So this was the scene in L.A. last week - I'm sure we all remember that and much has already been said about how the Lakers and their fans are arrogant and horrible and bla bla bla and are mistakenly overlooking the Phoenix Suns.    I believe it all and I hate them with a burning passion, but guess what - I don't care about the Lakers. 

I don't care that they are the reigning champs and you know why?  Because I've figured it out.  Beating the Lakers isn't what this magical carpet ride of a season is all about, it'll be a sweet bonus.  It wasn't about pimp slapping the smoke monster and the dreaded Spurs either. 

No, No.   This season is about vindication.  34 year old vindication.  I understand the long running rivalry between L.A. & Boston, but Phoenix has its own axe to grind with team puke green.

As Scott Howard took us on the journey that was the revenge tour at the end of the regular season let me take you on a short continuation of that journey - a short-bus journey that will show how this year is all about how the Suns 'want Boston' more than the Lakers.  It's our density... or what I meant to say was...

Let me first get this out of the way - I was born a good ten years after the Suns first appearance in the NBA finals, so I've had to do a little research to understand the subject.  So if you know more about the history of this amazing franchise please feel free to correct, elaborate, or highlight different points as you remember them in the comments section.

THINGS ARE EERILY SIMILAR:

So we may not have the sweet nicknames this year that our beloved 1975-76 Suns had ( The Sunderella Suns, 'the little team that could', etc.)  but there are a few similarities between that team and this year in 2010 that are definitely pretty crazy to behold.

First off, both teams started the year having not made the playoffs the previous year.

Both teams weren't projected to do ANYTHING. 

Both teams had relatively new coaches - John MacCleod of the 75-76 team had only been the coach for a couple years ? Alvin Gentry is only in his first full year as head coach in 2010.

Both teams made big trades/acquisitions during the previous years/offseason.  The 76 Suns saw greats like Neal Walk Connie Hawkins and  Charlie Scott dealt while the likes of Paul Westfal, Curtis Perry, Pat Riley and Keith Erickson came in return.  The 76 Suns also drafted a young talented center named Alvin Adams who was scouted for his reputation as a mobile big man with great hands and defensive awareness. ? The 2010 Suns also dealt big names like Shaquille O'Neil, Raja Bell, and Boris Diaw and in return came Jason Richardson, Jared Dudley and later Channing Frye.  The 2010 Suns also drafted recently a talented center named Robin Lopez who was chosen for his defensive reputation and ability to be mobile.  Both Alvin and Robin were in their Rookie seasons... Well Robin kind of IMO.

Both teams started the season in 'amazing' fashion. The 1976 Suns started their first 23 games with 14 wins and 9 losses.  That was the best start in the young franchises history.  ? The 2010 Suns started this season off winning 16 and losing just 7 in their first 23 games - which if my memory is right was almost tied with one of the franchises best starts or something like that.

THEN...

Both teams hit a Slump during the middle of the season.  The 1976 Suns team hit a BAD slump during the middle of the season in which the team went 4-19 and made everyone who had jumped on their 'hot-start' bandwagon immediately jump head first off and into oncoming traffic.  It was a palpable "here we go again" moment for fans. ? This 2010 Suns team also hit a bad slump during the middle of the season where they sported a sub-.500 record and also had many fans and national media types playing the "here we go again" trombone.   Seth documented this regular season's ebbs and flows pretty well in his post here.

Both teams have key players suffer big time injuries.   For the 1976 Suns it was star guard Dick Van Arsdale who went down with a broken arm ? for the 2010 Phoenix Suns it was Robin Lopez breaking a foot.

Both teams turned up their level of play at just the right time.  For the 1976 Suns it was an improbably run indeed to finish off the regular season.  Jeff Munn at Suns.com writes of this end-of-the-season push,

Over the next six weeks, Phoenix would win 17 of 26 games and, heading into game number 81 of the season, an April 8 home date with the Los Angeles Lakers, two unusual circumstances surrounded the contest -- the Suns would clinch a playoff spot with a win, and a sellout crowd of 13,036 would watch.

The game was never in doubt. Phoenix pounded the Lakers, 113-98. For the second time in the Suns' eight-year existence, there would be basketball played beyond the regular season. In the Suns' locker room, Colangelo, MacLeod and Bianchi toasted each other with champagne. In one sense, it did seem as if the goal had been reached. It would later prove to be just one of many milestones on an incredible journey.

