Game 3- Spurs @ Suns - Fri 10.30pm est

[b-ball forever]

Well, at least with Marion instead of Shaq

1) There'd be no hackin since we wudn't have a crap FT shooter, and u guys wouldn't be able to kill our offensive flow like that.
2) The pick n roll defense wud be a'ite since we wudn't be forced to have Shaq having to switch on Parker/Manu on the perimeter. (Shaq PnR defense is just god-awful!)
3) We'd have somebody that can limit Manu/Parker.
IIRC last year Manu was averaging 17 PPG on 42 FG% and Parker was at 21 PPG on 45 FG%.
This year they're both deepthoating us. Didn't check the averages but I think Parker's at sth like 32 PPG on 55 FG% and Manu must be at around 23 PPG on a much better shooting % as well.

U guys are the better team for sure of course. Not lookin for excuses or anything, just sayin

[Ballings7]

I relatively agree, and good post ^

[Ballings7]

Some post-game stuff...

Stoudemire was just making an analogy, not questioning Parker's masculinity. There was nothing but respect from the Suns for the way the Spurs played. And if you read between the lines, there wasn't much confidence in the way the Suns coaches countered it, or the approach they've taken.

Only three of Parker's baskets came in the paint, meaning the Suns at least accomplished their objective of keeping him from getting to the basket.

"That was, sort of, the game plan," Suns guard Steve Nash said. "But when he starts making all the shots we've probably got to adjust."

The Suns never found a way to get the ball out of his hands early, before he could become a playmaker.

"We tried to double, not double, switch, not switch," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said. "They were almost perfect."

The Suns also went to a zone for a while, but the first time they unveiled it Parker sliced right through it. That's the problem when a team that isn't known for its defense tries to win a game by making defensive adjustments on the fly in the playoffs. "It's not really about offense," O'Neal said. "It's about defense. Defense wins games."

After Parker hit a 3-pointer to make the score 101-85, a frustrated Suns owner Robert Sarver slammed his foam No.1 finger to the ground. Maybe it dawned on him that he could only have two of the money-making home playoff games to show for his $70 million roster.

Popovich made the most relevant comment of the night.

"Both teams pretty much have to do what they do," he said. "After 100 games that we've played you're not going to change your system. You might adjust a bit, but you're not going to do anything drastic."

The playoffs are a time of revelation, not transformation. Who you are, what you're about, gets exposed. You don't get to reinvent yourself.

The Spurs, for example, have always made a point to limit the Suns' transition baskets, even if it makes forsaking offensive rebounds to get back on defense. They also emphasize denying 3-point shots; the Suns tried only three in each half for a total that was 15 below their nightly average during the season. (Parker was one of the Spurs' defenders closing out on the Suns' 3-point shooters, another thing he did well Friday).

As an added wrinkle this series, Popovich has been fouling O'Neal away from the ball and sending him to the free-throw line. Nash said the constant stops affected his rhythm on a night he took only eight shots and made three (plus a technical free throw) for seven points.

"I felt like an outsider," Nash said.

The Spurs were right at home, beating the Suns for the 15th time in their past 20 playoff meetings, holding the Suns below 100 points for the fifth time in their seven meetings in 2007-08.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime ... me-0804246

[Donald Kaufman]

Well, at least with Marion instead of Shaq

1) There'd be no hackin since we wudn't have a crap FT shooter, and u guys wouldn't be able to kill our offensive flow like that.
2) The pick n roll defense wud be a'ite since we wudn't be forced to have Shaq having to switch on Parker/Manu on the perimeter. (Shaq PnR defense is just god-awful!)
3) We'd have somebody that can limit Manu/Parker.
IIRC last year Manu was averaging 17 PPG on 42 FG% and Parker was at 21 PPG on 45 FG%.
This year they're both deepthoating us. Didn't check the averages but I think Parker's at sth like 32 PPG on 55 FG% and Manu must be at around 23 PPG on a much better shooting % as well.

U guys are the better team for sure of course. Not lookin for excuses or anything, just sayin

Decent points, but I don't think having Marion would've made a bit of difference. I still think it would be 3-0.

[DBMethos]

Awesome game all around. TP stepped up huge! I'd love to close this thing out on Sunday now, and hope that Dallas/NO goes 7...

[Magz50]

What an incredible game by TP. That was just insane to watch...he really does have another level in the playoffs. Severely underrated player indeed.

Well guys it's not looking good for the Suns right now, they really can't guard us at all. I actually felt a bit embarrassed for the suns last night, we just made them look like a JV team on defense.

