Suns-Spurs Preview

[duncan228]

Bring it.



http://www.nba.com/games/20080409/PHXSAS/preview.html

Suns-Spurs Preview
By MIKE LIPKA, STATS Writer

Both the Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs can now rest easy knowing they'll be returning to the upcoming Western Conference playoffs.

With plenty to play for in the final few regular season games, however, neither team can truly rest.

The Spurs will be chasing the West's top seed while the Suns jockey for home-court advantage in the first round when the teams meet in San Antonio Wednesday, with Phoenix seeking its first season-series victory in five years.

San Antonio has won nine of its last 10 games, and seems unwilling to ease up entering the season's final week. The Spurs (53-24) are just one game behind New Orleans for first place in the West, but just 1 1/2 games ahead of the Suns (52-26), who are in sixth.

"In past seasons with five games to go, you knew you could be first, second, third or even fourth, and that's it. This year it could be seventh, so it puts pressure on everybody," San Antonio guard Manu Ginobili said. "We can't slow down, we have to keep playing."

The Spurs, who've won five straight and 12 of 13 at home, rebounded from a dismal offensive effort with a 72-65 win at Portland on Sunday. In its previous game, San Antonio had lost 90-64 to Utah, meaning its two lowest point totals of the season came in the last two games.

But the team's signature defense seems to be tightening just as the playoffs approach. The Spurs have held their last 11 opponents under 100 points, with those teams averaging just 86.1 points and shooting 40.7 percent from the field.

The Suns again feature an uptempo style, even since the acquisition of center Shaquille O'Neal.

O'Neal was scratched Tuesday due to a hip contusion, but Amare Stoudemire had 28 points and 11 rebounds to lead seven scorers in double figures as Phoenix won 127-113 at Memphis to clinch a playoff berth.

"We wanted to win it from the inside, and, without Shaq, we were undermanned in the interior," Stoudemire said. "I just tried to attack in many ways. Just try to keep them off-balance a little bit."

The Suns had lost two of three before Tuesday's win, but they've still won 12 of their last 16 - averaging 114.5 points over that span - as O'Neal has grown more comfortable. The center, who is expected to return for Wednesday's game, is averaging 12.6 points and 10.6 rebounds in 24 games since coming to Phoenix in a trade from Miami.

The hot streak has left Phoenix just 2 1/2 games from the top of the West, tied with Utah a half-game behind Houston for the last home-court spot in the first round.

"We are working against the conference standings right now," Stoudemire said after the win over the Grizzlies. "We are still improving as a team, and this was a good game for us. It was also an important game."

Since taking three of four against San Antonio during the 2002-03 season, Phoenix had won just three of its last 14 games against the Spurs entering 2007-08.

But the Suns have won two of the first three in the series this season, including a 100-95 win at San Antonio in December and a 94-87 win exactly one month ago.

[duncan228]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/s...offpush-080409

Playoff Push: Another pivotal West showdown
By Andrew Ayres
ESPN.com

When the San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns meet Wednesday in Texas (9:30 ET, ESPN), the game will feature two teams with a contentious past. Their future, meanwhile, figures to be equally hard fought.

Their last meeting was something of a turning point for Phoenix. With the beloved Muhammed Ali in the house, Suns center Shaquille O'Neal famously launched himself into the stands after a loose ball. Shaq did not float like a butterfly, but he flung like a tree.

The Big Cactus scored 14 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to help the Suns beat the Spurs, 94-87. The Suns had lost four of five heading into that game. Since Shaq's flight, Phoenix has gone 12-4.

If the Suns (52-26) snare a road win, it could prod San Antonio (53-24) toward the No. 3 seed. And if the Suns hold their current No. 6 slot, then it could create a very interesting first-round matchup with the Spurs. The Suns might not like the Horry-bull ending their season took in the playoffs last year.

Of course, trying to handicap the West pairings, even at this late date, looks mostly like an exercise in futility.