So the 1976 Suns would go 24-13 in their last 37.  ? The 2010 Suns also turned on the gas and stepped on the jugular of their opponents in their final 37 games and turned in a 28-9 report card to finish out the regular season.  That would be good enough for the 3rd seed in the fiercely competitive Western Conference and as we sit now (possibly good enough for home court advantage in the NBA Finals if Boston and Phoenix were to advance).  I have no doubt Steve Kerr, Gentry and Co. also toasted drinks as the season ended.  It was an improbably run for a team that was described as 'old' and 'paper thin' by some. 

The 1976 Suns had a bye/by in the first round.... ? The 2010 Suns destroyed the Blazers.

The 1976 Suns deleted the veritable Super Sonic in the Conference Semifinals  - A feat thought IMPOSSIBLE by pundits and fans worldwide. ? The 2010 Suns viciously tenderized and ate on like Spam saltine crackers the long time bully that was the San Antonio Spurs.  Nash would beat them for the first time in the Playoffs ever.  This too was a feat thought IMPOSSIBLE by pundits and fans universe-wide.

CURRENTLY

Both teams faced the defending NBA Champions in the Conference Finals.  For the 1976 Suns it was a team from California... but not the Lakers.  It was the dreaded GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS.  Led by the almighty Rick Barry...  Now pay attention to this because it could be a prophecy - The Suns beat the Warriors in 7 games finishing off the series AT GOLDEN STATE.  Proof below.

ON A SIDE NOTE / TANGENT

CHECK OUT the physical play in this game - at one point Rick Barry and one of our rookies get into a hardcore fight and Joey Crawford ejected both of them and subsequently called technical fouls on each and every person who proceeded to breathe too loudly after the scrimage - including fans.... RIGHT?!  WRONG.  Each team was issued a single Tech and everyone continued to play - PHYSICAL - BRUISING basketball. 

Sigh.  Only in a perfect world... Or at least in an NBA not under the omnipotent hand of Stern.

? Now currently the 2010 Phoenix Suns find themselves in a dog fight also with the reigning champs from California.   But duh, its the Lakers.  And this series could go 7.  And the Suns just might have to win AT L.A..

(AT THIS POUINT YO'RE THINKING TO YOURSELF... THIS IS CRAZY, EUTYCHUS IS MAKING ALL THIS HORSE CRAP UP... NOPE - LIKE I SAID.  IT'S EERIE AND CREEPY, BUT DESTINY IS LIKE THAT SOMETIMES)

Now for the Hypothetical.

IF AND ONLY IF The 2010 Suns beat the Lakers and IF AN ONLY IF the Celtics can hold off the surging Magic - we will again have another creepy similarity. 

Both teams will have matched up with the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. 

This my cyber-friends is why WE WANT BOSTON more than any chumps in L.A. might drunkenly fathom.

IT IS OUR DESTINY.

We will have traveled a long and sour road.  We will have won battles of all sorts - from regulating our own style of play by injecting defense to adjusting and stabbing monkeys on our backs (the Spurs) and out mind-gaming the mind-gamer high wizard in Phil Jackson.  We will have slayed ghosts of past - ghosts of present - and created our own ghosts of future for other teams in the league.

This my valiant readers is why WE WANT BOSTON.  This is why the Phoenix Suns have to win.   This is why the Phoenix Suns WILL WIN! 

The following video is an uncut version of the best moments of the 'Greatest game of all time' which includes Gar Heard's famous "Shot Heard Around the World".   During that 5th game of the 1976 Finals Al McCoy said something that I believe applies here with this team today.  He said (though prematurely)

"In it goes to Heard, here's his jump shot ... GOOD! It's good! We will go to a third amazing overtime. I've got to take a breather," McCoy exclaimed. "I've got to tell you, somebody up there is on our side."

I believe it.

 

Here are a few other points I can think of right now that also make me raise an eyebrow at what is happening in the Desert.

