Spurs vs. Suns Series Previews

[m33p0]

after reading all these articles and analysis, i'm beginning to think we don't have a chance against 'em run 'n gun suns.

[Manudona]

Nash should call Horry to get that hip checked :

[Pero]

Suns had Joe Johnson, Nash, Diaw, Amare & Marion in 2005 and the best record in the NBA

Error, does not compute.

and we ROLLED THEM worse than any other series we faced them in.

Uh yeah but the 2005 Spurs team was probably also the strongest of all Spurs teams against the Suns. 2005>>2010

[SPURSCHAMP]

lol duncan228 i read like 2/3rds of your posts and then stopped, there's so many lol

[da_suns_fan]

Awesome post!



NO man! I was arguing with a Suns fan on another site about the same thing

Suns had Joe Johnson, Nash, Diaw, Amare & Marion in 2005 and the best record in the NBA and we ROLLED THEM worse than any other series we faced them in.

How quickly fans forget.

The irony!

1) Joe Johnson was out the first two games and came back with a face mask.

2) Joe Johnson was traded for Boris Diaw, bud.

[hsxvvd]

Nash >> Hill
Richardson < Ginobili
Hill = Jefferson
Stoudamire >> McDyess
Collins/Lopez <<< Duncan

Barbosa <<< Parker
Frye = Blair
Dudley > Bogans
Dragic > Mason
Amundson > Mahinmi

Gentry <<< Pop.

Phoenix 7
Spurs 10

+3 Spurs edge.

[SpurAddict561]

My bad, don't know why I added Boris..I saw his name in this thread and I pictured him on that team

I remember that team being scary as

[Cant_Be_Faded]

You guys are getting way too confident.

The more I mull it over, we are going to have a very tough time defending The Suns.

[TampaDude]

You guys are getting way too confident.

The more I mull it over, we are going to have a very tough time defending The Suns.

The Suns are going to have more trouble defending us. Spurs in 6.

[mytespurs]

Hip keeps Nash out of practice until Spurs opener
By BOB BAUM, AP Sports Writer
23 minutes ago

Buzz up! 34 PrintPHOENIX (AP)—Phoenix playmaker Steve Nash(notes) sat out practice on Saturday and will do so again on Sunday to rest his sore right hip.

The two-time league MVP said the rest should make him ready for Monday night’s Western Conference semifinal opener against the San Antonio Spurs. The team had Friday off, so that would mean three days’ rest before he plays again.

“It’s getting better,” Nash said on Saturday. “I’ve had two good days, so I’m really fortunate that we don’t play until Monday. It will give me a chance to recover a little bit. “

The 36-year-old point guard strained the hip during the shootaround before Game 3 of the Suns’ first-round series against Portland. He says the injury bothered him that night, but he felt better in Games 4 and 5. However, he says the injury “was pretty bad” in Phoenix’s series clinching 99-90 victory in Portland on Thursday night.

“It was the worst that it’s been, so a couple of days here are really good for me,” he said.

Coach Alvin Gentry called Nash’s problem “a little hip thing” and no big deal.

“If it was a big deal I wouldn’t be so calm,” Gentry said.

Nash struggled through much of Thursday’s game, starting with a career-worst six first-quarter turnovers. He finished with 10 points on 2-of-7 shooting with seven turnovers. But he had two big plays down the stretch, penetrating the lane and passing to Amare Stoudemire for a dunk, then sinking his only 3-point attempt of the night.

Gentry said he saw no reason to put Nash through a practice, deadpanning “I think he has a pretty good idea of what we’re trying to do.”

“We were going to go pretty hard today. I didn’t want him out there doing that,” Gentry said. “I gave him the day off. He came down, shot some, got some treatment and he’ll do the same tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, center Robin Lopez(notes) has increased his participation in practice as he works his way back from a back injury (bulging disk). Gentry said he is not going to put any pressure on the 7-footer to return.

“It’s going to be totally up to him,” Gentry said. “If he feels great and he’s ready to go that will be fine. If he’s not, we’re not putting him out there. I can tell you that right now.”

Lopez said he’s optimistic he could play at some point in the series, where his size would be an obvious help against Tim Duncan(notes).

“It’s up to the leg, it’s up to the nerve,” Lopez said.

He’s not ready to play yet, though.

“If I played today,” Lopez joked, “I think Duncan might get that quadruple double he was aiming for a few years’ back.”

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_yl...g=ap-suns-nash

It seems just about every team remaining has some injury to a key player: Lakers: Bynum, Kobe, Odom Cavs: Lebron, Suns-Nash/Lopez; Spurs: manu.....geez, the only teams that appear completey healthy are Orlando and Boston.

