Suns / Spurs Series Recap
This series is going back to San Antonio for Game 3 on Saturday with the Spurs up 2 games to none over the Phoenix Suns. Despite the best record in the league and homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs, Phoenix is struggling from the get-go, and hasn't had enough juice left in the 4th quarter to walk away with a victory. The Suns have fallen behind in the 1st quarter in both games, but has battled back and has led both games going into the 4th quarter. What does that mean to the Spurs...absolutely nothing.
Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili (Tim Duncan too) are carrying this team and simply confident they'll win in the 4th quarter. To top of this scoring trio, the Spurs defense is doing wonders on the suddenly struggling Suns. Btw - that spinning off-hand layup by Ginobili in the 4th quarter of Game 2 was a travel. Watch the replay - 3 steps. This has become a common no-call by officials in the NBA, so I'm not going to force the issue.
Phoenix will get Joe Johnson back for Game 3, though there's a lot of talk about how much he'll be able to contribute. He'll obviously be wary of getting hit in the face, but hopefully he toughens up and helps the Suns get a win. If the Suns win Game 3, it's a series again; if they lose, it's 99.9% over. Barring a Red Sox like comeback, Phoenix will not make it to the Finals this year.
I also like Joe Johnson for his defense - he should be able to help contain Ginobili a little bit better, but the way Manu swings those elbows, Joe better be careful.
My2Cents