May 16, 2007 4:44 pm  |  63 Comments

Hope for the Suns tonight

And W.I.N.N.E.R.S too

By Sam Rubenstein

I have read, reflected, meditated, thought, laughed, cried, shouted from the mountaintop, hid in the cellar, and it is time. The Suns do have hope tonight. Sure, they are the heavy underdog as the higher seed with home court advantage playing at home in the pivotal game of a playoff series. But here we go…

The San Antonio Spurs are not the perfect basketball machine everyone makes them out to be. Sure, they have arguably the most dominant player of the post-Jordan era other than Shaq. They have speed with Tony Parker, slashing and guts with Ginobili, strong military-like leadership from Pop and PJ Carlesimo and all of those gentle souls. They have battle tested role players and shooters like Michael Finley and Brent Barry, big bodies like Oberto, and the one and only Bruce Bowen in all of his infamous glory. It seems like the perfect team to win a tough grind it out series.

Here is the thing though, and please stay with me… if you look historically at the NBA over the last 20 years, champions always repeat. At the very least they get back to the Finals. The Magic-led Lakers started it in ‘87 and ‘88. Then came the Pistons, the Bulls, the Rockets, the Bulls, the Shaq and Kobe Lakers, and then the Pistons were unable to win back to back but took the eventual champion to seven games. This year’s Heat destroyed that trend with the Dwyane Wyheelchair fiasco, but I digress. Who did I skip over in that 20 year period? The San Antonio Spurs. They have never been able to defend their crown. They’ve never even been able to get back to the Finals in years following a championship. Every other champion did.

There could be a “fear of their own success” factor with the Spurs. This is not a team that is the big bad villain that intimidates everything in its path. Sure, they have dirty elements to their style, but they are not some rampaging force that dominated the NBA this year. That would be the Dallas Mavericks, and where are they now?

There is no reason to believe that the Suns will slow down Tim Duncan or affect him as much as they did in game 4, but maybe Duncan will feel the pressure of having to dominate inferior defenders? He’s already had a monster 33-19 game against Kurt and Amare and Diaw. Maybe he has an off-night, and remember he is a terrible free throw shooter. Let’s not overlook that one of the greatest clutch players ever, who seems to have a magical touch, will not be there and he won’t be around for game 6 either. Big Shot Rob is the world’s greatest good luck charm at the very least, and now they won’t have that luck with them. So, the Spurs are the overwhelming favorite and must be expected to win. Kind of like Game 6 of the Finals against Detroit, when they blew that game on their home floor, and a team that was living in the midst of Larry Brown’s dramafest came one quarter away from stealing their championship. The Spurs did just blow a 10 point lead with 4 minutes left to a “soft” team.

All I’m saying is that a dominant San Antonio performance, even when they are the overwhelming favorite, is not guaranteed.

Then there is Phoenix. Chip on your shoulder, anyone? Something to prove with home fans there to go crazy in support? Pro athletes live for that stuff. Why can’t James Jones go 6 of 8 from three? Raja can get hot and knock them down too. What if Barbosa gets hot and goes on one of his one-man 20-4 runs? What if Kurt Thomas and oh my God Pat Burke (!) play the defensive games of their lives?

What about Shawn Marion? The superstar who willingly has allowed himself to blend in with a smooth running machine, yet always seems to be itching to remind us how good he is? Isn’t tonight the ultimate statement game for Shawn Marion?

And finally… yes, Amare Stoudemire is a beast who was thought of as the key factor in the series, and Boris Diaw was amazing last year and was a huge piece for the Suns this year. But the Suns do have the two-time MVP. The biggest knock on Nash when you talk about historical significance, not basketball nuts and bolts, is that he has never been to The Finals. This is a night where he can really make an impression. Stepping up with teammates out, scoring and passing, doing it all.

In summary, there is hope for Phoenix even with the NBA’s cold-hearted decision to follow the rules to the letter of the law. A lot of things have to go right for them, but it’s not impossible.

Okay, W.I.N.N.E.R.S.

