What the Lakers struggles mean for the Suns

by UASun on May 15, 2009 1:48 PM MDT Comment 38 comments

If the Western Conference finals ends up Houston vs. Denver. Even with Amare out, I 100% firmly believe the Suns can beat either of those teams in 7 game series. We took the nuggets in the regular season, and Lord knows we can take the Rockets with Yao out. This is killing me.

Let's say we take the Mav's place - we glide by a depleted, decrepit San Antonio Team, Shaq abuses K-Mart down low, Nash matches Billups shot for shot, we take the Nuggets just like we did in the regular season, then put Shaq up against Carl FREAKING Landry? Say what you will about Shaq, but he's not disappearing Like Pau or Bynum. He take Landry to task, and we all know it.

I do think this bodes well for our future. If San Antonio is really this old, and LA is reallly struggling this much . . . I'm fine bringing back our same exact team. But I can't help thinking we could have done something this year.

If you'll excuse me, I'm off to find some kerosene . . .

[Note by Phoenix Stan, 05/15/09 1:37 PM MST ]

I have been thinking along these same lines regarding the Lakers and how less then great they are looking and what that means for the Suns.

I would also point out that the Lakers will be losing Odom and Ariza to free agency. Both are unrestricted and with Bynum's big extension kicking in next season they are already at about $76m without Tervor and Lamar. I suppose it is possible they will find a way to keep one or both but it is also quite likely that next year's Lakers will be with out those key pieces.

Are the Suns a contender if they come back in tact? Probably not, but they are by no means a lottery team again either.

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I don't know ... maybe

Both Houston and Denver are playing great.

It does go to show how tight the Western Conference is, though.

Mmmmm ... Guinness

by JSun on May 15, 2009 2:53 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

The Refs would probably screw us over against the Spurs again....

by Pyromnc on May 15, 2009 2:53 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I was

Saying the same thing a few weeks back to a Spurs fan in a bar about being able to handle these teams that are some how still in it and kicking.

by AcucracK on May 15, 2009 2:57 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

If

the Lakers lose game 7, I’ll start watching the playoffs again.

With the 14th pick of the 2009 NBA draft, the Pheonix Suns select... 3 million dollars!

by gadogry on May 15, 2009 3:43 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

you should be watching them anyway.

this year’s playoffs are actually surprisingly awesome.

by iamtrevorpaxton on May 16, 2009 1:59 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

they are good this year! Still hating the calls but what can u do?

by Whidbey Bronco on May 17, 2009 8:56 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

honestly though

I think denver might beet us. only team with solid D as just as much firepower as us. With amare out that is. Nash, jrich, hill, Amare, shaq > billups, jones, mello, kmart, nene. LB = JR so that is a wash. I don’t see us beating the nuggets, as sad as it is to say they are kinda the team we were trying to be. Super offense that scores tons, but gritty gritty D with lots of blocks and solid man on man defense.

by M-A-Nthefkup on May 15, 2009 4:29 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Nene?.....

Against Shaq? Really? That’s candy. The Suns wouldn’t have anything to fear until Anderson steps in. Give Nuggets management credit tho: Camby out and Anderson in, Iverson for Billups. That team’s management should be working for the Suns, then we would be somewhere. Imagine where we would be if we still had Diaw and Bell.

by ArizonaBornandBred on May 16, 2009 2:06 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

If we still had Bell and Diaw,

fans would still be complaining about Bell missing three’s and Diaw passing the ball when he is in the paint. Nobody could forsee Stat going down mid season but seriously. I miss those two like I miss a boil on my a**.

by Gorilla Game on May 18, 2009 9:33 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

not completely.

nash = billups. at least in these playoffs.
jrich > jones, minus the defensive intensity.
hill < melo. sorry hill, i love you, and you’re awesome…but melo is out of control. he’s amazing.
amaré > kmart.
shaq > nene.

nuff said.

by iamtrevorpaxton on May 16, 2009 2:02 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah, but...

amare + lou < kmart + birdman…

you can’t just do the one on one match up, and birdman has been the difference for Denver, at least over Dallas.

"True glory consists of doing what deserves to be written, and writing what deserves to be read".

by Pliny the Elder on May 16, 2009 8:02 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

The nuggets are playing good collective defense

I don’t think we can win over them

by Azrael on May 17, 2009 1:27 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

i meant

with amare yes we beat denver. without no.

by M-A-Nthefkup on May 15, 2009 4:30 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Odom is the key to the Lakers team

When the rest of the Lakers play to their average level, and he plays badly, they lose.

btw, if you’re been watching the Nuggets, they’ve raised their game a couple of notches from the regular season. Not to say we couldn’t take them, but it would be bloody, and someone would lose an eye.

"True glory consists of doing what deserves to be written, and writing what deserves to be read".

by Pliny the Elder on May 15, 2009 5:38 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

agreed

You thought Nash got beat up by the Spurs 2 years ago, look at what the Nuggets did to Chris Paul. Nash would have been put to the floor many times.

