Game 1, Round 1 - Let's Get it On!
by Phoenix Stan
on Apr 19, 2008 1:18 AM MDT
in Game Coverage
 Phoenix Suns |
 San Antonio Spurs |
|
| 0-0 | 0-0 | |
| 12:00 PM Pacific / 3:00 PM Eastern | ||
| TV: ABC HD | ||
| Probable starters: | ||
| Steve Nash | PG | Tony Longoria |
| Raja Bell | SG | Michael Finley/Mano Ginobli |
| Grant Hill | SF | Bruce Bowknees |
| Amare Stoudemire | PF | Timmeh Duece Can |
| Shaq | C | Fabio Oberto |
Recycled Preview
You might think it lazy to simply reuse portions of the pre-game from a few days ago. I call it superstitious...it worked then and it will work now.
Phoenix Stan's Game Plan for Assured Win by Someone Who Really Doesn't Have A Clue
Offensively, the Suns need to attack Timmeh early. Doesn't matter if he's on Shaq or Amare, that's where the ball should go. Shaq can use his magically repaired hip and his new strong ass (no, this hasn't stopped being funny yet) to pound TD in the paint. If Duncan wants to come out and try Amare in the high post then Stat can drive right by him. Either way. Make Duncan work early on D.
Plan #B2 - get the ball to Grant Hill. We know that the Spurs will put Bowen on Nash. That's going to leave a much smaller or lesser defender on Grant. He and Diaw both are going to need to carry some of the distribution load and keep the offense humming.
Defensively, you just keep it simple. The Spurs aren't a balanced scoring team. Behind the big three they are very thin indeed. And all three need to do well if they have a chance to score over 100.
One thing we learned in the second half of the most recent game, is that the key to defending the Spurs on the perimeter is to switch everthing. The Spurs aren't deep enough to make the Suns pay for switching the screens and picks that Parker and Ginobili use to create havoc and get into the lane.
Make the Spurs either move the ball and try and exploit matchups with their role players or make Mano and Parker beat their man in isolation. Even if they can take their guy off the dribble that will give the bigs more time to rotate and provide effective help.
Active, switching perimeter defense is the key to stopping this predictiable and shallow Spurs attack. If the Suns do that and limit turnovers the game will be much more winnable.
Matchup of Greatest Significant Import
Bell v Mano. Raja needs to really focus and lock down Mano. This guy is coming off the bench for the Spurs as their primary option. The Suns can't let him go off. Hold Mano under 20. Suns win.
Update [2008-4-19 10:46:43 by Phoenix Stan]:
Rosewood breaks down the Spurs "offense" by the numbers in this GREAT post. Here's the conclusion:
Buckle up my friends.
Be prepared for anything. The ride is just getting started and its going to be bumpy. But have faith that at the end of this roller coaster the Suns will prevail.
Live blogging will commence about 30 minutes before tip.
For more insight from the other side visit Pounding The Rock. Just be sure to wash your hands after you do. I kid! I kid!
no really, wash 'em good
Don't Forget this...Saturday is the last day before the big upgrade. No more html to post a link!
1 recs |
4
comments
Email
PrintComments
"It has begun!"
LOCK N' LOAD!!!
by Turambar on Apr 19, 2008 1:47 AM MDT 0 recs
GO SUNS! (Welcome, me!)
I figured no better time to join than this epic playoff season. I'm so excited to begin the road to the championship. The team believes, the fans believe, and deep down you know that Sp*rs fans are shaking in their hokey cowboy boots in fear of Los Suns, The Mighty Shaqtus, and Amare the Unstoppable. The best part is, amongst all the hype about the trade and Shaq vs. TD, nobody seems to be talking about Nash. Granted, I don't think suns fans are as worried about Ginobli and Parker (both of whom will surely play much better now than they did in those regular season games against us) as we should be, but still--last year alot of the playoff talk was about Nash and how the Spurs would have to contain his super-assist powers. Part of this is probably because the Suns themselves have learned to play in a less Nash-reliant way (which I think is ingenius), and part of this is because alot of attention has been given (rightfully) to CP3 in terms of point guard awesomeness, but I think the Spurs are gonna be in for a rude awakening when they realize that Nash is still more than capable of doing what he does best: playing the smartest basketball possible and picking apart defenses like nothing. The guy is a TWO TIME FRIGGIN MVP and a master PG.
To me, it's kinda like the first two Rocky movies. In the first, Rocky the unorthodox southpaw fought the world champion Apollo and through sheer heart of perseverance managed to not get KO'd, but still lost the match. Then in Rocky II he trained diligently and learned to fight right-handed. In the rematch with Apollo he shocked his opponent and caught him off guard by completely switching styles. In the final round, when both fighters were worn down and fighting to their last breath, Rocky switched back to Lefty, did what he had always done best, and pummeled knocked out the defending world champion to claim the throne for himself.
Steve is still the captain and although the Suns have learned some invaluable new tricks that will surely throw the Spurs off their game (see Shaq on TD, Amare at PF, Diaw/Hill distributing the ball) I have a feeling that before this series is over we will witness a few key stretches where the Suns revert to Nash and shock/rock the spurs with some old-school southpaw beatdown.
It's boogie time.
by yanyanman2 on Apr 19, 2008 9:31 AM MDT 0 recs
Welcome you!
Go Suns!!!!
by Phoenix Stan on
Apr 19, 2008 10:44 AM MDT
up
0 recs
Can You Feel It In the Air?
"According to team coaches, O'Neal was particularly feisty in Friday's practice, almost scaring people with his intensity. More than anyone else, he is the dragon slayer, the one who has removed all the dread and all the doubt about playing these Spurs."
by JSun on Apr 19, 2008 12:04 PM MDT 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
New FanPost
