Phoenix-Houston

[Im Here Huckleberry]

I believe he's talking about the cheerleader.

He's actually talking about Eva Longoria in the picture.

[kskonn]

The spurs gutting out some wins without tim will help them become a more mentally tough team, which will help them win on the road. I also feel that the west is unpredictable. It is very strong and there are a number of teams that can get hot and upset teams in the first round. However the spurs defense is more consistent than anyones offense. It has been all year. It will be better now that they have had to play without duncan. Once he comes back the defense will be in sane. assuming are bench ( Barry) continues its great play when duncan comes back, the spurs will be incredibly tough to beat, no matter where they are.

[SirChaz]

It took a shorthanded Suns team and a career game from Manu to beat the Suns at home last time.

I think it would be a close series.


Some Suns fans say they want the Suns on the road becuase they are "better" on the road. I don't buy that, the Suns want the HCA.

I would much rather have the Suns face the Spurs at AWA more than at SBC. The Spurs are just too good at home.

[picnroll]

Nash has yet to show he can play effectively against the Spurs this year.

It's safes to say that the Suns will be held to a half court game throught a Suns - Spurs series and there will be little to no Johnson and Q Richardson spot ups for threes. I doubt the Suns can win four half-court games against the Spurs which is what they'll have to do to win the series because Pop isn't going to allow a transtion type game in the playoffs against the Suns.

[Spurminator]

We won't play the Suns in the Playoffs.

So it is written, so it shall be.

[Jimcs50]

We won't play the Suns in the Playoffs.

So it is written, so it shall be.

Spurm, I would like to think that is true, but I have to disagree....I think it is destiny.

[SirChaz]

It's safes to say that the Suns will be held to a half court game throught a Suns - Spurs series and there will be little to no Johnson and Q Richardson spot ups for threes. I doubt the Suns can win four half-court games against the Spurs which is what they'll have to do to win the series because Pop isn't going to allow a transtion type game in the playoffs against the Suns.

Easier said than done. The Suns half court offense is not the problem. The Suns can play the half court style, they just don't like to.

Rebounding is the biggest problem the Suns have, especially against the Spurs. If they rebound they can run on anybody. They may not be able to run as much in the playoffs but they will not be stopped completely.

If they even play the Spurs, I guess we will find out.

[Jimcs50]

Spurs are 40-4 when the outrebound their opponent this year. Phoenix better reb or they will be in a shaort series with the Spurs

[picnroll]

Suns won't run much on the Spurs if they meet in the playoffs. You can book it now. Spurs will be very disciplined in their shot selection. They will not over commit to offensive rebounding, making sure the backcourt players get back on D, leaving rebounding to the bigs. Spurs have a long history of shutting down transition teams in the playoffs, i.e., Suns, Mavs, Nets of 2002. Spurs have also shown they can shut down Nash's half-court penetration game. In the meantime the Suns defense is a shadow of what it was in '02.

[Spurminator]

Easier said than done. The Suns half court offense is not the problem. The Suns can play the half court style, they just don't like to.

Rebounding is the biggest problem the Suns have, especially against the Spurs. If they rebound they can run on anybody. They may not be able to run as much in the playoffs but they will not be stopped completely.

If they even play the Spurs, I guess we will find out.

It's more than just rebounding. The Suns have allowed the Spurs to shoot very well against them... 48% this year and 56% for the starters. When you factor in the offensive rebounds and free throws, it can probably be assumed that the Spurs score on well over half of their posessions against the Suns. Thus, the Suns are forced to inbound more often than they can run.

Also, the Suns only force 11 turnovers per game against the Spurs (compared to 14 versus other opponents).

[SirChaz]

Suns won't run much on the Spurs if they meet in the playoffs. You can book it now. Spurs will be very disciplined in their shot selection. They will not over commit to offensive rebounding, making sure the backcourt players get back on D, leaving rebounding to the bigs. Spurs have a long history of shutting down transition teams in the playoffs, i.e., Suns, Mavs, Nets of 2002. Spurs have also shown they can shut down Nash's half-court penetration game. In the meantime the Suns defense is a shadow of what it was in '02.

Sure, you are completely safe.

Won't even be a contest I'm sure.

[bigbendbruisebrother]

Easier said than done. The Suns half court offense is not the problem. The Suns can play the half court style, they just don't like to.

Rebounding is the biggest problem the Suns have, especially against the Spurs. If they rebound they can run on anybody. They may not be able to run as much in the playoffs but they will not be stopped completely.

If they even play the Spurs, I guess we will find out.

2005 Suns = 2003 Mavs. Same result. If they meet in the playoffs, the Spurs will send them packing. I'm not trashing your boys, they're a blast to watch, but their style prevents solid defensive play. The Mavs have tried it for years, and it wins in the regular season, but fails come playoff time. The Suns are even more precariously perched in my opinion because of their total reliance on Steve Nash. The Mavs in 2003 had some savvy vets, Nash and Novitzky and the Spurs prevailed.

