Suns-Spurs Preview and open thread
by Kevin Sawyer on May 3, 2010 11:59 PM EDT
in Detroit Pistons Previews
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PrintJust back from the Tigers-Twins game, but if you're watching the Suns battle the Spurs, talk about it here!
3. Phoenix (54-28) vs. 7. Spurs (50-32)
Game 1 Tipped About 45 minutes ago
Has any team ever defeated the top three seeds en route to the NBA finals? Research monkeys, go!
The Suns and Spurs revive an old rivalry. Manu Ginobili already has a bandage on his nose, so that sets the mood. This rivalry is a bit more fun because the five most critical players have remained constant. Nash and Stoudemire vs. Parker, Ginobili and Duncan. It's less fun without Bowen doing something absolutely revolting and YouTube worthy, but this is still fun.
This has been billed as a battle of competing paces, and that is true to some degree. It has also been billed as an offense vs. defense matchup; also somewhat true. That said, San Antonio doesn't play at a particularly slow pace, and they were ninth in both defensive and offensive efficiency.
Don't let the 50-32 record fool you. The Spurs have been playing some of the best ball in the league over the last several weeks, while keeping their big three fresh. Plus, you have to assume that Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess are going to start clicking with this bunch at some point. If that point is, say, over the next ten days, the Spurs are a legitimate threat to win the championship.
You know what the Suns do. A Ferrari on offense, unspectacular (though underrated) on defense. Steve Nash works with largely interchangeable parts (except for Stoudemire, though you could replace him with any 20 and 9 guy in the last 25 years and get the same result) and his team is more fun to watch than to root for.
Player to watch: Jefferson. He was never an all-star, but he's better than he showed this season. It's hard to find your niche as a 4th option, especially from the wing, but he has shown signs of getting the hang of it. That said, Jason Richardson went absolutely ballistic in round one. If he does that again, show's over.
Prediction: Spurs in 7. San Antonio had a slight edge in margin of victory, and I don't see home court advantage being a huge factor, especially given the teams' mutual familiarity. And, yeah, Richardson isn't hitting four three-pointers per game again.
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Steve Nash
Still getting it done at whatever age he is (old). Hill was at his mercy out there.
I'm just like a sports reporter, but without the insight or money.
Note on Celts-Cavs game 2
I’d be very worried if I was a Cavs fan. Not just that they lost home court advantage, but that they got blown out in a game where they had the home crowd and got the benefit of every call. Kudos to Sheed for finally realizing he needs to play like he gives a shit.
Here’s the biggest problem I see for Cleveland in this series- Their interior defense stinks. Shaq is old and slow. Hickson is young and inexperienced. Varejao is a hustle player who can’t handle athletic bigs. Jamison just plain sucks at defense. I didn’t even see Ilgauskas out there but he is at best an average defender. They miss Ben Wallace right now. He would have easily been their best defender in the post.
I'm just like a sports reporter, but without the insight or money.
SA should start Parker again
Not that he is anything special on defense, but he can attack Nash on offense.
I'm just like a sports reporter, but without the insight or money.
believe it or not, djsteveporter is the maker of them, the one who also made press hop: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exOxUAntx8I
by don'tworryaboutit on May 6, 2010 10:28 PM EDT up reply actions
WOW, really?
The Press Hop Iverson we sittin heah Im posed to be the franchise pleah joint is so far superior though. That’s crazy
"Someday pray that he will grow a farm barn full, Recent research shows its not so darn harmful"
It’s pretty baffling.
Also, I always forget how looong Carter’s arms are, then he randomly does a sweet dunk.
Howard’s stroke always looks decent to me- way better than Shaq’s- it just seems like he has Big Ben’s shitty aim (just a random thought, I wonder if Howard/Ben need glasses? or are more easily distracted by the fans waving shit behind the baskets?) always seemed weird to me that two guys with not horrible looking strokes are so bad at free throws.
An elite level basketball analyst should be able to perceive that the “stroke” of a professional athlete is … hardly … the difference between a top notch free throw shooter [e.g. Chauncey “the leader” Billups] and [the young but still needs to develop] Dwight Howard. What a trained basketball eye should see clearly is that the difference, clearly, in fact, obviously is … that Hubie Brown was actually present at the game and was telepathically imparting his basketball wisdom to the young mind of Dwight Howard. So you see, it is not about his “stroke,” much less the fact that he utilizes an awkward set shot at the charity stripe, at all, but, rather … i. Hubie Brown’s capacity as an elite level coach; and … ii. Dwight’s immediate boost to his poise and leaderships skills, as the direct result of being directly connected to one of the most brilliant basketball minds of all time.
/expertopinion’d
by brgulker on May 7, 2010 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
Haha, that’s scary that you can do that so well. :)
by garrettelliott on May 7, 2010 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions
I never thought I'd see the day
that Khandor’s lone apologist should mock him. It is a day worthy of celebration!
"Gee'drah write a rhyme in the time he hollow out a flask - crack a Guinness stout with his teeth one time, swallowed the glass"
Today was a good day.
"Someday pray that he will grow a farm barn full, Recent research shows its not so darn harmful"
by Skylar on May 9, 2010 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
i actually like orlando very much. i like the style of ball they play. i dont know why. their offense is well designed and they play good d. they dont act like douches like the celts and dont have a crybaby superstar like the cavs. i know a lot of people get on howard for talking about the refs all the time but he is right IME. a lot of those calls are nonsense calls that are just lil dudes initiating contact with him cause they know the refs will call it on howard.
Steve Nash is passionate about his team's postseason play
Beat the suns and it’s PARTY TIME
"Someday pray that he will grow a farm barn full, Recent research shows its not so darn harmful"
by Skylar on May 7, 2010 1:45 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I just found it and it seemed appropriate. This is my favorite though by far:
"Someday pray that he will grow a farm barn full, Recent research shows its not so darn harmful"
If Carrot Top fucked Ashton Kutcher and somehow got him pregnant
Demi would be Muy Enojado, and 9 months later you’d have a baby Kyle Korver.
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I present exhibits A, B, and 3
"Someday pray that he will grow a farm barn full, Recent research shows its not so darn harmful"
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