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Preview: Suns at Spurs
Associated Press
Tue, Nov 7, 2006
The last time the San Antonio Spurs played against Amare Stoudemire, two-time league MVP Tim Duncan came away impressed with the Phoenix Suns budding superstar.
That must seem like a long time ago for Stoudemire.
He`ll face Duncan and the Spurs for the first time since the 2005 Western Conference finals and could be in the starting lineup when the Suns try to avoid a third straight loss Wednesday. The Spurs are 6 1/2-point favorites and the total is set at 203 1/2.
San Antonio (3-1) eliminated Phoenix (1-3) in five games in the playoffs two years ago in a series that showcased two of the league`s top power forwards. Duncan averaged 27.4 points and 13.8 rebounds for the Spurs, who went on to capture their third NBA championship.
Despite losing the series, Stoudemire made a lasting impression by averaging 37.0 points - the highest- scoring average for a conference finals first-timer - and nearly 10 rebounds a game. He topped 40 points twice against a San Antonio team that was considered to be one of the best defensive units in the league.
Duncan was effusive in his praise for Stoudemire.
``He`s extended his game so much,`` Duncan said. ``He was hitting 15-, 18-footers like it was nothing. And with his athleticism and his ability, just knowing that he`s going to get even better, it`s kind of scary.``
That series was the last time Stoudemire played before undergoing microfracture knee surgery prior to last season. He appeared in only three games last season in late March before shutting it down for the year and has come off the bench for the Suns this season, reaching double figures just once in four games.
Despite his lack of production, Phoenix coach Mike D`Antoni indicated Stoudemire might make his first start Wednesday in order to give him some extended minutes. Stoudemire has yet to log more than 25 minutes in a game.
``It`s something that we wrestle with every day,`` D`Antoni said. ``Don`t think that we don`t wrestle with it as a staff and with the players. And it`s something that we`ll get to, as a matter of fact, we might get to it Wednesday. It`s something that we want to do.``
D`Antoni claims that Phoenix`s slow start is the product of a difficult early schedule and the team`s need to work Stoudemire back into game shape. If Stoudemire is in the starting lineup, Kurt Thomas would be the odd man out.
``We are still trying to work the big fella back into our game,`` Thomas said. ``It is going to take a little time, but once he gets back in he will give us that inside presence that we are missing right now.``
Veteran forward Jalen Rose is expected make his Suns debut after signing a one-year contract worth about $1.5 million Tuesday. Rose, who received a $14.5 million buyout from New York last week, has averaged 14.7 points over 894 games in 12 NBA seasons.
San Antonio is looking for its first home win after losing 88-81 to Cleveland last Friday. The Spurs bounced back from that defeat to sweep a two-game road swing with victories over Toronto and the Knicks.
Brent Barry hit five of the Spurs` 13 3-pointers Monday, and Tony Parker had 24 points and 10 assists as San Antonio nearly blew all of a 23-point lead before holding on for a 105-93 win at Madison Square Garden.
``In the NBA, a coach`s nightmare is going up 20 in the first half, because you know it is going to turn at some point,`` Gregg Popovich said. ``There`s too many possessions, too many 24-second clocks. Emotion shifts very quickly.``
San Antonio won three of four matchups with Phoenix last season and has won 10 of the last 11 home meetings in the regular season.
The Mavs are the envy of the league. Are they planning on saving some more of their juice tonight in LA?
