NBA Playoff Preview - Phoenix vs. San Antonio
By John McMullen, NBA Editor
Sports Network
The Western Conference semifinals matchup between the Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs figures to be a clash of styles with a pair of teams that are intimately familiar with each other.
In recent years, the Suns were beaten by San Antonio in a 2008 first-round matchup and a 2007 semifinal series. Overall the two franchises have matched up nine times in the postseason with the Spurs winning six, including the last four.
"There's great history between us and the Spurs over the past five, six years," said Suns All-Star forward Amare Stoudemire. "It's going to be a great matchup between us and also myself and Tim Duncan. We always take the challenge of playing against each other. So it's going to be another great challenge for us. The Spurs play well in the postseason."
The high-flying Suns will want to push the ball and score in transition, using the incredible playmaking skills of former two-time MVP Steve Nash.
San Antonio, although possessing a quick point guard of its own in Tony Parker, would prefer to walk things up, limit possessions and force Phoenix into a half-court game.
The team that is able to impose its will likely will come put on top.
"It's hard to slow down when you play Phoenix," former NBA coach Doug Collins said. "If we got into rush hour traffic tomorrow and cars were driving fast you'd drive fast with them."
The third-seeded Suns reached the Western semis by downing the banged-up Trail Blazers in six games, clinching things in Portland on Thursday.
The Spurs, meanwhile, became the first seven seed to upset a No. 2 since the NBA went to a best-of-seven first round format in 2003, when they took out in- state rival Dallas in six games.
"We took a pretty good punch," Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said after dispensing of the Mavs. "For me that was my favorite part of the game, to see the guys continue to persevere and pursue the basketball. They continued to play hard. They stuck together."
MATCHUPS:
POINT GUARD: The point guard matchup between Nash and Parker should be one to savor. Popovich has actually been starting George Hill at the point since Parker returned from a fractured right hand suffered on March 6 in Memphis. However, when the game is on the line Parker is running things as always.
Hill, the 26th overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft, has become a key member of the Spurs rotation since Parker went down with the injury. Many believed Hill would go through a sop re slump, but his ability to run the offense and hit big shots from the weak side against Dallas foiled those accusations.
"I spent most of my summer working on (my jumper) so I could come in here, step up and make big shots," Hill said after disposing of the Mavericks.
In the waning moments of a game, Popovich will always have Parker and star swingman Manu Ginobili on the floor, and choose between Hill and veteran forward Richard Jefferson, depending on who has the hot hand.
Nash, meanwhile, is a proven winner and an unselfish teammate, with a knack for taking and making big shots. The game's best pure quarterback, Nash averaged 15.0 points and 9.8 against Portland but historically has had trouble containing Parker's ability to penetrate off the dribble.
"The difference to me will be how Tony Parker plays," TNT analyst Kenny Smith said. "Steve Nash has had a lot of trouble with Tony Parker over the years. In the last two years, he's had a lot of trouble with him."
EDGE: EVEN
SHOOTING GUARD: Jason Richardson is the barometer for any Phoenix success, The dynamic swingman averaged 28.0 points per game in the Suns' wins and just 14.5 in their two losses against the Blazers. Richardson is one of the NBA's best in transition and when he is putting up big numbers, it means Phoenix is running and gunning.
As good as Richardson can be, he's no match for the Spurs' Ginobili. An elite playmaker and finisher, the Argentine star led San Antonio in scoring during the first round at 19.0 ppg despite suffering a broken nose in Game 3. The fearless Ginobili, who was rewarded with a multi-year contract extension earlier in April, is also the Spurs' closer in late-game situations.
EDGE: SPURS
CENTER: Phoenix remains without the services of starting center Robin Lopez, who is sidelined with a back injury. The 7-footer hasn't played since March 26 but has begun light workouts although a return in this series is doubtful. A bulging disk in Lopez's back has pinched a nerve and caused a loss of strength in his right leg. There is still no timeline for his return.
"I feel a lot better but I still have a ways to go," Lopez told ESPN. "I just started running and you can kind of tell that a little bit."
Jarron Collins has been starting in Lopez's place but offers little other than a big body. Suns coach Alvin Gentry would like to get Channing Frye, a much more skilled offensive player, as many minutes in the middle as possible but Frye is not much on the boards or as an interior defender.
