5 Things to Keep an Eye on: Suns at Spurs, Game 5
April 30, 2008
Filed under: Suns, Spurs, Western, NBA Playoffs, Phoenix
In another of our continuing series, five things to keep an eye out for tonight in the Suns-Spurs game tonight.
1. What You Currently Feel Is The Wall Against Your Back. Yes, Still: Okay, let’s get this out of the way. I don’t think there’s any way the Suns beat the Spurs tonight. We’ve seen San Antonio suck the life out of too many teams, in too many series, to believe they’ll even allow the possibility of something exciting to happen. But since I don’t want this column to read just about keeping an eye on how many empty seats there are in San Antonio (and there will probably be a few, knowing this crowd), I’ll humor the idea. The Suns are against the wall, again. They’ve been here many times this season, and every time, they’ve responded. But they also responded last game, and back to back responses is a whole other matter. Especially in San Antonio, versus an embarrassed Spurs club. If the Suns want to win, they can’t hold anything back. It all has to be on the floor. No other option. For a Suns team that’s known to coast, we’ll see if they can hold a consistent energy.
2. Full French > Half-Hill?: The rave on the internet this week is about how Mike D’Antoni finally wised up and started Boris Diaw, and how he’s the new savior of the Suns. I got news for you. I’m not buying it. It’s fine that Diaw got some good numbers in a blowout game in Game 4. And it’s fine that the Spurs let him back down whatever small forward was guarding him in the post. But he won’t find that tonight. He’s going to find Tim Duncan. At home. Angry. Unless Boris fully embraces the 3, he can’t be effective. And even if he does, everyone was so impressed with him guarding Tony Parker. But who guards Manu Ginobili? You really think both of them are going to have back to back bad games? Diaw is not the answer. Someone who can effectively play consistently is.
3. Liberty, Bell: Speaking of Raja Bell, he actually decided to rise to life in Game 4. It’s pretty simple, really. The Phoenix Suns cannot win tonight without Raja Bell playing well. His shooting is too important for them to spread the defense and create lanes for Nash and Amare Stoudemire. If he melts back into the darkness again, the Suns are going to be back in the dark with him, and this isn’t one they can come out of.
4. What About (Big Shot) Bob: Robert Horry played 20 minutes the other night, scoring 6 points and nabbing 7 boards. Some of that was garbage time. But as the playoffs get deeper, Greg Popovich is going to want to lean on him more. It’s just comfortable, like an old sweater that’s worn and has holes, but is too comfortable for you to throw away. At some point, though, Horry’s not going to be able to hit that big shot. Maybe tonight’s the night. Of course, we’ve been saying that for four years, so it’s totally likely he’ll kill the Suns again, be it with a three or by throwing Amare Stoudemire head first into a steel wall, hitting him in the head with a folding chair, and then breaking his arm with a crowbar. And then only getting suspended for one game for it, while Steve Nash gets suspended two for calling 911.
5. Some Teams Have It, Some Teams Don’t: I’m a firm believer that there is some sort of cosmic order that helps define things. Some teams have an ability to always survive, to always get what they need to happen to happen. Need a turnover? A questionable charging call. Need a missed free throw? A rare miss. Need a miracle? Tim Duncan hits a three. The Spurs are one of those teams. They get things to fall where they need them just enough to let their incomparable desire to win and effortless talent carry them the rest of the way. The Suns meanwhile, are the opposite. Always searching for that final break, the one moment of breakthrough, the sweet release of victory. And these teams usually never get it. That’s just the way the universe works some times. I think Nash understands that, and it’s why it doesn’t upset him more. So tonight may come down to those little things that separate the Suns and the Spurs. The caliber and gift of a champion, versus those that always find themselves just shy of it.
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