San Antonio at Phoenix: Game 2 Recap
The Suns bounce back
By Cub Buenning
Smart Money. It’s an expression often used in sports to explain and predict how a game/match/race might pan out. This past Saturday in Louisville KY, the “smart money” was on Street Sense, who obliged the gambling public by breaking through down the stretch to win the Kentucky Derby.
After Sunday’s impressive win by San Antonio over Phoenix, many around the country were quick to dub the Spurs as the new favorite to represent the West in the Finals. Tuesday night, however, the smart money was not on the Spurs. In a classic “bounceback” situation, the Suns were likely to rebound from their Game 1 defeat and produce a home win to even the series at one a piece. The para-mutual windows at the US Airways Center (imagine with me for a sec) would have been packed with nose-bandaged, ultra-tan, orange-clad Suns fans throwing down their air-conditioning money on the local side.
“Hey, they’re going off as the favorite!”
“Para-Mutual windows are now closed.”
When that day comes where betting windows can be found on arena and stadium concourses, degenerates globe-wide will rejoice (I think this phenomenon already does exist in London.) Until then, just sound smart, and know that when the home favorite loses Game 1 of a series (ie the Phoenix Suns) they almost always back that up with a win in Game 2. Hey, even the Mavericks won Game 2!
The Suns were able to wade through a poor shooting first quarter before taking that all-important double-digit lead early in the second half. Strong defense, coupled with poor shooting from the Spurs’ backcourt duo of Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili allowed the Suns to cruise to victory, winning 101-81. Parker, who played so beautifully just two days earlier, struggled mightily from the perimeter, hitting just 5 of 14 shots.
Where the Spurs’ guards struggled, the Suns got a strong performance from not only Steve Nash (who played a great first half) but also got productive minutes from Raja Bell. The 7th-year guard hit six of nine shots on his way to 18 points and made several key defensive plays during the game’s middle-half. From there, the Suns relied on their big horse, Amare Stoudemire, as the home team was able to outscore the Spurs by 13 in the final quarter. For the game, STAT led the Suns with 27, getting 20 of those in the second half.
The Spurs were paced by Tim Duncan who finished with 29 and 11. With the two titans down low playing to a virtual stalemate, it was Bell, Leandro Barbosa, and surprise starter, Kurt Thomas, who(m) made the difference. Even Tony Parker’s best man, Boris Diaw, who sat in place of Thomas, came off the bench to give the Suns a 6-point, 7-board, 5-assist, and 2-steal kind of night. Conversely, the Spurs bench failed to give them the lift they have been relying on since the Denver series. Paging Bob Horry……
I’ll say it, “this series is going 7 games.” It’s called Smart Money.
(Side note: Hoping to get into the NHL Conference Finals? Here’s your chance! Game 3 isn’t until Saturday.)
24 Responses to “San Antonio at Phoenix: Game 2 Recap”
May.9 at 12:25 pm
Chris says:
first
May.9 at 12:47 pm
eyehatedirk says:
I’m longing for the day I see “Surprise starter Pat Burke” in someones column.
May.9 at 12:51 pm
Cheryl says:
This series will be ‘classic’ and for bball fans the hope is that it will go seven, since the Finals are unlikely to present the drama and intrigue of this one. TNT sure knows drama! All that being said, I closed my eyes for just a minute at half time and woke up this morning at 6am. They gotta do something about these late games! Adults with jobs (AWJ from here on out) can’t go on like this. I’m so bummed…
May.9 at 12:59 pm
Tariq says:
Why “who(m)”? It’s just “who”. I wouldn’t have said anything, but the m is in parentheses. I’m just saying…
May.9 at 12:59 pm
whooo! says:
the halftime show was hilarious when they fliped the script on kenny and he was completely lost and rambling incoherently.
May.9 at 1:02 pm
Tariq says:
And Cheryl, don’t sleep on the Pistons, who will arrive well-rested at the finals, having lost -1 games on the way. They should be drinking lemonade with twisty straws instead of gatorade until they win the east.
