Suns Never Fail To Disappoint: 101-108 Loss to Portland
by Seth Pollack on Feb 10, 2010 11:26 PM MST
in Phoenix Suns: Game Coverage
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Just when you think things might be turning around, this happens and disappointment quickly returns to the Valley of the Sun.
"We got our ass kicked, plain and simple," said an extremely frustrated Coach Alvin Gentry. "We didn't do a very good job, we weren't ready to play and we didn't play with a whole lot of energy and passion. When we don't do that, we're not very good. We become a very, very average team."
I think he was being generous by calling the Suns "average".
The defense in the first half of that game was as bad as I've seen it all year. And I've watched every game of the 2nd to worst defensive team in the league, so I think that's saying something.
Sure, Portland was hitting their shots, but it is a lot easier for them to hit shots when they are getting wide open shots. Anywhere. Anytime. Open shots. Come one, come all. Get your open shots here. Free. Wide. Open. Shots.
27 of 38 for 71.1% is pretty darn good but not when you consider how many of those shots were wide open.
Think I am being too tough on the Suns "defense"? Here's what Gentry had to say about that, "We sucked. We sucked. I mean we sucked. In all phases of it. They drove it to the basket. They made jump shots. We had to end up double-teaming and they swung the ball and either made jump shots or drove it to the basket. We didn't play. They scored 66 last night. They had 60 at the half. So our defense was terrible. In the five games we won we were pretty good defensively and did a pretty good job. We didn't tonight. Thanks."
<Gentry exits stage right>
The Suns did make a comeback in the fourth quarter, cutting the lead to 7 at one point before the Blazers hit a three, Amundson traveled (one of 15 Suns' turnovers) then Blake hit a three. Boom. Run ended. Game over. Good night now.
At least Amare wasn't too upset about the whole thing. Call me Dr. Phil, but I got a weird vibe from him in the locker room. Like he was too relaxed and nonplussed by the loss which hasn't been like him at all this season. He answered the questions. Gave routine responses. But his mood was just...different to me.
We'll know soon enough if that was Amare's last home game as a Sun.
If it was, it typified his career here pretty well. He put up 24 points on 9 of 14 shooting, hit 6 of his 8 free throws, grabbed 9 rebounds, had 2 turnovers and played such porous defense on LaMarcus Aldridge that, to start the second half, Gentry moved him over the Juwan Howard and tried Robin Lopezon LMA. A move that clearly didn't impact Amare's pride at all.
Oh, and he had an amazing athletic move to dunk all over Dante Cunninghamin the first half only to see Dante return the favor on a breakaway that Amare didn't bother to really contest.
If this does turn out to be his swan song in the purple and orange, you couldn't have scripted it any better.
You know that I had to ask Amare about this possibly being his last home game, "I'm not really discussing the trades and stuff like that, but it could have been. You never know."
Not never, Amare. We will know in about 7 days.
Not to take anything from the Blazers. They played hard. They made big shots. They defended well and most important was this quote from Andre Miller, "We have done that a couple of times this year. Lose a game then come back and win, so it just shows a lot of character and a lot of fight in this team."
That must be nice.
Post Game Audio:
- Gentry post game 021010 (don't miss this one - good stuff)
- Amare 021010
- Nash 021010
Post Game Links:
Game Notes Taken In Real Time
1st Qtr
- Andre Miller just blocked Jason Richardson's lay-up attempt. Dude
- Two turnovers to start the game...that's always a good thing. NOT
- Amare playing good soft D on Aldridge which leads to a couple of open shots. Suns down 8-0. Wonderful
- Lopez cleans up a miss (an easy layup missed by Grant) for the Suns first 2
- Guess who looks rusty
- Steve on Steve violence right there as Nash abuses Blake
- Turn over count now up to 3
- Suns back to running the Steve Nash Show offense. Old habits die hard
- Suns have 10 points in the first 8 minutes...that's not a stat to be proud of
- Blazers with a great double team on Amare as he starts to make his move
- Blazers then double team Frye in the post and he bowls over Blake for a the O foul
- The Blazers couldn't hit a jump shot to save their life last night...tonight they can't miss
- 24-12. When is the bench coming in?
