The Official San Antonio vs. Phoenix Thread

The pace of the game is why the score was so high, but defense won the game. S A played at a faster pace, instead of walking the ball up they ran with the Suns but make no mistake, just because we didn't see a under 100 score, it was defense that got key stops. Plus the shot a good number of free throws, look at how many free throws Amare shot. I will really watch how the game is played for four quarters tonight.

Just because he guarded him on defense doesn't mean he played pf on offense,

Then who did? The big man that plays with Duncan is a big part of the offense they play.

Where did I say anything about leaving someone open, I was talking about a match up or line up so to speak .

You said that the Spurs played Team D. And a risk of playing that way is that leaves a man open. That's when the defenders switches, but they don't do it everytime.

I still think it's a better idea playing Nazr or Horry alongside Duncan. Tim can punish Marion in the post, and if Amare comes for the block, Duncan's smart enough to kick it our to Horry for the 3 or feed it to Nazr and get the dunk.

In regards to the first part of my statement, I was answering a question,

No, you weren't You put the line-ups...
Amare - Nazr
Marion - Duncan
Q - Bowen
JJ - Manu
Nash - Parker

And then you said that Bowen should guard Marion...

Can't see the link either. Can you post that article here?

I think they had Hunter on Duncan/Nazr for much of the game, not Marion. Hunter had to play 30 minutes, when he's used to only playing 13, and not against starters. And now he has to stop TD...oi ve.

People have said all year long Phoenix is screwed if one of their starters go down because of no bench outisde of Jimi, and it's really showing against the Spurs.

Spurs bench outscored Phoenix bench 33 to 14, 7 of 12 3P shooting.

Phoenix played only 7 guys. And Hunter played better than Marion in the first game

Brent Barry got on fire in the 4th. He made like 3 3-pointers and scored 13 of his 21 in the 4th quarter

EDIT: Just saw the recap of game 1. And yes, Bowen did guard Marion. But Q was in foul trouble, so probably Hunter (30 minutes) played in the post with Amare and Shawn was playing in the SF spot.

Last edited by Drex on Wed May 25, 2005 8:57 am, edited 1 time in total.

Just because he guarded him on defense doesn't mean he played pf on offense,

Then who did? The big man that plays with Duncan is a big part of the offense they play.

Where did I say anything about leaving someone open, I was talking about a match up or line up so to speak .

You said that the Spurs played Team D. And a risk of playing that way is that leaves a man open. That's when the defenders switches, but they don't do it everytime.

I still think it's a better idea playing Nazr or Horry alongside Duncan. Tim can punish Marion in the post, and if Amare comes for the block, Duncan's smart enough to kick it our to Horry for the 3 or feed it to Nazr and get the dunk.

In regards to the first part of my statement, I was answering a question,

No, you weren't You put the line-ups...
Amare - Nazr
Marion - Duncan
Q - Bowen
JJ - Manu
Nash - Parker

And then you said that Bowen should guard Marion...

Can't see the link either. Can you post that article here?

I was answering a question and it is because I don't know what you are talking about that I know you don't know what I was referring too. I wasn't even talking to you nor about the first post I made but the first part of an answer to someone's question , which is why you are off in saying I wasn't answering a question, it wasn't your question. The link I posted answers all your questions about all this who guarded Marion. Bowen guarded Marion and Duncan guard Richardson. The Spurs do play Team D, come on, that's a given and yes it does leave guys open but you can't say one Spur guards any one person because it's a team efforts, which means you have to get back on the other man, TEAM D, Help D.


Here's the link info I posted(you can find it at MySanAntonio.com:

PHOENIX — Maybe Shawn Marion was too busy beating Memphis to listen to George Karl. Or too preoccupied with Dallas to pay attention to Ray Allen.


Because on Sunday afternoon in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals, not only did Marion prove he wasn't sure how to attack Bruce Bowen, he showed he hadn't learned how to complain about him, either.

Continuing a postseason-long trend for the Spurs, Bowen latched onto a once-hot opposing scorer and took him out of his game. Only this time, his victim eschewed griping about Bowen's tactics and instead vowed to find his own solution.

"I've got to try something different," Marion said after scoring only three points in the Spurs' 121-114 victory at America West Arena. "I've just got to find a way, baby."

