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The Spurs have done a good job preventing 3s until tonight--and Joe Johnson can be thanked for that. At one point the Suns had Johnson, Richardson, Amare, Nash and Jackson on the court at the same time. The Spurs were playing a zone to help with the double team of Amare. That left one of the four shooters on the court open. Nash did his usual penetration sucking in a defender. One was guarding Amare, another was cheating to prepare for the double. Nash kicks the ball out to Johnson, Richardson or Jackson or gets the ball to Amare off the pick and roll. Defenders decided they rather leave someone wide open for a three than give Amare the dunk. That results in a lot of three point attempts.
Joe Johnson changes the legitiment threats the Suns have, not just as a three point shooter, but with his ability to hit running jumpers in the lane too. It's pick your poison as a defender. Johnson needed game three to get comfortable again. Of course, take Q or Jackson out of the equation and it isn't nearly as deadly--unless it's Marion in one of their places and his shot is falling.
