Posted By: Suns.com Staff
April 22, 2008 5:15 PM

Why did you collapse in the third quarter after such a strong first half?

Why did Parker and Ginobili go off?

Why were you struggling with your shot, Leandro?

Why did you not play down the stretch, Grant?

It's not easy or fun asking those sorts of questions, and its got to be even less fun to be asked them.

Understandably, the Suns didnt have many answers tonight. There were a lot of IDKs, or I Don't Knows. No one had an answer for the 3rd quarter scoring drought. No one knew how or why the Spurs guards were able to explode for 61 points. LB offered no excuse for his 0-7 shooting night. And Grant didn't know why he didn't play late in the game. Well, maybe he did know, as he admitted he wasn't sure if he even could have helped with his groing strain slowing him down once again.

No one had any answers, but everyone to a man said they'll be ready for Game 3 on Friday in Phoenix.

Yes, winning four out of the next five games against the defending champs will be tough. But if the Suns can hold serve on their home court they'll be back here next week all tied up.

Don't forget, all the Suns need is one win here in San Antonio. I dont know about you, but I think they'll get it. And I look forward to going into the locker room after that one.

Steve Nash's ability to operate has been thwarted by missed shots by the Suns perimeter players, allowing the spurs to suffocate the paint and focus on stopping the Steve-STAT connection.

It's difficult to find something that's going right for the Suns in this second half, but there's still 10 minutes to turn things around.

Are you calling me a liar??

The Suns enter the fourth hitting 48.4% of their shots while the Spurs are hitting 47.7%. The Suns' biggest problem wasn't missing shots...it was getting shots off. The Spurs were successful in disrupting their offense, occupying their passing lanes, and getting under their skin.

Step 1 of a comeback is to protect the ball. And Step 2 is score more points than your opponent. It's just a two-step process I guess.

And I am going to do some research on this, or maybe ask our “By the Numbers” blogger Dan Hilton to do it, but I would guess that most teams always come back on Phoenix during the third quarter.

Now I’ve never played in the NBA, but every good team I’ve ever played on was very mindful of starting quarters well. If you set the tone, the other team has to respond. Right now, the Spurs are setting the tone, and the Suns are the team that’s reacting. And without doing research, from the games I’ve seen, I’d guess the Spurs are one of the top teams in the league at starting the third period.

So what is the difference between the two teams? Mentality. Phoenix has the talent, and position by position is probably individually better. But the Spurs are really adept at locking in mentally during crucial points of the game, and collectively focusing on the goal at hand. Great teams look at the big picture of a game, but they play it in small increments (ie. First few minutes of the second half, when a key player heads to the bench).

Having guys that are winners like Shaq and Grant Hill really help the Suns become the type of team that can be successful in having that mentality. We shall see if they can put it together during this last quarter…

So far this quarter the Spurs have cornered the market on hustle, but the Suns are now the team that remains within striking distance. No excuses now, it's a comeback tonight or come back home 0-2.

I am not a Spurs fan by any stretch, but you've got to give them credit as a great defensive team and they are demonstrating that loud and clear right now.

How do we score 35 points in the opening quarter and only 2 in the last 9 minutes? This could go down as a record low quarter for us.

San Antonio's defense is aggressive and physical, forcing Nash to move with the ball and so far the Suns haven't been able to adjust - leading to a batch of frustrating turnovers here in the quarter.

Who will find the weakness in their armor? I'm hoping Grant Hill has a little "Magic" left in him tonight...

My press seat is about halfway up the lower bowl tonight, right in front of the "Baseline Bums," San Antonio's roudiest fans. I'm not sure why I didn't get my corner court seat again. Maybe because of the "People's Eyebrow" I shot at Duncan when he almost bowled me over last game?

Anyway, when Shaq was just fouled across the face by Kurt Thomas, the Bums started chanting "Hit him again! Hit him again! Harder! Harder!"

That's just cold.

The Spurs have been feeding off of momentum and their fans sense blood in the water in this third quarter - the Suns need a big three pointer to force a Pop timeout and bring a little silence to this center.

The most interesting thing I found was on the ESPN Suns/Spurs series page.

Even with the Suns up by seven and leading nearly the entire game, the ESPN Accuscore Projections are showing the Spurs have a 62% chance of winning the game. They don't say exactly why they have it going that way but I imagine has something to do with the runs the teams have been on and who is scoring for each team.