Marion has reasons to be confident. Like Denver's Carmelo Anthony in the first round and Seattle's Allen in the second, Marion entered his series with the Spurs on an offensive tidal wave. In 10 playoff games before Sunday, he averaged 22.5 points while making 51 percent of his field-goal attempts and 47 percent of his 3-pointers.

But with Bowen hounding him, that momentum didn't seem to mean much. He went scoreless in the first half and didn't make his first basket until he hit a baseline jumper with 2:30 remaining in the third quarter. Marion finished just 1 of 6 from the field.

"I was trying to take him out of his comfort zone," Bowen said. "Shawn is a guy who's become a very good 3-point shooter with time. If I can try to crowd him a little bit once he receives the ball and make him dribble drive, that's what I want to do."

That Bowen even guarded Marion at all was a bit of a surprise. Even though the 6-foot-7 Marion plays like a small forward, he's usually matched against an opposing center or power forward because the Suns start three guards. But on Sunday, the Spurs assigned Tim Duncan to Quentin Richardson, allowing Bowen to guard Marion.

Marion admitted the Suns weren't prepared for that look.

"We started getting all confused as to who was going to be setting the pick and rolls and stuff," Marion said. "I think that was throwing everybody off a little bit."

Not that the Spurs expect such confusion to continue.

"Whether it threw them off or not," Duncan said, "they'll be ready for it next time."

On that note, Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni said he isn't worried about Marion's ability to bounce back and still become a big factor in the series. D'Antoni said he thought Marion was affected by the quick turnaround after the Suns' Game 6 victory over Dallas on Friday.

"I didn't think Shawn had an abundance of energy," he said.

Marion, for his part, downplayed all talk of fatigue. But he said he realizes he can't afford another performance like the one he gave in Game 1 if the Suns hope to even the series.

"We can't win like that," Marion said.

Phoenix played only 7 guys. And Hunter played better than Marion in the first game

Brent Barry got on fire in the 4th. He made like 3 3-pointers and scored 13 of his 21 in the 4th quarter

EDIT: Just saw the recap of game 1. And yes, Bowen did guard Marion. But Q was in foul trouble, so probably Hunter (30 minutes) played in the post with Amare and Shawn was playing in the SF spot.

it's no big deal, as I tried to explain earlier, Doug Collins pointed that out while I was watching the game and I wrote my first post after the game was played. In regards to help D, you will always see a Spur run towards a player with their hands in the air contesting a shot, this ususally happens when someone penetrates and kicks, most teams don't do this but the SPurs do so you always have a shot being contested, which means no one Spurs is actually guarding one player all game, they help and help recover, it's apart of their D scheme.

LMAO, I guess you were right. I didn't saw Tim on Q, but that's definately some good coaching decision by the Spurs, they confused the Suns and it payed-off.

I was answering a question and it is because I don't know what you are talking about that I know you don't know what I was referring too. I wasn't even talking to you nor about the first post I made but the first part of an answer to someone's question , which is why you are off in saying I wasn't answering a question, it wasn't your question

LMFAO, that got me confused a little Let me explain this to you, step-by-step:
1. You put the matchups in one of your posts.
2. I replied, saying that Bowen shouldn't guard Marion, 'cause that leaves Duncan with a perimeter player (JJ or Q).
3.Then you said that Marion wasn't a PF.
4. I said that if Bowen defends Marion, that would leave Duncan on Amare, who's a lot quicker and a better athlete.
5. You said that the Spurs played team D on Amare.
6. I replied, again, saying that is too much of a risk leaving the shooters of the Suns open. And that Bowen can't play in the post.
7. Then you said something about answering a question, which I can't see anywhere in the whole thread.

Well, that's it. Thanks for posting the article. I admit I wasn't aware of that switch defensevly (sp?)

EDIT: Damn, you're a posting machine. I was finishing this post and you had another one already.

I know about team D, but that happens also when there's a double team. The Suns have very good 3 point shooters, and they can be very effective sometimes.

LMAO, I guess you were right. I didn't saw Tim on Q, but that's definately some good coaching decision by the Spurs, they confused the Suns and it payed-off.

