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 The Bitter End
Posted By: Josh Greene |
Steve Nash gives interviews after the Suns' Game 5 loss in San Antonio on Tuesday.
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Between the outcome of the game and the dejection in the visitors’ locker room during the postgame media scrum, I couldn’t wait to get out of that building – and with good reason.
Another all-too-short postseason exit after another 50-plus win regular season – a regular season that also happened to feature a franchise-altering trade, another pair of All-Star appearances – all en route to a fourth straight playoff berth. Of course, that’s little solace for a team that struggled out of an early Opening Round 3-0 hole, before going out in Game 5.
Back to the postgame locker room scene, there was no hostility (well, none that I experienced firsthand), even with the onslaught of camera, microphones and voice recorders at a time when nobody really feels like talking. Still, the Suns were asked every question possible about the series and the whole season. It always struck me as odd to flip that switch in mindset, from “how will you handle the opposition tonight” to “what do you think will happen this summer with this team?” – all in the span of a few hours.
I’m sure the finality of it all hadn’t quite sunk in yet… myself included. To their credit, the Suns answered all comers before filing onto the team bus for their final flight back to Phoenix.
As for what the immediate future holds for the Suns, well, that’s anybody’s guess. One thing is certain. The Suns will eventually rise again – just not today.
Comments
Robert de Leon - McAllen, TX
GO SUNS GO!!! Yes, not all TEXANS "LOVE" the Spurs!!!
sean - brooklyn,new york
wat up steve nash i look up 2 u i live 4 da suns but look try 2 go 4 30 assist lol ok
Dor - Phoenix
Very well said, Mr Josh Greene... It hurts but there's nothing anybody can do now except to accept this defeat graciously... This team had their ups and downs; they made us all happy, they made us sad... But one thing is sure... the Suns will definitely rise again in the near future... The last game proved it all... It was a fight that says, we will come back..... There's hope in the SUNS... So hang in there Suns' fans... The SUNS will eventually prevail...
Safiya -
I love the Suns. I loved them at the start of the season, when everyone seemed rather confident, and even though they lost, I still love them. No matter what happens, I will always love the Phoenix Suns. I love my team, and I have faith in my team. And one day, I am sure, the Suns will rise in Phoenix.
Joe - New York city
As a Knicks fan, I know what its like to have your team lose in the first round and ultimately in the finals. Phoenix has always been my favorite "west coast" team. Unfortunately, I think as well as im sure other do see the trade of Marion for O'neal as a big mistake. Granted, they needed to do something because last year was unsuccessful with Marion. I just dont think getting O'neal was the right move. As great as he was, hes not the same Shaq which is kind of sad but time waits for noone and his time is almost up. I dont think getting rid of Dantoni will be the answer, but im sure he will be exiting whether its the teams decision or his own. Now we have to watch the boring Spurs and Lakers fight it out in the finals......
Marc Barlow - Gilbert, AZ
The Suns are a great team. It looks like they need to stop bringing on players who are in their twilight years. They seem to get hurt too easily and one of them is too large and out of shape. Bad move on part of Steve Kerr.
John S. - Surprise AZ
Bitter, Oh! it's bitter, but not unexpected. Suns looked unfamiliar from the first game this season. From the moment Marion started the trade talk, Suns were out of sync. Yes, we won 50+ games, but we didn't resemble the happy go lucky team that had the NBA shaking it's head in wonder. This year Nash usually had a frown, way to many turnovers, and his defensive liability glared like a neon sign. Bell lost not only his shot, but forgot how to defend. Amare became more aggressive, but not more basketball "smart". Diaw played pathetic most of the season, then suddenly shined, oh! yeah, when we were down 3-0. Hill is a great human being, but his luck ran out when it counted most. Barbosa proved that speed without control just makes you good, not great. Shaq can't be blamed for playing past his prime, after all isn't all sports just about the money anyway. Di'Antoni, well he stuck to his style as long as he could, all offense, little defense, not much practice, don't develope rookies, make the same mistakes all season, forget the bench players, don't foul with one to give, last seconds of a playoff game that your winning against the NBA champs. Did we really have any chance?
Rick & Shelly Wick - Buckeye,AZ
Isn't it funny how the next day in all the local Phoenix newspapers---it was all blamed on Suns players...surely not Parker grabbing Nash's right hand as he dribbled to the basket late in 4th qtr..plus all the DUMB idiotic Hack a Shaq fouls by the spurs--that is downright sickning...and then but 2 days later in Boston/Atlanta series theres a confrontation...people admitting they left bench went onto floor for the altercation....no suspensions/fines..yet last year Mr. Stern sais.."Rules are Rules..they WILL BE followed..as 2 die hard Suns fans & season ticket holders..the last 2 yrs..Ive taken my suns hats & shirts & stuffed them awayquickly..we are disheartened...like a hole in your heart...when someone passes away...WHY?
Shantel Altaha - Arizona
It's all right, you still have next season to get them back!
Josh Ashbaugh - Orlando Florida
D'Antoni is without a question an incredible coach
and Steve Nash is without question one of the best point
guards of all time. That much should be written in stone.
San Antonio made some big plays, but more than anything
had favorable breaks at crucial moments.
(Included Tim Duncan being rewarded for tripping over his
own feet and hitting Shaq with a big foul. Those are the kind of
breaks that can alter outcomes. It clearly goes back to game 1
with Phoenix in control of the game and even San Antonio fans
realized Phoenix was just as good if not better than the aging Spurs.