The Spurs "Big 3" have scored 51 of their 54 points. I'm curious to see if they can keep that up in the second half or whether they'll start getting tired.

If you want to discuss the game live, you can also go to PlanetOrange Live. You can talk to fans in real time.

Well, it looks like whatever plan Head Coach Mike D’Antoni had for playing STAT on Duncan has been quickly scrapped. In fact, D’Antoni is responding to the Spurs’ substitution pattern by taking Shaq out when Duncan comes out. He has Shaq on him like flies on a rib roast.

It seems to be working, and I think it will be effective just as long as Shaq stays out of foul trouble. Although, the intelligence of Shaq cannot be underestimated in that department either. Shaq is excellent even with foul trouble. Flashback to last game, when Shaq not only blocked Duncan, but forced an airball and bothered him repeatedly late in the game, despite playing with five fouls.

Shaq is so vital on defense that the Spurs elected not to call a timeout before Manu Ginobili’s game-winning shot because they didn’t want him to re-enter the game. People just don’ understand what a presence he is out there, even when he isn’t putting up the numbers he used to post in the past. You can’t teach 7-feet, smart and agile…

I have been nervous all day for this game. I can't remember if this was how I was like in previous playoffs or not. This is my first playoffs working for the Suns and I don't know if I'm more nervous for the actual game or for all of the things I need to do during the game!

I have to update a lot of the small things that happen on the site during the 2nd half and I don't want to mess anything up to the point where you guys can't get to the site. It's really hard to watch the game and work on the site at the same time because I'm not sure where to focus my eyes.

Well, since I've been typing this there are now 1:30 seconds left in the 1st quarter and the Suns are up 31-17. GO SUNS!

"This is a tourist attraction. Why not drain it and put in some pebbleteck or something? I wouldn't even want to eat next to that water!"

I didn't mind eating by the river personally -- the breeze and sounds of flowing water makes for a relaxing combination -- but the catfish that the Spurs served in the press room tasted like it came out of the river. To say the least, I was not a fan. As David Griffin and I used to say back when were interns and the press dining was bad: "Hot dog night!"

The bus just pulled up and Coach D'Antoni was the first one out of the hotel doors ready to board. I talked to him for a moment or two in the lobby and he didnt seem as tense as he did last game at this point, but he admitted to being nervous. Cant blame him. I am too and I'm not responsible for the gameplan.

When you travel with the team, your luggage is delivered to your room upon check-in and picked up for you at check-out. I'm always nervous, though, that in the hustle of collecting Shaq, STAT and Bell's suitcases, mine are going to be forgotten. And you know Raja's gotta have a lot of bags, being the fashion fan he is.

I actually wouldn't be too heart broken if i lost my bag, although my kids might be upset if I didn't bring home gifts (pink cowgirl hat and an X-Men Juggenaut figure, in case you're wondering).

I went and did a little souvenir shopping this afternoon after some shooting some video of the Alamo and Riverwalk. Outside the hotel there were a couple of die-hard Suns fans decked out head-to-toe in orange gear, bodypaint and wigs, carrying "scorch the spurs" signs and bells to ring for Raja. They told me they'd just gotten kicked out of the Alamo for "advertising" and were even threatened with tresspassing charges. Could San Antonio fans be nervous or even stressed about tonight's game?

Watching TNT last night and ESPN today, I've heard the term "must win" thrown around a lot in regards to tonight's Game 2. I'm not sure I agree, as I could easily see the Suns winning the next two games at US Airways Center, but boy would a win be reassuring.

Comments

Ex-Suns fan - Phoenix
I am just an observer but am I the only to say that Nash gives it away *too much*. Phoenix will never get to the finals with the amount of turnovers they make.

The way the west is stacked, Phoenix is done for 2008.

Dale - N. Phoenix
Suns give up AGAIN in the 2nd half

luis - mexico
Men we suck.

Can not be that we won the first two games this can be possible is supposed to bring the best team that spurs and not one of them can win in the postseason when regular season 3-1 and stayed

Now we go 0-2 this is not good but now we have nothing to ace us fans rather than wait for the coming year

Comeon! suns - Sunnyvale
I am a huge suns fan. I just don't understand the sun's strategy. Why are they forcing Boris Diaw to take shots (in 4th quarter)...when clearly he doesn't feel confident to take the shots. Having height advantage doesn't make any a great player!!

