milkyway21
12-14-2005, 12:07 AM
the west is weak? :rolleyes
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/columns/articles/1213boivin1213.html
No need for Amaré while West is weak
Paola Boivin
Republic columnist
Dec. 13, 2005 12:00 AM
The Western Conference looks like it spent the off-season in a martini shaker. The Clippers rule, the Rockets stink and the drink of choice in Sacramento is Rick Adelman on the rocks.
With a twist.
The twist is that this topsy-turvy conference is lacking muscle. Credit the Suns with overachieving, but recognize, too, that this team will benefit from a less imposing lineup of Western opponents than the ones in 2004-05. advertisement
In other words, if there's such a thing as a good time to lose Amaré Stoudemire, this is it.
"I don't buy that," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said before Monday's 91-87 loss to New Orleans at America West Arena. "It may be different names, but there are a lot of strong teams."
That's what D'Antoni is supposed to say, but outside of San Antonio, who in the West really strikes fear in the heart of NBA opponents?
The Los Angeles Clippers?
Are they a feared foe or just a cute story that is giving courtside fan Penny Marshall more airtime than she's had in years?
Elton Brand and Sam Cassell are an impressive one-two punch, but it won't be long before Cassell's 36-year-old back and a difficult schedule get in the way.
How about all those teams that were supposed to be good?
Sacramento enters tonight's game against Minnesota with a 9-12 record and a coach who is hearing team president Geoff Petrie say things such as, "Rick is our coach until he is no longer our coach."
Nice.
The Rockets missed Tracy McGrady, but his absence wasn't the only explanation for a 7-12 start.
It's too early to judge the efforts of new SuperSonics coach Bob Weiss, but it's clear the departures of Jerome James and Antonio Daniels have slowed Seattle more than the team expected. That the Sonics are excited about the prospect of improving to 10-10 with a victory over Golden State tonight says something.
And it isn't "postseason success."
Nate McMillan, we hardly knew you, and, by the way, how's Portland?
Remember the glory of last season, when teams actually had to be among the elite to gain home-court advantage in the first round? Not anymore. This year, the Suns could be one of those teams, even with Monday's loss to New Orleans, a group that came into America West Arena with a five-game losing streak and a surprising amount of moxie.
"I think by the end of the year, a lot of the (struggling teams) will be back," D'Antoni said. "(The Kings) will be back. Houston will be back.
"Overall, the conference is just as strong. Maybe the top six aren't as strong, but if you look at everybody . . . "
Maybe.
Or maybe it just feels that way when you're fighting for your life with your all-everything superstar out until at least February.
Stoudemire surely didn't like what he saw Monday. Chris Paul and J.R. Smith offer hope for the overachieving Hornets, but the Suns shouldn't be losing to this team at America West Arena on a day's rest - even with Leandro Barbosa and James Jones sidelined. D'Antoni said as much afterward.
If that criticism sounds crazy considering how low expectations were when Stoudemire went down, well, the Suns should consider that a compliment.
Their early season efforts have raised the bar.
Considering the lack of brawn in the Western Conference this season, reaching that bar could take them places.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/columns/articles/1213boivin1213.html
No need for Amaré while West is weak
Paola Boivin
Republic columnist
Dec. 13, 2005 12:00 AM
The Western Conference looks like it spent the off-season in a martini shaker. The Clippers rule, the Rockets stink and the drink of choice in Sacramento is Rick Adelman on the rocks.
With a twist.
The twist is that this topsy-turvy conference is lacking muscle. Credit the Suns with overachieving, but recognize, too, that this team will benefit from a less imposing lineup of Western opponents than the ones in 2004-05. advertisement
In other words, if there's such a thing as a good time to lose Amaré Stoudemire, this is it.
"I don't buy that," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said before Monday's 91-87 loss to New Orleans at America West Arena. "It may be different names, but there are a lot of strong teams."
That's what D'Antoni is supposed to say, but outside of San Antonio, who in the West really strikes fear in the heart of NBA opponents?
The Los Angeles Clippers?
Are they a feared foe or just a cute story that is giving courtside fan Penny Marshall more airtime than she's had in years?
Elton Brand and Sam Cassell are an impressive one-two punch, but it won't be long before Cassell's 36-year-old back and a difficult schedule get in the way.
How about all those teams that were supposed to be good?
Sacramento enters tonight's game against Minnesota with a 9-12 record and a coach who is hearing team president Geoff Petrie say things such as, "Rick is our coach until he is no longer our coach."
Nice.
The Rockets missed Tracy McGrady, but his absence wasn't the only explanation for a 7-12 start.
It's too early to judge the efforts of new SuperSonics coach Bob Weiss, but it's clear the departures of Jerome James and Antonio Daniels have slowed Seattle more than the team expected. That the Sonics are excited about the prospect of improving to 10-10 with a victory over Golden State tonight says something.
And it isn't "postseason success."
Nate McMillan, we hardly knew you, and, by the way, how's Portland?
Remember the glory of last season, when teams actually had to be among the elite to gain home-court advantage in the first round? Not anymore. This year, the Suns could be one of those teams, even with Monday's loss to New Orleans, a group that came into America West Arena with a five-game losing streak and a surprising amount of moxie.
"I think by the end of the year, a lot of the (struggling teams) will be back," D'Antoni said. "(The Kings) will be back. Houston will be back.
"Overall, the conference is just as strong. Maybe the top six aren't as strong, but if you look at everybody . . . "
Maybe.
Or maybe it just feels that way when you're fighting for your life with your all-everything superstar out until at least February.
Stoudemire surely didn't like what he saw Monday. Chris Paul and J.R. Smith offer hope for the overachieving Hornets, but the Suns shouldn't be losing to this team at America West Arena on a day's rest - even with Leandro Barbosa and James Jones sidelined. D'Antoni said as much afterward.
If that criticism sounds crazy considering how low expectations were when Stoudemire went down, well, the Suns should consider that a compliment.
Their early season efforts have raised the bar.
Considering the lack of brawn in the Western Conference this season, reaching that bar could take them places.