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San Antonio's weaknesses
Turnover prone
Undersized point guard
half court offense
Detroit's strengths
On the ball pressure
Strong point guard
Half court defense
Phoenix doesn't have these strengths and are unable to exploit San Antonio's weaknesses. They don't put pressure on defense that forces turnovers. They don't have a strong point guard to give Parker trouble. They give up alot of fastbreak points.
SA fans are acting more like Laker fans every day..at least the Lakers won 3 in a row. The lack of respect you guys have towards the other contenders around the league is disgusting. Especially for a team that hasnt even repeated yet
It wasnt long ago your team was choking 4th quarters in playoff games year after year..You needed to add the right pieces (like bowen) to beat the Lakers. Understand there are teams out there in a similiar situation only one of two small pieces away from beating your team
Bell is as hard nosed as it gets on the defensive end..in the same mold as Bowen and Kurt gives the suns a defensive matchup against TD. No doubt they improved in a playoff situation vs the spurs.
They improved, but it takes a team to play defense two players are not going to stop the spurs. Its a team effort and the suns as a whole need to learn how to play some defense to beat the spurs in the playoffsQuote:
Originally Posted by ceds
Phoenix is still dangerous to San Antonio but I think you have to beat San Antonio in a half court game. They got 2 great athletes in Parker and Ginobili and playing a high tempo game really benefits them. Phoenix needs to shoot at a high percentage to beat San Antonio. I'm not saying it is impossible but a tough task.
ceds, i guess we probably also sound a lot like rockets fans in the summer of 96. i just think what they are losing in q, robinson, and possibly hunter is more detrimental than what they gain in adding thomas and bell.
I disagree that SA fans are becoming like Laker fans, but won't argue, since it's a personal preference sort of thing. However, I do question precisely what you look for fans on a fan site to say, precisely. I might be less inclined on a general NBA board to dismiss the Sun's pick ups than I would here. But again, just me.
I will say that I think it's a bad idea to change what has been successful strategy over other teams to beat one single team. Because you may not beat the other teams to get there.
I think the Suns are being shortsighted, particularly with the Kurt Thomas pick up. Someone will have to sit in order to play him, and he is not really going to fit into their offensive system. The Bell pick up is better all around, but in looking at what the Suns really needed . . . a good Nash back up. Joe Johnson does all right as a back up, but it's not his position - it's like sliding Manu over to rest Parker. It works short term, but doesn't solve the long term problem you're facing. It's true they needed some defensive stops down the stretch, but that is better acheived by not reducing your offensive capabilities, but instead adding some defense into your schemes. Amare would truly be one the greatest centers in the league and truly be dominent if he could do more than block shots. Teach him some basic defense and the Suns are near unstoppable.
Everyone heralded the return of Joe Johnson because he was the one player who played good defense (in addition to adding another body to the rotation and potentially resting Nash), and he did a good job. But clearly, you need more than a couple of man on man defenders.
The Suns would have done better to stick to the formula that got them to the Conference Finals and the best record in the league, but start trying some deliberate defense. Instead, they've gone the way of the Mavs before them and tried to fit oddly shaped pieces. If they continue, I predict the Suns will more likely be like the Mavs, perennial contenders with not enough to push them over the hump of more dominent teams.
That's not homerism or disrespect, that's an analysis based on study and past history.
I think the biggest problem I have with the Suns strategy is the completely out-of-whack salary structure they're building. When Amare gets his extension, that will be 4 guys up around the max, plus hefty deals for Thomas, Bell, Jackson.
I understand why the feel like they have to do it, but teams that try to get better by maxing out salaries all over the place tend to run into roadblocks. Even the championship Lakers' big payroll was built around 2 towering salaries and a bunch of role players. Probably the best case scenario for that kind of salary structure has been the Mavs, and they seem like they peaked 2 years ago when they got to the conference finals.
they did peak, when they clearly had a big 3, with scorers around them
now they got scorers but no set rules for who will dominate those shots,
and that wont work.
You underestimated the suns. They still kept their big 3 while while extra pieces to it. Against San Antonio Johnson didn't play the first 2 games and Phoenix only had one good defender in Marion. Johnson was out for a couple weeks so that might affect his performance when he came back. Phoenix now has 3 good defenders and Amare doesn't have to play soft on Duncan early in games to avoid foul trouble. Kurt Thomas will get the hard assignment instead. Phoenix has kept their offense while adding on to their defense and rebounding.Quote:
Originally Posted by easjer
I disagree, but that's neither here nor there. You are not noted for your perscipacity and insightfulness, and I'm in no mood for a pointless argument. I won't even point out that Amare wasn't the one guarding Duncan the majority of the time.
