Phoenix Suns Found Tempo, But Can They Find Killer Instinct?

The Suns and their fans can finally breathe.

Uptempo basketball can actually work against the grind-it-out Portland Trailblazers. Many doubted it possible to push the pace after Portland had so effectively limited Phoenix in their three regular-season games and game one of the playoffs.

That's why Phoenix taking game two, not just winning outright, was so important. The Suns can now heave a sigh of relief, knowing Portland isn't the depressant to their caffeinated offense—eclipsing the century mark doesn't seem so darn impossible anymore.

Game one gave an eerily similar feeling to the Suns' 2006 first-round matchup versus the Lakers.

Los Angeles was severely lacking in the talent department—other than Kobe Bryant. By slowing the game to a crawl with fouls, grinding, and timeouts after Phoenix ran off four-to-six points in a row, the Lakers nearly stole the series until Phoenix forced the tempo.

That's how Portland took game one. Luckily for Phoenix, they didn't need four games and being down 1-3 to find their offense. They busted it open to tie things up at one game apiece heading back to Portland.

Game three will be big, but a friend pointed out that game four will be even bigger. The Suns may very well take game three with the mentality to make up for losing at home.

If that happens, will the Suns keep their collective edge in game four, or will they relax again, forcing at least one more game in Portland?

Phoenix's biggest offensive cogs, Amare Stoudemire and Jason Richardson, are prone to random relaxation during big moments. When they're focused, Phoenix is almost unbeatable. When they're not, sans-superstar Portland is more than a match.

The Suns have addressed a lot of their weaknesses this year, namely defense and an adequate bench unit. Their biggest weakness is also the biggest reason they've failed to win a championship as a franchise in over 40 years of existence—killer instinct.

Games three and four would be a great time to develop it. Portland is shell-shocked after Phoenix broke their defensive floodgates.

The Suns are closer than they think to breaking their spirit. If they want it bad enough, they will.

If they don't, this series could go much longer than it should.