- Leaving LaMarcus open is not a good defensive strategy. I think. I might be wrong about that. I am no expert but so far the evidence supports my theory
- Coming out of the time out, Nash calls his boys over to give 'em the pep talk. He seems to be speaking in Canadian though so I am not sure it's getting through
- Out of the time out the Suns give the ball to Amare at the high post and he attacks. Scores. Everyone else watches. No bueno
- The way the Blazers collapse in the paint on help D, the Suns are going to get a ton of wide open 3's. JRich has made 2 so far
- That time the Leave LMA Defense worked. He missed
- Suns only down 10. That's a minor miracle considering how crappy they've played
2nd Qtr
- Bench time. Lets see what Robin and Lou can do to these chumps
- How about an 8 second violation!
- Interesting line up. Hill (who's missed a couple easy looks), Goran and Dudley along w/ Lou and Robin
- Suns should feel free to go on a run anytime now...
- Blazers playing really good aggressive defense, denying the little easy perimeter passes just enough to disrupt any kind of offensive flow
- hmmm...wondering if I want ice cream at half time...I really shouldn't
- That was a cheap offensive foul called on Rudy F, Prince of Spain
- Dragic goes coast to coast for the lay up so Bayless comes right back at him. Of course
- When Lou Amundson's 15 foot jump shot is your best offensive weapon, you might be a red neck...errr in trouble
- Dudley could have had his second dunk!! Assist to Lou for the hustle play
- Suns still down 10 with bench in
- Suns did cut the lead to 7 but no..back to 12
- 10
- 12
- 9
- Ok, that can't be much fun to read.
- 11
- Turnover...that would be the 7th one of those. Lets just bring back the bench and at least we can enjoy watching them play hard
- 13 as LMA iso's on Frye and the result being, well you know
- Nash just ran the Barbosa Back Cut with Jason. Same result
- Wow. Check that out! Leaving Dante Cunningham wide open didn't help either. Shocking. 15
- Sweet lob entry pass to Amare! Too bad Aldridge picked it off
- Steve Blake has 11 points. Enough said
- WOW. That might have been the BEST Amare Dunk of the Year!!!!
3rd Qtr
- No ice cream at the half...popcorn. 18
- The offense looks horrible. STAGNANT
- 14...headed in the right direction at least
- Suns trying Robin on LaMarcus to which LaMarcus says, "welcome to my turn around mid-range jump shot, young man"
- So here's a problem with that. LMA pulls Robin out of the paint and Andre Miller drives into the lane that now has no shot blocking or defense
- Amare should commit ritual suicide in shame for being put onto Juwan Howard while Robin is assigned to try and slow down Aldridge. Shame shame shame
- 19. So that's really not a a positive sign.
- 21. Worse
- Mercy call that time. Webster had all ball. Ball. I said it. Ball
- Steve Blake - ICE KOLD KILLA
- 20. Better. Not much better but better than 21
- Biggest cheer of the night - old people kissing on kiss cam. Gross, in so many ways
- Here's my prediction for the post game press - "They hit shots and we didn't"
- Robin Lopez has Steve Blake on him in the post and first Nash can't get him the ball and so he swings it to Frye who chucks it three feet over Robin's head. Seriously WTF!!!!
- Oh hey look at that. 16.
- I think I should have had the ice cream
4th Qtr
- Unacceptable effort tonight. How friggin frustrating this is
- 13 huh. Ok
- 10 off the Goran drive and 1
- Now we are talking...Energy and hustle increase. AND THE CROWD GOES WILD!!!!
- HOLY FUCK! A "Lets Go Suns" cheer erupts! It was NOT PROMPTED BY THE JUMBOTRON
- 7...
- Dudley draws the O foul on LMA. He might be the best option on him yet
- Back to back three's from the Blzers and we are back to 13
- and that was fun while it lasted...15
- Wonder if Nash will blame a) weather b) biorhythms c) fans or 4) mentality
- Dante's revenge! Dunks right on Amare's noggin
- Good thing I don't live on tacos
- So at every game there's a couple of kids who's job it is to grab sweaty towels from players.
- 12..5:15 to go
- Good news. Andre Miller dropped 52 on the Mavs. He's not going to do that tonight
- Nice pass from Frye....to his old teammate Blake
- 13...4:18 to go
- Nash for three....10
- Crowd wakes up. Crowd needs to wake up when the Suns don't hit a shot. Such a front running town this is
- 10...2:21 to go
- 8...2 min
- Get a stop? Yes!
