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Given The Choice, Which Would You Rather Have?
by Alex Laugan on Sep 2, 2010 9:17 AM MDT
in Commentary
13 comments
Just roll with me on this for a minute.
I've been struggling in my own mind lately with a notion that I can't seem to articulate very well, so maybe you can either help me out or set me straight.
I am caught up in this notion that I'd rather have a number of PGPFWEs (pretty good players from winning environment) than a single SSFLE (superstar from losing environment).
In order to avoid personal attachments clouding this issue ("but I really LIKE player A so I want him on my team regardless of what you call him!"), I am writing this post without the use of any individual player names.
(Hint: This is a case where the post is intended to instigate discussion more than anything)
Phoenix Suns Practice Notes: Yippie! Practice Notes!!!
by Seth Pollack on Sep 1, 2010 4:30 PM MDT
in Suns News
90 comments
The Suns have been holding informal workouts and scrimmages for a few days now but today was the first time my schedule allowed me to attend. And boy was it nice to see the fellas (and some friends) back on the court.
I ran in Steve Nash earlier in the day but he didn't participate in the scrimmages with Robin, Grant, Channing, Josh, Clark, Lawal, Jones and Matt Janning. Also there was Zabian Dowdell, Sean Marks, Cezary Trybanski and a couple of other fellas.
Oh, and this guy Amare Stoudemire showed up to get some work in. Nice to see him. Former Suns and current Knicks assistant coach Phil Weber showed up as well.
Notes - and take these with a GIANT grain of salt. These are very informal workouts and very early in the season and a very small sample size:
- Robin Lopez has been working on his low-post offense. He went right through Trybanski with a power move and had some nice hooks in the lane. He stayed after to work more with Coach Cartwright. He was moving well and didn't break anything (or anyone).
- Jones and Lawal both have decent potential to do some damage in the post as well, something that Lou Amundson never showed. Both played with energy and hustle you expect. Lawal is more explosive athletically and Jone is more experienced and polished. Should be fun to watch those two develop.
- Good to see Josh Childress up close for the first time. He has incredibly fast hands and his 'fro isn't at super size right now.
- Channing took some three's but overall seemed relaxed. No need to rush back into full-speed too fast, that's how you get hurt.
- Earl hit some nice mid-range J's and put a sweet move on Sean Marks. Yeah, I know but still...
- Janning looked good. His shot was falling and he had a couple of nice steals. Here's an interview with him from today:
Matt Janning Excited For Opportunity To Earn Roster Spot With Suns - SB Nation Arizona
Matt Janning is from Minnesota where the winters are brutal and the summers are hot and humid; but nothing like an August in Phoenix. He might still adjusting to the hundred-plus degree "dry heat" but is already comfortable on the court with NBA legends like Steve Nash and Grant Hill.
[Note by Seth Pollack, 09/02/10 8:19 AM MST ]
I wasn't able to stick around and talk to Amare because of the D-backs game but Paul did:
Former Phoenix Suns star Amar'e Stoudemire returns, reflects
Amar'e Stoudemire stepped back in US Airways Center Wednesday, holding no grudge in sharing his thoughts on his departure.
azcentral.com blogs - Coro's Suns dish - PaulCoro - More from Amar'e
Phoenix Suns update: Amar'e Stoudemire's return to and reflections on Phoenix were chronicled in an article you can read here. But there was more of what Stoudemire said on Wednesday afternoon.
Welcome Back Dwayne Jones
Deal terms not yet disclosed ... hopefully he's not on a guaranteed deal.
Goran Dragic Update: Slovenia Vs. Croatia (3rd game in FIBA Worlds)
by Blaz13 on Aug 30, 2010 12:59 PM MDT
105 comments
It is not easy to come back home from a vacation. It is even harder, when you go from, enjoying a warm sunny weather, enjoying the sea, the scenery, multiple cold beers and basically just relaxing, to a cold, rainy city where people are not wearing bikinis all the time.
What makes it little easier tough, is the fact that i can actually watch a basketball game that does not involve Croatia. It would have been a perfect trip, if i could only watch Slovenia beat Tunisia and then get trashed by USA.
And in a way, today's game is a perfect circle of life. I come home from vacationing in Croatia, not being able to watch games involving Slovenia, to watching Slovenia beat Croatia 91:84 on my sofa, enjoying cold beer.
105 comments | 1 recs |
El Dragon Spits And Sputters Against Team USA
by Alex Laugan on Aug 29, 2010 10:20 AM MDT
in Suns News
45 comments
All it takes is a little foul trouble to get Goran Dragic off his aggressive game, and Slovenia lost by 22.
