Spurs-Suns: San Antonio Has Psychological Edge Over Phoenix

Thursday night, the Suns held the Spurs to 41.8 percent shooting. They out-rebounded San Antonio by seven. Shaquille O'Neal went nine-for-16 from the foul line, hitting nine of 10 in one stretch.

And it didn't matter.

In Phoenix's 91-90 loss at home to their postseason executioners, it became apparent that there's more to this rivalry than injuries (Joe Johnson's eye socket in 2005), suspensions (Stoudemire and Diaw's one-game penalty in the 2007 western semis), or random luck (Duncan's once-in-a-lifetime three-pointer in Game One of the 2008 first round).

The Phoenix Suns psychologically don't believe, truly believe, that they can beat the San Antonio Spurs.

They most likely think it's possible. Maybe possible as in Derek-Fisher-with-0.4-remaining-on-the-clock possible. Maybe.

Phoenix almost broke through this roadblock in '07 after they turned the tables in Game Four of the Western semis. The Suns came back, despite trailing in the fourth, and they were the ones showing the poise to knock off the Spurs. Until Robert Horry knocked Steve Nash to the floor.

Whatever mental healing and/or edge the Suns might have gained from Game Four was destroyed by the Game Five suspensions. That's not saying the suspensions were fair or unfair; that's just the psychological consequence. It was fuel to the cerebral fire that somehow, someway, things will fall the Spurs' way.

Thursday night was a regular-season microcosm of the two franchises' recent history. Even when Phoenix went up by 13 in the first half, when Duncan picked up his fifth foul with 4:43 left in the game, or even when Amare Stoudemire fed Grant Hill for the go-ahead layup with 4.3 ticks left on the clock, everyone watching knew it wasn't over. San Antonio would come back.

They did so time and again throughout Christmas Day. Torrid first-quarter shooting gave way to the Spurs' chipping their way back to within six by halftime. Shaquille O'Neal dunks and crunch-time baskets didn't have the back-breaking, dagger-in-the-heart, nail-in-the-coffin effect they would have had on other teams.

That's why it doesn't matter that the Suns have O'Neal in tow to corral Duncan.  It doesn't matter that Bruce Bowen's role is reduced or that Robert Horry is gone. 

What matters is that inside both those teams' minds, San Antonio will prevail over Phoenix at the end of the day. 

Other Notes

• Seeing as he was traded to Los Angeles Feb. 1, Pau Gasol should be seen as an early Christmas present for the Lakers. It's still hard to comprehend how little was given up for him, especially in light of his crunch-time heroics over Boston on Christmas Day. Seven straight points by the Spaniard put the game out of reach, snapping the C's 19-game winning streak. Feliz Navidad, Los Angeles.
• The Boston Three Party of Garnett, Pierce and Allen were the only Celtics in double-figures. Rajon Rondo (12 assists) and Kendrick Perkins (not a scorer) are somewhat forgiven, but Boston's bench core of Tony Allen, Glen Davis, Eddie House, and Leon Powe combining for 13 points is not acceptable for a championship contender.
• The Cavs apparently felt left out of the limelight and tried to drum up their own drama. Cleveland won 93-89 despite being down seven with 1:33 remaining. James' hands were all over the comeback; he sank three free throws when Caron Butler fouled him shooting a three, then drew a charge on Antawn Jamison, and fed Mo Williams for a three on the next possession
• Caron Butler had a funky night: six points on three-for-13 shooting, 10 assists, six rebounds, and four turnovers.
• Magic fans should have left at halftime to enjoy the rest of their Christmas.  Not only did Orlando lead New Orleans by 30 at intermission, they then proceeded to shoot 23 percent in the second half while still winning 88-68 (that's how badly the Hornets played).
• The Hornets' high man in the scoring column was David West with 13 points. In retrospect, the Magic's fifth-leading scorer was Mickael Pietrus with 11.