- But they didn't get the rebound so it didn't matter
- and that's your ball game right there
- 5.. 30 sec and Grant Hill causes a turn over on the in bounds...or did he? reviewing it
- What? Blazers ball? Really? Guess so
- Tacos!!!! oh and 4 pts, 18 sec
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Steve Nash, the league's MVP, is a longhaired Canadian who spoke out against the war in Iraq and reads The Communist Manifesto. Quentin Richardson declared after a game-winning shot that it "was like Hamlet. It was a suspense thriller, and I killed them at the end." Amare Stoudemire, when asked to comment on a 22-point third quarter against the Kings, said, "I've got a tendency to jump over some guys' heads and throw it down."
yay my sig made the headlines
boo suns sucked eggs for 3 6/8 quarters.
The Suns - Never fails to disappoint 53% of the time, all the time.
Amare is gone.
As much as I want him to stay, I think his coolheadedness (pretty sure that’s not a word…but let’s roll with it) says it all.
He’s not concerned with the outcome because he knows he’s gone. His actions speak louder than his words. If he were staying on the team, he would have (or at least should have) been a little more frustrated by the loss. Hell, I know I would have been if I were Amare.
But I’m not Amare, so I guess I can’t really say much. Also, that would explain why I’m not in the NBA, dunkin’ all over people. Or dunkin’ on the moon, a la Lamar Odom.
Bright Side of the Sun, for all things Phoenix Suns. Twitter: @iamtrevorpaxton
i was reading the azcentral comments, others felt the same way. I really hate to see Amare go, its not his fault.. its not his fault. tsk.
The Suns - Never fails to disappoint 53% of the time, all the time.
We won't know if it's his fault or not
Until we see what (if) the Suns offered him. If they lowballed him on his extension, they never wanted him to stay. It’s been said before, and will be said over and over again, but it’s true.
And, we don’t know if he’s actually gone. It’s likely, but not certain.
Here’s to hoping for the best. Cheers.
Bright Side of the Sun, for all things Phoenix Suns. Twitter: @iamtrevorpaxton
by Trevor Paxton on Feb 11, 2010 12:15 AM MST up reply actions
maybe Amare was
happy b/c he knew he’s staying…
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @sethpo
by Seth Pollack on Feb 11, 2010 12:19 AM MST up reply actions
Yeah, but he could have expressed that by tormenting LaMarcus Aldridge like we were talking about instead of MAKING HIM LOOK GOOD!!!
by species8473 on Feb 11, 2010 12:21 AM MST up reply actions
True
It’s still very much an option, and that’s why I left the door open to both sides.
I still have a feeling he’s gone. I’d love to be proven wrong, though.
Bright Side of the Sun, for all things Phoenix Suns. Twitter: @iamtrevorpaxton
by Trevor Paxton on Feb 11, 2010 12:24 AM MST up reply actions
Sad but it's true...hard but it's fair...
Amare and a few other Suns played like they knew they just got traded…Did something happen that I don’t know about???
"I especially liked the part where I dunked on the McDonalds All-American dude..."
Anonymous high-school player after a Virginia basketball state championship game...
Blazer fan here
I am quite surprised that so many of you like Amare. Really, I am surprised that so many people in general do. He is average. Nash is awesome. He will find out the same thing Marion did. Nash makes all stars out of forwards. You get a defensive minded rebounding forward in there you’ll be better off. All forwards can cut and dunk like Amare, maybe with less flair. Nash can get 12-18 pts a game out of any pf. Look at our own departed Frye. Very happy for him over there. Guy was nothing but class the entire time he was here.
by eclecticspider on Feb 12, 2010 12:21 PM MST up reply actions
Amare has played without Nash...
I’m not sure why you’d call the best scoring PF average.
Amare did not have Nash his first two seasons, in his second season he averaged 20+ PPG, and some would argue that Nash’s second wind in the NBA after signing in Phoenix was mainly due to Amare’s production off of Nash’s feeds/ pick and roll. Without Amare would have have averaged 11+ Assists per game and get 2 MVP tropies?? I dont think so.
What Nash DID give AMARE was a 10% boost to shooting percentage from 46-55% this could also be argued however to the fact that Amare had developed a better jumper that keeps getting sweeter over time.
You have obviously not watched Amare like we have. If we though Amare was just like all forwards why would we be paying him 17 m a year and be so upset with the prospect of him leaving.?
By that arguement are you saying Nash is average without Amare?
Nowitski and Bosh are both better scoring PFs at 24.8 and 24.2, respectively. Amare is at 21.2.
Nash’s uptick in assists once he came to PHX are very much do to with an increased pace under D’Antoni’s system and the success of the TEAM not Amare.
