Suns continue to struggle. Time for another meeting
by Seth Pollack on Feb 5, 2009 12:10 AM MST
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PrintThe Warriors came out on fire hitting everything they threw up at the rim. It didn't hurt that they were all wide open shots. Let's look at one example. The very first Warriors shot of the game:
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It doesn't look to bad there in the last picture. Amare gets screened by Biedrins except Amare was faced up with Kelena and Amare CHOOSE to go under the screen. He took himself out of the play instead of simply staying with his man. Watch the video here.
To be fair, Nash played like crap too. He had two turnovers in the first couple of minutes (here and here) and was a -14 in 31 minutes compared to Hill (+3 in 31min) and Barbosa (-3 in 27min).
Nash and Amare had 9 of the team's 13 turnovers. There's really no better stat to reflect the lack of chemistry and focus by those two. Time for another team meeting.
Speaking of crap, classy move by Matt Barnes late in a blow out game to commit a flagrant foul on Turiaf. I guess shooting 2-10 (again) will do that. Nice Matt. Real nice.
The Warriors took advantage of the Suns failure to compete defensively which forced a lot of help and left wide open passing lanes and easy looks. The Warriors had 17 assists, 4 turnovers and were 9-14 from behind the arc in the 1st half.
Shaq said it best the other day. M - A - N Mother F-king U - P
So while the Suns were playing isolation basketball and not working together on either end, the Warriors were looking like the Globe Trotters with crisp snappy passes and something they call team work. Look it up, because we haven't seen it for several weeks in Phoenix.
Congrats to Stephen Jackson for his first career triple double. Hard to believe this guy's not done that before. I love his game. A Tru Warrior.
The good news for Suns fans is that if any team can blow you out one night and get blown out by you the next it's the Warriors. See ya Friday G Dubs.
Oh, and our scrubs outscored theirs by 9 in the 4th quarter. Rookie Dragic even looked decent on both ends as did Lopez. Way to go rooks. You are the future and the future looks....pale and fuzzy.
Suns.com hasn't posted the game quotes yet, but I guess they will go something like this:
Porter: "We just didn't execute defensively. We need to try harder."
Nash: "I don't know what's going on. We need to find our balance and spirit"
Amare: "We needed to bottle up that last game but the bottle broke."
Shaq: "#$%$^ ing bleep @#$! crappy damn sorry !$% mother @#$^%^ers!"
Box Score * GSOM * AZ Central Recap (Coro)
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Suggestion...
Add a couple more answers to your poll above: 1. making the meetings w/ sarver/ kerr/ coaches/ team captains a compulsory pre-game thing and 2. mix in a couple of uplifting art/ poster making sessions once a week like they did earlier to boost the teams self-esteem? or do both – that way will at least end up as the best managed poster-making team in the NBA.
The worst thing happening is that the team come up with terrific wins (Sacramento, Dallas a couple weeks ago) in between sets of lousy games – this probably makes kERR, SARVER, porter (or whoever the hell really decides) indecisive in deciding what to do with the team….make a trade?, keep the team? criticize key players? whatever.
Suns will
probably win with a great game vs warriors next….and we’ll be seeing headlines like “Suns kick funk aside, win by 48 points” and then lose the next 3 games to Pistons, Sixers and Cavs.
from a warriors fan
Thats pretty funny and true. I liked the comment in the post about us blowing out a team and then getting blown out 2 days later. Thats part of the fun (right now) of being a Warrior fan. Granted, id rather have “Cavalier” fun. But Warrior fun will have to do. I hope its not by 48 tho, jeez.
I am Greg Oden, i am goingz to be trade to The Warrior. hoooray.
Warriors for life. Raiders till death. And The A's when i get free tickets.
by STIX on Feb 5, 2009 1:46 PM MST up reply actions
Amare's D.
I’ve always been an Amare fan, but lately I’ve been very critical of him. But in his defense…
Screens like this are not that easy to guard against. Had Amare had gone over the screen, Kelena could have curled tightly and gotten the ball in scoring position.
I could see if this play had happened 3 minutes into the game when it was clear that the Warriors were hitting everything they threw up, but the very first play of the game, I think it was the right play to make him hit the outside shot rather than taking it to the hole for a basket.
This team
needs gutted, period. The comments, sound bites get old from all of them. They sold the farm when they gave up all those draft picks for $$$ reasons.
Time to get those picks back.
"Have You heard of the Boom on Mizar 5?"
Maybe at the next team meeting,
everybody will make a diorama on what they think defense is. Then they will take turns presenting them to each other.
Ridiculous!!
