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 Suns' Loss Causes Groans Around Planet Orange
Posted By: Joe Gilmartin |
The Suns tired out quickly in Game 3 and never recovered.
(NBAE Photos) |
How embarrassing was it? Well, given the circumstances, I am hard pressed to recall a more embarrassing performance EVER by a Phoenix team in the postseason. The Suns were outplayed, out-coached, out-hustled, out-maneuvered, and out-poised. And even hard boos weren’t enough to ease the pain for the stunned citizens of Planet Orange.
The Suns eventually did manage to shift their offense into high, or at least second gear, but they never got their defense out of neutral.
Mind you, I don’t want to take anything away from the Spurs. They were simply superb in every phase of the game. And if you were a basketball purist who didn’t care who won you had to love watching them exploit every Phoenix weakness with almost surgical precision.
Tony Parker was especially magnificent, and not just because of his playoff career-high 41 points and 12 assists. An even bigger problem than those numbers for the Suns was their complete inability to stop him from going anywhere he wanted to with the ball at any time.
Even notoriously hard to please San Antonio coach Greg Popovich said his team couldn’t play any better (and Coach Mike uttered a fervent, “I certainly hope not.”) And truth to tell, the Spurs never looked this good on their way to the title last year.
The series isn’t officially over yet, of course, but the cold hard truth is that the Suns have been reduced to playing for pride in Game Four here on Sunday. If they can string together a series of miracles, so be it, but just proving Game Three was more of an aberration than a reflection of who they really are is the only realistic goal for the nonce.
This game raised some serious questions about the team’s future. And, sadly, one of those questions has to be just how much gas Steve Nash has left in the tank. Had he not built such a large reservoir of good will for his superb play over the last few years he would probably be catching some serious heat.
The most comforting answer is, hey, it’s only one game for gosh sakes, and Nash and the Suns WILL bounce back, if not necessarily in this series then most definitely next year. But I’m not sure I buy all of that.
Oh, I don’t think Steve is washed up by any means. But there is a platoon of young point guards posed to take their teams to the Promised Land in the next few years, which makes it hard to shake the thought the window of opportunity you heard closing last night may have been nailed shut for the foreseeable future.
The bottom line: Same as the top one: AAAAaaaagh!!!!
Comments
jimmydu - phx
Man why we didnt get gasol he can do better job in the paint and fast break for the sun
with oneil no more run and gun for the sun
J. Garcia - Glendale, AZ
This is all too frustrating. The last three years us Suns fans found some peace in our playoff exits by attributing them to unfortunate and freak events. It was JJ's eye socket, STAT's microfracture surgery, a gambling ref and of course the suspensions. We eased the pain by saying, "Well, if THAT didn't happen, we would've gone all the way. We'll show 'em next year!"... We can find no such peace this year. We simply aren't coming with our "A" game, or have no "A" game to show up with. And sadly, there's no reason to think our odds will be better next year. Granted, it's not over yet, but history will have to be made in order to pull this out. All I can hope is that the Suns come out with a "let's make history" type of intensity... and translate it into solid D. Go Suns!!!
Curtis - Atlanta, GA
Being a Suns fan for the past 10 years are so this one hurts the worst and I don't think I will recover if they get swept in the first round to the team they should have finally beaten yesterday.
ctakim - San Antonio
Although I am a Spurs fan, I have to say that I find a lot to admire in the Suns organization. From your coach to Nash, to the offensive beast that is Amare. If you are a long time Suns fan, then this has to be a hard road to endure.
Still, if the shots are dropping and Tony P. is hitting his mid range jumper, then no team on earth will beat the Spurs in a game like last night. The Spurs team defense will always be tough come playoff time. It is just a question of whether they will generate enough offense. Oh and the mental toughness and concentration will also be ever present come the post season. You can thank Coach Pop for that.
Don't give up on your Suns, they are still a class act!
Ed - New York
AAAAaaaagh! That's all I have to say......
nash samin - philippines
i am i die hard fan of the phoenix suns, and now i'm so sad that my team is down 0-3 in this series!
i think the problem with the suns is the coach. because mike d'antoni always want the team to run,that's why on that play shaq is not involve 'cause shaq can't run! c'mon steve kerr do somethin' 2009-2010 is the last season for shaq we need to get a title! i love phoenix suns guys!
thanks!
noe - south Texas
I'd like to thank the Suns players and coaching staff for taking this loss without excuses or backhanded compliments. It's a genuine step in the right direction.
