Phoenix Suns Vs. New York Knicks Game Preview

by Wil Cantrell on Jan 18, 2012 1:08 PM MST in Phoenix Suns: Game Coverage

And on to the next stop of a 5 game roadie from hell. The Phoenix Suns park themselves in Madison Square Garden tonight to face the New York Knicks, a night after getting thrashed by the Chicago Bulls.

While the Suns have lost 5 straight games, the Knicks have lost 3 in a row. Two of the three losses were away from MSG and to quality WC foes, Oklahoma City (in which Carmelo Anthony did not play), and Memphis.

While the Suns are a squad in need of a little star power, defense, offense, and of course rebounding, the Knicks are a team with part of the equation, along with a youngster, Iman Shumpert, whose playing pretty dang well right now. Remember Shumpert? Remember how the Suns were thinking of...sigh...never mind I guess, but this leads to the next thought...Start Keef on Stoudemire. Why not? May as well get the youngster some experience playing against an offensive beast with average at best rebounding and defensive abilities. Keef is just the type of kid to out hustle Amare, frustrate him into committing some stupid fouls, and keep him out of the paint where he can come from the weak side to challenge shots inside. Plus he's coming off of kind of a crappy game. Why not give Morris him a chance to shake that one off and gain some confidence against his predecessor. Just a thought.

			FG			3PT			FT			Rebounds			Misc
	G	M	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	Off	Def	Tot	Ast	TO	Stl	Blk	PF	PPG
Carmelo Anthony	12	34.7	8.6	20.1	42.7	1.6	4.7	33.9	7.3	8.8	83.0	1.3	5.0	6.3	4.3	3.3	1.4	0.4	3.0	26.1
Amare Stoudemire	11	33.1	6.5	15.4	42.0	0.4	0.9	40.0	4.6	5.9	78.5	2.0	5.5	7.5	1.2	2.5	1.3	0.4	3.1	17.9
Iman Shumpert	9	31.0	4.6	12.3	36.9	1.0	3.6	28.1	1.7	1.8	93.8	0.1	3.3	3.4	3.2	2.7	2.3	0.4	2.8	11.8
Tyson Chandler	13	33.0	2.8	4.0	69.2	0.0	0.0	0.0	4.5	5.6	80.8	3.4	5.5	8.9	1.1	1.5	1.0	1.4	2.9	10.1
Toney Douglas	13	23.8	3.7	11.2	33.1	1.0	4.2	23.6	1.1	1.2	87.5	0.4	1.9	2.3	2.5	1.7	1.2	0.0	1.8	9.5
Landry Fields	13	29.9	2.8	6.8	42.0	0.5	2.2	21.4	1.1	1.7	63.6	0.5	3.2	3.6	2.7	1.9	1.4	0.2	1.9	7.2
Josh Harrellson	13	19.5	2.2	5.2	41.8	1.1	2.9	36.8	0.3	0.5	57.1	1.4	2.9	4.3	0.5	0.7	0.8	0.5	1.3	5.7
Bill Walker	13	19.5	1.8	4.3	42.9	0.8	2.8	30.6	0.3	0.5	66.7	0.3	1.9	2.2	1.5	0.8	0.7	0.2	3.2	4.8
Mike Bibby	10	16.6	1.5	3.8	39.5	1.0	2.5	40.0	0.4	0.4	100.0	0.1	1.2	1.3	2.0	0.7	0.5	0.0	1.8	4.4
Renaldo Balkman	8	10.3	1.4	2.9	47.8	0.1	0.6	20.0	0.9	1.1	77.8	0.6	2.0	2.6	0.5	0.3	0.3	0.4	1.3	3.8
Jared Jeffries	3	20.0	1.0	3.3	30.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	2.0	50.0	1.7	1.3	3.0	0.7	1.0	1.0	1.0	3.3	3.0
Steve Novak	7	9.9	1.0	2.3	43.8	0.7	1.9	38.5	0.1	0.1	100.0	0.0	0.9	0.9	0.3	0.3	0.0	0.1	1.0	2.9
Jeremy Lin	5	3.0	0.4	1.0	40.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	1.2	83.3	0.2	0.2	0.4	0.4	0.6	0.2	0.0	1.0	1.8
Jerome Jordan	6	4.7	0.5	1.5	33.3	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.3	0.3	100.0	0.8	0.5	1.3	0.5	0.0	0.0	0.2	0.7	1.3