The Suns can wrap up the tiebreaker with the Spurs by virtue of a win, currently holding a 2-1 season-series lead. Should the standings shake up even more, that could be significant development in the ongoing homecourt advantage playoff subplot.

The Spurs, mired in a slump in mid-March, have emerged from their malaise to win 9 of their last 10 games, the only blemish a 26-point loss in Salt Lake City last Friday. But a win here would be huge, bolstering their hopes for a customary No. 1 seed.

[Killakobe81]

Spurs should win.
I bet if the Suns win they will talk about how "that is why we brought SHAQ in" to matchup with the Spurs if they lose ...they will say It doesnt matter because it's not the playoffs ...this game means more tothe Suns but they will NOT admit it ...
I say Spurs win 95-90

[m33p0]

<sound of rolling thunder on the horizon>

[ancestron]

[cheguevara]

playoff game tonight nice!

[Argiebabe]

GO SPURS!

Bring them down!!!!

[duncan228]

http://www.nba.com/spurs/gameday/080409.html

Probable Starters:

Parker
Guard
18.4 PPG
Finley
Guard
9.9 PPG
Bowen
Forward
6.1 PPG
Duncan
Forward
19.5 PPG
Oberto
Center
4.6 PPG

Injury/Inactive Report
Robert Horry (left knee contusion) and Brent Barry are out

Spur in the Spotlight
Manu Ginobili
In past seasons with five games to go, you knew you could be first, second, third or even fourth, and that's it. This year it could be seventh, so it puts pressure on everybody," San Antonio guard Manu Ginobili said. "We can't slow down, we have to keep playing.

Did You Know...
Phoenix General Manager Steve Kerr averaged 3.7 points in 206 games for San Antonio and was a member of the 1999 and 2003 championship teams … Suns head coach Mike D’Antoni played for the Spurs during the 1976-77 season and served as a scout during the 1999-2000 season … Phoenix assistant coach Alvin Gentry was an assistant for the Spurs from 1988-90 … the Suns defeated the Spurs 137-91 in Phoenix on 4/15/89 … the 46-point loss is the worst in Spurs franchise history … Suns forward/center Sean Marks spent three seasons with San Antonio and averaged 3.3 points and 2.1 rebounds in 48 games … Spurs guard Michael Finley was originally drafted by the Suns with the 21st pick in the 1995 NBA Draft … he averaged 15.0 points per game before being traded to the Mavericks in the 1996-97 season …Suns guard Leandro Barbosa was originally drafted by the Spurs in the first round of the 2003 NBA Draft … Steve Nash, Raja Bell and Michael Finley were teammates with the Mavericks during the 2002-03 season … Suns guard Boris Diaw and Spurs guard Tony Parker are both from France … former Spur great George Gervin was originally drafted by the Suns in the 1974 NBA Draft.

[duncan228]

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns...notes0409.html

Suns peek ahead to Spurs
The Arizona Republic

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Suns were playing some peek-a-boo in their meandering path to victory Tuesday night.

From sitting out Shaquille O'Neal with a right hip bruise as a precaution to the game's slow start and defenseless finish, Phoenix might have been peeking toward tonight's 6:30 p.m. game at San Antonio.

With a win tonight, the Suns (52-26) would have the regular-season series tiebreaker against the Spurs and be a half-game back with one more loss than San Antonio (53-24).

"If we can run the table, we could jump up a few spots," said Suns coach Mike D'Antoni, whose team remained in sixth in the West. "It is important. We want to measure ourselves and all that."

The Suns hold a 2-1 edge this season against the Spurs, who have been off since Sunday.

"It's a big game for us for obvious reasons - playoff seeding that we're fighting for a bit and trying to improve on things we want to get good at and continuing to build our chemistry and make that strong push into the playoffs," guard Raja Bell said.

The Suns players are starting to warm up to the idea of playing for home-court advantage in at least the first round, too. After downplaying it Monday, Steve Nash and other Suns talked of pursuing it Tuesday.

