A Bloody Mess

Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals goes to the San Antonio Spurs by the final score of 111-106. The story of this game wasn't something that happened on the court, but what went on around the bench area in the fourth quarter. Steve Nash, the Suns' two time defending MVP, had a gash on his nose opened up that required six stitches to close. The suns training staff tried everything they could to get the bleeding to stop but were not successful. Nash missed the last five minutes of the game, costing the Suns an opening game victory in this best of seven series. Now the Spurs have stolen the home court advantage and gained valuable momentum.

As usual when the Suns play the whiny bitches from San Antonio, the officials played a major role in the game. The Suns had a number of horrible calls against them. On one play in particular, Amare Stoudemire was called for his third foul late in the second quarter when Tim Duncan fell and pulled him down. The Suns were at the other end of the court on a fast break, and then the three blind mice decided to call the foul on Stoudemire. The Suns bench was so outraged by this call that assistant coach Mark Ivaroni was called for a techincal foul. During halftime! The Suns ended the first half up by two.

The Spurs opened up the third quarter with a free throw as a result of the technical foul, and then whined and complained their way to a four point lead after the third.

The fourth quarter was a hard fought and exciting. The Suns tied the game a couple of times and

did their best to take the lead, but the loss of Nash, the Suns leading scorer for the game, was too much.

With the Suns down by three with 27 seconds left, Amare Stoudemire attempted to drive the land instead of kick the ball out to an open teammate for a game tying three pointer. Amare was fouled, made both free throws, and cut the lead to one.

Next, there was another questionable call - Leandro Barbosa was called for a foul before the ball was inbounded as Mike Finley decided to fall on his own. As a result of the foul before the play, Finley went to the line for a free throw and the Spurs regained possession. After the ball was inbounded, Rat Bastard Ginobili made one of two free throws after being fouled by Raja Bell.

Again, the Suns found themselves down by three with a chance to tie the game with 20 seconds left. Without their floor leader it was every man for himself. Amare Stoudemire decided it was best to drive the lane for a two instead of kicking out to a wide open Raja Bell for three and the tie. Amare missed the layup attempt and that was all she wrote.

Boris Diaw was his usual non factor self. He had seven points and just two rebounds and two assists. He also had two turnovers. I fully believe that Steve Nash was referring to Diaw when he said that some of the Suns didn't play their hardest.

Game two is Tuesday night. Look for the Suns to come out of the gate and try to establish the tempo and run the Spurs out of the building.

I hope that Mike D'Antoni makes an adjustment and puts Raja Bell defending Tony Longoria. If not, it is important to not let Longoria kill the Suns with penetrating drives. He kills the Suns every time they play the whiny bitches.