Spurs Attempt to Help Suns in Game 3

by ZonaFlash on Apr 25, 2008 9:10 AM MDT

In a rare show of generosity, the Spurs, a team that prides itself on not complaining and ondishing out physical play, attempted to do the Suns and Suns fans a favor.

This from Spurs' KSAT 12

KSAT 12 Sports has learned the Spurs have contacted league officials regarding a play involving Suns guard Leandro Barbosa and Spurs guard Manu Ginobili, and have asked for Barbosa to be suspended.

Unfortunately, the league continues to persecute Phoenix Suns fans by all but guaranteeing that LB will start Game 3:

KSAT 12 Sports has learned the league reviewed the play in question and that no action would be taken.

Between Haq-A-Shaq and this uncharacteristic complaint, I detect serious fear in the Spurs' coach's mindset. Of course, if the Spurs win, it will just be another exhibit in Popovich's genius, because winning is the answer to everything.

The youtube of the play after the jump!

Here's is the youtube video:

One mean Spurstalker didn't want LB suspended, saying

Don't get him suspended! Hes playing so bad it would be an improvement to their team if he was.

Now, let me be clear. I'm not a fan of any play that risks undue injury. But for the past few years, our team has been the victims of physical play. So be it.

If someone has to get beat up on the playground, I don't see why it has to be my team? If my team's gonna lose, I want them to go down swinging, playing good hard, physical basketball.

1 recs | Comment 24 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Wow

you know – when I first saw this I didn’t think much of it. I mean come on. Barbosa?

But it sure looks like he gives a quick right hand to the face as they are going down….

Blogging Suns Basketball

by Phoenix Stan on Apr 25, 2008 9:15 AM MDT 0 recs

Everyone was getting hammered on that play.

But yeah, as long as it’s consistent, I have no problem having him suspended. But it has to work both ways.

by ZonaFlash on Apr 25, 2008 9:17 AM MDT up 0 recs

Yup.

He might have gone for the face there. That’s unfortunate. Like Phoenix Stan, I didn’t think much of it at the time either. Upon further review though…

by Mike Lisboa on Apr 25, 2008 9:33 AM MDT up 0 recs

Well - the league

bailed out the Spurs again by failing to suspend LB…go figure

Blogging Suns Basketball

by Phoenix Stan on Apr 25, 2008 9:38 AM MDT up 0 recs

This is sad

Have we really reached the point where we’re actually cheering for one of our own players to be suspended?

...at least the Suns are making me feel a lot less guilty about having to take an early exit by looking like they’re planning one themselves.

by TexSUN on Apr 25, 2008 9:53 AM MDT 1 recs

Its not really about LB

My concern is more that the Coach doesn’t adjust and hold his players accountable. If LB is going to play as poorly as he has this series (and in the past against the Spurs) then I think we need to be able to go in a different direction. The Croatian direction IMHO.

We joke about the suspension of course but only b/c it would have forced Coach D’s hand.

Blogging Suns Basketball

by Phoenix Stan on Apr 25, 2008 10:17 AM MDT up 0 recs

Na-unh. We need a French connection!

by ZonaFlash on Apr 25, 2008 10:19 AM MDT up 0 recs

Not that again...

Dude – Diaw can’t spread the floor and there’s ~~only~~ barely room on the floor for Shaq and Amare together…

I agree – that on D he’s good on the wings and I like how he did on Parker in the fourth. But offensively, he can’t play w/ Amare and Shaq and Giricek is a good passer and especially good at entry passes to the post.

Besides – Godan or Amare? Who do you want to have your back in a dark alley?

Blogging Suns Basketball

by Phoenix Stan on Apr 25, 2008 10:23 AM MDT up 0 recs

Diaw has as much range as Hill

I agree Gordan is feisty and a baller. But it’s not like Gordan is lights out at 3. He ain’t striking fear in anyone from the arc. But all that is more reason to bring him off the bench.