Difference though, is that unlike the Hornets, The Suns wouldn’t of put up with the abuse. If Nash goes to the floor, then Shaq or Barnes put Carmelo and Billups on their asses

by Funky Flapsack on May 15, 2009 6:09 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Nuggets were nowhere near as dirty as Bowen..

I don’t mind hard play.. But what Bowen did borders on assault, and the fact that the league office let him get away with that shit..

btw, I’d bet all the Suns are watching the playoffs, and thinking they missed an opportunity to make some real noise this post-season.

"True glory consists of doing what deserves to be written, and writing what deserves to be read".

by Pliny the Elder on May 15, 2009 6:22 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I wonder

they just didn’t seem all that disappointed to have not made it…

You know, they didn’t believe they were that good and so I don’t think they would have done well. It was the general team attitude.

On paper they would have done well but I don’t know that this team as it was at the end of this season would have beaten anyone. It would have taken a massive reversal in confidence.

Blogging Suns Basketball

by Seth Pollack on May 15, 2009 6:34 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

at the time, you're right..

but now, I bet they’re kicking themselves.

to be fair, it did feel like they were cursed yet again, when Amare and then Blur got themselves injured.. But they started off well, when Alvin came in.

"True glory consists of doing what deserves to be written, and writing what deserves to be read".

by Pliny the Elder on May 15, 2009 7:57 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Summering on da Nile

Exactly. Confidence doesnt make you better, it’s what you get when you are better. They didnt believe they were good enough, because they werent good enough.

by dCoye on May 15, 2009 7:18 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

remember

we will have a pretty good draft pick compared to what Dallas will have. the suns should be a much better team next year just because they have something to prove.

by PhxSuns#7 on May 16, 2009 1:53 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Good point...

But remember that we could be losing key pieces too. The Suns might not be able to afford Grant Hill, by far the toughest member of the Suns. After next season, the Suns are in rebuilding mode.

If we can’t have purple and orange in the playoffs, then let’s cancel the playoffs. Everybody loses.

by ArizonaBornandBred on May 16, 2009 2:12 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't know about that

Pretty much everything we’ve heard has been about improving the team and Grant has stated that as long as the Suns are competing he’d like to be here.

by hcblankscreen on May 16, 2009 3:01 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

i don't know about rebuilding mode after next season.

kerr and sarver have both come out and (essentially) said, “we know we’re not going to win a championship anytime soon, but we’re going to try like hell to play fun basketball and win games. if we get knocked out of the playoffs, it doesn’t matter…so long as we had fun.”

and…while instinctively, i think i should be upset with this, after this year and trying to implement a more “championship level” team (and failing miserably), i’d rather see a 7SOL suns team without a shot than a terrible suns team in “rebuild” mode.

by iamtrevorpaxton on May 16, 2009 2:10 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Those are some pretty far fetched statements

Rockets without Yao is a maybe, with Yao we might be able to take two games. They’re absolutely abusing the Lakers in the pick and roll and we easily have one of the worst pick and roll defenses in the league. Look at what Brooks is doing to Fisher, Brown, and Farmar. Now think about how Nash would fare in that match up. Who’s gonna watch Scola? Barnes? I don’t think anybody wants to see that. As far as the benches go, LB > Wafer, but Landry and Lowry would give us a ton of problems. Shaq might have the advantage, but you have to think about Shaq vs. the Rockets defense, not Shaq vs. Individual player. The only way we could beat the Rockets is if Shaq played absolutely perfect.

Watching Denver in the playoffs, I don’t know how anybody can think we’d have a real shot against them. They’re playing on another level, and this season the Suns have never played that kind of ball. I feel like your whole post sums up our team this season. Looks good on paper, but when you consider what this team has shown they’re capable of and what the Rockets and Nuggets have shown, we wouldn’t stand a chance.

by hcblankscreen on May 16, 2009 3:53 AM MDT reply actions 1 recs

Good post.

Nice. I am not sure about us winning anything. If the playoffs have shown me anything this year its that you have to have SOME semblance of defense to get anywhere. The Lakers D is arguably better than ours and look what is happening.

I did think your comment on Ariza and Odom becoming FA was interesting. Any chance we pick one of these guys up? I have wanted Odom for a while. Great energy player. Kind like Marion only better offense. Probably too expensive though. Yet, if we could drop JRich’s contract somehow….

Go read a book!

by N8lol on May 16, 2009 12:25 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

plus...

Odom would thrive offensively in the 7-seconds offense

by Funky Flapsack on May 16, 2009 12:31 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Suns

don’t have enough $ to sign Odom

Blogging Suns Basketball

by Seth Pollack on May 16, 2009 5:30 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Odom was a Sun...

Would he play the 5 while Amare plays the 4? Or would Amare go back to playing the 5 while Odom takes the 4 spot?