More Fun With Numbers:

While the Suns began the season boasting top 10 ranks in defense and rebounding, we have seen those encouraging trends take a major dump. The Knicks, on the other hand, rank near the middle in both offense and defense as well. The very handy 82games.com provides an interesting look at the Mike D'Antoni led squad:

Knicks Shot Clock Usage

	Offense				Defense
Secs.	Att.	eFG%	Ast	Pts	Att.	eFG%	Ast	Pts
0-10	42%	.518	47%	34.4	35%	.552	55%	30.7
11-15	29%	.448	64%	20.5	24%	.417	64%	15.5
16-20	18%	.391	62%	11.5	26%	.453	59%	18.5
21+	11%	.428	62%	7.5	15%	.511	47%	12.3

Check out what happens in 0-10 seconds for the Knicks. Their highest FG%, the majority of their points and assists. So D'Antoni.

And while we're all trying to figure out a way to win a game, and thus, determine the best personnel at the best time with which to do that, here's something to make y'all think. What can you make out of this? A paper hat? Lining for your birdcage? Or maybe there's a magic formula in there. If so, let me know, heck maybe let Alvin Gentry know:

Suns Top Five-Man Floor Units

#	Unit	Min	Off	Def	+/-	W	L	Win%
1	Nash-Dudley-Hill-Frye-Gortat	141.3	1.08	0.94	+41	6	3	66.6
2	Price-Brown-Morris-Warrick-Lopez	41.8	1.17	1.04	+7	3	4	42.8
3	Nash-Dudley-Hill-Morris-Gortat	27.3	1.06	0.85	+10	4	4	50.0
4	Price-Brown-Childress-Warrick-Lopez	18.0	1.06	1.13	-2	1	2	33.3
5	Telfair-Brown-Morris-Warrick-Lopez	14.7	1.04	1.23	-7	1	2	33.3
6	Nash-Brown-Dudley-Frye-Gortat	13.6	0.69	1.03	-10	2	2	50.0
7	Nash-Redd-Dudley-Frye-Gortat	10.6	1.27	1.36	-2	0	1	0.0
8	Nash-Dudley-Hill-Warrick-Gortat	10.3	0.87	1.18	-6	0	3	0.0
9	Telfair-Brown-Childress-Morris-Lopez	9.8	0.74	1.05	-6	0	1	0.0
10	Nash-Dudley-Hill-Morris-Frye	9.6	1.42	1.18	+7	1	0	100
11	Telfair-Price-Morris-Warrick-Lopez	8.6	1.50	0.63	+17	2	0	100
12	Nash-Dudley-Hill-Morris-Lopez	8.3	1.23	1.14	+0	0	0	0.0
13	Nash-Brown-Dudley-Morris-Gortat	7.2	1.67	0.85	+9	2	0	100
14	Nash-Brown-Hill-Warrick-Gortat	6.7	1.07	1.17	+1	1	1	50.0
15	Price-Brown-Childress-Morris-Lopez	6.2	0.75	0.92	-2	1	1	50.0
16	Price-Brown-Hill-Morris-Warrick	5.2	2.00	1.20	+6	1	0	100
17	Price-Brown-Morris-Warrick-Frye	5.2	0.90	0.60	+3	1	0	100
18	Price-Brown-Hill-Morris-Lopez	5.1	1.25	0.75	+4	1	1	50.0
19	Price-Brown-Dudley-Warrick-Lopez	5.0	1.00	1.11	-1	1	1	50.0
20	Nash-Childress-Dudley-Frye-Gortat	4.8	0.90	0.80	+1	1	0	100

W = number of games a unit outscored its opponents while on the court.
L = number of games a unit was outscored by its opponents while on the court.

Outlook

Well not that good. No word on whether Nash and Hill will play, but I assume they will, given the opponent. Even with the old guys around it will be difficult to stop or slow STAT, Chandler, and Anthony. But anything's possible, yes? Let us begin with defense. How does an NBA team with a defensive coordinator forget they need to play defense? Is the personnel not there? Did the first several games of the season prove the Suns could play D? YES.

