HoopWatch

I am a die-hard Phoenix Suns fan, and it frustrates at times that they lose and they don’t show character. But I will always back them up no matter what. That Game Three loss was so painful because they did not fight back. But right now, I am satisfied and happy. Though they lost to San Antonio last night, it is okay with me. At least, they lose fighting till the very end. It was a close game, and could have gone either way. The turnovers just killed them. They fell 87-92. But they did not fold up in this one, and for every Suns fan, it is more than enough.

Infusing a 36-year old 350-pound Shaquille O’Neal into a system entirely different from his orientation messed up the identity of Phoenix. You let go of a guy who fits perfectly into the run-and-gun style of play in Shawn Marion, and bring in the Big Cactus into the fold is much different from the letting-go of useless Kwame Brown, a rookie and future draft picks, then getting a dominant big man in Pau Gasol, which the Los Angeles Lakers did. The arrival of O’Neal totally needs an overhauling of the Suns system, and I believe this can be done. It just needs time. Time they don’t have. Like Raja Bell said during their 3-6 run upon Shaq’s arrival, “We are still in preseason form.” Yes, they were and still are, while the rest of the league have been warming-up for the post-season.

And beating the defending champions in the first round is too much to ask from these Suns who are still assimilating Shaq into the fold, and D’Antoni has to adapt and even change his system for his arrival. Sure, they appear to have incorporated the Diesel into the team’s system, but they still haven’t. The proof! They lost the big games.

They could have totally avoided the Spurs in the first round, if only, they have beaten Houston on April 11. Yes that game! They were beaten big-time, 90-101. They did beat Houston, the Rockets’ second defeat after going 22-0, but they needed to win that April 11 encounter more. That was the tie-breaker right there. They could have been fifth, not sixth, and it is much different to face San Antonio, than facing Utah. Yes, they may have beaten the Spurs thrice in four encounters, but that was the regular season. San Antonio is totally different team in the play-offs. They have lots of experience playing together, and they have semi-dominated this decade. Four titles in nine years. That’s a feat, and three titles with Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. Those three know how to win. And an identity-searching team like Phoenix is no match for them.

In a closely-fought and tight Western Conference, that single loss ended the season for the Suns. And fate was not on their side either. Duncan made a magical three, his first the whole season, in Game One. That forced a second overtime, and with Amare Stoudemire fouling out, they had the slimmest of chance. They were supposed to win it, but it was not theirs from the very start. The breaks all went San Antonio’s way. And champions as the Spurs are, they surely have awaken from a momentary slumber in Game Four. They have been here before. They know how to close out teams.

If only they won against Houston on that April 11 game. They should be facing Utah now. They should still be in the fight. Who knows it could be them in the second round, and facing the Lakers. And they would have been better, having to experience what it’s like to have Shaq in the playoffs. Not against the Spurs, it would have been better to experiment having Shaq around against the Jazz. If only they have beaten Houston, and not fall down to them 90-101. If only… (photos courtesy of yahoonba.com)