[simple simon]

Steve Nash may be an MVP candidate but does he have what it takes to lead the Suns over the Spurs in round 2 ?

i dont think so .... i think this series could go 6 games but i see the Spurs winning

[Lefty Noob]

This will go seven games, of that I'm fairly certain. This SHOULD be the Western Conference Finals but the NBA still uses an archaic seeding system. Athlete for athlete they're a very good match, but I think I agree with simon - Duncan's inside presence will give San Antonio the slight edge here.

[Basketball News]

PHOENIX, May 4 (AP) -- The Phoenix Suns awoke Friday morning as the new top seed in the NBA playoffs.

The Dallas Mavericks' stunning first-round loss to Golden State has given the Suns home-court advantage throughout the playoffs because Phoenix's 61-21 regular-season record is best among the remaining clubs.

This isn't the "prize'' the Suns have had their eyes on all season, as their marketing slogan goes. But it's no small edge for a team that went 33-8 in U.S. Airways during the regular season and has won all three playoff games on its home floor.

Dallas' upset loss has also seemingly raised the stakes for the second-round matchup between the Suns and the San Antonio Spurs, which tips off Sunday at U.S. Airways Center.

"I think it's a Finals-type matchup, but there's still a lot of teams left to play, and a lot of the teams left can create a lot of problems for everyone,'' Phoenix point guard Steve Nash said.

Game 2 will be Tuesday night in Phoenix. The rest of the schedule has not been announced.

The winner of the Suns-Spurs series would meet Golden State, Houston or Utah for a berth in the NBA Finals. Those teams present problems but don't seem as intimidating as the Mavericks, who rolled to a league-best 67-15 record but are now making tee times.

Now the Top Seed, Suns Prepare for Spurs

[ThePundit]

I have a feeling the Suns are going to do a number on San Antonio. But then again, I picked Dallas to go to the finals, so what do I know?

[azrael492]

I think the Suns have too much on offense for hte Spurs to keep up. I don't see this as a close matchup, but I also picked the Mavs to win it all.

[Lefty Noob]

Big win for the Spurs in today's Game 1. According to the Associated Press, "The San Antonio Spurs left the Phoenix Suns bloodied and beaten in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals... Tim Duncan had 33 points and 16 rebounds -- eight offensive -- and Tony Parker added 32 points to lead the Spurs to a rough-and-tumble 111-106 victory on Sunday." San Antonio now effectively has home-field advantage for the rest of the series. I personally like their chances against the Suns, especially now.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by azrael492

I think the Suns have too much on offense for hte Spurs to keep up. I don't see this as a close matchup, but I also picked the Mavs to win it all.

I think it's finally Phoenix turn in a year where there seems to be a changing of the old guard...

[ThePundit]

I don't know - The Spurs really wiped the floor with them. I'll still stick with the Suns.

[Lefty Noob]

Anyone catch Amare Stoudemire's comments?

Stoudemire calls Bowen, Ginobili `dirty' players - NBA - Yahoo! Sports
PHOENIX (AP) -- Phoenix All-Star Amare Stoudemire says the San Antonio Spurs are a "dirty team" and that Bruce Bowen tried to hurt him, nasty accusations sure to intensify the playoff series between two of the best teams in the NBA.

"He kicked me purposely in the back of my Achilles'. I almost came down wrong and he almost caused an injury," Stoudemire said after Thursday's practice. "He's known for doing that. I just hope the NBA and the commissioner take a look at that because it's definitely a dirty play."

The Suns' center, selected to the all-NBA first team Thursday, didn't stop there.

"I think the Spurs are a dirty team," he said. "I mean, (Manu) Ginobili during the regular season kneed me in the crotch on purpose. I just hope the league takes a look at it and cleans the game up a little bit."

Now this series is getting interesting! I don't buy it for a second that the Spurs are a dirty team, though.

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by simple simon

.... i think this series could go 6 games but i see the Spurs winning

yeah .... im a genius

[Basketball News]

The physical style of play returned in Game 3, and it seemed to bring out the best in the San Antonio Spurs again.

Manu Ginobili got a bloodied and bruised eye Saturday, and 24 points, as the Spurs took a 108-101 victory for a 2-1 lead in their second-round series with the Phoenix Suns.

Tim Duncan led the Spurs with 33 points - 13 in the fourth quarter - and 19 rebounds.

Game 4 is Monday night in San Antonio.

Gameday: Spurs vs Suns : Round 2, Game 3

[Basketball News]

SAN ANTONIO, May 14 (AP) -- The Phoenix Suns' 12-1 run to end Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals gave them a 104-98 victory Monday night that evened the series with the San Antonio Spurs.

The tension that has been building between the teams throughout nearly boiled over with 18 seconds to play.

The Suns, who trailed by as many as 11 points, had taken the lead for the first time in the second half on consecutive behind-the-back feeds from Steve Nash to Amare Stoudemire that made it 100-97 with 32 seconds to play.

As Nash started to bring the ball up the court after Manu Ginobili missed the Spurs' fourth straight shot, San Antonio's Robert Horry hit him with a forearm that knocked him into the scorers' table and had players from both teams rushing to the scene.

Phoenix's Raja Bell tried to get at Horry as did Nash after he jumped to his feet.

Horry was given a flagrant foul and was ejected. Bell was given a technical foul. A free throw by each team made it 101-98. The Suns kept possession and Nash added another free throw with 16 seconds to go.

"He just body checked me out of bounds,'' Nash said. "I understand he's frustrated, it happens but he did body check me.''

NBA.com Nash, Suns Use Late Run to Steal Game 4

[Lefty Noob]

The Suns tie it up, but the big news is that it's looking more and more like Stoudamire was right - the Spurs are playing dirty.

[Basketball News]

In some ways it's a shame that the images fans and media will remember from this Western Conference Semifinal series will all have to do with body checks, bloody noses and welts under the eye... Yes, there have been some bumps and bruises in this matchup of two elite NBA teams, but there's also been nifty behind the back passes, clutch shooting, and aspects more closely related to two talented basketball teams that won 61 and 58 games, respectively, this season.

20-Second Timeout: Intense Series

[Lefty Noob]

San Antonio won last night's Game 5, beating Phoenix 88-85.

According to the Associated Press, "Bruce Bowen, labeled a dirty player by the Suns' Amare Stoudemire and the subject of taunts all night from the Phoenix crowd, sank a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 36 seconds to play. That gave the Spurs their first lead since the game's opening six minutes, and they pulled out an 88-85 victory on Wednesday night." The Suns used a six-man rotation most of the night, and once led by 16. But they couldn't hold on. Game 6 is Friday.