Old faithful, Antonio McDyess, mans the middle for San Antonio these days. McDyess, in his first season with the Spurs, is certainly in the twilight of his career and still has the balky knees, but he can knock down the 15-footer off the pick-and-pop better than most.
EDGE: SPURS
SMALL FORWARD: Jefferson has the athleticism to run with the Suns but has been a bit off a disappointment during his first season in the Alamo City. The former Nets and Bucks star did pick up his play a bit down the stretch, however, and can still get hot every now in again.
Phoenix counters with Grant Hill, the veteran who finally made it out of the first round of the playoffs for the first time in his 15-year career. Once one of the best players in all of basketball before injuries took their toll, Hill is just a role player these says but he still possesses elite basketball skills and has been able to stay on the floor.
"I'm happy. Amare (Stoudemire) and Steve (Nash) had done a great job," Hill said. "The young guys are getting some playoff experience. I'm done worrying about my legacy, I'm trying to get the Stoudemire legacy going. Hopefully we're not done and we can go on to the second round and do well."
EDGE: SUNS
POWER FORWARD: Two-time MVP, 12-time All-Star and four-time NBA champion Tim Duncan is still the straw that stirs the drink in San Antonio but the finish line is beckoning off in the distance. Duncan had a few poor performances against Dallas but in the end, he still averaged 18.2 points and 9.5 rebounds.
The Finals MVP in 1999, 2003 and 2005, Duncan has now appeared in 166 playoff games, and knows how to win. He may be getting a bit older and losing a step, but Duncan is a cerebral player who can easily change the outcome of any game.
Stoudemire, an All-Star in his own right, offers far more athleticism and scoring ability at this stage than Duncan. He can destroy defenses with his powerful drive to the hoop and incredible leaping ability. He's also improved mightily on the defensive end but it's hard to say anyone has an edge over Duncan in a postseason situation.
"You want to talk about the growth of Amare Stoudemire. Two years ago he never would have stepped in to take the charge, (but now) he's bought in defensively," Collins said. "In fact he had a quote the other day where he said, I never realized that playing defense as a team could be so much fun."
EDGE: SPURS
BENCH: Gentry is not afraid to dip into a very deep bench. As mentioned, Frye gets starter's minutes and can fill it up at times, as can reserve forward Jared Dudley. Leandro Barbosa is a former Sixth Man of the Year, and backup point Goran Dragic, as well as forward Louis Amundson, bring great energy to the floor.
Popovich has fewer options and basically used a six-man rotation against the Mavs with big man Matt Bonner, inconsistent guard Roger Mason and rookie forward DeJuan Blair getting a few minutes here and there.
A car accident before Game 6 against Dallas almost ended Blair's season but the Pitt product only suffered minor injuries.
"It was a freak accident," Blair told the San Antonio News Express. "A piece of paper, or something, flew on my window and startled me. I couldn't see, and I swerved and hit the barrier."
EDGE: SUNS
COACHING: Gentry has done a spectacular job getting the Phoenix franchise back on track after the disastrous Terry Porter experiment but Popovich is one of the best professional coaches in the history of the game.
EDGE: SPURS
PREDICTION: The Suns are far more athletic and deeper than San Antonio but it's hard to bet against the big three of Duncan, Ginobili and Parker along with Popovich. Phoenix obviously wants to run but I would concentrate on pounding the ball down low to Stoudemire in order to get Duncan in foul trouble. Forcing Popovich to use his shaky bench could turn things the Suns' way. That said, San Antonio is far too intelligent a basketball team and should be able to weather the storm.
SPURS in 6
Robin Lopez: Could Practice Soon
Lopez (back) could join the Suns for their next practice, the Arizona Republic reports.
The team should have a better idea if and when he’ll be able to return to game action once Lopez starts practicing again. Suiting up against the Spurs in the second round hasn’t been ruled out.
Suns-Spurs: Season series in review
by Mike Schmitz
Valley of the Suns
There wouldn’t be a Western Conference playoff race if the Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs didn’t find a way to collide on the hardwood. But this year it seemed far-fetched that the epic battles would continue, as the Mavericks were riding high into the playoffs and the Spurs were average all season long.
But as always, San Antonio turned it on when it mattered most, and the Suns finally have a shot at what they have been waiting for since 2005– redemption. With the well-do ented history and hatred between these two teams, it would be easy to analyze their all-time, head-to-head matchups.