[superbigtime]

The Spurs should activate Hairston for this series. It shouldn't be out of the question that he see spot minutes as the ninth man ahead of Bogans or Mason at this point. At the very least, it should be considered, which means it's best if he's at least on the active roster so that option is available in game. Temple has done a fine job all things considered, but barring injury his services are no longer required for the remainder of this season.

Yes I hope to see Hairston activated, but haven't heard word about his ankle. Presumably healed??? He plays hard, smart ball. If he has Pop's trust I think he could contribute significantly. I would rather see him than Bogans at any rate.

[TMTTRIO]

By the way it sounds like Manu's kids are on there way any time now. Hopefully it won't be during one of the games.

Manu Ginobili A los sumo en 2 o 3 semanas más llegan Dante y Nicola!! No lo puedo creer! Qué poquito que falta!! || In no more than 2 or 3 weeks Dante & Nicola will be here with us! Can't believe it! Almost there!

[TD 21]

Yes I hope to see Hairston activated, but haven't heard word about his ankle. Presumably healed??? He plays hard, smart ball. If he has Pop's trust I think he could contribute significantly. I would rather see him than Bogans at any rate.

I saw him shooting in the background of one of the practice videos the other day. He said after he sprained it that he was hoping to be active for game one. Maybe that was just typical player talk, because obviously he'd want to play in the playoffs, even if he wasn't at 100%. But the mere fact that he even said it indicated that his sprain wasn't severe.

Even if he was good to go, Pop more than likely would have stuck with Temple to start the series because of Hill's own lingering ankle sprain and then after that he probably just figured, "why make a change now when neither are going to play anyway?".

But with how poorly Bogans and Mason played in the Mavs series, Hairston should not only be active at this point, but serious considering should be given to playing him. It's not ideal, because he won't receive an ounce of respect from the refs, being that he has no name recognition and he has very limited experience, plus he figures to be out of rhythm.

However if Bogans and Mason continue to not look like, not just not NBA players, but not professional players period, then the Spurs will need an alternative backup wing option to play 8-10 just-don't-kill-us minutes in at least a couple of games in this series, which goes every other day until game seven.

[da_suns_fan]

Nash >> Hill
Richardson < Ginobili
Hill = Jefferson
Stoudamire >> McDyess
Collins/Lopez <<< Duncan

Barbosa <<< Parker
Frye = Blair
Dudley > Bogans
Dragic > Mason
Amundson > Mahinmi

Gentry <<< Pop.

Phoenix 7
Spurs 10

+3 Spurs edge.

[superbigtime]

I saw him shooting in the background of one of the practice videos the other day. He said after he sprained it that he was hoping to be active for game one. Maybe that was just typical player talk, because obviously he'd want to play in the playoffs, even if he wasn't at 100%. But the mere fact that he even said it indicated that his sprain wasn't severe.

Even if he was good to go, Pop more than likely would have stuck with Temple to start the series because of Hill's own lingering ankle sprain and then after that he probably just figured, "why make a change now when neither are going to play anyway?".

But with how poorly Bogans and Mason played in the Mavs series, Hairston should not only be active at this point, but serious considering should be given to playing him. It's not ideal, because he won't receive an ounce of respect from the refs, being that he has no name recognition and he has very limited experience, plus he figures to be out of rhythm.

However if Bogans and Mason continue to not look like, not just not NBA players, but not professional players period, then the Spurs will need an alternative backup wing option to play 8-10 just-don't-kill-us minutes in at least a couple of games in this series, which goes every other day until game seven.

Thanks TD 21. I so agree. I hope Pop sees it this way and gives Hairston some PT because beyond Tony the bench gets iffy, even with Blair. I'm just hoping for decent play from Bonner. Mason is just garbage and I hope game 5 confirmed that fact in Pop's mind, but you just never know. Hairston would play smart ball, he can finish a break, and D up while playing confident not-so-error-prone ball. He was playing well before the ankle injury but coming back in the second round could be wishful thinking on my part.

The PHX bench has players that can play well and sometimes very well, like Frye, Dragic and even Amundsen. Spurs are going to need solid consistent play from all the starters including RJ because we just don't have that many reliable bench players.

[TD 21]

Thanks TD 21. I so agree. I hope Pop sees it this way and gives Hairston some PT because beyond Tony the bench gets iffy, even with Blair. I'm just hoping for decent play from Bonner. Mason is just garbage and I hope game 5 confirmed that fact in Pop's mind, but you just never know. Hairston would play smart ball, he can finish a break, and D up while playing confident not-so-error-prone ball. He was playing well before the ankle injury but coming back in the second round could be wishful thinking on my part.

The PHX bench has players that can play well and sometimes very well, like Frye, Dragic and even Amundsen. Spurs are going to need solid consistent play from all the starters including RJ because we just don't have that many reliable bench players.