Utah: Andrei. Hey, that was some cathartic crying he did a few weeks ago.
Chicago: Kirk Hinirch

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This story is filed under: Blogs, NBA, The Peoples Champ

Read more like this in:

  • Ryan Jones Posted: May.16 at 4:47 pm
    Hi Sam.

  • FatKatt Posted: May.16 at 4:49 pm
    First!!!

  • Rod Strickland Posted: May.16 at 4:53 pm
    Hi Sam, Ryan.

  • Billy Blanks Posted: May.16 at 4:55 pm
    Hi Ryan and Sam

  • Billy Blanks Posted: May.16 at 4:56 pm
    Darn you rod strickland u beat me to the punch

  • Ryan Jones Posted: May.16 at 4:57 pm
    Hey Sam, am I the only one who thinks you missed a massive opportunity by calling it W.I.N.N.E.R.S. instead of H.E.R.O.E.S.? I’m not sure what that would stand for, but really, I think you blew it.

  • Rod Strickland Posted: May.16 at 4:58 pm
    Hi Billy, FatKat, Sam, Ryan.

  • Ryan Jones Posted: May.16 at 4:59 pm
    See, it could be a team award:
    Helping
    Eachother
    Remove
    Obstacles
    (to)
    Excellent
    Success
    *
    You’re sick you didn’t think of this first. Don’t try to front like you’re not.

  • Tom Posted: May.16 at 4:59 pm
    Good points Sam, I also think like you said in your post, the Spurs aren’t villains, but after what happened whether they like it or not they are the villains, and I think that perception will throw them off a little, also the Suns crowd is going to be INSANE tonight and will play a big part. And to all the the stuff Phoenix says they lose by not having Diaw on the floor, doesn’t Jalen pretty much have the exact same game as Diaw, I mean he used to handle the point for a quality Pacers team.

  • Sam Rubenstein Posted: May.16 at 4:59 pm
    Hi everyone. Bud Bundy smokes weed:
    http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0515071faustino1.html
    Ryan… I blew it!

  • Rod Strickland Posted: May.16 at 5:04 pm
    Hippos
    Enjoy
    Receiving
    Oral
    Every
    Saturday!
    Thank You

  • Ryan Jones Posted: May.16 at 5:04 pm
    Oh, “Bud” Bundy. Now I get it. Maybe he can share a burger with Hasselhoff when he gets out of jail.

  • Rod Strickland Posted: May.16 at 5:12 pm
    I will always remember Bud for being in the Tag Team ‘Whoomp there it is’ video.

  • Bryant Reeves Posted: May.16 at 5:41 pm
    Ola amigos. If the Suns win tonight will it be a bigger upset than GS-Dal?

  • mark Posted: May.16 at 5:41 pm
    WTH ?
    “They have never been able to defend their crown. They’ve never even been able to get back to the Finals in years following a championship. Every other champion did.” they won the title in 99 - 2003 and 2005. so didn’t they get back to defend ? the 98 bulls got back ?

  • iverose Posted: May.16 at 5:42 pm
    what does w.i.n.n.e.r.s. stand for?

  • Sam Rubenstein Posted: May.16 at 5:45 pm
    Yes. I mean they have never won or got to the Finals 2 years in a row while everyone else on that list did. The ‘98 Bulls were in the third year of 3 in a row for example. This is not intended to upset Spurs fans. I’m just pointing out that they are not the perfect unbeatable team.

  • Reggie Evans Posted: May.16 at 5:50 pm
    Sam is a Spurs Hater

  • Boyd Posted: May.16 at 5:54 pm
    Sam deserves a medal

  • Homie Posted: May.16 at 5:59 pm
    Read the Sports Guys’ column on the whole situation…he’s on point IMO http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/070516&sportCat=nba

  • Rod Strickland Posted: May.16 at 6:00 pm
    They never reached back to back championships but it’s damn impressive that they can have such a large window of opportunity. They’ve had different lineups/bench year to year for 10 years with the obvious mainstays of Pop and Duncan carrying them. So I give ‘em props.

