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 It's Just a Building...Right?
Posted By: Dan Banks |
 The AT&T Center has caused a lot of pain for the visiting teams. |
The Suns' playoff opener goes down as one of the most thrilling games in recent memory, but it was just par for the course for an arena that has haunted opponents since 2003. Shaquille O'Neal has been around long enough to know the history. When asked about his foul trouble in Game 1 Shaq said, "I'm used to things like that happening in this building. We've just got to find a way to continue playing."
Other Suns remember all too well "The Incident" in Game 4 last year when a fourth-quarter flagrant foul sent Steve Nash to the floor and the Spurs to the Western Conference Finals. The Nuggets also know what it's like to draw the wrath of the the building. Twice they opened the playoffs with a win on the Spurs' home court and both times that was their only win of the playoffs.
The AT&T Center has seen the Spurs crowned champions twice ('03 and '05) and it will pull out every trick in the book to see it again. Tim Duncan hits a clutch three-pointer in the closing seconds? Only in that arena.
But not so fast. Before we run and hide from the mysterious power of that building, let's remember that it has turned on the Spurs in the past. In the 2004 playoffs, the Spurs hosted Game 5 in their semi-final series against the Lakers. With the series tied 2-2, the pivotal game went down to the wire and the Spurs, thanks to an incredible shot by Tim Duncan, had the lead with 0 seconds remaining. Actually, there was 0.4 seconds remaining. I was in the building for Derek Fisher's miraculous shot that crushed the Spurs spirit and for the first time I tasted the bitterness that building has fed to so many opponents over the years.
The Suns have a chance to harness the power of the AT&T Center and give the Spurs a taste of their own medicine once again. They were a Tim Duncan three-pointer away from winning Game 1 and as Shaq famously remarked back in 2004, "One lucky shot deserves another."
If that's true, we're due.
Comments
Juan C. Puente - Fort Worth, Texas
Fisher's shot was the reason the Spurs didn't go to the finals that year, but what happened to Shaq and the Lakers that year in the finals against a defensive-minded Detroit team was an enjoyable retribution to behold for Spurs fans. The same thing happened when Dallas knocked the Spurs out of the playoffs and advanced to the finals. So, although it's not going to happen, if the Suns advance past the Spurs and make it to the Finals, prepare for future embarrassment, especially if it's Boston, because they have the Luck of the Irish on their side.
JJ - Houston
What a game on Saturday! Game 1 is only Game 1. Let it go. I have my full faith in the Suns. I can't believe Tim Duncan will make another 3 pointer in the rest of the series. Don't put too much pressures on you, Suns. If our team can play like this, we will win. Go Suns Go! We fans are always behind you!
John S. - Surprise AZ
What our Suns need to harness is the ability to play smart basketball. Were the better team this year. The excuses have started already, Nash had the flu, Hills groin still hurts, the Refs took Shaq out of the game. Stop please I'm begging you, we lost because we didn't foul with a three point lead, (coaching error) and Amare didn't play smart with a five point lead ( player error). If we continue to be outsmarted and out coached we will be eliminated, end of story.
MASON - N.PHX
I HATE THE SPURS AND THEIR HOLE. LIKE SHAQ SAID A BUNCH OF FLOPPERS. THAT PLACE IS NOT A BASKETBALL STADIUM ANTWAYS IT COULD HOST A FOOTBALL GAME ITS A POSER!
THE SUNS CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BIG SUNS FAN FOR LIFE.
GO0000000000000000 SUNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
nadean - el paso
i can't wait for the suns to pound those spurs i have had enough of them....it is our time....and we will win this series i have no doubt about it
chester - Philippines
SPURS is a just a piece of junk and Dunkan is just a circus man... he just threw the ball in the air and it goes i dont think it will happen again... Shaq dont be afraid... just play your role....
GO SUNS!!! BEAT THE SPURS DONT LET THEM BEAT YOU AGAIN....
matt - san diego
the suns r the best in the west no questions asked... we have to play smart basketball n stay outta foul trouble for the first two quarters espically the big cactus.. the suns will win the series in 6 n thats giving the spurs a game that they shouldnt have GOOOOOOOOO SUNS..
weve waited long enough 08 champions
Los - Phoenix
i dont get it, how are these fans that live in El Paso and Houston Suns fans, that is crazy!! But then again, i live in Phoenix and have been a Spurs fan since 89 Go Spurs Go!!!
HM - Beirut Lebanon
I thought you guys played a great game 1. The one play that was disappointing though was Amare's 6th foul, I thought he would shoot right over Kurth Thomas and that would have been the game. Like a true Suns fan, we stick with our team through the good times and the bad ones! I thought your defense was one of the best I've seen in years, your energy was high up there and you're ready to bring down the Spurs.
I know Steve Nash likes to always get his teammates involved before anything, but I hope I see more stretches in the game where he decides to take over the game himself. Steve did a fantastic job in both overtimes and after Amare left. If there are stretches like these where he gets going in earlier parts of the game, he's nearly unstoppable.
