Spurs vs. Suns Game 1 - Grades

[slayermin]

I couldn't believe the time D'Antoni put Kurt Thomas out there with Duncan not on the floor ... and then when Duncan went in, D'Antoni pulled Thomas.



That was one of the oddest coaching moves I've ever seen.

I saw that too. I didn't understand why he had Thomas in there when TD was sitting.

As Barkley would put it, TD beat up on the midgets all game long. Stoudemire can't guard him, and it's hilarious when Marion and Diaw gives it a try.

[aaronstampler]

That mismatch strategy with Tony only works with SF's like Lebron.

Marion on Tony is similar to Karl's mistake in putting Carmello on him. It's a mismatch and Tony's going to take the taller forward every time.

I actually would put Barbosa on Tony, just stay in front of Tony and lead him to Kurt and Amare or Diaw or whoever. Marion should guard one of our shooters like Finley, Barry or Horry. Since he's lanky enough to alter their jumpshots.

That's just it, when it's Tim-Oberto/Elson-Bowen-Manu-Parker, who do you have Marion guard? Their best two defenders are both suited to guard Manu and nobody else... basically when we put Horry in the game, we do Marion a favor by giving him somebody to guard.

[timvp]

I think Manu would abuse Marion worse than Parker did.

Manu hasn't been abusing the likes of Steve Blake or Steve Nash. Marion is a much better defender than either of them.

[Kori Ellis]

You gotta have Marion guarding somebody. He's your 2nd best defender if you're Phoenix. It's kind of a waste putting him on Bowen. Who do you want the Suns to put on Tony, Nash so TP can score 40?

Well sometimes in the past, they use Marion on Tim. That's the other option other than Tony, if they are leaving Raja on Fin/Manu.

[aaronstampler]

So you want Amare to guard Tony then?

[timvp]

Playing Marion on Parker makes sense for the Suns. You want Parker to beat you with his jumper and Marion is quick enough and long enough to lay off Parker and still get up on his jumper.

Parker just had an amazing shooting game. For the strategy of making Parker beat you with his jumper (which has been successful in the past in the playoffs), Marion is one of the best options in the league.

That was one of D'Antoni's better coaching moves.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

Manu hasn't been abusing the likes of Steve Blake or Steve Nash. Marion is a much better defender than either of them.

was Steve Nash guarding him?

Well Manu hasn't shown himself to abuse Raja Bell, but I still think Marion's a mismatch for Manu. Besides that Steve Blake comment speaks less on their defense on him, and more so Manu just being out of sync and tentative on O. This is the guy who took on Tayshaun Prince and eventually got around Ron Artest's defense.

[1Parker1]

Marion is better suited to guard Manu or help out on Duncan. I would think James Jones/Raja Bell on Parker would be the smarter thing to do.

[timvp]

I didn't see anything Bell did that disrupted Manu. Manu is just a rhythm player not playing in rhythm at the moment.

That needs to change, whether by a coaching move or Manu finding ways to be effective.

[WalterBenitez]

Manu gets an F minus.

"Z" is also a reputable letter to Manu's game!!!

[aaronstampler]

Playing Marion on Parker makes sense for the Suns. You want Parker to beat you with his jumper and Marion is quick enough and long enough to lay off Parker and still get up on his jumper.

Parker just had an amazing shooting game. For the strategy of making Parker beat you with his jumper (which has been successful in the past in the playoffs), Marion is one of the best options in the league.

That was one of D'Antoni's better coaching moves.

Thanks, that's what I've been trying to say. Unless we play smallball, or we play with Horry, Marion has no choice but to guard Tony. You can tell how concerned D'Antoni is with the team's defense because he played Marion 43 mins and Bell 45 mins. If those guys ever go on the bench, we can pretty much score at will.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

And that stops him from getting a rebound how?

He didn't have James on him the whole time.

And I'm sorry, but our defense only really suffered when Oberto was in the game, particularly in the second half when Phoenix turned a 9 point SA lead into them being on top.

I'm not saying Elson didn't make mistakes, that travel call was about as stupid as it gets.

I just don't get why he gets a C, and Oberto games an A and Barry gets the same grade.

[aaronstampler]

I didn't see anything Bell did that disrupted Manu. Manu is just a rhythm player not playing in rhythm at the moment.