John S. - Surprise AZ
This will be my last blog for the season. Suns die hard fan for 15 years. We don't have it, sorry, but the truth hurts. Di'Antoni is not the guy to run this team, were out coached almost every game, and it was certainly evident the first two playoff disasters. Nash is a great player but his defensive inability is glaring. Amare is a great player, but not a smart one. Diaw has been a bust all along, saved by a stubborn coach. Barbossa is a talent, but hasn't been brought along properly. Hill played well the whole year, to bad he gets hurt when it counts. Bell has lost his appeal, he was always a marginal player to start with. Shaq reminds me of the old fighter, aging right before our eyes. Good try by the Suns the last three seasons, now it's our turn to labor in mediocrity while we rebuild.

Jojit Ramos - Philippines
For coach D, for defensive purposes, kindly insert DJ Strawberry in the rotation to guard Tony Parker (JUZ FOR GUARDING THE GUY "No More No Less" - follow Mr. Parker even in a shower room). Grant Hill can't guard Parker 'coz of that groin injury. And for Steve Nash pls be more offensive minded, for Amare go more for that offensive rebound, not juz waiting for a pass from stevie. And also for coach D, 25mins for Barbosa with nothing (zero) is a waste of playing time. maybe it could be transform into points if u try to distribute it to your reserves. tnxs and more power. u can still do it.

Gary - Mesa
I am so tired of D'Antoni getting outcoached every single year. The Suns need to move on without him after they get bounced by San Antonio.

Any coach who loses game one like the Suns did and uses the excuse, "No other coach in the NBA fouls in that situation", needs to be fired.

He sounded like an elementary school kid. Of course you foul Mike. You get the ball back in Steve Nash's hands with less than 10 seconds left on the clock.

The problem with D'Antoni is all Suns fans learned a hard lesson when he chose not to foul and let it be known he would coach exactly the same way the next time. That's a loser for you.

Daniel - Tempe
First solution out of many to make the suns better. Bench DIAW play anyone else. DIAW SUCKS!!!!!!!!!

Huey - Huntsville, AL
Nash isn't the problem. The Suns came out of the half shooting jumpers instead of driving the lane. Granted, they don't get calls in San Antonio, but the shots are often better. They became passive.

And would someone PLEASE tell Giricek to take the open 3 instead of making his standard head fake, quick stutter step, then driving a few feet before turning the ball over?

Jacob Koenig - Glendale, AZ
I see a couple of things about this game. First of all a great first half which is important even if we ended up losing the game. The other is the second half. If you put two people down in front of a couch who had never seen basketball before and asked them who they thought won the championship last year then they would both say san antonio. It wasn't necessarily a "breakdown" as some are calling it, but rather the spurs finally showing up as the team that they really are. I'm not a spurs fan, but I know what they can do in the playoffs and that team came out in the third quarter. So we lose by 6....too bad for that 3rd quarter, but now it's time to focus on the games here in the valley. I love the quote by charles after the game. "A series has not began until the home team loses one". We are far from out of this series, but if we want to prove some doubters wrong then we have to do it in phoenix. We have to WANT it more than san antonio. I didn't see that WANT tonight in the second half because they completely outplayed us on both sides of the ball. Never lose hope because this one is far from over! GO SUNS!!!!!

Yevgeniy Kogosov - Los Angeles
I live in Los Angeles, but I am a phx fan, (can't stand kobe and the lakers). I am distraut after what happened tonight suns, after the half, lost their emotion and their drive to win, I still have hope for the suns to win the next 3, but if not, I guess Steve Kurr is going to know that he didn't make a brilliant trade but a very dumb one. Love phx, but if they don't win, I say, get Marion back if it's possible in any way

kia4601 - phoenix
Come on suns!!! You have rivaled Spurs for so many years and you should already have a defensive solution for Parker, Ginobili, and Duncan. They are contributing the most points. Whatever you do, DEFEND HOME COURT PLEASE ! ! !

Adrian - Philippines
I'm still hoping that the Suns could still turn this around. I think this year will be their last chance to win it all considering the age of their core players. Go Suns.

