I was nervous about game 5 because I thought that the home crowd would help their bench players, but D'Antoni didn't have enough confidence to give them a shot. Between the crowd and the motivation + Nash, Marrion + Barbosa, they had enough talent to win given the crowd support and the motivation. Plus, it is difficult to face an undermanned team.
Good on the Spurs for pulling out a win in a tough situation; it sounds funny, but a lot of good teams would still have lost for the reasons I mentioned above (were they in the Spurs situation).
Doesn't D'Antoni know that he could have gotten away with resting his stars a little more because he was at home and bench players play better at home?
Game 6 at home:
I expect a win and a very motivated team. Game 4 we didn't deserve to win because they killed us on the boards. That is an effort thing. Plus, we didn't space the floor well in the fourth. Tim was crowded and Bruce was an offensive liability (unlike game 5 for example - at least late, when it counted).
I will be very surprised if we don't take game 6. We don't want to have to return to game 7 in Phoenix, a game that we probably would not win (but we can't say that publicly) . Will Nash and Marrion's play be affected by playing extended minutes?
any thoughts?
We will most likely not win a Game 7 on the road so I think the guys will go into it with a Game 7 type mentality. And after all the hate that the Spurs and their fans have put up with since the end of Game 4, our crowd better be in a damn frenzy. I want to see the Spurs play with passion. Diving for loose balls, driving to the basket, executing, and playing great defense. We've got to go for the kill or we will most likely be killed ourselves. GO SPURS GO!
This game is the most important game of the season, now.
I agree that crowd support is extremely important, in this series, given all the emotion and all the stuff going on.
Whoever is at this game needs to shout nonstop for the whole 48 minutes. We need to be like they were at Oracle against Dallas.
This is a chance for the Spurs fans to step up and leave their imprint on this game.
We must defensive rebound really well; we must get back on defense in transition and we need to take care of the ball.
Allow Nash to score; try to limit his assists.
Flat out hustle for every loose ball.
These are the PlayOffs: The No LayUp Rule is in effect.
If we are going to foul, let's get our money's worth.
First Priority is force them to double Tim Duncan. He has owned Phoenix this series.
Also, we have to play with urgency and passion the whole 48 minutes; 47 minutes is not good enough.
Need I say that if there is an altercation, we stay out of it, especially those Spurs on the Bench.
Spurs need to come out quick and stay in front, this is the most important game of the season, I agree. Its possible to win later, but unlikely. We need to come out with authority, not timidity, and jam em. I think Amare and Diaw back will actually help us because the Suns will be real y. I think we will need a big game from either Finley or Barry to get this done.
I think this next game will be similar to game 4 with the spurs in control, but not by much. but unlike monday nite, SA will not fade down the stretch and will put an end to phx season.
very little separates these teams but the spurs superior execution in the 4th tomorrow nite will be the difference.
spurs 98
phx 93
I agree. I think that Tim sets everybody else up. If the big 3 show up (like Charles says "stars need to be stars") and we get a solid contribution from either Finley (more likely) or Barry (possible, but not as likely), we leave with a w.
This needs to be the last game the Phoenix Suns play this year.
They need to join Dallas fishing , badly.
Foul trouble will be an issue. Amare will be aggressive.
If we are going to execute in the fourth, we need to space the floor better than we did in the fourth in game four. Also, Bruce needs to be in the corner not Michael (since Michael can score from other places). If Tim is doubled (and he will be in the fourth), everyone on the floor must be an active part of the offense, ready to shoot or drive or pass when they get the ball (No hesitation, ball stopping- defense recovering mistakes).
Pump fake Amare. He already has admitted that he can't guard Tim Duncan.
The bottom line is simply that when PHX has had their backs against the wall, they've fought a whole lot harder than the Spurs have. Game 2 and Game 4 are perfect examples. Game 6 is shaping up that way. Spurs need to be aggressive from the outset and push, push, push. They can't ever let up and they can't let calls/no calls get to them. They simply have to play through whatever is thrown at them and get the job done.
We'll see if they can do it or not.
without hip check Bob and Suns at full strength and the league wanting a 7th game..........Expect a 7th game!
Suns will suck and the Spurs will win.
All your game 7 prayers werent answered for your team what makes you think they will be answered for nash?
Tim Duncan is the Man ! As he rolls, the SPURS roll.......
There is one very thing important thing going for the Spurs: They know how to close out a series This is where experience really pays off. In fact, the only series I can remember that the Spurs didn't close out being up 3-2 was the 05 finals against Detroit (of course they did close it out in game 7).
The Spurs MUST have patience in this game. I hope Phoenix jumps out to an early lead only to have the Spurs close the gap before the half. Then after the break keep a slight lead (within 2-6 points) so they don't become complacent and then turn on the defense in the 4th. In the 4th, the Suns will become tight and anxious and start to gamble. When this happens it's game and series for the Spurs.
I expect a Spurs win.
More than anything I would no doubt feel like Duncan and company want to drub the Suns and bait the hook so they can go fishing. Nothing will mean more than getting sent home no matter what bull has occurred. And if you're the team getting sent home then there's nothing else to say that will drown out the noise of the door closing behind you.
I think both teams will play a good game. The game will be close so we see what happens. I hope for a Game 7 though.
Suns will get bailed out by the refs... Duncan will be in foul trouble all night... Amare will have at least 30 pts. TNT - WE KNOW DRAMA! Then EVERYONE will watch game 7.
The game is on ESPN. That is likely what is going to happen. I get the feeling the momentum changing calls will go in the Sun's favor.
I think the Spurs were intimidated by everything that had gone on the last day or so last night combined with the crowd being so hostile. They never looked like they were compfortable until maybe 3 min to play in that game. Still don't have Horry and Suns get back Amare and Diaw but Suns did burn a lot of minutes last night especially Nash. I think the Spurs will be very focused up 3-2 one win away from the west finals. They know what it takes and want to get there again i think the Spurs will play very well and win a tough hard fought game.
It depends on whether or not Nash will be gassed.
it's an elimination game. be done with this series if you win. that should be enough motivation.
The best reason to get it over tomorrow is that after the Spurs/Jazz tipoff Sunday the Media will ing quit talking about ing Stoudemire and Diaw and the ing rule.
They will be old news.
Well said. Thank god the media has the attention span of a gnat.
I'm tired of predicting how the Spurs will react. I've been wrong every one of these games...
We can't count on the Suns being "tired" (they won't be), or playing too "hard" (Amare might have issues).
If the Spurs had shown any kind of consistency at all in this series, I would feel much more comfortable. Hopefully, Manu will show up again...
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