Suns Still A Very Good Team

You wouldn't think it by reading the paper, scrolling through website articles, listening to talk radio, or even the announcers of the live tv broadcast but the Phoenix Suns are still a heavy weight in the NBA. True, being down 3-0 in a first round playoff series doesn't speak contender, but the national media (per usual) is only looking at the surface rather than digging deeper before ripping the Suns.

The first round in the West was supposedly a guessing game as to who was going to win because all 8 teams were so good. Hardly. The Nuggets are being appropriately dismissed as an 8th seed with no chance by the Lakers and the Rockets, despite squeaking out a game 3 victory in Utah, cannot hang with the Jazz without Yao Ming. The Hornets and Mavs series could turn into a see-saw affair if the Mavs win in game 4. But the best matchup of them all also looks the most lopsided after the Spurs dismissed the Suns in game 3.

What's been swept under the rug, is the Spurs were toast in game 1 if not for last chance game saving threes by Michael Finley and Tim Duncan. Furthermore, the Spurs had double digit deficits in the first half of both games on their home court. It was at this time that the Spurs looked befuddled while Amare Staudemire and Steve Nash could do no wrong. In fact, this series began ominously for San Antonio as they were down by 16 midway through the second quarter of game 1. Game 3 was completely dominated by the Spurs, but would any team be able to beat the Spurs playing near flawless basketball while shooting 56% from the field and 90% from the line?

The end result of two furious second half comebacks and a game Gregg Popovich dubbed the best the Spurs have played all season is the Phoenix Suns are on the brink of being swept. Now the critics are hitting the Suns with any barb they can find.

"Steve Kerr is an idiot."

"This is where the Suns miss Shawn Marion."

"Shaquille O'Neal is washed up."

"The Suns have no identity."

Team owner Richard Sarver even slammed his Phoenix #1 pointy finger down when frustration boiled over in last night's game. While it is upsetting to see a team of such promise and toil on the verge of being swept out of the first round, the Suns are still much more than they are being portrayed as.

Even though Kerr himself offered that he was an idiot if they lost or a hero if they won after the O'Neal trade, there's more gray area in the trade evaluation than the Suns GM let on. One reason is Shawn Marion was a source of negativity and trouble in the Suns locker room. That much was as plain as day and well chronicled. Marion wanted more credit and spotlight in Phoenix and hated the shadow of Nash and Staudemire. That alone made the "bold" trade an easier move to make, but there's more. The very Spurs that had eliminated Phoenix in previous years eliminated them with Marion several times. In fact, Shawn Marion played some of his worst basketball against the Spurs in those playoff series.

So to say the Suns miss Shawn Marion is akin to saying I don't know what I'm talking about. As a locker room problem and an invisible man against the Spurs in the playoffs, the Suns are hardly ailing from Marion's absence.

The net result of Marion's departure, Shaqtus O'Neal, obviously has pros and cons, but when you place yourself in the Suns shoes, it was a great risk as far as moves to be made. The logic? If we can't beat the Spurs, we should try something new. We should bring in someone who can be a presence in the middle, slow down Tim Duncan, and add championship experience.

The move looked rosy in the regular season when Shaq needed little to no help guarding Duncan and made the Spurs star look like he was the one that was washed up. O'Neal has even had some great moments in this year's playoffs. Ultimately though, the Spurs resurgence has negated O'Neals addition. Tim Duncan has shed his regular season slumber and the Spurs pick and roll offense is thriving against O'Neal. Still, the move was one that almost had to be made. O'Neal had (has) the tools to be an efficient man-to-man defender and finally gave the Suns a legitimate center to matchup against the Spurs and also the Lakers in the playoffs. Furthermore, it was evident - at least to this writer and the Suns brass - that the Suns needed to change to truly contend for a title.

