Staying Alive - Volume 1

[DAF86]

Basic Math Fail.

If we would have gone up 20 in the first half, things may not have unfold like they did in the second.

Basic reasoning fail.

[Reckless28]

throw out mason, bonner, jefferson, for garret temple, malik hairston, ian manhimi...just a thought.

[Blackjack]

First, I would change the starting lineup in an attempt to create more depth. In the first three games, the Suns have proven to be just too deep. By closing time, the Spurs starters are exhausted while the Suns bench is just gearing up. The result, as we've seen, has been disastrous for San Antonio. With that lack of depth in mind, I'd start Tim Duncan, Antonio McDyess, Keith Bogans, George Hill and Tony Parker. With that lineup, the Spurs should run a lot of pick-and-rolls with Parker and Duncan. The other three players are good enough shooters to space the floor decently enough. (If Bogans becomes a liability offensively, trade him out for Roger Mason, Jr.)

The more important aspect of that lineup change is the potential help to the bench. Bringing Manu Ginobili and Richard Jefferson off the bench could help match the Suns firepower. Hypothetically, Ginobili could help players like Jefferson, DeJuan Blair and Matt Bonner produce. It should also help the Spurs keep fresh talent on the court at all times.

Now that's just crazy talk. I hope you don't lose your credibility with that one.

I'd like to see Hairston suit up instead of Mason. I'm not sure if I care if he even plays. Just to have that option instead of mason.

The Coalition thanks and appreciates your support and endorses this post with great vigor.

[Shastafarian]

The Coalition thanks and appreciates your support and endorses this post with great vigor.

THC baby

[exstatic]

Does anyone honestly think that one win, sending them home for game 5, is going to make the Suns sweat?

We're not going to win this series. That's a fact. At this point, it wouldn't break my heart to:

deprive the NBA of additional televised games.

the Suns fans out of celebrating on their court.

[Shastafarian]

the Suns fans out of celebrating on their court.

No way. There's nothing worse than the smattering of suns fans in YOUR house chanting and yelling and . Getting eliminated at home is the worst.

[Blackjack]

Awwh ... Granny. THC's wise sage (and first elderly stripper ).

[Spurminator]

Why not us? Why not now?

At this point winning is gravy. We're not supposed to win this series.

But I bet those Red Sox fans who gave up on their team down 0-3 in the 2004 ALCS regretted it after they came back to beat the Yankees.

Winning 4 in a row ain't impossible. It all starts with believing you can. Take this home game, then you put pressure on the Suns to win Game 5 at home. Steal game 5, and all of a sudden, the Suns and their fans are having memories of Hipcheck-gate and Duncan's 3 all over again.

One game at a time. (At the end of the day. Ultimately. Both teams played hard. Etc.)

[HarlemHeat37]

I doubt Pop will dress Hairston, he has some kind of fetish for watching Mason struggle in every facet of the game..

Since Temple is actually dressed though, why not give him a shot against Dragic?..

[Blackjack]

I'm definitely for a Temple sighting. And I'm more optimistic about him being able to hit a corner three while giving a good defensive effort than Bogans -- I just don't see Pop starting him instead of Bogans, thus the reason I've been pushing for the Parker, Hill, Bogans, 'Dyess and Duncan lineup they had success with before Parker's injury.

[HarlemHeat37]

Oh, I would be pretty surprised if Pop plays either of them tonight, I highly doubt it happens, but it would be nice to see..it's pretty much a meaningless game at this point, why not try something new?..

[Blackjack]

Pretty much. You know what you're getting with that group and, frankly, it's been nowhere near enough. If you're going down -- which is extremely likely -- it's better to go with potential upside than known .

And it could be a great teaching tool and something that could be beneficial to the evaluation process to see how a player like Temple and Hairston would react in the environment and if they had what it took to be a playoff-contributing role player next year (because the role players and supporting cast needs an overhaul and mental toughness, composure and resolve -- what a championship supporting cast must have -- reveal themselves quite well in a playoff setting -- if Temple or Hairston conduct themselves well under the cir stance they know they've got what it takes to be considered).

Hopefully Pop decides not to leave any ammo in the chamber . . .

[Avitus1]

I hope we can push it to a game 5.

[Reckless28]

the only reason the slovenians are good on any team other than the spurs, is because they don't have to play defense on those other teams. playing defense takes away from your offense. that's my opinion and that is why the defensive teams always have a lower scoring per game that all others. and quit saying the suns play defense, the spurs just missed open shots and missed a lot of free throws

[ambchang]

First team in the history of the league to come back from a 0-3 deficit. Some team has to do it, might as well be my favourite! That's what makes me a fan.

Go Spurs Go!