So the guys CAN play defense, they just aren't executing like they can. While the focus is on the NY front line, keep a hand in the faces of Shumpert and fields. Sounds so easy. Offensively, it was nice to see RoLo have a good game. It would also be nice to see our SG's shooting better than 7-20, and our PF's shoot 3-14.

This Suns squad needs to play with some pride, like they have something to lose, because they basically do. This is how teams get broken up-LOSING. And how many times have we seen drastic moves made in the midst of a long losing streak? It happens a lot. For better or worse I think change is imminent if our boys can't salvage something out of this road trip. At the same time, have some freakin' fun. Loosen up. We know Frye and Dudley can find their shots. We know Redd may be a statue out there, but he can hit shots. Shannon Brown? Well he has made a shot, so in theory maybe he can get it going to...But I'd like to see him at the rim instead of beyond the arc at this point.

Oh and lastly...Let the Nash trade rumors begin. It's inevitable. And here is what Nash is going to have to repeat 1,000 times ad nauseum unless he changes his mind:

"I really don't even think about it," (getting traded) Nash said. "I've got a tall task to perform for my team every night and to try to turn this thing around. It hasn't even crossed my mind, really. I'm just concerned with getting some energy for (tonight) and getting a win."

Don't forget to check out the world famous East Bay Ray over at Posting and Toasting's preview.

Game Day Links

Suns vs Knicks preview

Suns vs Knicks coverage

Coro: Hill Sees What Might Have Been

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Comments

Oh god there's another one?

No longer trying to light Vince Carter on fire.

by Scott Howard on Jan 18, 2012 1:10 PM MST reply actions

What is this

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/steve-nash-york-just-six-months-away-191023668.html

Kelly Dwyer just seems to love to top himself.

"Fuck this shit. Is this fucking season over yet? It is? Jesus H. motherfucking Christ on a stick! Get Nick Holt on the phone NOW! Stupid motherfucker forces us to score touchdowns on every possession, and we still can't win the Alamo Bowl? Hey, asshole! It's Steve Sarkisian. You're fucking FIRED, you FUCK!"

by WaveOcean on Jan 18, 2012 1:18 PM MST reply actions

Dwyer is such a good writer.....

Sixty or even 50 wins are certain to follow

Or even 50!

No longer trying to light Vince Carter on fire.

by Scott Howard on Jan 18, 2012 1:22 PM MST up reply actions

Why make trillions when we could make

billions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vohNUTTx3A

by WaveOcean on Jan 18, 2012 1:29 PM MST up reply actions

it's a scientific fact

reading dwyer turns you into a douche

by 2NASHTY on Jan 18, 2012 2:32 PM MST up reply actions

Hahaha

Why is that movie so good!

"If Gortat pulls off a real Dream Shake in-game this year I will shave my head.
Mark my words." Piotr Szczesniak 12/12/11 2:12 PM
Cardinals, Suns, D-backs for life!

by Airwave on Jan 18, 2012 2:38 PM MST up reply actions

Reminds me of this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsRMWsRr8YU

Member of the "Let’s Make FanShots Relevant!" Club

by AcucracK on Jan 18, 2012 2:37 PM MST up reply actions

Sometimes I wish that Moron would top himself

Then we wouldn’t have to tolerate his drivel

Carter having a glazed-eyes contest with Boris Diaw. Carter's winning, but Diaw might respond by eating his eyes.

by NashtySUNS on Jan 18, 2012 4:48 PM MST up reply actions

Wow...

I guess I can add this to my list of “brain cell-killing” activities.

1. Watch Jersey Shore
2. Listen to Lil Wayne music
3. Read Kelly Dwyer
4. Eat peanut butter

I'm a glutton for punishment. That's why I love the Phoenix Suns.

by NashMV3 on Jan 18, 2012 4:51 PM MST up reply actions

Agree wholeheartedly on points 1-3

But point 4….you take that back. You take that back right now.

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."

by rsavaj on Jan 18, 2012 5:13 PM MST up reply actions

Oh trust me.

There’s a reason I eat so much peanut butter. I put that stuff on everything.

