The 43 point quarter - and a prediction

[Solid D]

Some very good stats and observations, GSH.

At the heart of the Spurs beating the Suns is taking Nash out of his comfort zone and restricting what he does. That has been common to all of the Spurs wins. In quarters where Nash is stirring the drink for the Suns, the Suns have their way offensively. When the Spurs have clamped down and trapped Steve or doubled hard on him, the Spurs have gotten stops or turnovers. When the Spurs went to a small lineup in the OT game in January, with Udrih, Gino, Barry, Devin and Tim playing almost the entire 4th qtr. and extra period, the Spurs really bothered Nash. Nash turned it over 5 times during that stretch, with the Spurs' smalls (Udrih, Barry, Brown getting the steals out of their pressure. Nash scored once, on a 3-pointer, during the entire 4th and OT. That is also a good passing lineup offensively...creating more open shots.

A similar defensive strategy on Nash was saved for the 4th quarter on Sunday from a pressure standpoint. The Spurs didn't go small, but they did end the 3rd and start the qtr. with Udrih, Gino, Barry, Horry and Tim and were able to erase the Suns 3rd qtr. 7 pt. lead. Beno has done a fairly nice job positionally with Nash and when paired on doubles from guys like Horry, Gino or Barry, Nash has coughed it up a few times. Parker less so, until Pop got after Tony to get up into Nash. (Remember when Pop did the same with TP in December to turn that game around?) Fortunately, Parker was able to exploit Nash's lack of D on the offensive end on Sunday.

So whether a big or small lineup is employed, pressuring Nash, trapping Nash and exploiting his lack of D is a winning formula...particularly in the second half.

[1Parker1]

"Nash has coughed it up a few times. Parker less so, until Pop got after Tony to get up into Nash. (Remember when Pop did the same with TP in December to turn that game around?) Fortunately, Parker was able to exploit Nash's lack of D on the offensive end on Sunday."

How do you all think Parker's Defense on Nash was? I thought he could have done a better job. Nash got the same jump shots every time throughout the game...right inside the foul line on both the left and right side. Tony often got a little caught behind the screens and then the other SPurs weren't fast enough to catch onto Nash. Towards the end when they doubled Nash right from the start, making him pass crazy shots to his team-mates--that worked out really well. Hopefully they will do that again tonight.

[boutons]

" they will do that again tonight."

I figure that 4th qtr nastily effecitive ambush of Steve has got to give the Suns nightmares, a large shadow of a doubt on their 1st 3 qtrs tonight. It should be used juidiciously, like trying to shut them down in the late 4th where they have won so many games they have trailed in for 3.5 qtrs.

[Solid D]

How do you all think Parker's Defense on Nash was?

Not very good. The third quarter lead the Suns got was during some of TP's worst moments. He got up into Steve when he came back in with 8 minutes left in the game.

[MadDog73]

I strongly believe that tonight's game is going to be a very close one 'til the end. It is going to be decided by free throws, and Tim Duncan is going to win it in the FT Line. Score: Spurs 95 / Suns 90
It is going to be a very "physical" game and I will not be surprised if there are at least two flagrant foul calls.

I really don't see that. PHX doesn't have the luxory of having a lot of big men to throw at Tim... plus, if they slow the game down, it favors the Spurs.

Mike D'Antoni actually said they need to score even more points. It should be another fast-paced, high scoring game tonight. I expect a close game too, with a buzzer-beating ending.

[boutons]

" It is going to be a very "physical" game"

The Spurs don't play that physical, so you aren't talking about them.

So you think Mike is so deperate that he will drop his no-defense/no-foul wimp game and get physical?