  • whooo! Posted: May.16 at 6:02 pm
    sam, you’re hating a lot on the spurs, but ppl are allowed their opinions, so i’m cool with that. her’es my response as a spurs fan. after 99, duncan went down w/ a knee injury, so they lost in the 1st round w/out him. that’s the 1 pass. in 2004, derek fisher made a .4 shot that shouldn’t have counted, right? i think dwight howard managed a tip in alley oop dunk and that led to time expiring, but fisher was able to catch & shoot in less than a half second. you’re completely right about them not defending, but one is excused, and the other 2 i guess were their own fault.

  • whooo! Posted: May.16 at 6:04 pm
    you should also note the history of teams like last yr’s suns, last yr’s kings, who both won w/out important players when they shoulda lost. they had nothing to lose, so the pressure was on the other team. however, i think tim duncan is FAR too good to mentally collapse like this year’s mvp. pounding the rock’s writer had an awesome idea that i would completely support: sit tim duncan for this game, but alas, i doubt that will not happen. it’s an idiot move, but i would love to see it.

  • FatKatt Posted: May.16 at 6:09 pm
    Bwah hahaha!!! Yea! I own!!! Sorry…it’s my first time!!! (pun unintended) Holla from New Zealand!!! BTW… big Duncan fan, but I’m not liking the suspensions handed out by the league. It takes the excitement out of this game coming up (Duncan vs Stoudamire & Bowen vs Suns organisation) - and I also believe that the Suns can take this game because the suspensions will have given them added fire and desperation. Saying that, I still reckon Duncan will dominate and get his guaranteed 30-11-3-3. and yes… NZ sucks cause we don’t get many NBA games broadcast, the next scheduled is ESPN on our sat, so fri nite for you guys… double header tho so I’m a bit happier

  • FatKatt Posted: May.16 at 6:12 pm
    GO SPURS GO!!!!

  • The Disciple Posted: May.16 at 6:29 pm
    Good God, the Go Spurs Go cheer, can this be made into a law that fans get rid of this cheer.

  • Boyd Posted: May.16 at 6:36 pm
    David Stern has become the politician who has spent too much time in power, and now believes he can try and sculpt a utopianist ideology that causes everyone to suffer the consequences, rather than reap the rewards. He has kept to a hard line in order to create a flacid league with no passion, so that people who have never played sport can relate to it and poor their dollars in. If he was a head of state there would be a revolution against his arrogance and dictatorial stupidity.

  • Sherri Posted: May.16 at 6:50 pm
    you know how us Laker fans respect Horry so much, well that respect just went to a whole new level, sum say this sound a lil f`d up, but after wht Horry did, i just hope Lakers get to retire Horry`s jersey =]. [ya know how it is, ANYONE BUT THE SUNS]…SPURS in 6, MUAHAHAHAHHAHA

  • Tariq Posted: May.16 at 7:07 pm
    Sam,
    I hope you’re right. I hope Shawn Marion earns that max contract tonight. And, by the way, just to show my solidarity, Duncan was far from dominant when he won the MVP of the 2005 finals. BUT sadly… I don’t know how to express what I feel about tonight’s game, so I will let the following 80s classic do it for me: “I’ll get over you/ I know I will/ I’ll pretend my ship’s not sinking/ And I’ll tell myself/ I’m over you/ ‘Cause I’m…”

  • FatKatt Posted: May.16 at 7:24 pm
    @ Sherri…. hahaha!!! Respect!!! Man, wat a Suns hater…hahaha

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: May.16 at 8:04 pm
    Apropos of nothing, when exactly did LeBron get those huge “L” and “J” tats on the back of his arms? Crazy.

  • SK Posted: May.16 at 8:10 pm
    Jalen Rose will rise from the dead (or at least the end of the bench) and do one good thing tonight. [/Nostradamus]

  • Sam Rubenstein Posted: May.16 at 8:16 pm
    Perhaps I hold on to subliminal anger from the Spurs-Knicks Finals.
    Also, I should mention that the only time the Spurs have ever lost in the playoffs with a healthy Duncan was to Kobe/Shaq until last year against Dallas. Don’t know what to expect. The best case scenario for everyone is that the series goes to 7 games.