As far as the Suns having no identity, the best argument for that statement is key role player Grant Hill has been somewhat limited by a groin injury. 7 out of 10 ESPN "experts" didn't seem to think the Suns had too many identity problems when they picked Phoenix to win this first round series against last season's champions. In fact, many were projecting the Suns as a team to win it all. While the Suns would obviously have liked to have had The Big Cactus for the whole season, the Suns seemed to mesh well with O'Neal as a protector of the basket, rebounder, and an occassional scoring punch.

Nevertheless, this trade is not boding as well as the Suns had hoped. They are on the brink of elimination from the playoffs faster than any of the other 14 teams outside of this series. Still, is that a reason to cast the Suns aside as yesterday's trash? Maybe Joe Averagefan can get away with exclaiming "Phoenix Sucks!" or a bandwagon Suns fan can give up on his team citing the fact that "Shaq messed up the team." But the fact is this Phoenix Suns team is a very good squad.

To say otherwise is not giving credit to the Spurs team that has been able to adjust to the Suns brilliantly after halftime and came out on fire in game 3. Moreover, if the Suns had faced any other team outside of perhaps the Lakers, they would be the ones cruising into the second round and picking up momentum.

On almost any other year, the Spurs spot opponents a game somewhere in the series, but not this year. Tim Duncan even noted that game 1 of this series was like a finals matchup. I really doubt Duncan would have made that comparison against middle-tier playoff teams like the Rockets, Mavericks, or Nuggets. Unfortunately for the orange and purple, they went up against a very focused defending champions in round one of the playoffs.

The reason the Spurs were so focused?

The Suns are a very good team.

I guarantee Pop could take the Phx roster to the finals.

This PHX team could've beaten anyone else in the West.

your sig causes me to say this to you:

Fuck you.

- Mars

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Originally Posted by SAtown

This PHX team could've beaten anyone else in the West.

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The Jazz would've beaten them. LA would've beaten them. Maybe Dallas and NO would have beaten them.

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Originally Posted by ClingingMars

your sig causes me to say this to you:

Fuck you.

- Mars

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Hey it's not your fault you're such a classy guy.

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Originally Posted by ballijuana

The Jazz would've beaten them. LA would've beaten them. Maybe Dallas and NO would have beaten them.

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You must be on ballijuana to think that. I don't think you realize how impossibly good the Spurs big 3 are playing right now.

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Originally Posted by ballijuana

The Jazz would've beaten them.

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:lmao

and here I thought your other thread was a fluke.

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Originally Posted by jackseven

Hey it's not your fault you're such a classy guy.

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i hate bandwagoners, gtfo.

- Mars

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Originally Posted by jackseven

You must be on ballijuana to think that. I don't think you realize how impossibly good the Spurs big 3 are playing right now.

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I'll take Houston, but I would have loved to meet up with Phoenix in the first round. The Spurs are playing great, but don't act like you guys just beat the best team out there. You didn't.

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Originally Posted by ClingingMars

your sig causes me to say this to you:

Fuck you.

- Mars

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Unbelievable.

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Originally Posted by jackoffseventimes

I am a Celtics fan. I jumped off the Spurs bandwagon after Game 3 vs. Cleveland.

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WTF? That's like jumping off of the Mayflower within sight of Plymouth rock. Why the fuck would ANYONE jump off their team's wagon within one game of a championship? :lmao X 1billion

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Originally Posted by ClingingMars

your sig causes me to say this to you:

Fuck you.

- Mars

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Unbelievable.

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Originally Posted by jackoffseventimes

I am a Celtics fan. I jumped off the Spurs bandwagon after Game 3 vs. Cleveland.

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WTF? That's like jumping off of the Mayflower within sight of Plymouth rock. Why the fuck would ANYONE jump off their team's wagon within one game of a championship? :lmao X 1billion

Also, jackoff, if you're going to post someone's article, you should probably put their byline on it.

Disagree with me all you want, but I still say the Suns miss Marion.

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Originally Posted by PlayoffEx-static

Unbelievable.



WTF? That's like jumping off of the Mayflower within sight of Plymouth rock. Why the fuck would ANYONE jump off their team's wagon within one game of a championship? :lmao X 1billion

Also, jackoff, if you're going to post someone's article, you should probably put their byline on it.

