Phoenix Suns Vs. San Antonio Spurs

ROUND ONE - Western Conference
Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs Series Preview

The San Antonio Spurs (56- 26) finished second in the West’s Southwest Conference holding opponents to 90.6 PPG, while putting up 95.4 PPG. The team can certainly hit from the arc, connecting on 37% of their threes.

The team puts three top players on the court, with shooting guard Manu Ginobili hitting from downtown 40% of the time. Ginobili leads all San Antonio scorers with 19.5 PPG. He’s also a sure-handed defender. Big-bodied center Tim Duncan pulled down 11.3 RPG, blocked 1.9 shots each contest and put up an average of 19.3 points. Duncan is an excellent veteran presence on the court. Point guard Tony Parker, with 18.8 PPG and 6.0 APG, is another money player. Possessing fine hands, he’s a skilled at both ends of the court. Duncan hits 50% from the field, while Parker is good 49% of the time.

Finishing just two games behind the Lakers, the West’s number one seed, the Phoenix Suns (55- 27) proved that they could score, as they put up the second-highest point total in the league (110.1 PPG). But the Suns also allowed 105.0 PPG, which was the second-highest in points against.

Suns’ center Amare Stoudemire is certainly no slouch. The big guy averaged 25.2 PPG and 9.1 RPG. With 2.1 BPG, he’s proven to be a fine defensive force. He can make plays that turn a game around. Steve Nash (16.9 PPG, 11.1 APG) is the ultimate point guard. He sees the court and can get the ball to the right man quickly. Nash hit 47% of his threes this season and 91% of his frees.

Overall, Shaquille O’Neal has been a solid mid-season addition to the club, while power forward Shawn Marion, like Amare Stoudemire, is a fine two-way player. Marion put up 15.4 PPG, took in 10.2 RPG and had 1.3 BPG. This is an accurate shooting team, hitting 50% from the field, 39% from the arc and 78% from the charity stripe.

The Suns possess the firepower and big men to get the best of the Spurs. A sixth-seed can beat a third-seed and that may just happen here.

Maddux Sports Series Prediction:

San Antonio Spurs in 7 Games

Enjoy Maddux Sports' NBA playoff coverage throughout the 2008 postseason.