Posted By: Stefan Swiat
April 19, 2008 7:45 PM

STAT and Co. were just one play away.
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

As I was pondering how I was going to wrap up the game, I bitterly watched ESPN’s studio show with my face in a glossed-over stupor. As I revisited Duncan’s secret 3-point talents, Michael Finley’s gritty 3-ball and Manu Ginobili’s lefty drive, I began to consider how much damage I could do with a baseball bat to my television. But then, before I could find a pitch to hit, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith started yapping on the screen.

It was with such irony that I found myself, unusually indignant, listening to perhaps the angriest commentator in professional sports. Why he is so mad, I will never know. He can talk about whatever he wants, he has no stake in the teams he talks about and he makes nearly a million dollars a year; sounds like a rough gig.

But regardless of all that, he started harping on how the Suns didn’t pull out the victory because of their defensive ineptness. What an original thought. Way to go out on that limb.

If the Suns would have won by three and Michael Finley’s 3-pointer would have went in-and-out, what would Smith’s story have been then? Something probably along the lines that the Suns held the Spurs under 100 points and beat them at their own game. Smith would have stated that since Shaq joined the team, the Suns can run as well as play effectively in the half-court.

Instead, they lost by two points in a double-overtime game that they controlled to the defending champions on their homecourt. It took the first 3-pointer of the year from Duncan, an in-out-3-pointer from Nash in the second OT and foul trouble of the Suns big men for the Spurs to do it too.

I guess I’d just like to see an analyst do some original thinking for once. Try for example, this:

The Spurs “won” the game. The Suns didn’t “lose” it. The Spurs just made one more play than the Suns. That’s the bottom line. It was that close.

If Raja Bell would have forced Ginobili to the right, if Boris Diaw would have finished that layup in OT, if Shaq would have nailed those two Hack-a-Shaq free throws, it would have been 1-0 Phoenix.

Or if Duncan, Ginobili or Finley don’t hit really tough shots under immense pressure, it is 1-0 Phoenix.

So San Antonio is that good on defense and Phoenix is that bad because of one play? Sounds like a stretch.

Is it poor defense that forces a center to make his first 3-pointer of the year with less than five seconds to play. Or did a superstar player make an unbelievable play? If that scenario happens 10 times, how many times would Duncan drain that shot?

If Shaq can play a full game without foul trouble and temper Duncan’s scoring just a little more, Game 2 could be different. Now they just have to make one more play than the Spurs.

That way, the suits in the studio might actually come up with some new material.

On a related note, while I am second-guessing analysts, let’s add ABC’s Jeff Van Gundy to the list. When Amaré Stoudemire fouled out because Kurt Thomas drew a charge on him, he said that STAT didn’t pass the ball to a wide-open Shaq because of Shaq’s inability to hit free throws.

Everyone who saw the play saw that STAT tried to get the hoop and the harm. And anyone who has watched him all year knows that STAT is not going to pass the ball when he’s in the paint. He’s looking to score. As he should, he’s a beast down low.

Not to mention, STAT was feeling it at that point of the game, having already totaled 33 points. So he got overzealous, no big deal. What he didn’t do was deliberately not pass it to Shaq, who wouldn’t even have had the opportunity to get fouled anyway.  No one was near him. It would have been an easy dunk. But STAT just didn’t see the big fella.

That’s one of those plays that STAT went back to the bench, looked at Shaq and said, “My fault.” And as a basketball player, I blame fellow commentator Mark Jackson for not calling Van Gundy out on that one. As a coach, I would like to have heard Van Gundy say something insightful like, “Stoudemire shouldn’t have leaned forward when he jumped. If he would have kept his verticality, he wouldn’t have drawn the foul, got his shot off without duress, and would have left Shaq with a wide-open offensive rebound if he would have missed.”

But, hey, that’s just my opinion. I could be wrong… Maybe he was calculating Shaq’s free throw percentage as he was rising up to shoot… That's probably why he committed a charge.

Comments

Karen - Phoenix
I actually turned off the volume of my TV during the game because I cannot stand Mark Jackson and Van Gundy. They always talk like they know everything about basketball but never have anything insightful to offer. Al and Tim are million times better than them.

