I am sure when the whiz kids at the league, or ABC, or where ever, decided to put the Phoenix Suns and the San Antonio Spurs on national TV on a Sunday morning just a few weeks before the end of the season they were thinking this game would have big meaning. They must have assumed that since the Suns made it to the Western Conference Finals and that the two teams had so much recent playoff history that the game was bound to be good.
Well, the game still might be good but it holds no meaning for the Suns. Phoenix is just a hair's breadth from being technically eliminated from the playoffs. One more loss and they are done. One more win by the New Orleans Hornets are they are done. Basically, they are done but just haven't got the message yet.
The Spurs, however, desperately need a win. They've lost six-straight games and their strangle hold on the Western Conference top seed is very much in jeopardy. They are just one 1/2 games ahead of the Lakers for home court advantage with the Bull closing in on the best record in the NBA.
The Suns will make things a bit easier for San Antonio to get back on track having left Steve Nash at home due to flu-like symptoms. Nash is expected to join the team in Chicago on Tuesday for the second game of this final five-game road trip of season. Aaron Brooks and Zabian Dowdell will once again split time running the point.
The game tips at 10:00 a.m. local time on ABC and will be broadcast on Sports 620 radio. Fans can follow along during the game with other Suns fans at the live game thread at Bright Side of the Sun.