Sweep? Don't Count On It

Sweep? Don't Count On It
LAST UPDATE: 5/28/2005 5:53:13 AM

http://www.woai.com/spurs/story.aspx...C-F236B20FEE93

By LJ Ellis
SpursZONE.com

With the San Antonio Spurs taking two games on the road against the Phoenix Suns to begin the Western Conference Finals, San Antonio is in a festive mood. For most Spurs fans, league observers and basketball pundits, the series is already decided. The only question left is whether it will end in a sweep.

But it’d be smart to put those broom purchases on hold. Though it would take a miraculous comeback for the Suns to take this series and represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals, Spurs fans should know something about miracles. Derek Fisher quieted San Antonio last year in a split second. Actually, .4 seconds to be exact.

Unlike most teams who fall down 2-0 in a best of seven series, the Suns have reason for hope. Saturday night at the SBC Center should mark the return of Joe Johnson. Though Johnson is far from a household name, he has been a vital part of the Suns’ rise to prominence.

Without Johnson’s all-around abilities that allow him to excel at shooting, passing, rebounding and defense, the Suns have noticeably been lacking depth and diversity on both ends of the court.

In the past, Johnson has shown an ability to match up with Tony Parker, which will let Steve Nash switch onto Bruce Bowen. Johnson will also be able to spell Nash at point guard. Nash, the league’s MVP this season, has been forced to play 86 of a possible 96 minutes.

Although the Spurs haven’t had much success in stopping the high-powered Suns, they have been able to cheat off of Quentin Richardson to collapse the middle on Nash and Amare Stoudemire. If the Suns counter the Spurs on Saturday with a lineup that includes Johnson and Jim Jackson on the wings, San Antonio would be forced to honor the perimeter. The Spurs can hide Tim Duncan on Richardson, but wouldn’t be able to hide him on Johnson.

Johnson has worked on his shot throughout his time in the NBA and is now one of the league’s best shooters. He finished second in the league in three-point percentage at 47.8%. In playoffs, Johnson was shooting 51.9% from the field and 56.5% from beyond the arc before he fractured a bone in his face in the gruesome fall against the Dallas Mavericks.

Though Johnson will have to wear a mask to protect his face, the Spurs can’t come into the game assuming the mask will alter Johnson’s deadeye outside touch. Earlier this season, LeBron James broke a bone in his face thanks to an errant Dikembe Mutombo elbow. James' first game back saw him score a game-high 26 points, grab eight rebounds and dish out six assists to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 94-83 win, all while sporting a mask.

Worth mentioning – James and the Cavs went on to win their next four games.

Johnson and the Suns no doubt face long odds. They have to win four out of the next five games, with three of those games being on San Antonio’s home court. The SBC Center has been purgatory for visiting teams this season. The Spurs, who are 43-4 at home over the regular season and the playoffs, are practically unbeatable in the Alamo City.

The Suns, though, aren’t too shabby on the road. In fact, they were a league best 31-10 on the road this season. Throughout the entire 2004-05 campaign, they’ve shown an ability to go out and win big games.

Guess who has led the way for the Suns on the road this season? Yes, Joe Johnson. Throughout the season, he might have been the best player in the NBA on the road when compared to his performance at home. He shot 42.1% at home, while averaging 15.4 points. On the road, he shot 50.0% from the field and 51.1% from three-point land, while scoring 18.7 points per game.

For the Spurs to keep up their winning ways against the Suns, they are going to have to score … and score big. San Antonio is averaging 116 points per game so far in the series, nearly 20 points higher than their regular season average output.

One would presume that eventually the defensive-minded Spurs aren’t going to able to continue their Harlem Globetrotter ways. In fact, while the Spurs have found scoring easier this season, they never scored more than 100 points in four straight games. The Suns have scored at least 100 points in 15 straight games heading into Saturday’s showdown.

And the Suns’ offense shows no signs of slowing up. Phoenix has shot better than San Antonio from the field, from beyond the arc and from the charity stripe this series. If not for some well-timed fourth quarter execution, the Spurs could be the ones looking for a miracle.

Is Joe Johnson a miracle worker? Only time will tell.

The Spurs and their fans should come to the SBC Center expecting a battle – not a surefire win. The rumors of the Suns’ demise have been greatly exaggerated.

San Antonio, with help from a certain Derek Fisher highlight, should understand.

As long as they don't get overconfident and play the right way , we should be fine.

How does his eye look? I haven't seen him on anything recently.

I'm sorry, but the return of Joe Johnson doesn't scare me one bit.

The Suns will play the same way, and the Spurs' defense will be better at home.

