Are these first 2 games must win's for the Suns?

[Man of Steel]

I think if SA wins either game 1 or 2--it will put an incredible amount of pressure on the Suns.

I see the Spurs winning game one and the Suns taking game 2.

Spurs will win games 3 and 4.

Spurs will close it out in Phoenix in game 5.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

The Suns right now, going off their presser after game 5, are afraid of us. Getting swept two years ago, is even a psychological advantage on our part.

I think if the Spurs pounce on them early, the Suns' self-doubts will promulgate with each passing game.

[jmard5]

If the Spurs win any one of the first two games, Suns will play catch up.

[Gaddabout]

I think Game 1 is a must for Phoenix. More importantly, I think the Suns need to win the 4th quarter of Game 1. They need confidence they can close out the Spurs from Game 1. If the Suns, say, take an 8-point lead into the 4th quarter and merely hold on for a 2-point win, it's just as damaging to them as losing. The Suns took 4th quarter leads into 3 of 5 games against the Spurs in 2005 and won only once. They took 4th quarter leads into 2 of 3 games against the Spurs this season, but lost one of them in OT (first one in San Antonio).

FWIW, the Suns are historically bad in Games 2. I have no idea why.

[Kevin Blackistone]

Then we disagree, but only slightly. I don't believe either can win consistantly playing the other's style, but I think eacch team is good enough to maybe steal a game or two playing at the other's pace.

Overall, we are very close to being in complete agreement.

After re-reading my post I could see that I wasn't clear - I was talking about a series win. Sorry for the lack of clarity in the post. I know on any given game either the Spurs could win a shootout or the Suns could win a grinder, but neither will win 4 of 7 in that fashion. We are in agreement.

[JMarkJohns]

Believe it or not, I actually don't want a game one trouncing for the Suns. I want their three-point shot to fall, but not fall at a great percent. I want things to be hard enough they have to work for the win, showing themselves they can win when everything isn't going right and realizing things won't be easy every game.

I actually HATE a blowout. Maybe not come the fourth quarter, but, as evidenced in game three vs. Los Angeles, an early lead based off of perimeter shots falling at a better than average clip can lead to them becoming passive and reliant on them, then once they stop falling, they are like a deer in headlights, not knowing anything other than chucking it after faling to develop an all-around offensive game.

I'm not as worried about that vs. the Spurs because I don't expect their to be near as many perimeter opportunities vs. San Antonio, but the overall thought it still pertinent. Suns need to be in a battle. As crazy as it sounds, I want Phoenix to be ahead by no more than 10 at any point in the game until the late fourth.

They just play harder when the game is still in doubt.

[Man of Steel]

I think Game 1 is a must for Phoenix. More importantly, I think the Suns need to win the 4th quarter of Game 1. They need confidence they can close out the Spurs from Game 1. If the Suns, say, take an 8-point lead into the 4th quarter and merely hold on for a 2-point win, it's just as damaging to them as losing. The Suns took 4th quarter leads into 3 of 5 games against the Spurs in 2005 and won only once. They took 4th quarter leads into 2 of 3 games against the Spurs this season, but lost one of them in OT (first one in San Antonio).

FWIW, the Suns are historically bad in Games 2. I have no idea why.

And the Spurs usually suck in the first game of a series...

[Kevin Blackistone]

If the Suns lose Game 1, you'd have to think that it'd damage their confidence pretty substantially. That's why the Spurs need to go out and get it.

They went out and got it, and game 2 is less than 40 hours away. Does this game 1 win stick it to Phoenix's confidence and spell doom for game 2 and the series, or do the Suns bounce back?