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It's all a smoke screen, you see will tonight ,when the Suns win by 20.
'Let's Go Suns'
'Let's Go Suns'
One Sun sees team fading fast
Web Posted: 05/30/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Mike Finger
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...2c2ba6535.html
Having been outrun and outgunned through the first three games of the Western Conference finals, the Phoenix Suns arrived at practice Sunday fighting to save not only their season, but also their iden y.
The up-tempo style that made Phoenix such an NBA sensation for seven months suddenly was being blamed — at least in part — for a 3-0 series deficit to the Spurs.
And while few of the Suns bought into that idea, the exception was center Amare Stoudemire, who seemed as unenthusiastic about defending Phoenix's system as he has been about defending Tim Duncan.
"With this style of play, it tends to get a little helter-skelter," Stoudemire said. "In the playoffs, you can't afford that. Every possession's valuable. It's tough to play that way. ... When it's over, I'm pretty sure we'll go back to the drawing boards."
That trip could come as early as tonight, when the Suns try to stave off elimination in Game 4 at the SBC Center. Already, there are people saying the Spurs' stunning domination of the best-of-seven series is proof that a team like the Suns — who relied on a suffocating fast break and plenty of quick shots to lead the league in scoring during the regular season — can't succeed this late in the playoffs.
But outside of Stoudemire, no one with the Suns sounds ready to agree with that assumption. As Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni pointed out, none of the three games have been blowouts. And if the Suns simply made a few more stops at the defensive end, the series could look a lot different today.
"If you're assessing the situation, they have the better team and they're playing better basketball," D'Antoni said. "But I don't think it has anything to do with the system. I think we have to play better defense."
Said Steve Nash, the man who won a most valuable player award for his role in orchestrating the Suns' makeover: "You can say whatever you want. But I think the big difference is No. 21 (Duncan) is a terrific player, no matter what style. If we played walk-it-up basketball, we'd have a hard time."
Indeed, the Suns almost certainly wouldn't have even made it to this point if they didn't play as quickly as they do. That's another reason why the players — even Shawn Marion, who had to switch positions to make the scheme work and is now struggling against the Spurs — are reluctant to call for an overhaul of the system.
"Think about it. We're averaging more points in this series than we have the whole playoffs," Marion said. "So what's wrong with that?"
Aside from the fact that the Suns are actually averaging fewer points than they did against Memphis and Dallas, the biggest thing that Stoudemire sees wrong with it is that the team is losing.
He was brutally honest while talking to reporters Sunday, often referring to this season in the past tense, calling for improvements on defense and shot selection and talking about how "going through this and failing is always a learning thing."
And when a reporter reminded him that the series still isn't over? Stoudemire didn't exactly seem full of hope.
"I'm not even going to front. It's extremely tough," Stoudemire said. "My main thing is to avoid a sweep."
It's all a smoke screen, you see will tonight ,when the Suns win by 20.
'Let's Go Suns'
'Let's Go Suns'
Last edited by Suns Fan; 05-30-2005 at 01:44 AM. Reason: we have the MVP I don't need a reason
TALKING BOUT SMOKE...WHAT THA ARE U BLAZIN TO EVEN THINK THESE THOUGHTS?It's all a smoke screen, you see will tonight ,when the Suns win by 20.
'Let's Go Suns'
'Let's Go Suns'
I would, but it seems like your new boy toy lover might get upset
Sense
i lov you
Ignore mouse.
Lol you don't have to tell me twice...
thats nasty. u need ta come. u go = i will go. i will make my debutI would, but it seems like your new boy toy lover might get upset
you might have a deal , e mail me so we can talk about game six
[email protected]
I am forwarding this to your doctor Shawn. Obviously you have your head stuck up your ass again."Think about it. We're averaging more points in this series than we have the whole playoffs," Marion said. "So what's wrong with that?"
Aside from the fact that the Suns are actually averaging fewer points than they did against Memphis and Dallas, the biggest thing that Stoudemire sees wrong with it is that the team is losing.
Sincerely,
Bruce Bowen
haha Thats great!"Think about it. We're averaging more points in this series than we have the whole playoffs," Marion said. "So what's wrong with that?"
Aside from the fact that the Suns are actually averaging fewer points than they did against Memphis and Dallas, the biggest thing that Stoudemire sees wrong with it is that the team is losing.
you got served,,
dat boy don gon loco on dat ass
Amazing Amare amazes a-me a-gain.
I wonder if somebody "got to" Amare with these ideas, or whether he came up with them himself? He certainly and honestly expresses them.
Steve seems to blame primarily Tim for the Suns' woes. Steve is wrong. It's not Tim, its the ed-up style of the Suns' game meeting the clearly superior Spurs' game, which is not only just Tim.
And it sounds in the post-game like Mike is saying the Suns aren't playing The d'Antoni Way, so he thinks it's the teams' fault rather than his no-defense silliness. Doesn't sound as if, sweep or no sweep, Mike will be going back to the drawing board for a The New d'Antoni Way next season.
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