- 2010 Suns Assistant coach John Shumate was also a player for the Suns during the 1975-76 Season.  (though he was traded mid-season)

- Pivotal member of the 1976 squad was Alvin Adams who wore number 33 and is now a member of the Suns ring of honor.  His jersey and number were retired... but Adams made a special exception for a member of this 2010 squad - Grant Hill who now wears his familiar 33.

If you can think of anything else or just have something to say about density or destiny give me a shout out in the comment section...

If you don't have anything to say - at least let me give you and all Suns fans a good Arnold shout out in preparation for our final games against the Lakers.  Watch the video and get PUMPED UP!!!

Poll

Do you hate Kobe's ugly bottom-teeth snarl as much as me?

• I want to kiss it
• I hope Robin Lopez knocks those teeth out. Seriously.

  64 votes | Results

With all this talk about the Suns "girly" zone, who better to ask than two-time WNBA champion and winner of countless other awards and titles, Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury?

Taurasi knows an awful lot about zone defense both from her time playing overseas, where the zone is much more commonly employed, and with the Mercury, who frequently use a modified version of the 2-3 zone.

"I don't see anything 'girly' about it. That's why I think the US has so many problems internationally because you actually have to play real basketball where the rules can't help you as far as spacing, with no one in the lane for more than 3 seconds. I mean these are all rules that make the game easier for the offense. When you actually have to think and make the extra pass, basketball gets really hard."

So Taurasi, a California girl and Lakers fan herself, is basically calling out her home-town team for their inability to play "real basketball".

Boom!

Mercury head coach Corey Gaines is a former point guard with the New York Knicks and a guy who played overseas for a lot of years. He knows how to beat the zone as well as anyone, as evidenced by his team's recent barrage of three-point shots against the Tulsa Shock when they tried it against his team on Tuesday.

Gaines was quick to point out his team is loaded with excellent shooters (Taurasi and Taylor) and they tied the WNBA record for threes in a game (16) by quickly attacking the zone before it could get set and then kicking out for the open shot.

The Lakers did not do this in Games 3 or 4, perhaps because they were afraid of upping the tempo even more or perhaps because they just didn't have the personnel to employ this strategy. According to Gaines, NBA and WNBA teams alike have devalued shooting as a fundamental skill over the past decades and, as a result, he doesn't see why the zone can't be effective.

Gaines explains another way to beat the zone that the Lakers haven't used enough, "They haven't used many pick and rolls against it. Pick and rolls hurt zones because it makes someone come to the ball, come up, and as a person sets a pick, they dive. The who person sets it dives to the middle and there's a big gap in the middle of the floor and now the ball can either be shot or skipped to the other side and you can't recover."

The most important thing for the Suns to do with the zone is trust it and believe in it and not lose confidence, "They're going to hit a couple of shots, but don't get out of the zone. What happens in the NBA if I remember from when I played, you play the zone and as soon as somebody hits two or one jumper, oh get out of it. So they don't hit any jumpers against man (defense)? You get out off your man? You've got to stick with it. You've got to go with what you've been going with and not jump ship on something."

"Girly"

Asked about the obvious negative connotation that comes with using the term "girly" to describe the zone, Taurasi rolled with it, "It is (pejorative), but that's just America. As forward as we think we are, we're still in a mid-century way of thinking in a lot of ways and a lot of times."

Gaines added, "They said the same thing about us and we won two championships with it."

Western Conference Finals Game 5 @ Lakers 103, Suns 101 PHOENIX — One game. The Phoenix Suns are well aware that, although easier said than done, they need...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Wow.

All I can say about this team is ... wow. After having been so handily beaten by the defending world champs, it looked as if the Phoenix Suns were about ready to roll over and let the Lake Show win the series. Amar'e wasn't rebounding. Channing Frye couldn't buy a bucket. The Los Angeles bench was putting up better numbers than the Suns' bench, the supposed "difference makers" this season.

All seemed to be going the Lakers' way, but something changed. I'm not sure if Coach Gentry ripped into them, if it was playing in front of a wildly passionate home crowd, or if the Suns finally decided enough was enough, but the Suns came out in Game 3 and played like we knew they could. This was the team that could knock off the defending champs and earn a Finals berth. These were the Suns Unquantifiable.

Perhaps more importantly, this was the kind of effort that convinced everyone on the team that they could really do it.

