It's setting up PERFECT for the Phoenix Suns...

[Dark Horse]

Suns can still win this series. As long as they play harder and smarter than in game one.

It's popular (and persistent) belief that the Suns can't play defense, but if that is true how come the Spurs had 15 turnovers against 7 turnovers for the Suns? Or how did the Spurs, who do know how to play defense, give up 106 pts? Higher tempo means more possessions; more possessions mean more scores. Ask Phil Jackson what he thinks about the Suns defense.

PHX didn't come ready to play on Sunday. Maybe they were rusty, maybe they were overconfident, who knows. What I do know is that if they play at the level they're capable of, they will beat the Spurs. These Spurs just aren't that good. But their coach is phenomenal, and his game plan is much more effective in neutralizing the opponent's strong points than D'Antoni's.

Suns need to neutralize Tony Parker. That's nothing new, but D'Antoni still hasn't figured out how. I'm not a Marcus Banks fan, but if I remember correctly from earlier in the season he's perfectly suited to defend Parker. The five extra fouls from playing one more reserve couldn't hurt either. If the Suns continue to play an 8 men rotation against the Spurs 10 men, San Antonio could win the series simply by getting the Suns into foul trouble.

[Razz]

Timmy's the MVP of the league if you look at what he does on both ends of the floor.

I do think Phoenix will bring the defense in Game 2.

[Dark Horse]

He runs an offense better than anyone in the league, but I just think it's a joke to give an MVP to somebody who's among the worst at their position on defense.

Can you picture Ben Wallace or Camby ever being considered for MVP? To me, it's no more ridiculous than having this guy win.

You obviously haven't seen a lot of Suns games. What Nash has done for the Suns is unbelievable. They were terrible before Nash came back. He makes everyone around him better. Do you really think Tony Parker is a much better defender than Nash?

[gridironguy]

Dark, defending the Lakers and defending the Spurs is too different things. The Spurs have 3 dangerous scorers, the Lakers have 1. The "defense" they showed vs. the Lakers is nothing that most of the other teams in the playoffs could not have shown.

I don't think it was overconfidence that did the Suns in on Sunday either. If they were overconfident against a team that was 2-1 against them this season and beat them in 5 games in the '05 playoffs, then they need to have their heads examined.

I think this Spurs team just has their number. I hope I'm wrong. I am really rooting for Phoenix. I wana see them win so badly, but I just have a really bad feeling about this series. I'm usually an optimist, but not right now. They will have to dig very deep, I mean very, very deep, to win 4 games off this Spurs squad.

I think they have it in them, but it will take the entire coaching staff and every player on that roster who touches the floor to get this thing done. San Antone is obviously no joke. They have shown this year after year, and Popp is just sick as a HC.

[DrunkenLullaby]

You obviously haven't seen a lot of Suns games. What Nash has done for the Suns is unbelievable. They were terrible before Nash came back. He makes everyone around him better. Do you really think Tony Parker is a much better defender than Nash?

I've seen plenty.

What Nash has done for them IS unbelievable.

He makes everyone around him better...ON OFFENSE.

Parker is a better defender, by far, and I wouldn't be giving him the MVP either.

Nash couldn't defend in Dallas and he still can't defend in Phoenix. That doesn't mean he's not a huge asset to his team, but MVP is preposterous. Show me the GM that would choose to start a team with him over Kobe or Lebron.

[Dark Horse]

I don't think it was overconfidence that did the Suns in on Sunday either. If they were overconfident against a team that was 2-1 against them this season and beat them in 5 games in the '05 playoffs, then they need to have their heads examined.

I think this Spurs team just has their number. I hope I'm wrong. I am really rooting for Phoenix. I wana see them win so badly, but I just have a really bad feeling about this series. I'm usually an optimist, but not right now. They will have to dig very deep, I mean very, very deep, to win 4 games off this Spurs squad.

