GarageGabs

The Suns are off and running building a 24-13 1st quarter lead against the Spurs. Just what the doctor ordered, a feisty crowd and a fast start. Shawn Marion is leading the way with 11 first quarter points, and believe it or not the Spurs are having trouble countering the Suns small lineup thanks to no Robert Horry. Go figure.

*Update* Phoenix goes into the half with a 44-33 lead. San Antonio does appear to be adjusting with a lot more movement on both offense and defense. Shawn Marion leads the Phoenix with 20 points and 11 rebounds, including his last 7 shots in a row. On a side note, how much fun would it be to play with Steve Nash? The guy is amazing at breaking people down off the dribble and then making an insane pass to the perfect guy. Also, if all you saw was Shawn Marion’s shooting style do you think you’d pick him in a game of pickup basketball?

*Update* A bit of a chess match going on in the 3rd quarter as the Spurs have tightened things up 62-56. San Antonio got within 4 early in the quarter by constantly feeding Tim Duncan, bu the Suns adjusted by quickly doubling Duncan forcing the Spurs to hit open jumpers. Things are getting a little chippy now as the pressure builds. Leandro Barbosa has 5 fouls. Kurt Thomas is doing an admirable job filling in for Stoudemire, but good god man, cut to the basket on those pick and rolls.

*Update* It’s final, San Antonio 88 Phoenix 85- Not sure why Mike D’Antoni decided to remove Kurt Thomas from the game just as he was becoming seriously effective.  The Suns finished up 1-11 from the field without Thomas on the floor.  The game was won on two plays.  Phoenix couldn’t get the ball in bounds underneath their own basket….San Antonio stole the inbounds and tied the game up on the ensuing possession.  Bruce Bowen put them up for good with a 3 from the right corner.  Phoenix could never recover.  A really sad way for this game to end as the Suns led the entire way and played some pretty inspired basketball for about 46 minutes.  Kurt Thomas finally began to cut to the basket on pick & rolls late in the 4th quarter and picked up 2 buckets and a free throw for his efforts….I REALLY don’t understand why Phoenix went away from this.  It left them scrambling and confused on defense as well….just really bad coaching in my opinion, I hope one of the media-heads (or D’Antoni himself, he’s really good for taking blame) points this out, I felt it was pretty obvious.  After watching this game, it’s hard to imagine how the Spurs ever even hung with a Suns team that includes Amare Stoudemire.  I wouldn’t call this series over, but the Suns will be hard pressed to win back to back games.  Game 6 is going to be huge.  If they can get this thing back to Phoenix….then maybe, just maybe, they can pull this out.  Really should have won tonight.