Spurs vs. Suns - Dec. 17 Game Blog

[UV Ray]

are you trying to say, IF Nash and Bell ONLY played well, it could have been a blow-out?

Hmmn, you forget to mention the fact that Manu didn't play well too. He can score easily 35 on you guys, if you just try to remember in the last 2 yrs.

Las Vegas just called. They want your money.

[easjer]

Yeah that Tony Parker guy not being there had zero effect.

Hey, I've already effectively proven that the Spurs would have scored 115 with Tony Parker in the game.

And someone else has made an excellent case for Francisco Elson. Not only would he have blocked 2 shots (so now, the Suns score is really 96), he would have scored at least 4 points off garbage points. So, really, the Spurs won by 23. I was going to add that Elson would undoubtedly picked up some rebounds that led to Suns points, but since those were effectively negated by the fast break points off Elson's turnovers, I decided to let it slide this time.

It's clear enough, using Rocket's logic, that the Spurs had a definitive win tonight. I refuse to believe anything else, because it's pretty well laid out here.

[T Park]

Las Vegas just called. They want your money.

47 in Phoenix in the middle of the year, and 30 points multiple times says I'd win that bet spanky.

[T Park]

And someone else has made an excellent case for Francisco Elson

I honestly think Elson wouldn't have played much.

Hes way too dumb to play against a good executing team like the Suns.

[easjer]

I honestly think Elson wouldn't have played much.

Hes way too dumb to play against a good executing team like the Suns.

AHEM, Rockets logic. Elson would have been spectacular. Clearly. We win by 23 points if Elson and Parker play. Do the math yourself if you don't believe me. Just carry the 9 - it's 26.


(this is why you need to stay in school. kids)

((and why our kids will probably not go to public school in Houston))

[UV Ray]

47 in Phoenix in the middle of the year, and 30 points multiple times says I'd win that bet spanky.

You're living in the past T-boy.

[Nash2Amare]

i have this slight hunch that if tony parker played, the scores woulda been reversed

Meh. Vaughn played very, very good tonight, 7-10 is highly efficient, 4 asts, and a +4. That without Parker and the way that TD played should pull out a win.
I just don't see how you're allowed to use that excuse since when we bring up last year's playoff series and how Amare was out Game 5 and how we lost down the stretch can't be used, we barely lost and with him? "Scores woulda been reversed???" He is a monster in big games, and late in games since we put the pick and roll in to use.
This means ZERO since it's December, we're playing like trash and your guys' defense isn't into playoff form yet. January 31st will be a better measure.

Good game.


EDIT: Also, so many IF's can be used. IF the Suns used Amare like they used to, but for some reason now ignore him. IF Nash was healthy, he would have shot lights out. IF Ginobili wasn't in a slump. IF Parker played. IF Elson played.
Tough game, we got some work to do as you may be able to tell, wasn't the usual "Suns" game.

[Nash2Amare]

Yeah and Brian Skinner is gonna hit those 20 footers again too. Right.

Yes. He's a very good outside shooter, surprisingly.
This year he has a eFG% of 52% from outside.

He's been money from outside.

[T Park]

Once again I reiterate, I will let Brian Skinner shoot 20 foot jump shots all day. If you as a Suns fan are ok with that, you need your head examined.

You're living in the past T-boy.

Yeah that GInobili guy is washed up.

he wont break 30 points ever again.

(what, he posted back to back 37 point nights? oops...)

[Jeremy]

I find the excuses for the Spurs to be very funny, considering how poorly the Suns played.

Shawn Marion 9 and 6?

Nash only 10 and 10?

Amare 17 and 6?!

Barbosa only 6-19 from the field.

And Bell with only 9 points on terrible shooting.

When is all of that going to happen in a game again?

And not to mention Steve Nash was the Suns' leading rebounder with 8 boards!

[T Park]

Meh. Vaughn played very, very good tonight, 7-10 is highly efficient, 4 asts, and a +4. That without Parker and the way that TD played should pull out a win.
I just don't see how you're allowed to use that excuse since when we bring up last year's playoff series and how Amare was out Game 5 and how we lost down the stretch can't be used, we barely lost and with him? "Scores woulda been reversed???" He is a monster in big games, and late in games since we put the pick and roll in to use.
This means ZERO since it's December, we're playing like trash and your guys' defense isn't into playoff form yet. January 31st will be a better measure.

You can use the excuse all you want. We never said Amare missing the game didn't mean anything. It was all AMare and Boris's fault that they missed the game and you can't blame anyone but the Suns themselves for losing that game. BTW, the Series was lost in game 1 ON Your home floor, and getting spanked on national TV. Thats when it was lost.


BTW, so you think Parker would've only put 14 and 4 on the Suns?

He would've have been more agressive and gott 26 and 8 maybe?

Nahhhh

[T Park]

When is all of that going to happen in a game again?

