Mavs wound Suns

That's the headline in the Republic this morning detailing last night's second-round Dallas-Phoenix match up. The Suns have avoided serious injury problems all season long, but will have to make a major adjustment after starting guard Joe Johnson was injured at the end of the first-half last night.

For the better part of the last week-and-a-half or so, XTRA morning-hosts Bickley and Jurecki have been alternating between the Championship Fever that most of the town has embraced and a voice-of-moderation. Yesterday for example, they took calls from fans who were already looking ahead to the Finals after Monday night's 25-point victory over the Mavericks. Never mind Dallas, and certainly never-mind the Spurs, we're going to the Finals!

As I tuned in this morning I expected to hear a slew of mournful wailing from fans who suddenly felt the bubble burst last night. I heard none of it. In fact, fans seemed even more confident about winning this series! At least the ones I heard.

Meanwhile Dan and MJ were trying desperately to be not just a voice-of-moderation but beyond that, a cold, hard does of reality; Johnson's loss has serious ramifications for this team and anyone not realizing that isn't using their head. From Paul Coro's Republic article this morning: Now, those constant fears surface: What happens to the Suns when one of the league's most potent starting five is lost? Phoenix heads back to Dallas all square at one game because they did not emerge from the locker room with the same passion they had in Game 1. They are tied because there was no stopping Michael Finley, especially without Johnson around to defend him in Finley's 20-point second half.

I'm still a Laker fan, have been since 1976 and will be, likely, until I die. I don't actively root for or against the Suns; for most of my time here they've been mediocre at best. I like this year's team and I agree with many that it would be a great thing for the sports-psyche of this town to see them win a championship.

The question is, beyond what this injury might or might not do to the club's fans, what does it do on the court? And can they make up the difference?

Stay tuned.