By all means, be upset if you think he’s leaving. I just think that for $17 million a year, you can get a guy that puts up similar offensive numbers but gives you a whole lot more at the defensive end…
I think you guys fail to see my argument
First of all Amare shoots 14.2 attempts per game
Dirk Almost 19—-very close to 19
Bosh almost 17—- very close to 17
So by that logic we can say that Amare’s numbers would be higher if he got more touches, SINCE he is shooting BETTER than both Dirk and Bosh by a large % —-5-10 — Dirk shoots 46% for career FG %
Bosh and Dirk are both the focal points on offense for their teams, Amare is not and he still puts up close offensive numbers as both Bosh and Dirk without the touches.
You stretched my argument too far, I never said Nash was “Average” without Amare I said he wouldn’t be averaging 12 dimes a game and never would have won 2 MVP trophies without Amare.
Since the only data we can go off of is Amare’s second season its unfair to put his rookie season in the argument and the season after he had Nash to feed him.
He put up 20.6 PPG @47% shooting, when he was 19-20 years old. So if you want to give me the argument that Dirk and Bosh today have better numbers than Amare without Nash you are correct, but that argument becomes moot when you look at their respective ages of comparison and league experience.
Its unfair to compare a 19 year old Amare’s offensive #’s to a 30 year old Dirk or 26 year old Bosh.
But even still the numbers are very very close.
If Amare is not the focal point of the offense, who is?
Nash? Nope, he’s taken 60ish fewer shots than Amare this season.
Richardson? Nope, hes’s take 145ish fewer shots than Amare.
Hill or Frye? Nope, both have taken 200 fewer shots than Amare.
A better arguement is that Amare should be the focal point of the offense (based on his shooting %) but either 1) his teammates fail to get it to him (doubtful based on your arguement that Nash wouldn’t be getting 12 assists w/o Amare) or 2) Amare is not very good at getting open (much more believable given his relatively low attempt number in comparison to the other PF’s you mention).
So Amare is not the best scoring PF in the league (as you stated) even though he is clearly the focus of the offense for the Suns. He also doesn’t play a lick of defense. In my book, that is overpaid.
True
But a lot of that was before the knee injury. The Suns are high scoring team and that inflates numbers. Maybe average is a little off but really I can imagine LaMarcus looking every bit as good on that team, or even Varejao being more valuable.
Dunks are great, and the one on Dante was impressive. Still, much of the story is told with the fact that Dante tried to contest and when it was Amares turn he doesn’t.
There is the matter of character also. I am not saying Amare is a bad guy. I don’t think he is but rather like more of the athletes out there, concerned more with stats and paychecks than w’s.
As far as Nash getting a 2nd wind, he came to you guys in his prime and with your offense he still can average 11 assists a game.
It is true I don’t know your team as well as you do, but I don’t see the same snap out of him.
Maybe I am completely wrong but I think if Amare goes elsewhere he will have problems with his coach due to consistently lackadaisical defense.
You guys are the competition but I am a big Nash fan. Unfortunately the only way this argument is resolved is if he gets moved.
by eclecticspider on Feb 12, 2010 1:15 PM MST up reply actions
You may be right
But the team “leader” is Nash who has the utmost lackadasical defensive skills. If you remember Melo before Chauncey got there he was even more lazy on the defensive end than Amare ever was. But a guy like Chauncey came in with his leadership and relentless defense and attitude and it rubs off on the whole team, now look at Melo he has stepped up big time.
SO you are probably correct it is time for Amare to leave, but I can guarantee you every single season he has improved his game the kid is a work horse, and he will continue to improve. I think he just needs that defensive minded coach, and players who can guide him.
Somehow, I just don't believe that
Amare is acting too strange for me to believe that either he has rejected the extension or believes it won’t be enough to his liking…
"I especially liked the part where I dunked on the McDonalds All-American dude..."
Anonymous high-school player after a Virginia basketball state championship game...
Seems like he's mentally checked out already.
Steve Nash, the league's MVP, is a longhaired Canadian who spoke out against the war in Iraq and reads The Communist Manifesto. Quentin Richardson declared after a game-winning shot that it "was like Hamlet. It was a suspense thriller, and I killed them at the end." Amare Stoudemire, when asked to comment on a 22-point third quarter against the Kings, said, "I've got a tendency to jump over some guys' heads and throw it down."
+1
I don’t blame Stoudemire for much either, but he is so unemotional that he almost makes me want a player like Rasheed Wallace whose emotions are usually out of control.
by species8473 on Feb 11, 2010 10:44 AM MST up reply actions
Careful...
