AZCentral:No Need for Amare while the west is weak.

[milkyway21]

the west is weak?

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/colu...oivin1213.html

No need for Amaré while West is weak

Paola Boivin
Republic columnist
Dec. 13, 2005 12:00 AM

The Western Conference looks like it spent the off-season in a martini shaker. The Clippers rule, the Rockets stink and the drink of choice in Sacramento is Rick Adelman on the rocks.

With a twist.

The twist is that this topsy-turvy conference is lacking muscle. Credit the Suns with overachieving, but recognize, too, that this team will benefit from a less imposing lineup of Western opponents than the ones in 2004-05. advertisement




In other words, if there's such a thing as a good time to lose Amaré Stoudemire, this is it.

"I don't buy that," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said before Monday's 91-87 loss to New Orleans at America West Arena. "It may be different names, but there are a lot of strong teams."

That's what D'Antoni is supposed to say, but outside of San Antonio, who in the West really strikes fear in the heart of NBA opponents?

The Los Angeles Clippers?

Are they a feared foe or just a cute story that is giving courtside fan Penny Marshall more airtime than she's had in years?

Elton Brand and Sam Cassell are an impressive one-two punch, but it won't be long before Cassell's 36-year-old back and a difficult schedule get in the way.

How about all those teams that were supposed to be good?

Sacramento enters tonight's game against Minnesota with a 9-12 record and a coach who is hearing team president Geoff Petrie say things such as, "Rick is our coach until he is no longer our coach."

Nice.

The Rockets missed Tracy McGrady, but his absence wasn't the only explanation for a 7-12 start.

It's too early to judge the efforts of new SuperSonics coach Bob Weiss, but it's clear the departures of Jerome James and Antonio Daniels have slowed Seattle more than the team expected. That the Sonics are excited about the prospect of improving to 10-10 with a victory over Golden State tonight says something.

And it isn't "postseason success."

Nate McMillan, we hardly knew you, and, by the way, how's Portland?

Remember the glory of last season, when teams actually had to be among the elite to gain home-court advantage in the first round? Not anymore. This year, the Suns could be one of those teams, even with Monday's loss to New Orleans, a group that came into America West Arena with a five-game losing streak and a surprising amount of moxie.

"I think by the end of the year, a lot of the (struggling teams) will be back," D'Antoni said. "(The Kings) will be back. Houston will be back.

"Overall, the conference is just as strong. Maybe the top six aren't as strong, but if you look at everybody . . . "

Maybe.

Or maybe it just feels that way when you're fighting for your life with your all-everything superstar out until at least February.

Stoudemire surely didn't like what he saw Monday. Chris Paul and J.R. Smith offer hope for the overachieving Hornets, but the Suns shouldn't be losing to this team at America West Arena on a day's rest - even with Leandro Barbosa and James Jones sidelined. D'Antoni said as much afterward.

If that criticism sounds crazy considering how low expectations were when Stoudemire went down, well, the Suns should consider that a compliment.

Their early season efforts have raised the bar.

Considering the lack of brawn in the Western Conference this season, reaching that bar could take them places.

[Solid D]

I posted this last Thursday. The West may be weak...but that doesn't say much for the East head-to-head (West had won .616 to .384 of matchups vs. East as of 12/08/05).

Records as of 12/08/2005

Division W-L %.....Conf WL %.....Opp. Conf. WL %

Atlantic 33 59 .359.....17 35 .327.....16 24 .400

Central 53 30 .639.....32 10 .762.....21 20 .512

Southeast 32 58 .356.....21 25 .457.....11 33 .250

East Total 118 147 .445.....70 70 .500.....48 77 .384

Northwest 42 48 .467.....20 31 .392.....22 17 .564

Pacific .....53 37 .589......24 24 .500.....29 13 .690

Southwest 54 35 .607.....28 17 .622.....26 18 .591

West Total 149 120 .554.....72 72 .500.....77 48 .616

[T Park]

After tonight.

I vault the Clippers to biggest contender vs the Spurs in the west.

They have two good big men. Good guard play. Good defensive stretches.

The Clippers were impressive tonight.

Now whether they pull a Sonics and fade from February to March we will see.

I don't know.

If they can stay healthy, and get 100%. They are one scary MOFO team.

[Solid D]

They didn't have Maggette and Livingston, either. The Clips backcourt was limited tonight, except for Sam. Bowen flat shut down Mobley and Ross and Ewing were just fairly null.

Brand, Kaman and Wilcox is one mean front-court. They don't bring no weak tot action in there either.

[milkyway21]

After tonight.

I vault the Clippers to biggest contender vs the Spurs in the west.

They have two good big men. Good guard play. Good defensive stretches.

The Clippers were impressive tonight.

Now whether they pull a Sonics and fade from February to March we will see.

I don't know.

If they can stay healthy, and get 100%. They are one scary MOFO team.

they're the best West team the Spurs played, so far.

i just don't know how the Spurs fare vs a TMac Houston team next time.

for the Clips

[milkyway21]

is kaman in his contract year? it would be funny if he pulls a KANDI-MAN (one good season which happens to be contract year...get the riches..n then suck)

i think Kandi is showing signs of resurrecting right now. He helped his team on the rebounding in the last few games.

but no worries, I still think Rasho is way way better.

i have no idea on Kaman's contract though.

