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Alicia Keys ?
Let's start this game blog early. It's a big game for both teams heading down the stretch of the season. The Spurs have already won the first two meetings, so the Suns will be going all out to get this one.
What are your keys to the game?
My main key is the small lineup has to produce. Expect Pop to run with Devn at power forward for some stretches to matchup to the small ball the Suns utilize. It's a lineup that can really do well, but the five players on the floor have to rebound and play great help D. Offensively, it's one of the better units.
What are some other keys?
Discuss.
Alicia Keys ?
I think, similar to the first meeting, you have really got to make Nash work on the defensive end. Run him into picks, bump him, etc. Just slow him enough so he is not as effective on the offense end....where he gets the Suns so many easy shots. Parker the key tonight. Can't come from 17 down again with TP on the bench. Manu's night was once a season deal.
Stoping Nash's penetration and good transition defense... any news on Timmys ankle?
If the Spurs bench show some good stuff tonight, we may win, but the Suns will be really motivated to win against us.
Tranistion Defense - the more easy baskets the Suns get, the more likely the Spurs are to lose. The Spurs like to run too, but they can't get into another 120-130 point battle with both teams running up and down the floor all right. They need to pick their spots and control the tempo to some extend.
Pressure on the Ball - The halfcourt defense will be fine as long as the point guards don't allow Nash to get wherever he wants to get to on the court. Amare gets a ton of easy baskets only when Nash gets in the lane or can have easy lanes to pass the ball up the court. The shooters aren't going to be open if Nash is contained. It's better to give Nash some open shots than it is to let him run around the court like he's on speed. Slowing Nash is the key for any team against Phoenix.
Bring Some Toughness - play physical. It still isn't known what the Suns will do in a high-pressure game when playing a physical team. The Spurs need to control the boards, prevent easy baskets, and bring a general toughness to the table. Rasho and the guards need to be thinking about this.
Get the guard involved early - Give Manu and Parker some early opportunities to work. It will put pressure on their defense, give Duncan some more space to operate, and render the Spurs unpredictable.
Go with what is working - Pop shouldn't be afraid to park a starter on the bench if he's not producing. Devin and Horry have had good games recently and have a lot of confidence. If Rasho and Massenburg aren't making a noticeable impact right away, Pop needs to go small as soon as the Spurs start to struggle.
Energy in the 4th quarter. It's 2nd game of a B2B on the road...not to mention vs. the highest octane, anti-shot clock team in the league.
"keys to the game?"
1. defense (esp transition, don't leave the bombers alone in the corners, wings)
2. defense (esp transition, everyone must get back fast and pick up his man, esp the Sun with the ball, Steve. force Suns to half-court offense)
3. defense (esp Steve on high pic-n-rolll)
4. defense (shut down the Spurs paint. Rasho and Tim very aggressive on D, boards)
5. defense (defensive boards, Suns get "one and done")
... the game is won.
6. offense: push the ball, fastbreaks (sparked by defense), and drive, drive, drive, penetrate. Spurs can't out-jumpshoot the Suns, but they can surely tear up the Suns' paint.
7. offense: No freakin 4-down. lotsa ball movement, lotsa movement off the ball.
duh, absolutely nothing original or creative above, just ..... EXECUTION
I'm sure Tony will rise to the challenge of harrassing MVP-wannbe Nash. Tony owes us big from his no-show last PHX game. I'm sure he will show up and out-do Steve. I will post here a 10 minutes left in the first quarter whether Tony has his killer face on.(he didn't have it at the beginning of game vs Nets, and his final stat line showed it)
We know from Nash's absences that Amare's game sucks without Nash, so Spurs really need to prevent Nash from his game, and Amare will be taken care of as consequence.
effort and defense.
Brent Barry deciding to wanting to play ball.
Devn Brown bringing it two nights in a row.
Parker needs to have a better offensive game than last night also.
Same goes for Ginobili.
Duncan also has to bring agressiveness and dominating will.
If he can drive right to the hole everytime get Stoudamire in foul trouble, you can start to beat the SUns early and often.