I'm a glutton for punishment. That's why I love the Phoenix Suns.

by NashMV3 on Jan 18, 2012 5:30 PM MST up reply actions

Nash-Dudley-Hill-Frye-Gortat best +/- for this team...

Okay , let’s keep t hem on the court for 48 tonight…

We need a win in the worst way…

STAT may be gone but the Suns will rise....! BTW, If positivity is a crime, I plead guilty by reason of T-Bird...!

by Daryl Ray on Jan 18, 2012 1:24 PM MST reply actions

BINGO!

Blogging Suns Basketball. Twitter: @willcantrellphx

by Wil Cantrell on Jan 18, 2012 1:31 PM MST up reply actions

Kind of annoying that none of our players are willing to sell their immortal soul for basketball success.

Sebastian Telfair has to be thinking about it, right?

No longer trying to light Vince Carter on fire.

by Scott Howard on Jan 18, 2012 1:35 PM MST up reply actions

In a way it's a little surprising to me

that the starters have that good of a +/-, since they’ve started off slow in pretty much every game this season and haven’t been able to finish either.

They must be good at playing catch up in the second or third quarter after the bench sucks even worse, or else I’ve been mischaracterizing some of the play.

It was only called the mildly irritated house on McDowell until I showed up.

by Jim Coughenour on Jan 18, 2012 1:38 PM MST up reply actions

I was exactly surprised any collection that the Suns threw on the floor thus far...

Has a positive +/-

It really hasn’t been pretty to watch….

STAT may be gone but the Suns will rise....! BTW, If positivity is a crime, I plead guilty by reason of T-Bird...!

by Daryl Ray on Jan 18, 2012 1:46 PM MST up reply actions

Does anyone watch Coach Nick?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUucGKMktwA&feature=g-u-u&context=G2dbb6e1FUAAAAAAAMAA

by WaveOcean on Jan 18, 2012 1:51 PM MST up reply actions

That surprised me too. It’s been much more true the last few games than the first few.

by BringBackBarkley17 on Jan 18, 2012 2:34 PM MST up reply actions

That is usually what happens

We catch back up and then we are completely stagnant to end the games. I need to look around and see what our numbers are in the last 6ish minutes of games because I have seen some ugly stretches.

"If Gortat pulls off a real Dream Shake in-game this year I will shave my head.
Mark my words." Piotr Szczesniak 12/12/11 2:12 PM
Cardinals, Suns, D-backs for life!

by Airwave on Jan 18, 2012 2:39 PM MST up reply actions

they should play an 8 min 5 on 5 scrimmage before the game.

by 2NASHTY on Jan 18, 2012 2:49 PM MST up reply actions

That would solve all our problems!

As long as we weren’t playing with all of our players haha. Our defense has not looked the best….

"If Gortat pulls off a real Dream Shake in-game this year I will shave my head.
Mark my words." Piotr Szczesniak 12/12/11 2:12 PM
Cardinals, Suns, D-backs for life!

by Airwave on Jan 18, 2012 3:04 PM MST up reply actions

I was thinking of applying to the NBA league office..

for us to get an exemption to play 6 guys on the court at once.. That wil probably shore up our defense a bit…

STAT may be gone but the Suns will rise....! BTW, If positivity is a crime, I plead guilty by reason of T-Bird...!

by Daryl Ray on Jan 18, 2012 3:08 PM MST up reply actions

Yeah

He can’t pass half court haha just for defensive purposes.

"If Gortat pulls off a real Dream Shake in-game this year I will shave my head.
Mark my words." Piotr Szczesniak 12/12/11 2:12 PM
Cardinals, Suns, D-backs for life!

by Airwave on Jan 18, 2012 3:11 PM MST up reply actions

problem solved!

by 2NASHTY on Jan 18, 2012 3:11 PM MST up reply actions

Have you made him the offer yet, Scott?

"The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
"In the long run the pessimist may be proved right, but the optimist has a better time on the trip."

by haremoor on Jan 18, 2012 3:19 PM MST up reply actions

Well, it's nice to see that the people over at Posting and Toasting

who boast a 6-7 team made up of mismatched parts with poor point guard play and no bench think that the Suns are a total fu**ing joke. They think the Suns are slumpbusters and an easy W.

