seems like everyone overestimated the Mavs going into that series and now (because of our history with PHX) it seems like everyone is underestimating them.
however, this is a new PHX team. they have different players and thus different match up problem.
does anyone else have "appropriate fear" going into this series?
Fear no one, respect everyone
There is no such as appropriate fear, you're either afraid because you suck or you're afraid because you think you suck, the Spurs should hold neither.
The Mavs were a better team, and I'd go as far as to say they were a tier higher, an actual contender as opposed to Phoenix, overachievers this year.
Overall, the Spurs should feel confident, but they need to go out and play 48 minutes and not take these Suns for granted a single second.
As long as the entire team shoots 3s well (including Tim Duncan), you guys should be fine.
...
Looking forward to a LAL-PHX WCF series.
You guys should feel confident against us. I'd expect to win every time you played the Suns until you actually lose a series.
I was more "afraid" of the Mavericks than of the Suns...
Suns aren't a physical team, and Duncan is going to take advantage of that.
Hill is blossoming into a star, McDyess is playing like he never did during the regular season... Blair is still scary, and against a Suns team... I'm salivating. The only thing I would be worried about is the injuries... especially Manu's. I think we can only beat ourselves.
Don't worry. In the ebb and flow of fandom I'm sure there will be a fair share of doubters creep up over the course of the series. Fans of both teams probably feel pretty confident considering how well both teams took care of business in round 1.
Seems like everyone thinks Spurs in 4, 5. That's a joke. Phoenix is a really good team. This is going 7 Spurs.
The Suns can kill us with the 3. Defend the perimeter and we win.
It's only natural given the Spurs success against the suns and the trouble with the mavs. But that emotion is just for the fans. I'm sure the Spurs are looking at Phoenix with the appropriate respect.
I agree with the OP on this. I think a lot of Spur fans are writing this series off as a gimme just because we've beaten the Suns the past four times we've faced them.
The fact of the matter is that outside of Nash and Stoudemire, the complexion of Phoenix has changed dramatically. They are versatile offensively, and Amare is going to beast just like Nowitzki did. Shutting down the Suns isn't going to be as easy as shutting down Dallas, which seemed to be simply a matter of staying home on Kidd, Terry, and Marion. Plus, the Suns are playing an inspired level of defense (for the Suns, anyways), so I don't expect the Spurs to run roughshod through them anymore.
It would be a mistake to underestimate this opponent just because they are wearing purple and orange. This playoff run is shaping up the be a gauntlet, and all the Spurs buddies have come along for the ride.
Last edited by Dex; 05-03-2010 at 11:13 AM.
I agree, they are different teams. J-Rich is a much better 3rd wheel than Marion and the Suns are much deeper than past teams. I still think the key is Nash. Make him work hard on both ends and you have a good chance.
I said this in another post, but if the Spurs split the first two, even though the Suns are much different team, I think the past comes into play. The media will just drill the Suns players about the team's history with the Spurs, even though many of them weren't on those teams.
This thread is premature, if the Suns come out and win Game 1 handily, then this would make sense.
Since the Spurs just upset the Mavs and pretty handily at times, including a blowout on their home floor, I think we should have some faith and confidence in what our team is capable of. The Mavs > Suns and I think that's more fact than opinion personally
They're a better team than most people here give them credit for, but they're still a 3-point shooting team. Their defense might be better, but they still have the black hole that is Steve Nash.
We'll lose tonight, but we'll win the series in 7
suns are not going to be easy
The Suns excell at shooting the 3. Luckily, the Spurs have always focused on defending the 3. It won't be easy but it isn't a foreign concept for the Spurs. I think the Suns could defend Manu well, which would be a change from years past.
It will be interesting to see if Richardson stays on a hot streak.
I wouldn't say fear, but nervous or anxious maybe.
What's getting me is reading the previews. A lot of them basically state the Suns are the better and deeper team, but the Spurs will win because they always beat the Suns. That's asinine thinking.
Spurs need 3 pt shooters besides Manu and Hill to actually hit the broad side of the barn (and with Mason and Bonner in the playoffs, that's fairly doubtful), and limit Nash's ability to generate the offense. If Nash gets 10+ assists, the Suns will win. Pop needs to use more than 7 men a game in this series. If the Spurs can't get respectable play from at least 8 (preferably 9) in this series, they'll lose.
Hopefully, Parker will be MVP caliber like normal against the Suns, and Nash will get worn out since he'll actually have to guard someone unless Bogans in on the court. 'Dyess might limit STAT more than he's ever been in a series against the Spurs if he plays as good a defense as he did against Dirk.
There's a lot of things that could happen. It'll be interesting to see how this unfolds.
appropriate fear is what Pop preaches going into every series. perhaps he means respect but you'd be wise to have some fear (maybe stemming from success) because they're so good offensively.
PHX?
Always.
If they play good defence, omg.
could care less about them, even if they beat us still we have the rings
I think what is gonna be different defense wise is the giant drop in interior defense from last series to this series.
Alot of manu's misses and duncan's in the last couple games were due to the length of the mavericks.
If u come ou tonight and be agressive u can get the suns in foul trouble.
Same rules apply. Take care of the ball, defend the three, rebound, drive to the hole everytime.
I think what is gonna be different defense wise is the giant drop in interior defense from last series to this series.
Alot of manu's misses and duncan's in the last couple games were due to the length of the mavericks.
If u come ou tonight and be agressive u can get the suns in foul trouble.
Same rules apply. Take care of the ball, defend the three, rebound, drive to the hole everytime.
If Spurs stay fresh and healthy they got it. simple as that. No disrespect to phoenix.
This OP is almost a direct quote from this morning's radio show, I think Peter Burns said it?
Anyway, I agree to an extent. Personally, I don't think fans in S.A. are so much as underestimating the Suns as much as they are just relieved to have gotten out of the 1st round. A Mavs first round elimination of the Spurs would have been devestating. We don't fear the Suns anyway but even if they beat us, it would not be devestating. Just my opinion anyway.
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