The Spurs won't let another ".4" happen, which is why they will take care of business tonight and eventually sweep.

I'm disappointed the Suns couldn't make it more competitive.

I really did believe they had a chance--a week ago.

I'm sure Pop will have some tricks, esp defensive tricks, tonight.

I would certainly like to see a lot more defensive intensity from the beginning, but the game will be decided in the 4th qtr, and that's where tricks, like Tim coming out to trap Steve with Tony, plus even more defensive intensity, will be evident.

I'm sure these Spurs have much more confidence than last May, and last May was an nasty lesson, but it was still a lesson, which strenthened the Spurs.

LJ's prudence and caution must be heeded, but playing at SBC in the WCF will be the enough advantage to get to 3-0.

The good news is that this Spurs team did win two games this season against the Suns with Joe Johnson, and have won 10/11. I agree that a sweep might be asking too much, but if that's the case, Game 3 seems to be the likely letdown game. But would it really be a letdown game? As LJ points out, the Suns are a great road team, they are in a must win situation.

But on the other hand, the Spurs control their own destiny. I have faith in their veteran championship core. They are also at home. To paraphrase Manu Ginobili yesterday, he cannot wait to get home in front of the home fans, to feel those goosebumps again. Obviously the Spurs will place a premium on playing at home for the first time in 11 days. The fans apparently will have some D rags waving all night.

I think that the Spurs' veterans will come through, irrespective of Joe Johnson's return or not.

But should I be wrong and the Spurs lose tonight, they'll win on Tuesday and close this series in five or six games.

"it really be a letdown game?"

I just don't see how the Spurs could have a letdown. Last May was a letdown, and 4 of those 5 starters are back. Losing to Denver in Game1 was letdown. But They know a Spurs loss tonight, esp after the example of the Mavs-Rockets series, would make the rest the series much more difficult, another trip back to PHX.

And Pop has been talking about how "lucky" the Spurs were in the first two games. And then hear Mike talking about "difference of only a bucket or two" to get a W.

The SBC advantage will be the difference.

Remember 28 Dec, the only road blowout of PHX this year!!

boutons, I also think that the Spurs' generally poor defensive effort in the first couple of games and coming home should be enough to make it more stifling tonight. Sure, you can't completely stop Phoenix, but I'm looking for some serious motivation on D tonight.

Here is how it goes down:

Game 3 loss
Game 4 win
Game 5 win

Finals:

Game 1. loss
Game 2. win
Game 3. loss
Game 4. loss
Game 5. win
Game 6. win
Game 7. win

Damn, Jim, you trying to give me a heart attack!? I don't think I want it to play out quite like that, even if I do like the end result!

Spurs have beaten the Suns 10 out of the last 11 games.

Simma Down Now.

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Originally Posted by GrandeDavid

Damn, Jim, you trying to give me a heart attack!? I don't think I want it to play out quite like that, even if I do like the end result!

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:elephant

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Originally Posted by GrandeDavid

Damn, Jim, you trying to give me a heart attack!? I don't think I want it to play out quite like that, even if I do like the end result!

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I had a vision. Maybe the Peyote had something to do with it.

:)

"I had a vision."

Looks like Peyote is causing you double vision.

I don't think the Spurs will lose Game1 of the Finals @SBC, but maybe Game2. That series will be very tight.

Actually, I was shooting baskets with my boy and some of his friends and I was shooting from the top of the key, and I said for each made shot, it means a Spurs' win and a miss equals a loss. That was the result. I was very happy to hit the last 3 shots. :)

PS I used the same technique in the 79 playoffs with Washington, and unfortunately, It proved to be true. :(

Oh Jeah

But who's Manu Match up?????

Q??? It´s very funny, in the Manu´s 48 points game, Johnson was on Manu, not on Parker

I smell a sweep and an agonizing wait till the Spurs face a red-hot, battle-tested, in-rhythm Eastern Conference team. The first two home games will be critical and the ad nauseum debate until then will be whether the lay-off will help or hurt the Spurs.

Good article, LJ. I do think I remember someone named timvp calling it before the series, Spurs in 4 games. :lol

Well thought i'd introduce myself since iam new here, so go easy on me guys.....Sorry guys who don't believe this may be a sweep...But if what i seen comes true, it will....I'm very new to this board but actually have been following it for a VERY long time...I thought it was time to register and join in here...I have been a Spurs fan forever and absolutely think MANU is the MAN....Anyways, some may think of me as a nut, lol, but psychic abilities are real and when its something i see close to my heart, usually it happens as i see it....And Spurs will take this game....If the rest i saw happens, a sweep also... With a little commical swing to it which makes these visions even more interesting to understand....I am pretty sure the Suns will be wearing purple uniforms, if not this game the last one for sure......Not sure why purple but i haven't kept track of the Suns very much to see if they even have purple uniforms because i seem to work on nites they have played....Now i have DVR so i miss nothing.....So call me a nut if you want, but iam just a DIEHARD SPURS LOVER and thats all that matters!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MANU IS THE MANNNNN!!!!!!!!! :king


Charles Barkley: "I don't care what people think, people are stupid

The Joe Johnson angle will be interesting to watch.