Good job keeping the BSOTS side of the street clean Wil. I really hope the Suns can win after spending a few minutes over there. I’m going to be disappointed if the Suns prove them right tonight.

It was only called the mildly irritated house on McDowell until I showed up.

by Jim Coughenour on Jan 18, 2012 1:50 PM MST reply actions

Knick fans have always thought better of their team than they should...

They had a hard time believing that James Dolan could probably coach better than Isiah Thomas…

STAT may be gone but the Suns will rise....! BTW, If positivity is a crime, I plead guilty by reason of T-Bird...!

by Daryl Ray on Jan 18, 2012 1:54 PM MST up reply actions

What are you seeing?

I mostly just see people laughing at the chats that Seth wrote up. I saw maybe one or two comments from people counting the Suns out.

by WaveOcean on Jan 18, 2012 1:55 PM MST up reply actions

Yeah I didn't see any of that in the preview

IDK what you saw haha.

"If Gortat pulls off a real Dream Shake in-game this year I will shave my head.
Mark my words." Piotr Szczesniak 12/12/11 2:12 PM
Cardinals, Suns, D-backs for life!

by Airwave on Jan 18, 2012 2:09 PM MST up reply actions

The harshest thing I saw there about the Suns was the summary I wrote.

Which is, sadly, accurate.

Blogging Suns basketball for Bright Side of the Sun from California wine country.
Twitter: @EastBayRaymundo

by East Bay Ray on Jan 18, 2012 2:14 PM MST up reply actions

That was a fairly scalding review.

~~Maybe~~ I read into things too much.

After your review, they made jokes about most of the players on the roster, did a Lopez impersonation piece, then a meeting of the very old basketball players (or something to that effect) poking fun at Nash, Hill, and Redd, but didn’t bother discussing one bit of strategy, statistics, or anything legitimate about the way the Suns have played or how the Knicks should be prepared for the match up.

Maybe they just have a dissimilar style (I don’t frequent their site), but it seemed llike they were discounting the Suns as an opponent based on the game preview. I’m used to game previews here that actually talk about basketball.

It was only called the mildly irritated house on McDowell until I showed up.

by Jim Coughenour on Jan 18, 2012 2:35 PM MST up reply actions

I'll go over there and tell them that signing Melo was a bad move:P

Don't trade Dudley!

by Beavis 25 on Jan 18, 2012 2:37 PM MST up reply actions

That makes more sense

And I skipped the old player debate and Lopez impersonation because that just looked stupid to me. I only read the comments from the bloggers but I agree that I would tend to think on most nights they actually, I don’t know, preview the other team…. EBR obviously wrote something up but the writer for P&T did nothing but make a joke about the Suns at the start of the post.

"If Gortat pulls off a real Dream Shake in-game this year I will shave my head.
Mark my words." Piotr Szczesniak 12/12/11 2:12 PM
Cardinals, Suns, D-backs for life!

by Airwave on Jan 18, 2012 2:42 PM MST up reply actions

What I was trying (unsuccessfuly) to convey....

The preview went joke, EBR’s critque, joke, joke, joke, and joke.

Not exactly the respect I would give a legitimate opponent. This is what led me to believe that the Knicks fans aren’t taking this game seriously. Hence, the “they think the Suns are a joke” reference.

I hope the Knicks players share the sentiment and the Suns catch a slumping team unprepared. Let’s face it, the Knicks pretty much need this game just as bad as Phoenix.

It was only called the mildly irritated house on McDowell until I showed up.

by Jim Coughenour on Jan 18, 2012 2:53 PM MST up reply actions

May the team that wants it more, win.

Don't trade Dudley!

by Beavis 25 on Jan 18, 2012 3:02 PM MST up reply actions

Look at some of the other previews, it's just how its done at posting and toasting.

A void? I see no void!

by gunsbound on Jan 18, 2012 5:24 PM MST up reply actions

Different strokes for different folks

I was also a little surprised by the lack of basketball talk around there, but I took the jabs at Nash, Hill and Redd’s age and at Lopez’s, well, everything, to be lighthearted.

