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 Shaq, Ejections and the Playoffs
Posted By: Brian Skinner |
Brian Skinner worked hard during the regular season to get to the playoffs.
(NBAE Photos) |
With the playoffs, it's all about enjoying the atmosphere. The last two years, that atmosphere has been a bit thin for me, since I haven't been in the postseason since my days with Portland, Sacramento and Milwaukee, so I'm looking forward to it. The atmosphere is going to be more intense, so it's do or die right now.
Being a relative newcomer to the Suns-Spurs rivalry this season, I've seen enough already during the regular season to know what's in store for us. It's a playoff game. Obviously, it's going to be physical. There are a lot of bad tempers involved from last year. Even the last match-up in the regular season, it was just a physical game. We don't expect anything less than that. In the past, Phoenix has been looked at as kind of soft on the inside. Now, we have the players on the inside, not to mention on the outside, that have a handle on whatever anybody throws at us.
And that's where Shaquille O'Neal comes in.
Don't get me wrong. Obviously you want to play, but having a Hall of Fame center in there, a guy with over 26,000 points, it's going to create some mismatches interior-wise. We have some great spot-up shooters like Leandro Barbosa, Raja Bell and Steve Nash. Those are guys who can knock down threes from the outside. We just add another dimension of someone inside who people will have to worry about and pay attention to a little bit more. I think it's going to work.
That's important against a guy like Tim Duncan. With him, you have another future Hall of Famer. We have to slow him down. He's going to get his looks, his attempts and his shots. We just need to limit what he does make, and make them the hardest ones he has to work for. He's physical and doesn't like guys pushing on him. He's a four who plays like a five. He likes to go outside for medium-range perimeter jump shots. He'll take it inside, too, but we have the guys to handle that.
My teammates obviously got on me a little bit after my ejection Wednesday. "Beating up on little guards and all," they said. With these guys, if it's a half-opened wound, they will tear it open. It's camaraderie. We have a bunch of great guys. They may give each other a hard time, but it's all tough love. Still, these guys here can be are relentless, but remember, this is a contact sport. Well, make that an extreme contact sport. People don't see everything that goes on with certain plays, but a lot of things happen. It's about honor and standing up for what you believe in and what you want to do. Certain guys have certain playing styles. One guy may be all finesse, other guys may be more physical. It doesn't bother me any. I just anticipate the playoffs.
And chances are if you watched my quick night Wednesday vs. Portland, you also got to see a pretty good game from Sean Marks. It's great to get playing time, but it's even better to play well during that time. That's the thing. As a guy that doesn't play that much, you have to look at it as when you go in, you show the coaching staff, "hey, maybe I should be playing a little bit more." It's not to embarrass a coaching staff, but just to show them you can play. Some guys on some teams will respect that, and some won't. Here, we have role players who are willing to accept their responsibilities and take a backseat. And with this team, it's never one specific guy every night who can produce. You have different guys who on any occasion can lead the team in scoring or rebounding or assists. That's just how talented this ballclub is.
It's a veteran club. They don't have any egos. Guys know what they need to do. It's an unspoken taboo of we need to come in and get our work done and get out and enjoy basketball. These guys have your back and they want to win. With that mentality I don't think there is anybody who can beat us in a seven-game series.
Well, thanks for reading and check back in soon for another one of my blog entries as we take on the Spurs in the Opening Round of the NBA Playoffs.
Comments
Tink - Tempe
Hi Brian, it's great to see you back in the game. My son and I met you at Celebity Waiters, you were so personable, that was great! I was shocked when you were ejected the other night. Some refs really are just ready to flash the T for very little reason. Go figure. Your ejection did give Sean and others a great chance to be out on the floor for an extended time period. I know that Mike likes a short bench, but most teams who play a long bench do a lot better in the long run. Mixing it up keeps the opposition off kilter. They aren't quite sure how to substitute when we are moving more players into the lineup let alone how to guard the new guy off the deep bench. That's not to play the deeper bench just as a group, but to integrate the whole bench into the lineup early in the game one at a time playing with the starters. It can only make your game better to be on the floor with the crew that hits the wood every night. Love your defensive play, you have such great hustle on the boards both offensively and defensively. Keep it up and GO SUNS!!!