Chester - Philippines
I cant understand the way they(SUNS)pLay basketbaLL in 2nd half.. DIAW and BARBOSA is a waste of time... trade them to other players who is both offensive and defensive minded.. ShaQ, you SHOCK us fans... youre not fitted in this team... you shouLd end your career and eat some spinach on your couch...

weLL.. this series is far to end... SUNS can stiLL make it... i beLeive on guys Like Nash and Amare.. they wiLL make spurs suffer from their dirty pLays... make them pay!!!! but in a good way...

GOODLUCK...

Patrick - Makati, Philippines
Damn what's wrong with the 2nd half and we blew off another double-digit lead?! We should have won games 1 & 2 if we just stayed focus! It's a disappointing loss again, hope we could get to tie the series by winning games 3 & 4. We still believe!!! GO SUNS!!!

Damian - San Antonio
I'm sorry to say, but I think Phoenix's best days are behind them. Like Dallas, their best was good enough a couple of years ago but in the West these days it is not enough. Don't worry though Phoenix, I honestly believe Steve Kerr can rebuild this team if given a chance but Mike D'Antoni is killing you. The Suns are an offensive juggernaut and are highly entertaining, but there is very little chance of forming a team that is a consistent title contender without making a mental commitment to defense. Even if the Spurs lose this year, it is unlikely that the eventual winner will be clearly favored to repeat. That's what happens when teams load up for offense without a clear defensive plan - because you live and die by offense. I think D'Antoni has to go, or should at least pick up an assistant coach that will lay the defensive smack down in pratice.

Canabee - UAE
Phoenix is done for 2008. San Antonio will get a win one more game in PHX. Now I really feel terrible when I see the Suns just throwing the towel. Now I don't see anymore opportunity for the Suns to win this series. Better Luck next year!

Juan C. Puente - Fort Worth, Texas
Wow! I'm a Spurs fan who likes to encroach upon hostile territory, but I'm amazed and ashamed of all of the "fair-weather" fans the Suns have. As Tim Duncan pointed out, the series is not over. The Suns are going to be fired up at home. I'm going to keep doing my part, because I'm an any-kind-of-weather Spurs' fan.

Homer - Arizona
The Suns are undisciplined, and as much as I think D'Antoni is a great strategist, this problem has to ultimately be blamed on him. The Suns don't have to play great defense to win, they don't even have to play adequate defense, all they have to do is TRY to play defense, but they don't even do that. Has anyone on that team ever heard of cutting off driving lanes? Helping from the weakside? I'm not talking about closing and smothering offensive players, even just getting to the spot and STANDING THERE would be an improvement over what they do now. I was hoping Shaq would be the type of player to yell at people when they don't do their job, but it doesn't appear that's going to happen. And D'Antoni clearly isn't going to do it, either. Until the Suns get somebody in their organization who IS willing to yell at people when they slack, the Suns are going to remain a supremely talented team that is too undisciplined to be great.

qUEEN -
I'm a huge Suns fan but last night was so disappionting i don't know what happen to suns in the second half that game was supposed to be ours. Anyway i still believe in you guys we still have game 3 & 4 we must win. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN BEAT SPURS. GO SUNS

SPURS SUCKS ESPECIALLY PARKER AND DUNCAN

Junior - Glendale
wow! that's all I can say this week. the two loses this playoffs have hurt me more than last's years. its like they beats us last time and came back and spat on us this time around. cmon suns!!!! this shouldnt have happened. we should be the one kicking there butt!!!!

mdjdsf - sdfgv
Go Suns, Not Spurs!

macho - AZ
What about Diaw? Did none of these "specialist" see how he basically lost games 2 for us? come on talk some smack about him so they won't keep him next year!!

Nayan Raina - Los Angeles
I am a die hard SHAQ fan since he was a Laker and have always liked the way SUNS play. Suns lost both games by 2 and 5 points even though their bench was not productive and Shaq was in foul trouble in the first game. This explains that we CAN beat Spurs. We've got to man up. Shaq and Tim Zeroed each other, Steve and Amare were awesome but went to sleep in the second half. Their bench beat us. We must have Raja, LB, Boris and Giricek produce. We must CLAMP down on Parker and Ginobili. I sometimes feel Ginobili never gets called for 'WALKING' and 'TRAVELLING' with the ball when he LAPS the ball in his armpit and takes one two three steps to the hoop.

Let's MAN up SUNS! We beat ourselves by letting Spurs get into our heads.