I think they have it in them, but it will take the entire coaching staff and every player on that roster who touches the floor to get this thing done. San Antone is obviously no joke. They have shown this year after year, and Popp is just sick as a HC.

Spurs have had the Suns number for sure. I really thought the Suns could turn that around this post season, with the Suns better than before and the Spurs on the decline. Guess we'll find out tonight. They need to dominate game two to change the tone of the series.

[gridironguy]

Show me the GM that would choose to start a team with him over Kobe or Lebron.

DL, considering the turnaround Nash has spearheaded in Phoenix since the 2004-5 season, I have no problem with him earning at least one MVP since then.

The award you're thinking of is called the "NBA's most likely to have a GM start a team with" award, not the MVP.

2 different things.

[gridironguy]

Spurs have had the Suns number for sure. I really thought the Suns could turn that around this post season, with the Suns better than before and the Spurs on the decline. Guess we'll find out tonight. They need to dominate game two to change the tone of the series.

You and I both, DH.

I figured the rising Suns (no pun) were at their best of the past 3 yrs, and the Spurs would be leg-weary after 4 straight playoff runs with 2 of them ending in championships.

We'll find out tonight if the Suns have any fight in them. If they lose, they're done. If we know that, they know that. Let's see if they show some desire on defense tonight. It will hurt their offense a bit to play tougher D, as they'll be more tired, but if that's what they need to get it done then so be it. Score 90 pts and win by 1 for all I care, but just win.

[DrunkenLullaby]

The award you're thinking of is called the "NBA's most likely to have a GM start a team with" award, not the MVP.

2 different things.

...then a lot of GMs should be out of jobs if they would not choose to start their team with the player that is truly the "most valuable".

[gridironguy]

Nash is the most valuable for running the offense that the Suns run, which is unlike any other offense in the league. Few other teams would choose Nash first because few other teams have the cast of characters the Suns have, which have been acquired/drafted around Nash's skills.

If you want the MOP (Most Outstanding Player) then the NBA must rename the award and it will have gone to Kobe Bryant for the past 5 yrs, and for the next 3. Then, Lebron will get every MOP until 2015.

Michael Jordan would've won every year from 1986-1998.

etc, etc.

We're talking Most Valuable for that particular year. This past regular season, Dirk was the most valuable. The best player on the best team who helped his team achieve 67 wins, the 6th best record ever. Of course, the post-season was a different story, but given the criteria of the NBA's MVP award, Dirk is the best candidate this year and Nash certainly deserved it least once in the past 3 seasons.

[DrunkenLullaby]

Let's just agree to disagree.

[gridironguy]

Yes, we agree to disagree. But the most important ppl -- the ones who vote for MVP -- disagree with you as well, as Nash has won not one, but TWO straight MVP's!

Most Valuable Player, different than Most Outstanding Player.

I cannot emphasize this enough.

[hitbitritz]

MVP like Steve Nash.

Series to be 1-1 soon.

[Dark Horse]

Suns taking care of business tonight. Up 17 pts. They need to finish strong here.

Kurt Thomas on Duncan worked well.

[hitbitritz]

MVP like Steve Nash.

It's crazy to think anyone but Mr. Nash is MVP. It should be ackward for Dirk this year when he wins it.

[Dark Horse]

Agreed. Threepeat MVP.

[DrunkenLullaby]

I'll be the first to admit that this team DID play defense tonight.

Hell, Nash even held Bowen to only double his season average - a strong defensive showing by him!

Spurs in 6.

[gridironguy]

This is the type of emphatic win that can be carried over into Game 3 and 4 and the Suns can possibly steal 1 game in San Antone.

The Suns barely lost game 1 with their leader nursing a bleeding nose the final 3 mins, then came back in Game 2 and absolutely smashed the Spurs.

This is gonna get interesting, I have a feeling..

[DrunkenLullaby]

Gimme Over 14 fouls called on Phx in game 3 for the limit.

[gridironguy]

Good point, DL.

