3. Spurs (56-26) vrs 6. Suns (55-27)
Regular Season Series: PHO 3-1
Point Differencial: PHO +6.5
This one it's all about will. Who want it harder? Who will be the one with look "There's no fucking way I'm loosing this game" contest after contest?Passion, desire, all those untangibles are going to set the mark in this series. The Spurs offense has been mediocre at best over the last month and most times it looks too much for Manu Ginobili shot creation. Their shooters have been mediocre. Stoudamire and Udoka haven't been that hungry component ala Michael Finley last year. They do still have three player capable of taking control de any game at any time. They still have one of best defenses of the league and one of the best post players and defenders alive.
If the Spurs depends heavily in Manu's acrobatics the Suns put their life on the hands of Amare Stoudamire. Yeah, they have the Big Cactus and the Great Nash but in order to put up points they need Amare Stoudamire. Nash makes them go and Shaq gives them that rebouding inside prescence they have been laking since Nash got there but their rely on jump shots and fastbreak ( Fastbreaks which has become boring and not that sucessful with the departure of Marion) when Amare is not in the court and that is a lot due to his recurrent foul trouble. Phoenix can't let themselves to fall in San Antonio's mind games (More like Popovich's mind games) as they failed to do in previous years. This is where Shaquille O'neal cames in. The Suns bring him for two reasons: 1. Defend Tim Duncan and 2. Change the team mentality.
Calling this is like flipping a coin. If Amare dominates and Shaq is midly efective the Suns win. If Manu dominates and Tim Duncan gets to handle Shaq as a defensive liabiliy Spurs Win. If the 3 ball is falling for Phoenix, Suns win. If the 3 ball is falling for the Spurs they win.
X Factor: Shaquille O'neal. Plain and simply: This is the main reason he's now the big cactus: to stop Tim Duncan.
Basketball Gods' prediction: SAS 4-3
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