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Around SBN: Despite Relocation Drama, Coyotes Overcome Adversity

Suns going back to 7SOL?

For those who remember, the 7SOL Suns of yester-year were created out of necessity more than anything.  Star Center, and offensive juggernaut Amare Stoudemire had gone down for the season after microfracture surgery on his knee.  Suns fans and media members alike were writing off the Suns entire season.  And then the Suns put together a masterful regular season, and exceeded expectations in the playoffs, playing undersized and overquick in transition offense.

Suddenly, Amare's knees are in the news again, and the Suns find themselves without that offensive centerpiece again.  It seems logical that they might try to go the same route this season that they did before... small and fast.

Star-divide

But, there are other indications that the Suns might be returning to their old run-n-gunnin ways:

1)  The Suns' wish-list of players to pursue in free agency.

Namely, Amir Johnson & Hakim Warrick.  By now, you probably know that Warrick is an undersized PF (6'9" 219 lbs) who relies on quickness and leaping ability, and is known for his ability to finish in the open court.  You may not be as familiar with Amir Johnson.  He is a strikingly similar player, a natural runner and leaper at 6'9 and 210 lbs.

Why are the Suns targeting multiple PF's of the same undersized build?

2)  The sudden departure of Steve Kerr.

With the thinking that 7SOL couldn't win it all, Kerr was brought in to change the ideology of the Suns.  Kerr it was who drafted 7' Robin Lopez, transformed Shawn Marion into Shaquille O'Neal, hired Terry Porter, and insisted on a more defensive mindset.

If the Suns are going back to a 7SOL system, it would represent a fundamental shift in the philosophy of the team.  It would be a scrapping of the ideology, and legacy of Steve Kerr in Phoenix.  Is this why Steve Kerr left Phoenix, a month after expressing his continuing desire to be here?

3)  Too many Wings

Grant Hill, Jason Richardson, Josh Childress, Hedo Turkoglu, Jared Dudley, Earl Clark.  Why do the Suns have this many rotation players to fill 2 wing spots?  Turkoglu has already been mentioned by the organization to spend time at PF.  Clark has previously played there despite being undersized for it.  Even Dudley spent some time at PF at times last year when Gentry went small, having played the position in college.

Do we have 6 small forwards because we plan on playing undersized regularly throughout the year?

4)  Goodbye Leando, Hello J-Chill

Leandro Barbosa was shopped this offseason, and the reasons we were told had to do with paying luxury tax, getting far enough under the cap to get a good player, and that he wasn't needed, with Dragic hopefully getting more minutes at the SG, as well as PG position.

We then went out and signed Childress for a nearly identical amount of money, ostensibly to play the same position as Barbosa, even though nobody in their right mind here or in the Suns organization is hoping to see Dragic's minutes reduced.

Is it because Childress will see minutes at the SF position in a small ball scheme?

And, we'll end with a poll, because every good post needs one of those:

Poll
Should the Suns return to the 7SOL offensive scheme?
Yes, they can compete for a championship that way
33 votes
Yes, it's their best option for the coming season
35 votes
No, 7SOL will never compete for a title
41 votes
No, the Suns don't have the right personnel for it
7 votes
Other (explain)
7 votes

123 votes | Poll has closed

Comment 18 comments  |  0 recs  | 

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noooooo!

The new Suns style was working! Defense is good! Gooooooooddddd!

by 8472species on Jul 27, 2010 8:13 PM MST reply actions  

It's gonna be SSOL

Seven seconds or Lopez!

sex is like math: you add the bed, subtract the clothes, divide the legs and pray you dont multiply!

by Spit_Fire on Jul 27, 2010 9:00 PM MST reply actions  

Lol

I’m guessing the halfcourt game (when there is one) consists of Nash & Lopez running high screen-rolls, too.

by jc79 on Jul 27, 2010 9:23 PM MST up reply actions  

What if Robin Lopez made the mistake of trying to replace Amare Stoudemire rather than being Robin Lopez?

by 8472species on Jul 27, 2010 9:31 PM MST up reply actions  

That will depend on who's he playing along with

If Nash sets him up, then we may have a 7 footer Stoudemire who defends.

sex is like math: you add the bed, subtract the clothes, divide the legs and pray you dont multiply!

by Spit_Fire on Jul 28, 2010 7:19 AM MST up reply actions  

actually

Warrick is reportedly a good pnr man – can roll to basket and make jumpers.