Blogging Suns basketball for Bright Side of the Sun from California wine country.
Twitter: @EastBayRaymundo

by East Bay Ray on Jan 18, 2012 2:44 PM MST up reply actions

it just depends how you stroke it...

by Gildo on Jan 18, 2012 5:18 PM MST up reply actions

It is also funny to see how they rip Grant & Steve

When both have been rumored to go there (through NY media of course…) and they would absolutely love to have either player on their roster lol.

"If Gortat pulls off a real Dream Shake in-game this year I will shave my head.
Mark my words." Piotr Szczesniak 12/12/11 2:12 PM
Cardinals, Suns, D-backs for life!

by Airwave on Jan 18, 2012 2:44 PM MST up reply actions

that's thier seth's style

by 2NASHTY on Jan 18, 2012 2:50 PM MST up reply actions

yep.

A void? I see no void!

by gunsbound on Jan 18, 2012 5:23 PM MST up reply actions

Can we please get a W against Amare?

That is my goal for the night basically. I want to see us beat him!!!!

"If Gortat pulls off a real Dream Shake in-game this year I will shave my head.
Mark my words." Piotr Szczesniak 12/12/11 2:12 PM
Cardinals, Suns, D-backs for life!

by Airwave on Jan 18, 2012 2:10 PM MST reply actions

He's not playing well so far this year.

42% from the field and 18 PPG? That’s crapp’e for Amar’e. I read over on Posting and Toasting that he was having problems co-existing with a real center in Tyson Chandler because Chandler got in his way offensively. Sounds a little like Amar’e and Shaq, doesn’t it?

Blogging Suns basketball for Bright Side of the Sun from California wine country.
Twitter: @EastBayRaymundo

by East Bay Ray on Jan 18, 2012 2:19 PM MST up reply actions

Not at all

Amar’e dominated next to Shaq. It wasn’t until Porter came and made Shaq the #1 option that Amar’e began to suffer. Even than, he still put up 21 and 8.

I think the real problem is health and Carmelo Anthony, not Tyson Chandler.

Don't trade Dudley!

by Beavis 25 on Jan 18, 2012 2:27 PM MST up reply actions

Yeah

I have heard words like “checking out” coming from the situation in NY for Amare. I knew bringing in someone like Chandler was going to hurt his game because he needs the painted area for himself. He does much better with a star PG and SG/SF. They needed a PG instead of Chandler.

Either way regardless of how he is playing I want to see us beat him because he definitely seemed to relish in beating us last year.

"If Gortat pulls off a real Dream Shake in-game this year I will shave my head.
Mark my words." Piotr Szczesniak 12/12/11 2:12 PM
Cardinals, Suns, D-backs for life!

by Airwave on Jan 18, 2012 2:27 PM MST up reply actions

Didn't Amare average 29 ppg after Shaq came in 07/08?

by rsavaj on Jan 18, 2012 2:27 PM MST up reply actions

Yes, it's not Chandler

It’s Carmelo.

Don't trade Dudley!

by Beavis 25 on Jan 18, 2012 2:35 PM MST up reply actions

Someone else wrote something like this about it

mismatched parts with poor point guard play

It was only called the mildly irritated house on McDowell until I showed up.

by Jim Coughenour on Jan 18, 2012 2:37 PM MST up reply actions

agreed

by 2NASHTY on Jan 18, 2012 2:50 PM MST up reply actions

This is what I'm referring to

From ProBasketball Talk, February, 2010 as the Amare to the Cavs rumors were swirling.

In theory they should be able to play together — Stoudemire in the high post, Shaq in the low post. But it didn’t work that way. Stoudemire likes to work on the low block and use his quickness, but that space was filled up. The Suns slowed down and Stoudemire found it harder to slash to the rim because Shaq’s defender was right there to help.

From Posting and Toasting, January 17, 2012

Without a point guard who can be relied upon to direct and engage everybody, the spacing with both Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler on the floor has been problematic. When Amar’e looks to drive, Chandler tends to be in the vicinity of the basket, dragging a help defender over with him and making life difficult for all offensive parties. Yesterday, the Knicks’ spacing with Chandler on the court looked best when Josh Harrellson was there as that “stretch four”, and Amar’e’s offense looked best when Chandler was off the floor.

