Suns v Spurs

In what is supposed to be a Round 1 battle for the ages, the Suns find themselves down 0-2 heading to Phoenix. On paper, or at least judging these two teams during the regular season, neither is noticeably more talented than the other; but there is one major difference between the two, and the reason San Antonio will triumph: the Head Coach.

Mike Diantoni was completely demolished by Greg Popovich last night, to the point where Diantoni was screaming uncle for the game to finish already. It wasn't even close, and for those people who think coaches have little to do with the outcomes of games needed only to watch Game 2 last night to understand exactly what Pop means to the Spurs.

The turning point came in the third quarter when the Spurs made a furious come back to take a double digit lead. And then, on multiple possessions, the Suns forced the ball to Boris Diaw in the post to exploit a mismatch - either Manu Ginobli or Tony Parker were guarding the much taller forward. Well, you know what? Popovich isn't an idiot, and that was the matchup he would live or die with...and he lived. Do you know why he was ok with pitting a smaller defender on Diaw? Because Diaw is TERRIBLE. This entire season he has been inconsistent and, at times, just awful. He has no shot, a decent - but by no means effective - post game, and no athleticism. So why was he their go-to guy? If Steve Nash was guarding, ohhh,.....no wait, I just tried thinking of a Spur, any Spur, with as little game but who plays as much as Boris Diaw and I couldn't come up with one. Let's say in an important spot the Hornets' Jannero Pargo was defending the Mav's Malik Allen; is it really the best move to force the ball to a mediocre player? Definitely Not. And look at Phoenix, they have one of the most efficient offenses the NBA has ever seen, they run a flawless pick-and-roll, and can get open threes whenever they want - and during their most important possessions of the game they relied on their 7th best player. I can't blame Diaw for this, that is clearly a monumental coaching mistake.

If there was ever a knock on Diantoni's run-and-gun offensive style, it was that it couldn't hold up in half-court pace of the playoffs. Here's Knock No. 2: the regular season is for mismatches; during the playoffs the stars take stage. Remember a few years ago when Lebron James passed out of a triple-team to a wide-open Donyell Marshall who clanked the game-winning attempt. Diantoni could have learned alot from that game.

Watching that game last night made me think 3 things:
1. It is obvious Diantoni has no idea how to coach Shaq in the playoffs. Yes, he made most of the important free throws, but the percentages will always even out; I think much blame here has to go to Steve Kerr for the oversight, but a good coach, like Pat Reilly, would figure it out.
2. There is a reason certain coaches have won the majority of the titles, and if the Western Conference Finals fields the Lakers and Spurs, it will be one of the best coaching matchups ever, and hence one of the greatest series we will ever see.
3. I've always been a huge fan of Diantoni and his rebellious style of offense, but I'm not so sure he's the right coach for this team. I mean, could you imagine Phil Jackson feeding Luke Walton the rock every play just because a smaller guard was on him? You stick to your guns in the playoffs, and his failure to do so should cost him his job.