But these aren’t the Seven Seconds or Less, Shawn Marion and Joe Johnson Suns anymore, and the Spurs aren’t the Big Shot Bob and Bad Boy Bruce Bowen Spurs anymore. With that said, here is how the 2009-2010 Suns and Spurs fared against each other this season:
Game 1: Suns win in Phoenix 116-104 on Dec. 15, 2009
If you look at the box score of this game you can see that Amare Stoudemire had his way with the Spurs (28 points and 14 rebounds), and Steve Nash was stellar both scoring and dishing (25 points and 13 assists). But the real story of the Phoenix win was the emergence of Goran Dragic, who burst onto the NBA scene, scoring a then-career high 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting (4-of-5 from distance) in only 25 minutes.
This game set the tone for Dragic’s season, as he played with confidence and helped fend off the Spurs with seven fourth-quarter points after the Suns pissed away a 20-point lead. Phoenix couldn’t slow Tim Duncan (34 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks), but the Suns held Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili to a combined 6-of-19 shooting and took Game 1 of the season series in convincing fashion.
Slowing down Ginobili and Parker will be the key to the series for the Suns, and they proved that they are capable of doing exactly that in their first meeting.
Game 2: Spurs win in San Antonio 113-110 on Feb. 28
Jason Richardson was 8-of-12 with 20 points going into the final minute of action. And just when it looked like the two-time dunk contest champion was going to tie the game up with a breakaway slam with 41 ticks on the clock, J-Rich botched the gimme and the Spurs took the momentum all the way to a W.
This game will always have an asterisk next to it in the mind of the Suns. After failing to capitalize on such a big opportunity, that 99 times out of a 100 J-Rich throws down with style, it’s hard not to think ‘what if?’ But although the Suns dropped the game late, they played San Antonio tight from the opening tip to the final buzzer, and STAT absolutely exploded for a then-season high 41 points to go along with 12 boards.
The Suns scored a ridiculous 58 points in the paint but struggled to defend San Antonio, as the Spurs shot 50.6 percent and Duncan, Ginobili and Richard Jefferson all went for 20-plus. With the history between these teams in mind, this is the type of back and forth battle that should be expected in almost every game this series.
Game 3: Suns win in Phoenix 112-101 on April 7.
This game was the type of performance that should make Suns fans confident heading into this series. The Suns had so much to play for with the Western Conference playoff race still undecided, and they put the clamps on Duncan and the Spurs, while riding the 29-point performance from STAT.
Despite being out-rebounded by eight and allowing an absurd 20 offensive rebounds, the Suns built their lead to as much as 17, and never allowed Duncan, Ginobili or Parker to get going. When he was on the floor, Dragic did a great job on Ginobili (10 points on 5-of-14 shooting), and the Suns held Duncan to only 14 points and seven rebounds without Robin Lopez.
Parker was also a non-factor with only 10 points in 25 minutes, and the Suns thoroughly dominated San Antonio from start to finish. I have a feeling that the Suns will be watching this game a lot in the next few games, as it is the perfect model of what Phoenix needs to do to take down the Spurs.
Top performers in the Series
Amare Stoudemire: 32.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 1.67 steals, 56% from the field
Steve Nash: 20.3 points, 12.0 assists, 57.4% from the field, 50% from three
Tim Duncan: 23.0 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.33 blocks, 61.7% from the field
The next highest-scoring Spurs in the series were Parker and Jefferson at 13.7 points per game
Can't really go by the regular season match ups because neither team especially the Spurs are using the same lineup, one of which had Bogans in the starting lineup. Hill missed that last game with an injury, and the 1st game RJ wasn't playing well.
The Suns had various starting Centers in each of those 3 games.
The Spurs should play the Suns the same way they played the Mavs, let Amare get his pts and stop all their perimeter shooters. Our bench will have to play well this series because the Suns have a lot of energy guys off the bench.
Well,that's not true.You have to put one between Parker or Hill in the bench matchup too.Right now Parker and I can't bet against Parker.I would say even.
Parker> barbosa and Hill>Barbosa right now too.
I wouldn't say Dudley,Dragic,Admunson.... are a lot better than Blair,Bonner,Bogans,Mason... to put the edge on Suns.
The Spurs defense will be tested to the limit this series and how they fare defensively will determine the outcome:
- perimeter defense to challenge Suns 3-point shooteers
- hounding Nash
- Challenging Stoudemire in the paint
It's going to come down to Parker/Hill exploiting Nash and preventing him from getting others (aside from Amare) going...i think a surprisingly important factor will be Frye's ability to hit from the outside...
