Suns' Fans Ready For Game 3 Tonight

[ancestron]

Schooling Nash, O'Neal, and Stoudemire, hitting game-saving threes, hitting game winning shots, coming back from double digit deficits, locking down on D, forcing turnovers, knifing through the lane possession after possession, taking hard fouls and still making the shot, O'Neal getting his fat ass blocked....
the only thing missing is a few between the leg passes, an alley-oop slam or 2, a breakaway Ginobili Dunk, and for someone(*cough* Bruce Bowen *cough*) to set up shop in the corner and drill about 7 threes.

How boring.

[Borosai]

I also lose it sometimes. During the '06 series against the Kings, I tore my t-shirt in half (after that Manu-turnover-Martin-layup play). I used to let every loss during the regular season bother me too. Now, the idea of losing to anyone still sickens me; I can always find a reason to be really pissed about losing to a certain team. But, I'm a Bills fan, so I know how it feels to be on the other end.

I'm just trying to enjoy the games (and hopefully watch the Spurs beat teams they are supposed to beat).

[easjer]

I enjoy a lot of the games and don't always feel worked up, but sometimes I still do get all crazy about it - which is when it gets turned off (or I leave the room). I don't know how to not get mad, so I do the next best thing.

Oh, btw, Spurs are dirty, old, and boring. How original. I'm so tired of reading that, because all it does is show that people don't watch games, and how can you take someone seriously pontificating when they tell you up front that they didn't see it or follow it?

[ATRAIN]

I'm serious, I'm like the freakin' Hulk when watching the games. Every little thing just eats at me. I can't enjoy a possession. It's a sickness and I'm trying to get a handle on it.

Do you turn green too?

[SAGambler]

Guys, no reason to go ballistic over a ballgame......of any kind.

We have young men and women losing their lives in Iraq. We have a looming recession, many even say a depression coming at us. You may soon see gas and even some food rationing.

So when you look at the big picture, the winning or losing of a ballgame, by a bunch of highly paid athletes probably rates about a 1 on the "things to worry about" scale. Right up there with worrying about UFOs.

Look at it for what it is. Entertainment. Nothing more, nothing less.

You'll be a whole lot happier and get to quit worrying about impending ulcers.

[Brutalis]

I keep trying to accept that Suns fans are really just believers. All they been through on top of help and still failure, I see why they truly believe they are better and should win the le.

It's just so sad. They at least are getting us worked in for these playoffs.

[Brutalis]

When I looked into their demented souls I should add.

[GaryJohnston]

I can't watch. I'm all tore up inside. If something bad happens, or D'Antoni does something stupid, I'll lose my head.

So... instead of watching, I'll follow it at random on the internet and through various message boards. It keeps me in the know without causing me to go effin' bonkers.

Last year, after game four, I lost it. I joke I saw a bright light and was speaking in tongues, but in reality I was just way too mad at a game I have no control over. Until I can regain some control over my emotional reactions, I've separated myself from viewing the games.

I'm serious, I'm like the freakin' Hulk when watching the games. Every little thing just eats at me. I can't enjoy a possession. It's a sickness and I'm trying to get a handle on it.

On Saturday, instead of watching, I sat in a parked car and listened on the radio to the fourth and two OTs. Why in a parked car, because even simply listening I was too upset to safely drive.

Hope that's enough psycho analysis for ya

Thats tought man. But I understand. Well I guess if I had to sit through my Spurs failing every year, I'd probably feel the same way.

[smeagol]

Crappy article . . .

[Xylus]

I'm not quite as bad as JMark at handling a loss, but I'm close to it. I'm sick and ing tired of having a championship-level team on the court that never seems to perform at the level they can obviously achieve. I'm sick of watching D'Antoni poison the mindset of this team with his dumbass delusions that somehow he deserves to win a championship simply because the media has anointed him the "savior of the NBA." I want my ing cake and I want to ing eat it.

[phyzik]

as much as I hate Hack-a-shaq, nothing would please me more than to watch Pop pick Horry, of all people, off the bench to start some hack-a-shaq on PHX home court, just to irk the out of their fans

[FromWayDowntown]

I feel you JMark.

