Suns-Spurs Game 3: Tim Duncan Outshines Steve Nash

With all the talent on the court, it was clear going in that Game Three between the Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs would be decided by superstar players turning in superstar performances.

In the end, the Spurs won because their stars shone the brightest.

Tim Duncan

Duncan was cyborg-like in his precision: knocking down turnaround bank shots with mechanical precision, hitting runners with Kurt Thomas on him like a too-small jacket, setting weak-side screens before cutting backdoor for uncontested dunks, and converting offensive rebounds into easy putbacks.

With Phoenix entrusting Thomas to battle Duncan straight up, the Spurs' big man was rarely doubled—and thus was forced to be a scorer rather than a distributor. That's the only reason Duncan didn't register an assist.

On defense, Duncan's long arms and superior athleticism were instrumental in shutting down Steve Nash on screen/rolls, and his help defense around the basket (three blocks on the night) was outstanding. His 19 rebounds also helped limit Phoenix's second-shot opportunities.

Duncan didn't just play like a superstar—he played like Superman.

Tony Parker

In Game One, Parker broke Phoenix's back by knocking down open jumpers. In Game Three, he did his damage by repeatedly driving past Shawn Marion.

Even with Marion, Thomas, and Amare Stoudemire surrounding him, Parker was able to flip in baskets at impossible angles—sometimes he put them up with a near-vertical trajectory; sometimes he used the far side of the backboard to bank them home.

Though the Suns' big men blocked a handful of Parker's shots late in the game, his first half scoring kept the Spurs close, and his outstanding passing (five assists) created good looks for his teammates. Sometimes, stardom means knowing how to share.

Manu Ginobli

After bricking his first three shots, Ginobli settled down late in the first half with a pair of nifty spinning drives in the lane and an open jumper off a fake cut.

It was only after getting hit in the eye by an errant Marion steal attempt that Ginobli took his game to the next level: driving past Marion for one basket, hitting a leaning jumper for another, getting fouled from the Great Beyond and hitting all three free throws, and dialing long distance for 10 points to close out the third quarter.

When Ginobli hit another jumper early in the fourth, he gave the Spurs an insurmountable double-digit lead.

Ginobli had an impressive stat line (8-19 FG, 1-3 3-FG, 7-7 FT, 2 REB, 4 AST, 1 TO, 3 STL, 1 BLK), but his ability to take over the game at a critical juncture was more important than any numbers.

Steve Nash

The two-time MVP was rendered mortal by San Antonio's defensive schemes.

On Phoenix's screen/rolls, the Spurs never helped with a strong-side defender—they walled Nash to the baseline and clogged the passing lanes in the middle. That strategy was made possible by the efforts of Duncan and Robert Horry, who stayed with Nash and used their length to prevent passes and alter shots. 

Nash was patient in the first quarter but began to force shots as the game unfurled, at one point clanking the side of the backboard with an ill-advised jumper.

When Nash wasn't being turned aside on screen/rolls, he was getting roughhoused by Bruce Bowen's pit bull defense. Obviously flustered, Nash missed two gimmie layups in the third quarter—and his attempt to will his team to a fourth-quarter comeback came too late. 

While his numbers look very impressive (16 points, 8 rebounds, 11 assists), it wouldn't be a stretch to say that Nash played his worst game of 2007. Forget superstardom—the performance was B-list quality at best.

Shawn Marion

The Matrix certainly filled up the stat sheet, as is his custom.

His 26 points (11-21 FG 3-6 3FG) came in a variety of ways: pulling up for jumpers, attacking the basket, filling lanes on the break, releasing on defense for uncontested dunks, and receiving passes on Stoudemire and Nash kickouts for open looks.

Marion's lightning-quick hands and otherworldly leaping ability were key on defense, creating numerous strips, a pair of steals, and four blocks. Marion's handiwork also left Ginobli resembling an Argentine prizefighter.

Still, Marion had trouble keeping Parker and Ginobli ahead of him, and his points neither set off Phoenix runs nor quelled San Antonio rallies. It was an outstanding performance, to be sure—but the Suns needed more.

Amare Stoudemire

Stoudemire's late rotations and overaggressive defense got him in early foul trouble and limited his minutes throughout the game.

When he was on the court, Stoudemire was effective moving without the ball, and was able to make some nice moves off the dribble against Francisco Elson early on. That said, it's hard to be a star when you're glued to the bench.

The Lesser Lights

What other players turned in dazzling performances on the big stage?

For San Antonio, Bowen's bullying earned him star status. Horry's deft defending and clutch fourth-quarter three were star-caliber, as were Fabricio Oberto s numerous tapouts on the offensive glass.

For Phoenix, Boris Diaw's ability to take Duncan off the dribble glittered early but faded late. Thomas' solid defensive technique (it's not his fault Duncan is programmed to perfection) and control of the defensive glass (11 defensive rebounds) made him an able supporting cast member. Raja Bell's perfect 4-4 night from downtown had shooting star written all over it.

With the same prime-time cast on the bill for Game Four, fans can look forward to another thrilling show.