I started my last post with a definition, so appropriately I will start this one with a definition as well. Vanquish: to overcome in battle; subdue completely. The key word in that definition is completely. The Suns vanquished the demons of their past by sweeping the San Antonio Spurs 4-0. I realize these teams are not necessarily the same as the battles of year’s past, however the core remains the same. Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire and Leandro Barabosa, all remembered the past too well coming into to this series.

Last night, with the Suns having a commanding 3-0 series lead looked to wrap the series up on San Antonio’s home floor nonetheless. Despite a slow-start the Suns lead climbed to 11 midway through the 3rd quarter and victory over the Spurs finally seemed within the Suns grasp. Suddenly, Steve Nash was caught by an inadvertent elbow to the face by Tim Duncan and blood flowed readily down the right side of Nash’s face. All the memories of previous Spurs-Suns series began to flash before Suns fans eyes. As Nash headed to the locker room for stitches, the lead for the Suns vanished. Despite the fact that no NBA team had came back to win a series after being down 3-0 (88-0), the fears in my mind began to mount. If the Suns lost game 4, they could be without Steve Nash for games 5 and 6 and the series would inevitably tighten.

Looking like a boxer after a prize fight, Steve Nash emerged with an ice-pack and 6 rudimentary stitches in his eye before the fourth quarter was about to begin. Nash received those stitches without the benefit of any anesthesia. Of course, what else should we expect from a player hailing from Canada? Upon Nash’s return to the court, it was evident the eye soon would be completely closed. Tied at 77, and the eye swollen shut, “One-Eyed Stevie” pulled up for one of his patented quick stop and pop three pointers from about 3 feet behind the arc. As the ball landed softly through the net, a sense of relief came over me as I realized Nash was not going to to let this team lose; one eye or not. Nash continued to cement in legend into the annals of NBA playoff history as he finished with 10 points and 5 assists in the deciding fourth quarter. The Suns pulled out the victory 107-101. The sweep of the Spurs, allows the Suns to rest for almost a week before playing the winner of…well let’s just say it, the Los Angeles Lakers.

After the game ended, Tim Duncan, David Robinson and even Greg Popovich seemed somewhat elated that Nash had gotten over the hump that was the San Antonio Spurs. Now the Suns will have to face an even tougher challenge against the defending NBA champion Lakers. If the Nash and the Suns have proven anything this year, it is not to doubt them. The Suns have won 4 out of the last 5 playoff series against the Lakers. For once, the Spurs will be licking their wounds on the golf course and the Suns head to the Western Conference Finals and boy does it feel good here in Phoenix!