Open Game Day Thread: Suns v Spurs

Over at pounding the rock, they're posting expected scores.  No one can possibly know what the score will be, even with fancy University of Mars statistical mumbo jumbo.

Such Posers!

I agree with the analysis except on one point: "Don't double the post until late in the game."  

Actually, it's the exact opposite.  These guys only make 3s in the second half; it takes about a half hour for those old-timers to loosen up.  Do not leave Finley, Bowen, Horry, et al. in the second half (or, worse yet, the 4th period) of the game.

IF doubling is going to occur, it should occur early and often then fade away.  Earlier, the Suns will have more energy on strong double teams and scrambling on the perimeter switches.  If it works, it will knock the Spurs out of the rhythm of the post-game which will have positive effects throughout.  Then, in the 4th, the Suns need to stay on those pesky walking-dead players who only score on 3s in the 4th quarter.

http://www.poundingtherock.com/story/2008/3/27/165124/249

Son's baseball 6pm-7:45pm local time

Tivo is my best friend and all but still....sometimes its hard missing the things you love the most. A no win kind of a day.

I think it went something like

Manu: "You are not the best frenchman baskeetball playah!  I trade Borees Diaw for you!"
TP:  "You are not the best 6th man of the year!  I trade Barbosa for you!  Oh la la!"

Genius.

Who's got live-blogging duties tonight?

About me: This is my first time liveblogging for BSotS.  I make no guarantees about the accuracy or validity of any of my commentary.  In fact, I'll probably play fast and loose with the better part of the so-called "facts."  And I'll drop the occasional f-bomb and poop joke.  So, onward Christian soldiers!  Onward.

8-4 Suns.

And Amare Stoudemire simply runs through Oberto, and apparently gets the call.  Maybe he should keep up his inane MVP candidacy.

14-10 on an 8-0 Spurs run.

16-12 Spurs.

Maybe it's going up against a fellow frog, but Diaw's playing like his ass is on fire and his hair is catching.

22-16 Spurs.

So, apparently, the Spurs still know how to play defense and the Suns are...

I don't know.  Saving themselves for the playoffs?  I almost feel like Coach D put in that line-up for the last 2 minutes of the 1st quarter to spite fans for questioning his rotation.

"You wanna see our bench?  I've got your bench RIGHT HERE!"

Hopefully the Suns can get some of that early mojo back.

This 30% shooting thing can't last, can it?

26-20 Spurs.

Suns have cut it to 4 (26-22), but need to start making some shots.  Any shots.  Their defense is actually looking good to start this quarter, but cold shooting is killing them (and some nice transition defense by the Spurs).

And a STAT jumper cuts it to 2.

28-24 Spurs.

30-28 Spurs

Spurs by 3.

33-30 Spurs, with Stoudemire at the line after the time out.

Suns cut it to 1.

Amare with authority for the lead!

34-33 Suns

If STAT keeps hitting 20-footers, he's going to morph into some crazy hybrid of Karl Malone and Shawn Kemp.  Minus the redneckedness, crack and illegitimate children, of course.

38-33 Suns

38-37 Suns.

It also would have been cheaper.

And on the other end, Nash throws up a circus shot and successfully draw an over-the-back foul from Shaq on the ensuing rebound.  Not their best possession, to say the least.

Suns take it right back on Nash jumpshot.

Spurs say "No, it's our lead" on a Duncan stuff.

Diaw says "Yes it is your lead" and misses a 15-footer.

Parker again.  This time not in the lane.  Fuck that guy.

So, it's a tough one. No surprises there. Nice to see Amare manning up in the 2nd quarter.  If he can keep out of foul trouble, that bodes well.

You know what doesn't bode well, though?  Tony Parker scoring 16 first-half points on 7-10 shooting.  Bring in Sean Marks and sweep the leg already.

Break time for your liveblogger.  Hope you're enjoying.

1. Making layups.  Stop wasting them all in the pre-game and half-time warmups.
2. Making Tony Parker pay for coming into the lane.  Again, no one needs to hurt anyone (despite my "sweep the leg" comment), just send him to the floor once and let him know he's not welcome there.
3. Spacing.  Giricek hasn't quite figured this out and is constantly running into slashers.  Spread the floor and hit a 3 once in a while.  It doesn't help that the Spurs are doing an excellent job of staying at home on Barbosa and Bell.

Shaq with a couple of strong post moves to take the lead to 4.

Suns 49 Spurs 45.

And Ginobli to Oberto again.

All tied up at 49.

Amare picks up his 3rd sending Duncan to the line for two.

He drills them.

Tied at 51.

53-51 Suns

55-51 Suns

Manu hits a leaner to cut it to 2.

55-53 Suns.

Manu hits the gimmes to tie it up.

Oh, awesome.  Amare picks up his 4th on the offensive end.

Finley comes back down and goes strong to the hole.

Spurs by 3, 62-59.

64-61 Spurs

66-62 Spurs.

Suns lead it 67-66.

Manu comes down and answers.

69-68 Suns.

Instead, SHAZAM!  Three-pointer with 2 seconds left.  Suns lead it 72-68 going into the 4th.

72-68 Suns.

Suns dodge a bullet while playing some excellent D.  Someone needs to mix in a defensive rebound.

Shaq for two.

77-70 Suns.

And The Shaqtus is on a roll with another jump-hook.

79-70 Suns.

Way too much time left to say the Suns are pulling away, but it's nice to see the lead grow.

Shaq answers.  Shouldering the load tonight.  Must be the new and improved balanced ass.

Hits one of two.

82-73 Suns

Nash fouled on a drive. Hits'em both.

84-73 Suns

Nash comes down on draws two fouls on this possession.  

Hits both free throws from the second one.

86-73 Suns.

87-73 Suns

This is getting ugly in the opposite way I thought it would when Amare and Shaq picked up their 4th fouls.

Suns open up a 16-point lead, 89-73.

Stoudemire finally checks in and promptly draws an and-1 on Timmy.  

Anyone else see the hip check Bowen threw on Nash?

92-73 Suns.

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.

Didn't really see this coming.

Nash with some salt in the wound.
94-75 Suns.

Yeah, no one in the arena gives a rat's ass about this game any more.  It's a rout.

Barbosa lay-up makes it a 21-point Suns lead.

But, I saw some defensive intensity here from the Suns that I didn't see from Dallas.

Thanks for playing along.  Now, I need to eat some dinner, rest my fingers, and pay attention to my girl!

Go, Suns!

We win on their home floor by almost 20!

[1] Great bench support
[2] Obviously the Spurs have been struggling offensively for the past few games.

Diaw, LB and Moodicek came through when we sat STAT and SHAQ for fouls.  The also made ground with NASH on the bench as well.

Beep Beep and Moodicek led the team in +/- with +18.

Oh and how is that Bruce Barry pickup working out for the Spurs vs. the Suns getting Giricek?

Great team effort!!! Great win!!!!

I'm thinking of writing an epic short story to celebrate this W.  Perhaps after a victory cigar!!!

Great work by Chboddis on the live blog! Your hired. Hours suck. Pay is worse. But it all you! Thanks for stepping up.

Recap coming soon.

Oh, and suck it SA!

It. was. fucking. awesome.

I say it again - Excellent job.