BRINK OF ELIMINATION - If you were told that Amare had 7 points, 9 rebounds to go with Nash's 15 points and 4 assists you would say A) the stats referred to a 115-99 Suns loss or B) a 105-86 Suns victory? You and most logical people would have chosen A and said the numbers came from the box score of Friday's 115-99 loss and you and others would have been wrong.

Sunday's 105 to 86 win for the Suns not only proved that they can indeed hold onto a lead and beat the Spurs but that Amare and Nash don't have to carry the load. Phoenix was led by Boris Diaw's 20 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists and Raja Bells impressive 27 points on 8 of 11 shooting with 5 three pointers. These unusual suspects not only were on fire on the offensive side of the hardwood but provided the defensive intensity that the Suns had lacked in the first three losses.

While Amare didn't put up major numbers he look solid on defense and had 3 of the 9 blocked shots for the Suns. Even the "unknown soldiers" DJ Strawberry, Sean Marks and Eric Piatkowski saw the court for a combined 8 minutes and 44 seconds of playing time (Which in Coach D bench years equates to an entire season (10 games for every minute played)).
The question is "Who are the real Suns?"

The answer lies some where between the 115-99 loss and the 105-86 victory. It lies somewhere between the non exhistant, nameless French man and the dominating Boris Diaw seen Sunday. It lies somewhere between a timid Amare and three quarters of Amare Stoudemire highlight dunks. It lies somewhere between Friday's completely apathetic crowd and the energy seen on Sunday at the US Airways Center. Most of all it lies somewhere between the ears of every player on the Suns team.

It is now mental. Can the Suns keep the edge they showed on Sunday. Can Boris Diaw remember he is an amazing athlete and a key component to the Suns success? Can Coach D actually continue to make the appropriate adjustments? Can Amare remember he can be a monster on defense? Or do the Suns settle and find comfort in the fact that they won big against the Spurs and showed everyone that even if they lose game 5 that they were the better team?

As a Suns fan you want to believe right now, heck we all do, but seeing is believing. If they can come out tomorrow with the same fire and passion as Sunday than maybe just maybe it's time to start to think about saying "The NBA Playoffs Where 3-0 to 4-3 happens" .

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