[JMarkJohns]

I think the writer is a moron, but the Suns without Amare took the Spurs to the brink earlier this season. Clipper and Suns will both be tough to beat, if the Suns get Amare back at anytime this season.

A lot will be found out about the Suns after their next three games. All on the road, all against teams they've lost to the first time around at home. They beat two of the three (Dallas, Memphis, Oklahoma City), then they should be right up there with Dallas and the Clippers.

[JMarkJohns]

Wilcox is in a contract year. Kaman is restricted the year after...

Wilcox will likely be a Sterling casualty.

[T Park]

No idea who has cap space for next year, so no telling where Wilcox goes.

[T Park]

but the Suns without Amare took the Spurs to the brink earlier this season

I wouldn't put too much into that game.

The Spurs brought their C game and still had it won.

[JMarkJohns]

The Suns hadn't figured out their rotation yet either.

[milkyway21]

I think the writer is a moron, but the Suns without Amare took the Spurs to the brink earlier this season. Clipper and Suns will both bee tough to beat, if the Suns get Amare back at anytime this season.

A lot will be found out about the Suns after their next three games. All on the road, all against teams they've lost to the first time around at home. They beat two of the three (Dallas, Memphis, Oklahoma City), then they should be right up there with Dallas and the Clippers.

that Suns' 9-game winning streak was huge, alright!

but you shld be worried if Sacramento adds Artest to their line-up. Both Indy & Sac are interested to the idea. And it might hurt your chances to win the
Pacific Division since Artest is not just a scorer but a good defensive player, as well. and we all know defense is not Amare's best quality.

But who knows, Artest might sign with NY.

[JMarkJohns]

Artest and Bonzi Wells in the same backcourt equals nothing to be afraid of unless you're in attendace at the game. Between Bonzi's spitting and temper and Artest's fragile psyche and "street" tendancies, I'd be more afraid to be a Kings fan...

Besides, Artest has already said he doesn't want out West. If he gets traded out West, he'll pull the same stunts.

[Brutalis]

How many rings do the Suns have again?

[leemajors]

bonzi hasn't shown signs of his jailblazer side in quite a while. he is a solid player who can light it up.

[td4mvp21]

I think the writer is a moron, but the Suns without Amare took the Spurs to the brink earlier this season.

The Spurs took them to the brink last season without Duncan and Ginobili. That goes to show you don't always win by as much as your supposed to.

[SenorSpur]

The Suns have been holding their own, yet they are very vulnerable without Amare. I'll be very interested in seeing if he does truly return this year. If he does, the question is will he be the same dominant player he was before?

[FromWayDowntown]

I don't know that I put the Clippers into the biggest threat role quite yet, particularly because they have a lot of fragile bodies in their group and their ability to achieve long-term continuity will likely be hampered.

But with that said, they certainly have all the right ingredients to be a of an out at playoff time. Brand is the real deal, period. With Kaman at full strength, their frontcourt will outrebound a lot of teams and defend the rim very well. Maggette, when healthy, gives them a dynamic penetrator who can get to the line in key moments. Cassell gives them championship swagger and experience. And Mobley can spread the floor well. If Wilcox stays motivated, he's a Kaman-like player who is extremely strong on the boards. Livingston becomes a very interesting wild-card for them as well. Dunleavy is a wonderful coach for that group and makes all of the difference in the world for their approach.

If the Suns falter at all, the Clippers have a nice opportunity to do in the Pacific what Seattle did in the Northwest last year -- build up a nice early lead and allow themselves a margin for error down the stretch. If the Clippers can grab the division and a top 3 seed, they have a solid shot at pushing into the WCSF, which would be a mammoth accomplishment for them.

[JMarkJohns]

How many rings do the Suns have again?

Typical... How many do the Clippers have?

The Spurs took them to the brink last season without Duncan and Ginobili. That goes to show you don't always win by as much as your supposed to.

That was last year's team. The one who couldn't consistantly defend and was one of the worst defensive rebounding team in the League. This year's team defends and rebounds much better. Apples to oranges.


I'm not saying that either the Suns or Clippers will seriously challenge the Spurs for the West. I have yet to see this team with Amare. He will change thins. How so has yet to be determined.

What I am saying is if the Clippers are your new rivals because they nearly beat the Spurs, then the Suns, who nearly beat the Spurs without arguably their most important player should be on the same level.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

This article made no sense. . .I'm not really sure what the point is.

I guess if you're satisfied with a decent playoff spot with no aspirations on winning the le, then, yeah, who cares if Amare is hurt. But the Suns have zero chance of winning the West without him.

Maybe all the good folks in Phoenix are concerned about is their regular season record.

[JMarkJohns]

Boivin is a feature writer who has become more and more involved in Sports. I think she's a good writer, when doing a feature-type article, but her opinions are misguided, thus she misinforms or is sometimes just flat-out moronic... as in this case.