Games 2 and 3 Recap
Genius or a moron? Definitely a moron. Well, maybe. I wouldn't quite say Steve Kerr is a moron for acquiring Shaq because I'm almost certain the series would be the same with Shawn Marion on the roster.  However, he has scapegoat written all over his face with the way things are looking for the Suns.  Words of advice: Learn how to play Suns' basketball with the Big Cactus on the floor and FAST.

Game 2:  
What have I said from the beginning? Mike D'Antoni cannot close and in true Suns' fashion, they blew a double digit first half lead.  Shaq stayed out of foul trouble and registered more minutes, points, and rebounds than the first game. But it was poor shooting and turnovers that hurt the Suns in the third quarter.  They went into halftime up seven and with a quarter to go they found themselves down by nine.  After going down by as many as 17 in the fourth, the Sun's fought back with a 10-0 run with a little under three minutes left in the game.  Amare hit a big three pointer with 14 seconds left but unfortunately it was not enough.  Phoenix ended up losing the game 102 to 96. 

Game 3:
Tony Parker said pick your poison. The Suns said beat us with your jump shot.  Tony Parker said okay, and he did just that.  Tony Parker scored a career high 41 points and also had 12 assist. I'm sorry but if I wore D'Antoni's shoes Friday night, there's no way Tony Parker would have hit me for 41 points. The Suns killed the Spurs in the paint by scoring 20 more points. However, they were so busy guarding the pick and roll, they forgot all about the guy rubbing off the screen dribbling the ball. The Suns had less turnovers, more fast break points and more unanswered points, but still managed to lose by 16. What is going on? Amare had 28 points and 11 boards, Shaq had 19 points and even Barbosa did his share with 20 points. But it was Steve Nash who was held to only seven points and nine assist because of an ever so bothersome Bruce Bowen.  One thing has become apparent after a loss like this. Each player on the Suns must play well in order for them to win a game.  These guys cannot finish a game if one guy is having an off night. Steve Kerr better start hunting for a new coach soon because getting swept in the first round in flat out unacceptable.

Headed into game four:
Life is good for the Spurs. They can get blown out (In no way shape or form am I predicting this will or might happen) and have no sweat off their backs.  I hate the fact the Suns are going to get swept in the first round, much more than you know.  But D'Antoni brought this mess upon himself. The day Mike knows how to close is the day the Suns will win a championship, either that or when they fire his ass.  

Submit Your Comments About This Series

Game 1 Recap
Mike D'Antoni cannot close.  I've said it once and I'll say it again, and again, and again until he learns how to close a game.  If any of you ended up watching the Spurs-Suns match up, I'm sure you would agree with me the game should have never gone into overtime, twice.

As I predicted Tim Duncan dropped 40 points and I don't remember any but three of them, Tony Parker took Nash to the rack all night long, Ginobli came off the bench and lit everyone up for 24 points and Shaq received limited minutes due to foul trouble.  You would think a double overtime game win by two would be exciting.  But, let's not forget the Spurs were playing. 

Due to the fact their inside presence was sidelined, the Suns were murdered in the paint by 26 points.   Amare ended up with 33 points but his presence was obviously missed during the second overtime period. Ginobli, Parker, and Duncan combined for 90 of the Spurs 117 points. 

With fifteen seconds left in regulation, Shaq was on the bench and I'm still very confused as to why. Leandro Barbosa ended up missing a lay-up to win the game.  The lead was traded throughout the first overtime and Duncan knocked down a huge three with three seconds left to send it into a second overtime. The second overtime was much like the first with each team trading baskets and no one really pulling away.  The Spurs went up by three with a Brent Barry free-throw.  Nash, in true Nash fashion, came down and hit a big three pointer to tie the game at 115 nearly falling over in the process. Ginobli came down and beat Bell bad off the dribble all the way to the basket for a lay up with little to no time left on the clock.

There were a few things I missed in the preview that happened in the first game.  I neglected to mention Kurt Thomas' role in the first game.  He came in and received an Oscar for all the flopping he did on defense. Nevertheless, he created a lot of defensive spurts for the Spurs. 

Also, I knew Nash had clutch but I did not expect him to come through like he did.  He hit many key shots down the stretch to keep them in the game and created some key shots for others. There was no possible way for me to predict Finley would hit the big shot to send it into the first overtime and I'd love to hear from any of you who knew Duncan would hit that shot to send it into the second.  

In order to be successful in game two D'Antoni needs to take a decision making skills class during the break. I'm so confused why he had Shaq on the bench at the end of regulation.  It was fifteen seconds, not three, not four, not five. Fifteen. There is plenty of time to set something up for Shaq close to the basket. It would have been a higher percentage shot than Barbosa's. Shaq and Amare need to stay out of foul trouble.  Keeping up in points in the paint is going to be key for the series. Other than the high amount of turnovers, the Spurs played great basketball. All of their key players performed well and the role players played their position.  However, if I were on the team I would be a little nervous, because playing a great game and only winning by two in overtime is not the turn out I would have expected.