Nash? Amare? Shaq?

by Seth Pollack on Apr 30, 2008 2:40 AM MDT in Phoenix Suns Commentary

Hello?

Is anyone there?

Hello?

[Note by Phoenix Stan, 04/30/08 12:00 AM PDT ]

I couldn't sleep so here's some random post game thoughts as the realization settles in but before the disappointment hardens into anger.

The Suns weren't going to win this game without Amare and Nash and Shaq. Those three were a combined 12 of 38 from the field. That's 32% folks. 32%. I don't have the figure handy but I am guessing that's well below their average performances.

Diaw and Raja once again carried the team with 16 of 25. 64%.

You can argue that the Spurs denied Amare the ball on the pick and rolls and doubled him hard. But remember when the Suns two man game was unguardable? It wasn't that long ago. Remember?

Unfortunately, you have to look at Steve Nash. When he probed under the rim they didn't trap him and the few times he tried to get off his shot he missed. He missed a LOT of layups in this series. That allowed the Spurs to really stay home on Amare and deny him the ball on those probes.

On the pick and rolls they made sure to cover Amare coming down the lane and let Steve shoot. He didn't shoot well enough to force an adjustment.

Nash looked far more then one year older then the Nash of last year's series. I wonder if the Spurs somehow cheated us again by lacing his Gatorade with a Aging Potion brewed in Severus Snape's dungeon.

And speaking of memories. Remember way back in the day when Amare was unguardable in isolation. He was talked about as a potential MVP. The most dominant offensive player in the game.

That guy would get the ball at the elbow and face up his man. You knew someone was about to get embarassed. At worst Amare would shoot a wide open jumper and hit about 50% of them.

Where did that guy go? He was getting the ball but somehow in a crazy science experiement gone wrong was channeling Diaw and passing up oppotunities all the while Boris was punishing people in the low post. What team was that again?

Credit where its due. The Suns defense in the second half was great. Amare showed fantastic effort and had some GREAT stops. It was very nice to see. I wonder if his contract allows him to play GREAT on both ends of the floor in the same game. Anyone know?

Shaq was supposed to come in and demand double teams in the post. That's why we needed another shooter (Brent Barry) to space the floor. What a quiant notion that was. The Big Clank wasn't hitting anything. He had ONE great spin move but I guess that was all he had in the tank.

Not only did Shaq not contribute on offense, he was a liability. Anyone else notice that the Suns best run was after he sat with his fourth foul about half way through the third quarter. The Suns line up that was +9 (best stretch of the game) was Nash, Diaw, Amare, Giricek and Bell. Check it out.

Chemistry. Championship experience. Free throws.

And finally, to see this Suns team after four years of grueling playoff runs make so many late game mistakes was just too painful to bear. I thought Shaq's four rings were supposed to end all that?

Thanks everyone for a great season. We aren't going anywhere. We have a LOT to discuss starting with the fate of our coach and then looking at needed roster moves and before you know it its draft time and of course this summer we have the Olympics and then training camp will be on us. So stick around.

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Have a good offseason, Suns fans.

by Tuna Helper on Apr 29, 2008 11:03 PM MDT reply actions

The most concise and accurate

Game recap of the year.

Where doubting Thomases believe

by ZonaFlash on Apr 30, 2008 12:12 AM MDT reply actions

i miss you guys...

i feel like i watched you guys (well, without shaq) grow up, learn, and then just disappear.
what the #**$

by ArizonaCactus on Apr 30, 2008 12:19 AM MDT reply actions

ARG!!!!

When will it be our time in the sun?!!

"Troops in desperate straights know no fear. Where there is no escape, they stand firm; When they have entered deep, they persist; When they see no hope, they fight." Sun Tzu The Art of War

by Turambar on Apr 30, 2008 1:06 AM MDT reply actions

Diaw?

Was the shift to running things through Diaw too much? Couldn’t the “slightly less big 3” handle it?

Don’t know. Too worn out to care.

Mmmmm ... Guinness

by JSun on Apr 30, 2008 1:17 AM MDT reply actions

Surprised

to see Diaw kick as (again btw) and yet the other big 3 werent truly there. Well no matter now, lamenting is hopeless. Now I just want to see what this team is going to do to prepare for the next year.

"Troops in desperate straights know no fear. Where there is no escape, they stand firm; When they have entered deep, they persist; When they see no hope, they fight." Sun Tzu The Art of War

by Turambar on Apr 30, 2008 1:20 AM MDT up reply actions

Boris not able to shift on the fly

I thought that the late game turnovers were helped along by Diaw. He had been stationed at the low post all game, and when Steve had trouble moving the ball, it was like Boris forgot that he was the secondary ball handler, and should have come out to help.

Also, he got the ball down low once, and all of the sudden (although he was 5 feet from the basket and had smaller guys on him) chose to pass out to the Invisible Man.

April 29, 2008 Total Eclipse of the Sun. Is the sky falling?

by Hawk42 on Apr 30, 2008 11:21 AM MDT up reply actions

Nash, Amare, Diaw, Giricek and Bell

If I remember correctly, they were manned-up against Parker, Ginobili and Duncan.

Diaw, Giricek and Bell were able to rotate and switch screens to cover Ginobili and Parker. Further, if Diaw was the subject of a PNR, then he was able to cover Duncan occassionally in the post. Amare played better-than-normal D on Duncan (but Timmeh was getting tired at this point). It was a strong defensive lineup with some good offensive players. However, I don’t know if it works without Parker and Duncan being tired and Ginobili being off his game. Like in love, timing is everything.

Mmmmm ... Guinness

by JSun on Apr 30, 2008 1:45 AM MDT reply actions