Stephanie - Phoenix
I love to watch you play, Brian. I understand that with the addition of Shaq roles had to be changed and your's was one of those roles. I think it's great how you've taken on that change with such a positive attitude. Thank you for all you on and off the court. I hope to see you get some playoff minutes soon!
Juan C. Puente - Fort Worth, Texas
Brian, I am also a member of the distinguishe alumni from Baylor University, class of '94. I'm glad to see the mens' basketball team doing much better. I worked at the Ferrell Center, so I know about all the work that goes on behind the scenes to get ready for a game. I also was proud to see David Wesley get drafted by the NBA, and have a fruitful career. However, I could not cheer for him because he was on the Cleveland Cavaliers versus my beloved Spurs. So I'm sorry to say even though I think you're a great player, and should be seeing more minutes, especially when Shaq's in foul trouble. Sic 'em Bears! Go!Spurs! Go!
Seb - Woking, near London UK
Hey Brian i think your a decent player who is some what underrated, you deserve to be in the playoffs this year, keep up the good work :)
SALOMON VARGAS - LOS ANGELAS CALIFORNIA
HIJUSY WANT TO SAY,GOOD JOB JUST GET THOSE SPURS.IM ONE OF SUNS NUMBER ONE FANS.WE CAN DO IT.I JUST WANT SOME GOOD DEFENCE.TO SHUT ALL THESE PEOPLE SAYING WE DONT GOT IT TO EAT THERE WORDS.GO SUNS...................
CECY - PHOENIX, AZ
I THINK YOU CAN DEFENITELY BLOOOOCKKKKK (0_o) I LUV TO SEE YOU IN ACTION SPECIALLY WHEN PLAYING GOOD TEAMS...KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!
Marshall - Gilbert
Its great we have Shaq, but as a team the Spurs have beat us mentally. We lose because they find ways to play smarter and get in our heads. It happened again in game 1. I have heard numerous people say that the Suns didn't do anything wrong letting tim Duncan hit his 1st three of the year. Answer me this, why was Nash chasing Manu with a few seconds to go when the best he could do is score 2 points. The Spurs needed three and Shaq did the right thing forcing Manu out further to take more time off the clock. If Nash stays next to Tim Duncan while shaq lets Manu by, Manu had zero passing opportunities to a three point shooter. Nash did not use discipline and Manu baited him along. Neither Nash nor Stat took neither of the final shots in the game. The spurs lucked out!!!! Then, we also failed to have any creative thinkers in the final overtime, after Nash hit his three. Shaq is out of the game unless somebody stops play. Nobody had the presence of mind to use a delay of game by taking the ball after it went through the net, so Shaq could check in on the dead ball. Paul westphal would of come up with it! Finally, If you want to make a true adjustment for game 3, start Boris and have him cover Duncan to start the game and bring the hurt Grant Hill off the bench. you can use Amare for the double team and have him cover Bowen. Make Bowen hit a couple of threes. Use Shaq to cut off the middle and stop Parker from penetrating. Use Shaq in the 2nd half on duncan and avoid foul trouble for Amare and Shaq. Skinner can give some 2nd quarter minutes to cover Duncan. You have the fire power to beat Duncan down without getting your key players into foul trouble. Also, throw Strawberry for a few minutes on Manu. Let him beat him up for a few hard fouls. Tell him he has 5 minutes to beat Manu up as much as possible, if he gets a few hard fouls on him, so be it! Beat the Spurs at their own game, we have the role players to do it!!!! We can't handle another year of losing to the Spurs!!!!!