[DrunkenLullaby]

Ayep. 24 is quite a bit greater than 14. 29-36 FT vs 18-27 FT = your ballgame.

[jjgold]

Phoenix cannot stop Duncan that is the problem.

[gridironguy]

I'd like to recant my statement that "things are setting up perfectly for phoenix" LOL

[DrunkenLullaby]

Game 1 24 Phx fouls Phx Loss
Game 2 14 Phx fouls Phx Win
Game 3 24 Phx fouls Phx Loss
Game 4 17 Phx fouls Phx Win

Be nice to know what kind of game will be called in game 5, huh?

[BigBollocks]

The refs handed Phoenix game four no doubt about it. Rarely do you see nine more fouls called on the home team, much less the Spurs over the Suns in San Antonio. The NBA definitely got what they wanted tonight, and knowledgeable handicappers benefitted accordingly...

[rjt721]

The refs handed Phoenix game four no doubt about it. Rarely do you see nine more fouls called on the home team, much less the Spurs over the Suns in San Antonio. The NBA definitely got what they wanted tonight, and knowledgeable handicappers benefitted accordingly...

I could understand you saying that SA blew this one, or more appropriately, PHX simply outplayed them down the stretch, but the refs played absolutely no part in determining the outcome of the game.

How come whenever someone is on the wrong side of a game they blame the officiating?

[onlooker]

Well if you think the officials handed the Suns game 4, then they handed the Spurs game 3.

[gridironguy]

I'd like to recant my statement that "things are setting up perfectly for phoenix" LOL

Hold that thought!

[DrunkenLullaby]

Phx still can't play playoff defense. For all Nash does on offense, he's just as big a defensive liability. This is one major reason why Dallas became a defensive force upon his departure.

SA over Phx in 6.

[gridironguy]

I wouldn't go overboard patting yourself on the back. Any objective fan knows that without the Nash bleeding cut at the end of Game 1, and the controversial suspensions in Game 5, that this series not only does not end in 6, but it's more likely that the Phoenix HC advantage comes into play in Game 7.

If the Spurs win the championship, I'll be the first one to give them credit. If they lose to Detroit, I'll still give them some credit. But if the Jazz or the Cavs beat the Spurs, I'll take to my grave that Phx would've beaten the Spurs if the series would have gone 7 as it rightly should have.

[DrunkenLullaby]

I wouldn't go overboard patting yourself on the back. Any objective fan knows that without the Nash bleeding cut at the end of Game 1, and the controversial suspensions in Game 5, that this series not only does not end in 6, but it's more likely that the Phoenix HC advantage comes into play in Game 7.

If the Spurs win the championship, I'll be the first one to give them credit. If they lose to Detroit, I'll still give them some credit. But if the Jazz or the Cavs beat the Spurs, I'll take to my grave that Phx would've beaten the Spurs if the series would have gone 7 as it rightly should have.

I cashed my tickets, that's all I care about. Now with my futures from back in November on Utah to win the West & win the title I hope they suspend Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, Horry & Bowen for dirty play!

[gridironguy]

I cashed my tickets, that's all I care about. Now with my futures from back in November on Utah to win the West & win the title I hope they suspend Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, Horry & Bowen for dirty play!

Picking UTAH back in November to win the West and win the title are both GREAT picks. Incredible foresight, I will give you that.

I hope you win both of them, DL.

[DrunkenLullaby]

Thanks. Yup, took a shot that Kirilenko+Boozer+Okur=best rebounding front line in the league...and maybe didn't expect Williams to get this good this fast, but still expected improvement. Got very lucky that Boozer stayed healthy most of the year, and even luckier that the real AK-47 might finally have shown up at the right time after being useless most of the year.

Kinda pissed that I'd have to lay in excess of -400 on SA to hedge any of this out. There is no way SA wins this series > 80% of the time.

[gridironguy]

Phoenix over Cleveland in the Finals

Well, perhaps I'll get ONE of my predictions for the finals right!