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Oh, and off the subject... this Final-4 Bulls**t is for the birds. The traffic's bad enough here as it is!!!
Enough of all the Dallas vs. SA smack. First up is Phoenix, so how do these teams compare?
With every passing day, I'm increasingly convinced that Phoenix can't beat San Antonio. The Spurs are a far more balanced team than the Suns. Forget what we saw earlier in the season. Over the last 21 games, it seems abundantly clear to me that the Spurs are as dominant a team as there is in the NBA. Dallas is the only team that can stand against them.
Someone please get a memo to the sports media people who are wishfully picking the Suns to defeat the Spurs… it’s not going to happen. It’ll be a great series, don’t get me wrong, but if the Spurs are healthy, the Suns won’t be in the Western Conference Finals.
So I'll go on record right here and now... if the Suns beat the Spurs in a 7 game series this year, I'll donate a testicle to science. I'll even let Mike D'Antoni pick which one.
Oh, and off the subject... this Final-4 Bulls**t is for the birds. The traffic's bad enough here as it is!!!
I think it will be a great series maybe 7 games but to me there a couple factors here. Spurs are a very seasoned battle tested team that does not need the HC to win the series. They have won games in the playoffs in hostile environments plenty of times. Secondly as good as the Suns are they are still operating under the same basic principle of push the ball as hard as you can and play little to no defense. I just don't think the way the Spurs play D the Suns are going to beat them in a 7 game series. I also think they are a little initmidated of the Spurs. We beat them pretty bad a few years ago, we are a team that has won les in the past, we play great D and are physical with them.
Difference is that unlike the year that the Spurs beat them by using that "we'll shut everyone else not named Amare and Nash" down mentality won't neccesarily work well with this unit. Also, Robert Horry's ability to stay in the game and produce was a large factor as to why the Spurs were able to not only run with the Suns in that series, but also defend well. I don't think Horry will be able to do that this time around.
Also, the Suns surrounding cast which the Spurs were able to shut down that season, has vastly improved since then. Gone are Q and Johnson...who by the way was injured or returning from injury that series. Instead, Raja Bell and more importantly Leandro Barbosa and Boris Diaw who may not be as easy to shut down.
Thirdly, this time around they have a decent defender to actually put on Manu. They never did before hence Manu completely being able to own the Suns by himself in 2005.
Finally, the Spurs offense this season (until of late) has been slightly suspect. They need to make their open shots if they want to beat the Suns...and they'll be getting plenty of open looks with the way the Suns play Defense as a team. Finley, Barry, Horry, etc. need to step it up with their outside shooting.
One positive thing I do like about the matchup this season against the Suns...I think that may be Francisco Elson's idea of a dream series. Nazr completely owned the Suns last season, and Elson is way more athletic that Nazr ever was and the running up and down transition points the Spurs will be able to get against a porous Suns defense will be a wet dream for Elson. I just hope he can stay out of foul trouble long enough to be an impact...I'm highly doubting that though.
Also, Bruce Bowen will own Marion...always has and always will.
Steve Nash is playing at a completely different level this season...he actually deserves the MVP this season though he won't get it, how ironic. I think he knows the window of opportunity is closing on him to win with this core and he's taken his game to a whole new level.
I don't think a matchup against the Suns will be as easy as many Spurs fans seem to think.
Nash will play great but to me he is less effective against the Spurs because he can't play D and Tony will put up big numbers against him. This is a series that is tailor made for Tony to go for 25-30 every game up and down the floor fast paced the way the Suns play. Tim will own the paint and outplay Amare, Manu will be good enough. To me after that it is just about our D and can we get enough bench support?
If the Suns beat the Spurs, I will also donate one of your testicles to science.
How about we look to the first series before we set our eyes on the next challenge? I like to trash Lakers alot, but I can just see this team thinking its a gimme and choking.
The rest of the Suns team (outside of Stoudemire & Nash) may be a little better than it was a couple years ago... which is why I think it'll go 6 instead what was almost a sweep a couple years ago.Difference is that unlike the year that the Spurs beat them by using that "we'll shut everyone else not named Amare and Nash" down mentality won't neccesarily work well with this unit. Also, Robert Horry's ability to stay in the game and produce was a large factor as to why the Spurs were able to not only run with the Suns in that series, but also defend well. I don't think Horry will be able to do that this time around.
Also, the Suns surrounding cast which the Spurs were able to shut down that season, has vastly improved since then. Gone are Q and Johnson...who by the way was injured or returning from injury that series. Instead, Raja Bell and more importantly Leandro Barbosa and Boris Diaw who may not be as easy to shut down.
Thirdly, this time around they have a decent defender to actually put on Manu. They never did before hence Manu completely being able to own the Suns by himself in 2005.
Finally, the Spurs offense this season (until of late) has been slightly suspect. They need to make their open shots if they want to beat the Suns...and they'll be getting plenty of open looks with the way the Suns play Defense as a team. Finley, Barry, Horry, etc. need to step it up with their outside shooting.
One positive thing I do like about the matchup this season against the Suns...I think that may be Francisco Elson's idea of a dream series. Nazr completely owned the Suns last season, and Elson is way more athletic that Nazr ever was and the running up and down transition points the Spurs will be able to get against a porous Suns defense will be a wet dream for Elson. I just hope he can stay out of foul trouble long enough to be an impact...I'm highly doubting that though.
Also, Bruce Bowen will own Marion...always has and always will.
Steve Nash is playing at a completely different level this season...he actually deserves the MVP this season though he won't get it, how ironic. I think he knows the window of opportunity is closing on him to win with this core and he's taken his game to a whole new level.