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: May.16 at 8:34 pm
    So wait…the the Spurs have “only” lost in the playoffs with a healthy Duncan twice? Including last year? To the softest Western “power” in recent history? Suns (and NBA) fans need to let the suspensions go and remember they’re in a best-of-three with home court advantage and full-strength team (with a rested and charged-up Amare) against an Horry-less Spurs team in Game Six. The best revenge is living well. And moving on.

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: May.16 at 8:35 pm
    I forgot an “a”. You want to talk to someone about unfair, call a Wizards fan. Damn.

  • Kyle S Posted: May.16 at 10:14 pm
    This game should just be a one-on-one between Steve Nash and Tony Parker. Honestly, on how many levels would that satisfy you? Yes, this is the series between the two best teams, but it’s kinda sickening to watch all the flailing and b*tching. I just wish the series could conclude with some entertaining play. http://the-second-coming.blogspot.com

  • Sesa Posted: May.16 at 10:19 pm
    Talk about fairness, the suns will probably lose and the spurs will win it. But from this day on, the spurs image about being a dirty team is irrepairable. Well, maybe it will took 2-3 years to repair it.

  • ALX8725 Posted: May.16 at 10:38 pm
    I wonder if D’Antoni would consider sending in some goons to land some “cheap shots” on the Spurs…. same concept as the enforcers in hockey thing.

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: May.16 at 10:46 pm
    I’d rather see them focus on winning the damn game.

  • whooo! Posted: May.16 at 10:51 pm
    don chaney sent in a goon last year, and it sounds good at first, but after an injury, the reality hits that it wasn’t the right thing to do. well, for any coach w/ a conscious.

  • Sesa Posted: May.16 at 11:05 pm
    Have any1 seen Nets-Cavs game?
    Vince Carter had 10 assists takes only 11 SHOTS!!!
    Doomsday really is coming…

  • Sesa Posted: May.17 at 1:27 am
    So much for “The Hope”…

  • Kimble Posted: May.17 at 1:31 am
    Thanks David. Really.

  • Ronald Posted: May.17 at 1:41 am
    I’m pretty sure the NBA “dumb-rule” fiasco will eclipse the whole Spurs are a dirty team fiasco. Really they aren’t even that dirty. They’re just under a microscope. Too Easy elbows Fisher and no one says anything. Hinrich punches Flips nuts and no one says anything. But when Bowen knees Nashs nuts during a jab step the WHOLE Spurs team is dirty. Awesome.

  • Sesa Posted: May.17 at 1:48 am
    @Ronald
    The Spurs are not Dirty. It’s just Bowen, and Horry too right now.

  • Chris Posted: May.17 at 1:59 am
    And Ginobili…

  • Dennard Posted: May.17 at 2:16 am
    Ginobili is not a dirty player, stop hatin Chris.

  • Ronald Posted: May.17 at 2:21 am
    Pfft, Horry’s foul wasn’t even that bad. I mean anyone actually watch the Utah/Warriors series? Or the Nets/Cavs series? The foul Horry did was pretty similar to the flag rants that occurred in those series.

  • darren Posted: May.17 at 2:30 am
    Just watched Stern defend himself on video…Arghhh wanna smack him so bad!@#$%^
    I don’t think words are gonna do any good at this point. The simplest thing a customer does at this point is to boycott the unsatisfactory product. I’ll definitely miss the game since it is the only professional sport I watch, but I’ve had enough of this bull*hit…

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: May.17 at 2:32 am
    What happened to Shawn Marion? He had 20 and 11 in the first half and finished with 24 and 17. Either Pop made some great adjustments or the Suns really got off their gameplan. And only three minutes for Pat Burke (who I believe Marv referred to as “Matt Burke”)? Bummer. Was a hell of a game, though.

  • mutoni Posted: May.17 at 2:38 am
    i believe when your name is pat burke, 3 minutes of burn is more than enough. and yes, phenomenal game and series. can’t believe that assclown bowen hit the biggest shot of the night. god hates the suns.

