STICKY - Suns vs Spurs - Round 2

[Qwigglez]

Let Duncan go one on one. We don't need a double team on him and then they end up hitting threes.
Put Hill on Manu and Richardson on Jefferson. I think Hill's higher basketball IQ will make him more effective guarding Manu than Richardson could do, plus it gives Richardson more energy for the offensive end, where we'll need him the most. J-Rich needs to continue rebounding though, the Suns are a much better team when J-Rich rebounds.
I pick the Suns in five.

[rsavaj]

My on the record pick is if we win it's Suns in 7. If we lose, Spurs in 6.

[Qwigglez]

It's a bold choice, but I just think we have the energy and desire to finally beat them this year. We actually have about 8-9 guys who can go off and get about 15-20 points, and I just don't think the Spurs will be able to contain everyone. I just gotta wait to watch game one before I make a final decision, lol.

[TXSun]

PHX/SA now a reality. I called it.

[rsavaj]

D'Antoni was an awful coach in the playoffs. I wish Ivaroni would've taken over.

No you don't.

Memphis says "THHBBPPPTTTT!!!" and Toronto says "Defense? F*** defense!" in reference to Iavaroni.

Marc Iavaroni isn't anything special as a coach, at least where defense and head coaching are concerned.

Meantime, regarding this series:

Good luck. I mean this honestly. I'm conflicted, because I'm a fan of both styles of play and key players on both teams.

But Phoenix NEEDS this. If they never win a title with Nash, they need to beat Duncan's Spurs at least once and crush THEIR hopes the way they've done to the Suns and their fans. Smack 'em around, beat 'em up and, most importantly, advance to the next round.

You're one of our mods so you're legally obligated to root for us more than you root for SA

[le crapaud]

Thank you suns, I mean really...thank you for what has been accomplished so far in season and this first round vs blazers. This is really awesome I'm so excited that we are facing once again the spurs. This series will be phenomenal I'm sure between two great teams playing well together. Just as a basketball fan I'm already happy but this time we have a bench and this is a HUGE difference. Our depth, especially if Lopez can contribute, gives me the feeling that they can beat those spurs for once.

Of course our success depends on having the same J-Rich we had vs blazers. We have to continue to push the tempo, being physical and try to establish our style. It will be very tough, I pick suns in 7.

[Krush32]

Suns Keys:

Rebound, and box out Dajaun Blair everytime a shot is attempted. Blair is one of the those guys that kills us on the boards.

Gotta adjust to the spurs backcourt substitutions. Put Hill on ginobili, nash on parker/hill, and Jrich on Jefferson. Im not sure how the spurs usually sub hill/parker, but if they have both of them on the court we need to adjust. Richardson doesnt have the footspeed to move laterally with George Hill or parker, and Grant Hill usually needs a break around 8-9 minutes into the quarter. Either way Dragic needs to be able to hold his own against them. I see alot of helpside defense needed by the suns bigmen, so I think Mcdyess and Bonner are gonna eat, piss, and **** from the outside.

PLAY SUNS BASKETBALL!!!!! Cant get dragged into playing the spurs game.

[sunsfever68]

Ok so first off let me say

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PHOENIX SUNS!!!

Winning the first round series against a pesky team that didn't quit was nice to see. We took care of business clinched on the road we're 6-1 in series clinching games since 2005.

I honestly see Portland as a mini-San Antonio so I think we might've got good preparation for the tempo battle and all that.



I feel this team is the most well-equipped to beat San Antonio. I will give you my keys:



1. Starts with the defense on Tim Duncan. LIke others have said you can't double him because he'll swing the ball and the Spurs will find the open man and knock down the 3. We've seen this for years. We need to push Duncan off the block and make him catch it further away from the basket. Don't let him square up and shoot the bank shot...it's money. We have to make him put the ball on the floor and make him shoot on the run or off balance and then REBOUND REBOUND REBOUND BOX OUT!!

2. Our bench has to be a difference maker like it has been
Our bench might give us the series win in this series. Dragic Dudley Amundson Barbosa Frye have been playing solidly if not spectacularly. I love Dragic's defense and his confidence leading the 2nd unit is outstanding. His dribble drive penetration is what excites me. Most of our team isn't good ball handlers so having a guy get them the ball collapsing the defense is essential. Dragic hads looked so good out there at times I'd ALMOST rather see him out there than a beat up Nash. Dragic must contain Parker and slow him but now they have George Hill as well to worry about. We're in for a handful.

3. Lopez has to come back healthy and be able to guard Duncan 1 on 1. Foul trouble this whole series will be crucial. Lopez and Amare have to stay out of it. We can't afford to have Amare pick up 2 quick fouls in the first quarter and sit when we really need him. Beware of spurs taking charges. You know they find little ways to beat us. Lopez is a difference maker, an intimidator and a force inside. He'll help our rebounding, our shot blocking and he's better offensively than Collins too. I don't mind seeing Collins out there this series against Duncan we could use him.

4. Richardson needs to be the x factor again. I don't know why I feel this way but I don't know if Richardson can keep this torrid pace up. I love how he played against Portland and he was the difference maker but when you see the guy he can't really put the ball on the floor that well so his jumpers are mostly set shots or he does a simple move then pulls up. I hope he keeps it going because IF HE CAN!!! we have that 2 guard we've needed to help us advance far in the playoffs.

5. Grant Hill has to be the defensive stopper and basically limit/almost shut down Parker or Ginobili. Hill's all around game will very important and I feel his mid range game will exploit the defense of the Spurs that guards the 3 and the paint well.

6. Nash obviously has to be healthy

7. Win game 1. We haven't beat San Antonio game 1 in any of the series in the last 7 years. By getting off to a 1-0 start we give ourselves a good chance of making it a long series and possibly winning it.

8. Frye and Dudley have to show up in San Antonio. The role players have to show up on the road. They did a good job of that last night but Frye really needs to step up. Maybe mix it up put Frye at different spots on the floor not just at the 3 point line.

9. Good balance offensively good ball movement not Nash overdribbling running the shotclock down. That's when we're at our best swinging the ball finding Amare cutting or J rich cutting hitting the open man for the 3.

10. Don't get into a 4th quarter possession by possession battle on the road. I don't feel we'll be able to win a game like that tied 88 all with 3 minutes to go. If we can win that kind of game we've matured and we're ready for greatness.

11. Push the tempo. Just like with Portland we want to push the tempo make it up tempo. This Spurs team can run better than other Spurs teams but I still feel they want to walk it up play slower.




Good luck boys. This is the year we could avenge a lot of bad memories. Are we gonna do it??!!!!


LETS GO SUNS



LETS GO SUNS



LETS GO SUNS



LETS GO SUNS

[lilfishi22]

Suns in 6.

[impulsenine]

What's the Spurs' bench like?

That's been the key to the Suns' success in the last 7 months: Anytime the starters have a bad time, we can literally field and entirely different team. Against old men like Parker, VaGinobili and Duncan, that's huge.

[aschneider970]

congrats on a successful series, the spurs are gunna be a tough match up but if you guys can run the break and let nash work in the open floor you will beat them in 6. LETS GO SUNS! i want nash to get his ring!

[Magz50]

What's the Spurs' bench like?

That's been the key to the Suns' success in the last 7 months: Anytime the starters have a bad time, we can literally field and entirely different team. Against old men like Parker, VaGinobili and Duncan, that's huge.

Spurs bench breaks down like this:

Main bench:
Parker is always first off the bench to lead the second unit and exploit match ups against much much weaker bg pg's of the opposing team.

Bonner usually comes in for Dice and has been pretty consistent with the 3 ball this season.

Blair then rests Duncan and is one of those players who can bring tremendous energy and rebounding off the bench, he is foul prone though against bigger opponents, but I feel he'll be well suited against the Suns smaller big men.

Usually Manu, G Hill and Parker are constantly revolved so we always have a very attack minded guards. R Jeff as well will come into the mix at times. Don;t be suprised to see all 4 of those guys and Duncan out there for alot of this series to really take it to the Suns. Dallas struggled against that line up getting stops.

Secondary limited players:
After those guys, we have R Mason ( For quick offense), K Bogans (If we need some SF defending) , I Mahinmi (Hasn't played yet) however those guys have played limited minutes..


PS Old men like Parker?? lol wtf? He's only 25.

[DBrimstone]

What's the Spurs' bench like?

That's been the key to the Suns' success in the last 7 months: Anytime the starters have a bad time, we can literally field and entirely different team. Against old men like Parker, VaGinobili and Duncan, that's huge.

Spurs bench breaks down like this:

Main bench:
Parker is always first off the bench to lead the second unit and exploit match ups against much much weaker bg pg's of the opposing team.

Bonner usually comes in for Dice and has been pretty consistent with the 3 ball this season.

Blair then rests Duncan and is one of those players who can bring tremendous energy and rebounding off the bench, he is foul prone though against bigger opponents, but I feel he'll be well suited against the Suns smaller big men.

Usually Manu, G Hill and Parker are constantly revolved so we always have a very attack minded guards. R Jeff as well will come into the mix at times. Don;t be suprised to see all 4 of those guys and Duncan out there for alot of this series to really take it to the Suns. Dallas struggled against that line up getting stops.

Secondary limited players:
After those guys, we have R Mason ( For quick offense), K Bogans (If we need some SF defending) , I Mahinmi (Hasn't played yet) however those guys have played limited minutes..


PS Old men like Parker?? lol wtf? He's only 25.

um he's 27. And he's played international ball every summer. That puts him more at 30ish. That's getting older

[Qwigglez]

Lol. Picture this guys. Lakers get knocked off by the Thunder or Jazz/Nuggets. Suns would have home-court advantage to the Finals. Of course, that is if we beat the Spurs.

[co_laper]

um he's 27. And he's played international ball every summer. That puts him more at 30ish. That's getting older

Does that make Manu more at 40?

[Qwigglez]

um he's 27. And he's played international ball every summer. That puts him more at 30ish. That's getting older

Does that make Manu more at 40?

Yes, since he has been balding for half a decade now...

[A roc 23]

Tony Parker is not old.

He is, however, not playing his best basketball right now.

[impulsenine]

PS Old men like Parker?? lol wtf? He's only 25.

I blame the post-victory delirium. You know what I'm talking about.

I have to admit that on paper this is a really tough matchup. Both teams are really, really good.

Here's what I hope to see in this series:

1. Both teams play great. Both the Suns and the Spurs have the ability to play really, really ugly, terrible basketball; conversely, even I have to give grudging admiration for the Spurs' efficient (if boring) style. Of course, when the Suns are playing to their best, they're an absolute joy to watch for anyone who has a goddamn soul.

2. No ridiculous calls by referees. I am fine with close calls and tough breaks. I'll do my homer fan duty and bitch and complain and gnash my teeth for 1 minute and then move on. But I do not want to see any Donaghy-level crap, and I don't think the Spurs do, either.

3. Nobody gets hurt. That goes for both teams. A victory over the Spurs will only be sweet if unleavened by bad calls, injuries, or suspensions. God forbid, I think the same thing would be true the other way around.


Does this good will mean I hate the Spurs with less than the power of a thousand suns? No. They're still right up there with Al Qaeda as far as I'm concerned. But let's give this epic rivalry its due with a proper competition.

[TXSun]

is it Monday yet? Fu**! I can't wait.

[SteveNashMVP]

lets take advantage of home court by making the stadium sooo loud with cheering that the Spurs get a handache and miss all their shots