Hopefully as Shaq said, the Spurs will come into Game 2 looking to play instead of looking to flop! Shaq didn't deserve a lot of those early calls and he could never get in rythem because of bad calls. If the Big Cactus can stay on the floor with Amare then the Spurs will not be in a position to even think of lucky shots like Tim Duncan's shot. On the defensive end, Shaq has held Duncan to 15-40 in the last 2 regular season games and that's no cooincidence. He also took care of business offensively when it was needed. I think you should try to run more plays through Shaq and give him a bigger role on offense. More touches and post ups will create fear for the Spurs. If they decide to take him one on one, then they're in trouble, and if they decide to double him, he's a great passer. Also this wears down Tim Duncan. Bodying up on Shaq evertime down is NOT an easy task and will take energy out of you as well as cause a few bruises!
Suns will always play their pick and role game with Steve and Amare, but that's what the Spurs are preparing for. It's no cooincidence that everytime there's a pick and role we see one of the Spurs players going to get the charge on Amare. Whether it's a center and big man like Kurt, "Flop"erto or Tim Duncan, or a smaller player like
JIBONG - Philippines
This series is a test to measure how mature the suns have become. I believe they will win this series by beating the spurs at their home floor in 5 games. GO SUNS GO. BEAT those spurs!!!!
faith - phoenix
I don't hate the Spurs, Spurs are an excellent team, if the teams were reversed we would be just as confident in our team as anyone else. If anything, teams like the lakers, suns, spurs, dallas and even new orleans and other teams make the NBA interesting to watch. I am a Suns supporter, and it was an unfortunate loss but it is what it is and now we have to move on. In order to shut a team down like the Spurs, you have to take them out. I look at this way, it doesn't matter if you get 60 wins in reg season, every team is capable of being beaten. We have no more excuses, we need to stop saying its this or that, we have another chance to win, we'll try it and it won't be the end of the world if we dont, Spurs are protecting their homecourt and we will need to do the same. Trash talking does not help either but you can't stop this. Suns know they can beat the Spurs but they also have to play smarter and beat them at their own game. Go Suns!!
Diana - Scottsdale
The Suns will do it, they just need to have faith! So do the nay-sayer jump on the band wagon fans that only love the Suns when they are winning! I was born the year they became a frnachise and have been a TRUE FAN ever since because of my father. WIN SUNS WIN!!!!!!!
Chuck - Phoenix
What is this? Patty Cake time. I hate the Spurs. There is no ego stroking here. Either be a Spurs fan or be a TRUE LOYAL SUNS FAN!SPURS ARE GOING DOWN!!
Madz Victor - Manila, Philippines
Spurs destined to win the Game 1 perhaps SUNS destined to win the series and will make it to FINALS and will have its first title. Believe me guys!
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Coach Mike D'Antoni defends himself not fouling, yeah right. They just lost the game for not doing so. Men, you made a mistake for not telling your team to foul. You were up by 3 not 2. Why would you want an open 3. You just lost the game period for making same mistake twice. You saw it on the first OT, you did it again.
MASON - N.PHX
BOY O BOY
I CAN NOT BELIEVE WHAT JUST HAPPENED. YOU CANT BLAME STAT FOR MISSING SOME SHOTS ITS GOT TO BE HARD WHEN BORIS AND BARBOSA CANT GET A POINT. IT PUTS A LOT OF PRESSURE ON STEVE AND COMANY. GRANT HILL BETTER BE HURTING BAD NOT TO SHOW UP IN THE PLAYOFFS.MAYBE HE'S WAITING FOR NEXT YEAR. NOW LOOSING GAME 1 REALLY HURTS THE WAY IT ENDED. THEY HAD IT WON!!!!! BUT NO! LIKE MY WIFE SAID(BIG SUNS FAN WATCHS ALMOST EVERY GAME)ONLY THE SUNS CAN DO THAT!
I AM NOT LOOSING FAITH HERE BUT AS A SUNS FAN I WOULD RATHER SEE THEM LOOSE EARLY THEN TO GET TO THE 2ND ROUND AND LOOSE TO THE SPURS.
IF THE SUNS DO END UP GOING FISHING.
GO HORNETS BEAT THE SPURS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JesterX - SLC, UT
We have a bench this year.. Some good tough defenders.. were are the smart send a message fouls from our expendable guys? I'm not saying hire a hit man but come on we cant beat the spurs in butterfly form. We need to get a pair and ring some bells!
GO SUNS!
Wacs - Manila
Well The Suns still Shine!!!!!!!
vanessa-s - phoenix az
even if the suns lost we still have a chance next year, but still we realy have to bit the SPURS no matter wat!! next year it wil be different because were going to be stronger!! but at the same time the suns have to knw wat there doing...IAM A BIG FAN OF THE SUNS BUT MY FAVORITE BASKETBALL PLAYER WAS SHAWN MARION 31 WEN I FOUND OUT THAT THEY CHANGE HIM I STARTED FEEL THAT WASANT GOING TO WORK.....we really need him bak!! but still GOOOOO SUNS!!
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