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9Mar/084:24 PM

Suns beat Spurs 94-87 as Shaq shows the way

By Steve Fan
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<a href="http://phoenix.fanster.com/tag/shaq" class="kblinker" title="More about shaq »">Shaq</a> v. Spurs’ height=”250″/></a>(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Suns - Spurs is never just another game not since last year <a href="http://phoenix.fanster.com/tag/playoffs/playoffs/" class="st_tag internal_tag" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with playoffs">playoffs</a> series, anyway. The games are usually very intense and highly contested and in the end the Spurs find a way to win, well not this time, my friends.</p> <p>This time at the US Airways Center the Suns finally beat the Spurs <a href="http://www.nba.com/games/20080309/SASPHX/boxscore.html">94-87 </a>as <a href="http://phoenix.fanster.com/tag/shaq/shaq/" class="st_tag internal_tag" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with Shaq">Shaq</a> set the tone for a very intense Suns performance.</p> <p>I should have said Los Suns against Los Spurs since it was “Noche Latina” in the NBA. The idea from the marketing dept. to honour Latin heritage was basically a linguistic non sense, why put "THE" in Spanish on the jersey. Whatever, it was just Spurs vs. Suns.</p> <p>In the end it was the kind of game the Spurs wanted to play, only this time they didn't win. A key victory for the Suns and coach D'Antoni who looked very nervous at times, arguing calls with the refs late in the game. I think he's starting to feel some pressure.</p> <p>The first half was a tense affair with both teams ready to fight for the victory. The Spurs eventually led 48-45 after 2 periods despite <a href="http://phoenix.fanster.com/tag/shaq/shaq/" class="st_tag internal_tag" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with Shaq">Shaq</a>'s 12 points and 11 rebounds and <a href="http://phoenix.fanster.com/tag/grant-hill/grant-hill/" class="st_tag internal_tag" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with Grant Hill">Grant Hill</a> 6-of-7 shooting.</p> <p>The Suns finally showed energy and effort and they even did a good job on both sides of the court in the first half.</p> <p>It was a bit odd when the Suns actually went to <a href="http://phoenix.fanster.com/tag/shaq/shaq/" class="st_tag internal_tag" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with Shaq">Shaq</a> in the low post two or three times in the first half as the game was often played with Duncan and former Suns Kurt Thomas playing against O'Neal and Stoudemire.</p> <p>It was the first time <a href="http://phoenix.fanster.com/tag/shaq/shaq/" class="st_tag internal_tag" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with Shaq">Shaq</a> actually looked somewhat comfortable in the Suns offense and was a real force inside and the Suns were able to built a small six-point lead in the third which eventually saw the Spurs up 70-69.</p> <p>It's not by chance that the Suns best defense was played in the third quarter with <a href="http://phoenix.fanster.com/tag/shaq/shaq/" class="st_tag internal_tag" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with Shaq">Shaq</a> in the middle and Stoudemire on the bench with foul trouble.</p> <p>The fourth quarter was even more intense. The game was tied at 85 with 2:52 left and the Suns took the lead for good 88-85 on Stoudemire three free throws (on back to back plays) with 1:57 to go.</p> <p>Ginobili led the Spurs with 22 points while Duncan added 17 points and 10 rebounds and Parker scored 21.</p> <p><a href="http://phoenix.fanster.com/tag/steve-nash/steve-nash/" class="st_tag internal_tag" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with Steve Nash">Steve Nash</a> scored 19 points and 11 assists leading a Suns team that had six players in double figures (Bell 11, Stoudemire 16, Hill 18, Barbosa 10) but it was <a href="http://phoenix.fanster.com/tag/shaq/shaq/" class="st_tag internal_tag" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with Shaq">Shaq</a> setting the tone of the game with his 14 points and 16 rebounds.</p> <p>The Suns (41-22) will now stay at home to face Memphis on Tuesday night (7 PM).</p> <p>Yours truly, a happy Steve Fan</p> <div style="clear:both;"></div> <p><em><a href="/subscribe/"><img alt="Subscribe to Fanster.com - All Sports. All Phoenix." src="http://phoenix.fanster.com/wp-content/themes/azsh_mag/images/rss-13.gif" style="border: 0pt none ; height: 13px; vertical-align: bottom;"/> Subscribe to your favorite Phoenix team or sport</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/fanster_sports">Follow us on Twitter.</a></em></p> <div style="clear:both;"></div> <p>Tags: <a href="http://phoenix.fanster.com/tag/grant-hill/grant-hill/" rel="tag">Grant Hill</a>, <a href="http://phoenix.fanster.com/tag/kurt-thomas/kurt-thomas/" rel="tag">Kurt Thomas</a>, <a href="http://phoenix.fanster.com/tag/playoffs/playoffs/" rel="tag">playoffs</a>, <a href="http://phoenix.fanster.com/tag/san-antonio-spurs/san-antonio-spurs/" rel="tag">San Antonio Spurs</a>, <a href="http://phoenix.fanster.com/tag/shaq/shaq/" rel="tag">Shaq</a>, <a href="http://phoenix.fanster.com/tag/steve-nash/steve-nash/" rel="tag">Steve Nash</a></p> <div class="breadcrumb"> <span style="text-transform:uppercase;font-size:11px;color:#666;">March 9th, 2008 4:24 PM PST</span> <div class="social_buttons"> <!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --> <script type="text/javascript">addthis_pub = BallHype: hype it up!Email This Post Print This Post

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March 9th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
False Hope says:
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Reasons not to hope for much:

1) The game was at home for Phoenix.
2) Los Spurs lost to Denver the previous game.
3) Los Spurs played badly, and still had a chance to win.
4) Los Suns win helped the Lakers even more.

 
March 11th, 2008 at 12:56 am
Steve Fan says:
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Let’s just assume reasons 1-4 are all correct, I’ll take a win over los spurs anytime..ugly, lucky, whatever

 
March 11th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Bobman024 says:
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I am still a bit confused about the “Los” part myself. Clearly the marketing person who drew up this plan does not live in the southwest….

 

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