|
|
 Two Down
Posted By: Adam Beechen |
After the first two games of the Suns/Spurs series, this playoff beard needs to be a rally beard.
|
For Game 2, I was again home in Los Angeles, stretched out on my couch, having consumed a giant bowl of matzoball soup for lunch, feeling a smidge better, certain that a Suns victory in Game 2 would push me ‘round the corner toward full recovery. Two and a half hours later, the Suns were in an 0-2 hole, and I was doubting the curative powers of “Jewish penicillin.”
Now, the situation – neither the Suns nor my own – isn’t fatal. Teams are supposed to win at home, and that’s all the Spurs have done. They’ve taken care of business on their own floor, and now the Suns are on their way back to the Valley to see if they can’t do the same. The Spurs deserve a good deal of credit – the Suns had them in deep holes in both games, and the defending champs showed the grit and resolve that’s won them so many trophies over the years. In short, they played like champions when they most needed to.
But oh, the chances the Suns squandered! The leads that got away…The easy baskets given up in the paint…The uncharacteristic mental lapses…The turnovers at the most inopportune times…The missed free throws down the stretch…It’s enough to make you want to throw a matzoball through your flat screen.
The Suns had all of their big men in foul trouble in Game 1, and still they were right there. Tim Duncan riddled them for forty points and fifteen rebounds, and still, the Suns were right there. In front of a hostile crowd and facing years of playoff heartbreak, the Suns were right there. And they couldn’t close the deal.
In Game 2, the Suns had the specter of Game 1 looming over their shoulder, and they came out roaring. They played the first half with heart, focus and intensity. They commanded the tempo, the big men played aggressively, cautiously, but above all, effectively. Once again, the Suns were right there. And again, they couldn’t close the deal.
If only NBA games had no halftime. The Spurs stormed back in the third quarter. The Suns couldn’t see, let alone find, the bottom of the net. The lead dwindled, then vanished. Suns fans around the world watched in agony as San Antonio sprinted out to the front. Suns fans around the world tore their hair out when the Spurs went to the Haq-a-Shaq in an effort to extend their lead – a perfectly legal strategy that Shaq defused by calmly hitting his charity shots under extreme duress (and may I say here that Shaq has been everything a Suns fan could have ever hoped). Suns fans moved to the edges of their seats when the Suns made a final run. They were right there.
And once again, the game slipped away.
What’s a poor, ailing, beard-growing Suns fan to do in the face of such repeated frustration?
There’s only one answer, the same answer Suns fans have told themselves since this franchise began forty years ago: Back the team even harder. Back them as they tug on the knee pads and go play Games 3 and 4. Take care of the home court. Send this back to San Antonio with the series reduced to a best-of-three, with two of those games in Texas. Where the Suns have been before. Where they know they can win.
The fat lady has not sung yet. But the Suns have to stop trying to hand her the microphone.
Comments
TMan-SunsFan - Phoenix
I appreciate your 'sunny' spin on this Mr. Beechen, i really do. But let's face the facts here and call it like it is - more of the same. We've heard this same song and dance for 3 years running now - every years it's been us and the Spurs and the same song and dance. All the, 'oh so close', 'if we just had a call go our way', 'we're only down by 2', etc., etc. The reason we have found ourselves in this all too familiar circumstance is because we STILL lack the passion and discipline it takes to get to the Championship level - Shaq or no Shaq - we are still getting out-hustled, out-classed, by the Spurs with them same result - us ousted from the playoffs. Unless I haven't made it clear to this point, I'm not up for painting things all rosy for the 3rd year in a row when the fact of the matter is - we simply are NOT moving past the Spurs this year or any other until we start believing we can beat them. I know we can, we proved it by our 3-1 record against them during the regular season but that doesn't mean squat right now. That's my two cents...
Valerie - Phoenix
Disney Channel instead of the Suns game? In Phoenix?!?!?!?!? Ridiculous. :)
matt newell - san diego
YER TWO CENTS NEEDS SOME HELP TMAN... IF U DONT THINK WE BELIEVE THEN UR CRAZY.. IVE BEEN A SUN FAN MY WHOLE LIFE N WOULD NEVER SAY NEVER.. THE ONLY FLAW IN ARE GAME IS NOT PLAYING MORE PLAYERS ITS HARD TO WEN 11 ON 8 SO ONE THING I WOULD PERSONALLY LIKE TO C IS SKINNER, AND A LIL STRAWBERRY. IF U GUYS ARE FANS THEN PLEASE LET THE TEAM C STOP DOUBTING ITS WAY TO EARLY TO JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS
I KNOW WE CAN DO IT I HAVENT LOST A BIT OF HOPE CUZ IM A REAL FAN. SO U GUYS GO HEAD IN JUMP OFF THE BOAT IF U THINK ITS SINKEN CUZ IM NOT GOING NO WHERE
GOOOOOO SUNS!!!!!!!