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: May.17 at 2:48 am
    Either that or He REALLY loves Bruce Bowen.

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: May.17 at 2:49 am
    And I was very happy there was no retaliation or anything like it. Although part of me was waiting for Raja to just haul off and punch Bowen in the face in lieu of a pre-game handshake.

  • Ronald Posted: May.17 at 2:57 am
    I honestly cant blame Stu or Stern for applying the rule. Its written down and been applied the same way for the past few years. They didn’t have a choice. Also, when people scoff at the phrase, ‘didn’t want to determine outcome of a series’ should read it carefully. What Stu Jackson meant, was that he didn’t want to apply discretion (which everyone was screaming at him to do) to a series, because when you apply discretion to a judgment your’e basically changing th outcome a judgment. And by him following the rule to the point isn’t him changing the outcome of a series, the ones who contravened the rule determined the series.

  • Gerwin Posted: May.17 at 3:00 am
    They almost pulled this one out in Arizona…..oh irony…..who was the man with the important 3-pointer? Right Bruce ‘Nuttkicker’ Bowen. Can’t wait till the game in SA. Amare for 40-20. Mark these words. Still believe Suns in seven.

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: May.17 at 3:07 am
    If any one play killed the Suns, I feel like it was Nash’s fouling Ginobili on the three. Neither team had scored in nearly three minutes, and the Suns were clinging to a five-point lead. It stopped the clock and gave the Spurs some much-needed points and momentum—Parker tied it up less than a minute later, and the Suns only hit one field goal that mattered the rest of the night. Bowen’s trey was just the final twist of the knife.

  • DarK Posted: May.17 at 4:35 am
    Glad to see Ginobili back, but where is Parker? I don’t understand why he’s not shredding up this Suns D. If Duncan can get good help from one of the other Big 3, Spurs win. For some reason, no other Spur has played consistently well this series other than Timmy, even with all the great looks they’re getting. The Suns have outrebounded the Spurs in quite a few games - did anyone expect this? The Suns really have a well-put together team with Kurt Thomas in the mix, and I’m really looking forward to both teams at near full strength going at it during Game 6.

  • Slobodan Chutzpah Posted: May.17 at 6:00 am
    For the life of me, I cannot understand why D’antoni was so stubborn with his rotation in this game. They needed more bodies and a little something extra from someone to win it - especially with Barbosa playing like crap -, and he didn’t even give Jalen Rose a chance. Although he hasn’t played mych at all, he’s a playoff-tested guy who just might be cold-blooded enough to step in in a situation like this and give them something. Ultimately, playing six guys probably cost them the game. If there’s any justice in the world, though, the Suns will take this series in 7. I won’t be watching, though, I’m too appalled.

  • Gerwin Posted: May.17 at 7:17 am
    @Russ,You’re right. It can’t be only one play, but just the fact that Bowen hits an important three at the end of the game. The final twist of the knife (nice one!), and the nail in the coffin. PHX will have a tough night in SA! Peace

  • K22C Posted: May.17 at 8:18 am
    @Sam- your repeat championship and thing about being scared of their own success made no sense, expecially because they weren’t champions last year.

  • Rod Strickland Posted: May.17 at 8:37 am
    Shawn Marion disappeared because Shawn Marion disappears. Kurt Thomas played his butt off, I’ve never seen him take the ball to the basket so many times. Mike Finley is all of the sudden cold-blooded, Manu can’t pass anymore(but drains clutch free throws like he’s alone in the gimnasio), Duncan’s protection of the paint is remarkable, and D’Antoni spends half the game on the right wing.

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: May.17 at 2:18 pm
    Mike Finley has been cold blooded his whole damn life.

  • pablo Posted: May.19 at 10:59 am
    Sa, you are deffinetly somebody who throughout your live have always chosen sports team wrong. Repeatin? Who gives a sh*t? We haven´t repeated (yet) but we do have MORE rings than the Rockets or Pistons

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