If one of them got the Knicks coaching job next season, I can't wait to watch the Knicks playing perfect basketball, going 80-2 during the regular season (of course the 2 losses are to the Suns).

Go Suns!!

griz - san antonio
a great battle by two great teams. truly epic. if the suns take game two in SA, who knows what will happen. i beleive the winner of this series will go all the way. for now though, the spurs are still the champs and the suns are licking their chops. GO SPURS!!

Andy - Manila, Philippines
DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN JESUS CHRIST.

I am very excited to see the Suns win because I saw that they lead in OT by 3 with over 15 sec in the ball game. Now, TD hit a 3 and send the game in 2OT. I was thinking if somebody thought that TD would not hit that 3. Even me a non-professional, not amateur, can hit that shot. TD is also practicing 3-point shots. Game 2, Suns be ready. Do your best. This is your chance, get game 2 and go back home with home court advantage. Maybe, with Amare in late you foced 3OT or iwn the game, I cannot say anything cause TP is also out.

Game 2, play what you did in Game 1 in OFFENSE! a little improvement in DEFENSE! just for me. Thanks. Good luck. GOD BLESS YOU. PRAY ALWAYS.

Seb - Woking, near London UK
You told them

I reckon we can game 2

Suns played V well in game 1

Spurs got a lot of luck

SHAQ fan - thinkingthug@comcast.net
Okay let Amare off the hook for this one. I know he is a scorer and the Sun's future. But he does that same play to often. On a high pic and roll nearly 8 times out of 10 he travels first because he dosen't have enough basketball I.Q. to start in triple threat position beforehand. If he doesn't have a straight path to the basket then he is a suspect for a charge call because he is so out of control. What if he practiced making that extra pass to SHAQ? Instead of having 33 selfish in front the rim dunks and layup points. He could average a triple double every game if he passes to SHAQ in the paint. Not only does his stats improved but this allows SHAQ to get the opposing team's down low in foul trouble like he's been doing his whole career. Point Blank Amare makes the smart pass Suns win championship no team can stop that double trouble unless Amare makes it a one man show we will lose everytime to the intellegent and well coached Spurs.

arnel fonz - philippines


I still believe Shaq will be the difference in this series. Shaq's teammates should always be aware on when to pass the ball to Shaq in the post. Unless they utilize him effectively, they will get their summer break this early. Tim Duncan was just very lucky to hit the 3-pointer sending the game to double overtime. Despite game 1 loss, my prediction still stands: Suns in 6.

mother earth - az.
Why did the coach let Shaq sit??

Thinking the Spurs would take a time out.

Shaq should have stayed in the game.

The Big Fella is a winner!!!

Gerry T. Gatus - Chandler Arizona (Originally from the Philippines)
god bless suns..keep your composure and beat the spurs bcoz they cant over score the suns..we know that they make some miracle shots but we have to have a Mental Toughness....thats all...Lets go Suns...I truly believe that we can close 1 or two more games at at & t building....goodluck..

Pat - Chino Valley
Totally agree...Suns played well and there are a lot of "what ifs." The 3 pointer by Duncan was a surprise to everyone.

Hope they will go into game 2 with the confidence they showed with Stoudemire and O'Neal staying out of foul trouble.

We have confidence when they come home it will be a 1 to 1 playoff.

Dude - TX
Well isnt it always like this for the Suns?..what if Shaq had hit the free throws?..what if Diaw had hit that lay-up?..what if they fouled Ginobili instead of letting him pass to Duncan for the trey?..what if Nash didnt get a bloody nose last year?..what if those players didnt get suspended last year?..Another three more losses and the Suns will be asking themselves "what if?" again from their vacatioin spots. Dont worry the Spurs do this to many teams..have them pondering what if? Spurs in Seven.

Juan Brujo - Hell
IF...IF...IF...If my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle. Here in San Antonio we have never worried about losing to the suns because they have never had an answer for Tim Duncan. Thats it in a nutshell. The suns have always been good enough to win championships but not enough to beat Tim Duncan. Watch out next year when the spurs add Ian Mahinmi

Sean Siqueira - Rio de Janeiro
Can someone read it to the Suns staff and players, please?