He should at least have him active to have the option available in game. I expect Mason to get the first crack. Once he inevitably fails, Pop will turn to Bogans. Once he inevitably doesn't fare much better, he'll either forgo playing a backup wing altogether or turn to Hairston.

I expect Blair to have a better series than last, which would be huge. If the Spurs can at least count on a seventh player, that would help a great deal, because it's tough enough to get by on six, but that becomes even more pronounced when three of the six are old and the series goes every other day until game seven.

[superbigtime]

I have absolutely zero faith in Mason. None. Despite his successes last year. At least Bogans can play some D and doesn't chuck 3s with 15 seconds left on the shot clock. But his shooting percentage is a black hole too. I can't believe how utterly awful both of them played in game 5, even when the game was out of reach and there was nothing on the line.

If Blair doesn't get singled out by the refs and stays out of foul trouble, he can be that reliable bench player. He can out hustle any of the PHX players. And good things tend to happen when he is on the floor. I'm hoping for a great game 1.

[duncan228]

Phoenix Suns' Leandro Barbosa could be key against San Antonio Spurs
by Paola Boivin
The Arizona Republic

*********************

Opponent Analysis: The San Antonio Spurs
by Michael Schwartz
Valley of the Suns

[duncan228]

Phoenix Suns' Grant Hill talks San Antonio Spurs series, NBA playoffs, more
by Doug Haller
The Arizona Republic

[duncan228]

Suns/Spurs Series Preview
I don’t do quagmires.
by Dennis Tarwood
SLAM

“There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we now know we don’t know. But there are also unknown unknowns. These are things we do not know we don’t know.”
—United States Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld

Phoenix Suns fans know what they need to know about the San Antonio Spurs. An informal poll in Phoenix of media and fans revealed this matchup was the one most dreaded in the first round. (Note that the Lakers were practically out of reach during this ‘poll’ as the Suns were not really in contention for the eighth spot at that time.)

The venom in Phoenix creates the loudest crowds at US Airways Arena at any point during the season, louder than Kobe hate. (And that’s some mighty fine hate.) Of course, one is loathe to refer to this as a rivalry as we know the Suns haven’t bested the Spurs in the playoffs since 2000, when Tim Duncan (known heretofore as The Merlin Wall) couldn’t play.

The San Antonio Spurs think they know what they need to know about themselves. Even late in the regular season, they felt confident that they had a sense of rhythm back. Gregg Popovich told the assembled media in Phoenix a month ago that he only feared the Lakers in the Playoffs (and who knows whose leg he was pulling there).

We know we get to lean on the pace canard again in this series; the Suns will win if they run and the Spurs will drag their feet and rebound the basketball and so on.

We all know the Suns struggled a bit against a Portland Trail Blazers squad lacking depth, talent, and (in the case of Rudy Fernandez) a sense of purpose. We know the Spurs put down the 55-win Dallas Mavericks, a gifted roster, like it was an act of mercy: humanely, cleanly, and without regret.

We clearly know how this series will go down.

We don’t know a damned thing.

For example, we know the Suns blew the doors off the Blazers in three of the six games, making the series less of a struggle than previously intimated. We also know the Mavericks, nominal #2 Western Conference seed, could not have been less impressive in their series against the Spurs. Who tested whom, exactly?

We know big guards tear up Steve Nash. We know fast guards whip by Steve Nash. We know Steve Nash can’t guard…. uhm, guards, apparently. We also watched Tony Parker and Co. give Jason Kidd a 7.0/1.5 AST/TO ratio in six games. We also know Jason Kidd would love a comparison to Steve Nash these days. So what do we really know about the point guard matchup?

We know the Suns took the season series 2-1, but we also know only the last game’s rosters remotely resemble the ones that will participate in this series.

We know Duncan, Antonio McDyess, and DeJuan Blair will chew up the Suns’ interior and spit out the seeds. Except the Suns would prefer to leave those six barely-functional knees in the breeze during in-game wind sprints. How many ACLs do you need to see the back of Amar’e Stoudemire’s jersey repeatedly?

Also, the Suns stood with the tallest trees in the league when Robin Lopez patrolled the lane as a starter mid-season. Alvin Gentry, who has sighed and shrugged and looked at the ceiling wistfully when Lopez’s timetable for return from a back injury came up recently, now has started flirting with the notion that Robin Lopez may not only play in this series but could be on the active roster Monday night. What do we know about the presence and abilities of a weakened Robin Lopez?

Do we know George Hill at all?

And we sure as don’t know what we don’t know. Who knew a Nash bash would help decide the 2007 edition?

So what do we actually know about this series?

We know Manu Ginobili can count on ordering room service in Phoenix.

We know that bungee cords will be attached to all Suns players not currently in the game to prevent them from ever leaving the bench area.

We know referee selections for the series will be watched closely. (Is there any chance Joey Crawford doesn’t work this series?)

We know what we said in the first round: the Suns’ second unit is better than yours.