This is why its turning to Planet Blue around here. Players are bitching an moaning every interview, were inconsistent every single night and yes I think Amar’e is a joke right now but its obvious Porter has NO CONTROL of his team!! He(Porter) ripped the teams heart out an buried it deep in a place only he has a map to. Trade Amar’e an slowly begin the “blowing-up” process. Also, give Barnes the axe as well this guy doesn’t get it. Shaq needs to slap him and his mother in the face! HEY MATT STOP SHOOTING!
be cool
Anne Barnes (Matt’s mom is dead).
Frisco n*ggaz ain't no punks!
by ItsDatFriscoSwag415 on Feb 5, 2009 11:32 AM MST up reply actions
What I think Porter does not understand
As to why he can’t have the Suns play like the Sp*rs …
Pop can put cruddy offensive players in to hustle and get fouls in order to prepare them for the post-season because any one of the Sp*rs’ “big 3” can motivate and/or carry their team. 2 of th 3 (TD and Ginobili) can do it on both the defensive and offensive ends of the floor — defensively, both guys hustle their rear ends’ off.
TP and Nash are a wash in this example — great offense and lackluster defense. However, how to Shaq and Amare match up to TD and Ginobili? Especially on D?
Amare can take over offensively, but Shaq can’t do anything explosive on that end, even when he’s slowly dismantling a defense in a grindingly and diesel-like fashion. Neither guy, though, is going to out-hustle anyone on the defensive and motivate his team to play teams. Each has his moments (Shaq more so) but neither is consistent with energy on that end.
Mmmmm ... Guinness
Why isn't fire Porter an option?
Should the management find players to fit the coach’s wishes or should the coach be able to coach different types of players and adapt his coaching/leadership style?
Mmmmm ... Guinness
yall should definitely fire porter
there’s a reason why he hasn’t coached in the league for hella years. he’s not that good.
Frisco n*ggaz ain't no punks!
by ItsDatFriscoSwag415 on Feb 5, 2009 11:32 AM MST up reply actions
Both
The Suns / Porter have said since day one that they want to run off misses and defensive turnovers. The problem isn’t really the defense as much as turnovers on the offensive end and lack of offensive rebounding.
What system would you have the Suns play that takes the ball out of Nash’s hands more (a MUST) and then also limits his turnovers trying to force the fancy pass when he does have it?
What system would make Amare work harder on the O glass?
Blogging Suns Basketball
by Seth Pollack on Feb 5, 2009 12:51 PM MST up reply actions
You want me to voice my opinions to Kerr?
I’m not saying I’ve got all the answers, but I am saying that I could be an NBA head coach if all it involves is:
1. Defeatism, i.e., “Well, we better get better or we’ll be in trouble.”
2. Teaching post-entry passing
3. Teacching a 2-3 zone
Good coaches adapt the team’s games to the strengths of the team.
Working Shaq hard in the first half so he gets 15 points, while sabotaging everyone else’s rhythm and tires himself out so that he finishes the game with 20 and nobody else is engaged is not playing to the strengths of your team.
Allowing Barnes to stay on the court after even one jacked-up, contested 3 with 17 seconds left on the shot clock is not playing to the strengths of your team.
Playing Amare in the middle of the 2-3 zone is not playing to the strengths of your team.
As for the turnovers, many are caused by Shaq clogging the middle and/or caused by Shaq himself. “Lightning Lou” is good for at least 2 bone-headed turnovers a game, often on outlet passes, yet he continues to play in an apparently un-coached or un-coachable condition. Amare’s turnovers are, well … because he’s Amare.
The lack of offensive rebounding is not as big of a problem as the inability to keep the other team off the offensive glass. That’s been a problem for about 20 years now. One solution is to score more (not get a higher shooting percentage — about shooting percentage, it goes up when you make a few shots but don’t take a whole lot). Another solution would be to only play the zone when Shaq’s on the floor. Another would be to bring the big guards back into the key.
What would make Amare hit the O-Boards harder? Let him shoot more. That’s what makes him do everything better. The guy is still shooting something like 55%. That’s not a bad offensive option.
Mmmmm ... Guinness
The triangle
The triangle would help alot for getting the ball out of Nash’s hands. You guys even have the personnel for it – Hill is a good passer, Amare has shown that he can pass when he wants to, Shaq is obviously very experienced at it, 2 dead on sharpshooters to spread the D with all the wide open looks that the triangle creates.
As for Amare, someone just needs to kick his ass and force him to give some effort. However, I think he will try harder on both ends if the Suns used the triangle because he’d likely get more touches. The triangle is predicated on mismatches and I don’t think there’s anyone in these league who matches up well against him.
Phoenix Stan
Thank you for the recognition. Hopefully this place can get back to its original color
One word: Oy!
