Phoenix Suns (Mid)Preseason Practice Report: Defense is Coming Along
by Seth Pollack on Oct 15, 2009 3:54 PM MDT
in Suns News
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"Work in progress". "Rebound by committee". "Pleased with where we're at"
That's pretty much sums up what Phoenix Suns Head Coach Alvin Gentry is thinking right now with his team 2-2 and half way through the preseason schedule.
So far the focus has been primarily on the defense and Coach is pleased with what he's seeing so far.
I was a bit surprised when I was poking around the stats page this morning and saw that the Suns are leading league with 13.25 steals per game with Jared Dudley as the individual leader with 3 spg in only 19 minutes and Grant Hill at 4th (2.3 spg).
Gentry isn't impressed with those numbers, "Don't read anything into it. I don't read anything into that. I think what you have to do is take the whole body of work and look at that. I think from our stand point we've gotten better at what we are doing defensively in our rotations and being able to simplify things and be consistent in what we're doing. We've been pretty consistent in what we are doing."
The Suns however, will be a team that is aggressive on the defensive end and looks to force turnovers unlike a good defensive team like San Antonio who traditionally hasn't recorded a lot of steals.
"I think we have to try and force turnovers. We've got an athletic group of guys and we don't have that big long Tim Duncan back there to protect the basket for us. Especially with Robin (Lopez) out. With Robin out we play a little bit differently with that second group defensively. But right now, Earl (Clark) and Louis (Amundson) have been terrific on that second unit there and we're really undersized but they've done a great job of just being active and talking and getting in rotations so I've been real pleased with the way they've played," Gentry said.
So far, Gentry is happy with what he's seen from his rookie lottery pick but he warned not to read too much into that either. "Let's not confuse anything that happens in the regular season with what happens in the pre-season games."
Coach Gentry is keenly aware of how undersized the Suns are without Lopez but is looking at the glass as half-full, "There's some limitations we can't do anything about. We've just got to do what we do. The things that we do well we've just got to try and take advantage of that."
On the offensive end, the Suns are spending a little more time in practice on spacing and working with the big men to make quick decisions on setting screens and drags (screens in transition). Gentry called the offense the least of his worries.
Grant Hill sat out the last game against Portland with an ankle strain. He would have played had it not been a "meaningless" game according to Coach Gentry and he was on the floor for the team's practice today.
The Suns face the 76ers at home Friday night and then play the same team again Sunday in Monterrey, Mexico. That game will be on NBA TV at 4pm local time.
Other notes:
- The team definitely looked tired after playing the last three games on the road and getting in about 3am this morning
- That didn't stop Gentry from running a speed and conditioning drill to end practice. Interestingly enough, it was the same drill that the Iowa Energy coaching staff used to warm up the guys that came to their open tryout the other day
- Despite being tired, the Suns ran the drill just a tad bit better. And by a "tad bit" I mean 10 times better
- Robin Lopez was sitting on the side lines with his foot in a boot
- The guys did give Dudley some good natured flack for wearing those tights to keep his legs warm (Louis was wearing them as well but I didn't hear anyone rib him)
- Nash delivered a pass to Taylor Griffin for a dunk. It was a half court pass delivered from his right foot
- A closer look at the Suns offense from our pals at KTAR.com - Suns using preseason to get familiar with each other, fine tune details
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Defense...
I like Gentry’s approach…clearly the Suns aren’t going to be an interior defensive beast but they do have a LOT of athleticism that can be used to create turnovers. Gentry seems to understand this and is preparing his squad to use their athleticism and quickness to their advantage – not to mention he is doing the necessary to ensure that this team is in the best shape in the league. The fact that they don’t have a true Center will hurt in rebounding and not having the defender underneath to funnel players towards but also allow them to exploit teams in other areas. I’m really looking forward to this season and hope that everyone (especially JRich as I see him being able to put up crazy numbers) buys in to the system because he’ll do the necessary to make them as players and the team successful.
by watdogg10 on Oct 15, 2009 5:33 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
I like his approach too..
Being “a team that is aggressive on the defensive end and looks to force turnovers” is the best way to play as a run and gun team. We’ll hopefully be forcing turnovers leading to fast breaks.. And even if we don’t force a turnover, it will make the other team get into a faster pace game (which is what we want).
by brian13 on Oct 15, 2009 10:38 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I remember one of Mike D's teams ranked 12th in Def. Eff.
and I think that was the year Amar’e was out and our centres were Kurt Thomas and Diaw. The way we did it is by NOT FOULING. That actually helped our offense too as it cranks up the tempo, and most of the teams who aren’t used to this breakneck pace would run out of gas as they don’t have the usual free throw breaks to catch a breather.
So yeah, there is constructive proof that it could be done. Orlando had ONE good defender in their lineup and led the league in defense last year.
I do think that improvement is due. Maybe not all the way back up to 12th. I’d be pleased with something like 16th or 17th.
by gadogry on Oct 15, 2009 7:55 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Defending and rebounding are two different concepts, but also interrelated.
If the rival has a poor shooting percentage and you assure the defensive rebound, then you have a chance to win the game and your defensive deficiencies are not noticeable.
To be a good rebounder isn’t necessary to be tall (Barkley, Elton Brand, Millsap, Moses Malone, Reggie Evans, Jason Kidd). It’s a matter of instinct.
And the Suns have no player who has instinct for rebounding.
If we put together the 2 factors: lack of big men and lack of players with instinct for rebounding, the result is that we are outrebounded by almost all teams, which often means losing the game because the opponent has more possessions.
It’s important to have some big men in the team, but not because it involves rebounding better, but because the matchup and to prevent the rival score comfortably below the rim.
Being aggressive is also important and in that sense, Lou is important for the team.
by matrix7 on Oct 16, 2009 5:14 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Agree
but I would say that both Louis, Jared and perhaps even Richardson do have good rebounding instincts. We’ll have to see about Clark.
Oh and Dragic for a point guard as well
Of course none of those guys start (except JRich)
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
by Seth Pollack on Oct 16, 2009 8:36 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
you could make a case for grant as well
although his numbers probably don’t show it…
by Fritzy on Oct 16, 2009 11:36 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
so basically,
everybody except amare
by yanyanman2 on Oct 16, 2009 1:52 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
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