Now, the Suns have evened up the series at 2-2, which seemed nearly impossible with the way the first two games had played out. However, this isn't a complete swing of momentum. It may be a surge of faith or a boost of confidence, but there are two huge hurdles in the way: these are still the defending world champions, and there are still a possible two games left to play in Los Angeles to one game in Phoenix.

It's not even a steep hill that the Suns will have to climb in order to win this series. It's a veritable mountain.

Continued Faith in the Bench

If there is one thing I admire Coach Gentry for (and there are many), it's his faith in using the bench. Sure, if the game is tight in the fourth quarter, he'll opt to bring a starter in earlier than usual, but in past seasons, the common Suns fan would never have seen the reserves getting as much burn as they have this season.

Even with Channing Frye mired in the worst shooting slump of his career when it matters the absolute most, Gentry still told him to go out there and have faith that the shots will fall. It happened.

When Goran Dragic has looked timid and unsure with his decisions, he still got the message from the coach to go out and continue attacking, that mistakes aren't the end of the world. He is doing just that.

With Jared Dudley hitting all five of his threes in a losing effort, only to miss both of his attempts from range and shoot 1-4 from the field overall in the very next game, Dudley could have easily hit a cold streak but Gentry remained steadfast in his resolve to keep Dudley on the floor, and the Junkyard Dog came through and shined in the Game 4 victory.

I could go on, but I'll spare you my adoration of the Suns' bench. I will say this, though: confidence in these young players is an absolute must, and when Alvin Gentry could have thrown in the towel for the bench, he stuck with it. Will it earn him a chance to compete for the Larry O'Brien trophy? Who knows. Does it speak measures for the coach's character and willingness to stick with what won his team 54 games in the regular season? Absolutely.

Send a Message

The Lakers are likely going to be viewing this as a "statement game". Is it a must win game? No. Could they still come back and beat the Suns if they lose? Absolutely. However, if the Lakers pound the Suns into the ground from the opening tip until the final buzzer, the message will be sent: this is our house, this is our title run, and you can't do anything to stop it.

Unless the Suns swoop in first and send a message of their own.

The Suns have proven on multiple occasions this season that they are capable of winning "statement games", some even as recently as Game 3 of this Western Conference Finals. We know the Suns are no stranger to doubt. I will assure you that everyone who doesn't have a soft spot for the purple and orange will be betting on the Lakers. And that's okay. The Suns know how to step it up. We just have to wait and see if they can do it on one of the brightest stages they'll ever be on.

Keys to the Game

• Continue the defensive simplicity. I hate the saying "Let Kobe get his", because it's not that simple. However, whatever the Suns have done defensively against the Lakers during the two game homestand, it's worked. Whether that's getting the super efficient Pau Gasol less touches or throwing Phil Jackson's famed Triangle Offense out of whack, I suggest we keep it up.
• Don't back down. The Staples Center crowd is going to be rowdy as ever, and the Lakers players want to come out and send a message. This is the time for the Phoenix Suns to show up, ready to enter the ring with the defending heavyweight champion of the world.
• Play the game of basketball. Phil Jackson, a notorious trash talker, can try to implement mind games and attempt to throw off his competition. Kobe Bryant might blame both losses on himself and promise that everything will change. Lamar Odom can say the Suns have simply gotten lucky. The most important thing the Suns can do right now is ignore everything the media or doubters might say, and simply come out and play some ball.
• Get Channing open from deep. Channing Frye, a complete no call-no show in Games 1, 2 and 3 finally found his stroke, and proved to be a difference maker in Game 4. Getting him open and letting him hit a few threes would do wonders for the Suns' chances in Game 5.
• Play some Bully Ball. Amar'e was an absolute beast in Game 3. He left his mark on Game 4, but it was the bench that took the spotlight. I'd like to see a fusion of what we saw in both games, but Amar'e needs to come out in attack mode like he did in Game 3. Fouls + Lakers big men = very good things for the Suns.

Today is just going to be one of those days where it's incredibly hard to focus on your job (or school), isn't it?  It isn't particularly often that your favorite team in all of sports plays such a large game.  In fact, the last time the Suns were this far along (2-2 in the Western Conference Finals), the year was 2006 and the plucky Stoudemire-less Suns rolled into Dallas looking to take control of the series.  That game ended with Dirk Nowitzki dropping 50 on Phoenix -- please don't get any ideas there, Kobe.