I was answering a question and it is because I don't know what you are talking about that I know you don't know what I was referring too. I wasn't even talking to you nor about the first post I made but the first part of an answer to someone's question , which is why you are off in saying I wasn't answering a question, it wasn't your question

LMFAO, that got me confused a little Let me explain this to you, step-by-step:
1. You put the matchups in one of your posts.
2. I replied, saying that Bowen shouldn't guard Marion, 'cause that leaves Duncan with a perimeter player (JJ or Q).
3.Then you said that Marion wasn't a PF.
4. I said that if Bowen defends Marion, that would leave Duncan on Amare, who's a lot quicker and a better athlete.
5. You said that the Spurs played team D on Amare.
6. I replied, again, saying that is too much of a risk leaving the shooters of the Suns open. And that Bowen can't play in the post.
7. Then you said something about answering a question, which I can't see anywhere in the whole thread.

Well, that's it. Thanks for posting the article. I admit I wasn't aware of that switch defensevly (sp?)

No problem. I love basktball talk. Though the problem with our confusion is that when I answered someone else's question, I didn't put their quote because I don't know how to quote multiple people in a messag board. The line-up I put was incorrect and I figured it was but I was trying to give an example of who may have been on the floor at that time. Hey, if Tayshun can guard Wade and not play the pointon Offense then I figure Bowen could play Marion, granted in most cases, because the playoffs are about match ups you give up something to get something, just like putting Duncan on Q. Suns will adjust, I can't wait to see how.

Putting Duncan on Q might be a strategy to keep him from fouling out vs Amare & Nash attacking the rim, and just having him save energy for a running game.

They did end up running w/ Phoenix very well, a lot better than people expected.

Many underrated the Spurs offensive game. With Ginobili, Parker, Barry, and the rest, they can score like the Suns and beat them.

Amare is going crazy in game 2. 3rd quarter he already has 25 points on 75% shooting. Duncan playing with 4 fouls. Nash has 10 assists already.

And between Spurs vs Phoenix...the shot blocking leader is Jimi Jackson ?! With 4 BS already...

I still believe Spurs win unless the Suns go crazy on offense.

Spurs win it again in a smiliar manner.

2-0. i guess san antonio can sweep as well.

chances of the spurs losing 4 out of 6 is very unlikely.. i guess pheonix fatigue finally caught up to them.

and the fact that the Spurs are a better team.

... Or the Spurs defense and ability to score at crucial moments. I'm starting to see a Spurs-Pistons matchup already (Sorry Heat fans )

You have to be able to get stops, Suns can't genrate stops, the Spurs were making some bad decisions and/or just missing shots but they got their act together in the 4th and made some stops and hit some shots. They can more consistently do that but you can never really say nearly the same about the Suns. They don't play D and that is ultimately their problem, along with rebounding.


P.S. How in the world does someone who doesn't actually play in the post get to the line as much as Amare does, he is leading the league in the playoffs by such a wide margin. Dang, that's odd and crazy?

A bitter and hard pill to swallow... I'm still rooting for the Phoenix Suns, but let's face it and be realistic, The San Antonio Spurs will clobber Phoenix Suns 4-1.

possible sweep!

yeah...They better not get oo cocky though. The Suns are the best on the road afterall. But as long as they keep playing the running game and good D, the series is over

A bitter and hard pill to swallow... I'm still rooting for the Phoenix Suns, but let's face it and be realistic, The San Antonio Spurs will clobber Phoenix Suns 4-1.

Not unless they (Phoenix Suns) are going to clobber Duncan's ankle first!

hey the Suns still have a chance....because Dallas did it against houston....it was 2-0 houston, then Dallas came back and won it in game 7

A bitter and hard pill to swallow... I'm still rooting for the Phoenix Suns, but let's face it and be realistic, The San Antonio Spurs will clobber Phoenix Suns 4-1.

Not unless they (Phoenix Suns) are going to clobber Duncan's ankle first!

Are you a schizo?

hey the Suns still have a chance....because Dallas did it against houston....it was 2-0 houston, then Dallas came back and won it in game 7

Thanks to the refs.

Another thing that hurt Phoenix was Duncan was 10-11 from the line which never happens

Are you a schizo?

Thanks to the refs.

Bwa ha ha ha ha ha! You didn't get it, did you?

A bitter and hard pill to swallow... I'm still rooting for the Phoenix Suns, but let's face it and be realistic, The San Antonio Spurs will clobber Phoenix Suns 4-1.

Not unless they (Phoenix Suns) are going to clobber Duncan's ankle first!

but at the same time it was a red flag reminder that Duncan remains more than a little vulnerable to ankle problems heading into this series. And don't think for a moment that the Suns won't stay small and run him every chance they get.

Tim Duncan's tender ankles could come back to hurt the Spurs' chances of beating the Suns.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/3631238