Wake up Raja - The Suns Aren't Built to Run

by Phoenix Stan on Nov 14, 2008 8:51 AM MST Comment 7 comments

Paul Coro writes today about a Suns team divided by those that want to run and those that want to work inside out.

The Suns big men are lobbying for one style. Center Shaquille O'Neal maintains that championships are won from the inside out and would not mind getting about 15 shots every game.
The Suns perimeter players are lobbying for another style. Shooting guard Raja Bell, who was scoreless Wednesday, says the Suns are built to be a running team and are playing with uncertainty.

This is one of the few times I can recall disagreeing with Coro and having some question about the creation of a false controversy.

There is no divide. The Suns are not built to run as Raja told Jerry Brown in the EV Trib. Those days are gone and everyone except Raja gets that. I have yet to hear any other Sun raise this issue.

Sure, there are struggles with learning the new system. There is a growing process going on. That's to be expected. Work in progress. But only one Sun seems to be actively fighting against it.

What's more, Raja himself isn't exactly Monta Ellis on the break. The man cannot finish at the rim. Or near the rim. Raja would do well to ditch his complaints and remember that he's a (supposed) defensive player that shoots spot up three's.

The new Suns are trying to be a defensive oriented team that runs the ball through it's two post players who will kick out and create open spot up three's.

What's more, Coach Porter has said the Suns should run on defensive stops and at times this year they have.

As long as Shaq is on the team and his role is to control the paint and rebound (which he has been doing well) then it would be fool hardy to run the big man off the court like the Suns used to do to the Heat.

Perhaps when Tucker is back healthy Raja might be more worried about fighting for minutes and his coach's favor then fighting against the tide.

Other random Sun's notes:

Valley of the Suns Blog comments on the lack of Suns jersey's compared to Cardinals fans. I am not going to get into the Cardinals but I would say that the jersey wearing at Suns game increases in inverse proportion to how close to the floor you are. I think that blogger's seats were too good.

Terry Porter is going to be honored by the Trail Blazers and have his jersey retired. I think Ben and Dave at Blazer's Edge and their huge rabid community made this happen all by themselves. Congrats to Terry.

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I disagree with the notion that we're not built to run.

And we sure as hell have the personnel to do it. And Raja’s not the only one who has raised concerns about our offense; Nash has too, and for good reason. He’s producing at his lowest level since he came back.

I understand what Porter’s trying to do, but something’s obviously off; the formula for team success isn’t “let your two bigs run wild as everyone else stands around and watches.” We’re completely underutilizing the skills of everyone else on our roster. Nash is at his best when he’s creating, not when he’s a spot up shooter. Hill, Raja, Nash, Barbosa and Barnes all excel in an uptempo system, and Shaq wasn’t doing too badly either. We won 15 of our last 20 games last season.

As of now, Porter’s offense consists of “here Shaq/Amare, you make the decisions”, which is BS. If we’re going to run our offense through Shaq instead of Nash, then Porter should just have them play the Triangle or some sort of other motion offense so we don’t look ridiculously stagnant. When Shaq’s NOT on the floor, we should run, run, and run like hell some more, because THAT’S WHAT WE’RE GOOD AT!

I also don’t like the way Porter’s using Amare. No pick and rolls? Are you serious? That’s our bread and butter play, and Porter wants to go away from it. There’s no spacing, there’s no weakside cuts, and Amare and Shaq aren’t playing off each other like they were under Mike D.

Couple that with the fact that our D hasn’t improved….and I’m really underwhelmed with Porter right now.

by rsavaj on Nov 14, 2008 9:32 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Nash isn't complaining about not running

He’s complaining about everyone not being on the same page.

The offense isn’t just dump it in the post. That’s one option. Here’s the offense:
1) Feed Shaq in the post (used early in the game so draw fouls and “soften up” the D). From the post Shaq and hit cutters in the lane. He can score (sometimes). He can pass out when doubled.
2) Get Amare the ball in isolation in the high post and let Amare create and score
3) Movement – in the half court sets and especially when Shaq is out, the Suns offense should be moving and cutting. It is not right now but this will come.
4) The pick and roll game is still there but it is a weapon that is saved for late in the game. The issue is that we can’t run this all game and not burn out Nash. Nash has said this.
5) Run off stops. Blocks and rebounds and run. We’ve seen this at times too.

I like this plan. It is balanced and gives the Suns many ways to score. The pick and roll is a great weapon but we need more then that. Steve Nash isn’t Chris Paul anymore. We need to build the offense that isn’t dependent on him.

Blogging Suns Basketball

by Phoenix Stan on Nov 14, 2008 9:46 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Underdogs

Let’s not forget this. We came into this season with lowered expectations. The Suns are an underdog and we shouldn’t let a few early wins change that.

Don’t get your hopes up about this team. There’s a lot of work to be done. Best case is that we win enough games against lesser teams to stay ok in the standings and then by Feb these issues have been worked out and we can go into the playoff’s on a roll.

You all know that I hate the Shaq trade but if he’s here and he’s going to play then you have to take advantage of what he can bring (while he can still bring it). That means feeding him early while he’s fresh which spreads the load and saves Nash’s legs.

Nash will be fine unless his decline is more then we suspect. He can play more of an off the ball roll early in the game and using his shooting to help and then if needed can run the team more late. I love this plan and btw it’s exactly what the Suns were doing last year after the Shaq trade.

Blogging Suns Basketball

by Phoenix Stan on Nov 14, 2008 9:51 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Coro etc.

Stan – I agree with you. It’s getting to the point of ridiculousness with this “controversy”. Coro has written about it a few times and Doug & Wolf talk about it on the radio every day (mostly Doug). Ugh.

The Suns just need to execute. Simple as that. They’ve shown they can do it (in spurts) but changing the culture of the best running team in the NBA is going to take a little while for it to be consistent. The passing will become more crisp and smooth. Shots will go in. A balance will be struck. Eventually.

In my opinion, the most glaring problem is our shooting. We have a phenomenal group of shooters but they just aren’t hitting consistently and they are getting open looks. *Note to Raja: It’s ironic your’e complaining (still) about the pace of play after making zero of 6 open shots in the Rockets game.

Right now, I’d say we are averaging about 80/20 not running/running. I don’t think that will ever get to 50/50 but I’d like to see it closer to the middle, along with the entire Suns staff and legion of fans.

Also, I love that we are an underdog – the Suns have always performed better in this regard.

It's Ba-Nash. It's a no brainer.

by Suns Ben on Nov 14, 2008 10:26 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Raja Says the Suns Are a Running Team

Didn’t Nash say the same thing recently?

by ballerblogger on Nov 14, 2008 11:10 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Yes, but...

Nash wants to run, more so when Shaq isn’t on the floor. When Shaq is on the floor (20-25 minutes max per game) the offense would be more set, thus creating the balance that we are striving for.

It's Ba-Nash. It's a no brainer.

by Suns Ben on Nov 14, 2008 11:17 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Raja Bell and Alzheimer's Disease

He was brought here to guard Manu. He was supposed to play defense. That he happened to hit a few open shots doesn’t make him a deep bomb threat.

Porter says you can run after a stop. So, Raja, stop the other frickin’ team and then run. You’re supposed to be a stopper! One good year hitting wide open threes and you want to be a gunner??

Mmmmm ... Guinness

by JSun on Nov 14, 2008 1:22 PM MST reply actions 0 recs