The Suns will make the NBA Finals

[boutons]

"The Spurs know this?"

Of course, they do. Spurs defensive failures through 3 qtrs lets Suns get out front by 17. The Spurs absolutely know about the relentless power of the Suns offense.

Next Wed night, I doubt Manu will hit 1/3+, 48 pts of the Spurs pts, so the Spurs defense better play 48 minutes of pure shutdown.

"Anyone who relinquishes a 17 pt lead to a rival on their own homecourt isn't championship material"

WTF? The Spurs DID exactly that last night.

[SirChaz]

"their style is flawed in some way."

Their "style" is half-a-game, no defense.

Suns' unrelenting offense will bury you if your defense breaks down, as the Spurs and Pistons know. The Pistons defense failed last night in 4th as well as their offense. The Suns were ready, as they CONSISTENTLY are, and took the game.

There is no doubt that defense is a problem for the Suns but it is a problem for many young teams. The Suns are capable of playing some very good defense but consistancy is the issue.

The Suns have been adaquate on defense and great on offense much of the season. However a lack of defense is not a feature of their style, it is a reflection on thier players effort and execution.

The Suns don't have to be great on defense they really just need to find ways to be good enough. I don't think half court offense or defense will be a problem for the Suns in the playoffs. The problem will be to complete the defense by securing the defensive rebounds.

[SirChaz]

The Spurs know this? How? Aren't we 2-0 against them?

Their style is flawed. Anyone who relinquishes a 17 pt lead to a rival on their own homecourt isn't championship material. They are the NBA version of the Run and Shoot offense: great when it's working, but as the Oilers can tell you, when it's not, you give back the lead, even a huge one. It just puts too much pressure on the defense, and if that isn't very good to begin with, you crack and fold.

Do we really want the NBA to be the equivalent 3 yards and a cloud of dust?


I don't know about you but I am bored with the slowdown style. Basketball is a free flowing full court game when it is at it's best. That doesn't mean no defense that just means we don't have to walk the ball up and control the tempo every second.

[Duncanoypi]

and LakerGod jinx the Phoenix Suns...they may lose in semifinals...poor..tsk...tsk...

[Duff McCartney]

There is no doubt that defense is a problem for the Suns but it is a problem for many young teams.

I disagree....

Sincerely, The Baby Bulls...2004-2005.

[Matrix]

There is no doubt that defense is a problem for the Suns but it is a problem for many young teams. The Suns are capable of playing some very good defense but consistancy is the issue.

The Suns have been adaquate on defense and great on offense much of the season. However a lack of defense is not a feature of their style, it is a reflection on thier players effort and execution.

The Suns don't have to be great on defense they really just need to find ways to be good enough. I don't think half court offense or defense will be a problem for the Suns in the playoffs. The problem will be to complete the defense by securing the defensive rebounds.

Very nice posting throughout this thread Sirchaz.. Yes the spurs have beaten us twice, and we may even get swept, but everyone knows that just because you take the season series, it doesn't mean you automatically win the playoff series.. I think it will be interesting to see how the games will be called in the playoffs....But personally i think the only team that can beat the spurs are the spurs themselves this year. But I hope its a WCF between these two, and it goes 7, the game threads and vbookie would be awesome, for me that is...

[SirChaz]

I disagree....

Sincerely, The Baby Bulls...2004-2005.

I never said all young teams are bad defensively, I said many are.

Chandler and Curry are also have a year more in the league. Amare has already made great strides on defense this year (as well as offense). I expect he will be even better next year with his rate of development so far.

[Rummpd]

Remember in the last game vs. Suns Parker was ill and played like a dog yet Spurs still win.

Game one was more indicative of how he has abused Nash during the years.

That is why I am predicting another Spurs decisive win.

All you naysayers relax Suns = Dallas of a few years ago = stop the overconcern with this team. They are beatable period!

[LakerGod]

The spursies barely beat a hapless Raptors team and a young Bulls team at home, what makes you think they are going to beat the Suns next Wednesday on the road?

Remember the spursies are not good in the second game of back-to-backs...

The spursies are goingt to Phoenix this Wednesday just to bend over simple as that!

[stéphane]

The spursies barely beat a hapless Raptors team and a young Bulls team at home, what makes you think they are going to beat the Suns next Wednesday on the road?

Remember the spursies are not good in the second game of back-to-backs...

The spursies are goingt to Phoenix this Wednesday just to bend over simple as that!

Arguing on boards is like running in the special Olympics, even if you win, you still re ed...

[LakerGod]

Silence says it all!

[E20]

Spurs will win the NBA finals. BTW Lakers suck.

