Robin Lopez vs. Channing Frye

by ArizonaBornandBred on Mar 4, 2010 2:39 AM MST

We all know what the pros and the cons are with each player, but let's have a quick (let me emphasize quick) review:

Robin Lopez
Pros
Very good presence around the rim - maybe not the best defender or offensive contributor, but having Brook Lopez as a twin and a competitor sure helped form his game. And let's not forget going against Shaq in practice last year, where he would complain about being too old to take Robin's abuse. And apparently, he's got transition D.
Gets his looks - when you play with a two-time MVP, you will get your looks... and he converts them. His are in the paint, where the Suns sometimes struggle.

Cons
Foul trouble - not so much the case as of late, but he'll foul himself right out of the gate. It's almost astonishing, it's like one second Robin is the most focused person on the court, and then the next second he's on the bench.
Non-existent perimeter presence - you think Robin will ever make... wait, even try a three? He's smarter than that.
Free throws - he has got to convert these. He's going to find himself on the line a lot during his career, he should take a lesson from "Shaqovic" and make his free throws.

Channing Frye
Pros
He has roots - He played at St. Mary's... he's a homegrown talent.
Shoots 3's like a cyborg - what kind of robot goes 7-10 behind the arc off the bench? He will create some match-up problems if the other team doesn't put a man on him.

Cons
Defense - just in general. Sure, he will block shots and make steals and deflect passes, but anybody who watches the Suns will know the frustration. Ticky-tack fouls, blow-bys, missed assignments, Frye brings it all.
Size - Frye against Dwight... Frye against Bynum... Frye against Duncan... Frye against Kaman... Frye against Nene... Frye against Shaq... Frye against _________________.

I have more to say about about Robin Lopez, which should hint at my bias.

What else am I forgetting?

Poll

Who is the better option at center?

Channing Frye: the name of the game is offense, and that's what he brings

2 votes

Robin Lopez: he's big, strong, and just what we need to keep the big guys out of the paint.

44 votes

Neither: if we have to have an offense/defense trade-off, let's go with Stoudemire and Amundson in the critical stretches.

2 votes

F*** it, Frye at the 4 and RoLo at the 5!

9 votes

I ain't thinking about this, I'm leaving it to Alvin Gentry to solve this one for me.

7 votes

There's a better option, but I'm keeping it a secret.

5 votes

69 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Lopez, if you twist my arm

But I really like BOTH together. They are a great tandem because the other team has to scheme completely different for each player.

by Alex Laugan on Mar 4, 2010 7:39 AM MST reply actions

I like how it is now

Lopez is much better setting the tone as a starter, and Frye is much better as offense off the bench.

by jburning on Mar 4, 2010 8:44 AM MST reply actions

This is a no brainer....

Frye is too awful at the things you need a C to be good at… Frye should only play next to someone who is good on the boards…

by Superelkman on Mar 4, 2010 8:55 AM MST reply actions

Robin Lopez dated Michelle Wie

Nuff said

Steve Nash plays D!!

by phxsuns on Mar 5, 2010 5:59 PM MST reply actions

Paradox

I love both guys for what they contribute to the team, and honestly, the best way for both to produce, is to have both on the court at the same time…. but we never do that.

Channing is a great offensive player if we define his role. Put yourself in his shoes, it’s kind of hard to succeed when you’re asked to do so much. He started off the season on fire, but then he was asked to rebound and take it into the rim more, but that’s not his style of play, but he’s gotta do what he’s gotta do to make his checks. Also, he only started off hot, because he got big time minutes with Nash. Now you take him off the bench, he doesn’t get time to play with Nash, so he doesn’t get his open look 3’s, and he can’t create by facing up to the rim like Amare. He also has decent back to the post footwork, expecially on mismatches, but he veers away from that look depending on what AG wants. PICK A ROLE FOR HIM AND FORCE HIM TO DO IT, stop asking for everything from him, he’s not a max contract player. Just because our other max contract player is incapable of doing anything else but score and rebound (sometimes) doesn’t mean we should lay everything on Lou, Channing, and RLo.

Lopez D’s welll and should get playtime because he’s valuable in the paint and around the rim. One thing I don’t like is seeing his post possessions, he needs to work on that fundamental hook shot, and get some loft in it before he just lobs it up.

This is why I don’t mind losing Amare, becuase I feel as though a starting lineup of nash, jrich(as he is playing now), ghill, frye, and lopez, can compete. The only thing we lose with losing amare is his athleticism, and 40% iso possessions that he wants all the time. To be honest, those are not high quality possessions, start counting them, sure he goes to the line or finishes 80% of the time. But against good defenders, that goes down to about 60%. He’ll either turn the ball over, or miss the shot. If he doesn’t do that, he’ll go to the line and convert 1 out of the 2 throws. His free throws have dropped, no one can deny it.

I want nash, jrich, ghill, frye, and lopez, with amare off the bench until we ship his ass, but this wont happen, which concludes my paradox

by vdub on Mar 8, 2010 4:41 PM MST reply actions