Age has brought me some perspective, but I've always struggled to fight negative emotions when watching Spurs games on TV or listening to them on the radio. I would agree with the notion that the Spurs' successes have mellowed me, to some extent at least, on the frustration with individual losses or the sense of impending doom that they can collectively create. But I'll admit that I still get that building frustration and (occasionally) rage that comes with being passionate about something and sometimes have to walk away from the TV or turn off the radio to maintain my sanity.

[FromWayDowntown]

I'm not quite as bad as JMark at handling a loss, but I'm close to it. I'm sick and ing tired of having a championship-level team on the court that never seems to perform at the level they can obviously achieve. I'm sick of watching D'Antoni poison the mindset of this team with his dumbass delusions that somehow he deserves to win a championship simply because the media has anointed him the "savior of the NBA." I want my ing cake and I want to ing eat it.

Welcome to being a Spurs fan, circa 1990-1996.

[Xylus]

Welcome to being a Spurs fan, circa 1990-1996.

Or a Suns fan during that same time period.

[Crookshanks]

Just a quick note here: I'm now living in the DFW area and I wore my 2007 Championship t-shirt today. This one guy just stopped me and went "oh man, you're a Spurs fan?" He said the Mavs suck but that the Spurs were going down also. I asked him if he meant in this 1st round, and he said yes. I said he was crazy and he said "if the refs stay out of it, then the Suns will win." WHAT A MORON!

And just to prove what a know-nothing he was, he went on to talk about how Tony Parker BROKE Steve Nash's nose last year...

[phyzik]

I feel you JMark.

Age has brought me some perspective, but I've always struggled to fight negative emotions when watching Spurs games on TV or listening to them on the radio. I would agree with the notion that the Spurs' successes have mellowed me, to some extent at least, on the frustration with individual losses or the sense of impending doom that they can collectively create. But I'll admit that I still get that building frustration and (occasionally) rage that comes with being passionate about something and sometimes have to walk away from the TV or turn off the radio to maintain my sanity.

Ya, whats really crazy is in San Antonio, you can actually FEEL it in the air the next day when something doesnt go right with the Spurs... EVERYONE is upset and in a foul mood, its crazy!

There is just no way to explain it to someone who hasnt been here. This IS a one horse town and just about everyone in town is affected by its performance.

I had never noticed it so much until a few years ago when an old friend came down from up north. He was here during a 5 game span, If I remember right, the first 2 games we won, the next 2 we lost and the last one we won (cant be sure, but it was something like that). He had to point out to me how creepy it was how that affected everyones personality that he met for those 2 weeks, everyone from the grocery store attendant to the people in the bars.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Or a Suns fan during that same time period.

[FromWayDowntown]

Or a Suns fan during that same time period.

I don't know -- you guys at least got to a Finals.

We crapped out in Round 2, Round 1 (losing to a 7 seed), Round 1, Round 1, Round 3 (losing all 3 games at home), and Round 2 during the same stretch.

[timvp]

I would say championships have made watching the Spurs lose in the playoffs easier, but 2004 and 2006 were so annoying that I don't know if that's true. It's true for regular season, though. After four championships, it's pretty hard to get up or down no matter what happens in the regular season.

I'm weird in that I like soaking up playoff losses. My theory is that if watching the Spurs lose didn't suck so much, watching them win wouldn't be so fun. I'll re-watch playoff losses more than wins just to soak it all in. Playoff losses suck but it's part of the journey.

[Borosai]

I would say championships have made watching the Spurs lose in the playoffs easier, but 2004 and 2006 were so annoying that I don't know if that's true. It's true for regular season, though. After four championships, it's pretty hard to get up or down no matter what happens in the regular season.

I'm weird in that I like soaking up playoff losses. My theory is that if watching the Spurs lose didn't suck so much, watching them win wouldn't be so fun. I'll re-watch playoff losses more than wins just to soak it all in. Playoff losses suck but it's part of the journey.

See, I'm the opposite. When the Spurs lose, I avoid SC at all costs.

[JMarkJohns]

Exactly what I thought. Its just a game. There are way more important things in life than "Game 3 of the First Round of the NBA Finals." I am going to record this game and probably watch it 2 or 3 times. But if we lose I am not going to cry like JMarkJohns most probably would. Sheesh!

Who said anything about crying? I've punched holes in my walls from being frustrated. I lose my mind. I don't sit and sob. I go effin' nuts.