Wednesday May 26th Playoff Result:

Orlando Magicians 113 Boston Celtics 92 (Recap):  Hey there, Boston, let me introduce you guys to pressure.  Taking a 3-0 series lead is certainly nice, but the thing about 3 wins is that it isn't 4 wins.  After several late offensive meltdowns in a Game 4 overtime loss, the Celtics took their now 3-1 lead into Orlando for Game 5.  The Magic took control of this game from the very beginning, leading by as many as 7 in the first quarter and holding an 8 point halftime lead.  At the 3:30 mark of the first quarter, the Celtics held a 19-17 lead -- they would never lead again.  The big story of the second quarter was the ejection of Kendrick Perkins.  Perkins received his first technical foul at the 1:17 mark of the second quarter after landing what appeared to be an unintentional elbow to Marcin Gortat and got his second just 51 seconds later when he raised his arms in protest of a personal foul.  Even without Perkins, the Celtics managed to cut the Orlando lead to 6 early in the third, but a lack of depth eventually caught up to Boston.  

Towards the end of the third, the already thin Celtics lost Glen Davis to a somewhat frightening concussion.  After getting a Dwight Howard elbow to the head, Davis stayed stunned on the floor for a few seconds before awkwardly rambling down the court with a complete lack of balance and having to be stopped by referee Joey Crawford.  Forced to play a few guys who hadn't played significant minutes in weeks (Nate Robinson, Shelden Williams, Marquis Daniels), Orlando pulled away in the fourth quarter and won by 21. 

Orlando was led by 24 points from Jameer Nelson, who hit 4 of his 5 three point attempts.  Dwight Howard again performed well, going for 21/10 with 5 blocks, and controlling most of the Boston front line.  The maligned Vince Carter continued to struggle, hitting for just 8 points on 3/10 shooting, but Rashard Lewis was OK for the second straight game (OK is a definite improvement over Games 1-3), scoring 14 on 6/11 from the field.  J.J. Redick was again very big for Orlando off the bench, scoring 14 points on 3/6 shooting and having the highest +/- rating of any player (+18) for the second straight game.  You'd have to expect that Redick continues to steal minutes from Carter in Game 6. 

Rasheed Wallace had by far his best performance of the playoffs in scoring 21 points to lead the Celtics.  Wallace hit 7 of his 9 field goal attempts but played only 18 minutes due to foul trouble (he would eventually foul out).  Rajon Rondo had a solid 19/6 game, but the original Boston Big 3 struggled as Paul Pierce was held to 18 on 3/8 shooting, Ray Allen shot 3/11 and was held to single digits for the second time in the series, and Kevin Garnett struggled from the field (5/14) and scored only 10 points.

The series now shifts back to Boston for Game 6 where it's possible that the Celtics could be without Kendrick Perkins (received his 7th technical of the playoffs which leads to an automatic suspension ... although one or both may be rescinded), Glen Davis (concussion), and Marquis Daniels (concussion).  Boston better treat this as a Game 7 because I cannot see Orlando losing a real Game 7 at home.  Should be interesting, and might be historic.

Conference Finals Series Standings:

(1) Lakers v. (3) Suns: 2-2 tied

(2) Magic v. (4) Celtics: 3-2 Celtics

Thursday May 26th Playoff Game:

Game 5:  Suns @ Lakers:  As everyone reading this site is aware, the Suns took Games 3 and 4 to even their Western Conference Finals series with the Lakers.  But here is the unfortunate reality with not having home court advantage: if the Suns are going to win this series, they have to win a game in Los Angeles.  In case you've forgotten, Phoenix hasn't won a road game against the Lakers since January 17, 2008 -- shortly before the arrival of Pau Gasol.  In fact, 5 of the 6 losses have been by 12 points or more.  Gulp?

90s NBA Flavor - Mitch Richmond - I'm a little bit biased to this high scoring guard as he attended Kansas State University, but it's hard to argue with his sweet jumper.  Richmond played in 6 All-Star games during the 90s and was the MVP of the 1995 All-Star Game held in Phoenix.  Though he never made first team All-NBA, he made the 2nd team 3 times and the third team twice.