Was this a back breaking sort of win?

[T Park]

Nope.

In fact, you wonder if this game might have taken too much out of the Spurs, and set them up for a game 2 loss.

Now, if they can come back and win game 2, you might be saying something.

With two days in between I don;t think so...

[DazedAndConfused]

FYI - the Spurs lost Game 1 of the series in the 1st round in 2003, 2005, and 2007.

Remind me what they did in those years again?

[1Parker1]

I think this game is just more of a confidence builder for the Spurs than anything else. Suns had beat them prettily handily the last two games they played. And with the way the first half went, they were on their way to a 3rd game. If the Spurs had lost today, I think the momentum/confidence and edge would have gone to the Suns and the Spurs would have been in a precarious situation.

Hopefully the Spurs figured out some important strategies to employ the rest of the series that'll get them to the next round. Pop definitely outcoached D'Antoni in this game though. Simple as that.

[bresilhac]

Nope.

In fact, you wonder if this game might have taken too much out of the Spurs, and set them up for a game 2 loss.

Now, if they can come back and win game 2, you might be saying something.

You may be right. But both teams were run through the ringer tonight not just San Antonio. And I would say that the fear of losing game two combined with the after effects of yet another playoff choke will cause the Suns to collapse under pressure ultimately in game 2. The Spurs have a tremendous mental edge over Phoenix. No doubt.

[loveforthegame]

Not at all. If anything I think this was a wake up call for the Spurs more than a blow to the Suns.

Suns came into tough territory and threw everything at the Spurs and yet the Spurs needed two clutch shots to send it into OT's and claw a win out on their home floor.

Good things happened when the Spurs attacked and will need to do so again in game 2. Role players must step up more. I doubt Stoudamire fouls out again and you can bet the house Shaq won't.

[carina_gino20]

I don't think so. And the last thing the Spurs need right now as too much praise after this game. They just need to shut everyone out, straighten all the wrinkles in their play before Game 2.

[boutons_]

Spurs have to preserve today by going to PHX 2-0.

If Suns get the split, Spurs lose HCA, and Suns get a lot of hope going home, putting pressure on the Spurs.

We'll see how the Suns play after such a huge disappointment today.

[twincam]

I wonder if this win isn't more like 1 1/2 wins. When you beat a team in that fashion when they gave you possibly their best shot and you only played maybe 30 good minutes out of 58 with clutch dagger after clutch dagger... It's got to take something out of the other team. Especially when you've been both their daddy and pimp for the last 10 years.

it's not a back breaker....It just shows that the Suns can actually put a good scare on the Spurs. However, the Suns have proven once again that they have a poor habit of blowing huge leads in playoff games against the Spurs. Hense, last year.

[bresilhac]

Not at all. If anything I think this was a wake up call for the Spurs more than a blow to the Suns.

Suns came into tough territory and threw everything at the Spurs and yet the Spurs needed two clutch shots to send it into OT's and claw a win out on their home floor.

Good things happened when the Spurs attacked and will need to do so again in game 2. Role players must step up more. I doubt Stoudamire fouls out again and you can bet the house Shaq won't.

Good points. But keep in mind that the same was said about Phoenix in past series with San Antonio and they still ended up losing to the Spurs in the end. True, it took San Antonio forever to actually win this game. But win it they did. And if cir stances are drawn similarly in game two I like the Spurs chances. There is no subs ute for playoff poise. Steve Nash has it but the rest of the Suns don't. And obviously the Spurs are loaded with it.

[DespЏrado]

A lot of games left to be played. I like our chances but the Spurs had to put it all out there to win at home. The Spurs still have a hard time playing for 48 minutes, and that won't cut it as the playoffs go on.

This win helps us, more than it hurts the Suns.

[1Parker1]

Suns could and probably will choose to look at this loss another way; They almost stole the game from the Spurs and they needed 2 miracle 3 pointers...one by Tim Duncan who hasn't made one all season to get the win. If they keep doing what they did the first 3 quarters and not collapse like they did, they can still beat the Spurs.

For the Spurs they've got to look at this win as a confidence booster after losing the first two. Tim Duncan is here to play and so is Parker and Ginobili. I wonder if Pop is going to change his starting lineup and put in Kurt Thomas to start.

[Tek_XX]

If the Spurs had dominated this game from beginning to end that would have been very demoralizing for the Suns. But they know they controlled it and let it slip away. So i expect the Suns to come out blazing again

[lurker]

I don't see it that way. Maybe if it was the Mavericks, but I don't think the Suns are that mentally weak to let this one loss break them.

[SenorSpur]

There's nothing like a demoralizing victory to thwart the confidence of an already insecure team. The Spurs certainly demonstrated a new level of mental toughness - even for an already mentally tough team like them.

THey now have a chance to further demoralize the Suns by digging them a 2-0 hole. I believe they will absorb the early blow PHX will throw in Game 2 and get the victory. It'd be nice if they come out and rip the hearts out of the Suns early. Get 'em down and keep 'em down all game. But I don't see that happening.

Either way, they should play even better in Game 2 than they did in Game 1.

[samikeyp]

No.

[Russ]

FYI - the Spurs lost Game 1 of the series in the 1st round in 2003, 2005, and 2007.

Remind me what they did in those years again?

They won Game 1 in 1999.

Remind me what they did in that year again?

Hint: It had to do with closing down a certain legendary sports facility in a certain city. (And also winning the NBA le.)

[j-6]

I don't see it that way. Maybe if it was the Mavericks, but I don't think the Suns are that mentally weak to let this one loss break them.

I originally agreed with you, but then you threw the Mavs reference in. The Mavs have actually beaten the Spurs in a playoff series recently while Phoenix hasn't beaten the Spurs in a best-of-seven since 2000. In the last eight years, San Antonio has beaten the Suns in three playoff series, and every Spurs win ultimately put them in the Finals, where they beat Jersey, Detroit, and Cleveland.

There's good karma in knocking Phoenix out of the playoffs, at least in my opinion.

[Crookshanks]

FYI - the Spurs lost Game 1 of the series in the 1st round in 2003, 2005, and 2007.

Remind me what they did in those years again?

Yes, the Spurs lost game one in the 1st round in those years; however, we played teams that were significantly inferior to Phoenix. This is probably the toughest 1st round opponent the Spurs have faced. And considering how stacked the West is this year - most of the teams are facing the same situation!

Losing game 1 to Phoenix would've been pretty bad in terms of giving the Suns extra confidence and putting more pressure on the Spurs.

[O-Factor]

I wonder if this win isn't more like 1 1/2 wins. When you beat a team in that fashion when they gave you possibly their best shot and you only played maybe 30 good minutes out of 58 with clutch dagger after clutch dagger... It's got to take something out of the other team. Especially when you've been both their daddy and pimp for the last 10 years.

I'll wait till we win Game 2. That'll be a back breaking win. The series isn't over.

[Referee]

Shaq is also going to play more than five minutes in the first half. And Amare isn't going to foul out.


SHAQ is still a $20 million dollar stiff who will blame everyone else for the loss but him... Wait till some Maricopa County Sherriff decides to arrest SHAQ for throwing every member of the SUNS organization under the bus.









Or will he . . .

[phyzik]

Spurs win game 2...... THEN and ONLY then, will it be a backbreaker......

If they dont win Tuesday, its still anyones game.