Don't be an idiot.
The Suns seriously have one of the best benches in the league. Gentry puts five reserves on the floor at the same time and they play like our 2nd starting unit.
WTF, did anyone know about the Blair car wreck?
Yes. He twittered he was in a wreck but was ok. It was in one of the threads prior to the game.
Damn, when people pick Grant Hill as having an advantage over you then you ing suck. And lol @ PG being even.
Yeah, Blair said the car was questionable for Game 6.
I doubt tim guards amare, Dice will get the burn on him for the exact reason that we don't want Timmy in foul trouble. He might in the clutch, but certainly not in the first 3 quarters imo.
The edge to the Suns bench will not happen in this series. Blair will have much more favorable matchup situations, which will give him far more production than against the Mavs. DB will eat glass.
The SF positions are a wash imho.
The Suns simply have no defender who can guard TD, which will lead to quick fouls inside, and the eventual attemp and need for Amare to try and guard Timmy, and we all know what will happen there,
Bonner, yes Bonner will have a much better series against the Suns. I expect Bonner to hit 3's at a 38% clip in the series, which is good enough to pull a Suns big away from the paint.
The backcourt isn't even close. Parker abuses Nash every time they matchup, and now that bruce is gone (still love bruuuce), the Suns can't hide Nash, which means he has to play defense.
The Suns are not a physical team at all. The Suns wings just stay at the 3pt line and wait for kickouts, they don't run off screens to get open, so the Spurs defenders will have fresher legs in this series, which will lead to a higher % for the Spurs on 3's.
George Hill's length will cause all kids of problems for Nash, as his usual circle dribbles and kickouts will lead to many steals and defections by George.
Same strategy as always, give Amare his, and force the other Suns to beat you.
I see the Spurs being very productive with an up temo lineup with RJ, Manu, TP, Hill, and Blair, then when Timmy goes in, Spurs go half court grind.
How physical the teams are allowed to play really impacts this series. If the refs call it close, that helps the Suns, if they let them play, the Spurs will have their way.
Dice will continue to be Dice and will do a decent job on Amare, and Bonner can cover Fry since Fry isn't really a low post threat.
Nash averages 5 To's per and the Spurs win in 5
Spurs-Suns Preview Capsule
By Brian Mahoney
A look at the Western Conference semifinal series between the Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs, which begins Monday (with regular-season and playoff records):
No. 3 PHOENIX SUNS (54-28, 4-2) vs. No. 7 SAN ANTONIO SPURS (50-32, 4-2).
Season series: Suns 2-1. Phoenix shredded San Antonio’s defense, shooting better than 50 percent in all three meetings. The Suns averaged 112.7 points on 51 percent shooting against the Spurs for the season and won both games at home. Even San Antonio’s victory came at Phoenix’s preferred pace, pulling out a 113-110 home victory on Feb. 28 despite 41 points and 12 rebounds from Amare Stoudemire. Steve Nash averaged 20.3 points and 12 assists.
Storyline: Off to a strong start in a rare role as postseason underdogs after upsetting Dallas in the first round, the Spurs now get a chance to deal more misery to Phoenix. San Antonio has ruined plenty of recent seasons for the Suns, eliminating them in 2005, 2007 and 2008.
Key Matchup 1: Stoudemire vs. Tim Duncan. With Duncan nearing the end of a career that will land him in the Hall of Fame, Stoudemire may have supplanted him as the premier power forward in the Western Conference. Even Duncan couldn’t handle him this season, as Stoudemire averaged 32.7 points and 11.3 rebounds in the series. Duncan did have a pair of double-doubles, including a 34-point, 14-rebound performance in the Suns’ 116-104 victory on Dec. 15.
Key Matchup II: Grant Hill vs. Richard Jefferson. Hill, whom the Spurs wanted to sign a few years ago, scored 17 points in both Phoenix wins but was held to just six in the lone San Antonio victory. Jefferson, so disappointing for much of the season that he was a reserve in the February matchup, has played better late in the season and that was the also the case against Phoenix. Held to four points in the first meeting, he scored 20 and 17 in the last two.
X-Factor: Jason Richardson. Comes into this series on a roll after averaging 23.5 points on 53 percent shooting in the first-round victory over Portland. He hurt the Spurs during the regular season, scoring 20 points in each of the last two meetings while making 15-of-26 shots.