I am not sure what is going on in STAT’s head right now…I guess what we need right now we need Steve Nash to throw some trash cans and smash some stuff in the locker room to get everyone’s focus back on…
"I especially liked the part where I dunked on the McDonalds All-American dude..."
Anonymous high-school player after a Virginia basketball state championship game...
Could it be that Steve Nash is, regrettably, too laid-back?
by species8473 on Feb 11, 2010 11:05 AM MST up reply actions
Unfortunately, you may be right....
When you got a team full of California Surfer mentality it kinda hurts…We may nead a player with a near pyschopathic level of intensity…Andres Nocioni would be nice…
"I especially liked the part where I dunked on the McDonalds All-American dude..."
Anonymous high-school player after a Virginia basketball state championship game...
Yes, absolutely, and when it became necessary to Shawn Marion, I hoped a trade could bring Nocioni.
California surfer basketball…hmm. May I share a quotation? I found this in a basketball history book about fifteen years ago.
“Basketball should not be permitted in Southern California. It’s too warm there. The beaches are too golden. … basketball is an eastern, city game. It is a game of grime and grunt and sweat. Basketball is for screaming fans who come by subway and in dented sedans, who know the strategies as well as they know their birth dates. It is not a game for polite applauders who arrive in sleek convertibles and think of it merely as a diversion.” —Merv Harris [whoever that was]
by species8473 on Feb 11, 2010 11:36 AM MST up reply actions
What about Ron Ron?
Dude be crazy. He even still shows signs of being crazy.
Bright Side of the Sun, for all things Phoenix Suns. Twitter: @iamtrevorpaxton
by Trevor Paxton on Feb 12, 2010 9:06 AM MST up reply actions
Upset????
Dude, we we playing at home against a team that arrived at 3AM in the morning on the tail of a back to back….The Suns should have been arrested for the abuse they potentially could have put on this team! Instead we let them come in here confident, knock our heads around, and call us “bitch” . Forget the 108-101 score, the Blazers dominated the game for virtually all of it…The second quarter was especially painful to watch…
"I especially liked the part where I dunked on the McDonalds All-American dude..."
Anonymous high-school player after a Virginia basketball state championship game...
Please don't remind me...
It’s was bad enough considering the circumtances…
"I especially liked the part where I dunked on the McDonalds All-American dude..."
Anonymous high-school player after a Virginia basketball state championship game...
and both centers
No Brandon Roy, no Greg Oden, no Joel Przybilla, no Travis Outlaw, and a hobbled Jerryd Bayless.
Everyone here should take a note from this game
Dunks, flashy plays, and gaudy individual box-scores don’t win games.
What is needed to win a game is a team effort, with everyone highly motivated, playing unselfishly by helping out their teammates, and not worrying about your own stats. It’s also important to play loosely, without mental tension.
Look at what the Blazers did tonight, without their star players. Same goes for the Lakers, who crushed the Jazz (who were on a 9 game win streak), in SLC, without Kobe or Stones.
Look at Amare’s or even Nash’s box score, and understand how little those numbers matter in the end. Contrast those numbers with the effort on the floor, and see how little they seem to correlate.
If you can absorb all that, you might understand what this game is really about.
"True glory consists of doing what deserves to be written, and writing what deserves to be read".
by Pliny the Elder on Feb 11, 2010 12:33 AM MST reply actions
Hate to say this but i...
saw this one coming from a mile away. Everytime Suns come up with a good streak and people start talking how good the Suns are or how theyve turned the corner they come up with a big loss (or losses) against a lesser team (or one w/ more players on the injured list). Remember the 14-3 start or the late December wins against the Lakers and a couple of other contenders followed by losses?
This makes option to trade Amare looking better and better even if we get back only half his value on the short term. Its becoming clearer this team just cant break thru even just the second tier of the league.
Its not that big of a deal fellas
We had one game in the middle of a two week break, I don’t care what team was in that spot last night all of them probably would have lost.
I would have rather seen the Suns completely check out last night and not play starters in the second half, it would have been more beneficial in my eyes to see them take their rest so they (mostly Nash) can continue mentally and physically until the end of the season. Its not as though Portland is a better team, so who cares.
And most importantly we saw Phoenix play 5 REALLY TOUGH games prior to this, and they played HARD so to give them the night off in the middle of their vacation is okay to me.
DON"T make this into a bigger deal than it has to be—— you guys are as bad as tweener girls.
Hahah...you just +1'd yourself.