Blogging Suns basketball for Bright Side of the Sun from California wine country.
Twitter: @EastBayRaymundo

by East Bay Ray on Jan 18, 2012 2:52 PM MST up reply actions

So then it's a combination of the two

If they had a good PG, Amar’e would be fine next to Chandler.

I still believe a part of it is Carmelo. The two just don’t compliment each other well.

Don't trade Dudley!

by Beavis 25 on Jan 18, 2012 2:56 PM MST up reply actions

Plus lack of other scoring options on the team.

Now Amare is in a position where he both is getting the ball in less advantageous positions AND he feels compelled to the force the issue because the team lacks other scorers besides Melo. Forcing bad shots could be one thing that translates to a career low shooting percentage.

I think the problems involve finding a way to interact with BOTH Chandler and Melo, lack of point guard play, and lack of depth and scoring.

It was only called the mildly irritated house on McDowell until I showed up.

by Jim Coughenour on Jan 18, 2012 3:01 PM MST up reply actions

Okay...

Hypothetically (And I am saying Hypothetically so nobody jump on me…) If Nash went to the knicks, would his shooting percentage go back up to career norms or is that a thing of the past with the way the Knicks are currently constructed?.

STAT may be gone but the Suns will rise....! BTW, If positivity is a crime, I plead guilty by reason of T-Bird...!

by Daryl Ray on Jan 18, 2012 3:06 PM MST up reply actions

I would have to imagine it would at least improve by some degree.

It was only called the mildly irritated house on McDowell until I showed up.

by Jim Coughenour on Jan 18, 2012 3:13 PM MST up reply actions

Nash, Melo, Amar'e

That’s tough to guard.

Don't trade Dudley!

by Beavis 25 on Jan 18, 2012 3:13 PM MST up reply actions

Hmm

So then I guess it really would have been better if the team had just kept Felton, Chandler and Gaillinari and then signed a big-man like they did last off-season.

Don't trade Dudley!

by Beavis 25 on Jan 18, 2012 3:09 PM MST up reply actions

That's kind of the way it's looking right now.

Not to say things won’t change. It’s a top heavy team and they still haven’t really had any time to work out the kinks.

Maybe things work out, maybe Davis palliates some of these issues, maybe they add Nash next offseason, maybe they swing a big trade….

They still have some options moving forward.

It was only called the mildly irritated house on McDowell until I showed up.

by Jim Coughenour on Jan 18, 2012 3:17 PM MST up reply actions

This is what I see

Amare was the man for half the season. Then melo was instantly the man. He is also the kind of kind that gets the ball and keeps. That, combined without a true pg, and Amare has become a blackhole himself. He knows if he doesn’t get a shot when he has the ball in his hands he may never get one. Plus, he has been involved in at least two serious trade rumours this year. This is all from a guy who thought he was the king of New York. This was supposed to be his team. Now he plays a muted second fiddle, who everyone wants to get rid of.

Fan of the TEAM not a player.

by Suns Fan For Life on Jan 18, 2012 3:33 PM MST up reply actions

At least our FO is somewhat loyal to our players.

Don't trade Dudley!

by Beavis 25 on Jan 18, 2012 3:35 PM MST up reply actions

Eh...

Our turnover has been pretty astonishing

by rsavaj on Jan 18, 2012 3:52 PM MST up reply actions

True, but I was really just referring to our Franchise player when I meant "Players"

Nash other than Gortat is really all we are.

Don't trade Dudley!

by Beavis 25 on Jan 18, 2012 4:03 PM MST up reply actions

Markieff's not too bad.

I'm a glutton for punishment. That's why I love the Phoenix Suns.

by NashMV3 on Jan 18, 2012 4:54 PM MST up reply actions

The Knicks would have been a better team had they not traded for Carmelo

and instead just waited till the off-season to sign a big-man.

PG Felton
SG Landry
SF Chandler
PF Amar’e
C Chandler
6 Gallinari
7 Douglas
8 Jeffries

That’s a good defensive team that can also run and gun. Much more balanced too.

However, it really would have just been better had Amar’e stayed with the Suns. It’s not because he can’t dominate without Nash, it’s because he needs our medical staff.

Don't trade Dudley!

by Beavis 25 on Jan 18, 2012 2:12 PM MST reply actions

A much as I love STAT...

