The Suns led most of the game. The Spurs made several second-half charges and gave Phoenicians a sick, panicked feeling in their stomachs.
Greg Popovich even played his despicable, intentional-foul card on the Suns' worst free-throw shooter.
All that is familiar. The end result, a 111-102 Suns win, was incredibly different.
The Spurs are not the same team that tormented the Suns in the past. Gone is the cold-blooded shooting of Bruce Bowen and Robert Horry—and it showed.
George Hill and Robert Mason Jr. missed what would have been dagger three's for San Antonio in the past.
Those might go in later in the series, and that should keep Phoenix from getting complacent, as they did with Portland in round one. The reserves won't stay cold and the confines won't stay friendly.
Still, it's a Game One win, something the Suns have been unable to snag in postseasons past.
Phoenix Exorcises (some) Demons
Don't underestimate the importance of this win for Phoenix. They have never played from a position of strength. The Suns have always felt as though they were pla ...
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Article written by Matt Petersen
Signs of Change: Suns Show Similar Flaws, Get Different Result Against Spurs
May 4th, 2010 by Matt Petersen Leave a reply »
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