Comments on: It’s Over. Spurs eliminate Suns 4-1 http://azsportshub.com/2008/04/29/its-over.-spurs-eliminate-suns-4-1/ Arizona Sports - Your teams. Your site. Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:31:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Steve Fan http://azsportshub.com/2008/04/29/its-over.-spurs-eliminate-suns-4-1/#comment-2846 Steve Fan Fri, 02 May 2008 19:34:43 +0000 http://azsportshub.com/2008/04/29/its-over.-spurs-eliminate-suns-4-1/#comment-2846 The Spurs won because they're a better basketball team, better yet they know what they want and what they need to do to accomplish that on a basketball court. The Suns were a tactical mess: no defensive system, no plan B if a starter failed, post up or try to run, quick shot or not...that's why I am not blaming the loss on Shaq. I think it has to be shared by Coach D and the GM. The Spurs won because they’re a better basketball team, better yet they know what they want and what they need to do to accomplish that on a basketball court. The Suns were a tactical mess: no defensive system, no plan B if a starter failed, post up or try to run, quick shot or not…that’s why I am not blaming the loss on Shaq. I think it has to be shared by Coach D and the GM.

]]> By: deman http://azsportshub.com/2008/04/29/its-over.-spurs-eliminate-suns-4-1/#comment-2844 deman Fri, 02 May 2008 16:42:50 +0000 http://azsportshub.com/2008/04/29/its-over.-spurs-eliminate-suns-4-1/#comment-2844 It's easy to blame Shaq but the Phoenix problems predate him - The Suns used to have a deep bench, now with an injured Grant Hill they go 1 player deep on the bench. Who decided to let those players go? The starters on Phoenix actually played comparable to the Spurs starters but the Spurs bench was far superior. Why did the coach continue to start Grant Hill for 3 games? Every time he limped out to the court I cringed. He couldn't run, jump, play defense and barely contributed on offense. A little production out of that position and this could have been a totally different series. Shaq actually played pretty good, not the Shaq of old but still better than 80% of the centers in the league would have. If they had Shawn Marion they would have the small foward position filled but then Stoudamire would have played center and there would have been a hole at PF. The Spurs are a smart team that will take advantage of any weakness and Phoenix had too many. It goes back to the management, the Spurs have hung on to smart, savvy veteran players that deliver in the playoffs. If the Phoenix management can find some quality bench players and someone to fill in the small forward position they could make a legitimate run to the finals next year. It’s easy to blame Shaq but the Phoenix problems predate him - The Suns used to have a deep bench, now with an injured Grant Hill they go 1 player deep on the bench. Who decided to let those players go? The starters on Phoenix actually played comparable to the Spurs starters but the Spurs bench was far superior.

Why did the coach continue to start Grant Hill for 3 games? Every time he limped out to the court I cringed. He couldn’t run, jump, play defense and barely contributed on offense. A little production out of that position and this could have been a totally different series.

Shaq actually played pretty good, not the Shaq of old but still better than 80% of the centers in the league would have. If they had Shawn Marion they would have the small foward position filled but then Stoudamire would have played center and there would have been a hole at PF. The Spurs are a smart team that will take advantage of any weakness and Phoenix had too many.

It goes back to the management, the Spurs have hung on to smart, savvy veteran players that deliver in the playoffs. If the Phoenix management can find some quality bench players and someone to fill in the small forward position they could make a legitimate run to the finals next year.

]]>