Phoenix Plays "Dirty"...

It has to be pretty shocking for the Phoenix Suns to realize that, while they employ the two-time reigning MVP in Steve Nash as well as former winners of Coach of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Most Improved Player, and this year’s Sixth Man winner, the most important player for their second round series against the Spurs is a 34 year old journeyman who averages a little under five points a game. That's right, Kurt Thomas. Big Dirty.

Thomas’ presence in the middle of a free flowing Suns system is exactly what Phoenix has been looking for over the last three seasons of early playoff exits. This year, it’s exactly what they’ll need if they want to finally finish off their archrivals from San Antonio. Lord knows they'll need all the help they can get.

Dirty's D doesn’t so much limit Tim Duncan’s ability to score as it does his ability to pass. Duncan is going to score; no one can really stop that. If Thomas can contain him in one-on-one situations and force him to take tough shots without fouling, then the rest of the Spurs offense becomes ineffective. The Suns aren’t forced to double team Duncan and leave one of the Spurs sharp shooters open on the perimeter. That makes the passing lanes shrink dramatically. Now, rather than switching over, a player like Shawn Marion can stay put on his defensive assignment of Tony Parker, who effectively kills the Suns in an open floor setting. This also frees up Amare’ Stoudemire and allows him focus on his offense rather then having to guard Duncan down low.

While it's Thomas’ defense that helps keep the Spurs’ scoring in the 80s and 90s, the offense he provides is an equally surprising benefit of his game. Where most players enjoy the “oohs” and “ahhs” that dunks and deep threes bring, Thomas is content with sitting at the elbow and making fifteen footers all day. By perfecting the lost art of the midrange game, he has opened up the floor for Steve Nash’s passing by making himself a threat and forcing people to camp out on him rather then defending the three-point line or double teaming Stoudemire.

Finally, his ability to create mismatches by setting picks might be one of Thomas’ most effective tools. Last night he continually kept Duncan on his heels by putting up screens and forcing him to switch over on to Nash. Duncan may be one of the league’s best defenders, but he is no match for Nash’s speed. Last night might have been the first time in a long while that Tim Duncan had a “deer in the headlights” look on defense. That look is something the Suns hope they can recreate come Saturday.

Credit Suns Coach Mike D’Antoni for using his third different lineup of the postseason, even with all his players healthy. Many people might think that it is a bad move to make changes this late in the season, but D'Antoni has confidence in both his players and his ability to coach them. He isn’t making these changes because he is scared, rather because he wants to give his team every opportunity to win. By putting Thomas in the starting lineup and saving Jones, Barbosa, and Diaw for the second wave, he has created a strong team eight players deep that has a good chance to challenge the Spurs for the best team in the West.