Well Then, the Suns could be purified, better than ever

by RogerM on Oct 2, 2009 8:47 AM MDT

It’s exciting to read about all the hype leading up to camp and to finally learn that the suns plans involve spread the floor with Frye playing center. Come on what is this. Are the suns planning on just going small or are they getting athletic? Is it really necessary to have "big" player, or players who demand it all? Do the Suns really need players who show little to the team because they want all the stage lights focused in on them?

I’ll say this, that I’d watch 5 players who can share the ball anytime as opposed to watching a game featuring one star who demands it all. This I realize is a fundamental change in basketball strategy. But gone are the days of the bigs just like Stan wrote about, and here today are the days of multitasking players who are all about playing multi-positions and teams finding the right talent that complements both ends of the court. While it seems today that that type of multitalented player is not readily available I do say they are out there. It’s just finding that player playing under the radar gun.

So with that I’ll be watching the college teams with a bit more interest this upcoming season because I believe changes are starting now in the university ranks in order to upgrade the upcoming talent emphasizing the multitasking role as opposed to hyping it up on a single image. In another sense I find it fascinating to read the "what ifs" surrounding the Suns, so I must inject a little optimism here. While I agree the run and gun suns are fun to watch and the frustration mounts when I watch the defense fall apart, I release though that our coach seems to understand the chemistry behind the players and understands how to make it work on the personal level. I’m intrigued to read the coaches team philosophy on bonding and his approach to callout defense accountability to each and every player. While this may sound silly talking about getting down to the personal level and then discuss 2% differences let’s not get caught up in the hype of what ifs.

The "what ifs" will be defined during the season and changes will come. More importantly a 2% difference does since. It translates into improvement from which changes can occur and then from then on it’s only going to improve. Remember starting with small changes will have a positive impact later on. Reaching the goal is only the beginning.

My final thought. So what about the fundamental changes I alluded to in the beginning. The fundamental change is what I’m basing change as it relates to the player’s attitudes. The attitudes that focus in on team first play as opposed to me first mentality. It’s my belief is that the Suns started this journey back when Nash returned to the team and for all its worth I believe it will work. Coach Mike D started the journey, Porter muddy up the concept (and I see the failure with Porter as a positive) and Coach Gentry is further clarifying the direction.

This upcoming season and into the summer I do expect to see more versatile players being added to the Suns roster and on the complete opposite I see players leaving as well. What happens during the course of the season and beyond is what could ultimately redefine Suns basketball again and at a much higher level than what we’ve seen in the past. Now I understand there is going to be one standout player on every team, but again it’s the attitude of that player who will define the basketball team. The Suns are shaping this organization with a team first philosophy and for this fundamental change I believe the organization is moving in the right direction to define Suns basketball style of the future.

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Comments

Not even paragraph breaks? That wasn’t easy to read. You should be in the Information Design course I’m taking.

by Species8472 on Oct 2, 2009 10:48 AM MDT reply actions 1 recs

Ok

I do have difficulty posting and sometimes my posts don’t show the paragraph separations, but hey thanks for the fix…If you were in fact the one who fixed the post.

by RogerM on Oct 2, 2009 5:37 PM MDT up reply actions

use HTML

Nope, someone else did it; I assume only a moderator could. Paragraph breaks can be saved by using HTML rather than plain text. I just don’t usually use HTML because my posts aren’t long enough to bother.

by Species8472 on Oct 2, 2009 6:24 PM MDT up reply actions

Dillusion runs strong in the Valley of the Sun. Maybe you need to get out of the heat?

Shaq (who supposedly demands the ball) shot a leagueleading 61% last year while taking a mere ELEVEN SHOTS A GAME. That’s all. 11 shots per game. And turned that into nearly 18 points a game.

Guess what, Suns fans? That’s not where the problems with the team were. Of course, I’m tryin to tell this to a group of people that don’t feel defense is important (or even worth mentioning most of the time). I’d go as far as to say you all would rather watch a quick offensive show than a real winner. Who’s the scapegoat going to be this year? Lopez’s injury? Amare’s contract situation? I know how it is out there, let the blame lie with anyone other than the (quite possibly) worst defensive PG in the league.