Prediction: Spurs in 6.
Hip keeps Nash out of practice until Spurs opener
By Bob Baum
Suns point guard Steve Nash plans to be ready for Phoenix’s Western Conference semifinal opener against San Antonio despite a sore hip that is keeping him from practice.
Nash didn’t practice Saturday and will rest again Sunday ahead of Game 1 at home on Monday.
The two-time league MVP strained his right hip during a shootaround before Game 3 of the Suns first-round series against Portland. He says the injury bothered him that night, but he felt better in Games 4 and 5. However, he says the injury was “the worst it’s been” in Phoenix’s series clinching 99-90 victory in Portland on Thursday night.
Coach Alvin Gentry calls Nash’s problem “a little hip thing” and no big deal. Gentry says if it were a big deal, he wouldn’t be so calm.
Robin Lopez (back) optimistic about return
Suns center Robin Lopez (bulging discs) practiced on Saturday for the first time in five weeks and feels he will return during the second round.
This refutes an earlier report that he is doubtful for the series vs. San Antonio, though the real test will come when he's re-evaluated on Monday. His presence would be a big boost for the Suns as they battle Tim Duncan, Antonio McDyess, DeJuan Blair and co.
Source: Paul Coro via Twitter
Hip keeps Nash out of practice until Spurs opener
By BOB BAUM, AP Sports Writer
23 minutes ago
Buzz up! 34 PrintPHOENIX (AP)—Phoenix playmaker Steve Nash(notes) sat out practice on Saturday and will do so again on Sunday to rest his sore right hip.
The two-time league MVP said the rest should make him ready for Monday night’s Western Conference semifinal opener against the San Antonio Spurs. The team had Friday off, so that would mean three days’ rest before he plays again.
“It’s getting better,” Nash said on Saturday. “I’ve had two good days, so I’m really fortunate that we don’t play until Monday. It will give me a chance to recover a little bit. “
The 36-year-old point guard strained the hip during the shootaround before Game 3 of the Suns’ first-round series against Portland. He says the injury bothered him that night, but he felt better in Games 4 and 5. However, he says the injury “was pretty bad” in Phoenix’s series clinching 99-90 victory in Portland on Thursday night.
“It was the worst that it’s been, so a couple of days here are really good for me,” he said.
Coach Alvin Gentry called Nash’s problem “a little hip thing” and no big deal.
“If it was a big deal I wouldn’t be so calm,” Gentry said.
Nash struggled through much of Thursday’s game, starting with a career-worst six first-quarter turnovers. He finished with 10 points on 2-of-7 shooting with seven turnovers. But he had two big plays down the stretch, penetrating the lane and passing to Amare Stoudemire for a dunk, then sinking his only 3-point attempt of the night.
Gentry said he saw no reason to put Nash through a practice, deadpanning “I think he has a pretty good idea of what we’re trying to do.”
“We were going to go pretty hard today. I didn’t want him out there doing that,” Gentry said. “I gave him the day off. He came down, shot some, got some treatment and he’ll do the same tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, center Robin Lopez(notes) has increased his participation in practice as he works his way back from a back injury (bulging disk). Gentry said he is not going to put any pressure on the 7-footer to return.
“It’s going to be totally up to him,” Gentry said. “If he feels great and he’s ready to go that will be fine. If he’s not, we’re not putting him out there. I can tell you that right now.”
Lopez said he’s optimistic he could play at some point in the series, where his size would be an obvious help against Tim Duncan(notes).
“It’s up to the leg, it’s up to the nerve,” Lopez said.
He’s not ready to play yet, though.
“If I played today,” Lopez joked, “I think Duncan might get that quadruple double he was aiming for a few years’ back.”
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_yl...g=ap-suns-nash
Suns, Spurs set to enter latest chapter of playoff rivalry
By Fran Blinebury, for NBA.com
This is the NBA's 21st century version of the Hatfields and the McCoys, though as blood feuds go it has been very one-sided. In the Suns' last five playoff appearances dating back to 2003, the Spurs have been the team that has bounced them four times. In fact, the only time Phoenix has beaten San Antonio in the postseason during the Tim Duncan Era (2000), Duncan did not play due to injury.
The Spurs have broken the Suns' heart and their lips time and time again. There was Duncan's last-second 3-pointer just ahead of the horn. Then there was Robert Horry's hip-checking of Steve Nash into the scorer's table and the resultant suspension of Amar'e Stoudemire and Boris Diaw for running onto the court, to name just a few bad memories in the desert.
