ESPN.com - NBA/PLAYOFFS2006 - Conference Semifinals: Clippers vs. Suns

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NBA Playoffs:

Mon, 5/22
CLIPPERS 107
SUNS 127

LA CLIPPERS @ PHOENIX
Rest the story: Refreshed Suns run away with Game 7
Final: Box Score | Play By Play

Suns Tickets | Clippers Tickets | Bracket

PLAYER MATCHUPS
CLIPPERS		SUNS
C. Paul Points: 16.1 Rebounds: 5.1 Assists: 7.8	PG	G. Dragic
C. Billups Points: 18.5 Rebounds: 3.1 Assists: 8.6	SG	W. Johnson
C. Butler Points: 17.6 Rebounds: 6.2 Assists: 2.5	SF	P. Tucker
B. Griffin	PF	M. Morris
D. Jordan	C	L. Scola

TEAM STATS (Regular Season)
	CLIPPERS	SUNS
PPG	97.2	108.4
RPG	43.1	41.8
APG	20.8	26.6
FG%	46.454	47.858
FT%	79.085	80.610
3P%	.344	.399

SEASON SERIES
Series tied 2-2
Dec 10, 2005	@LAC 101, PHX 91	Recap \| Box Score
Jan 18, 2006	PHX 112, @LAC 102	Recap \| Box Score
Mar 15, 2006	@PHX 126, LAC 95	Recap \| Box Score
Apr 5, 2006	LAC 119, @PHX 105	Recap \| Box Score

PLAYOFF HISTORY

Championships: 0	Championships: 0
Last Championship: N/A	Last Championship: N/A
Last Season: Did not qualify	Last Season: Lost in Western Conference finals

(AP Photo/Matt York)

Steve Nash led the way with 29 points and 11 assists Monday night.

Overwhelming Win

In the end, the Suns were too much for the Clippers. Phoenix got big games from Steve Nash and Shawn Marion on Monday night and pulled away in the second half for a 127-107 win over Los Angeles in Game 7 of their second-round series. Story | Highlights ESPN Motion

• Sheridan: Clippers can't catch Suns | Daily Dime | Elias

Scouts Inc.

The Suns have to find a way to make the Clippers bigger players, Elton Brand and Chris Kaman play small. Phoenix can create space in the half court game by using Shawn Marion as a shooter when he is defended by Kaman. They can also use Boris Diaw as a distributor from the high post area when he is defended by Elton Brand.

These defensive assignments leave a smaller player on Tim Thomas. The Suns had some success running a play using Thomas and Raja Bell where the result was Sam Cassell guarding Thomas in the post. The Suns want to run a fastbreak offense but their success is based on spacing.

• Full Game 7 scouting report | Entire series scouting report

Western Conference Playoff poll
John Hollinger chat wrap

EXPERT PICKS
Anthony	Broussard	Hollinger	Sheridan	Stein
(In 6)	(In 7)	(In 6)	(In 7)	(In 6)

ESPN RESEARCH

• Suns notes: Phoenix advanced to the conference finals last season for the seventh time in team history.

• Clippers notes: Mike Dunleavy is trying to become only the third coach in franchise history to win a postseason game. In Buffalo, Jack Ramsay was 9-13. In Los Angeles, Larry Brown was 4-6.