No Defense For Upsetting Suns Help Wanted

[Purple & Gold]

Normally, I don't agree with Charley Rosen, but I think his "questions" for the Suns and Lakers are pretty spot-on and I think you'd agree:

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/7709580

Can't disagree with that, pretty spot on. Although I think a more traditional PG would help with the creative scorer part. Also Kwame does need to score. Every little bit helps from that position. He can't just stop trying to score.

[Purple & Gold]

Well, P&G, I don't see what is so difficult for you to understand here. I'll break it down with a few real-world examples:

Rudy Gay - Jim Calhoun said he was lazy and relied too much on his talent and other reports stated that he was a little selfish. Many of these factors were evident in his first season, but he has turned the corner and it's obvious he's put a lot more work into improving his game. Also, he's connecting with the fans very well by asking for dunk ideas, which is really cool. I knew he wouldn't work with JVG because offense is his first priority, where Battier plays great defense... I also didn't know how Gay could improve his offensive game with T-Mac taking 100 shots per game.

Kwame Brown - #1 overall pick out of high school... since 2001, he's never had 2 games that compare to what Bynum has done this season so far. You could blame earlier struggles on his youth; you can only blame his boo-inciting plays now on immaturity, laziness, and propensity to throw birthday cakes.

Tyrus Thomas - applauded all NCAA tournament season for his "upside," "athleticism," "potential," "explosiveness" etc... much like Rudy Gay. However, at least I was right about him when I said Portland got the better end of the deal because (a) he was born in Baton Rouge and went to LSU - a university that has produced typically talented, but unmotivated players - mostly in football; (b) he's too full of himself and (c) is more interested in "picking up his paycheck" than improving his game.

Bynum - obviously very talented; Phil (your personal Jesus) saw this talent, but also noted some immaturity, which is why Kareem was brought in to mentor him both on and off the basketball court and probably why Bynum has been fined and benched for certain games because Phil wants to teach him a lesson. I won't accept the age card from you because both LeBron and Amare came into the league straight from high school (actually, Amare came from 7 different high schools) and made immediate impacts.

I still think Amare is immature on and off the court and needs some discipline out there because he brings the ball too low when it gets into the post and gets it stripped... that's something you never see Tim Duncan do (when he catches it high, it stays high) and Bynum rarely does it now too. It's nice when you can have a former hall-of-famer and all-time scoring leader agree to mentor your potential franchise center... if only the coin flip had gone to Phoenix instead of Milwaukee back in the 60s.

Well first off I don't see what these players have to do with Rudy Gay. Each player is unique in their own way. If you seriously thought he was gonna be a bust you still could have gotten much more than Battier. I know some people think he's some type of all world defensive genius, but I'm not one of those people. To me he's a good defensive player, not some type of lock down player like Bowen. His offense is only OK which is why I consider him only slightly above average. The Houston FO overrated Battier and I think that's where most of the problem comes from. I also thought it was a bit premature (considering T-Mac's injury history) that a defensive SF was the missing piece for a Championship team.

I also wouldn't write off Tyrus Thomas yet. He's still a very young player and it's a bit early to be patting yourself on the back for thinking he was gonna be a bust.

As for what you think about Bynum again you're way off. He played very little High School basketball and that's why he was a project, not because of his age. He just had very little basketball experience. Which has actually turned out to be a good thing because he never had a chance to pick up those bad habits that many young players seem to have. Size and touch around the basket can't be taught, and that's one thing Bynum has had since the beginning. So to say I won't accept the age card because of Amare and Lebron is just stupid, that's like me saying early in Nash's career that he will never be a franchise player because all franchise players dominate from the beginning.

And as for being pissed about the coin flip, I'd also be pissed with Atlanta lucking out on that #3 pick. Imagine Yi on the suns. He'd be a perfect fit. That is if your owner didn't sell the pick for cash considerations.

[RonMexico]

He would have sold it... or traded it