He could make a serious difference and help Phoenix, or he could be Derek Anderson, rushing back to be the Spurs "savior" in the 2001 WCF, only to go 0-10 in 2 games playing with immense pressure to be a difference-maker.

Let us not forget JoJo is on contract ending year, he will want to earn his paycheck big time tonight and two days from now..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jimcs50

Here is how it goes down:

Game 3 loss
Game 4 win
Game 5 win

Finals:

Game 1. loss
Game 2. win
Game 3. loss
Game 4. loss
Game 5. win
Game 6. win
Game 7. win

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Good God, I hope not.

Can you imagine the virtual apocalypse that would manifest on the Forum if the Spurs actually found themselves down 1-3 in the Finals?

People were ready to jump off their rooftops when we were down one to Denver. :rolleyes

I still think it's gonna be a sweep. As I predicted b4 the series started on a prior thread.

Welcome psychic spurs fan. Bring good takes and humor and you'll fit right in here.

It was a good time to register here. You must have had a premonition. :hat

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Originally Posted by Solid D

Good article, LJ. I do think I remember someone named timvp calling it before the series, Spurs in 4 games. :lol

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You weren't supposed to remember.

:hat

:D

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/chea...527covheat.jpg

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/pics/0527bigjj.jpg

I think when we all picture someone wearing a mask, we think Rip Hamilton.
http://uconn.blogs.com/huskyblog/ima..._05_31_rip.jpg

As you can see, it isn't that big of a deal or appear to be hindering.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SequSpur

Spurs have beaten the Suns 10 out of the last 11 games.

Simma Down Now.

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Only the last five should be taken into consideration. The Suns were 29-53 last season.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by HB22inSA

...I'm disappointed the Suns couldn't make it more competitive. I really did believe they had a chance--a week ago.

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A sweep will prove that an upbeat offense is no good with a downbeat defense. Nuggets proved that under Westhead. Quality of league has deteriorated since so more wins is a given. Showtime Lakers -- pardon my french -- played D. So do the Spurs. It's just that Pop doesn't use every opportunity to run.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CaptainLate

A sweep will prove that an upbeat offense is no good with a downbeat defense. Nuggets proved that under Westhead. Quality of league has deteriorated since so more wins is a given. Showtime Lakers -- pardon my french -- played D. So do the Spurs. It's just that Pop doesn't use every opportunity to run.

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I think after tonight you'll find that the Suns with a healthy Joe Johnson are a completely different team than the one the last two games you saw...the team that lost after leading going into the 4th quarter. I'm not saying they'll now win the series, I just think you'll have more respect--and be thanking Jerry Stackhouse for knocking Johnson out.

i don't think it will be a sweep, i think it will be 4-1

I still respect them! I respected them w/out JJ. I dunno why so many fans are sooo cocky, its not like we blew them out in games 1 and 2!!! Both were close games!

The Suns are very good. Nash is tearing our Defense up! We need to find an answer for him!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Duncan21

i don't think it will be a sweep, i think it will be 4-1

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I say 4-2. Suns will win two of the next three and lose game six in San Antonio.

with that d in 2 you can count on it
nash is pressing

Sweep? Count on it.

Bring out the BROOM!

http://5150studios.net/images/ani_av...misc/kirk1.gif
"SPURS!!!!!

Count On It!

http://altura.speedera.net/ccimg.cat...ts/2975103.jpg

The Wopper,and OOOOOOberding,the bruisebrothers,and those around the world jump passes by Kenon.Those were some fun times from the Hemisphere arena. :spin

Trying to keep Spurs fans honest is indeed a chore.

Nice writing.

Joe Johnson played last night how I was scared he'd play. He dominated Parker on defense and dominated Manu on offense. He's the Suns' road baller. He goes out there and plays better on the road. You can't say that about too many players in the league.

If the SPurs wouldve limited his wide open shots early and had a hand in his face, instead of letting him get into a rythum, it wouldve been a totally different game.

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Originally Posted by T Park

If the SPurs wouldve limited his wide open shots early and had a hand in his face, instead of letting him get into a rythum, it wouldve been a totally different game.