:)
Bright Side of the Sun, for all things Phoenix Suns. Twitter: @iamtrevorpaxton
by Trevor Paxton on Feb 12, 2010 9:07 AM MST up reply actions
+1
Agree. The schedule makers hosed us. Come off of a road trip and yeah you want a couple days off. But to have that much time, then play 1 game, knowing you then have another break….silly. It’s not an excuse but agree that you had to see this coming. The other point is that the Blazers got embarrassed the night before. So not only were the Suns rusty, not only were they checked out for the all star break, but they’re playing a team that was pissed and had something to prove. Perfect storm for an L.
by FunInTheSun on Feb 11, 2010 11:18 AM MST up reply actions
this happens to every team at times...
can’t complain about the schedule… everyone has to play 82 games in the given time frame
Then again...you may have missed something...
I think this shows that this Suns team needs a bit of OOOMPH to get them over the hump…. Not sure how to get it, but in order to go anywhere this year or any other..The Suns need a mindset that they can and should win every game…Right now I see a team that gets happy being a few games over .500…That’s just not going to get the job done…
"I especially liked the part where I dunked on the McDonalds All-American dude..."
Anonymous high-school player after a Virginia basketball state championship game...
this surely cannot all be put on amare's back
hustling and team chemistry does not depend on one man, we’ve seen it vs. dallas… if amare is the sole problem it would have been so easy to fix it… so for me it is hard to understand that they played this one without intensity and heart… come on, lou, hill, lopez, dragic,m dudley, hell even jrich can do much batter in hustling and rebounding dept, and if they give it all and lose, so be it, noone would complain…
this team is killing us, just when we thought we are back…
Is there
more going on with Amare than we know? This whole situation seems odd. From an outsider looking in it would appear that the Suns should sign Amare. I don’t know there is something not right besides Amare wanting more money then he deserves, hell every athlete is like that. This just has been an odd trip.
Four days off, lose to a injury laden team in the Blazers, then the All star break, just a bad taste for over a week now.
I did not see the game last night, how did Cunningham look last night? I am a Nova guy, and really wanted him here in Phoenix. Would be a good player off the bench.
Most disappointing?
Running the offense through Amundsun in the high post.
Majerle must’ve called that play.
Mmmmm ... Guinness
what?
Are you trying to say Dan Majerle is no good as an assistant coach? If you are, I’m not complaining, because I am no Dan Majerle homer.
by species8473 on Feb 11, 2010 10:47 AM MST up reply actions
Just one loss...
I’m sure we will rip off 4 or 5 in a row again at some point. We are streaky and bound to lose a couple disapointing ones at times.
I would like to see us get a guy like Reggie Evans from Minny or some beast on the glass and on D. We will make the playoffs but I just wish this team had some edge to it.
Don’t give up hope!
here's the thing about this one
it wasn’t just one lose and that’s why Gentry was so pissed as well
It is one thing to play hard and lose to a team that gets hot or whatever but for a team that had 4 days off to come out that flat and play with so little energy or intensity goes beyond one simple “L” in the column.
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @sethpo
by Seth Pollack on Feb 11, 2010 9:17 AM MST up reply actions
You know what its like to come back from Spring Break back to school.
Imagine going back to school for 1 day in the middle of Spring Break, you’d be checked out mentally as well I sure know I would be.
We saw them play against 5 better teams the 5 prior games, and win, I think this loss is overstated.
hmmm
except we aren’t talking about school age kids here. We are talking about professionals who demand huge salaries.
I don’t think there’s ever an excuse for not playing hard. On some occasions – long road trips, back to backs, etc – maybe. But this is a team that’s in a dog fight for the playoffs.
What does it say about their character and make up that they would be mentally checked out as you suggest?
No, that might be fine for kids in the middle of spring break or whatever, but not for a team with a combined payroll of over $60m
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @sethpo
by Seth Pollack on Feb 11, 2010 9:33 AM MST up reply actions
I couldn’t agree more Seth, but I don’t see too many teams that would get down to business the way I’d like them to get down to business night in and night out.
Garnett, Whole Spurs team, Kobe and that may be it. I wouldn’t even put Lebron in that mix.
It says mountains about their character, no doubt about that, but in the grand scheme of things they are just like every other team in the NBA—- they are a bunch of really young rich kids.
I think this is a bigger argument than we are discussing. For example why don’t we put twenty something year olds in charge of Fortune 500 companies? I know of a few really talented twenty somethings that could run some of these big banks that have failed better than their management who is running things. They could come in with a fresh (and untainted) outlook of the industry as a whole. But would you put someone so young in that position?