Now you’re saying Giricek is better than my passmaster general? =)

But most importantly, if you start Diaw, you get the Full French boost, if you don’t, then you don’t. That’s why you start him and not Gordan G. Money

by ZonaFlash on Apr 25, 2008 10:32 AM MDT up 0 recs

GG for 3

GG is enough of a threat at 36% (better then Diaw and Hill) that they have to stay on him or at least run at him and let him make his patentened pump dribble and hit the open 2.

He actually spreads the floor more then Hill or of course Boris.

And not – he not a “better” passer then Diaw but he’s not a hack and I would say that from what I’ve seen of him on the floor w/ Shaq that he might be a better post entry passer…at least as good as Boris and nearly as good as Grant.

He can’t run and finish on the break like Hill but neither can Diaw?

Next? You think you got more?

Blogging Suns Basketball

by Phoenix Stan on Apr 25, 2008 10:43 AM MDT up 0 recs

Full. French. Boost.

Even if Gordan was a better player on all fronts, it’s the team dynamic that matters.

You get a proven Full French Boost if you start Diaw. You get the same Gordan (we hope) if we Gordan starts or comes off the bench. You might get more from G-money, or less, but the point is you don’t know.

So Full French Boost + G-money > G-Money + Bench Boris.

That math works no matter how money G-money is and you know it.

Now, don’t you want G-money putting the pressure on Manu? They could both enter the game at the same times.

by ZonaFlash on Apr 25, 2008 10:48 AM MDT up 0 recs

Hi Tex!

Glad to see you around, =)
I don’t think they mean it, we have to rely on sense of humor nowadays…just to not jump a ledge!
It was a physical play, I jumped out of my seat when I saw it…thought I was watching the WWE for a sec.
I think LB is just frustated, Doug Collins actually downplayed the thing and said something like “did you see something?? noo not at all, good old physical play, just a little friendly bump”

"Basketball doesn't build character. It reveals it"

by PanamaSun on Apr 25, 2008 10:17 AM MDT up 0 recs

Love Doug Collins

He can be a bit stat happy as a commentator but I wonder if he’s interested in getting back on the bench???

Blogging Suns Basketball

by Phoenix Stan on Apr 25, 2008 10:21 AM MDT up 0 recs

All in good fun...

If that had been turned around (Ginobili taking down Barbosa), everyone would probably be screaming for blood. I think we all want to see LB turn it around on the court, not on the bench.

by Mike Lisboa on Apr 25, 2008 10:27 AM MDT up 0 recs

So true.

If that play was turned around, Suns fans would be calling for Manu’s head. We would once again be the “dirtiest team” in the league. Don’t you guys remember two weeks ago when the Suns blew out the Spurs, there was an incident at the end of the game where Amare set a pick and Bowen tried to go through him with his elbow? You guys were going ape shit…. here take a look.

FUCK BOWEN FUCK BOWEN
BOWEN HURT STAT!!! FUCK BOWEN. are YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME? COME HERE CMONEY, YOU JACKASS!
by RealTangiblesGuy on Apr 9, 2008 10:53 PM CDT actions 0 recs

Real Classy Bowen
Asshole to the end.
by MichiganSunsFan on Apr 9, 2008 10:53 PM CDT actions 0 recs

Q4 3:28
Oh, Dear FUCKING JESUS LORD ALMIGHTY. Stoudemire gets banged up on a screen he sets on Bruce Bowen.
Dirty SOB threw a forearm in his solar plexus.

Just a little shaken up. At first I was thinking he’s somehow jammed his wrist. You may have noticed the alarm in my voice.

by Mike Lisboa on Apr 9, 2008 10:53 PM CDT actions 0 recs

same classy strategy as last year….
When you break out the whuppin’ stick on the Spurs, they don’t take it like men. Instead they try to start something. Well, it isn’t going to work this time. STAT composes himself.
Bowen is lower than a worm.

‘07-’08 Suns: It’s clobberin’ time!
by Hawk42 on Apr 9, 2008 11:09 PM CDT up actions 0 recs

There better be
a suspension. I mean, seriously. Let’s just give the Spurs swords, for God’s sake!
by RealTangiblesGuy on Apr 9, 2008 10:53 PM CDT actions 0 recs

Bruce Bowen, the dirtiest man alive
Motherfucker! I can’t believe nobody knocked this asshole down.
Walk on, walk on With hope in your heart And you’ll never walk alone You’ll never walk alone
by Nobs on Apr 9, 2008 10:53 PM CDT actions 0 recs

Good Game
Nice game Phx. Hats off to you. You wanted it more and out played us.
by CMoney on Apr 9, 2008 10:53 PM CDT actions 0 recs

You can take solace
in the fact that you, once again, out cheap-shot us. Good work, man.
by RealTangiblesGuy on Apr 9, 2008 10:55 PM CDT up actions 0 recs

I will take solace in…
the 4 championships we have.
by CMoney on Apr 9, 2008 11:02 PM CDT up actions 0 recs

Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed.

by CMoney on Apr 25, 2008 11:00 AM MDT up 0 recs

What a difference 2 weeks makes! =)

by ZonaFlash on Apr 25, 2008 11:04 AM MDT up 0 recs

What a difference

an intentional elbow from a guy with a reputation makes….

Blogging Suns Basketball

by Phoenix Stan on Apr 25, 2008 11:09 AM MDT up 1 recs

Yeah rep makes a huge difference...

by ZonaFlash on Apr 25, 2008 11:13 AM MDT up 0 recs

Wow

I remember that. I was going nuts. I thought he had seriously hurt Amare.

by RealTangiblesGuy on Apr 25, 2008 2:48 PM MDT up 0 recs

Look Closely -- Not LB's fault

Manu locked up LB’s right arm. Manu then pulled LB on top of him. LB’s left hand came around because his body was coming around. The open hand was going square to Manu’s nose, but missed it because LB moved it away.

Manu was falling (not flopping) and brought LB down with him trying to get the foul. I’ve been doing that for over 20 years (soccer). It also helps slow down your fall when you’re hanging on to someone else.

Manu was hanging on for dear life because Shaq knocked him over.

Mmmmm ... Guinness

by JSun on Apr 25, 2008 11:10 AM MDT 0 recs

Speaking of Soccer

I went to Marcos De Niza in 1992 – we beat Brophy for the State Title in 1991, thanks to now pro-baller Greg Vanney.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Vanney

by ZonaFlash on Apr 25, 2008 11:22 AM MDT up 0 recs

No more whining for me, need some serious advice here

After 2/-1/2 days of marinating in darkness, I’m going to go Full-French as a fan and give it what I’ve got till the lights go dark at the Purple Palace for the last time this year. My buddy headed out to Vegas and I gave him $20 to drop on the Suns to win tonite, and I’m expecting him to bring back my winnings tomorrow. Come 7:30 tonite I’ll be parked in front of my 55” Sony, popping open a cold brew, and basking in what I am sure will be an HD spectacle of glory for the good guys. Now, here is my dilemma, as I attempt send the positive karma out into space: what jersey do I wear?

In my quiver:

Black alternate road Barkley (from 95)

White KJ (from 94)

Purple Majerle (94)

White Marion (current style)

Purple Marion (current style)

White Amare (new, arrived this past x-mas, but still with tags—seemed excessive with the Marions and was thinking of selling it)

Forget who should start in Phoenix, the Suns need the mojo from my couch (let’s not forget that “fan” is short for “fanatic”)—how do I represent?

by SoCalSun on Apr 25, 2008 2:08 PM MDT 0 recs

Awesome

you should make this a Fan Post to get more input….this is too serious of a question to leave “buried” in the comments.

And yes – I am deadly serious.

Blogging Suns Basketball

by Phoenix Stan on Apr 25, 2008 2:16 PM MDT up 0 recs

No More Marion

We now praise ar47948.html” target=”_blank”>our new Shaqtus Overlord - get over Marion

Barkley never quite delivered after failing in 1993, so I’m against any jersey post-Jordan series.

KJ always delivered and we could use that. Right now, I’m a huger-than-ever fan of Majerle’s so that’s good, too. Can’t go wrong with Amare.

I say you wear a different one each of the first three periods and then make a judgment call for the first, depending on the shirt you were wearing during the best of the first three periods.

Mmmmm ... Guinness

by JSun on Apr 25, 2008 6:09 PM MDT up 0 recs