1992-93 Phoenix Suns Retrospective (Part 2)

Second part of my two-part series on the 1993 NBA Finalists. If you missed the first part its here. Good history lesson for you youngsters and good memories for the oldsters.

over 1 year ago Scott Howard 27 comments 5 recs |

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Brilliant, Scott.

I was hoping for some creative editing that would give us the win, but…
Really nice retrospective. Made my lunch.

"The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
"In the long run the pessimist may be proved right, but the optimist has a better time on the trip."

by haremoor on Jan 31, 2011 1:30 PM MST reply actions

It'd be so awesome if BSOTS posts could make me lunch

Then again I’d be eating like 4 lunches a day.

The Polish Hammer. Hammer polish. Unpolished post game. Unpublished Fan Posts about it. Post game threads. Puns puns puns. Nailed it! Polish Hammer

by Will Slaven on Feb 1, 2011 6:27 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs

I blame Barkley, not Ainge

Barkley’s bad defense at the top of the key sends the chain reaction motion. West moves up to catch the penetration and Ainge rotates down. Even then, Barkley stands perfectly still and doesn’t try to cover anyone (e..g., Paxson).

What was Barkley doing?

I never noticed before, but he was jawing with Pippen before the play.

Mmmmm ... Guinness

by JSun on Jan 31, 2011 1:33 PM MST reply actions

When you're up 2 with that little time left...

I’d hope part of the defensive game plan would be not to leave the guy who hit 62.5% of his threes during that postseason. (He was a mere 46% on the regular season though).

So maybe I blame Westphal. Pippen or Grant dunking to tie it would have been a lot easier to stomach.

Founder of the Coalition to Light Vince Carter On Fire (CTLVCOF)
RIP Seasons of Discontent

by Scott Howard on Jan 31, 2011 1:42 PM MST up reply actions

I don't think

You can change 2 to 3 decades of training during one time-out.

I also don’t think you want any score, and a lay-up for a tie is much more likely to go in than a long-range jumper.

I think you can stay between your man and the hoop when your man is standing still without the ball.

Mmmmm ... Guinness

by JSun on Jan 31, 2011 1:51 PM MST up reply actions

Watching this play again and again is just super fun and doesn't hurt at all.

I see your point although I don’t think it’s terribly complicated and not something a player had never done before just to not leave his man. Certainly not natural but his help defense was complete shit too.

Ainge and Barkley both looked utterly lost and a step behind on the play and clearly part of Ainge getting lost was Barkley allowing the free penetration from Pippen in the first place. Always good when you basically have three players converging on one (Pippen).

Founder of the Coalition to Light Vince Carter On Fire (CTLVCOF)
RIP Seasons of Discontent

by Scott Howard on Jan 31, 2011 2:02 PM MST up reply actions

It was all Vince Carter's fault.

Yeah, I said it.

by haremoor on Jan 31, 2011 2:32 PM MST up reply actions

Obviously.

Founder of the Coalition to Light Vince Carter On Fire (CTLVCOF)
RIP Seasons of Discontent

by Scott Howard on Jan 31, 2011 3:06 PM MST up reply actions

he just

spontaneously combusted

"It's nice to feel good at 32. I don't feel old. I don't feel like this is getting harder. I feel like this is getting easier, if anything." Steve Nash

by 2NASHTY on Jan 31, 2011 4:17 PM MST up reply actions

And not a spelling error in sight.

"Yes the game threads have more mood swings than a coked up pregnant woman but you have to admit, it’s always a fun ride." - NashMV3
"I know...The Suns are like a drunk bi-sexual girl. You just have no idea what she is going to do." - TheRza82

by NashMV3 on Feb 1, 2011 7:32 PM MST up reply actions

the word wit all the

vowels was tough

"It's nice to feel good at 32. I don't feel old. I don't feel like this is getting harder. I feel like this is getting easier, if anything." Steve Nash

by 2NASHTY on Feb 1, 2011 7:34 PM MST up reply actions

The only reason I can re-watch now

Is so that I can strengthen my argument to rip on Barkley. It somehow lessens the pain.

At least it reminds us that the Suns couldn’t play defense long before Antoni came along. Those last two plays are just astounding, aren’t they? And, since when is Mark West anywhere near a player in the lane and not whistled for a foul? It’s a conspiracy.

Mmmmm ... Guinness

by JSun on Jan 31, 2011 3:03 PM MST up reply actions

Those two defensive plays were indicative of a team that either

(a) can’t play D for shit or (b) completely lost their mind.

I think it’s a little of both.

Founder of the Coalition to Light Vince Carter On Fire (CTLVCOF)
RIP Seasons of Discontent

by Scott Howard on Jan 31, 2011 3:08 PM MST up reply actions

That defense was "absolutely turibel"

by Gildo on Jan 31, 2011 3:54 PM MST up reply actions

Great work again, Scott.

But, damn, it still does hurt to see the end of that Finals game.

"Don't worry, I'm intact.
Whatever I say, Polish Hammer will back."

by East Bay Ray on Jan 31, 2011 2:05 PM MST reply actions

If that team

had Gortat they would have won 3 rings

Raising Arizona Sports at SB Nation Arizona twitter: @sethpo

by Seth Pollack on Jan 31, 2011 3:56 PM MST reply actions 2 recs

3 in the first year.

Probably like 12 when it was all said and done.

With Robin Lopez they probably would have missed the playoffs.

Founder of the Coalition to Light Vince Carter On Fire (CTLVCOF)
RIP Seasons of Discontent

by Scott Howard on Jan 31, 2011 3:58 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs

Robin Lopez

wouldn’t have chocked on that shot like Frank Johnson did. Robin would have turned that uncontested 15 footer into a four-point play. He also would have blocked Paxton…from the lane.

Raising Arizona Sports at SB Nation Arizona twitter: @sethpo

by Seth Pollack on Jan 31, 2011 4:14 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs

cool stuff

Headline: VINCE CANCER retired after hitting his 20,000th point..!

by sun_equalizer on Jan 31, 2011 5:04 PM MST reply actions

I commented on the actual article, but great stuff.

I shall rec it here!

"If the Suns can shock the world
Goran Dragic is the name."

by Dragic_is_Magic on Jan 31, 2011 8:05 PM MST reply actions

I was lucky enough to attend a game

AT that shit hole known as the capital center,I got tom chambers autograph and that was more satisfying than the win.As most games they gooffed around trailing by 5-8 points but you knew they would win and they did.

Lover,Poet,Suns fan,All around damn good guy.

by stevedavis_ on Feb 1, 2011 8:52 AM MST reply actions

Great stuff!
I wonder, did that team really have anyone you could call a “Jordan Stopper” even though in reality those guys don’t exist as Great players will still get their points? I wish a healthy Raja was still around when we faced the Lakers last year.

Don't trade Dudley!

Some people are just like slinkys, they're good for nothing
yet can still manage to put a smile on your face
when pushing them down a flight of stairs.

by Beavis 25 on Feb 1, 2011 3:56 PM MST reply actions

My story of watching the Barkley over David Robinson game 6 series-clinching shot.

I worked retail during the spring and summer of 1993, so didn’t get to see all the games during the playoff run. Good thing was that the store would be slow while the games were going on because everyone was watching the game instead of shopping. I could usually keep tabs on the games while working, either on the radio or on the TV in the upstairs office, and would be relatively unbothered.

For Suns and San Antonio game 6, I watched most of the second half on the TV in the upstairs office. A buddy of mine and I were up there watching when Barkley hit that shot over Robinson. Of course, we’re yelling and high-fiving, when it’s announced over the intercom that I have a call. Pick it up and it was my boss (I was manager on duty; he was higher level manager) calling to inform me about the outcome of the game because obvioulsy I wasn’t watching because obviously I was “working”, right? So, I tried to play dumb and act like it was news to me when he told me, probably unconvincingly. But, seriously, did he think I was gonna be stocking shelves instead of watching game 6 of a Suns playoff series???

"Don't worry, I'm intact.
Whatever I say, Polish Hammer will back."

by East Bay Ray on Feb 1, 2011 4:05 PM MST reply actions

I'm sorry guys but it's never going to stop hurting!!

I was 10 years old, this was my first year both living AZ & following a basketball season. That last game broke my heart.. Yep I was a huge drama queen so I cried & cried for hours.. The bright side of this season it’s that I learned there’s more sports then just soccer. Thank you for the trip down memory lane Mr. Howard :)

There's something you better understand about me, 'cause it's important and one day your life may depend on it. I am definitely a madman with a box!

by Aztiramtempe on Feb 1, 2011 7:10 PM MST reply actions