azdad1978
Championship!!!!
By Mike Tulumello, Tribune
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - There’s no fluke in a four-game playoff sweep. It took 37 seasons for a Suns team to hammer one home. Now, their reward is several days of rest and preparation for Round 2, after they finished off the Grizzlies, 123-115, Sunday night at FedEx Forum.
A team that seeks greatness doesn’t let an outclassed team off the mat, and the Suns didn’t in their nearly wire-towire win.
"You don’t want to give somebody extra life," said a pleased Suns coach Mike D’Antoni.
They didn’t, so now they can get ready for Dallas or Houston, their next playoff opponent; the series will start on the weekend, or even later.
"It’s kind of odd to have an extended rest like this, but we have to stay focused and ready to go," said Steve Nash, who had 24 points and nine assists.
The Grizzlies expressed admiration, if not downright amazement, at the Suns’ offensive skill, which — on this night — translated into 60 percent shooting (including 11-of-24 on 3-pointers).
"For people who play the odds, you eventually think they’re going to miss," Grizzlies coach Mike Fratello said.
"But they keep making them."
The Grizzlies’ Lorenzen Wright said, "I’ve never played against a team who shot like that a whole series.
"They didn’t miss. They had 100 points with eight minutes left in the game."
Still, because the Suns are so unconventional for a titlecontending team, "We’re always going to have doubters," Nash said.
"We do better with an underdog attitude. If we do that, especially on the defensive end, we’ll do pretty well."
The Suns blitzed the Grizzlies 41-20 by the opening moments of the second quarter, with Joe Johnson bombing home 16 firstquarter points.
"I think we outran them before they could get their legs under them," said Shawn Marion, who had 23 points and 11 rebounds.
The Grizzlies spent the rest of the game playing catch-up. Once, they even made it, tying the game at 64 early in the third quarter.
Nash hit a 16-footer, and the Suns continued to try to run and hide. They stayed ahead in part with a five-point possession early in the fourth quarter.
With the score 97-89, Marion scored on a fast break as he was fouled flagrantly by the Grizzlies’ Dahntay Jones (prompting D’Antoni to yell out at nearby fans, "That’s not right. That’s not basketball.").
The normally mild-mannered Marion was clearly angered by the play; he was restrained my teammates from going after Jones.
Marion hit 1-of-2 free throws, the Suns retained possession and Amaré Stoudemire scored, making it 102-89.
Jason Williams brought the Grizzlies within 110-105 on a 3-pointer with 4:00 left, giving his team one last shot.
But Marion grabbed an offensive rebound, drove to the hoop and converted a 3-point play.
"That was huge," Fratello said.
Nash hit two free throws, Marion stole the ball from Williams and then drew a charge from James Posey.
The Grizzlies never recovered.
BONUS SHOT: Grizzlies forward Brian Cardinal had to leave with a left knee sprain.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=40591
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - There’s no fluke in a four-game playoff sweep. It took 37 seasons for a Suns team to hammer one home. Now, their reward is several days of rest and preparation for Round 2, after they finished off the Grizzlies, 123-115, Sunday night at FedEx Forum.
A team that seeks greatness doesn’t let an outclassed team off the mat, and the Suns didn’t in their nearly wire-towire win.
"You don’t want to give somebody extra life," said a pleased Suns coach Mike D’Antoni.
They didn’t, so now they can get ready for Dallas or Houston, their next playoff opponent; the series will start on the weekend, or even later.
"It’s kind of odd to have an extended rest like this, but we have to stay focused and ready to go," said Steve Nash, who had 24 points and nine assists.
The Grizzlies expressed admiration, if not downright amazement, at the Suns’ offensive skill, which — on this night — translated into 60 percent shooting (including 11-of-24 on 3-pointers).
"For people who play the odds, you eventually think they’re going to miss," Grizzlies coach Mike Fratello said.
"But they keep making them."
The Grizzlies’ Lorenzen Wright said, "I’ve never played against a team who shot like that a whole series.
"They didn’t miss. They had 100 points with eight minutes left in the game."
Still, because the Suns are so unconventional for a titlecontending team, "We’re always going to have doubters," Nash said.
"We do better with an underdog attitude. If we do that, especially on the defensive end, we’ll do pretty well."
The Suns blitzed the Grizzlies 41-20 by the opening moments of the second quarter, with Joe Johnson bombing home 16 firstquarter points.
"I think we outran them before they could get their legs under them," said Shawn Marion, who had 23 points and 11 rebounds.
The Grizzlies spent the rest of the game playing catch-up. Once, they even made it, tying the game at 64 early in the third quarter.
Nash hit a 16-footer, and the Suns continued to try to run and hide. They stayed ahead in part with a five-point possession early in the fourth quarter.
With the score 97-89, Marion scored on a fast break as he was fouled flagrantly by the Grizzlies’ Dahntay Jones (prompting D’Antoni to yell out at nearby fans, "That’s not right. That’s not basketball.").
The normally mild-mannered Marion was clearly angered by the play; he was restrained my teammates from going after Jones.
Marion hit 1-of-2 free throws, the Suns retained possession and Amaré Stoudemire scored, making it 102-89.
Jason Williams brought the Grizzlies within 110-105 on a 3-pointer with 4:00 left, giving his team one last shot.
But Marion grabbed an offensive rebound, drove to the hoop and converted a 3-point play.
"That was huge," Fratello said.
Nash hit two free throws, Marion stole the ball from Williams and then drew a charge from James Posey.
The Grizzlies never recovered.
BONUS SHOT: Grizzlies forward Brian Cardinal had to leave with a left knee sprain.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=40591
