PF or Center?

I have to say, I love how all of a sudden I have a say in how the Suns will play.

If only I was defensive minded.

If only I was less diven by offense.

When have I discredited defense and it's use. Every post I've made has been in defense of why things happen the way they do for the Suns, not why it's best. I've always been for balance. You don't even know me to make that judgement.

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Originally Posted by Solid D

Tim plays both 4 and 5 throughout the game. When Nazr or Rasho is in there, Tim plays the 4 on offense. When Robert is in there, Tim plays the 5 on offense system, as are 2 and 3.

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That's a point that I think many people misunderstand about Duncan, and something I didn't fully grasp until recently. Tim Duncan plays both positions in any given game pretty much equally. Here's what I mean.

When I was about to post the +/- thread a couple of weeks ago (you know, the one that devolved into another Barry bashfest), I stumbled onto the Production by Position Stats at 82games.com.(http://www.82games.com/playoffs/045PSAS5.HTM). When I saw the averages for the Spurs at center per game in the playoffs, I was stunned: It's 22.2 points per game! Then I looked at the average for Power Forward: It's 21.5 points per game. Thinking something was amiss (Nazr and Rasho averaging more than Tim and Horry?), I emailed the site and asked how they calculated the stats for each position.

Here's the verbatim response I got:

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Originally Posted by Roland Beech of 82games.com

Hi Vaughn,

We have a system that evaluates the positions for a given moment based upon who else is on the floor. So for instance, Duncan is sometimes perceived to be playing PF and sometimes C. Each player has their own production by position page as well, so for Duncan in the playoffs it's http://www.82games.com/playoffs/04SAS10C.HTM and you can see he's currently been 36% PF, 35% C for the team total minutes. Another useful thing is the player 5man units http://www.82games.com/playoffs/04SAS10B.HTM

Regards,
Roland

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So, next time you start to rip someone for calling Duncan a center, realize that about 1/2 the time he's on the floor, he is just that.

When Outlaw played in 2003 against the Spurs in the first round it was a much tougher series, much better Suns defense. He was a large part of the reason. Bo's not the answer but Suns need a designated defensive warrior on the floor to set the tone for the rest of the players. You don't need five guys that can all score the ball.

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Originally Posted by picnroll

When Outlaw played in 2003 against the Spurs in the first round it was a much tougher series, much better Suns defense. He was a large part of the reason. Bo's not the answer but Suns need a designated defensive warrior on the floor to set the tone for the rest of the players. You don't need five guys that can all score the ball.

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Bo was not a big factor in the 2003 series. He average the 3rd least minutes on the Suns that series. Scott Williams was more of a factor in that series. Bo is a defensive specialist, but he makes Bowen look like Jordan.

While I agree that you don't need five guys that can score, five guys who can score and one of them being am outstanding defender is MUCH better. Imagine Bowen with all star offensive powers. Nash is the teams weak link defensively, but the rest of the team is decent. It's more of D'Antoni's philosophy than ability. A defensive minded player will not make it on the Suns as long as D'Antoni is the coach. Hunter didn't get playing time until he started scoring--and hitting free throws.

Bo played hellacious D and set he tone for their scrambling, double teaming, disruptive D which caused the Spurs all kinds of problems. Did you even watch the series?

Amare is equally weak as Nash. His defensive rotation is horrendous. If you're man gets by you don't be expecting Amare to make the right rotation to cover for you.