Chauncey Billups induced a couple of backcourt fouls on Dragic through a combination of his veteran wiles and Dragic's over-aggressiveness. From then on, Goran was hardly a factor. He finished with 7 points on 2-for-8 shooting, 4 assists and 2 rebounds.
Frankly, Slovenia looked mentally overmatched from the start. It doesn't help when your 2-time Euroleague MVP and backcourt mate barely shows up for the game. Who is this guy, really?
Anyway, on a positive note, Dragic made some nice passes but his teammates refused to make any shots, even the ones that were open (which was rare). In my opinion, he was not outplayed by the opposing guards (Rose, Westbrook, Billups). Kevin Durant and Kevin Love were the big difference-makers.
What's your take on the game?
[Note by Seth Pollack, 08/29/10 2:45 PM MST ]
Turkoglu meanwhile, is shooting a lousy 27% (6/22) over 60 minutes in 2 games. He leads his team with 10 assists. Hopefully, he's just warming up in these early games.
Dragic Leads Slovenia Past Tunisia In FIBA World Championships
(edited)
Goran had a nice line of 16 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds (and 1 steal) to help Slovenia beat Tunisia by 24. He was clearly the best player on the court.
ESPN3 is carrying live streaming of every FIBA game in the next 2 weeks. Had a good time watching this game LIVE this morning.
Slovenia next plays the US on Sunday morning on national/cable TV at 6:30am.
Steve Nash Responds To Busy Suns Offseason
by Seth Pollack on Aug 27, 2010 5:46 PM MDT
in Suns News
51 comments
Steve Nash is back in town after a summer of ... well just check his tweets.
I stuck my head in the practice court where Nash was getting some shots up yesterday and shared a wave and saw The Most Interesting Canadian In The World at the Mercury playoff game where he was sitting courtside with his twin daughters, his brother Martin (the pro soccer player) and a niece.
I did not however, get a chance to chat with Steve about all that went on this offseason. No worries, Suns fans. Mr. Paul Coro has you covered.
Nash on Kerr leaving:
"He did a phenomenal job for us. I miss him already.
"He has such a wealth of experience as far as being a part of winning teams that he did a great job of building a team of guys who can co-exist and get more out of each other because of their personalities. He didn't want selfish guys. He didn't want guys in here who wouldn't work. So we have a locker room of character guys because of him. Our locker room was the best it's ever been last year because of the decisions he made."
Phoenix Suns' Goran Dragic Steps Into the Spotlight
by Alex Laugan on Aug 26, 2010 8:35 AM MDT
in Commentary
131 comments
As often happens with role players who have career nights on the big stage – in Goran's case, the 2009-2010 playoffs – national expectations for the next season tend to venture beyond realism.
Such is the case with the Suns’ young point guard Goran Dragic, entering his third year in the NBA as the backup to All-Star Steve Nash.
Once Goran scored 23 points in the fourth quarter of Game 3 against the previously-unbeatable Spurs, his national light began to burn. Follow that up with great second-half performances in Games 4 and 6 of the Conference Finals against the Lakers – including the infamous standoff against Sasha Vujacic – and you’ve got yourself a national darling.
A big enough darling that, when the Celtics’ Rajon Rondo embarassed an opponent with a dipsy-do layup a week after Goran did the same to a Spurs big man, the ESPN commentator exclaimed "He just got Dragic’d!". Unscripted. On national TV. And no one laughed.
A big enough darling that he almost made BDL's Top 30 PGs last week. According to the writer Kelly Dwyer, via twitter and the weekly Hump Day Chat on that website, he was 31st or 32nd overall. Wow. That would make him one of the best backup PGs in the league.
Hyperbole? Or reality?
(read more about Goran after the jump)
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Last 5 Games
Los Angeles Lakers
|
Sat 05/29 | L 103 - 111 |
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@
Los Angeles Lakers
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Thu 05/27 | L 101 - 103 |
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Los Angeles Lakers
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Tue 05/25 | W 115 - 106 |
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Los Angeles Lakers
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Sun 05/23 | W 118 - 109 |
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@
Los Angeles Lakers
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Wed 05/19 | L 112 - 124 |
Pacific Standings
| W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Los Angeles Lakers
|
57 | 25 | .695 | 0 | Won 2 |
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Phoenix
|
54 | 28 | .658 | 3 | Lost 2 |
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Los Angeles Clippers
|
29 | 53 | .353 | 28 | Won 1 |
|
Golden State
|
26 | 56 | .317 | 31 | Won 1 |
|
Sacramento
|
25 | 57 | .304 | 32 | Lost 3 |
(updated 9.2.2010 at 10:15 AM MDT)
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