Suns v. Spurs-Game 6

I'm pretty desolate after the game last night. The Suns are literally the ONLY reason I watch the NBA. Since about 1999 college hoops has been my true interest. The only thing that kept me into the NBA that long was the Stockton/Malone era in Utah. Say what you will about those guys, but they played basketball like its supposed to be played.

Since they retired (and even before), I can usually find one team to go with to keep myself entertained into the summer. Its often been the Phoenix Suns with Rex Chapman/Kevin Johnson (To be fair I was a Suns fan from the time they got Barkley, and only took a break during the Stephon Marbury debacle) or the Indiana Pacers with Reggie Miller, or even the Dallas Mavericks when they had Steve Nash.

Since Steve got traded, I've been a Suns-only kind of guy. I drink the kool-aid when it comes to the Phoenix Suns. I think they've got it right, and once they tweak it the right way, and gain the necessary experience, everyone's eyes will be opened.

For some reason, playing high quality, fast paced basketball seems to be shunned by all of our basketball 'experts.' I don't understand this, at all. Nothing inherently wins or loses. When two teams in the league (PHX and GSW) play this up-tempo game, and EVERY OTHER TEAM plays a clutching, grabbing, slow the game as much as possible, type game, the odds are in favor of the majority style. Bottom line. The Suns will hopefully break through before Steve breaks down or Shawn Marion is traded, or whatever other doomsday scenario might exist.

The point of this is that the Suns had this series stolen. Period. You can't read the future, but after a series changing game 4 win, PHX has ALL the momentum, and then D. Stern lowers the boom on the series. Not fair, and not right. Rules aren't intended to ruin your most high profile yearly event for the sake of their own existence. The SA style is not inherently better, just more easily copied. Building a team like the Suns actually takes talent evaluation, foresight, and the ability to choose system specific players (L. Barbosa v. Marcus Banks being a perfect example of good vs. bad). The Suns drafted a franchise player after tanking a season, surrounded him with a few thugs, a few career foreigners, a cagey vet or two. But with the exception of Duncan, they're all interchangeable. Not the case with Phoenix. They build a team with a solid nucleus, shrewd basketball decisions, and an amazingly intelligent free agent signing, and viola. They get rewarded by having some low budget chump beat the shit out of said free agent for 6 games. Said free agent is also a 2 time NBA MVP, but for some reason he can't get a damn call.

I'm sick of the NBA. I'm just going to stop this blog now because it makes me mad. If I watch any more games it will only be because I accidentally forget to change the channel. I can't think of anything more boring than a potential San Antonio vs. Detroit finals. I want to vomit just picturing it.

What a pathetic joke.

Talk About Mixed Messages

I'm with Steve Nash in response to the NBA's decisions in regarding the aftermath of the Suns/Spurs game 4.

"Disgusted" That's Steve's word, and now mine.

I just think that reality and common sense should have the final call. David Stern is way off base here. I heard him on the Dan Patrick show, and he was basically ignorning the issues at hand, and instead attacking Dan Patrick for having the audacity to insult his decision.

Mike D'Antoni on the other hand did a great job of being upset, without having a melt down. D'Antoni is my kind of coach. He's pissed, but still expects victory. I think its possible. Stranger things have happened. I wouldn't write off the Suns for any given game. Maybe a 7 game serious without Amare is out of the question, but on any given night, any team can win.

Here's hoping that Robert Horry's cheap shot doesn't screw the Suns.