Now it's Suns time! I mean: The Suns work hard and with honor. They play a fair game and they are good men. It's just time to show the pride and shine only the blessed ones have. God bless you! It's time to win. What about 4 in a row against the Spurs? Believe in your talent, believe in your teammates, believe it is your time now and get it for real. Go Suns! No mercy, no doubt, no anger, just feel the power and play the game as good as you can, as happy as you can, as bright as you can, as winner as you can be. Go Suns!

tara - Ireland
THIS BLOG ROCKS...totally agree wit evrytin yu sed...GAME 2 BABY! =]

Rob - Phoenix
Horrible on the ball defense. You have to stop the ball. Way too many LAYUPS. Just to let the Suns know, Ginobli is LEFT HANDED. Takes it to his left 90% of the time. Somebody step out on Parker and Ginobli, make them give it up or shoot the jumper. Not rocket science. I blame D'antoni for this one. First in regulation, and then in OT you were up by 3 with less than 16 seconds left and opted not to foul either time. Stoudamire gets lazy with a pass at the end and commits foul no. 5, and then picks up that charge 2 mins later and it's seeya Stat. Not smart. As a team they didn't play intelligently. Quit giving it away!

rihanna - tucson
awesome post. i love it. we're guna get 'em this time.

Drew - Australia
Don't mean to have sour grapes or nothing, but check out Duncan's 3 point shot (you can still see it as play 3 in the top 10 nba.com plays of the day at the around the association archive). Duncan flat out travels. He isn't in motion. He has the ball in hand. Picks up his left foot. Then settles, shifts his right foot (in the slow motion you can actually see the floot under it) then shoots. It's not like the refs couldn't see it - he was all alone out there. Seems to me that again the NBA may want the Spurs to repeat. Cause no ref should miss that.

Juan C. Puente - Fort Worth, Texas
To Drew from Down Under, I am a Spurs fan, but I have to agree, when I saw Tim settle for the shot I thought he shuffled his feet a little bit, but do you seriously think a ref has the right to make a call like that in the closing seconds of such an important game? Besides, Tim still had to sink the shot. D'Antoni or Raja Bell had no clue that Tim Duncan had that kind of range. Now they do. Chalk it up to experience. If Tim's on the arc in game two, maybe Raja will close in on him. Oh by the way, if you look at the replay of the shot I think you'll see that Duncan's arm was hit on his follow-through by Raja Bell. So it should have been a possible four-point-play.

jon - phils
it pays to be lucky than good. the spurs had luck that time. it is easier to say what is needed to be done after a game. but during a game, the players only react to situations. they can only act to what instinct tell them to do. they have no time to choose between act A or act B. in a split second they decide, give them that. we fans are hurt when our team lose, we act insanely mad. but do you think players dont ponders to those what ifs. give them a break. they commit mistake, we criticize. they make good, we praise. dont worry suns fan. the suns will still rise in pheonix this year

suns - phx
Its okay Suns, you guys played very well, up by 16 was a really good feeling. We loss yes, but can't look back at woulda, coulda, shoulda. Have to put this game behind you and go into to San Antonio and do what you know to for a win. It can be done and game 2 in San Antonio is the place.

nba93 - phoenix
This loss has alreay opened the door for negativity, we must close this door asap, critcs call us out, coach is taking heat, players are too because we could not finish. At some point when will this team says enough is enough. It does not matter what the fans or media have to say, its comes down to the players and what they want. Right out the gate, foul trouble, this team has to control this. There are so many things that we can point at for the loss, right now it does not matter, we have to move on and re-focus. Aside from the bad judgement on some things in game 1, I believe the fans were proud of the fact that we gave San Antonio a rough time, we were up big and could not hold on. Now we fine tune this, the fouls and turnovers, there will be havoc. So, come on Suns, this is the time that matters the most.

RT - San Antonio
Sorry, sun fans but your not going anywhere this year as well.

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