And no, you just don't understand. It's not just a game. Not to me. In reality it may very well be such, but I've followed the Suns for 20 years. I've bled them. I've screamed byself hoarse, and clapped my hands so hard ans so often they became numb.

I don't paint my face or wear jersey's, but I'm about as passionate about sports as anyone is about anything. I hated losing when I played. Now that I have to live through them, I hate when they lose just as much. I hate that I can't do anything about it when adjustments are so painfully obvious a monkey could probably make them from dumb luck. I hate that nothing but the same old same old has come from a roster so full of talent we should be talking about a second le, at the least. I hate that when a loss occurs, excuses and claims of "We're still better" fill the airways and the papers instead of admissions of, "We failed. We better find out why and do something before it's too late."

For you casual fans, and especially those who've only known these good, le-winning years, please don't pretend you know my plight. It's like being a Cubs fan, only to be so close, so many times, you can not only see the prize at the end of the road, but you can taste victory. Problem is, everytime we reach out, the doors are slammed right on our hands.

I haven't given up on them. I follow them. Difference is, I'm still sane by games conclusion.

[word]

I think I ed Chelsea on a trip out to Phoenix a couple of years ago. Blonde about 5' 04", dumber than a box of rocks. Yup, that's her.

[pad300]

I'm not quite as bad as JMark at handling a loss, but I'm close to it. I'm sick and ing tired of having a championship-level team on the court that never seems to perform at the level they can obviously achieve. I'm sick of watching D'Antoni poison the mindset of this team with his dumbass delusions that somehow he deserves to win a championship simply because the media has anointed him the "savior of the NBA." I want my ing cake and I want to ing eat it.

I hate to tell you this Xylus, but the above well, it has a mistake. The Suns are not and have NEVER been a championship level team. They will never be, until they get, for lack of a better word, guts, toughness, balls, whatever you want to call it, to execute when the chips are down, to live up to their physical talent, to bring their best when facing the best compe ion.

[JMarkJohns]

I hate to tell you this Xylus, but the above well, it has a mistake. The Suns are not and have NEVER been a championship level team. They will never be, until they get, for lack of a better word, guts, toughness, balls, whatever you want to call it, to execute when the chips are down, to live up to their physical talent, to bring their best when facing the best compe ion.

You can argue symantics and opinion-based definitions, but the Suns have had Championship level talent at least four true times in my lifetime. 1989, 1993, 1995 and 2007. You can throw in 1994 and 2005 if you want, but realistically those teams got beat by better teams.

In 1989 the beat the Lakers, finally, then took too deep a breath and found themselves losing to Portland, despite having homecourt. In 1993, you can argue that Jordan tipped the scales, but I've read where Jordan has said the only team he faced that he had any doubt against was the Suns. It was probably that doubt that ignited him to average 40 per in the six games. In 1995, the Suns had the second-best record in the West and had gone 2-2 vs. your Spurs in the regular season, so chances are they, at the very least, compete to advance to the Finals. I think they win it all if they beat those Rockets. And last year was definitely a team capable of winning a le.

The biggest difference in that series was Horry's shove of Nash. That doesn't happen, then who knows.

You can sit and smuggly cast down your opinion as fact because you happen to root for a team with les, but the fact is, I agree with Xylus. The Suns have had some damn talented teams. And while you're right one small thing has been missing from each team, I think that was Xylus' point anyways. The fact that these teams were so close only to lose because of a mental lapse from coach or player(s).

[td4mvp21]

The Suns have the talent. When you think about it, the Spurs have been the team they can't beat. They lost to Dallas but they didn't have Stoudemire. What they have lacked (and what they have appeared to lack this series so far, although things could easily change) is the team cohesiveness, discipline, and coaching that the Spurs have. The Suns have more overall talent than the Spurs, however, the Spurs utilize what they have better and more efficiently than the Suns. Plus, they play very good defense. That seems to give the Suns problems they can't overcome. If the Spurs hadn't beat the Suns last year, they probably would have won the le. You could argue the same thing for 2005. , in 2006 they made the conference finals without Stoudemire! I actually used to cheer for Phoenix when the Spurs were out (did so in 2006 when the Spurs got knocked out). Then 2007 came and now I hate them with a passion.