http://www.canada.com/theprovince/ne...4-682f40b1f017
Spurs bad but Suns even worse
Tony Gallagher, The Province
Published: Friday, February 01, 2008
The degree to which the Phoenix Suns are cowed by the San Antonio Spurs is one of the most remarkable phenomena in North American professional sports these days.
Just one look at their uniforms and this generally proficient basketball team led by the great Steve Nash turns into a bunch of bums who would have trouble beating the best five players at Kits Gym on any given weekend afternoon. The Spurs, without Tony Parker for the second time in the two meetings between the teams, couldn't have played any worse in the Arizona desert than they did Thursday, but the Suns just wouldn't let them lose.
Everything San Antonio did poorly, the Suns did worse, producing one of the most ugly NBA games this season.
And in terms of the Suns psychology, it's hard to imagine a more devastating regular season loss suffered by any Phoenix team since Nash joined the team four-plus seasons ago, 84-81 the academic final score.
San Antonio came in having lost their last three games and stumbled around hideously until the fourth quarter when they made a few shots as the Suns gripped their own jugulars choking off all manner of professionalism.
Suns Killer Jacque Vaughn scores two of his 17 points.
As usual, Phoenix was taken completely out of its offence and the Spurs helped themselves to rebounds at the offensive end, as all teams do, but couldn't make enough shots to make the Suns pay until the end.
Adding to the lack of entertainment was the fact that Nash was abysmal most of the night, wearing Bruce Bowen as he always does against San Antonio.
Leandro Barbosa turned into a whimpering wreck as he always does at the sight of the Spurs uniform and Raja Bell played well defensively on Manu Ginobili in the first half but allowed him all 19 of his points in the second half and doggedly refused to shoot the ball until the fourth quarter, at which time he had no rhythm.
And when the Suns got out to a quick early lead, the officials quickly slapped Amare Stoudemire with his second personal foul, forcing Phoenix to remove him until the second quarter in a classic demonstration of how officials manage games to keep them close. When Stoudemire came back, he was sound asleep for the rest of the night. Only a great first half from the all-star-game-snubbed Shawn Marion allowed Phoenix to even make a game of it. He finished with 21 points but was turned off by the Spurs defence in the second half.
"I honestly don't know," Tim Duncan told TNT, when asked how the Spurs had won, all the while sporting the same kind of look on his face as O.J. Simpson had on his when his verdict was read out. "It was a great effort from the guys, we never gave up and made a defensive stand at the end."
About the only thing that might turn into a positive for Phoenix would be if general manager Steve Kerr would realize that this team has virtually no chance to ever win a Western Conference le if they have to go through San Antonio as presently cons uted.
Suns owner Robert Sarver, who apparently speaks for Kerr, has said Phoenix will not make a major move before the trading deadline, but a loss this bad would change any sane person's mind.
It was the 20th victory in 27 games including playoffs that the Spurs have beaten the Suns since Nash joined Phoenix and they came in having lost eight of 11 games on the road.
© The Vancouver Province 2008
the Suns gripped their own jugulars choking off all manner of professionalism.
Its a tradition.It was the 20th victory in 27 games including playoffs that the Spurs have beaten the Suns since Nash joined Phoenix and they came in having lost eight of 11 games on the road.
i am surprised how harsh this story is.. specially coming from a Canadian newspaper
I think they are pissed as that the Suns are letting their favorite son (pun intended) miss his chance at a le.
Also, I love it, very refreshing to hear it.
This article reeks of spur hate and suns homerism.
That's a weird article.
Sometimes, players and teams can't get over the psychological hump.
The Spurs have the Suns shook.
Wouldthis be Nash's hometown paper?
uhmm...yeah...because we know how good amare is on staying out of foul trouble.And when the Suns got out to a quick early lead, the officials quickly slapped Amare Stoudemire with his second personal foul, forcing Phoenix to remove him until the second quarter in a classic demonstration of how officials manage games to keep them close.
Obviously the reporter didn't pay attention to a good 40 minutes of the game where the Spurs trailed by more than 4 a good majority of it.
Who says Canadians are nice people?
Adding to the lack of entertainment was the fact that Nash was abysmal most of the night, wearing Bruce Bowen as he always does against San Antonio.
yeah, Amare got 2 quick fouls early so the refs could keep the game close
Ah, you know what? I just realized . . . Vancouver.
Bitterness.
Spurs make other teams look ugly and boring
Thanks David Stern and NBA refs! As we all know, anyone that was manipulating the playoffs in favor of the Spurs would do the same thing for a meaningless regular season game as well. Thanks to that free throw attempt advantage the Spurs had, we... what? The Suns had the free throw advantage? Oh, well, the Spurs got all the calls at the end, though. Huh? And-1 against Duncan? 8 seconds to go?It was the 20th victory in 27 games including playoffs that the Spurs have beaten the Suns since Nash joined Phoenix and they came in having lost eight of 11 games on the road.
© The Vancouver Province 2008
Oh well. Suns suck.
Cav Fan would certainly be the Voice of Authority on that.
I had a fantastic day today in AZ!! No one said a word about the game last night.
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