Tonight’s Suns-Spurs game reminded me of the Elks Lodge Hoops Shoot contests we used to compete in as a kid.
You know, those cover-your-eyes free-throw contests where 8- to 10-year olds shanked free throws all over your rundown junior high gymnasium — lucky to hit rim on every other shot attempt.
If you went 7 of 10 you were guaranteed a trophy twice your size and earned spot in the state shootout.
The Phoenix Suns looked like a bunch of snot-nosed kids at the charity strip tonight, hitting just 20 of 37 in a 92-87 loss at San Antonio. That’s a shankalicious 54.1 percent, which wasn’t even good enough to get you in the quarterfinals of the 2008 Elks Lodge Hoops Shoot.
The Spurs, who took the series 4-1 and advance to face New Orleans and NBA Coach of the Year and former Showtime guard Byron Scott in the next round, were 24 of 30 (80 percent).
Shaq was a brutal 9 of 20 from the line in this one, although he did hit 4 of 6 in the final five minutes when San Antonio went to the Hack a Shaq. The Big Cactus always says he hits the free throws when they count, but in the playoffs this year (at least out West), every free throw counts — and watching an aging Shaq shoot free throws nowadays is like watching Charles Barkley swing a golf club. Just plain ugly.
If the Suns hit just 70 percent of their free throws, they keep their season alive.
Instead, the Spurs did what they always do, hit their free throws, played great defense and got a big night out of two of the big three.
Until someone can figure out how carbon copy what the Spurs are doing, the defending champs are still the team to beat in my eyes.
