Is Suns general manager Steve Kerr a genius? We might know the answer after the Suns conclude their first round series with the Spurs. Phoenix was forced to swallow a bitter pill in last season’s Western Conference semifinals, losing to San Antonio in six games.

In fact, the Spurs – winners of four NBA championships - have owned the regular-season and postseason series recently, eliminating the Suns in 2003, 2005 and 2007.

Enter Shaquille O’Neal, who Kerr and Suns head coach Mike D’Antoni added to give the team some much-needed inside strength and toughness. Shaq’s presence was apparent right away after these two teams met during the regular season. Phoenix won both meetings. Shaq averaged 15.0 points and 12.5 rebounds as the Suns won 94-87 at home on March 9 and 96-79 in San Antonio one month later. O'Neal helped combat San Antonio's size, post-up play and offensive rebounding and that is exactly the reason he was acquired.

So for the third time in the last four years, the Suns and Spurs will meet in the postseason.

Look for San Antonio to step up the defensive intensity and make this a possession-by-possession series, while the Suns will look to push the tempo with two-time league MVP Steve Nash and Leandro Barbosa.

Phoenix finished the season shooting 50.0 percent from the field, the highest in the league since the 1996-97 Utah Jazz shot 50.4 percent. Nash, Barbosa, Raja Bell and Grant Hill are excellent perimeter shooters, while Stoudemire has improved his outside shot and is still dominant in the paint. The addition of O’Neal allowed Stoudemire to shift back to his natural position of power forward.

Manu Ginobili had an MVP-caliber season for San Antonio. His dribble-drive and outside shooting abilities have made him a unique player in this league. Parker is a one-man fast break in transition, and Duncan’s post-up ability is second to none. Michael Finley, Bruce Bowen and Brent Barry are all capable of knocking down clutch outside shots for the Spurs, while Fabricio Oberto and Kurt Thomas add strength and toughness inside.

Each game in this series could come down to the wire, as each team will play with pride and passion. In the end, look for Phoenix to dictate tempo and upend the defending champions in seven games, which will make Steve Kerr look like a genius.