Prob the same game that Tony Parker doesn't play and Ginobili shoots 6 of 19.

[T Park]

BTW Suns fan, your bringing up
"Well our guys shot bad"

Uh, you don't think the Spurs defense had ANYTHING to do with that do you?

[Jeremy]

Game 1 was lost when Nash was out with injury.

[T Park]

Game 1 was lost when Nash was out with injury.

So Nash not being on the floor allowed Barbosa to commit an inbounding foul?



Right on Suns fan, right on.

[ShoogarBear]

Game 1 was lost when Nash was out because the Suns trainer was too much of a dumb to take him back in the locker room and s ch him.

[Nashfan]

Crappy T call on Bowen's complaint about the OBVIOUS forearm shiver that Nash threw on that last play as he passed.

How ironic

[UV Ray]

Once again I reiterate, I will let Brian Skinner shoot 20 foot jump shots all day. If you as a Suns fan are ok with that, you need your head examined.



Yeah that GInobili guy is washed up.

he wont break 30 points ever again.

(what, he posted back to back 37 point nights? oops...)

No, it's just not as likely as the probability that he won't have 37 on any given night.

[DazedAndConfused]

I laugh everytime I hear a fan say, "IF we had so and so we woulda won". There is no guarantee that come playoff time you'll have all your players. You gotta win with what you got. Accept that you lost to a team that outplayed you tonight. There's no shame in that, PHX is #2 in the WC.

[m33p0]

Game 1 was lost when Nash was out with injury.

Game 1 was lost because Tim Duncan had 33 points shooting 50% and 16 rebounds 8 of which were offensive, 3 block shots while commiting only 2 personal fouls. that's dominance for you.

[Jeremy]

So Nash not being on the floor allowed Barbosa to commit an inbounding foul?



Right on Suns fan, right on.

Barbosa may not have even been out there, if Nash was.

And that was not the only stupid thing Barbosa did in crunch time with Nash out.

[FromWayDowntown]

I thought the Suns did a great job tonight of defending the 3 point line. The Spurs missed some good looks, to be sure, but the Suns did a nice job for the most part of staying with shooters at the arc and denying too many wide-open looks from distance.

The Suns know, I think, that they can't really deal with Duncan, so it makes sense to run odd doubles at him and to stay attentive to shooters at the arc as much as possible.

That is to say, I thought the Suns actually employed a good defensive strategy tonight. It will be interesting to see how Parker's penetration will affect that strategy -- if they want to stay with shooters, the lane is going to be wide open for Tony and that one big the Suns use will have to make a tough decision if Tony's able to get into the paint.

On the whole, I was fairly indifferent about the loss. The Spurs didn't play a great game and neither did the Suns. It was the typical wrestling match between these teams and the Suns made just enough plays at the end to win it. Tim's aggression at the rim wasn't rewarded by the officials tonight and I thought his inability to make the Suns pay with fouls was part of the Spurs' 4th quarter struggle, but when push comes to shove, the Spurs have to find more offense outside of Duncan if they're going to beat Phoenix. I think it will be there when it matters most, but it clearly wasn't there tonight.

[UV Ray]

I thought the Suns did a great job tonight of defending the 3 point line. The Spurs missed some good looks, to be sure, but the Suns did a nice job for the most part of staying with shooters at the arc and denying too many wide-open looks from distance.

The Suns know, I think, that they can't really deal with Duncan, so it makes sense to run odd doubles at him and to stay attentive to shooters at the arc as much as possible.

That is to say, I thought the Suns actually employed a good defensive strategy tonight. I will be interesting to see how Parker's penetration will affect that strategy -- if they want to stay with shooters, the lane is going to be wide open for Tony and that one big the Suns use will have to make a tough decision if Tony's able to get into the paint.

On the whole, I was fairly indifferent about the loss. The Spurs didn't play a great game and neither did the Suns. It was the typical wrestling match between these teams and the Suns made just enough plays at the end to win it. Tim's aggression at the rim wasn't rewarded by the officials tonight and I thought his inability to make the Suns pay with fouls was part of the Spurs' 4th quarter struggle, but when push comes to shove, the Spurs have to find more offense outside of Duncan if they're going to beat Phoenix. I think it will be there when it matters most, but it clearly wasn't there tonight.

Excellent analysis. You could really see this play out towards the end of the game.

[Nashfan]

(a) Phoenix didn't have its Finals MVP out with injury. Well, Phoenix wouldn't know what a Finals MVP is, true, but I digress.
(b) D'Antoni plays his seven guys all year, not just one game like Pop did tonight.

Enjoy the W, you deserved the win. Just remember it's December.

Guess you don't realize that Nash has been playing injured, so he wasn't at his best in this game by a longshot. I don't think the Suns played their best, but I am happy they gutted out a win against the Spurs.

[Nashfan]

and if elson played? FORGET ABOUT IT! suns would've been run right out of the gym.

Get real, like Elson is a difference maker.