Let's bring out the brooms!

[mudyez]

the suns traded for shaq in order to match up better against us...now shaq is killing them with his inability to hit FT's and defend the PnR...thank you steve kerr....or should I say undercover-spur #25?

big props to tony! I love to watch him (and manu) more than any other player in the game...best way to get me going for a ballgame is to watch games of those two...it makes me penetrate relentlessly, killing oponents (while I'm usually to unselfish)

keep it up guys! its just beautifull to see the Spurs Peak After March again!

FEEL THE POWER OF THE SPAM!!!!!

[Blame Rasho]

It is amazing to remember that we couldn't score at all a week ago...

[mudyez]

It is amazing to remember that we couldn't score at all a week ago...

is there a way shaq can play for NO or DAL in round two...i would be ok with that!

...he makes us look like denver offensively

[LyMinh]

It is amazing to remember that we couldn't score at all a week ago...

Suns D is a good cure

[Blame Rasho]

Does anyone really notice that we didn't really utilize the pick and roll to this massive effect on the Suns during the two games in the regular season with Shaq?

[Magz50]

Pop would of scoured those two first games vs shaq and come up with this game plan. Excellent coaching once again. AM i the only guy that LOVES them hack a shaqing so early. Such a great move by Pop.

[Blame Rasho]

Pop is a master... just the using the rope a dope during the regular season... Now he is jabbing the FT and pick and roll weakness... Game 3 the Spurs knocked the Suns down hard and now they are wobbly. I want a utter knockout this coming game.

[mudyez]

Pop is a master... just the using the rope a dope during the regular season... Now he is jabbing the FT and pick and roll weakness... Game 3 the Spurs knocked the Suns down hard and now they are wobbly. I want a utter knockout this coming game.

actually thats the sound of the series: WE CALL THE BEST CAOCH IN THIS LEAGUE OUR OWN!!! (not sure if he even may be the best ever and everyone will tell us that he is just fortunate to have timmy)

with him at the line, I fear noone and nothing

...no coment on that mike d -clown!..he's just embarrassing

[Ballings7]

Oh yeah, Pop has been great, once again

Does anyone really notice that we didn't really utilize the pick and roll to this massive effect on the Suns during the two games in the regular season with Shaq?

I overlooked it after those two games, and ultimately was iffy about playing the Suns - I didn't even think about it much. Just not knowing how effective it'd be.. obviously turned out to be gigantic. The unfamiliarity with the new-look Suns, turned out to be a thing of great advantage.

[SMRattler]

Pop is a master... just the using the rope a dope during the regular season... Now he is jabbing the FT and pick and roll weakness... Game 3 the Spurs knocked the Suns down hard and now they are wobbly. I want a utter knockout this coming game.

Pop is in another stratosphere from D'Antoni. Not to knock on D'Antoni, but Pop uses every game for another reason other than getting W's. No doubt he wasn't about to show the Suns how he was going to attack them in the playoffs BEFORE it counted.

Think about all the angles:
- Shaq gets traded to the Suns, lots of talk about what he is there to do to TD.
- Pop plays them, makes it an effort game, maybe with stgrong effort and good play, we win.
- If not? It's ok too. The Spurs get broken down, it gets their attention and now they are all ears for Pop.

This is why teams like the Spurs know the regular season is nothing like the playoffs. You can only game plan so much in the regular season. The regular season is about fine tuning their own stuff, regardless who they play, not gameplanning.

Pop busts out the pick and roll and the rest of the game plan (defense, offense, rotations) when the games count and before they know it, Suns are down 3-0 wondering "hey, what happened?"

So, coaches play bigger roles in the playoffs. Every series, ever game, every half, ever possesion... coaches determine a lot more in the playoffs. You disect your opponent and find their weakness and attack it. You play to your strengths and hide your own weaknesses best you can.

With that in mind, think of the advantage we have with ours on our bench.

[DBMethos]

So, coaches play bigger roles in the playoffs. Every series, ever game, every half, ever possesion... coaches determine a lot more in the playoffs. You disect your opponent and find their weakness and attack it. You play to your strengths and hide your own weaknesses best you can.

This is precisely the reason that I don't buy teams like Phoenix, Detroit, and Boston b/c I just don't see D'Antoni, Saunders, and Rivers stepping up when it actually matters.

[Donald Kaufman]

It's as simple as this: with Timmy, Manu, TP and Pop running the show, I know we're always in the hunt for another ring. And I know that come playoff time the team will be ready to take on whoever.

[Ballings7]

Well said ^