May.9 at 1:02 pm
Tariq says:
Maybe even daquiris
May.9 at 1:29 pm
Cheryl says:
Tariq: funny…
whoo!: yeah I at least caught Kenny all discombobulated. That was funny, especially the producer apologizing over the loud speaker. i love that show!
May.9 at 1:57 pm
Brian says:
Call me crazy, but I’d rather watch a women’s game than the Suns. Is it against the law for the Spurs to foul?
May.9 at 2:00 pm
Bryant Reeves says:
Brian you’re crazy. Unless you’re talking beach volleyball…
May.9 at 2:02 pm
J-Bird says:
@Brian- Id rather watch grass grow than watch the ground game the “sleepy” Spurs play
May.9 at 2:03 pm
illydiva says:
How about Magic repeatedly putting Dirk on blast? Is Dirk on suicide watch?
May.9 at 2:30 pm
Ben Osborne says:
I’m afraid this is Spurs in 6. You can absolutely bet on soccer/football games right at the stadium in England, and it’s VERY entertaining to do so.
May.9 at 2:45 pm
deestarbuckz says:
Dirk may be down but I doubt he is completely out… not Nick Anderson status anyway. Now T-Mac, I would wonder how he is feeling right now.
May.9 at 3:14 pm
slate says:
I say Dirk & T-MAC need to stay away from all bridges,tall buildings,firearms and refrain from watching any of the Western conference playoffs.As a matter of fact they need to leave the country for a few weeks.I’m serious guys.
May.9 at 3:49 pm
deestarbuckz says:
And I am really appreciating my time zone over the length of these playoffs.
May.9 at 4:13 pm
Boyd says:
Check it out everyone - in Brians world Bill Laimbeer was a better player than Magic Johnson!
May.9 at 4:26 pm
jonny says:
Does anyone else think that the suns’ “ring around the rosie” pre-game thing is a little… fruity?
May.9 at 4:40 pm
Cub Buenning says:
Jonny, i almost put that into my report, as I could almost hear them saying, “ashes, ashes….” more childish, than fruity in my opinion, though.
Tariq, I have included the (m) on several of my pieces over the years, as a tribute/admission to my ignorace on the who v. whom rule. This case, i believe is a ‘whom’ but again, it is the one grammar rule that continually eludes me.
Cheryl, if they start the games any earlier, then us AWJ’s in the MTZ/PTZ would miss most of the first game!
Mountain Time Zone is the best sports-viewing area in the country. TNT-doubs-6/830. NFL-11/2 MNF-7PM
May.9 at 7:00 pm
c-note says:
I’ve been trying to decide but am still stumped. Who do you think is more important to the Suns, Bell or Barbosa?
May.10 at 10:17 am
shelbie_PHX_SN13 says:
Who do you think is gonna take it home Spurs or Suns?
May.10 at 11:13 am
Cub Buenning says:
i’ve been riding with the Suns all season, but I am torn. I think the Spurs just might have too much experience.
C-note- barbosa, no question. Raja played great in game 2, but his main role is to piss off a certain Laker.
“I DON’T EVEN KNOW THAT KID!”
May.10 at 2:50 pm
Tariq says:
Cub…LOL…Sorry, man. How have I not noticed that? I’ve been reading SLAMonline since back in the day. Anyway, let me school you in a painfully patronizing and condescending way, Cub. See, if the “who(m)” refers to the subject of a verb, like in your sentence, then it’s a “who”: It was Kurt Thomas who made the difference. If, however, the “who(m)” refers to the object of a verb, then it’s “whom”: It was Reggie Miller whom everyone ridiculed. I hope that’s clear. Now go read Finnegan’s Wake, and tomorrow we’ll talk about the it’s/its enigma.
May.10 at 2:51 pm
Tariq says:
Just kidding, btw