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Bowen can't guard everyone.

I don't remember Joe Johnson going one on one much. A lot of his shots were decent looks as a result of the transition offense. The Suns quickness on the break kept the Spurs on their heels for most of the night. Joe Johnson simply got hot, and from then even was able to take Bowen at the end on that isolation. But the entire transition D was pretty weak. Even Q and JJ were hitting their 3's with solid proficiency. It has been that way all series for the most part.

With the exception of Game 3, the Spurs D has been poor all along.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Nikos

I don't remember Joe Johnson going one on one much. A lot of his shots were decent looks as a result of the transition offense. The Suns quickness on the break kept the Spurs on their heels for most of the night. Joe Johnson simply got hot, and from then even was able to take Bowen at the end on that isolation. But the entire transition D was pretty weak. Even Q and JJ were hitting their 3's with solid proficiency. It has been that way all series for the most part.

With the exception of Game 3, the Spurs D has been poor all along.

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Ditto. I don't think JJ dominated anyone one on one (except Bowen a couple of times). JJ was quite instrumental in Suns' running game due to poor Spurs' transition D though.

Manu is going to have to bring it defensively in game five. Bowen can shut down Marion, so Manu has to keep JJ from scoring in the 20's. Game four wasn't all on Manu, but he didn't help matters.

JJ scored 22 of his 26 points against Manu/Barry. They weren't all in transition, but that was a big part of it. The Spurs weren't doing the right things or communicating well in transition on D.

That shot over Bowen was incredible. Bowen couldn't have done anything more. But by that time, he was on fire. The Spurs can't let him get to that point.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rick Von Braun

Ditto. I don't think JJ dominated anyone one on one (except Bowen a couple of times). JJ was quite instrumental in Suns' running game due to poor Spurs' transition D though.

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Joe Johnson is the alternate dribbler. Nash will pass ahead to Johnson on the break often. He gets them into their early offense. He is good at shooting off of the pick and roll but not as good finding the mismatch inside with a pass.

He is also a good rebounding guard and can break down a defense. Not to mention the best outside shooter along with Nash.

Without all five starters for the Suns this probably would have been a sweep.

At least my original prediction is still possible even if it is unlikely.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by timvp

Manu is going to have to bring it defensively in game five. Bowen can shut down Marion, so Manu has to keep JJ from scoring in the 20's. Game four wasn't all on Manu, but he didn't help matters.

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At least Manu won his matchup. I think you might want to look at Parker and Tim's game before even thinking about Manu's.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kori Ellis

JJ scored 22 of his 26 points against Manu/Barry. They weren't all in transition, but that was a big part of it. The Spurs weren't doing the right things or communicating well in transition on D.

That shot over Bowen was incredible. Bowen couldn't have done anything more. But by that time, he was on fire. The Spurs can't let him get to that point.

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The point is about 15 of JJ's points came in transition off three pointers and good looks that he had before the defense got set. He wasn't really busting anyone off the dribble until the end.

You make it sound like Bowen can shut down anyone at anytime, and that if anyone gets hot it is because Bowen is not guarding him, or that Manu and Barry are getting schooled. I just didn't see it that way last night.

Jim Jackson hit some open shots, and so did Q. Joe Johnson did even more. Difference is Joe can create more and made some tough plays at the end. But its not like Bowen would have held him to 2pts if he guarded him.

I was very pleased with Bowens shooting last night, but I wouldn't exactly give him a free pass just because he didn't get the chance to guard JoeJohnson.

Kori should get Post of the week award just with this alone.

The rest of you with your Broom smack, should be embarassed.

how come Kori is not on the Best dam sports show?

Mouse why don't you come over and sweep my Tia's corcho with all those brooms stuck up your ass. :lmao

Do I have to wear a hair net? :lmao

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mouse

Do I have to wear a hair net? :lmao

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What has inspired your hating for the spurs? I'm a mavs fan but just wondering . I'm a Heat hater and used to be a laker hater but can't find anything to hate about the spurs team.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mavsfan1000

What has inspired your hating for the spurs? I'm a mavs fan but just wondering . I'm a Heat hater and used to be a laker hater but can't find anything to hate about the spurs team.

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It's an act. You have to understand mouse's life revolves entirely around calling sports radio talk shows and posting on forums. So, he's developed this "anti-Spurs" persona to entertain himself. He used to have a "pro-Spurs" persona.

It's sort of like the act in pro wrestling when a wrestler turns from a "good guy" into a "bad guy."

He gets most of his material from the Jim Rome website.

In summary, don't take anything mouse says at face value. It's an act.