SHOWME - SAINT LOUIS MO
IN THE MIDWEST WE DO NOT TALK ABOUT IT WE GET THE JOB DONE THE SUNS ARE GOOD NOW IT TIME TO PUT UP ARE SHUT LET GO SUNS YOU CAN DO IT .
G.JONES - NS,CANADA
Tman...OK..lets give in to our pessimism ! Actually, things ARE INFACT not that bad. The Suns have been able to figure out the SPURS this year and there is no reason to believe they won't again, now at home.
But, of course, adjustments need to be made. Mussling up on TONY and MANO in the paint and making every 2 pts they get really pretty painful will help.
I leave that to your imagination. But my feeling is if a player is on the floor and is not scoring, get in the defensive game more than ever and make your MINUTES COUNT.
And yes,speaking of minutes that count, all 48 in which the fans watch this game 3, do count. BE THE SIXTH MAN. Win it with them. Own it. Damn...just do it !
But back to the practical stuff, if the SPURS get a couple easies in a row, back to zone. Mix it up. Get physical.
THIS SPURS team is beatable. I think the SUNS will win. And perhaps then,with this monkey off their back, they will play SUNS ball towards a final appearance and title.
G.JONES - NS,CANADA
Speaking of fan involvement.
It is a cliche that the fans can win a game and it is used alot, mostly by players somewhat flattering their home base.
But there have been times in sport history when the 'crowd' have literally willed 'their' team to win.
A non stop, consistent,overwhelming,noise making machine that totally off ballances the opposition.
It's happened.
While I do not think it will take that almost mythical level of support for the SUNS tocome back, it would be a beautiful thing if your SUNS fans holding tickets, at least tried.
Or, if not, let me know...I'll fly down to PHOENIX tonight on Air Canada and gladly use your ticket for you.
Let me know !
I have 3 hours to play with if I am to make it....and I will contribute to MAKING a win happen.
joe - phx
OVERCONFIDENT is what phx had coming in. reg season doesn't mean a thing. this is a different stage now. you're right, "we simply are NOT moving past the Spurs this year or any other until we start believing we can beat them".
Lori Ann - Sedona Superfan
Awwwww.....Adam! Just 'twernt' yer' day, nor the Suns' ----OY VEY! All we could talk about at the Sedar, was Suns Basketball (and bitter herbs, of course!?). One thing I learned about my extended family --- they have great FAITH in God AND The Phoenix Suns! Okay, that was Game-1. On to Game-2: Do I HAVE to go there??? No. I do not. I'm ready for Game-3 tonight! We'll take 2 at home, no doubt! FYI: The Suns are the ONLY team in the NBA that has NOT lost (knock on wood) 2 consecutive games this season. I'm taking THAT one to the bank!
Thanks for the great post, Sir Adam Beechen. I hope you're feeling better. Give the chicken "zoop" time to kick in - it really DOES work wonders!
GO SUNS!
Lori Ann - Sedona Superfan
correction - 3 consecutive games (not 2)
ahmed - phoenix
if the suns want to win this, they have got to play man to man defense. don't let the spurs get to the basket. force them to take tough shots no easy baskets. don't double team.
Ron - Arizona
The 'fat lady is singing', how can you not hear it. I doubt very seriously if the SUNS will even win one game in the playoffs against the SPURS. Time for a new direction and a new coach. Time for the SUNS to stop playing like 'marshmellows'. Shaq was a help for the SUNS, but he just cannot do it by himself. Steve Kerr, you have to make some serious changes.
SUNS players and fans...have fun fishing on Monday. For SUNS fans will have to wait another year and hope something changes.
- L.A.
Last year, the Suns came ever so close to beating the spurs. This year they make a major personel change and get Shaq for Marion. Now they are the 6th seed in a very tough western conference. Shaq has made them a different team, but I don't think a better team.
joe - phx
Down 3
Juan C. Puente - Fort Worth, Texas
Funny you should mention a phrase coined by Dan Cook, a San Antonio sportscaster/reporter who said, "The opera ain't over 'til the fat lady sings," when referring to a Spurs playoff series against the Washington Bullets in 1977-1978. You didn't post my comment on your previous blog about getting your shaving cream, razor, and fishing pole ready, so I won't be surprised if this one gets trashed. I think I can predict what your next creative title will be "Down Three". Better hurry because obese San Antonio women like to sing, especially while sweeping.
Adam Beechen -
Hey Juan -- Thanks for writing. No one trashed your previous comment...We'd just received one similar to it, and ran that one instead. Congrats on the series victory, and good luck in the next round!
By the way, who won that Spurs-Bullets series? :-)
TrackBack Link