DUNCANownsKOBE2
04-17-2009, 01:25 AM
Suns looking to address defense
by Paul Coro - Apr. 16, 2009 07:36 PM
The Arizona Republic
Welcome to the Suns' off-season, a six-month hiatus that will be longer than the season for a change.
The agenda is laid out, though some of the particulars are hazy.
The first priority will be signing interim head coach Alvin Gentry to a contract to make his status permanent. After that, the Suns have a probable No. 14 pick in the June draft and a contract extension to negotiate with Steve Nash. All the while, there is the task of revamping a roster through trades or July free agency to be better defensively and perhaps lighter financially.
What you see as a 46-36 non-playoff team will be treated as a team that should have won 50-plus games if not for turmoil.
"I don't think you blow up a team that's pretty good, that has a chance to be very good," Suns General Manager Steve Kerr said. "You try to improve that team. We have to make every effort to do so under some difficult circumstances."
At this time last year, several Suns told Kerr that they needed more defensive emphasis. They asked for accountability but resisted new coach Terry Porter's ways, largely because he changed the offense too. Now, they again will try to address a defense that worsened.
"There was kind of hangover effect this year," Kerr said. "We've been a championship contender the last three or four years. We never got to the Finals but always felt like we had a chance. This year, we were hanging on to that hope. The reality was we were a good team but we weren't a title contender. I think that was hard for all us to accept - our players, coaches, those of us in management, our fans especially."
As he seeks an extension through 2013, Nash embraces the idea of a transition that may not put the team in the title mix.
"I'd be happy just to be a part of a really positive and optimistic atmosphere," Nash said. "Be a part of a team that was really on the same page, plays together, plays hard every night and makes the season exciting for one another and the fans. You may say I'm lowering my expectations but I think that's a great place to start. If that's a goal for us, maybe we can get to the next level. But I think sometimes it's difficult to start playing the Band-Aid game and always put a Band-Aid over problems."
Nash said the team needs to add defenders, specifically "a couple active big guys who could take up a lot of space with their athleticism and energy."
That is not Shaquille O'Neal and has not been Amaré Stoudemire.
If Nash's defense is leaving them vulnerable on the ball, an adjustment will be needed behind him by replacing O'Neal and/or Stoudemire or alongside him with Jason Richardson, who Kerr feels can be a better defender.
There are no illusions of defensive grandeur but the aim is to help the NBA's top offense with timely stops. Trading for O'Neal boosted post defense but weakened perimeter defense.
"We've got to continue to add guys with the right mindset and the athleticism that we need to become better defensively," Kerr said. "You slowly but surely build up the personnel. You try to make the transition as the older guys move on and break in younger guys. Hopefully, you win a lot of games while you're doing so."
Kerr did not address Stoudemire's desire for a maximum extension this summer and said O'Neal is not a certain trade commodity. O'Neal said the Suns are "not far at all" from title contention if they stick to a consistent style rather than be "jibbly-jabbly" again.
"There's an old adage that I heard from the great Michael Jordan," O'Neal said. "It says, 'Before you succeed, you must learn to fail.' I've been lucky enough to have been there six times but I know how it is to fail. I'm actually the type of guy that it makes me hungrier. It makes me stronger. I didn't believe I could play the way I played this year.
"I'll be looking forward to having another fabulous year next year and another two after that."
Grant Hill is a free agent but already registered his older daughter for next year at her Valley school.
"I plan on being here," he said. "This feels like home."
This what happens when inexperienced, crappy general managers say too much about a player publicly and give that player the idea he's above everyone else in the locker room. This started at the trade deadline when he said, "Everyone but Steve Nash is on the block," when Nash had done nothing this season to earn that untouchable status.
The fact that Nash is brazen enough to indirectly go for the jugular of the starting PF and C who have had to play help defense on the player he's been supposed to guard all year while refusing to take any blame for the defensive clusterfuck this year is completely disgusting and egotistical.
If people think I'm just hating, then I guess the entire national media is just hating as well. Broadcasters like Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy who in the past respected Nash to the highest extreme clearly have a soured opinion of him now after his "Have fun before you win games" behavior this season.