[gospursgojas]

To win game 4 (and possibly 5), these things must happen:

1. A blow-out win. 20+.
2. An unstoppable performance from the big three.
3. Defense must be played on every possession.
4. RJ, Hill and Blair need to step the up.
5. Playoff McDyess must continue.
6. Bogans, Bonner and Mason need to decide before the game which one is NOT going to be completely worthless and then, inform Pop of their decision.
7. The Suns need to play pretty poorly.


Edit: I forgot . . . no more ing jumpshots!

[rascal]

Yeah, I could live with changes that are too drastic more than I could with changes that are too conservative. In other words, if the Spurs trot out their worn out starters against the Suns bench again to begin the fourth, the sweep will be painful.

Pop doesn't trust the bench. Its live and die with the big 3, which is what most on this board believed would be enough to win a le anyways.

[TD 21]

I think the answer for the Spurs is to make an adjustment by either going really small or really big. Running a regular lineup against that fivesome just hasn't worked. The first option is to run a lineup with Bonner at center, surround him with four smalls and then switch everything like the Spurs did in Game 3. That lineup would match the quickness enough to keep the Suns from exploiting mismatches. In this option, a lineup such as Parker, Ginobili, Jefferson, Bogans and Bonner would work. Once Amare Stoudemire returns, that's when it would make sense for Duncan to return.

The other option is to play smashmouth basketball. With the Suns so small, the Spurs could go with Duncan and Blair at the same time in hopes of beasting at the rim and dominating the boards. On the defensive end, the Spurs would have to trap pick-and-rolls and just hope the Suns aren't able to score at the rim against the bigger Spurs lineup. Truthfully, I like this idea, although Pop has shown nothing to indicate he'd even consider such a shift.

I'd go really big. Why try to out small ball the Suns? It's not going to happen, particularly when you have limited, sub-par small ball options, such as the Spurs. The Spurs can't guard the Suns anyway, so why even waste time putting together lineups that hamper them (Spurs) in other areas in a desperate attempt to do this? Instead, put together lineups that feature your best talent and play to your strengths.

I would never play Bonner at center with four smalls. Once again, that's allowing the opposition to dictate terms. Too often, since the '06 Mavs series, have the Spurs done this. I want to see the Suns having to deal with plenty of Duncan, McDyess and Blair in the front court. They'd get pounded on the glass and in points in the paint. Duncan should play almost the entire game. The Spurs can't afford to have their best player not playing as much as he should in order to match-up with the Suns defensively.

If the Spurs are going to go down, they should go down on their own terms, trying to dictate tempo/style and playing to their strengths; not by catering to the Suns. No matter how hard the Spurs try, they're not going to beat the Suns at their game.

[m33p0]

no. More. ing. Jumpshots!

[ploto]

The Spurs keep adjusting for whomever had the hot hand the previous game, and that makes them one step behind the entire series. People are suddenly worrying about Dragic, but he will not be the one tonight.

[silverblk mystix]

i'd go really big. Why try to out small ball the suns? It's not going to happen, particularly when you have limited, sub-par small ball options, such as the spurs. The spurs can't guard the suns anyway, so why even waste time putting together lineups that hamper them (spurs) in other areas in a desperate attempt to do this? Instead, put together lineups that feature your best talent and play to your strengths.

I would never play bonner at center with four smalls. Once again, that's allowing the opposition to dictate terms. Too often, since the '06 mavs series, have the spurs done this. I want to see the suns having to deal with plenty of duncan, mcdyess and blair in the front court. They'd get pounded on the glass and in points in the paint. Duncan should play almost the entire game. The spurs can't afford to have their best player not playing as much as he should in order to match-up with the suns defensively.

If the spurs are going to go down, they should go down on their own terms, trying to dictate tempo/style and playing to their strengths; not by catering to the suns. No matter how hard the spurs try, they're not going to beat the suns at their game.

this.

[pjjrfan]

No there's no lack of effort at all. The spurs are playing balls out. Give credit to Phoenix.

There it is. I'm not happy with some of the play of certain players, but the fact is that the Suns have executed their game plan and you have to top your hat to them. Hopefully the Spurs put some bite on their butts tonight and get them to start reacting to the Spurs.

[pjjrfan]

No there's no lack of effort at all. The spurs are playing balls out. Give credit to Phoenix.

There it is. I'm not happy with some of the play of certain players, but the fact is that the Suns have executed their game plan and you have to top your hat to them. Hopefully the Spurs put some bite on their butts tonight and get them to start reacting to the Spurs.

[polandprzem]

There it is. I'm not happy with some of the play of certain players, but the fact is that the Suns have executed their game plan and you have to top your hat to them. Hopefully the Spurs put some bite on their butts tonight and get them to start reacting to the Spurs.

How come?
Suns got still open looks and spurs are not having advantage on picks again.
There is nothing spurs can change that would reverse series

[Blackjack]

Good to know someone is Staying Alive (I,I,I,I . . .).