I don't think a match-up against the Suns will be as easy as many Spurs fans seem to think.
In the end... I know it's become a cliché in this conversation, but the Suns don't play enough defense to beat the Spurs.
"Until of late..." Why even bring it up? The Spurs are a different team than they were earlier in the season. It was really a "sleeping giant" kind of thing, and they definitely woke up about 5 or 6 weeks ago. It sounds like your almost dismissing what the Spurs have been doing since they turned the corner, while talking about the Spurs earlier-season performance as though it's a more accurate picture of what we can expect. Clearly, the opposite is true.
As far as the Spurs making their open shots... as with any 7 game series, there are going to be times when they don't. Nobody's shot is on all the time. But over 7 games, the Spurs are going to shoot a healthy percentage from outside. They're not one of the best 3-pt shooting teams in the league for no reason, and frankly... the Spurs are even more dangerous from outside than their season totals in that department would indicate.
In reality, I think the Spurs are the best 3-point shooting team in the league. That's because guys like Horry and Bonner are much more dangerous out there than their season totals to date would indicate. Also, Bowen's shooting slump hurt his 3-pt%, but he's over it now, and we all know he's dangerous from the corners. Michael Finley also turned a corner this month. He's not a guy you want to leave open... especially if it's a big shot, cuz this guy's clutch.
Which brings me to another point. If there's a game winning shot to be taken... the Spurs have a lot of guys you'd want to give the ball to. Ginobili, Horry, Finley, Barry, and Duncan (though not for a 3, obviously). There isn't 1 or 2 guys you can tell your defense to swarm if the game's on the line. Of the players I just listed, who would you leave open?
This team is just designed for the post-season.
Anyway... there may be and off-night or two, but over a 7 game series, the Spurs will hit their shots.
I'll go on record right here and now as well...if the Suns beat the Spurs in a 7 game series this year, you WON'T donate a testicle to science.Enough of all the Dallas vs. SA smack. First up is Phoenix, so how do these teams compare?
With every passing day, I'm increasingly convinced that Phoenix can't beat San Antonio. The Spurs are a far more balanced team than the Suns. Forget what we saw earlier in the season. Over the last 21 games, it seems abundantly clear to me that the Spurs are as dominant a team as there is in the NBA. Dallas is the only team that can stand against them.
Someone please get a memo to the sports media people who are wishfully picking the Suns to defeat the Spurs… it’s not going to happen. It’ll be a great series, don’t get me wrong, but if the Spurs are healthy, the Suns won’t be in the Western Conference Finals.
So I'll go on record right here and now... if the Suns beat the Spurs in a 7 game series this year, I'll donate a testicle to science. I'll even let Mike D'Antoni pick which one.
Actually I will. A quick glance at my driver's license will confirm that I am an organ donor. I never said when I'd donate it.I'll go on record right here and now as well...if the Suns beat the Spurs in a 7 game series this year, you WON'T donate a testicle to science.
I guess you got me there.Actually I will. A quick glance at my driver's license will confirm that I am an organ donor. I never said when I'd donate it.
here here!
I will remind you at the end of the season, I will save this thread and bring it back on top when the Lakers eliminate the Spurs in round one.Enough of all the Dallas vs. SA smack. First up is Phoenix, so how do these teams compare?
With every passing day, I'm increasingly convinced that Phoenix can't beat San Antonio. The Spurs are a far more balanced team than the Suns. Forget what we saw earlier in the season. Over the last 21 games, it seems abundantly clear to me that the Spurs are as dominant a team as there is in the NBA. Dallas is the only team that can stand against them.
Someone please get a memo to the sports media people who are wishfully picking the Suns to defeat the Spurs… it’s not going to happen. It’ll be a great series, don’t get me wrong, but if the Spurs are healthy, the Suns won’t be in the Western Conference Finals.
So I'll go on record right here and now... if the Suns beat the Spurs in a 7 game series this year, I'll donate a testicle to science. I'll even let Mike D'Antoni pick which one.
Make sure you ask Jackson, not D'Antoni what testicle (if you have any) will choose.
Please dont embarass us with these predictions.
Too late!
My friends and I were just discussing this topic in light of the crushing defeat over the Mavs yesterday. Thoughts....
The Mavs' defense, though improved, is not good enough to contain the Suns' offense....especially in one category; transition defense.
The Spurs, however, play great transition D and have typically forced the Suns into a half-court set, where they are less effective.
The Spurs also have a defensive stopper the eliminates at least one Suns threat (Marion) altogether.
The Spurs' guards also run Steve Nash ragged.
This is not to say that the Suns won't get some fastbreak points, or that Shawn Marion won't have a good game or two, but when it comes down to it....the Spurs just know how to beat the Suns and they have the personnel/system to do it. Beating the Mavs on the other hand.....
Suns in 5 against the Spurs ( if they get past the Lakers which I'm very doubtful)
Suns are just too fast for the Spurs old folks
Transition defense wasn't really the issue yesterday. The Suns got 50 pts in the paint and most came in their set offense. Plus, they hit several 3 pointers in their set offense as well.
If you're the voice of truth then....
Did you designate Beno as the recipient?Actually I will. A quick glance at my driver's license will confirm that I am an organ donor. I never said when I'd donate it.
We need some minimum IQ requirements for membership to this forum. Does this forum have an "Ignore Dip " feature?
I would never bet either one of my boyz on a basketball team, especially one that relies on Oberto to play center.
He has nowhere to put it.
Suns can beat the Spurs in some games, but in a 7-game series, they just have no chance. Its all about experience and most importantly, DEFENSE!
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