Maybe we can make a few salary dumping moves with Shaq and J-Rich and sign Odom? I’d be A-ok with that…

Amare
Odom
Hill
Barbosa
Nash

That’d be a great 7-seconds or less line-up for sure…

Is it possible the suns might be more interested in Ariza, though?

by DaMax85 on May 16, 2009 1:31 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

hmm

i really dont think the lakers were that good defense wise at all this season. or last =\. maybe its just my bias but they just score a bunch of points and have a PF that can score at will vs most teams. the whole lakers backourt Kobe excluded really doesn’t seem that ‘defensive’ to me. As far as Odom hes even more inconsistent than marion, and I trusted marions 3 ball more than his as well. Also matrix style alley oops were a plus

by M-A-Nthefkup on May 16, 2009 2:00 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Lamar is a much better passer than Trix..

and a better interior team defender (but not better overall). Plus he can run the 2nd team effectively. s’why he’s so important to the Lakers.

"True glory consists of doing what deserves to be written, and writing what deserves to be read".

by Pliny the Elder on May 16, 2009 10:52 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

lamars passing

many time is to a fault..

by M-A-Nthefkup on May 17, 2009 12:20 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

phil jackson and the lakers have already said this season...

…that keeping ariza is a priority. they see him as a starter, and since odom has failed to impress this year (minus that one ridiculous month), i think they’ll be looking to resign ariza over odom.

keeping that in mind…i would love to see ariza on the suns. much more than i’d like to see odom on the suns. ariza has broken out (relatively) this year, while odom has failed to impress. granted, the guy was battling some injuries, but i like the prospect of ariza more than i like odom’s potential. odom may be the better talent, but ariza is one of those guys that a.) won’t demand shots, b.) will play great defense, and c.) will run the floor (and is a phenomenal dunker). perfect fit for the 7SOL suns, but with the defensive intensity they need? i think so.

by iamtrevorpaxton on May 16, 2009 2:05 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

We don't deserve the opportunity

I don’t feel bad at all about where we’re at right now, riding the pine. We had our opportunities over and over again. We had 82 of them. We failed at being consistent so that’s that. Anything can happen in a 7 game series, but you really see what a team is made of over 82 games, and the fact is the Suns were the 9th team and the odd man out.

I still think we need to rebuild. Everyone was all into it mid season and now it seems that everyone is talking about keeping everyone. I’m going to feel damn awful if it’s January 2010 and the Suns are in the same position they were last year with the same players and I’m thinking for two years in a row we should have rebuilt the team preseason.

Take care of the little things, and the big things will take care of themselves.

by SunDolphin on May 16, 2009 8:25 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I dont think Kerr or Sarver are thinking rebuild

I think they’re sticking with the core we have now for another year. Then next year, they lose Shaq’s contract. At that point, they look to free agency.

Now keep this in mind. Amare’s in a contract year. So i guarantee he plays his ass off. That might earn him an extension from us. If he doesn’t impress or something happens due to injury, then he probably doesnt opt out of his contract, keeping him around for another year anyways. At that point maybe we offer top dollar to Dwayne Wade or another high profile guy. And then maybe that 2010-2011 team is competitive again.

by Funky Flapsack on May 16, 2009 9:27 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

If they're gonna keep Nash

then they need to keep the core together. if not, trade him/let him go & rebuild.

otoh, if the rumors that Shaq has already started training are true, then that could bode well. Remember, he’s in a contract year too.

We assume that Shaq will leave the Suns at the end of this season, but if he plays well, and we can resign him for, say, $10M/year, that’s pretty good. He did make the All-NBA 3rd team, this year. That’s not bad at his age.

Still, what I’d like to see is one of the youngsters take some initiative, and get the players together for a 2 week defense-only camp, with someone like Pippen running the show, and get everyone on the same page. If Amare did that, I’d be blown away.

"True glory consists of doing what deserves to be written, and writing what deserves to be read".

by Pliny the Elder on May 16, 2009 10:59 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would love to give the money to Dwayne Wade. That’s someone we can build around, not to mention he’s one of my favorite players, just because of where he came from in life. He’s not going to take anything forgranted. He might go play in Chicago for less money though, so.

Take care of the little things, and the big things will take care of themselves.

by SunDolphin on May 17, 2009 6:28 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

let's take the reigns from Kerr ...and Coach

if we’re going to be rebuilding completely.
I’ve been tired of being beaten by Kerr for freaking years!!!

BTW, I’m new here. Thanks to the contributors here for giving us a place to go…

by Whidbey Bronco on May 17, 2009 9:02 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

i dont understand

why every doesn’t understand that keeping this core together 1 more year IS rebuilding. Unless you really want to trade amare for garbage. Who gives a fuck if we are paying lux tax, If Big Shot Rob wants to pay it let him pay it. We are MAJOR players in the 2010 class. Some of you have a wade hardon, some like bosh. Personally I just know next season we get one more(for a total of god knows how many)last hurrah. Diesel. Nashty. Amare. LB. Ghill. They want redemption and i think theyll have it. Not saying we will win the title next year but WE WILL BE CRUSHING TEAMS LIKE THE OLD DAYS MARK THESE WORDS.

SunDol: i know what you mean though about everything being like REBUILD BLOW IT UP awhile back, but keep in mind we SUCKED around then. Looked like nowhere to go but worse.

by M-A-Nthefkup on May 17, 2009 12:26 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs