Mavericks booted from the playoffs

by Dan on May 3, 2007 11:21 PM MDT in Suns News Comment 35 comments

The Mavericks pulled maybe the biggest choke-job in the history of the NBA by losing in 6 games to the 8th-seed Golden State Warriors. But by saying it was a choke-job I don't give enough credit to the Warriors and Don Nelson. Nelson knew exactly what the Warriors needed to do to beat the Mavericks and they played it to perfection.

Why am I posting this on the front page instead of in a diary? The Suns were going to have to play the San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks to get to the championships. Now they have to play the San Antonio Spurs and then (if they win) either the Warriors, Rockets or Jazz. It seems a lot easier now. Of course, none of these teams are easy but it sure does feel good to see the Mavericks out of the playoffs already. And it felt even better to see Marc Cuban walk off the court yelling something at the camera.

What do you think about this series? What does this mean for the Suns?

Less important, but still fun to talk about, how are they going to present the MVP award if Dirk Nowitzki wins it now? Is there any way David Stern is going to go and switch the winner to Steve Nash so the NBA isn't embarrassed by having to present the MVP during halftime of some game the Mavericks aren't playing?

I'm pretty excited right now! So much for the Mavericks fans saying the Suns were nothing because they didn't win as many games during the regular season. The Suns are in the 2nd round, the Mavericks aren't. I guess that shows who the better team was this year!

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wow!

That third quarter, wow! S. Jackson 7 for 8 on 3 pt shots, Davis was playing fantastic. The way he keeps hitting tough shots, after enough of those, you realize this team is for real. I'm so happy the Mav's are out!! This is strange to say, but I'm looking forward to the Jazz/Rockets winner playing G.S. just to see how it plays. If G.S. wins in 4 or 5, we all might be in for a lot of fun once we beat the Spurs. The way Dirk played, I'm curious to see what will happen with their team during the next few months. GREAT GAME!!!!!!!

by jasonsuns1 on May 3, 2007 11:37 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Good bye!!!

So long Mavericks! Seeing the Mavs crumble feels almost as good as watching the Suns win... almost.

What an incredible series for the Warriors.

As Dan said, it was possibly the biggest choke-job in NBA history. I still believe Nash has a good shot at the MV3 but I think Dirk's lack of impact in this first round definitely cancels out that MVP award. I just don't care that it's a regular season award. You can't win the MVP and then disappear when you're needed the most.

Nobody can say it was all Dirk though. Where do you even begin. Avery and his starting lineups... the fact that the Mavs basically asked for this matchup... the inconsistent play and lack of on court leadership... and on and on.

If nothing else, this should shut up every Maverick fan on the planet for the next year or so. No more talk about Dirk and his supreme greatness and no more talk about the "best team in the NBA".

I don't know about anyone else, but I haven't even been able to access Mark Cuban's blog since the series started.. I'd love to see what he thinks about this one. Will he make any changes, any trades?

What an incredible series... now I can finally give full attention to our Suns!

by Travis on May 3, 2007 11:50 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

You know...

...I hope Dirk doesn't call Stevie too much, to cry and whine, because one of them still has to get up in the morning and go to practice.

flim springfield

by DrStrom on May 3, 2007 11:57 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Hats off to the Warriors

What an amazing performance by the Warriors! I did not think they could bounce back from the defeat in Dallas, the fouls, the fines, the techs. They did it! They did not just win; they blew away the Mavs. Simply awesome.

We still have the Spurs to contend with. If the Suns don't win the series against SA, the Mavs' absence won't mean a thing.

I felt sorry for Dirk Nowitzki at the end. Actually I felt sorry for all the Mavs players. I believe it was Cuban's influence that may have done a disservice to this team. Avery was talking trash before the game, but after the defeat he was very gracious, giving credit to the Warriors and Nellie.

I am so happy for Don Nelson! Even after winning 3 playoff games against Dallas, Cuban was saying that Nelson's teams can't win big games. So they showed him. Way to go Warriors.

In the post game interview Cuban said that they won't make any changes. He felt bad for the guys and they will need to regroup and try to win a championship in the future (I am paraphrasing).

What does it mean to the Suns? Yipppeeee!!! No more Dallas to contend with. However, they have everyone else to contend with. If Utah wins game 7 on Sat. there should be a cause for concern. However, the Spurs are the toughest team for the Suns. I hope they will use that for motivation and not be intimidated by the Spurs.

by Vash01 on May 4, 2007 12:17 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

First off

do i get a prize for my accurate prediction (warriors rout) when most of you were worried dallas would come back ;o)

I also feel sorry for Dirk No-show-ski, he seems like a decent guy but definitely lacks any type of real leadership skills or killer instincts.
It'll be sad for the mavs and their fans if they are on the beginning of a slippery decline and I'm sure that dallas will NEVER hear the end of this...huge choke job but give TON credit to warriors, they got hot at the right moment and played their hearts out. Dallas played like they thought they had earned a guaranteed ticket to the finals due to their regular season.

by alta on May 4, 2007 1:03 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Completely Agree

I completely agree with you! The Mavs have acted all along like it was their right due to their self proclaimed supremecy to go all the way. They really didn't care about anybody else. I guess that it just goes to show that arrogance like Mark Cuban displays all the time, doesn't get you everything.

by DMP on May 4, 2007 9:02 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

hey alta

I predicted a G.S. win also before this series started on this blog. Sure am looking forward to watching G.S. play the winner of the Jazz,Rockets!

by jasonsuns1 on May 4, 2007 10:03 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

They will be back

I think the Mavs will be back. They have the talent, but they needed a humbling experience like this one. It is easy to get lulled into believing you are invincible when you have the best record in the league- by a mile. The Mavs ran into a red hot team and they just did not have the momentum anymore. Dirk is a very good basketball player with average leadership skills. However, this could be a step in learning it.

by Vash01 on May 4, 2007 2:32 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I thought choking in the finals...

was supposed to have taught them this lesson. This year was all about "finishing" and all that. I think you can only blame Dallas so far. GSW just played out of their minds. This is why sports are great b/c the best team doesn't always win.

by Phoenix Stan on May 4, 2007 9:56 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mavericks booted from the playoffs

The series between the Warriors and the mavs was the most interesting game of this playoff season, and to think that Golden State, a team to make the playoffs at the last minute, could do what most teams couldn't do all season was something to see. There is truth in what they say about adrenaline and that is what took GSW to beat the mavs. The rest of the teams need to look out for GSW's adrenaline rush, especially the Suns, because they also have a knack for letting down their guard when they feel they have teams beat and that is exactly what the mavs did against the Warriors, and it is what happened when the Suns played the lakers. But I'll give credit where credit is due, the Golden State Warriors showed that they deserved that last playoff spot and opened up a can of ass-whuppin on the mavs, well not so much the mavs but their asshole owner, who probably right now is crying foul to anyone who will listen to him....GO SUNS!!!!

by lalbert on May 4, 2007 9:39 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I have to say

I'm glad this blog has declined to bashing each other and other teams..I was looking at some of the other blogs and its pretty out of control.

I think Mark Cuban is bad luck. period. He has no good influence on the team, i.e. last years finals. The mavs could do good in getting a new owner and a player who has a backbone under pressure. I was reading some dallas articles and some of them are calling for dirk to be traded when just a few days ago they were exalting his so-called "mvp"ness. I think playoffs collapses are becoming characteristic of the mavs...must be a gloomy day in dallas

by alta on May 4, 2007 9:50 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

hey alta again

I live in dallas, (moved here from phx 1 yr ago, lived in phx for 25 yrs), and I am so happy Dallas lost. Just to let you know there is a little cheer here. Last year I wore my Suns shirt to six flags on a playoff game day between dallas and the Suns, a lot of fun that was. Dallas is quick to turn on it's team, Phoenix would have a few like this also, but nothing like here!

Some interesting thoughts, yesterday I was hanging out at my pizza place, and a few Mav fans came in. The owner of course, told them to watch out for me the "Suns fan". lol, but I talked to them and they were serious basketball fans, and we had a great talk. The bottom line on one thing, they thought Cuban being the owner has definitely hurt this team. Obviously this series, it was all about G.S.
playing great not anything Cuban did, but.... there's something to be said for the Mavs attitude
around there. The Suns and G.S. have a very loose attitude and let the players play. I don't have the link, but even Josh Howard of the Mavs said "it's hurt our team having an owner do and say what Cuban does. That having someone yell and scream all the time has definitely hurt us". I'm paraphrasing (probably shouldn't have used the quotes). From the few die hard fans I've talked to, people don't like Cuban. He's publicly put down Nash multiple times, but I've heard from people around here that ever since Nash left, so did their team! And with the way Nash plays, (he is a clutch player), boy is that becoming more and more apparent to people here!

It's real simple, in my view about Dirk and this series. G.S. was physical, and very quick. Dirk doesn't have the speed or strength to drive to the basket. The few times he did, he got nailed. Instead of continuing to drive to the basket, Dirk settled for jumpshots. On most nights, Dirk would make those shots, but he was rattled this whole series.

I think the Suns have 3 major factors Dallas doesn't have right now. One, they have heart, as shown during the 1-3 comeback last year against the Lakers. Two, they have Amare, who is quick enough and strong enough (and then some) to punish the smaller Warriors. I can see half of the G.S> team fouling out by the third if we keep giving it to Amare inside. Third, we have Nash, a floor general that Dallas sorely lacked. Terry is a 2 gaurd who can shoot and drive well, but no one on Dallas is within a million miles of Nash!!

by jasonsuns1 on May 4, 2007 10:21 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jasonsuns1

Thanks for the view from the other side. It is very understandable that there are some folks in Dallas that are very upset. It must be so hard for the fans to look forward to what could be a championship season, and see their team not perform. I think it had as much to do with the way GSW played- with a heart- as the Mavs somehow getting out of rhythm toward the end of the season.

I feel bad for the Mavs fans, because I know how it feels when the Suns exit from the playoffs.

by Vash01 on May 4, 2007 7:52 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks

It's one thing to point out the shortcomings of another team (or your own). It's another to bash your team's opponent and their fans. The Mavericks fans are just people like we are and are feeling a little sick right now. I've had that feeling before and I will never forget it. While I'm happy the Mavs are out, I feel bad for the Mavs fans.

And I do have to say that I actually felt sorry for Marc Cuban last night - just for a minute, but I still was surprised that I felt sorry for him.

GO SUNS!!

by Dan on May 4, 2007 11:24 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

HMMM....

Well, I guess it's safe to post this, don't tell anyone. It makes no sense to me, I also felt bad for the Mavs, seeing them lose like that, wow! And what Cuban said in a short clip of an interview after the
loss, it was classy. Basically the question was something like, after these last 2 years, and the way they've lost, are there going to be any major changes on the team. Cuban said he felt very bad and sad for the team, for the fans, and said Dirk was still their go to guy, and that they'd be back next year to do it again. Nice support to his team by Cuban.

by jasonsuns1 on May 4, 2007 11:36 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Uh, no.

Sorry, I just can't bring myself to feel sorry for Mark Cuban. Period. Were it not for him and his smugness, I probably wouldn't even dislike the Mavericks to begin with. Feel bad for their fans? Sure. Although with the way they rubbed it in all year, even that is a stretch outside of the fans in my own family. I'm not sure all the negative energy directed at Dirk is entirely fair. After all, I doubt Nash would have a great series either if the Suns faced this team (although he'd still probably figure out a way to be at least somewhat effective). But since I'm not really a Dirk fan, I'm cool with that too. In short, I have about as much sympathy for the Mavericks and their fans as they had for us last year.

by TexSUN on May 4, 2007 11:41 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

response

It was a fleeting moment, like seeing a really bad car crash and hoping no one was hurt before you realize who was driving the car. I do have the biggest smile on my face today, and last night after that game.

by jasonsuns1 on May 4, 2007 11:48 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

typo

I meant to say I'm this blog HASN'T...

Also, I think last years finals were "humbling" but this was more like history-book, possibly career changing, embarassing for a 67 win team.

by alta on May 4, 2007 9:57 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

this blog

I agree, this blog has great people making comments on it, and a lot of the other blogs are trash. Dan, our main web guy running this blog is the reason. If I'm correct in saying this, a week ago we had someone from L.A. on this blog putting down Nash, etc and when he signed up he used his Ca zip code. Even if he hadn't there is free scripting, 4-5 lines on every web page that could tell Dan where this guy was logging in from . Ways around it, but, anyways, Dan took this guy off I think because we haven't had to waste our time hearing from him since. I think Dan called him our first Troll! Pretty funny.
Later, GO SUNS!!!, to me, this series against the Spurs is the biggest challenge we'll have, even if we go all the way and win. Which we will!

by jasonsuns1 on May 4, 2007 10:26 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dallas

Even though Dallas is out, I don't think the Suns have ever feared them and would have had a great chance to beat them should they have met in the Conf. Finals. Not sure if the Spurs scare the Suns, but they definitely scare me!

I also feel kind of sorry for the Maverick players, but not Cuban or Avery. Cuban is a jerk and his comments about Nash in recent years proved what an a** he is. Avery, no sympathy for messing with his lineup and failure to adjust during the series.

Also, I could swear I heard Cuban say last night after the loss that he doesn't respect Don Nelson, the person, but does respect him as a coach.

by TwinnerA on May 4, 2007 10:51 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

espn chat

I couldn't help but say a few things on a live espn chat today, some of my earlier comments were about the Spurs and Suns. Here's the comment that did get posted and responded to. I should have spelled to "too", every time I read this, I laugh. God that was so cool G.S. crushing the Mavs. Anyone want some Mavs merchandise, it'll probably be free!

by jasonsuns1 on May 4, 2007 11:05 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

post espn last comment missing this

by jasonsuns1 on May 4, 2007 11:06 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Awesome Jason!

That's cool not only that you got on the chat but that Chris Sheridan agreed with you. :-)

by Dan on May 4, 2007 11:26 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

So awesome

It's so awesome Jason to kick a team when it's down. You are so right about Dallas having a bunch of fair-weather fans. I, however, am not one of them. I am super pissed that we lost this series. It is a tremendous let down after what looked like it would be a long playoff run. Dirk choked big time in this series, but I think it's funny that you guys forget about the shot earlier in the season that beat the Suns. You also forget that he hung 50 on you to get to the Finals last year. Granted the evidence is stacked against him (Miami, the games vs. the Suns later in the season, Golden St.) I'm trying to hold what ever bit of hope he'll ever be a leader (which is really slim). The problem is everyone is so locked in and we don't have much flexibility to blow the team up. All of this being said, I am pulling for the Suns. I am Steve's #1 non-Suns fan. I was a Phoenix fan as a youth in the early-to-mid 90's when our Mavs teams were awful. I had to have someone to root for during the 11 and 13 win seasons. I love Nash, Marion, Barbosa, Stoudemire, and Bell. I can even tolerate D'Antoni more than Nellie. Just please, please don't lose to the Spurs. The only thing worse than the Mavs losing in the 1st round is the Spurs winning it all.

by LSUmavsFan on May 4, 2007 11:47 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

on dirk and suns

Hey, nice to hear from you. On Dirk, I haven't liked him since the way he chewed out teammates during the playoffs 2 years ago when the Suns beat them. But, I think he's grown as a player, and as a teammate. A lot of the other Mavs players have been saying this, which is good. I really don't view the Dirk series against G.S. as 100% choking, I view it as this, he was up against a very quick team (#1 and #5 steals per game on G.S.) which was also much more physical going after rebounds and loose balls. I think Dirk will bounce back, but not against the current G.S. team. Look at Dirk's game, maybe the best shooter for a man that size ever! But, he doesn't have the quickness and strength to take it to the hoop. I think he could've attacked the basket much more and brought some foul trouble to G.S. But he didn't. And he was so rattled by this swarming quickness G.S. has, that he missed shots he'd normally make.

That 50 Dirk put up on us, we didn't have Amare or
K.Thomas. And as amazing as S.Marion is, he can't guard all 5 opponents at once, maybe 3 or 4 though.

I think the key to beating Dirk is to be physical, and have 2 guys on him, except for a few moments, no one else on Dallas consistently stepped up.

On the Spurs, we have our hands full, there's no question about it. I think the Mav's big victory over the Spurs last year was huge for Dallas fans. The Spurs had always had the Mavs number before. I think this series is very similar for the Suns, this Spurs team has always had our number. But, just like G.S.'s season shouldn't be depended on for how they're playing now, the same will be said of the Suns. AMARE is the key, he is as hungry to win as Baron Davis, he really is! I think he's grown a lot, and he is hopefully as smart about picking his moments to go for a stop as I think he is. Amare ran into Technical calls problems, and hasn't had one since. He ran into foul problems, and has learned to pick spots since. He has a very smooth 15-18 foot shot, and he attacks the basket like G.S. did to the Mavs, except with more force.
Unless an injury occurs, I think the Suns will surprise a lot of people and win in 6. I remember very well how some people in Phoenix booed Nash and Majerle.

My bottom line on the Mavs, they didn't bring the hustle and intensity that G.S. brought, not even close. The whole team, not Dirk alone. I'll be the first to say, if the Suns had played Dallas this playoffs, I think we would've won, but not like that.
when we first signed them.

by jasonsuns1 on May 4, 2007 12:31 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Majerle

I'm so glad you brought Majerle up. He's still one of my fav players of all time. That 92-93 team was sick. KJ, Majerle, Barkley, Dumas. They just ran into a buzzsaw known as Michael Jordan. But back on Dirk for just a moment. I know that Amare and Kurt Thomas weren't playing in that game 5, but my point was it was still 50. I don't care who you are but 50 in a pivotal game 5 isn't soft. Those were the flashes he showed us last postseason that got us to think this one might be different. I think it's cool to have your perspective as an opposing team's fan in this city. The Mavs are the only Dallas franchise I root for. Growing up in North Louisiana, the Mavs were the team that we got to watch before the Hornets moved in. I am a die hard Saints and LSU fan. It's so great to see the knee-jerk reactions to Big 12 sports, Cowboys, Stars and Mavs games. I'm trying not to knee-jerk myself, but this team can't come back the same next year. This is two playoff let downs of mental proportions two years in a row. We need someone who will take over. We need a Batman and Dirk is our Robin. And on a side note Jason, I hope your home hasn't been hit too hard by all the severe weather in DFW the past month. Good luck to your Suns and thanks for everyone who is a part of Bright Side of the Sun for not being a-holes like alot of the other blog communities.

by LSUmavsFan on May 4, 2007 1:05 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

hey

Nice reply, thanks. Yeah, I remember that 92-93 team. I was a cook at Dennys and our manager let us bring in a small tv to watch the playoffs. The reception wasn't very good, and the tv didn't have an antenna, so I built a massive tower of tin foil hoping the reception would be better...ah good times. A lot of teams (Utah, Malone, etc ran into the Jordan thing). The thing about Jordan, unlike Kobe, I could cheer for him, unless they were playing the Suns. Majerle is cool, I like him as an announcer, I hope he sticks around and keeps doing it. I travel to phx once every 3 months, and have gone to Majerle's to watch the games. Sure is it or miss for it being busy. If it's a big game, it's packed, if not, it's half full. I'm definitely a full time fan and looking into paying the costs to be able to watch all the suns games online. I'm really hooked.

I'll be very honest with you, I thought the Mavs would be in the WCF against us or the Spurs. I to saw that 50 point game, and your very right, the team will have to have some major changes. I hope it's only on or 2 players they get, and don't lose a lot of what they have. There is no doubt in my mind that people in Texas (Dallas Mavs fans) are a little more in number than the Phx Suns fans. Most of my neighbors are very strong Mav fans, my mailman tried to be on the Mav's heavy weight dance team that goes at half (sorry, not sure of their name, the group). The football devotion has definitely carried over somewhat to the Mavs. I live 30 miles from the place the Mavs play, and I have seen kids all done up in blue makeup more times than I can count.

I hope especially that they keep Dirk, Howard, and
Stackhouse. Howard is to the Mavs what S.Marion is to the Suns, under the radar superstar who does everything well, very few weaknesses.

Take care, please come back and comment during the Spurs series, I hope we have some (Dan) headings about the Bulls/Pistons series and the winner of Jazz/Rockets vs G.S. series. It's a great sign the playoffs have a lot of good teams with my interest going to other series much more than last year.

On the weather, I live in Wylie, just east of Plano, and we had a tornado touch down a few weeks ago across the street, and have been fortunate not to have anything damaged. My wife is a weather junkie like I am for the Suns, she loves it. If she could, she'd track down tornadoes, etc. I really like all the rain that has been coming, helping to bring the Lake Lavon water level back up. It was down 10-15 feet and severe water restrictions have been in place throughout Plano, Wylie, Murphy, etc for the last year (mainly on grass). But I hear the lake level is only 5-8 ft low now. Thanks for the concern,

Holla!
Take Care

by jasonsuns1 on May 4, 2007 2:50 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I did feel bad

Hey LSUMavs fan, I did feel bad for the Mavs. It must have really hurt to lose to the #8 seed and the Mavs players, coach, and even Cuban handled it with class. I am not someone who blames Dirk for it. I think he just hit a low point in his career at a bad time, but some of the credit has to go to the way the Warriors and their coach.

Thanks for rooting for the Suns. When I lived in Dallas, I used to like seeing the Mavs win, which was not often- although I was not into basketball then. I am almost sure that the reason I started disliking the Mavs since last year is the way Cuban has conducted himself. It's nothing against the team or the players. Even in spite of Cuban, I felt bad for the Mavs last night (even though I was thrilled for GSW).

by Vash01 on May 4, 2007 7:44 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jinx successful!!

Yay!! I whole-heartedly believe that Vash and I are responsible for the GSW victory last night. We both so thoroughly jinxed the Mavericks by predicting they'd come back, that they didn't even bother to show up for the second half of the game! And Baron Davis going Willis Reed? Awesome.