Point is CEO’s of large Companies are compete nut jobs, workaholic, antisocial, nut jobs, no families, friends just work————-These people can be compared to the Garnett’s or Kobe’s in that respect which are wonderful to run a business or a team. But are unrealistic expectations to ask of a human being.
The NBA holds kids accountable for an entire franchise where even winning gets criticized. (If you exceed expected growth in business you don’t get criticized you get promoted.)
It has to be tough, so if these kids take a game off in the middle of their vacation I can live with that—- They gave me 5 solid wins to take us from 9th spot in the West to 5th spot—- one loss isn’t going to turn me off from the Suns.
I don't think none of us will get turned off...We just expect better...
I really feel this team has the potential to win the NBA championship…It just that there’s a mindset on the Suns that seems to float like Tyrus Thomas in the 2nd quarter…Up a few, down a few…That not how great teams get it done…Great teams come expecting to pulverize folks (especially at home) and play accordingly. Even when they lose, they play hard.
Some nights, I cringe watching the Suns…It’s like they decided in the locker room that this game gets a “C” effort or less…It just ain’t gonna work in the long run if you want to win a championship..
"I especially liked the part where I dunked on the McDonalds All-American dude..."
Anonymous high-school player after a Virginia basketball state championship game...
Reread my post, I think you missed the point i was trying to make. If you are expecting every team to come out every night like its the Super Bowl you are expecting too much no team can give you that every game.
I get what you are saying, but did not say we were a great team, I have not seen a great NBA team in a bunch of years. But again it doesn’t take a great NBA team to win a title.
True, but they have to have a winner's mindest
Right now, I just don’t see it.
"I especially liked the part where I dunked on the McDonalds All-American dude..."
Anonymous high-school player after a Virginia basketball state championship game...
But you saw the winning mindset in the prior 5 games… so now it just disappears all of a sudden?? I don’t think so I think other forces are at work here, trade talk, uneasiness in unknowing the future of the franchise (which will be determined in a few days), Spring Break… I think there is a lot more going on than just “they feel like being lazy”
suns
As a Blazer fan I was apprehensive about the game because of how the Blazers got pulverized by OKC the night before, at home no less, largely on the strength of an awesome defense. And commentators were saying Phoenix is a much-improved team on the defensive end.
If they are it sure wasn’t evident last night. Clearly you guys still have tremendous offensive ability, although it wound up being too little to late in this particular instance.
But defense? Sure didn’t see any in this game. Of course, I shouldn’t read too much into one game. After all, if one judged the Blazers’ offense by the OKC game you would conclude these guys can’t hit the broadside of a barn, whereas if you judged based on the Suns game you would think this Blazer team is a bunch of sharpshooters like the Suns.
Dante Cunningham
" I did not see the game last night, how did Cunningham look last night? I am a Nova guy, and really wanted him here in Phoenix. Would be a good player off the bench"
He was excellent. My only team loyalties are right now are Blazers and Beavers, but I am so impressed with Cunningham I am starting to become a Villanova fan.
One thing
that Jay Wright at Nova teaches, play hard, if you don’t you sit. Cunningham plays hard, 4 year senior. Good role player.
Same deal with Pendergraph and Herb Sendek.
Herb has done a fantastic job at ASU. Pendergraph is another one of those players that comes into the game and goes all out.
I was thrilled when he wound up in Portland over Sacramento. Portland is a much better environment for younger players…at least I think so. McMillan knows what he’s doing over there. Well, aside from the first half of the season when he kept Andre Miller on the bench.
Bright Side of the Sun, for all things Phoenix Suns. Twitter: @iamtrevorpaxton
by Trevor Paxton on Feb 12, 2010 9:12 AM MST up reply actions
one factor
This may be a big part of why the Suns lost:
PHOENIX _ The final boxscore from the Trail Blazers’ stunning 108-101 victory at Phoenix on Wednesday says that Blazers veteran Juwan Howard had 10 points, 5 rebounds and 0 assists.
Little did the official scorer realize, Howard also deserved one very big assist.
See, the roots of this victory – the first in the last 10 games here – were planted by Howard the night before, shortly after the Blazers were humbled 89-77 by Oklahoma City in the Rose Garden.
Behind the Blazers locker room door, before the coaching staff entered, Howard went on a tirade in front of his teammates.
He cursed. He yelled. And he demolished a huge tub that players soak their feet in after games.
"It was shocking,’’ rookie Dante Cunningham said. "It was, ‘WHOA! HO!’ I mean, there was water and ice flying everywhere. It was like, ‘OK, maybe we really did something wrong.’ We all sat back and thought about it. I think it got everybody’s attention.’’
