Sunday, May 22, 2005
The Machine
Tim Duncan operates at a level unlike any player in the NBA. Efficiency and production are his game. When he needs to step up, he does. During the season, Duncan is a 67% free throw shooter, but in the Spurs' dismantling of the Suns in game one of the Western Conference Finals, Duncan knocked down 8 of 10 and went 10 of 21 from the field going for 28 and 15, demonstrating, to nobody's surprise, that, yes, he is the best player in the NBA. If Duncan had a bad ankle, he certainly fooled me.
If game one showed me anything, it's that this series is not going to be a defensive struggle. While the Suns put up 114, shot 48.8% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc, San Antonio played a 51.7% trump card from the field. This series is going to be about offense, the problem for the Suns is that the Spurs run the single most efficient offensive machine in the NBA. Half court set? Best in the league. You want to run with them? They can keep up with anybody.
But this series is not going to be about defense. Not when the final score is 121-114 and both teams are shooting around 50%.
In a curious, and ultimately brilliant, defensive decision, Gregg Popovich put Tim Duncan on Quentin Richardson and had Bruce Bowen hound Shawn Marion. Q, who was invisible in the Dallas series, didn't bother to bring his 'A' game. Q passed up at least three wide-open threes because his confidence was shot. When he finally hit one, it was a relief, and I thought that Q would start to chuck up bombs for the remainder of the game. Marion, in the meantime, went 1-6 in this game and managed only 3 points. With the complete lack of production coming from two key starters, the Suns had to turn to their defense to create stops in the fourth quarter.
43 points later, San Antonio strutted off of the court with home court advantage in tow, and the chance to go up 2-0 in this series.
Joe Johnson was sorely missed in this game. He'd better be prepared to lace it up in game two. His presence will add depth to the Suns' bench and will stretch out San Antonio's perimeter defense beyond what I think they are capable of holding together.
The real killers in this game were the role players off of the bench for the Spurs. Brent Barry had a playoff career high with 21 points, 5-8 from downtown, and was deadly in the fourth quarter. Robert Horry also hit some huge shots down the stretch (what else is new?).
The Suns played with no intensity. In the fourth quarter, the Spurs two-point lead felt like a ten-point lead. The Suns just didn't get in their faces at any point in that fourth quarter.
In some ways, the Suns' play reminded me of the Mavs' play in game one of the semis; coming off an emotional closeout game, the Suns experienced a letdown. Naturally, the Suns look at game two as a must win. Going down 0-2 is not an option in this series, especially when taking on the most efficient basketball machine in the NBA.
If game one showed me anything, it's that this series is not going to be a defensive struggle. While the Suns put up 114, shot 48.8% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc, San Antonio played a 51.7% trump card from the field. This series is going to be about offense, the problem for the Suns is that the Spurs run the single most efficient offensive machine in the NBA. Half court set? Best in the league. You want to run with them? They can keep up with anybody.
But this series is not going to be about defense. Not when the final score is 121-114 and both teams are shooting around 50%.
In a curious, and ultimately brilliant, defensive decision, Gregg Popovich put Tim Duncan on Quentin Richardson and had Bruce Bowen hound Shawn Marion. Q, who was invisible in the Dallas series, didn't bother to bring his 'A' game. Q passed up at least three wide-open threes because his confidence was shot. When he finally hit one, it was a relief, and I thought that Q would start to chuck up bombs for the remainder of the game. Marion, in the meantime, went 1-6 in this game and managed only 3 points. With the complete lack of production coming from two key starters, the Suns had to turn to their defense to create stops in the fourth quarter.
43 points later, San Antonio strutted off of the court with home court advantage in tow, and the chance to go up 2-0 in this series.
Joe Johnson was sorely missed in this game. He'd better be prepared to lace it up in game two. His presence will add depth to the Suns' bench and will stretch out San Antonio's perimeter defense beyond what I think they are capable of holding together.
The real killers in this game were the role players off of the bench for the Spurs. Brent Barry had a playoff career high with 21 points, 5-8 from downtown, and was deadly in the fourth quarter. Robert Horry also hit some huge shots down the stretch (what else is new?).
The Suns played with no intensity. In the fourth quarter, the Spurs two-point lead felt like a ten-point lead. The Suns just didn't get in their faces at any point in that fourth quarter.
In some ways, the Suns' play reminded me of the Mavs' play in game one of the semis; coming off an emotional closeout game, the Suns experienced a letdown. Naturally, the Suns look at game two as a must win. Going down 0-2 is not an option in this series, especially when taking on the most efficient basketball machine in the NBA.
# posted by Brent @ 3:20 PM 
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There was no doubt that Tim was limited by his ankle problems. Too many easy gimmes missed because of insufficient lift. Several rebounds lost or coralled with difficulty.
But he knows how to play at less than 100%. More pump fakes, more deep position. Increased concentration. And the left ankle probably loosened up a bit in the second half. Guts and intelligence from a great player.
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But he knows how to play at less than 100%. More pump fakes, more deep position. Increased concentration. And the left ankle probably loosened up a bit in the second half. Guts and intelligence from a great player.
# posted by 
: 4:35 PM
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