The momentum shifted when Tim Duncan hit his one and
only three point basket of the season. He misses that shot
and Phoenix could have potentially steam rolled through the
first round. I'm proud of the entire Phoenix Suns team and
coaching staff. Those of us that have followed the Suns closely
know they were very capable of beating the Spurs or any other team
in the playoffs. End of story!!!
sunsguest - phoenix
This team deserves one more season together, I hear all this talk about get rid of coach D and trade talk, NOPE!! Nash still is the best point guard in my opinion, he is a two time mvp. We trade him and this team will not be the same. The fans would like to see this trade work with the core. It is obvious coach has to change some things but it is a matter of adding to the mix, not taking away. Work the bench for one, play everyone and add a back up point guard for Nash not one in the making, but one who already can do the job, Nash, Amare have contributed a lot we need another piece to this puzzle, and a player that is worth it. Really in all honesty, consider Marion, imagine this team then. Take Barry from SA, they gave him away and then him back, look what happened.
sagheer - toronto canada
It is fun to watch every time these guys plays regardless of the outcome.But one thing i would say for sure that game 2 and 3 parker mistry was not solved.this the reason they were 3-0.some body should take responsbility for this.if you say sun will come back i love to see that by the in my by opinon not till they get rid of shaq and get qick runner who can play with pace like they were used too.Good luck suns i still have faith in you please don't let me down.its hurts to see going down like this
gerarD - loon, bohol, philippines
add one all star player to your front court, pretty sure youll make it next season,,
from gerard,,the no.1 suns fun here in loon, bohol philippines
Chip - Mesa, AZ
You can't attribute the loss of the season to the acquisition of Shaq, but you can blame it on the loss of Marion. Kerr traded fast breaks from steals for fast breaks from rebounds and it didn't work. Shawn Marion, who was leading the league in steals which fueled more fast breaks from center court was, in no way, an even trade for an aging Shaq, who it was thought, would fuel fast breaks from his rebounding. Maybe if Shaq could've made just 30% more free throws than he ultimately made, it could've worked. But unfortunately, fast breaks don't work as well from under the basket as they do from center court. Besides, nobody would even think about fouling Marion to slow down the game. If D'antoni could've kept his core players together ALL season, the Suns wouldn't have been hit as hard by the turnover bug either. If there's anything we can learn from San Antonio, it's that we have to keep our core players together. Those who play together longer play better together. The suns had a team last year that could've gone all the way if it weren't for some questionable officiating, (which happened again this year). The Suns can beat any team on any day, but they can't always beat the ref's. Next year will be harder without Marion, but they can still go all the way if D'antoni is still coach. If he leaves it'll probably be another ten years until the suns will again be the powerhouse they are now. Since they hired D'antoni as head coach, he's been their most valuable player on the team. Nobody has the ability to blend diverse talents like he has. He has this unique ability to get the best out of every player. D'antoni is still the key to a championship for the Suns. It's just a shame he couldn't keep his core players together.
aubrey13 - philippines
I really believe that the suns are the BEST team in the NBA. but they need more time to grow together, hopefully next year they would win the championship. go nash!!!!
cxilef10 - Philippines
I still believe we can do it on next season!
As long as our player are healthy as so our coaching staff.
GO SUNS!!!
Dor - Phoenix
Whatever the decision of D'Antoni is, we need to respect that. It's probably time to change the way the Suns are being led. It will be a big job for whoever will come to replace Mike but rigorous practice will surely get the Suns "there"...WE were in fact almost really there... Look at the Hornets, the players are mostly rookies and yet they are beating the defending champions, the Spurs like crazy... They are obviously well coached... It seems it will be the Hornets vs the Lakers in the end... Spurs do not look promising at this point in time now that the Hornets are just plastering them left and right... But if D'Antoni is given a chance to coach here once again and probably he has learned his lesson, so be it... He needs to listen to the GM... Give all the players a chance to play so everybody is n-sync with one another, thus a healthy team, thus a winning team, ergo, Suns as Champions in the end... Go Suns!!!
Ron - Arizona
The season is over and I would like to that all the SUNS players and organization for all their efforts this season.
The SPURS beat the SUNS... the Hornet's are killing the SPURS.. The Lakers are playing tough. Boston just squeaked by Atlanta and the Piston finally pulled away from the 76er's.
To be honest, how far would we have really gotten.
As the SUNS organization looks ahead to next season, they have to look way past the SPURS, they have to look on how we can match up against Boston, Pistons, Hornets, Utah and the 'evil empire' THE LAKER's.
M of MzGoldenBrassStats - Vancity, Planet Orange
I miss The Matrix. I was just watching some old highlights of the "Big 3" with the "Run N' Gun Suns" in their PRIME("Just TOO much!"). If D'Antoni and Kerr can't work together on this one and MD ends up leaving or getting fired, Nash will be my only reason to stick around(for now). I love STAT and the rest but it wont be the same for me if Nash and MD are not around. Maybe It's just a fantasy right now but bringing back the Matrix if he can fit in again and he wants to be here would be great. I miss those high flying dunks and end to end passes. Could they balance that with a good defense. I guess that question seems kind of redundant by now!
M of MzGoldenBrassStats - Vancity, Planet Orange
Tsup people? Where's my commentary? Not good enough this time? Have a good one my fellow "Phoenix Suns Soldiers"!
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