According to the Blazers players, that attention – and that tension – held throughout the team’s flight to Phoenix. And when McMillan assembled the team for a morning viewing of the Oklahoma City game, every player was intent on learning from what Howard called "the horror film."
thanks for sharing that
please in the future post a link back to the original source…want to give people credit for their work :)
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @sethpo
by Seth Pollack on Feb 11, 2010 9:36 AM MST up reply actions
If there's one thing we've learned about the Suns team this year:
They’re going to be consistently inconsistent. The people who say “It’s just one game, they’ll bounce back!” are just as wrong/right as the people who say “It’s just one win, they’ll tank again!” … the team is what it is. And as a result, I think it’s ti
Would trading Amare make us more consistent?
Furthermore, if we trade both Amare and JRich, we are getting rid of two starters. Wouldn’t that completely destory the rest of the season? Man…Steve Kerr’s job is not easy.
No offense, but this sort of comment
Is why Kerr has the worst job in the world. Phoenix fans are so bandwagon-y and “in the moment” that it makes it very difficult to begin a rebuilding process, even if it’s sorely necessary. Very few fans in this state have any concept of delayed gratification.
To use possibly a poor metaphor: way too many fans are like the 18 year old who just graduated college and would rather have a $10/hour job immediately than wait to go through and finish college and end up with a $25/hour job.
No, trading Amare right now will not make the team more consistent this season, and likely will eradicate our playoff hopes. However, a few years down the line, after we’ve developed our young players, made a few more sound draft picks, developed a proper team philosophy and vision, and grown together, we could very well be looking at the start of a new championship window, instead of continually sticking our toe in the closing door of an old championship window, but never really able to pry it open again.
I agree with everything you said except...
You are basically saying we should also trade Nash, Grant, and all the old-timers. “Old championship window”, “a few years down the line” – these apply to those guys as much as Amare. Again, I am not saying we should not be patient….but just that trading Amare for draft picks have a bigger implication than it appears.
Well, I agree with your point.
But there are reasons why Amare would be traded before Nash and Grant. Both of those guys are around to be mentors for the “new guard” so to speak. They’re there to ease the transition. Since Amare is still in his prime and may not be a piece going forward, he’s much easier to trade and can get us back the most value. Obviously, you’d love to trade Amare for a Bosh, but that’s just not going to happen. So, he needs to be traded for what’s going to help us rebuild, which is cap flexibility, draft picks, and hopefully some young talent that’s actually viable.
The way I see it...
We are still a Nash-led team. But the problem is that I don’t think he can play well with new starters in mid-season. As such, we are wasting away whatever he’s got left. For the record, I love Nash and even try to make my hair look like his style. :P
All I am saying is that if we want to trade Amare because he has trade values now or he walks and we get nothing, then do it. We just need to worry about the consequences on the remaining of this year and even next year.
However, don’t say we trade Amare because he is hindering our “rebuilding process”. We are not rebuilding yet, not when the team still very much depends on Nash.
Ow. We’re not all bandwagoners; some of us sort of cheerfully watched the 2003-04 season. My interpretation is that because almost none of us have Mr. Pollack’s insider position, we constantly struggle to understand what’s going on in the closed organization that a professional basketball team always is.
by species8473 on Feb 11, 2010 10:51 AM MST up reply actions
Not all fans are like that, so I apologize for that.
Just saying, Phoenix is worse than a lot of markets when it comes to having loyal fans.
I know…I hate that too. But there’s absolutely nothing anyone can do about it, is there?
by species8473 on Feb 11, 2010 11:06 AM MST up reply actions
No it probably wont, but...
What else would you have us to do…? sit around and hope this team gets it collective head out of its butt??? I dunno, I just don’t think it’s going to happen….
"I especially liked the part where I dunked on the McDonalds All-American dude..."
Anonymous high-school player after a Virginia basketball state championship game...
Bad Loss
However, I am not and will not hop onto the trade amare bandwagon. Last nights lost was a team effort just like all the wins were a team effort. Let him finish the season with nash and see what they can do. Mayb they will surprise us all then everyone can begin to praise how they knew all along lol
I wouldn’t have made out a possible 6 game winning streak going into the all-star break to be that great anyway considering that a trade will happen. I just think its time we move Amar’e.
This summer was the time
that deal w/ the Warrior…ugh
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @sethpo
by Seth Pollack on Feb 11, 2010 4:49 PM MST up reply actions
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