Mr. M - Baltimore
Mr. Skinner,
Are you ready to win the Title, sir? Get a message to Mr.O'Neal for me please. Tell him that he is playing too soft! He needs to get back to the mind set that he had when he came into the league. Even though he was much smaller he intimidated EVERYBODY. Now, everybody thinks that that can do anything they want to Mr. O'Neal (and they are doing almost anything). When he first hit the league no one wanted to get near him!!!! Now he is like a magnet drawing even the smallest players to him. Nobody fears SHAQ, anymore. If the refs are going to allow players to abuse Mr. O'Neal's fun loving nature then SHAQ needs to make sure that they pay a price. First, he can't simply establish himself in the post, dare anyone to come close to you while you are in the post (like he did when he was Young, and Hungry for RESPECT). Then if anyone is foolish enough to challenge Mr. O'Neal (he is probably going to be called for the foul anyway; when his opponents are fouling him) he needs to make those people pay! The NERVE of these flies! Obviously, no one is talking to Mr. O'Neal so I'll say it . . . Knock some teeth out or knock somebody out even when you sneeze!!
There was one other SUN that had this type of RESPECT. He still commands that level of RESPECT. Even to this day most "walk on egg shells" around him. I am speaking of Mr. Barkley. Listed at 6'7" and actually stood 6'5" Sir Charles was great because he did what he wanted to do because no one could stop him. Quiet as it's kept; they were scared to even try. Everybody gave Sir Charles his 3 -6 (space) because he demanded it without saying a word. Look at the tapes! You don't see anybody leaning on Mr. Barkley. You don't see anybody agressively challenging Mr. Barkley (except for Bill Lambeer and you see what Mr. Barkley did to him). Why? Mr. Barkley did not take any stuff! Players knew that once Mr. Barkley stepped into that Rectangle he was strictly business and he was not to be played with!
Ask my Frat brother if he really wants to w
Angelita Martinez - Casa Grande, AZ
hey skinner i just wanted to say that i believe in you. your GOOD GUY. I am from San Antonio too so i think the spurs are a really good team but rite now its all about the SUNS i love u guys so help us win the playoffs and beat those spurs!!!!
Yesenia - Tempe
Hey Skinner,
It has been great watching you play D!. I always get a laugh when you slap the ball away. YEah, you get a foul but at least we get to see that ball fly away from the basket!! It has been fun! I love the SUNS! I don't care what happens. I have not missed on game. I remember when I first saw you, it was at the first Lakers game where we got worked...anyway I was thinking, who is this guy with with that orange goatee???? Well, now I know. Keep up the good work! Hopefully D'Antoni will put you in tonight. I wish I could be there but I will be watching from home! Thanks for the excitment!
Bonita - Dothan, Alabama
well were do i start. yall are down three to nothing , something has to happen . parker has to be stop. i am a big fan and would like to see the sun make the second roung of the play off.
Dor - Phoenix
Well said and well written remarks here, Mr. Skinner. The truth of the matter is, I always wonder why you don't play more often now? I have always emailed the league about this. How come our bench players don't get the chance to play more often? This is certainly one of the reasons why we can't do it. Obviously, tonight our coach has done it again... No bench players (3rd set??) were given a chance to play. Why do other teams win? It's because the coach has this confidence in them. They are being made to play ergo they are n-sync with their group at any given time, ergo they win!!! The star players have to rest, recoup while the bench players replace them and play during every game. This is one strategy that sadly coach D just wouldn't do much... Too bad, too sad... Do we still have this chance of winning? My answer would be at this point in time, it looks truly very slim... I believe in you guys (don't get me wrong), but you badly need a new set of strategies line up before you... Good luck Brian... You have played so well in all your games so far... God Bless you Phoenix suns!!!
Steve Dale - scottsdale
The coach should have put you(skinner)and Gordan
g. for Alot more minutes...The rotation seemed to
short,and to me anyways,looked like the team got
tired,espeically in the second half.Good luck
sunday1
Melissa - Glendale
Hey Skinner u did great this season, hopefully u'll B back. Great play game 3. I think u have plenty 2 offr the club & deserv MORE min! How do I get a Skinner jersey? GO SUNS
Tony - Mesa
Why,why,why?????? The Suns are a better team than this. Coach D'Antoni is not a playoff coach. The Suns fans have been waiting and waiting for a Championship, sooner or later the fans will get tired of paying high priced ticktets to watch a seasonal team. I am fustrated at watching Tony Parker take apart this JV team on the floor.
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