Very rare for me to miss watching a game, but I opted for a late evening skate session, and between Lost and John Stewart, the Suns got squeezed out. Sounds like I made the right choice. I didn’t know they did this in the NBA, but apparently this was a re-run? Feh.
Porter blew it
As a Dubs fan I was surprised at Porter’s failure to call more plays for Shaq, more pick and rolls which we suck at defending, and at the fact that Amare played at all. I havent looked at the +/- for the game yet, but I bet Amare was like -120. when is someone going to hold that guy accountable for playing defense? He should be a beast on both ends
Hey guys we need to keep the faith……“NEVER SAY DIE TEAM”
and one more thing
D’ANTONI ERA——BEST OFFENSE/WORST DEFENCE
PORTER ERA——WORST OFFENSE/WORST DEFENCE
YOU MAKE THE CHOICE!!!!!!!!!!!
GO SUNS GO “NEVER EVER SAY DIE TEAM”
easy choice
i chose for you to spell “DEFENSE” correct.
Frisco n*ggaz ain't no punks!
by ItsDatFriscoSwag415 on Feb 5, 2009 11:34 AM MST up reply actions
THANKS FOR CORRECTING ME.
American English has kept the Anglo-French spelling for defense and offense, which are usually defence and offence in British English; similarly there are the American pretense and British pretence; but derivatives such as defensive, offensive, and pretension are always thus spelled in both systems.
How can you even begin....
to consider trading Amare Stoudemire. If anything, dump old ass Shaq (even though i love that guy), dump old Nash (another guy i love), dump Hill (another great player) and try to pick up some solid pieces. maybe a solid, mobile center and a real player that can play the 3 while having Barnes come off the bench. Re-build around Amare, Barbosa and Richardson because these are really good players. To be real, i think your real problem is with the coach. his system does not work for this roster.
Frisco n*ggaz ain't no punks!
by ItsDatFriscoSwag415 on Feb 5, 2009 11:48 AM MST reply actions
again i agree
amare might be pissing and moaning too much for everyone right now. but shaq and nash and hill are out of the league in a few years. amare has another 10 or more.
That's the problem
Amare does have many more productive years ahead of him, but he is supposed to entering his prime right now. I think Amare is a great guy but he hasn’t shown his heart so far this season. I watch other teams and marvel at the hustle and fire their star players show.
I cheered so damn loudly when the Suns drafted Amare. He has been one of my favorite players since we drafted him. So this really hurts to watch.
Amare may well be in for many productive years ahead of him.. but do we really want to commit to building the franchise around him?
entering his prime or not
you guys are building around shaq. despite not even standing a chance to win shit. and once you lose – the blame stays the same. it’s on the coach. and steve kerr. who is a total nitwit and needs to lose his job.
It's time for everyone over 30 to go
Except, maybe Nash. The only reason I want to see him go is so that he could spend his last years with a coach that will appreciate and utilize his talents.
Why would Hill stay next year?
Shaq was more valuable to the team as The Big Role Player last year than he is as “The Man” this year.
Mmmmm ... Guinness
Agreed
Look at Boston for example, Pierce, Big Ticket and Jesus Shuttlesworth(Allen) all were the man at one pt on different teams and they seem to make it work. The difference between them and Amar’e is they play w/ HEART and put the flash and fame 2nd. Unlike STAT who puts his ego and fame 1st.
We should be much better than this but 2 many egos+ bad coaching= the 08-09’ Suns. Time to fire up the trading block and see what we can get for STATman, b/c if were going to rebuild next will have to start w/ him. Also, its sad that 2 of the oldest guys on the team, Shaq & Hill are the only ones playing w/ any heart.
Interesting
how as the actual thought of trading Amare becomes more real and as the reality of not getting back value becomes clear that the hesitancy increases….
just a general observation
Blogging Suns Basketball
Yeah..
It’s not every year a team can draft a player with as much pure talent and athleticism as Amare has. Phoenix did just that is 02-03.
People are nervous about losing what Amare could and perhaps should be, instead of where he is at now as a player. Espescially with no guarantee of us finding someone of his caliber in the near future.
Thats why
I think pushing a trade w/ ATL for Josh Smith and Marvin Williams would work. Both hustle and Smith can rebound and score. No more of what Amar’e should be, its been 7 seasons now and this is what were going to get if he stays here.
One of the better
deals I’ve heard mentioned for sure.
It would have to send Barnes back to ATL as well. Too many SF’s otherwise
Blogging Suns Basketball
Thank you
to all of those that voted to trade me….I am open to ideas/offers if you have any
Blogging Suns Basketball
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