Suns Confident O'Neal Can Contain Duncan

[oboymeetsogirl]

The Suns are confident about a lot of things: that Shaq can contain Timmy without fouling (yeah... right), that they "gave" game one away (yeah, right again), and that they are the better team (then why do they keep on losing?).

But for d'Antoni, it's crucial to prop up his team's positive mental at ude. What else are you supposed to do? Being eliminated by the Spurs every year (and losing this year's first playoff game) most definitely undermines a team's confidence, and so they *have* to be constantly reminded that they are the "better" team. Otherwise, they'll just roll over and die again.

Pop, on the other hand, plays a different mental game with his team. He is constantly praising the skills of the Suns, and constantly talking about how difficult it is defending their vaunted attack. He has to say that because he knows that mentally the Spurs believe that they are actually better, but the big fear is overconfidence, which results in sloppy ballhandling, defensive lapses, and low energy (re the first half of game one). It's been said over and over again: the Spurs tend to play up to the level of their opponents. Problem being, when they do that they can get blown out when the other team goes on sustained runs.

So the Spurs need to play with the fear that if they don't respect their opponents, they'll come out short. The Suns need to play with the feeling that they really belong on the same court as the world champs.

Which, of course, gives the champs the psychological edge: it's better to be king than a pauper just wanting to be one.

[BiZNicK]

Last time I checked, running your mouth doesn't get you a

[Mavs<Spurs]

First, if we think about Shaq and Duncan, we can see the difficulties that Shaq would have guarding Tim. Shaq is too slow to guard Tim consistently well.

Second, some people say that Shaq can guard Tim, it's just that he was in foul trouble.

Exactly.

You can't guard anybody on the bench. So, if Shaq gets in foul trouble regularly, then Shaq can't guard Tim regularly.

Third, if Shaq tries to guard Tim, he will get in foul trouble. Same thing that happens with Amare.

[DarrinS]

"Whattaya mean, I can't guard Tim? Just look at me. I'm a physical specimen."

[Cry Havoc]

You can't guard anybody on the bench.

Sure you can. That hot dog vendor, he ain't going NOWHERE.

[O-Factor]

Spurs fans seem to think they have already won the NBA championship based on a double OT 2pt win on their HOME floor.

Really, I haven't seen anybody claim we already have 5 championships.

So shut the up troll.

[sanman53]

"You can't stop him, you can only hope to contain him."

[td4mvp21]

Manu may have a big game but I doubt how effective he can be with that groin injury. You can tell his shot just does not look right at all. The Suns should just back off him and make him prove he can hit the outside shot. And don't underestimate Bell, he is a very good defender and can make life difficult for Manu.

Finley is the kind of guy that can burn you if you don't pay attention to him. So he may be the X-Factor in tonight's game. I can see him hitting some timely 3's and spreading the floor for the Spurs.

You are right, Duncan will not score 40 every game, hopefully the Spurs will not need him to

Ginobili's jumpshot did look a bit weird at times. I think Pop has said Manu is fine, so I'm not going to worry about Ginobili.