Also, the transition D, and the half court D has to be solid all 48 minutes.
Use the tape of the second Phoenix game in the first three quarters of how NOT play.
All I have to contribute to this thread isto David Stern and League Pass next season.
I would mainly focus on making sure that we have more points than they do when the fourth quarter ends.
same as always, limit turnovers, hustle on D and boards...all will be well.
Try and control the pace of the game, even if we get behind early-stay with our half court sets and work the shot clock, don't get suckered into the Suns run-and-gun style.
Play physical against Nash, make him have to work on the defensive end, use up energy.
Perimeter D, don't let guys like J. Johnson, Marion, Q. Richardson and Nash get repeated open looks for 3 pointers. I can deal with Amare throwing down a few dunks, they're only worth two points, those threes will kill you if the Suns get rolling.
Control the boards, DON'T give the Suns any second chances on offense, if they miss-get the rebound and get into our half court sets.
Establish our inside game, when we produce in the lane it wears them down, also creates foul problems for the Suns and FT's for us, also slowing the pace of the game down.
It should be a great game, I think the Suns will be highly motivated to win this one, I just want them prepared to be embarassed in front of their home crowd! Go Spurs!
respect the 'fro
Uhh....'ya got any gum?"keys to the game?"
1. defense (esp transition, don't leave the bombers alone in the corners, wings)
2. defense (esp transition, everyone must get back fast and pick up his man, esp the Sun with the ball, Steve. force Suns to half-court offense)
3. defense (esp Steve on high pic-n-rolll)
4. defense (shut down the Spurs paint. Rasho and Tim very aggressive on D, boards)
5. defense (defensive boards, Suns get "one and done")
... the game is won.
6. offense: push the ball, fastbreaks (sparked by defense), and drive, drive, drive, penetrate. Spurs can't out-jumpshoot the Suns, but they can surely tear up the Suns' paint.
7. offense: No freakin 4-down. lotsa ball movement, lotsa movement off the ball.
duh, absolutely nothing original or creative above, just ..... EXECUTION
I'm sure Tony will rise to the challenge of harrassing MVP-wannbe Nash. Tony owes us big from his no-show last PHX game. I'm sure he will show up and out-do Steve. I will post here a 10 minutes left in the first quarter whether Tony has his killer face on.
We know from Nash's absences that Amare's game sucks without Nash, so Spurs really need to prevent Nash from his game, and Amare will be taken care of as consequence.
own them like we have been doing. stick with the game plan. dont try anything cute this game. lets CRUSH THEM!
I have a bad feeling about this game. First for being an away game and most importantly because of the way they have been playing in the past few weeks.
The Spurs have undoubtedly used up their pass for the miracle game from the free throw line. I think the only chance they have is to have a better than average shooting % game. Parker and Ginobili had subpar games last night..hopefully both can rebound and the bench can bring it simultaneously.
Parker was better against the Nets than against Utah, he scored only ten points but he taked only 6 shots and he added 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals and 4 TO in 32 minutes.
Tonight he will have the opportunity to show on national TV that he deseved an AS spot in Denver, I hope he will not miss it.
tp will have a better game then last outing
it sucks devin brown was so hot last night
spurs could use him being hot tonight
Really?Tonight he will have the opportunity to show on national TV
I checked ESPN and it didn't look like they were showing it.
Spurs.com shows KRRT (local) and NBATV Hidef
I was so confident that they will not miss it that I didn't even look if it was broadcasted. Living in France doesn't help either.
I can't understand why they won't show the game between the two best teams in the league.
They are not showing it nationally. When they scheduled these games out at the beginning of the year they probably did not plan on this being the clash of the ans. It is only on San Antonio Local station KRRT and NBA League Pass. As well as some station in Phoenix.
I would imagine ESPN is showing NCAA Championship games.
NBAtv is national, technically.*
* Though probably not in Austin tonight. es.
hey timvp could you stick the thread dear?
i was looking for it and didn't realize it was in the middle
thx thx
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