Another comment. Coach Mike DOES NOT HAVE that strong WINNER'S ATTITUDE. He should be FURIOUS over Suns mistakes. Have you seen Popowich go crazy when Spurs screw up. No disrespect but Suns need a new Coach. On the likes of Phil Jackson or Greg Popowich.

GO SUNS!!

Nayan Raina - Los Angeles
Oops... I forgot to add that we should have fouled FINLEY and then DUNCAN. Rather than giving them 2 Treys and losing an almost SURE WIN game! BAD COACHING.

SHAQ has to set these guys straight by motivating them enough that they SHOW UP! If we CLING ON to Parker like Bowen did to NASH, he won't have a free walk to the hole. Same with Ginobili.

We ARE a BETTER TEAM. But we must EXECUTE when ball game is on line.

Just my two cents.

Cody Meyers - Lexington,KY
All this talk is stupid from some ignorant people on here. Diaw is not a horrible player. He's a very good backup to have coming in at the 4 or 5 postion. Coach D is not a bad coach either. Hes one of the best offensive coaches in the league/

In my opinion the downfall of the Suns so far through their two playoff games has been their pathetic defense. Not one person has been able to even slow down Parker or Ginobili for more than a few minutes at a time. They need to put Stawberry on Parker and have Giricek on Ginobili. Steve Nash has no chance on Parker, and Shaq and Amare can't/won't get there in time to play some help defense.

If the Suns can put in the extra defensive effort *Steve Nash* *Amare Stoudemire* they might have a change at knocking off the Spurs. Game 1 was a fluke with Duncan hitting that 3, and the Suns gave up Game 2. Its do or die in Game 3.

Nick - Paris
Diaw is Parker's best friend!!

manny01 - seguin,texas
there is aot of respect for the spurs on your blog and i am enjoying everyone of your e-mails i thought i was in san antonio

limhi - mesa
where was hill??? and barbosa???? if they decide to show up on game 3 and diaw to stop making bad decision we have a chance

sahil - phoenix
suns need to pick up defense so they stop giving up their lead. the playoffs are not a joke. i think we would of done better with shawn marion and should of traded diaw for shaq

Jean Anel - NJ
"LOOSING 2 BATTLES DOESN'T HAVE TO MEAN MISSING OUT ON THE WAR". AS I SAID BEFORE DETERMINATION STARTS FROM YOUR HEART. "SINCE DETERMINATION AND HIGH LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE STEP IN THE HOUSE, FEAR AND DOUBT WILL FLY AWAY THROUGH THE WINDOWS".... SO THIS IS YOUR GAME GUYS, GET INTO IT ........

DieHardFan - Thatcher- AZ
I love the suns and I still have hope that they can pull out of the 0-2 loss. Things that the suns need to work on is the 3rd quarter open. It seems like they only make 2-6 points in that quarter and thats when the Spurs come through and take the game over. Plus what freakin happened to Bell, Barbosa, and nash with the 3 point shooting game. just because their is Shaq and Stoudemire doesnt mean they have to stop shooting from the outside! They need to pick it up and get some offensive rebounds to! So hopefully Mike D'Antoni will realize the defaults and strengthen them before its too late. GO SUNS!

Marshall Laister - Gilbert
"The Suns are done on Tuesday, this series is over! Its easy in the playoffs to go lose on the other teams homecourt and not lose on your own" Chris Weber

"Can the Suns beat the spurs 4 games in a row? Hell NO!!!!!"

Charles Barkley

They are going to force their will on the Suns making Stat score every possession. When Stat scores 30 or more against the Spurs the Suns lose. "The suns need contributions from their role players and bench. Bell, Diaw, Barbosa, Shaq, and Nash must all contribute and lett Stat finish with 20-25 plus defense and rebounding like today. If the Suns do that, they will win!!!!" Marshall laister

JONATHAN LAQUE - VON ORMY TEXAS
SOMESONE SAID THAT THE SUNS SHOULD HAVE FOULD FINLY. I THINK THATS A STUPID IDEA BECAUSE FINLY IS THE SPURS BEST FREE THROW SHOOTER. THE SPURS KEY PLAYERS KNOW HOW TO PLAY BASKETBALL AS A TEAM BETTER THAN THE SUNS. WITH 3 BIG SCORERS AND A OTHER PLAYER WHO SHUTS DOWN ONE OF THE OTHER TEAMS BEST SCORER, THE SPURS ARE GOING TO BE HARD TO BEAT.

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