"I’m tired of hearing about money, money, money, money, money. I just want to play the game, drink Pepsi, wear Reebok." ~Shaq

by Max_in_Missouri on Oct 6, 2009 11:19 AM MDT reply actions

Really—your tone is unnecessarily disagreeable. We’re all on the same side here.

Your signature quotation is interesting, so may I comment on it? It makes him look hypocritical (in the sense that he signed one of the first hundred-million-dollar contracts [hundred-million-plus?] in the NBA, and extremely obnoxious (in the sense of being crassly commercial and seeming proud of it there). For someone who seems to like Shaquille O’Neal, you made an odd choice.

by species8473 on Oct 6, 2009 12:31 PM MDT up reply actions

Don't worry about him

He trolls about and surfaces when there’s an opportunity to diss Suns fans. His state doesn’t even have a basketball team.

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

by Hawk42 on Oct 6, 2009 4:52 PM MDT up reply actions

LOL

You guys crack me up. I’m discredited because my state doesn’t have a basketball team? Wow…good argument.

Sorry I didn’t repeat the Suns mantra: “Now we can run and gun and not win, but at least we aren’t saddled with anyone asking us to play defense”

"I’m tired of hearing about money, money, money, money, money. I just want to play the game, drink Pepsi, wear Reebok." ~Shaq

by Max_in_Missouri on Oct 13, 2009 11:58 PM MDT up reply actions

How are your football teams doing?

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

by Hawk42 on Oct 14, 2009 12:51 PM MDT up reply actions

The suns had an incredible team for a few years

Coming from a blazer fan, during the bad days, I enjoyed watching the suns. It was a shame the year Stern disqualified half their team from the playoffs to give the spurs the trophy. Of course I’m sure everyone here remembers it much more than I do since the suns are part of my 2nd tier of teams. That being, teams I enjoy watching but not my favorite (home state) team.

The shaq deal was clearly horrible. Shaq is an incredible player, however the entire team needs an identity. It did not have that. Instead it appeared to have a random mix and match, but mainly mix, of players. I’m happy Frye went to the suns. He will do very well there, because it shows the team is now focused on filling the holes with players who fit the team. Frye fits because his outside shooting will be an ideal asset for a center when STAT is playing PF and you have the two time MVP at point. Nash was neither a great, nor a lousy defender. He was a middle of the line defender whose offensive mind-set, instinct, and desire to win were so incredible it brought him to Phx where a basketball strategy was put in place to utilize his talents to build a contender. While he was lit up occasionally by other PGs, he regularly torched them far worse. He is in the twilight of his career now, and as his age sets in his value becomes less than his contract. If he wants a ring, he’ll have to sign a much cheaper deal somewhere. Championships are won on the back of under-paid players, and great coaches. The salary cap sees to it that the road to the title is getting value out of your pay (or working around the cap).

The way I see it, the best option for the suns success would be to find an owner with deeper pockets. Then start rebuilding. A’mare wants to get paid and has some attitude issues. He may need to be dealt. If he is dealt, it needs to be a bad expiring contract + draft picks. That way the money still goes off the books next year, but they have more picks. Tanking for a season gives another high pick. Attempts should be made to make a deal with Nash rather than lose him. (Instead of 2 max contracts and a third decent contract, give the third one to Nash.) The money that’s left combined with the opportunity to live in PHX should be used to pursue LBJ or Wade, and perhaps Bosh. I’m not convinced he is a real winner. It might be better to keep A’mare. However, this would give the suns several high picks, and some superb talent. I have not watched their cap space situation to see how it would work, but basing the analysis on what I’ve seen in this thread.

I do not think there is a reasonable assumption the suns can land higher than the bottom few spots of the playoffs and a first round exit. (Laker/blazer/spur-assuming not destroyed by injury, look like the three western contenders. The Jazz or Nuggets will likely take the other top 4 seed.