Seriously, if I had more time (and I don't) I'd write a full-blown epic on how great this is. Sweet revenge for Nellie and Nash too, assuming Dirk wins the MVP (although I doubt Nash is going to be as happy about it as we are, given that Dirk is his best friend). Great, great win by the Warriors, and the GSW fans have to be the best in the league right now. I'm not sure it matters who GSW faces in the second round, I think they can make the WCF regardless. The Suns had better be ready for them!

by TexSUN on May 4, 2007 11:07 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Let us jinx...

...the Spurs (this one's for TexSun)

Here I go...

Spurs will win in 4 games, or at the most 5 games. Suns have no chance at all against the great Spurs team.

End of jinx.

Let's GO SUNS!!!! Play your best games and win EVERY home game (and a few on the roadm if possible). Go Nash, Amare, Shawn, Raja, Boris, LB, KT, JJ....and the bench, if needed.

The Suns will have home court for the WCF if they could get past the Spurs. It's tough, but see what the Warriors did to the Mavs. I am forgetting the name of the little college team that had that great Fiesta Bowl game (need help here). Nobody is invincible.

by Vash01 on May 5, 2007 12:23 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Spurs-Suns

I think that the last regular season game between the Spurs and Suns foreshadows what the upcoming series will be like. I don't think that the Suns will be able to adjust enough. Spurs in six.

by Key on May 4, 2007 4:15 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

come on did you watch that game?

The Suns missed a TON of wide open shots in the first half. It would be a mistake to assume that SA shut down Phx. Phx just missed some shots that normally go in. It was that kind of night. And while the Sun's were scoring for half the game they locked down the Spurs and almost came back and won.

The Spurs are a much worse team then they were two years ago and the Suns are a much better team.

Two years ago the Spurs could go small and deep and play some good offense when they needed to. This year they can't. They don't have even close to the balance that the Suns have. And besides, last year the Spurs got beat by a Dallas team that didn't exactly turn out to be that great. Last year the Suns got beat by Dallas but they had 3 starters injured. Take 3 started off either Dallas or SA and see how far they go.

This year the Suns are healthy - virtual knocking of the wood - and will prove how good they are.

SA is tough and experienced and are not going to roll over. Its not going to be easy. But Phx proved last year - twice - to be resilient and have shown the ability to close out big games (can you say 10 points in :58 seconds?).

Suns in 6 or 7.

by Phoenix Stan on May 4, 2007 4:40 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Spurs-Suns cont.

I'll grant you that the Suns are better than two years ago [Barbosa being a real difference-maker], but the Spurs are much worse? That's wishful thinking. And what does it mean that the Spurs "don't have even close to the balance that the Suns have."

Spurs-Mavs last year was a great series - one of the best ever. The Spurs were victims of some absolutely terrible calls in games 3 & 4, and Manu committed that key foul at the end of game 7. The series was so close that one bad whistle or one bad play could and did make the difference. But if the Spurs would have gone to the Finals, they would have handily defeated the Heat.

The Spurs are deeper than the Suns, and they seem to be able to make them quite 'normal' [esp. Nash & Marion]. They've certainly had the Suns'number, but this is certainly a great opportunity for the Suns to, as you say, "prove how good they are." Should be fun!

by Key on May 4, 2007 5:24 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Key

I assume you are a Spurs fan, and that's not a bad thing. It is nice to hear different view points. I thought last year the Spurs should have won the series against the Mavs. They are as good as they always are, which means VERY VERY good. It will be a tough challenge for the Suns, but if they want to win the title, they need to beat the best. Let us see if they can do that.

I agree that the Spurs have a deeper bench, and JMO a better coach (I don't dislike Dantoni; I just question some of his decisions). I think the 8 man rotation works for the Suns because their style of play (did someone say "organized chaos"?) requires that the players are absolutely used to playing together. Occasionally they have tried a 9 player bench and I think this may be a good time to try that 9 player rotation, depending on the match up.

by Vash01 on May 4, 2007 7:49 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Vash1

Thanks for your thoughts. The eight-man rotation has worked wonderfully for the Suns so far, but the intensity provided by a tough playoff opponent will be a real test to see if the chaos remains organized. As will the possibility of injury. Of course, an injury to one of the Spurs' Big Three would mean a serious challenge for them. Another key will be the foul trouble situation, esp. for TD and Stoudemare. Let's hope that there are no serious injuries and even no serious foul trouble, so that we can see both teams at their best.

by Key on May 5, 2007 12:32 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs