Suns fans, welcome (back) to the underdog. Its been awhile since we've been here but here we are.

The transition from favorite to scrappy little runt started with blowing the end of game 1 and blowing a big second half lead in game 2. Getting blown out of game 3 made it official and blowing out the Spurs in game 4 didn't change the fact that the era of "Suns as Favorites" has blown over. And that really blows.

The good news is we've been here before and if you remember, it was kind of fun. The 04-05 team was a blast of warmth bringing an entirely new dynamic to the NBA. Each victory for the entire season was a pleasant surprise to be relished with joy. The team played that way and the fans cheered that way.

The next season's expectations were dashed in the summer when greed (you decide who's) sent Joe Johnson to the Hawks and Amare's knee killed new found hopes before they had time to solidify.

Another trip to the conference finals lead by the two-time MVP and his mercurial French side-kick raised the bar. A healthy Amare added to the team that had twice made it close enough to sniff the finals put everyone's Eyes firmly on the Prize.

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Facing elimination and humilation can the Suns show some metal and at least avoid the sweep?

They are going to need to play with a renewed sense of purpose and focus on offense and rotate, be active and help on defense. 

Click here to replay the live blog.

There aren't any (sane) Suns fans left who think this series can be salvaged. At this point its a matter of pride and heart. Getting swept by the Spurs is unacceptable. Getting swept on your home floor unfathomable.

The Suns need to come out and show the poise and composure that's been lacking all series. The Spurs are not going to hit all those open jumpers again but they are also not going to let down. 

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If "team" is ever going to mean something more then a collection of talent laden contracts then some force of leadership and will has to bring those egos together and create the shared purpose and common mission that enables and embodies cohesiveness.  We were told that the Matrix stood in the way of that unity. We were told that Shaq would bring on-the-court and off-the-court leadership that transcended his funny jokes and big mouth. We were told wrong.

There will be plenty of time for blame, recriminations and armchair punditry about next steps. For now, its time to eat a little crow because the first step in fixing a problem is recognizing you have one.

Hubris is our problem.

We are a marquee team in this league and for us to go down 0-3 is something I didn't even think about."  - Amare Stoudemire

So join me Coach "We are the Better Team" in a taste of the black bird. The San Antonio Spurs are not dead as had been otherwise predicted in these pages and the better team came into our house last night and delivered a world-class ass whopping the likes of which I don't recall seeing in a playoff series of this nature.

A word for all you America-first flag waving types who don't think anything great can come from outside our borders - when you are next tempted to deride the French as being soft or cowardly, remember this man . He is a man.

That Frenchman owned our ass last night and the Suns had better come up with an answer to stop him and his amigos that involves team effort. DJ Strawberry isn't going to stop him and The Matrix isn't coming back. It takes a team to stop a team and it takes a leader to build a team.

The couch is open....sharing is caring

 To replay the live blog click here

 Here's some audio that came in yesterday while the @#$#% server was down...

This is from yesterday's post practice media availability  

Cliff Notes Below:

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I went to bed last night deep in that special depression reserved for being dumped, fired or when your team loses a playoff game to a rival. I didn't wake up feeling any better.

Like I imagine most Suns fans are this morning, I am wildly vacillating between the hope that comes from knowing the next two games are at home and if we hold serve than we are right back in this (and we are still the better team) and the fact that despite all of our talent that this team continues to display the lack of mental focus and toughness that lead to being a sixth seed in the first place (and maybe we aren't the better team).

Despite the poise, creativity and solid play by the Spurs, I can't help but feel that we gave two games away.  I expect Barbosa to fade this time of year. We all know that Diaw can shine for moments but isn't going to win us games. But how does Amare go 2 for 11 in the second half after one of the most dominating first halves of playoff basketball ever? That wasn't Spur's defense that caused him to miss wide open jumpers and free throws. That was lack of mental toughness. The very thing that Shaq was supposed to bring to the Suns.

For those so inclined there are still excuses to be used: Duncan traveled on his three. Nash had the flu. Grant's groin.

I am tired of excuses. This Spurs team is still very beatable. Both of those first two games were vey winnable. The Suns don't need new game plans to stop the pick and roll. They don't need new tricks or gimmicks to score.

The Suns need their coach and star players to not panic and to step up and show what they are made of. Unless they already have.

The Bad News First

 This just in. The Spurs are officially the best rope-a-dope team in the NBA ever. They do it during the season. They've done it in the past two games with the Suns. There was Amare on fire in the first half. Almost nothing in the second half. He got rope-a-doped.

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Click here to replay the live blog

Fun's over. Now its time to get serious and break this sucka down...

[Note by Phoenix Stan, 04/22/08 3:03 PM PDT ]

Update on Grant Hill's status:

Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said he would start guard Leandro Barbosa in place of Hill, which would give him roughly six days of rest between games if he sits tonight and starts Game 3 on Friday at home.

Click more for the Bright Side of the Game Plan... 

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