That needs to change, whether by a coaching move or Manu finding ways to be effective.

Outside of him getting his jumper going, the only thing he can try is working more give and go's with Timmy.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

I didn't see anything Bell did that disrupted Manu. Manu is just a rhythm player not playing in rhythm at the moment.

That needs to change, whether by a coaching move or Manu finding ways to be effective.

I think Manu should look to be less of a playmaker and just keep trying to take the ball in.

He tries once, and then goes on to try and make 3 more plays for his guys.

Tim hits his passes from Manu. Vaughn and whoever miss theirs.

[timvp]

Marion is better suited to guard Manu or help out on Duncan. I would think James Jones/Raja Bell on Parker would be the smarter thing to do.

I don't know .... I've never seen Bell on Parker in Bell's career. But with the way a bigger player has to guard Parker (back off and put a hand up on jumpers), I'd imagine Marion is their best option.

If D'Antoni gives up on that way of guarding Parker, Barbosa is probably their best option. But then again, no one has ever accused Barbosa of being a defensive stopper.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

He didn't have James on him the whole time.

And I'm sorry, but our defense only really suffered when Oberto was in the game, particularly in the second half when Phoenix turned a 9 point SA lead into them being on top.

I'm not saying Elson didn't make mistakes, that travel call was about as stupid as it gets.

I just don't get why he gets a C, and Oberto games an A and Barry gets the same grade.

They're graded in regard to the players' individual expectations. Don't compare players' grades to each other.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

I don't know .... I've never seen Bell on Parker in Bell's career. But with the way a bigger player has to guard Parker (back off and put a hand up on jumpers), I'd imagine Marion is their best option.

If D'Antoni gives up on that way of guarding Parker, Barbosa is probably their best option. But then again, no one has ever accused Barbosa of being a defensive stopper.

It would help if they actually studied how to defend Tony's jumper. Marion did a great job on Dirk, so why not Tony?
Did they ever learn to close in on Tony sooner before he gets his jumpshot off?

Tony even said to Diaw, "How come you guys always leave me open? "

[Kori Ellis]

So you want Amare to guard Tony then?

No, I don't. I was just saying that Tim is the other person that Marion usually guards.

[timvp]

It would help if they actually studied how to defend Tony's jumper.

Actually, I'm perfectly happy the way it is. I'd have no complaints if ParkerBasket become best of fwiendz.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

They're graded in regard to the players' individual expectations. Don't compare players' grades to each other.

So, if Oberto only comes up with two rebounds and gets beat on defense repeatedly, he gets an A-.

Elson only comes up with two boards, has some good defensive plays, some boneheaded offensive plays, he gets a C+?

I guess maybe we need to redefine 'expectations' for those two.

[1Parker1]

I don't know .... I've never seen Bell on Parker in Bell's career. But with the way a bigger player has to guard Parker (back off and put a hand up on jumpers), I'd imagine Marion is their best option.

If D'Antoni gives up on that way of guarding Parker, Barbosa is probably their best option. But then again, no one has ever accused Barbosa of being a defensive stopper.

Oh man, Barbosa would be in foul trouble if he had to guard Parker...

[diego]

big props for tony, he was huge today.

duncan was great as well.

horry and finley continue to contribute nicely.

i hope manu and vaugn pick it up for next game!

[1Parker1]

I don't know .... I've never seen Bell on Parker in Bell's career. But with the way a bigger player has to guard Parker (back off and put a hand up on jumpers), I'd imagine Marion is their best option.

I think Bell has the size and better lateral speed to defend/keep up with Parker than Marion.

[Obstructed_View]

So, if Oberto only comes up with two rebounds and gets beat on defense repeatedly, he gets an A-.

Elson only comes up with two boards, has some good defensive plays, some boneheaded offensive plays, he gets a C+?

I guess maybe we need to redefine 'expectations' for those two.

Timvp and Kori expect more from Elson.

[aaronstampler]

Duncan is a physical mismatch for Marion and Tony is a speed mismatch. If we're playing Duncan-Elson-Bowen-Ginobili-Parker, they should respond by putting Diaw or Thomas in, moving Marion to SF, bench Bell, and put Barbosa at SG.

That way they can put Nash on Bowen, Marion on Ginobili, rebound well, and possibly even throw some double teams at Timmy.