Just my take on the situation. If the suns do better as a first round team, keeping Nash and A’mare with the right coach and the right system should get them there. There is too much talent for this to be a team with a losing record unless the system is not executed properly. (If the suns are not scoring at least 108 per game average, Nash is not being utilized)

by lurtsman on Oct 18, 2009 4:33 PM MDT up reply actions

Not to call you an idiot...

but you do realize the quote was sarcastic and that Shaq was being sponsored by both Pepsi and Reebok when he made that comment, right?

"I’m tired of hearing about money, money, money, money, money. I just want to play the game, drink Pepsi, wear Reebok." ~Shaq

by Max_in_Missouri on Oct 14, 2009 12:04 AM MDT up reply actions

Facts

Delusion runs strong in the Valley of the Sun. Maybe you need to get out of the heat?

Let me help you get your fact rights. First off, I don’t live in Arizona. In fact, I live in Texas. The heat here in Texas is a humid heat and is nothing like the dry heat of Arizona. So you could say I’m out of the heat. Secondly, I see that you are from Missouri and if that is correct I will say it’s a fine state. Moreover, I like the colleges out there but must wonder how your team will fare against the mighty Texas Longhorns. Oh, wait I’m shifting gears on you. Let’s get back to professional sports.

How about those St Louis Rams. The last time I checked the Rams have the longest losing streak in the NFL. What are the sports reporters writing about who’s the blame for this ugly streak? In fact, The Rams have been in turmoil ever since they lost to the patriots in their third super bowl and now reports are being written about a possible sale.

Now let’s move on to basketball.
I read that Missouri had 3 teams in the NBA.

The first being the St Louis Bombers who started in 1946, joined the NBA in 1949, then quickly folded in 1950. What happened here Guinness?

The second NBA team for Missouri was the transplanted Hawks from Milwaukee who begin operations in 1955, but then lost this team to Atlanta in 1968 and are now called the Atlanta hawks. Again I ask the Guinness from Missouri, what happened here who was to blame for losing this team.

The last and final NBA team for Missouri was the Kansa city Kings who back in 1985 moved to Sacramento. Why did the team move?

For someone who likes to interject their own feelings and who also failed to read the entry leaves me perplexed. Your reply has no merit and has nothing to do to this post. My guess is you just did not understand the discussion. Like I said, I see the NBA changing from a "me first" to a team approach and the Suns are leading the way in this fundamental change. I also wrote about how I see the universities changing and creating more flexibility in their programs by developing players who are multi talented and not just concentrating on developing specialists. This fundamental change that I mentioned is flexibility and was formally introduced by the Phoenix Suns back in 2004. Since this formal introduction of multitalented players the Phoenix Suns have endured much criticism and speculation about why this type of play will not make it in the NBA. I guess you could call it a double negative. In addition, I purposely failed to focus in on anyone player because the just of my post was centered on change. Not some big dude having his best year since winning the NBA finals back in Miami. I don’t care about the Hollywood type and could care less about those players who think of themselves and not the team. Steve Nash comes to mind here and I see the upside of Mr. Nash’s attitude and his understanding of the meaning of team. So I won’t defend Mr. Nash here as I think all of his positives just make for an ugly post if you get my point.

So lastly, could it be that you are a favorite of me first, one who enjoys watching one player and glamour and glitz that comes with the Hollywood type? If you enjoy the single me first maybe you should consider leaving the heat of Missouri and move to Hollywood. That area, including most of California seems to fit your mentality and your selfish attitude a great deal so you can focus in on "me first" while dispelling team sports in general. I think the gateway is unlocked for you to move to Hollywood? Go and enjoy. One final suggestion for you is for you to insert you’re worn out VCR tape of Footloose one more time and watch it in earnest. That should make you a happy camper.

by RogerM on Oct 7, 2009 7:32 AM MDT up reply actions