On the flipside, these Spurs have some issues of their own to overcome, primarily Tim's injury and their inconsistent perimiter play.

One way or another, I agree with Spurminator that it is unlikely that the two teams meet in the playoffs.

[picnroll]

Sure, you are completely safe.

Won't even be a contest I'm sure.

Sure it would be a contest and Suns are a good team but frankly there are teams that I think it are more difficult for the Spurs to beat in the West., namely Dallas and Memphis. Memphis always plays the Spurs tough, Manu in particular. Only reason we had such an easy time with the Grizz last year was because Parker went zone the entire series.

[SirChaz]

2005 Suns = 2003 Mavs. Same result. If they meet in the playoffs, the Spurs will send them packing. I'm not trashing your boys, they're a blast to watch, but their style prevents solid defensive play. The Mavs have tried it for years, and it wins in the regular season, but fails come playoff time. The Suns are even more precariously perched in my opinion because of their total reliance on Steve Nash. The Mavs in 2003 had some savvy vets, Nash and Novitzky and the Spurs prevailed.

On the flipside, these Spurs have some issues of their own to overcome, primarily Tim's injury and their inconsistent perimiter play.

One way or another, I agree with Spurminator that it is unlikely that the two teams meet in the playoffs.

Please repeat after me.

THE SUNS ARE NOT THE MAVRICKS.

They are a completely different team and this is a completely diffferent season.

I understand the comparisons but it is seriously flawed logic to say that.
Suns = Mavs and Spurs beat Mavs (in 2003) therefore Spurs beat Suns (in 2005).

There are some very good reasons to argue that the Spurs would beat the Suns this year, this is not one of them.


There is nothing about the Suns style that prevents them from playing defense. Defense is determined by personel and execution not the 'style' of play.

Because the refs swallow the whistles in the playoffs the better athletes are at a disadvantage on offense but that doesn't mean they can't play defense.

I guess you missed the last time Nash sat out and the Suns won anyway. I guess you also have missed the improved play of Nash's backup Barbosa. They are better with Nash, but they are not as bad without him as they were during the 6 game losing streak in January.

[Jimcs50]

Suns>>>>>Dallas of 04

I am not the one underestimating your Suns.....In fact I am then only one that predicted that they would win the Pac division in preseason.
That being said, if SA is healthy, I think SA will win that series in 6 games.

[Spurminator]

I think the comparison is the 2003 Mavs, Jim.

And I might give the advantage to the Mavs.

[Manu20]

if SA is healthy, I think SA will win that series in 6 games.

I won't be surprise if it goes 7 games SA winning of course.

[Jimcs50]

I think the comparison is the 2003 Mavs, Jim.

And I might give the advantage to the Mavs.

I meant 03-04 Mavs...not this year's Mavs obviously.

I think we should ask Nash which team is better.

[Spurminator]

Right, but I think they're talking about 02-03... when we played them in the Playoffs.

[SirChaz]

I think the comparison is the 2003 Mavs, Jim.

And I might give the advantage to the Mavs.

Would that be the 02-03 Mavs or the 03-04 Mavs?


The Suns have more athletes and they have an inside presense that the Mavs never had. The Suns are more capable of playing defense than the Mavs because of their athleticism. Nash has even said as much a few weeks ago.

The Suns defense so far has been average, not horrible.

[Jimcs50]

Right, but I think they're talking about 02-03... when we played them in the Playoffs.

I think last years Mavs are better than the Mavs that we beat in the playoffs.

[bigbendbruisebrother]

Right, but I think they're talking about 02-03... when we played them in the Playoffs.

Yes, that's exactly what I meant. And the 02-03 Mavs would beat these Suns (although, I'm not sure how Nash would guard himself; oh, wait Nash doesn't play D so that's not really a problem).

[bigbendbruisebrother]

Because the refs swallow the whistles in the playoffs the better athletes are at a disadvantage on offense but that doesn't mean they can't play defense.

Ah, blaming the refs in advance! What an interesting strategy!

[Jimcs50]

Ah, blaming the refs in advance! What an interesting strategy!

Pre-emptive strike.

[bigbendbruisebrother]

The Suns defense so far has been average, not horrible.

In the two games in which both teams had their full starting lineups, the Suns gave up 243 points to a team (the Spurs) which averages 92 ppg (correct me if I'm wrong on that last stat; that was from memory).

Conversely, in their two losses to the Spurs this season, the Clippers gave up 178 points. Or how about the Grizzlies, which give the Spurs fits: 172 points.

You can call the way the Suns play defense a "choice" or a style. Pick one. Either way, they're going to pay for the way they play defense in the playoffs. (I can just hear the refs swallowing their whistles already.)

And by the way, I'd like to start a movement to get Nash a nickname; how about Canadian Bacon for the way that Tony Parker has smoked his ass for the last three years?