[LakerGod]

Well spurs fans look at the bright side at least when Phoenix buries you on Wednesday you will have an excuse "No Timmy Pumpkin". Oh and you can forget about gaining that number 1 seed you'll be lucky to win your division depending on how many games he misses.

[MaNuMaNiAc]

Hey LakerGod, why don't you go break some commandment and leave us the alone! What's the matter, can't cheer, so you sneer? Get a life dip . Hey I know, why don't you go help Kobe release some post-court tension, god knows he needs another to rape now that his last one took his ass to court, I bet you'd fill in wonderfully. Besides, you're a Laker fan, you know all about BENDING OVER!

[Experiment2100]

Don't fall for his crap the "Silence Says It All" comment was just to bump this from the bottom he's just baiting cause his team ain't going anywhere. We all know who has the best shot at winning.

[cqsallie]

Silence says it all!

But, do you know what you might find more rewarding? Go to latimes.com, register and get involved with other Lakers' fans. I'm registered and will look for your convoluted posts. Will you have the nerve to call yourself LakerGod on this site?

[TDfan2007]

The spursies are goingt to Phoenix this Wednesday just to bend over simple as that!

Isn't it ironic that a Laker fan is talking about bending over? I forget, who took it up the ass from the Pistons last year in the finals?

[Kaster]

Isn't it ironic that a Laker fan is talking about bending over? I forget, who took it up the ass from the Pistons last year in the finals?

True, but why is a Spurs fans talking about taking it in the ass in the 04 Finals after the beating they took in the 04 WCSF?

[Kaster]

Oh, and LakerGod, kill yourself.

[The_Game]

The Spurs know this? How? Aren't we 2-0 against them?

Their style is flawed. Anyone who relinquishes a 17 pt lead to a rival on their own homecourt isn't championship material. They are the NBA version of the Run and Shoot offense: great when it's working, but as the Oilers can tell you, when it's not, you give back the lead, even a huge one. It just puts too much pressure on the defense, and if that isn't very good to begin with, you crack and fold.

no championship team should blow a 10 point lead with under a minute to go left in a game either. But it happens...suns can play D when they need to and have done so this year.

[TDfan2007]

True, but why is a Spurs fans talking about taking it in the ass in the 04 Finals after the beating they took in the 04 WCSF?

we were .4 seconds away from winning that series so i wouldn't say that the Spurs took a beating. The lakers were outclassed in just about every one of those 5 games against the Pistons, can't say the same about the Spurs - Lakers WCSF series.

[Hook Dem]

Lakerwad.....may the rain gods give you about 10 more inches causing you to fall off into the ocean and dragging your Fakers with you!

[boutons]

"noone has ever heard of a team making the playoffs while in a rebuilding year"

Pop considered the 02/03 Spurs to be in re-building mode (SJax, Manu, Kevin were new, Tony hadn't really turned the corner as PG, etc). He said the Spurs weren't "supposed" to win the 03 le.

[Supergirl]

The reason the Spurs are better than the Suns is because Parker is better than Nash. Nash can't stop Parker, and Parker and Bowen combined do an effective job on Nash.

The Amare/Duncan match up has become close to the KG/Duncan match up - the pretty much neutralize each other.

Suns don't have anyone who can defend as well as Bowen's little toe, for chrissakes.

Spurs have the edge. Esp in a 7 game series. However, I would not be surprised to see it be Spurs and SUns in the WCF, though I'm not sure the Suns are better than the Sonics. Sonics have more depth, esp at C.

[SirChaz]

The reason the Spurs are better than the Suns is because Parker is better than Nash. Nash can't stop Parker, and Parker and Bowen combined do an effective job on Nash.

The Amare/Duncan match up has become close to the KG/Duncan match up - the pretty much neutralize each other.

Suns don't have anyone who can defend as well as Bowen's little toe, for chrissakes.

Spurs have the edge. Esp in a 7 game series. However, I would not be surprised to see it be Spurs and SUns in the WCF, though I'm not sure the Suns are better than the Sonics. Sonics have more depth, esp at C.

I disagree, the advantage the Spurs have is their experience and depth. Although the depth factor is not what it once was.

I had to laugh when you cited Parker's advantage over Nash but yet you pointed out that both Parker and Bowen combined to guard him. Parker needs Bowen's help to guard Nash but then Nash had no help in the first game against Parker.

Parker went nuts in the first game because nobody stepped up to stop penetration into the lane. The Suns were overly concerned with Duncan and it was a layup drill for Parker. That did not happen in the second game. Parker was sick or whatever but the defense was much better position wise on Parker to start the game.

The Suns have some decent defenders in Marion and Johnson but they don't hold and handcheck as skillfully as Bowen.