Suns out to keep their cool vs. Spurs

There’s an easy way for the Suns’ in-game entertainment staff to get Valley fans’ blood boiling. Show a video medley of the San Antonio Spurs’ greatest “hits.” There’s enough material to roll the images staccato-style.

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They could start with Manu Ginobili’s knee to Amaré Stoudemire’s groin in a February 2007 game.

They could include Bruce Bowen’s knee to Steve Nash’s groin in Game 3 of the 2007 Western Conference semifinals; Bowen kicking Stoudemire in the Achilles tendon from behind in Game 2; and Bowen elbowing Stoudemire’s rib cage while Amaré was setting a pick late in the Suns’ blowout win April 9 in San Antonio.

And just as the crowd reaches a fevered pitch before Game 3 of this year’s first-round playoff series, the video could close with Robert Horry’s infamous hip-check of Nash into the scorer’s table in the final seconds of Game 4 last year — a play that resulted in one-game suspensions for Boris Diaw and Stoudemire, and effectively ended the Suns’ hopes for a title.

Imagine the emotional response the clips would elicit.

It’s exactly the kind of response the team — and Stoudemire in particular — wants to avoid.

“I expect them to have gamesmanship. I expect them to do everything they can to win,” Suns coach Mike D’Antoni said of the Spurs. “You have to give them credit for what they do but it’s time to handle it.”

How the Suns handle it could well determine this series.

“Composure is always an issue in the playoffs,” point guard Nash said.

Stoudemire will be the litmus test.

The Suns’ power forward has been a lightning rod for the Spurs’ physical and mental games over the years.

Three times during last season’s playoff series and once this season, he picked up two early fouls, limiting his effectiveness the rest of the way.

Numerous times, he’s complained about the Spurs’ tactics, including the infamous: “I think the Spurs are a dirty team” line last year, suggesting that those tactics had taken their toll on his psyche.

But Stoudemire insisted Thursday this year will be different — that he’s grown, as have the Suns.

“Their plan is to try to beat people up a little so they won’t have as much energy — to wear on teams and wear them down physically and mentally. But it doesn’t matter, we’re taking our minds off that and channeling it into good basketball,” he said. “We have an older, wiser team and we’re bringing a strong approach.”

The addition of Shaquille O’Neal has helped in that regard. Although Stoudemire still guards Spurs forward Tim Duncan in the early minutes of most games and must avoid silly fouls throughout, O’Neal will draw Duncan for large stretches while Stoudemire draws Fabricio Oberto.

O’Neal has also supplied another mature voice with which to corral Stoudemire’s emotions in the heat of battle.

“It’s going to be a hostile game,” O’Neal said, noting the Spurs’ game plan is “just to try to test you and to try to break you.”

O’Neal said he has counseled Stoudemire on this topic, but in the end, “it’s up to him” to control his reactions.  “You have to be prepared for everything,” O’Neal said.

Even a knee to the groin.