| 04 May 2010
I couldn't have been more pleased with the way the Phoenix Suns handled themselves in their 111-102 win over the San Antonio Spurs last night. Okay, I could be more happy, but I'm not greedy. One really can't ask for more than Nash scoring 33 points and 10 assists, while Stoudemire and Richardson combine for another 50 points. Oh wait, you could ask for Grant Hill to grab 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 7 points while simultaneously being involved with just about every defensive play the Suns made.
I've said all season Grant Hill is the best three million dollar player in the league. It's obvious in the way he plays the game that money isn't the issue. He plays for pride and success and this season's Suns is the most successful team he's ever played on. I base that statement on the fact that this is the first time he's been on team that's made it to the second round. It's hard to believe, but a fact that's been thrown around quite a bit this post season.
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I say all those nice things about Grant Hill, not just because he's deserved, but because last night the Suns won because they out defensed the defenders. On top of that, they still managed to score their 110+ points per game average. I never thought I'd see the day when the laid back Phoenix Suns would out hussle the defensive powerhouse that Spurs have always been.
That's not to say the game was perfect on the Suns end. Their 57-47 half time lead could have 15 or possibly 20 points, but the Suns kept the Spurs in the game with an abundance of fouls, allowing the Spurs to hit 18 of 22 from the line in the first half, while taking only 11 free throws themselves. The second half was a complete reversal of that as the Suns went to the line 18 times to the Spurs 9. Duncan has hit less than 50% of his free throws since the playoffs have started. Perhaps the Suns should play a little "Hack-A-Duncan".
Of course, the Spurs beat the number two seed Dallas Mavericks for a reason. Twice the Spurs came back to make a run. In the third period, they eventually tying the game and went on to take their first lead 67-64. The Suns battled back with a run of their own at the end of the period to make the twelve minutes a wash, ending the period with a score of 85-75 as both teams scored 28 points.
In the fourth period, with about 8:30 to play the Spurs were down 94-80. Four minutes later, the Spurs had gone on a 13-0 run, making it 94-93, but once again, the tandem of Richardson and Stoudemire iced the game scoring 7 of the 9 points in a 9-1 run. In the end the Spurs tried fouling, but the Suns hit their free throws nailing the coffin shut on game 1.
This game puts the Suns in the exact position they want to be in. Not just because it means they've won one game of one, but because the question as to whether or not the Suns could outplay the Spurs in the post season has been answered. I doubt the Suns are going to win four straight, but at least our team has shown that they can win even when pushed to work at it.
Looks like my imaginary series bet on the Spurs may be ill advised.
Swwwweeeeeet!
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