I know that Dallas doesn't play quite the same brand of defense that the Spurs play, but Amare Stoudamire wasnt in the lineup today and that makes me worried. If the Spurs have to hit these Suns in the playoffs-- a suns team that seams better due to the depth they got from the Joe Johnson trade-- then we may have a really tough time beating them come march.
All I can say is, I hope the Spurs bring their A game against Phoenix this week, and I hope Amare doesnt make them better.
They showed up for one quarter. Phoenix needs to learn how to play for a whole game.
They are allowing an unholy amount of points lately. This year's team has had injury issues, so I can understand some aspects, but their defense needs to get back to where it was around Christmas time. I believe they were top-15 in defensive FG% and were top-10 in limiting offensive rebounding.
Now they are middle to late of the pack.
I think amare showed in last years playoffs how good he can be defensivly when he wants to be.
Phoenix will be the big X factor for the Playoffs. No one knows how good this team will be with everyone back. They are increadibly deep, that's the main thing different from last year. How Diaw's game will translate to the playoffs? Will Marion be stoped by Bowen like last year? I think that they have more talent than anyone in the league, but talent doesn't mean championship.
The Spurs will face some tough compe ion this year with Dallas, Phoenix and Detroit.
Great post there. I totally agree with this.
This is a huge week for Phoenix.
Possible first round opponent, that has given us trouble, on a back to back and then SA on Thursday.
Gutty win over the Mavs. They were destroying the Suns inside but the Suns found a way to shut it down in the fourth. The Suns want to force a jump shooting game and they were able to do that down the stretch.
Don't mistake the Mavs' choke job as an increasing threat to us. Phoenix still plays about as much defense as a hooker on dollar night.
They played enough to win the last game.
They came close the first game.
If you want to admit it or not they are an increasing threat. Even in thier depleated state.
The Spurs proved themselves last year but this season there are games left to be played.
In any event it should be an interesting matchup.
All I can say is Jesus Christ the championship hasnt been this wide open in more than a decade.
I count 5 elite teams that could really challenge this year, with the 5th team being Miami (whom i really want to beat the pistons and come out of the east, much better match for the spurs) three of them (Dallas, Detroit, and Phoneix) have a strong inside presence and can rebound well, with Dallas being the worst rebounding team (perhaps not statistically, but in a big game-- yeah) and Detroit being the best. SA to me is the X factor in these playoffs, because frankly I dont think anyone knows what to expect from this team.
The Spurs have a hobbled superstar, is he just on cruise control, we all hope so, but that doesnt mean its true. We have a semi-hurting #2 guy in Manu that has been inconsistant all year, and then we have a point gaurd that shrinks in the playoffs. The team has been inconsitant this year and hasnt played as a team, if the Spurs can shrug of the crap ciricling them (they look old, they dont play with emotional intensity, the role players havent been clutch, there has been a lack of athleticism in the front court, there has been a lack of athleticism over all, no real punch off the bench) and they really come out firing, then this team can make waves, but I think they need t shake out of a season long funk (45-12 and that's a funk? thank god I'm a spurs fan) and put it together. I think the spurs are the team everyone ought to have a big question mark next to.
The good thing for Suns is that they won't meet Spurs, Mavs or Clippers until the WCF : they will have time to find chemistry if Amaré is back this season.
And they are deep this year :
Nash, Barbosa, Bell, House, Jones, Marion, Stoudamire, Kurt Thomas, Diaw, Tim Thomas are a very solid 10 men team.
They only lack of a true defnesive center (like Hunter) : Burke sucks.
I think Spurs will beat them if we meet them in the playoff.
This year is maybe too soon for them (lack of chemistry).
If they can sign a center via FA this summer, they will be scary next year.
I think the really "scary" part of today's game was how easily and quickly they are able to erase a double digit deficit. Several times when the Mavs got up by 9-11 points, the Suns basically had 6-10 pt runs to get right back in the game in what amounted to be seconds, not even minutes. Even a 15 point lead would not mean a team is burying the Suns. Now, of course teams with better transition defense and better team rebounding might be able stop those big runs better. But, it was still impressive, even against Dallas.
Chaz,
The Suns don't play defense. I can't say it any plainer. They'll score about 110 PPG if they meet the Spurs this year in the playoffs, problem is the Spurs will score about 120 PPG.
in Hawks.
It looked like the suns played defense when it matters. Yes they get lazy sometimes but they are so quick to comeback on teams and are capable of slowing teams down like they did today in the 4th quarter.
Frankly the Spurs offense doesn't scare me much either.
This is not they same team that allowed 120 to the Spurs last year. That is all I am trying to say. I think the Spurs average about 90-95 against them so far this year.
As for this year's playoffs, I guess we will find out. The Suns don't have enough size to play strait up interior defense. Their defensive philosophy is to take teams out of their comfort zone and make them try unfamiliar things. Like post up strange mismatches they are not used to having. They are very active and quick. Then they run off of every miss they can get.
Frankly I agree that without some additional help it will probably not be enough against the Spurs. They are very disciplined and well coached.
Last edited by SirChaz; 03-05-2006 at 07:59 PM.
Amare will play plenty of defense, when he wants to. It's up to him.
Sorry, but the Suns played better defense than Dallas today. The Mavs did a good job of getting back on defense, but that's not really good defense. They defended the pick and roll for a stretch in the first quarter, but if the Mavs don't have shots falling, they lose. Period.
One interesting thing in the upcoming Spurs-Suns game will be Marion.
Marion has taken his game to another level as of late (and I'm happy about that because I have him on a few fantasy teams). But he was pretty much neutralized by Bowen in last season's playoffs.
I look forward to this week's matchup primarily to see those two battle.
So amare's returning by Thursday?
No, I don't think so.
There's reports that Amare may not be back until April, to which I would rather him just sit out for good, if this is the case.
Chemistry is more important come playoff time than talent and factoring in the risk involved, if Amare can't be back within a week or two, I'd just assume the Suns remain this team (until Thomas comes back) and Amare get healthy and stronger and in shape for next year.
I agree. It would certainly be bad for basketball if Amare came back too soon and reinjured himself. With Amare at 100 percent, the Suns may not be a better team than they were last year, so there's zero point in risking him if he isn't ready.
It's been said before but I'll just reiterate that the Suns have so much length that they give most teams match-up problems. The Spurs are no exception - the Suns will give them trouble also. No team has more wing players with condor-like sweep than Phoenix, including a long-armed guard in Leandro Barbosa who plays much bigger than 6'3".
Considering the 6'10" SF Tim Thomas has been added to the mix it appears the Suns are hoarding all the "long 3s".
Atalnta gave away Sheed to the Pistons. Atlanta basically gave away Diaw. I agree. in Hawks.
I wouldn't say gave away Diaw. They did get JJ, a player who was a standup, on-court presense. He won a lot of games for Phoenix. It was hard seeing him leave.
Now, Atlanta throwing in a lottory pick for 2007 makes them " in Hawks"!!!
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