TAKE YOUR CHANCES - PLEASE
can the phoenix rise in phoenix....from down the dumps.....from the ashes?
can the suns start a run on the sun-day.
gods ...stars...i will try n summon them all..
but it needs a steely resolve and more than the sawshank...bosox..buffalo...lake placid...lucksss
UNKOWN - VIRGINIA
STEVE IS NOT THE PROBLEM.
Louie - San Anontio
I am a SUNS fan to the end. First off the Suns need to understand that unfortunately this is not there year. They will be swept by the Spurs, not because the spurs are the better team, mostly because the suns do not want it bad enough. This whole year even before the trade there motto was "we are still in training camp". Last night each suns player seemed to have a look on there face like I am going to get mine, instead of playing a qucik paced team ball like have have been doing in the past.
Also the SUNS should not have let go Marion, they should have traded one of there rookies (who don't play) and cleard the bench starting with Marks, and the other few players that do not play.
As far as PRIDE is concerned, the SUNS have none. And that's ok, Pride does not make a basketball team win, DISCIPLINE and PASSION do. And the SUNS seem to have neither. Maybe next year, and even during the off season I will still wear my SUNS jersey in san antonio with my head held high. Love ya SUNS..
Travis - Dallas
I couldn't agree with you more!!!! I've been a Suns fan since the 87-88 season, and I've never seen a more talented team UNDERACHIEVE and play like gutless pigs. I would have never thought a Suns team could make me seriously consider dumping my favorite team of 20 years, but that's just what THIS playoff version of the suns have done. I hate the Spurs, but right now, I'm pretty sure I hate the Suns even worse. NEVER thought I'd hear myself say that.
Aaron McCray - Cissna Park, IL
What are you talking about. It took a Tim Duncan 3 to win game one and they almost one game two. Spurs shot 60% from the field in game three. You are getting really carried away.If the series one 2-1 because duncan missed that three this article wouldnt even have been writen. Yes, the series is over, but even if they would have won they could never have beaten 2 more western conference winners to get to the finals...i dont think anyone could have. This match-up is the most insignificant second only to the raptors series because no one can beat spurs then 2 of the lakers, utah and new orleans....settle down and stop selling out nash for not being a miracle worker. maybe if they didnt trade marion they wouldnt have had to play the spurs anyway
Stan - California
Nash had the best year of his basketball life this year. He is older but still is a handful for any team to contain. His passing, shotting, playmaking are great. He is being guarded by Bowen who is first team all defense for the last god knows how many years. Nash's tank is still full if you wake up to what he has done this year. Your watching Parker pick the Suns apart because they don't have a Bowen to guard him. I would double team Parker to get the ball out of his hands, then see how the Spurs operate.
Lorenzo - Firenze
Remember that the series isn’t over yet.We MUST believe in our team.
Strength and Honor, Suns.
DOR - PHOENIX
Very good observation indeed, Joe... What else can we add here? Well, probably we need to mention or question this, who was the mastermind of all these old, useless strategies that the Suns keep on using (or doing)? Popovich is too smart not to see this and he had done a superb job so far with counter-attacking every single move that the Suns did in all those three games... Parker has got to be stopped, period. Otherwise there will be no win.. I see some merciless players from the Champions right now and if the Suns want to get that pride back, something truly BIG has to be done....
Dan - San Antonio
I agree, I do not think the Spurs can play any better and it looked a lot like the series againts LA and Portland back in 99. People never give the Spurs the credit they deserve. Name me one play on the sun's roster that is better than Parker, Manu or Duncan. Thanks ladies and gents.
Lori Ann - Sedona Superfan
Ouch!
Kay Daniels - Mesa, AZ
I do not think the Phoenix Suns fans should have boo their team. The Suns team hurt much worst than we do, even though I have been close to tears since last nights game. Anyone who has played sports knows you can have a off night. I believe that Mike should have used his bench and possibily would have helped.
But all of us know that any time a team beats you which you know you can beat it hurts the most.
