Richardson, whose shot has been up and down of late, even had a pass go into the hoop.
The Suns went on a 20-4 run over the back half of the third quarter, opening an 88-71 lead that was all too easily erased at home. Marion scored 14 straight Suns points on the tear that shut out Duncan.
It was a long way from the 115-94 whipping San Antonio handed the Suns on Dec. 28.
This time, the Suns were adamant about making San Antonio run. Defensively, they were much more up to the task, handling screens so much better than when Tony Parker scored 29 on them that Parker was sitting in crunch time.
Phoenix controlled everyone not named Duncan (30 points) or Manu Ginobili, who had a career-high 48.
But that defensive effort disappeared late with a series of open threes and unchallenged drives by San Antonio. A 40-point Spurs fourth quarter required Marion to hit a leaning, buzzer-beating three-pointer just to get to overtime.
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Other than Amare's jackassing, Suns have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. When Shawn hit the buzzer beater, I said to myself: "I'm satisfied. Win or lose in OT, the Spurs showed incredible, champsionhip guts and fight (that had been missing so many times on the road this season), as a team and as individuals, in the 4th quarter comeback"
Nash return not enough to halt Spurs
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 22, 2005 12:00 AM
Basketball utopia nearly returned Friday.
The Suns might have been down to nine players after trading for Jim Jackson, but one of them was Steve Nash.
Nash returned to the court along with Phoenix's confidence, swagger, dizzying style and spunk. That was not enough to take down San Antonio, the outright NBA favorite, which rallied from a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat Phoenix 128-123 for the Suns' sixth straight loss.
It was as good as a loss gets. It said that Phoenix belongs among the elite. It screamed "Nash for MVP" until Tim Duncan took over in overtime to make his own statement.
Phoenix's defense crumbled through a 40-point fourth quarter, and when the Spurs scored on six of their first seven overtime possessions.
San Antonio maintained the league's best record, 33-9, but Phoenix at least reminded everyone how it was once 31-4.
After Nash left hurt early in the second of five straight losses, the Suns never were the same. It was not just that the man who makes nearly every on-court decision was gone. It meant an instant makeover for a team that did not know how to dress any differently than its usual fast-paced glitz.
Back to a comfortable look, Nash's teammates stepped up. Joe Johnson had more points and assists than Nash at halftime. After a scoreless first quarter, Shawn Marion ripped off 28 points and 12 rebounds in the middle two quarters.
Best of all, Amaré Stoudemire was to be feared again. Stoudemire scored 15 points in his first 13 minutes on the court, finding the jumper range that makes Phoenix's spread look daunting for even the league's most respected defense. Quentin Richardson, whose shot has been up and down of late, even had a pass go into the hoop.
The Suns went on a 20-4 run over the back half of the third quarter, opening an 88-71 lead that was all too easily erased at home. Marion scored 14 straight Suns points on the tear that shut out Duncan.
It was a long way from the 115-94 whipping San Antonio handed the Suns on Dec. 28.
This time, the Suns were adamant about making San Antonio run. Defensively, they were much more up to the task, handling screens so much better than when Tony Parker scored 29 on them that Parker was sitting in crunch time.
Phoenix controlled everyone not named Duncan (30 points) or Manu Ginobili, who had a career-high 48.
But that defensive effort disappeared late with a series of open threes and unchallenged drives by San Antonio. A 40-point Spurs fourth quarter required Marion to hit a leaning, buzzer-beating three-pointer just to get to overtime.
==============================
Other than Amare's jackassing, Suns have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. When Shawn hit the buzzer beater, I said to myself: "I'm satisfied. Win or lose in OT, the Spurs showed incredible, champsionhip guts and fight (that had been missing so many times on the road this season), as a team and as individuals, in the 4th quarter comeback"