Ahhh, the best series of this round and maybe the playoffs doesn't even have a preview writer! Oh well.I'm really excited for the game. The Spurs should win this one. They will have home court, rested their old guys and they have the motivation after being embarrassed last game. I think this will be a close one though and the Suns have a good shot. If Phoenix wins this it could be the series because it would put a lot of pressure on the Spurs to win the next game and then go to Phoenix and win it.
<div align="center"> <div align='center'><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">Western Conference Semi-Finals</span></div> (2) <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> (3) <span style="font-family:Arial Black"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">Series Tied 1-1</span></span> May 12, 2007 - 8:00 pm ET <span style="color:#000000">Game on ABC</span></div> <span style="color:#6600CC">Phoenix Suns</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">(1-1)</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">PG</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Steve Nash</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">SG</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Raja Bell</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">SF</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Shawn Marion</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">PF</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Amare Stoudemire</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">C</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Kurt Thomas</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Leandro Barbosa, Boris Diaw, James Jones</span> <span style="color:#000000">San Antonio Spurs</span> <span style="color:#999999">(1-1)</span> <span style="color:#999999">PG</span> <span style="color:#000000">Tony Parker</span> <span style="color:#999999">SG</span> <span style="color:#000000">Michael Finley</span> <span style="color:#999999">SF</span> <span style="color:#000000">Bruce Bowen</span> <span style="color:#999999">PF</span> <span style="color:#000000">Tim Duncan</span> <span style="color:#999999">C</span> <span style="color:#000000">Francisco Elson</span> <span style="color:#999999">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#000000">Manu Ginobili, Robert Horry, Jacque Vaughn, Fabricio Oberto</span> Injury Report None Who To Watch Out For <span style="color:#6600CC">Steve Nash</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">Playoff Stats: 18.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 13.4 apg</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">Series Stats: 25.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 12.0 apg</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Amare Stoudemire</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">Playoff Stats: 24.0 ppg, 13.6 rpg, 2.0 bpg</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">Series Stats: 23.5 ppg, 13.5 rpg, 2.5 bpg</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Shawn Marion</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">Playoff Stats: 16.1 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.4 spg</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">Series Stats: 10.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.5 bpg</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Leandro Barbosa</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">Playoff Stats: 19.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.3 spg</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">Series Stats: 15.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 3.0 apg</span> <span style="color:#000000">Tim Duncan</span> <span style="color:#999999">Playoff Stats: 23.3 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 4.1 apg, 2.7 bpg</span> <span style="color:#999999">Series Stats: 31.0 ppg, 13.5 rpg, 2.5 bpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">Tony Parker</span> <span style="color:#999999">Playoff Stats: 19.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 6.4 apg</span> <span style="color:#999999">Series Stats: 22.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 5.5 apg, 1.5 spg</span> <span style="color:#000000">Manu Ginobili</span> <span style="color:#999999">Playoff Stats: 11.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.0 apg</span> <span style="color:#999999">Series Stats: 7.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.5 spg</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Phoenix's Keys to the Game</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">- Control the pace of the game. - Help defense is so key. Phoenix is not a very good man-up defensive team, people need to help each other out better than they did in Game 1. They left too many shooters open, especially Finley. - Amare and Thomas need to do a good job on Duncan again. They did a very solid job in Game 1, but they could have done better. They let him completely take over in the 3rd quarter. - Win the rebounding battle.</span> <span style="color:#000000">San Antonio's Keys to the Game</span> <span style="color:#999999">- Control the pace of the game. - Finley needs to continue to shoot the ball at a high rate, as he has done throughout the playoffs thus far. - Ginobili needs to do a better job off the bench offensively than he did in Game 1. He was pretty cold. - Keep Amare off the glass as best you can. - Take advantage of the home court, get the crowd going.</span> <div align="center">Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#6600CC">Amare Stoudemire</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#000000">Tim Duncan</span></div> CelticBalla's Prediction I think San Antonio takes this one at home.
Amare with 2 quick fouls it will be interesting to see if he goes back to playing soft like he did in the Lakers series when he got into foul trouble.
Diaw has been Diawsome He's looking like last year's Diaw now and at a great time with Amare in foul trouble.
a 30 point quarter is always a good sign for the Suns but they need to start rebounding at a better rate to win this game. Spurs + 7 :no3:
You gotta love Tony Parker, he can finish a play no matter who's coming at him or how much he has to adjust his shot. He's always aware and he's always out in transition. Phoenix made a nice little run, but it didn't last long. I definitely think San Antonio needs to go to Duncan in the post, they have missed him twice in a row.
Duncan and Parker out playing very good ball. Parker is getting to the rim, getting out in transition a little bit, and scoring the ball. Duncan is on pace for a 20-20 game right now, with 18 points and 10 rebounds. They need someone else to step up and start helping out though. Ginobili isn't hitting his shots, Horry is missing, Bowen is missing. Someone has to start hitting some shots so it isn't just Parker and Duncan having to score all of the points.
Wow, what a way to end the half by San Antonio. They sucked all the energy and imported it into their game, therefore ending the half on a big run. Sure, Parker and Duncan were amazing offensively, but they were getting key stops. That's the biggest thing, getting stops, and San Antonio did that in the last 3 minutes of the half. Michael Finley played great help defense, and he was the glue to that run, IMO.
I can't wait until robots start reffing these games. Robots that are programmed to make all the right calls I mean, not do what the league wants them to. Nash has been really really bad tonight. I hope it's one of those times when a star player struggles and then turns it on later in the game, and not just a bad game for him.
Not a good start to the quarter for the Suns, come right out of the half with a turnover by Nash, and then Amare's third foul on the other end of the court, and missing the first of two free throws by Steve Nash.
Nice how the refs are letting the Spurs keep the lead. Calling Amare for his 4th when no other star player would be taken out of the game for that. And not calling Duncan for an obvious charge.
Ginobili's eye looks bad, but he'll be alright. I'm just happy he's finally TAKING IT TO THE BASKET. His shot has been flat all series long, it's great to see him get to the basket to build his confidence up. And now he was fouled on a 3. Keep it up, Manu! EDIT: In the words of Chuck... "GINOBILI!!!"
Damn, Game 4 of the Lakers series seems like nothing compared to this. Joe Crawford was much better than this.
San... An...Tonio! <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ASUFan22 @ May 12 2007, 10:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Damn, Game 4 of the Lakers series seems like nothing compared to this. Joe Crawford was much better than this. </div> I disagree, do you want to fight about it?
Spurs are doing awesome, Suns need to stop crying that they are not getting any calls. Even if their are some questionable calls, quit your crying, jeez. Duncan with an and one, and I think that might do it. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ May 12 2007, 10:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I disagree, do you want to fight about it?</div> :HAHAHA: :HAHAHA:
