Spurs Try to Stay Alive Against Suns in Game 4

The San Antonio Spurs have been a perennial playoff contender over the last decade. However, their time may have passed as they are aging while other teams in the Western Conference are getting stronger. The Phoenix Suns are one of those teams. Phoenix is known for having a ton of offense, but that doesn’t translate into a Championship caliber team. Defense wins championships at the end of the day. However, the Suns have tightened up the reigns a little under new head coach Alvin Gentry, and are looking like a team that is on a mission.

Amare Stoudemire is having one of the best years of his career. He’s averaging 23.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1 block per game this season. Two time league MVP Steve Nash may have lost a half of step, but he still has more than enough to take this team into the finals. Nash has slowed in his scoring productivity (16.5 points per game), but has kept pace in the assist department as he is dishing out over 11 of them per contest. Jason Richardson may be the reason why this team has taken their game to a new level. His 15.7 points and 5 rebound per game have elevated this team to another level. Grant Hill and Channing Frye are tremendous role players that contribute nighin and night out for the Suns.

The Suns bench is another key component to their success. Leandro Barbosa, Robin Lopez and Jared Dudley all contribute quality minutes when the starters are out. If they continue their hot pace, they may find themselves fighting the Los Angeles Lakers for the Western Conference crown.

San Antonio may be known as Tim Duncan’s team, but due to his decreasing productivity, Manu Ginobili has taken over as the team leader offensively as he is shredding opposing defenses for 16.5 points per game this season. His 4 rebounds and 5 assists per game make him impossible to stop. Tony Parker has fallen off over the last couple of years due to injuries, but still puts up solid number. Richard Jefferson was supposed to be the missing ingredient for the Spurs, but hasn’t lived up to his potential as a starter this season,

Now that the Spurs are in a 0-3 hole after blowing a halftime lead in game 3, they will need to play their best to give themselves a chance to get to a game 5. Expect a defensive battle that comes down to the wire.

Related posts:

1. The Heat Try to Stay Alive in the East Against Boston
2. Dodgers and Twins Fight to stay Alive
3. Suns Look to Finish off Trailblazers in Game 6
4. Lakers/ Suns: Game 2 of Western Conference Championship
5. Spurs face Elimination at home in Game 5

Comments