Game Thoughts: Spurs @ Suns Apr. 25

Thanks Timvp

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by spursfaninla

TimVP slipped in how he watches the games afew times...this explains why it might take a day or two for him to get these out...the attention to detail he uses in these is worth the wait.

---

Last game I finished a couple hours after the game ended. I try to write ASAP but I first gotta make sure I understood what happened. The details of Game 3 were lost in the initial view due to the azz kicking.

:smokin

I watched 70+ games this year, and that was the best the team has played against good opposition, no doubt. The second best complete game would have to be the last game of the season when they towelled up Utah.

I am flabbergasted. The flicked the switch on the last day of the regular season and are now playing championship-level basketball. Awesome!

The game plan in this series has been perfect. The Suns have hardly scored an open-court point, they are only 11-35 from 3 for the series including a double OT game, and Shaq and Amare have been dominated by Duncan and Thomas (except for short stretches in the first two games). Tim played one of his greatest games ever in Game 1, we saw classic, tenacious Manu in game 2, and now Tony has played his most dominant game ever while hardly getting to the rim!

All smiles here! :D

Now let the Mavs and Hornets beat on each other for 6 or 7 games and get our beat-up guys some rest.

In Game 4, I think it's going to come down to three-point shooting for the Spurs. The Suns forced the Big Three to beat them ... and they have. Now, you have to think that the Suns will try to force the role players to beat them. That means open looks for players like Bowen, Finley, Udoka and Barry. Those players have to be ready and willing to knock down shots in Game 4.

If the Suns do switch up their defense, the Big Three needs to realize it ASAP. They could get in trouble if they try to do too much. For example, if Parker is getting doubled when he goes around a pick, he needs to get rid of the ball. If the Suns switch their defense like I expect them to, Parker likely won't even get more than 10 to 12 shots.

If D'Antoni truly thinks his job is on the line, I could see him going small ball and trying to get his running game back. That means less Shaq and more Diaw. D'Antoni could bench Shaq for long stretches, especially if Shaq comes out in sweep mode.

The key is the first quarter of Game 4. If the Spurs can come out and put the Suns in a hole early, they'll most likely start thinking of their summer plans. But if the Spurs come out not prepared for battle, the Suns would like nothing more than to avoid a sweep.

Throughout the game, the Spurs also need to be aware of forthcoming cheap shots. Bell and Shaq both seem to be on the borderline of really throwing a cheap shot and trying to injure someone. It'd be wise to not try any high wire acts that would expose oneself to injury.

Get this series over with and then rest up for a hell of a second round battle.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by spursfaninla

TimVP slipped in how he watches the games afew times...this explains why it might take a day or two for him to get these out...the attention to detail he uses in these is worth the wait.

Dude, you are building such a following with these that you guys should build a subscription for it. This would be the first one that I would actually pay to read.

---

i bet he uses dvr and makes potent use of fast forward

i know i do :hat

and yea i dunno why the express news doesnt print his recaps, they are much more informative than the usual fluff-filled sports articles

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by timvp

In Game 4, I think it's going to come down to three-point shooting for the Spurs. The Suns forced the Big Three to beat them ... and they have. Now, you have to think that the Suns will try to force the role players to beat them. That means open looks for players like Bowen, Finley, Udoka and Barry. Those players have to be ready and willing to knock down shots in Game 4.

If the Suns do switch up their defense, the Big Three needs to realize it ASAP. They could get in trouble if they try to do too much. For example, if Parker is getting doubled when he goes around a pick, he needs to get rid of the ball. If the Suns switch their defense like I expect them to, Parker likely won't even get more than 10 to 12 shots.

If D'Antoni truly thinks his job is on the line, I could see him going small ball and trying to get his running game back. That means less Shaq and more Diaw. D'Antoni could bench Shaq for long stretches, especially if Shaq comes out in sweep mode.

The key is the first quarter of Game 4. If the Spurs can come out and put the Suns in a hole early, they'll most likely start thinking of their summer plans. But if the Spurs come out not prepared for battle, the Suns would like nothing more than to avoid a sweep.

Throughout the game, the Spurs also need to be aware of forthcoming cheap shots. Bell and Shaq both seem to be on the borderline of really throwing a cheap shot and trying to injure someone. It'd be wise to not try any high wire acts that would expose oneself to injury.

Get this series over with and then rest up for a hell of a second round battle.

---

:tu

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RuffnReadyOzStyle

I watched 70+ games this year, and that was the best the team has played against good opposition, no doubt. The second best complete game would have to be the last game of the season when they towelled up Utah.

I am flabbergasted. The flicked the switch on the last day of the regular season and are now playing championship-level basketball. Awesome!

The game plan in this series has been perfect. The Suns have hardly scored an open-court point, they are only 11-35 from 3 for the series including a double OT game, and Shaq and Amare have been dominated by Duncan and Thomas (except for short stretches in the first two games). Tim played one of his greatest games ever in Game 1, we saw classic, tenacious Manu in game 2, and now Tony has played his most dominant game ever while hardly getting to the rim!

All smiles here! :D

Now let the Mavs and Hornets beat on each other for 6 or 7 games and get our beat-up guys some rest.

---

That's what I'm hoping for. C'mon Dallas. Man up and take them young Hornets to school.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by timvp

Throughout the game, the Spurs also need to be aware of forthcoming cheap shots. Bell and Shaq both seem to be on the borderline of really throwing a cheap shot and trying to injure someone. It'd be wise to not try any high wire acts that would expose oneself to injury.

---

That's what I'm most worried about and it's pathetic that it even has to be a concern for us. It's highly ironic that the Suns dubbed the Spurs "dirty" and "thugs".

"Belgian-born, French-raised"

I Did Not Know That :)

Thanks for the Game Thoughts.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by timvp

In Game 4, I think it's going to come down to three-point shooting for the Spurs. The Suns forced the Big Three to beat them ... and they have. Now, you have to think that the Suns will try to force the role players to beat them. That means open looks for players like Bowen, Finley, Udoka and Barry. Those players have to be ready and willing to knock down shots in Game 4.

If the Suns do switch up their defense, the Big Three needs to realize it ASAP. They could get in trouble if they try to do too much. For example, if Parker is getting doubled when he goes around a pick, he needs to get rid of the ball. If the Suns switch their defense like I expect them to, Parker likely won't even get more than 10 to 12 shots.

---

None of the Big Three ever realized the Suns defense changed and they needed to make the quick, simple pass. Game over.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by timvp

If D'Antoni truly thinks his job is on the line, I could see him going small ball and trying to get his running game back. That means less Shaq and more Diaw. D'Antoni could bench Shaq for long stretches, especially if Shaq comes out in sweep mode.

---

D'Antoni went the other way. That big lineup is going to be difficult to defend. But the Spurs better learn how because this is the same look the Lakers would potential give the Spurs for an entire seven game series.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by timvp

The key is the first quarter of Game 4. If the Spurs can come out and put the Suns in a hole early, they'll most likely start thinking of their summer plans. But if the Spurs come out not prepared for battle, the Suns would like nothing more than to avoid a sweep.

---

Game was pretty much over six minutes into the game.

Props to the Suns and D'Antoni for getting this win. Spurs looked surprised by the Suns going big and had no answers. Good change of strategy. Now this is a series.

D'antoni is a good, adequate coach.

He's just not great. (Leaving Amare and Diaw in up 20 + with 2 minutes left. :lol)