We know the Suns haven’t bested the Spurs since the 2000 NBA Playoffs. We also know the Alamo hasn’t had a victory in a good long while. These both hold the same historical relevance.

We know it’s a requirement of sportswriters everywhere to predict series despite knowing all we know, all we don’t know, and all we don’t know we don’t know about this matchup and finding most of the entries in the latter two categories.

So we’ll take the Phoenix Suns in seven games, though we wouldn’t be surprised or disappointed in any other outcome. Take it from us; we did pick the Suns in six in the last series. (And you know what that’s worth.)

“If I know the answer, I’ll tell you the answer. And if I don’t, I’ll just respond cleverly.” - Rumsfeld

[duncan228]

NBA playoffs second-round matchups
NBC Sports

Phoenix Suns (3) vs. San Antonio Spurs (7)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

SUNS: Jason Richardson
With almost an outside-in approach to the game, opening his penetration by converting a series of 3-pointers, Richardson was Wade-like during various stages of the first-round elimination of the Blazers, highlighted by his 42-point effort in Game 3. When Richardson is on, the Suns become as balanced as almost any team in the postseason, with the force of Amare Stoudemire, the passing of Steve Nash and the scoring of Richardson. It will get tougher against the defense of the Spurs, but if San Antonio succeeds in slowing the pace, Richardson's ability to score in the halfcourt could become crucial.

SPURS: George Hill
There figures to be plenty of small ball in this series, and Hill has turned the dynamic upside down for the Spurs, allowing Tony Parker to enter fresh and taking some of the scoring burden away from Manu Ginobili. Now you could have Tony Parker entering against Goran Dragic, instead of being off to the races at the outset against Steve Nash. Hill had his best moments in the Spurs' victories against the Mavericks, after his scoreless game in the opener created concerns. Controlling pace will be critical, as will his ability to score in the halfcourt. For the Suns, it mostly remains Nash or bust. With the Spurs, there now is the ability to ride the hottest hand at the point and often play three-guard offense.

INTANGIBLES

SUNS: While LaMarcus Aldridge and Marcus Camby had their moments for Portland in the first round, there wasn't a true post game to contend with against the Blazers. That allowed Amare Stoudemire to conserve ample energy for offense and allowed the Suns to play small. This time, there will be a post game to deal with, including, possibly, the beef of DeJuan Blair. There also will be something a bit more fleet of foot to contend with at the point. And that means having to offer plenty of help for Steve Nash against either George Hill or Tony Parker. The Blazers entered the first round ailing; the Spurs enter on the rise. In some ways, the postseason only now is beginning for the Suns.

SPURS: The Suns know they will load up with stats from Amare Stoudemire. But less certain is what to make of Tim Duncan. He hardly was overwhelming in the first round and if the Suns can push the pace, it could require plenty of energy in closing out on the Suns' lengthy 3-point shooters, such as Channing Frye. After a sizzling start against Dallas, when he scored 25 or more in each of the first three games, the final three games of that series featured four points in Game 4, 11 points and six rebounds in Game 5, and then 1-of-7 foul shooting in Thursday's Game 6 series clincher. The Spurs can say all they want about controlling pace, but the halfcourt game only works when Duncan is efficient, even as the Spurs evolve to a guard-driven offense.

OUTLOOK

Tempo clearly will be the key to this one.

In the opening round, the Spurs slowed the Mavericks, while the Suns pushed the Blazers.

This could wind up as the best series of the entire postseason, what with the history between the two teams and the contrasts.

It seems almost every round in the West features a been-there, done-that matchup, with the exception of the entry of the Thunder.

When the Suns have looked good this postseason, they have looked very good. The Spurs, by contrast, have been methodical, even grinding out their Game 6 victory after first pushing to and then blowing a big lead.

History says the Spurs get through because their style is playoff style, but the Suns almost seem to be on a crusade to prove they're ready for the next step, having stepped it up a bit on the defensive end this season.

Don't be surprised if the bit players step up in this one. In fact, the Grant Hill-Richard Jefferson matchup for the aged could supply a significant swing vote.

More likely is the series will be decided between Amare Stoudemire, who has been scoring but not necessarily rebounding, and Tim Duncan, who has been rebounding but not necessarily scoring.

Homecourt didn't determine Mavericks-Spurs and it likely will only play a small role in this one.

PREDICTION

As soon as the Spurs take one of the first two in Phoenix, the doubts will enter the equation. Gregg Popovich has set up the West bracket exactly the way he wanted, saving the Lakers for last. Spurs in six.

[duncan228]

DAVID FLORES: Spurs-Suns series showcases an intense playoff rivalry
by David Flores / Kens5.com

*********************

JOE REINAGEL: Spurs fever is once again spreading like wildfire
by Joe Reinagel / Kens5.com