Suns Disappoint, Lose to Spurs 103-98
by PanamaSun on Mar 8, 2009 6:02 PM MDT
in Phoenix Suns: Game Coverage
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The Suns finish their road trip with a loss to the San Antonio Spurs. They finish this tough stretch 0-4 in what Shaq called the "I hate Shaq" road trip, playing against his former teams: Lakers, Miami and Orlando. It ended up looking like "I want to miss the playoffs and be a lottery team" road trip for the Suns.
This was a good opportunity (again) for them to beat a good team and feel good about themselves. Instead the only feelings remaining after this game are: disappointment, frustration and anger. Once again the Suns fail to close out a game. They fought back form a 13 point deficit only to let the game slip away in the 4th quarter with their stellar defense. It seems like these games are scripted. Parker scores a bunch of points in the 4th quarter, Duncan has his away against Shaq, Nash with the late turnovers, circus three point shots just to get our hopes up, more turnovers, Spurs getting the critical offensive rebounds to get second chance points, game over and the Suns lose.
Heck, I should have started to write the recap right after the preview. At least I would have saved time. But no, I wanted to believe that our players were going to snap out of it and play hard. I guess I was wrong.
More after the jump.
What's the difference between a good defensive team and a good offensive team?
The defensive team can afford having a bad shooting night because they will get stops. While the offensive team doesn't have that luxury. The Suns can't afford missing open shots and going 3-4 minutes scoreless, 99% of the times they will lose.
The Suns' defense can't get any worse than this. The opposing teams feel so comfortable shooting from anywhere on the field. They don't rotate properly, they are lazy contesting shots. The defense did get better during the second half but once again they let up when it most mattered.
Point Guard Matchups: It's no secret that Parker loves playing against us. He loves to play at a fast pace. He scored 12 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter and blew by anyone who was guarding him. Nash only covered Parker on a few plays and mostly Grant Hill was the one who got torched by the quick PG. Speaking of Nash, he led the team with 23 points and 11 assists but I think he tried to do too much during the second quarter where he shot around 5 consecutive times and was successful in only two. It's no secret that Nash wants to win, that's why he is trying to take over the game but that's not always going to work.
Interesting fact:
- SA went to the line 27 times while Phx only went 13. That's a huge differential right there. I'm just sayin'.
Time is running out. They've got 1 month to prove they deserve to go to the playoffs. They've got 1 month to turn it around. Do you still believe?
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Of course I believe...
…in the unpredictability of the draft lottery! Perhaps we can tank enough to get a top 10 pick? : /
I still believe but I have a question
are they tanking already, to get a higher pick??? sure seems like it
but i believe IF we get into the playoffs, we can cause some almighty scares :-)
Whats up doc?
I want to believe more than anyone
But lets say we DO make the playoffs. You really think we’re gonna cause scares? I dont think we’ve won 4 straight games all season. And losing today giving us a 0-4 streak, that doesnt instill fear in any other team.
If we manage to get in, we’ll probably be playing the Lakers again. Not only are they confident they’ll beat us, they’ve got vendetta’s against us the same way we have against the Spurs. And then what about when we face the Spurs? You think this will be the one time we get by them!?! HA! Not effin likely.
Not to be a downer. Call me Mulder, cause I want to believe. Wow, now you can also call me a nerd. Stale.
So hey, I was on wikipedia and here I saw that in 1979 the NBA officialy adopted this thing called the “3-Point Line.” Suns may want to take a look at gaurding this line from time to time. Having a seven-foot center, IMHO, you may want to force the opposing team to have to go through him instead of stepping up and taking uncontested, wide-open 3-point shots.
Take care of the little things, and the big things will take care of themselves.
What was the #?
Somebody said (I think Shaq) that they plan on winning X amount of games and losing Y amount of games, and that was they’re planned playoff push. What were those numbers? After the break, our goal was to get a 4-5 seed. Now, our goal is just to get in the playoffs. And after seeing our play this road trip, I question if thats even a goal.
Every fan wants their team, at least, in the playoffs. But I dont want to get embarressed by getting swept in the first round. And, knowing this team, they’ll find a way to do that.
Last ditch stand...
win the two games vs. Dallas (Mar10 n one in april). Then rest of the 17 games left – 10 are against non-playoff teams we pretty much have to sweep plus a couple of wins against the playoff teams. And then Dallas has to lose some games. Looks almost impossible unless Dallas (or Portland) hits the skids and losses a bunch of their games.
Everyone's been injury hit
Lakers lost Bynum
Spurs lost Ginobili,………..
Houston lost McGrady
Hornets lost Chandler
Utah lost Boozer
Dallas lost Terry
Phoenix lost Amare
etc….. all except Portland!!!
I know I’m a bad person for thinking it, but I think they’re due :D
Whats up doc?
Portland lost Oden
he’s only played 46 out of 62 games and is currently out indefinitely
Blogging Suns Basketball
Oh
overlooked that one, mainly because he’s so often injured
Hex on Denver then!!! :D
In all seriousness, just compared our schedule vs Dallas’
apart from 10 games against common opponents, which I hope we don’t go another game behind Dallas….
we have 7 crucial games
OKC, PHI, WAS, UTA, SAC, SAC, and MEM during which time they play
LAL, DET, ATL, IND, MIA, NOH, and MIN
and of course, our two games against Dallas themselves….
a nice window(oh dear, theres that horrible word again) of 9 games, to catch up!!!
I STILL BELIEVE!!!
Whats up doc?
Denver
lost Melo for an extended period earlier in the season
injuries are part of the game
Blogging Suns Basketball
And Martell Webster for the entire season (injured before the season even started)
Roy has missed games (4) Blake has missed games (13) Przybilla is playing with a broken wrist, Rudy was taken to the hospital vs the lakers and will miss games.
Karma
by Sabonis4Ever on Mar 10, 2009 5:53 AM MDT up reply actions
I don't believe. I don't want to believe. And I don't want YOU to believe.
This team as currently configured has no shot at a serious playoff run. We need to break it down and start building it back up again. Believing in the present only delays a more desirable future. The quicker we go from mediocre to bad (i.e., the quicker we blow it up), the quicker we can go from bad to really good again.
For the next 19 games, we are locked in.
There’s no trades to make. You could develop the young guys, but if you want to trade the old ones, you need to showcase them a bit more and give them the chance to win.
In my view, there’s nothing for this team to do but go down blazing, and for the fans to believe in what they can do these last 19 games.
C'mon Suns - one more time...
That's a good point, ZonaFlash...and I feel you, too, PanamaSun
I just don’t think our approach ought to be, “let’s do whatever is humanly possible to make the playoffs.” Even if we make the playoffs, we’re almost certainly not going to go on a crazy-exciting run. We’re probably one and done. And to me, it’s not much of a consolation prize to say that at least we went out with our guns blazing (particularly considering that one of our guns will be blazeless b/c of a detached retina).
The things you need to do to make the playoffs aren’t necessarily compatible with the things you need to do to start rebuilding. If you want to trade Nash, for example, you might sit Shaq for long stretches and let Steve run the pure 7SOL offense. That way, GMs can see that he’s still got it (if indeed he does). You also probably want to give your younger guys more playing time in different scenarios (e.g., let Leandro start at the point) to get a better feel for what you’ve got going into the off-season. Doing those things will cost you some games, and probably any shot at the playoffs.
That doesn’t bother me, though, because I’m not interested in watching another early playoff exit. I’m interested in the future of the franchise, which I still believe is very bright.
I understand your frustration
I feel it too. But Dallas has their own share of problems. If we can beat them on both games, we have a shot. People keep asking me what’s the point in making the playoffs if we are going to get beat….there’s only one answer that comes to mind: I want to see a last push, I want to see them go down swinging and if we lose so be it. Then we can start thinking about rebuilding and lottery picks and trades. Not now. Not with 19 games left with 2 of those against the team we are trailing which happen to be as inconsistent as we are.
"Basketball doesn't build character. It reveals it"
I am Half glass full guy
my whole life, why else would I root for the Cubs, Browns and Suns. Trust me I don’t enjoy pain.
This team is done, DONE. They can’t guard, especially Nash. They are two different teams when Shaq is on the floor, and you really don’t what your going to get with the bench. This is the worse bench the Suns have had in years. Of course it never was used, maybe that is the reason.
The sad part is this draft according to many is weak. The Suns will have the best record among non Playoff teams so the chance that they sneak into the top 3 is slim and none.
And of course 2010 No. 1 goes to OKC, just wonderful. The team as constructed is stuck with bad contracts, old players and young players who can’t play ( except Barbosa)
So yeah, I am real excited about the future of this team. Oh I forgot Kerr and Sarver are making the decisions to run this team, news gets better.
"Have You heard of the Boom on Mizar 5?"
by Grockcubs on Mar 8, 2009 10:18 PM MDT reply actions 1 recs
I want to believe, I so very want to believe.
But these Suns aren’t world beaters and they have too many flaws to get rocking.
Now is the time to start thinking about the future of the team.
On that note is the draft pick we gave up for next year unprotected? Anyone know?
"Yeah I could have been king, but maybe I already am king. Hail to the king baby." Ash from Army of Darkness
yup, its unprotected
moron point for kerr?? if you gamble, you might as well secure the odds that you dont lose out. very dumb move from kerr.
http://www.newsok.com/thunder-holds-good-cards/article/3343957
WHAT THE @@&($*&!!!
"Yeah I could have been king, but maybe I already am king. Hail to the king baby." Ash from Army of Darkness
his first deal, 2 first rounders and Kurt Thomas
Simmons called it the most lopsided deal in NBA history (before the gasol trade).
C'mon Suns - one more time...
Disappointed?
Not really. Seriously. Does anybody really think we are going to go past round 1 in the playoffs yet alone make it at this point? The suns are fading fast. The motor on this used car is long past its prime and in great need of an overhaul. I will just remain numb until the the 2010 season starts. I want to believe, but my better judgement will not let me.
Do you believe?
Not really. Just looking at the schedule I have the Suns going 14-5 at best; 8-3 at home and 6-2 on the road. That’s with them sweeping the BTB with OKC and GSW , sweeping the BTB with Mem and Min and beating Dallas twice. I have them with three home losses (Den, UTA, and Clev) and two road losses (Uta and NOH).
For Dallas I have them at 11-8 with 6-2 home record (losses to Phx and UTA) and road losses to Phx, LAL, ATL, Cle and NOH. Also have them with three BTB and splitting those. So, that would put us out.
Even if we win, we would get to face the Lakers in the first round. Going to be tough. Maybe he need to hit bottom before we move forward.
Got so bad that yesterday I just raked leaves and forgot about watching the SA game. Given this decade in SA I just can’t stand to see Parker going off and shots of Longoria cheering her “man” on.
Goran
One other thing .. in what little I did watch of the game yesterday, Goran just seems to be lost out there. I know he’s a rookie and all, but maybe he’s got to grow his hair out. Remember when Vujacic first came in t he league and he had that page boy look? Nobody took him serious, Dude let’s the hair grow out and becomes a better defender. Just a thought. But when Goran heaved that oulet pass over everyone’s head and past the scorers table in the first half, I switched it off and proceeded with the “to do” list. I had high hopes for him given Kerr’s heightened interest in the lad.
I believe
And I will believe until it is sure that we miss the POs. We’re a Phoenix team, we shall rise from the ashes, ha!!!!!!!!
Once upon a time the Suns got out on the break... and along came Steve sucKerr
One other thought before I get back to work ....
Under Colangelo, this team took plenty of risks. They weren’t afraid to blow it up and start fresh. Given that we have no draft picks and some pretty bad contracts to deal with, the issue is this … how do we bury the SSOL and re-create of re-brand ourselves? We have some assets of value with Steve and Shaq. Do we deal them (now or in the Summer) and try and pick up draft picks, create some cap room? I firmly think, knowing what they know today, management would have dealt them both at the deadline. Amare looks as good as gone to me too if he comes back with a decent year next year.
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