It's funny you say that because Duncan has never been on a bad team. His teams could still make the playoffs without him.Quote:
Originally Posted by violentkitten
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It's funny you say that because Duncan has never been on a bad team. His teams could still make the playoffs without him.Quote:
Originally Posted by violentkitten
What part of "maximum" do you have trouble with?
if the suns lose jjohnson they won't make it back to the conference finals.
Exactly.
Should I rephrase the question?Quote:
Originally Posted by hoopshype.com
In reguards to how little defense the Suns played and how they've addressed or failed to address it so far...
Spurs shot 48% from the field and averaged 15 offensive rebounds per game.
Suns shot 49% from the field and averaged 11 offensive rebounds per game.
Suns have traded arguably their worst defender and most inconsistant scorer for Thomas, a top-5 defensive rebounder and PF/C who, against the Suns system last year, averaged 14ppg and 17rpg. Not saying he'll put up the same numbers, but he won't slow them down.
Also, the Suns will sign Raja Bell, a player whom several of this sites posts wanted as Bowen's defensive replacement. He is a player familier with Nash and the Suns style from his days in Dallas and is a SG who also shot 40% from range last season while averaging more points-per-minute than Richardson.
He was also the player guarding Ginobili for the Jazz, a team that held Manu to 21 per game(contrast to Manu's 30+ vs. the Suns).
Moving Marion to the wings and Amare off the biggest post for 20 minutes a game will help free them up for blocking shots and hopefully keep them out of foul trouble.
Being that the Suns have addressed two of their biggest needs (defensive rebounding, though perimeter defender), saying they haven't addressed them or to say they won't be a better is just foolish.
They'll never challenge the Pistons or Spurs for overall average, but they held the Spurs to a lower FG% in the series. They get one more stop or grab a few more rebounds and every game is up in the air.
Nash is still the weak-point of the defense, but every other position is getting better.
Everything depends on Johnson's return and the allowing of this team to play for the year, but they've added depth and experience to a young team. I expect the series to be a lot closer when it matters.
the thing with bell is that in the spurs' defensive system he would be quite nice. the problem with the suns, again, is that you need more than just adding a 'defensive stopper' to help your defense. dallas tried that with bell. typical nellie logic.
as for kthomas, again, for him to be effective you have to slow the game down. if you slow the game down then the suns are getting away from what has made them successful.
but losing joe johnson would be a major blow for them long term.
With the score well into the triple-digits, Kurt Thomas averaged 14-17. If that's not affective, then what the hell is?
I've already explained the Suns get/force misses. They were a very poor defensive rebounding team. They have now added a top-10 rebounder and top-5 defensive rebounder. They have three forwards who can average 9 rebounds next year and, with Johnson, three wings that routinely pull down 4 each (Jackson, Bell).
Last year they got the misses, this year they are better equipped to get the stops.
Thomas hits the 15-18 foot jumper as well as any big not named Dirk. Bell shoots better percentages from everywhere and is more athletic than Richardson. Both will fit the offensive system as well by spreading the floor.
They'll still give up points because of tempo and the refusal to foul within two feet of the basket and sake of depth, so I'm not an eternal optimist drunk on fanaticism. I just see the numbers and the games and see that the two players added fill areas of need and stregthen, not perfect, a defense which fared well, but not good enough.
JMarkJohns knows his stuff. I was saying the same thing but he said it better so that makes me not a true suns fan like him. The suns are for real and San Antonio needs to do something about it. I will give them credit if they make that move.
Phoenix intends to match 5 years only at max for JJ
Phoenix intends to match Atlanta's 5 years, $70 million
By Marc Stein
ESPN.com
LAS VEGAS -- Joe Johnson's camp was informed Saturday that the Phoenix Suns intend to match Atlanta's expected five-year, $70 million offer to the restricted free agent, according to NBA front-office sources.
Word began spreading Friday at the Vegas Summer League that the Hawks have given Johnson a firm commitment that they'll sign him to a maximum offer sheet on July 22, which the league office has scheduled to be the first day free agents can sign contracts.
The Hawks' offer, sources said, is likely to be front-loaded with a payment as high as $20 million in the first year of the deal. Rules on such payments and other specifics of the deal are also on hold until July 22, when the league announces the salary-cap number for next season.
The rules on contract lengths, however, have already been finalized, and the Hawks are prevented from signing Johnson to a contract longer than five years. A maximum offer from the Suns would span six years at an estimated $90 million, matching the terms Michael Redd received from Milwaukee earlier this week, but sources say Phoenix has offered Johnson closer to $60 million over six seasons.
The Suns have maintained all season that they will match any offer Johnson gets, rating the versatile swingman as no less critical to the team's success than its three All-Stars: Amare Stoudemire, Steve Nash and Shawn Marion. Matching a five-year offer, though, is undoubtedly more palatable than paying Johnson in the Redd range for six.
Various league executives have privately questioned whether the Suns would indeed match a max offer sheet to Johnson, given owner Robert Sarver's stated aversion to letting his annual payroll stray far beyond $50 million. With Johnson earning an average annual wage of $12 million and Stoudemire soon to receive a maximum contract extension that would kick in starting with the 2006-07 season, Phoenix would be in the rare position of carrying four players who earn roughly $50 million by themselves.
Arn Tellem, Johnson's agent, met with Phoenix president Bryan Colangelo and team chairman Jerry Colangelo during the Suns' summer-league game here Saturday against the Los Angeles Clippers. All parties declined to comment.
The Hawks, sources said, are still expected to go ahead with signing Johnson to an offer sheet, hoping that the value of the contract, potential incentive clauses and the up-front payment will prompt Phoenix to change its mind.
The Hawks will also take encouragement from the new collective bargaining agreement, which lessens the risk of signing restricted free agents. Starting this offseason, teams will be given only seven days to match an offer to a restricted free agent, compared to the previous window of 15 days. Teams have been hesitant in the past to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets and then have their free-agent funds potentially tied up for 15 days.
After a breakthrough 62-win season, followed by a trip to the Western Conference finals, Phoenix went into the offseason hoping to re-sign Johnson, sign Stoudemire to the extension and add toughness. The Suns addressed the latter aim by trading swingman Quentin Richardson to the New York Knicks for power forward Kurt Thomas and then reaching a verbal agreement on the first day of the free-agent season with Utah Jazz guard Raja Bell.
The Suns are forbidden from publicly discussing the Bell deal until he officially signs July 22, but team sources have said repeatedly that Bell was targeted to back up Johnson -- not as an insurance policy in case Johnson is let go.
That means the starting lineup's payroll will be in the mid 50's.
Will be tough to add anything to it if they don't trade one of their 5.
Most likely Marion will go.
possible for a 3 way trade for marion to spurs?
I doubt Phoenix trades Marion to their biggest rival. Besides, you guys are gettin' up their in salary as well. Your trio will be pushin 30 mill this year and around 38 within a couple.
You can't add 14 million to that unless you want the same predicament that most are criticizing Phoenix for.
so did atlanta finally offer johnson this deal and did the suns finally match?
Contracts can't be signed til the 22nd at the soonest.