Thanks on behalf of the Suns

Dear Spurs Faithful:

Remember me from years past? We've met before. No I'm not talking about the 90's, or even early 2000's.  I'm talking about the Steve Nash era of Phoenix Suns Basketball, I'm talking about 2005, 2007, and 2008.

Now do you recognize me? I'm the longtime Suns fan who, in these three years, has bitterly left every post season feeling empty, and beaten. Only those who are true basketball fans understand the feeling. Truthfully I did not hate the Spurs before those unforgettable encounters, and I even respected Tim Duncan. After each playoff ousting my hatred grew more and more especially, because of the way the Spurs would win. With the trade of Shawn Marion I had seen such a promising era of basketball come to an abrupt end, and I knew this was in no small part a move meant to beat the Spurs. When things did not pan out I viewed the departure of Coach Mike D' Antoni and secretly welcomed it, and yes I even went so far as to root for the Los Angeles Lakers just to see the Spurs lose. I blamed the Spurs for the franchise moving back in to a rebuilding mode as did every Phoenix fan you could meet. Steve Kerr had ruined the "Seven Seconds or Less" era and became as hated as any Spur in this city, and I joined in calling for his firing.

Yet in my stupidity every thing was lining up in to place. The acquisition of Jason Richardson and Jared Dudley, drafting Robin Lopez and Goran Dragic, the re-signings of a couple of old veterans, the departure of Shaq, Channing Frye coming to town, and Amar'e Stoudemire staying. All products of Steve Kerr. In reality the Spurs did any person who is or ever was a fan of the Suns the greatest favor in this decade. They showed us how to build a franchise the right way. Forget the luxury tax type pay roll or the offense best suited for Golden Sate, defense wins championships, and the Spurs taught that better than any other team could have.

This year I made my peace with the demons of series past, and why not the Suns were not even suppose to make the postseason. I never believed that and even when all was going wrong I did what any Spurs fan would do I stayed aboard the sinking ship. Yes the Suns beat the Spurs and that is fantastic, but the way in which they did it and have been doing it these playoffs has San Antonio written all over it.  A fully equipped bench or second team as I know them is reminiscent of the Spurs of yore, and the team defense which spreads like a contagious cold at times is not unlike that of a Popovich team.

So in closing I say to all you Spurs fans keep your head up. Remember the Suns were all but dead. Nash much like Timmy was fading fast, or so they said, and with his demise the rest of the team would crumble. Tune them out because nothing cleanses like a hard earned playoff victory. Do not buy in to the "too old" ideas and remember with Coach Pop and the Spurs triumvirate it ain't ever over til' its over.