I'll suffice it to say that I greatly enjoy the Suns and that they remain my favorite team outside the Spurs, and I hope they remain as exciting to watch.
I might say some ridiculous things sometimes but it is ignorant to say that adding Bell and Thomas is not going to make Phoenix a better team. They shoot high percentages and they play defense. They are role players that Phoenix needed to go to championship level.
I didn't say that adding Bell was a bad thing - I think it was a great pick up. But I'd rather have Q and Nate Robinson than Kurt Thomas. He is undersized and not an offensive gunner. I think they are shortsighted and wrong to place emphasis on man to man, instead of just better all team defense. They need to rest Nash. To me, that was more important than adding one person on defense who isn't especially good at guarding Tim Duncan. Further, they are grinding into a half court game, and I don't think they are especially good at it, so I find that pick up to be shortsighted and overly optimistic.
You are free to disagree, and I am done. I have a lunch to eat.
They're adding "defensive-minded" players to make up for a lack in defense. The Spurs have a great defensive system, where even players like Glen Robinson can come in and block 3 shots in 9mins.
They play well in the half court because everyone can hit jump shots. This opens up space for Nash and Stoudemire to go to work. A team who can't play half court is Denver. Phoenix scores no matter if they are running or not. What killed them was defensive rebounding. Kurt Thomas is a perfect match because he is top 5 in this area. Could you imagine their shooting along with being a decent rebounding team. They also add Bell as a defensive player who hits open shots. Why would Thomas slow down the fastbreak game? They need someone to throw the outlet pass to Nash off rebounding or out of bounds.Quote:
Originally Posted by easjer
The Suns are a team with Nash and another completely different without him...
If Nash can play 48 min every game (Playoffs) ... then the Suns will have more chances to defeat SA. Last season in the WF Nash couldnīt make it... and they lost 4-1.
TD will get enough rest this season, and SA bench is still deeper than PHX. Even some players will improve this year such as Beno, Barry and the frouncourt will be tougher with Scola, SAR or even Rasho healthy
Joe Johnson, Bell, and K. Thomas. Joe Johnson played 3 games but was not as effective as he was before the injury. Bell will take alot of minutes at the 2 guard allowing Joe Johnson to concentrate more at point guard when Nash is out. Joe Johnson at point guard has proven to be effective and Jim Jackson can play the 3. I don't think Nash has to play 48 minutes to beat the spurs.Quote:
Originally Posted by FoxMulder
I've got a lot of respect for Joe Johnson but he isnīt Steve Nash... is more a scorer than Point Guard...
And over all... there is the D problem...
I īd love the run and shoot style... but you need defense to win...
Anyways is cool to know how other teams are trying to fill holes to fight with your team next season
This is what I say.... I heard about this and it's retarded. Like stupid Raja Bell and KT are going to make them beat the spurs...I was laughing all day Sunday!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Jdspur20
:lol :lol :lol
The only way Thomas and Bell will help the Suns, is if they are allowed to be on the court with the other 5 starters at the same time. The Suns will not be run and gun with those two on the floor, and they won't be a half court team with what they have now. The Spurs are the flexible team, the Suns are a long way from proving that of themselves.
:rolleyesQuote:
I will say that I think it's a bad idea to change what has been successful strategy over other teams to beat one single team. Because you may not beat the other teams to get there.
Pop brought in new guards after the sweep, Bowen was signed for Kobe ,
and later on Horry was signed away from LA. Hell maybe even Rasho was signed because of Shaq
your team has been doing it for years.
Nash , Marion and Amare make the suns a playoff team no matter what. Now its all about adding the right guys to match up / exploit your main rivals.
2002 spurs lost 4-1 to the Lakers right? Complete with the 4th quarter chokes just like the suns. Then they add a couple of pieces and beat LA the next year.Quote:
If they continue, I predict the Suns will more likely be like the Mavs, perennial contenders with not enough to push them over the hump of more dominent teams.
That's not homerism or disrespect, that's an analysis based on study and past history.
Bottom line is the Suns improved a great deal in terms of matching up with the spurs. Thats what they set out to do from the beginning