And, Turkoglu is great at setting up the pnr.

So it won’t just be Nash/Lopez

Blogging Suns Basketball at Bright Side of the Sun

by Alex Laugan on Jul 28, 2010 7:32 AM MST up reply actions  

I have my doubts about Warricks abililty to set big enough screens

…but I hope to be pleasantly surprised.

Turkoglu handling on the high screen roll seems like a given – though I expect it to be Frye or maybe Lopez setting the screen still (and one of the guards coming off a screen for the catch and shoot on the opposite side a la Orlando).

by jc79 on Jul 28, 2010 9:14 AM MST up reply actions  

I thought

It was 12 seconds or less now, I still think our Suns can play fast or slow, they just have to play together and good D, we are undersized at PF but teams will be over sized lol.

by Lyken84 on Jul 27, 2010 11:31 PM MST reply actions  

yes!

Chemistry and defense.

by 8472species on Jul 28, 2010 1:31 AM MST up reply actions  

BTW

Dudley has NEVER played PF for us.
There were time when
Dragic/Nash Rich/barbs Dudly Hill lopez/frye/Lou
were on the floor. Dudly was either playing the 3 or 2.. Hill HAS moved over to the 4 in small ball lineups.(dont need a 7ft PF for zone really)

by Will Smith on Jul 27, 2010 11:41 PM MST reply actions  

Dudley has guarded PFs for us

Bosh, Nowitzki, Aldridge i definitely remember him guarding those guys and not in a zone last year.

by DaveJD on Jul 28, 2010 4:59 AM MST up reply actions  

7SOL was created by D'Antoni's desire to play fast like he did in Italy..

He got with the team in ean 2004 camp and asked them if they wanted to throw out the traditional line-up concept and play the five best players on the court as starters…Viola! Nash, J.J, QRich, Marion, and STAT became the beasts of 2004/2005…

STAT may be gone but the Suns will rise....!

by Daryl Ray on Jul 28, 2010 5:02 AM MST reply actions  

I have always believed that 7SOL could have won a ring if only they had stick to it

Just like the Spurs stuck with their sleepy offense. Also if D’Antoni lengthened his rotation from 7 to at least 9 players.

sex is like math: you add the bed, subtract the clothes, divide the legs and pray you dont multiply!

by Spit_Fire on Jul 28, 2010 7:23 AM MST up reply actions  

you make it sound like the Suns just chose to drop the SSOL against the Spurs

when that was not the case, as I recall. The Spurs defense geared itself to slow the Suns, and the Suns were not as equipped to overcome it.

Blogging Suns Basketball at Bright Side of the Sun

by Alex Laugan on Jul 28, 2010 7:33 AM MST up reply actions  

What I meant was

The front office should have signed those players back to give them another run.

sex is like math: you add the bed, subtract the clothes, divide the legs and pray you dont multiply!

by Spit_Fire on Jul 28, 2010 9:49 AM MST up reply actions  

Well 1) Sarver screwed up with JJ....

2) Believing the Suns need more toughness, they traded QRich for Kurt thomas (I always thought QRich was undervalued…) and finally Amare had the knee injury during the off-season.

Not sure if it could have been prevented…

STAT may be gone but the Suns will rise....!

by Daryl Ray on Jul 28, 2010 12:44 PM MST up reply actions  

I'm fine with the offense we have now.

This Suns team still runs plenty, but the offense is a lot more balanced. They run to see if they have a good shot, and if not they slow it down and work the ball around. Frolo, Warrick, and maybe even Lawal will need to step up and provide the P&R game and even some post offense (in the case of Robin). If they can do that, they’ll be fine.

As for being under-sized, I think it will be fine in most situations. There are a lot more teams with stretch 4 or 5s than there are with 2 good post players. Robin can guard the post and Hedo can guard the perimeter big. I expect to see more zone, and I expect to see a lot of switching.

jc79 does bring up a good point though. Grant and J-Rich are very good rebounders and will be expected to pick up some of Hedo’s slack in that department. If we have 4 guys crashing the boards, who is going to run out?

by Omaha Sun on Aug 18, 2010 8:02 PM MST reply actions  

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