"The next two games are important, because I imagine after these we'll pretty much know where we are," Nash said.

O'Neal sits out

O'Neal could have played Tuesday. He was willing to play. But the staff wanted him fresh and healthy for tonight against San Antonio and Tim Duncan.

O'Neal sat out Tuesday's game because of a hip bruise he took in the first two minutes of Sunday's Dallas game, when he fouled Jason Terry but took a Terry knee into his hip. He played that game in pain and sat out Monday's practice.

"I offered to take some drugs and play, and Mike (D'Antoni) said no," O'Neal said. "I'd take a shot in a minute to be out there with my boys. I'll be back tomorrow for Mr. Duncan."

In O'Neal's first Suns-Spurs game, he had 14 points and 16 rebounds, and Duncan went 6 for 19 from the field.

"(They) took him out to save his legs for tomorrow night against Tim Duncan," Memphis coach Marc Iavaroni said. "He's a heck of a weapon. He certainly gives them a lot more rebounding, shot-blocking and space-eating. He's also a great passer. He adds a dimension that gives them an opportunity to go deep in the playoffs."

Rookie Alando Tucker, called up from the NBA Development League on Monday, suited up Tuesday, and Boris Diaw started in O'Neal's place.

Nash hurting

Nash is hurting, too. He sat out Tuesday's shootaround because of back spasms triggered by a rib that rolls out of place, he said. The injury originated from a hit he took last week against Denver. He said he tweaked it during Monday's practice and felt tight Tuesday.

"It was pretty tough, but I was good enough to get through the game," Nash said after a 16-point effort. "I felt like we needed to win this game.

"I've got to play tomorrow. Hopefully it won't be like this in the playoffs. If we can't take care of it before then, which I feel confident that we can, then I'll worry about it."

[hater]

Nash is hurting, too. He sat out Tuesday's shootaround because of back spasms triggered by a rib that rolls out of place, he said.

I hope Bowen knows which rib

[PHXSpursFan]

I hope Bowen knows which rib

YA! I wouldn't mind Nash's career ending tonight, I hate that little nerd.

[hater]

damn, I don't wish anyone's career to end. But if Bowen can pester that rib a little, I don't mind

[PHXSpursFan]

You don't live in PHX, dude is a s bag.

[O-Factor]

Does Shaq and D'Antoni think he can rest Shaq everynow and then when playoffs come around? Just pick and roll the out of Shaq's old ass.

[dbreiden83080]

Big game, Spurs need to bring their A game, and for god's sake bring their offense.

[sa_butta]

Big game, Spurs need to bring their A game, and for god's sake bring their DEFENSE.

Id rather hold em to a low scoring game, I think the shots will fall. If Shaq is in tonight Parker will have to be on point with the passes.

[ancestron]

Nash is a s bag? He always puts on the boy scout image for the cameras every time Ive seen him. Please enlighten me if you would PHXSpurfan about Nash's s bagginess.

[PHXSpursFan]

He cheated on his wife with Nelly Furtado. Wasn't exactly a secret.

[Killakobe81]

wow? Really?! see they would never point that out on main media because they LOVE steve Nash ...though Kobe's, Shaq's infidelity is always thrown around ...interesting.

[DarrinS]

He cheated on his wife with Nelly Furtado. Wasn't exactly a secret.

Who's Nelly Faturdo?

[mavsfan1000]

I expect the Spurs to win. At least hoping. Would be a great first round matchup between Mavs and Spurs.

[PHXSpursFan]

They brushed Kevin Johnson's incident aside, down here, too. He had sex with a 17 year old for like a year.

[BlackSwordsMan]

I hope Bowen knows which rib

lol

[lurker]

He cheated on his wife with Nelly Furtado. Wasn't exactly a secret.

Because someone mentioning you in a song means you had sex with them.

Did you know he also slept with Cam'ron? He gets around.

[PHXSpursFan]

Steve Nash is a fairy so that wouldn't surprise me.