Now the Suns are carrying the mantle of the No. 3 seed in the West and a convincing first-round win over Portland. But here come the Spurs, finishing strong over the last month of the season to slip into the playoffs in the No. 7 spot and then stunning No. 2 seed Dallas to set up another showdown with Phoenix.
Five quick questions (and answers)
1. Who guards Manu Ginobili? (Eventually, Grant Hill.)
2. How do the Suns handle Tim Duncan? (With a lot of the same double-teams they used on LaMarcus Aldridge.)
3. Will Robin Lopez play? (The Suns' center has stepped up rehab for a bulging disc in his back and could make an appearance.)
4. Who starts at the point for San Antonio? (George Hill. Don't change what's working.)
5. Is health an issue for either side? (Steve Nash has been slowed by a hip injury for 1 ½ weeks and needs to be in top form for a Suns win.)
When Phoenix has the ball
It's all about pace and tempo for the Suns. They want to keep things moving fast and take advantage of opportunities in the transition game to finish at the rim and get themselves plenty of wide open jumpers. Nash and Stoudemire will run the pick and roll as often as possible, trying to get the big man chances close to the basket. Stoudemire has made remarkable strides over the past two or three months of the season, getting better overall feel for the game and not trying to force shots that aren't there. He's become an adept passer in traffic and can find his teammates cutting to the hoop.
The Spurs will have to take care of business on the backboards, because the Suns are a very good offensive rebounding bunch and thrive on getting themselves second chances at the basket. Just as Portland did in the opening round, San Antonio will try to keep plenty of bodies on Nash, who is bothered by a strained hip. They'll play him physically and hope that takes its toll as the series progresses. Somebody has to cover up Jason Richardson's sniping from the wings.
When San Antonio has the ball
After four championships and taking ownership of the last decade, there are no secrets here. They want to establish Duncan in the low post and run things through him. Ginobili continued his late-season flourish with an outstanding series against Dallas and presents constant matchup problems inside, outside, above the rim, down on the floor, any place on the floor that he gets to with the basketball. Second-year point guard George Hill will likely continue to start at the point with Tony Parker coming off the bench. Hill has shown willingness and an ability to make big plays and have big games on offense.
There will come a time in the series when the Suns turn to the length and the veteran smarts of Grant Hill to match up with Manu Ginobili. The 37-year-old is the best option for stopping Ginobili from getting into the lane, just as he did against Andre Miller in the previous series. Jared Dudley, who has quick hands and a hard-nosed at ude, will come off the bench to get his share of time on Manu.
In the clutch
Though Alvin Gentry isn't afraid to use his much-improved bench even in crucial situations, there's no way he isn't putting the ball into Nash's hands and letting the maestro go to work in the clutch. Pick and roll to Stoudemire, backdoor lob to Richardson or step-back 3-pointer for himself, it's all at his fingertips.
When the game gets late and things get crazy, Gregg Popovich will be watching and waiting along with everyone else in the building to see what Mr. Unpredictable -- Ginobili -- will pull out of his sleeve. Truth is, most of the time not even Ginobili knows what he's going to do before he does it, which only makes him more difficult to stop.
Wild cards
In only the second trip to the playoffs of his career, Richardson has said he wants to be the Suns' wild card and if he can knock down the 3-pointer with the same success rate (51.2 percent) he had in the Portland series, he'll be a tough cover for the Spurs and could provide the difference.
There is nobody wilder whenever Ginobili steps onto the court. But in a series where the Suns are outstanding at going to the boards and getting themselves second chances, Spurs rookie DeJuan Blair could be invaluable with his nose for the ball while cleaning the glass at both ends of the court.
The Pick
After all the times having their hearts broken by San Antonio, the Suns finally have depth and just enough defense to squeak by in 7.
*********************
Series Matchup Page
http://www.nba.com/playoffs2010/westseries5/index.html
As always, thanks for posting the articles duncan228. I dont think the Suns need Lopez to win this series.
Im much more concerned about Nash.
Grant Hill on Manu?
Probably on Hill or Parker. Let Jefferson try to create for himself or others and watch the Spurs try to keep pace with the Suns.
The Suns won the season series, got off any shot they wanted, had the best player, the best point guard, the best small forward and their shooting guard is playing lights out right now.
Thus, we are predicting the Spurs.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