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I wrote it for my blog.

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"Steve Kerr is an idiot."

"This is where the Suns miss Shawn Marion."

"Shaquille O'Neal is washed up."

"The Suns have no identity."

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You forgot one...

The Suns are the official NBA bitches of the Spurs.

Suns are fantastic team .... during the season.

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Originally Posted by ClingingMars

i hate bandwagoners, gtfo.

- Mars

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:lol at this entire arguement

PHX is still a very good team and still dangerous. Its over when its over, we need to not take them for granted and administer one more ass-whoopin to wrap this up. All this crap in the press I dont believe.

u gotta be kidding me. Phoenix has a pathetic defense. it's embarrasing. they are not even close to being competitive

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Originally Posted by jackseven

would any team be able to beat the Spurs playing near flawless basketball while shooting 56% from the field and 90% from the line?

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That is where you fail : a very good team wouldn't allow their opponent to have that kind of game. Next.

good writing! i like your arguments... i still believe they're all made by regular season showings... the Spurs are a different team on the playoffs... if we win it all this year... the three by duncan at the very beginning of the playoffs will define the trophy...

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Originally Posted by sabar

I guarantee Pop could take the Phx roster to the finals.

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That is what is so sad.

suns still a very good team that is even better at losing to the spurs in every postseason showing between the 2

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Originally Posted by thiste

That is where you fail : a very good team wouldn't allow their opponent to have that kind of game. Next.

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Jordan's Bulls weren't beating the Spurs yesterday. Next.

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Originally Posted by ClingingMars

your sig causes me to say this to you:

Fuck you.

- Mars

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What does my signature cause you to say?

I've got a question: why is that we keep hearing how Phoenix was really the best team in game 1, and the Spurs got lucky, but we don't hear how the Spurs were really the best team in Game 4 last year (they were) and Phoenix got lucky, and therefore the Spurs actually won the series 5-1?

It's matchups. The Suns simply can't match up to win against the Spurs in the playoffs.

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In fact, Shawn Marion played some of his worst basketball against the Spurs in those playoff series.

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:tu

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But the fact is this Phoenix Suns team is a very good squad.

To say otherwise is not giving credit to the Spurs team that has been able to adjust to the Suns brilliantly after halftime and came out on fire in game 3. Moreover, if the Suns had faced any other team outside of perhaps the Lakers, they would be the ones cruising into the second round and picking up momentum.

On almost any other year, the Spurs spot opponents a game somewhere in the series, but not this year. Tim Duncan even noted that game 1 of this series was like a finals matchup. I really doubt Duncan would have made that comparison against middle-tier playoff teams like the Rockets, Mavericks, or Nuggets. Unfortunately for the orange and purple, they went up against a very focused defending champions in round one of the playoffs.

The reason the Spurs were so focused?

The Suns are a very good team.

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my thoughts exactly. :tu :tu

if the suns were playing the mavs and were down 0-2 or 0-3, they'd be pissed not slumping their shoulders.

thanks for sharing.

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Originally Posted by ballijuana

I'll take Houston, but I would have loved to meet up with Phoenix in the first round. The Spurs are playing great, but don't act like you guys just beat the best team out there. You didn't.

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Spurs don't beat themselves.

Sure the Suns are a very good team, but the Spurs are a VERY good team.

The Suns are a good team...I just feel that we completely wore them down in those first two games. They're a good team with mediocre coaching...and that's the reason for their 4th quarter letdowns.

Oh yea, i still give props to this great team. There still great.

It's not who you are underneath, but what you do that defines you.

Maybe the best thing that happened for the Suns game 3 was when those people left early.
That's like getting rid of cancer.
Get a true but small fanbase and make it grow from there.
Make some trades and a lot of phone calls and fire the director of publicity, have a make over and make it fun once again to be a new Suns fan for the new times. The old times are over like S.A. Smith would say.