Phoenix- Home of both the Suns and Sen. John McCain

Normally, criss crossing the country multiple times over a span of weeks would preclude me from watching my necessary dose of Phoenix Suns basketball. Luckily, the kind folks in the NBA scheduling/broadcasting office, have realized what us Phoenicians gleaned long ago: the Phoenix Suns, regardless of your particular fan affiliation, are the best show on the hardwood. Given this, I was able to take in the triumvirate of contests over the last weekend courtesy of TNT and ABC. Now, amidst all the hoopla down in Atlanta over Joakim Noah's propensity for gibberish (just ask Jim Nantz), Greg Oden likely becoming the first 19 year old member of the AARP, and the astoundingly over hyped national semifinal match up between Roy Hibbert and the aforementioned Oden (ultimately, they combined for 32 points in 44 minutes. Don't tell Dick Vitale and Jay Bilas that though, they might swallow their own tongues out of delirium and disappointment.), the Suns chugged along a three game stretch, madly vacillating between ineptitude (at least defensively) and blithe greatness.

However, in the end, after a resounding victory against Dallas, the Suns definitively proved that they should be the team to beat, despite their performances earlier in the week that may lead someone to advocating the contrary. Though the margin was a decisive 22 points, the Mavericks actually could have easily lost by far more. Their herculean three point shooting effort in the first half (7-8) masked a complete paucity of inside play on the part of Dallas.
Therein lies the key to the Suns eventual triumph over Dallas: the paint. Amare continued his Wilt Chamberlain impression en route to another dunking exhibition, at the expense of a totally helpless Diop and a completely over matched coterie of smaller players like Croshere, J. Howard and Devean George (Kevin Willis is on the way Mavs fan, you're problems are over!! /sarcasm) Yes, John Hollinger and other pundits can dismiss the Suns as having played a "perfect game", meaning that it is unlikely to be replicated in the playoffs, which is partially true. Phoenix is as likely to shoot 90% percent in the fourth again as it is that Tim Duncan would not bitch incessantly about ever foul in every game. That said, against the Mavericks, the one weapon in the Suns' formidable arsenal that does not appear to be subject to fluctuation is Amare's dominance. As aforementioned, even with Erick "Homeless Crack Dealer" Dampier in the lineup (he was during the double OT classic, didn't seem to derail Black Jesus too much), the Mavs have essentially no chance of stopping STAT, even if they adjust to the pick n'roll, as they have heretofore failed to do.

Overall, the Suns and Mavs perimeter players will cancel each other out. As potent as Jerry Stackhouse has been thus far, his scoring paroxysms can easily be matched by Leandro Barbosa. In the same vein, all of the defensive presence and intangibles that Josh Howard affords the Mavericks, so to does the oft-maligned Shawn Marion for the Suns. Finally, and most critically, the superstars of the respective squads, essentially match each other when it comes down to it. Obviously, I will be biased towards the two time defending MVP, but Dirk has elevated his game to a new level in the last season. Oddly enough, he also purchased a new, beautifully diaphanous mouth guard, and his play has been stellar since then. Coincidence? I think not. All of the neutralizing being done at these three critical positions in the floor leaves open the obvious question: How does one analyzing the series decipher any sort of advantage for one squad? Simply put: It's Amare.

Unfortunately for the Suns, Amare's utter dominance against the Mavericks may not translate into similar success versus the other Western Conference heavyweight, the San Antonio Spurs. Historically, (ok only one series-The 2005 Western Conference Finals) Amare has encountered little resistance from Tim Duncan and his cohorts. In fact, STAT was essentially the only bright spot in that five game debacle that saw Shawn Marion join the Witness Protection Program, Joe Johnson miss half of the series due to his broken face, and most surprisingly (not) Quentin Richardson shot like Brandy from outside the arc. The seminal moment of Amare's career, at least pre-microfracture surgery, was his emphatic rejection of Tim Duncan, a play that not only sealed the lone Phoenix win in the series, but symbolically highlighted Amare's ascension to the highest echelon of the NBA hierarchy.

That said, Tim Duncan, as evidenced by his rejections of STAT in their last meeting in Phoenix, still offers a formidable defensive presence under the post. On some games, one has to figure Duncan can play Amare to a standstill, or at least get him in foul trouble. Then, undoubtedly, Ginobili will injure one our key players in a cheap play, and sooner rather than later, the squads will be even. The Suns, structurally, have a large problem against San Antonio on the defensive end. Since Duncan will generally be indefensible by a lone defender, the double will thus naturally have to come. Then, one of the litany of single dimesional sharpshooters the Spurs possess (Bonner, Barry, Finley, Horry, Udrih), will have a wide open jump shot. The inability of Phoenix to adapt to San Antonio's penchant for spotting everyone but Duncan and Manu at the three point lane. Another matchup issue the Suns will face is the lack of size on their front life, especially in terms of offensive rebounding.

Back tomorrow with a discussion of John McCain's thus far disappointing run for President.

--Merkin