Ghazan Faar - Baghdad, Arizona
You took the words right out of my mouth--in every aspect. Time to go through the painful rebuilding process for the next three seasons again, even IF we manage to win the next three games (b/c we will inevitably lose game 7 in Texas). I loved watching this team, but they seemed out of sync, and lacked crisp execution all season minues a one or two games during the regular season. I'll go ahead and chalk it up to a team with too many 32+ aged players, especially poor Nash which when watching him seems like a shell of his former self (even though his stats show that he is somehow better than his first MVP award). In fact, this seasons team was a mere shadow of the 04-05 Suns everyone fell in love with, or even the 06-07 Suns that had a confident swagger about them. This year they seemed to just go with the flow and never really got in any significant rythm. :(
John S. - Surprise AZ
Joe, I said no more blogs for me this season, but I couldn't leave without saying goodbye. You have been a guiding light for many of us fans and I thankyou for your insight, humor, and never say die attitude. Friday's loss was the worst one I personally have gone through as a fan of any sport, any time. The Packers loss to the Giants this year was hard, but nothing like this and at least they put up a fight. There is really no where to start with this Suns disaster. It went from Di'Antoni's mystery logic that Nash could ever guard Parker, (he couldn't guard anyone opposite his position all year)to Bell diappearing, to Diaw being Diaw, to Amare still crashing into people, no show of heart, pride, fight, hustle, nothing. My question to the team would be, why talk prior to Fridays game like it was going to be all out war, and then come out and wimper into defeat? You want to talk about this teams future, well, get ready for some years of agony fellow fans, they put steel bars on that window Friday night.
JAY, Wash - Philippines
ouch.. the suns are in a serious hole right now... they would never recover in game 4 coz the spurs smell BLOOOODDDDD
-
we all need pride. with no belief the window is closed. with belief the window never closes.
what will it take to win? - i mean what
If they dont....then...
not only dantoni n players will have a tough offseason
But most important tomorrow's headlines will read
"On Sunday, Suns set in Phx before the Sun set in Phx"
deb - dallas
Thank heaven-- somebodIES did something right! What a game--Diaw was great and I hope they take the next game "one at a time" to take another win. Some of you need to get off Nash's case--you sound like some of the broadcasters--oh he's great until he has a turnover--then when he makes one of his incredible passes or 3 pointers he's the greatest point guard in the NBA. Much better on the free throws, Shaq! GO SUNS!!!!
deb - dallas
PS Does anyone else besides me like the PHX Suns flaming ball logo (like in their center court) better than the bouncing kiddie-like Suns ball parrelelogram logo?
DOR - Phoenix
Thank heavens, we won yesterday and we won like there's no tomorrow... Just wishing the Suns will consistently show this passion and pride and really geered on winning no matter what... D'Antoni should truly let all the rest of the players play for longer periods of time esp when you see that the score is already there, with the opponent trailing by 20 pts or so. This is to avoid injuries to the star players and give them time to recoup and rest... Skinner and DJ should be given chances to prove their caliber in every game. With the saying, "IF YOU DON'T USE IT, YOU LOSE IT" truly holds true in every sense of the phrase... The coach has got to trust all his players... Look at NO, Hornets... Almost everybody there gets the chance to play and everybody contributes to their winning every game... The coach is so smart to let them all play... This is what Phoenix coach lacks... TRUST AND CONFIDENCE in every single player that he has... But then, we learn from mistakes and hoping D'Antoni has learned from his mistakes...
Tom Burroughs - Prescott AZ
Well it's over. I said we would be out in the first round & I am sorry to say it came true. Have we learned anything? Borris is a diamond in the rough. Everyone was puzzled why he played so well when Amare was out? He played to a high level the last 2 games & Amare was nat a big factor in the games. They are not a good fit! Call the Clippers & offer Shaq & Amare for Elton Brand. Pick up Tyrone Lue to back up Steve & you will have a better shot next year at the prize?
Tom Burroughs
DOR - Phoenix
Tom, I beg to disagree... Amare is one of the guys that has the potential to bring any team to a championship victory. What he/everybody needs is psychological maturity to sustain and win the games that they play. The Suns, from what I have seen in all the games that they played and lost, can be easily psyched out by the opponent. The moment they are outscored, their composure starts to disappear; they become so frantic and rattled that they end up losing the game. They have the potential to win the championship, in fact they have all the A's, but only if they use it wisely and smartly defensively and offensively.... There's a lot to learn from this loss... But as the saying goes, "NO PAIN, NO GAIN"... So, let's all hang in there, wait, and watch for next year's playoff season once again...
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