Fuck that Nash2timeMvp loser that just signed up today. I can't wait to hear that piece of shit's excuse for Nash on this one.
by Paul Coro - Apr. 16, 2009 07:36 PM
The Arizona Republic
Welcome to the Suns' off-season, a six-month hiatus that will be longer than the season for a change.
The agenda is laid out, though some of the particulars are hazy.
The first priority will be signing interim head coach Alvin Gentry to a contract to make his status permanent. After that, the Suns have a probable No. 14 pick in the June draft and a contract extension to negotiate with Steve Nash. All the while, there is the task of revamping a roster through trades or July free agency to be better defensively and perhaps lighter financially.
What you see as a 46-36 non-playoff team will be treated as a team that should have won 50-plus games if not for turmoil.
"I don't think you blow up a team that's pretty good, that has a chance to be very good," Suns General Manager Steve Kerr said. "You try to improve that team. We have to make every effort to do so under some difficult circumstances."
At this time last year, several Suns told Kerr that they needed more defensive emphasis. They asked for accountability but resisted new coach Terry Porter's ways, largely because he changed the offense too. Now, they again will try to address a defense that worsened.
"There was kind of hangover effect this year," Kerr said. "We've been a championship contender the last three or four years. We never got to the Finals but always felt like we had a chance. This year, we were hanging on to that hope. The reality was we were a good team but we weren't a title contender. I think that was hard for all us to accept - our players, coaches, those of us in management, our fans especially."
As he seeks an extension through 2013, Nash embraces the idea of a transition that may not put the team in the title mix.
"I'd be happy just to be a part of a really positive and optimistic atmosphere," Nash said. "Be a part of a team that was really on the same page, plays together, plays hard every night and makes the season exciting for one another and the fans. You may say I'm lowering my expectations but I think that's a great place to start. If that's a goal for us, maybe we can get to the next level. But I think sometimes it's difficult to start playing the Band-Aid game and always put a Band-Aid over problems."
Nash said the team needs to add defenders, specifically "a couple active big guys who could take up a lot of space with their athleticism and energy."
That is not Shaquille O'Neal and has not been Amaré Stoudemire.
If Nash's defense is leaving them vulnerable on the ball, an adjustment will be needed behind him by replacing O'Neal and/or Stoudemire or alongside him with Jason Richardson, who Kerr feels can be a better defender.
There are no illusions of defensive grandeur but the aim is to help the NBA's top offense with timely stops. Trading for O'Neal boosted post defense but weakened perimeter defense.
"We've got to continue to add guys with the right mindset and the athleticism that we need to become better defensively," Kerr said. "You slowly but surely build up the personnel. You try to make the transition as the older guys move on and break in younger guys. Hopefully, you win a lot of games while you're doing so."
Kerr did not address Stoudemire's desire for a maximum extension this summer and said O'Neal is not a certain trade commodity. O'Neal said the Suns are "not far at all" from title contention if they stick to a consistent style rather than be "jibbly-jabbly" again.
"There's an old adage that I heard from the great Michael Jordan," O'Neal said. "It says, 'Before you succeed, you must learn to fail.' I've been lucky enough to have been there six times but I know how it is to fail. I'm actually the type of guy that it makes me hungrier. It makes me stronger. I didn't believe I could play the way I played this year.
"I'll be looking forward to having another fabulous year next year and another two after that."
Grant Hill is a free agent but already registered his older daughter for next year at her Valley school.
"I plan on being here," he said. "This feels like home."
This what happens when inexperienced, crappy general managers say too much about a player publicly and give that player the idea he's above everyone else in the locker room. This started at the trade deadline when he said, "Everyone but Steve Nash is on the block," when Nash had done nothing this season to earn that untouchable status.
The fact that Nash is brazen enough to indirectly go for the jugular of the starting PF and C who have had to play help defense on the player he's been supposed to guard all year while refusing to take any blame for the defensive clusterfuck this year is completely disgusting and egotistical.
If people think I'm just hating, then I guess the entire national media is just hating as well. Broadcasters like Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy who in the past respected Nash to the highest extreme clearly have a soured opinion of him now after his "Have fun before you win games" behavior this season.
Fuck that Nash2timeMvp loser that just signed up today. I can't wait to hear that piece of shit's excuse for Nash on this one.