I believe he fritted away 2-3 years of his career by leaving this training staff…If he’s playing productively past 32, I’ll be surprised…

STAT may be gone but the Suns will rise....! BTW, If positivity is a crime, I plead guilty by reason of T-Bird...!

by Daryl Ray on Jan 18, 2012 2:16 PM MST up reply actions

He's been picking up all these nagging injuries

That never happened in Phoenix, it was just the freak accidents.

I hope Sarver when negotiating with Amar’e, reminded him of our training staff. Perhaps it would have made him think twice.

Don't trade Dudley!

by Beavis 25 on Jan 18, 2012 2:24 PM MST up reply actions

Is he playing more minutes?

I haven’t looked or anything but I know how D’antoni likes to run guys into the ground.

"If Gortat pulls off a real Dream Shake in-game this year I will shave my head.
Mark my words." Piotr Szczesniak 12/12/11 2:12 PM
Cardinals, Suns, D-backs for life!

by Airwave on Jan 18, 2012 2:27 PM MST up reply actions

Can we please not act like the Suns medical team

is the only competent staff in the NBA.

Yes, they’ve done wonderful with some players.

They’ve also failed with other players.

Players like Nash, Hill, and Stoudemire who have overcome the odds all worked their butts off. That might have had something to do with it.

The Suns physicians aren’t thaumaturgists. They are just very good doctors. All of the other teams in the NBA have good doctors too.

It was only called the mildly irritated house on McDowell until I showed up.

by Jim Coughenour on Jan 18, 2012 2:47 PM MST up reply actions

But the Suns doctors are the best of the best

Don't trade Dudley!

by Beavis 25 on Jan 18, 2012 2:49 PM MST up reply actions

They rebuilt Shaq...

They have the technology….

STAT may be gone but the Suns will rise....! BTW, If positivity is a crime, I plead guilty by reason of T-Bird...!

by Daryl Ray on Jan 18, 2012 2:53 PM MST up reply actions

But the real question is....

What could the Suns training staff do with your Thunderbird-soaked liver?

Blogging Suns basketball for Bright Side of the Sun from California wine country.
Twitter: @EastBayRaymundo

by East Bay Ray on Jan 18, 2012 4:17 PM MST up reply actions

He'll be fine.

Sun God is the Charlie Sheen of BSotS.

I'm a glutton for punishment. That's why I love the Phoenix Suns.

by NashMV3 on Jan 18, 2012 4:55 PM MST up reply actions

I'm not trying to be dismissive of your opinion,

but

I believe he fritted away 2-3 years of his career by leaving this training staff

just doesn’t sound like a realistic view of the gap between the Suns medical staff and the staffs of other teams.

It was only called the mildly irritated house on McDowell until I showed up.

by Jim Coughenour on Jan 18, 2012 2:57 PM MST up reply actions

Dammit Jim, I'm giving all I can give...

And I can’t give any more….!!!!!

STAT may be gone but the Suns will rise....! BTW, If positivity is a crime, I plead guilty by reason of T-Bird...!

by Daryl Ray on Jan 18, 2012 2:59 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs

I'll be honest with you

Although I didn’t right that, I’ve never really been confident that Amar’e would be an all-star caliber player past the age of 30 ever since we drafted him. He’ll become like Garnett now, only without the defense. Perhaps our staff wouldn’t have made a 2-3 year difference, but it’s possible they could have added on another year to his career.

Don't trade Dudley!

by Beavis 25 on Jan 18, 2012 3:01 PM MST up reply actions

IMO Amare has two or three years left...that is about it...

I know the PHX staff could have squeezed 5 or so out of him…He’s become so brittle now…

STAT may be gone but the Suns will rise....! BTW, If positivity is a crime, I plead guilty by reason of T-Bird...!

by Daryl Ray on Jan 18, 2012 3:05 PM MST up reply actions

Not sure that I get the brittle comparison...

Amare has missed 6 games over the past three seasons. If he missed 25 more games this season, it would still be the lowest three year total of his entire career.

He has never played three straight years without suffering a major injury that caused him to miss time.

I could understand the position that he has always been brittle, but not the position that he has recently become brittle.

It was only called the mildly irritated house on McDowell until I showed up.

by Jim Coughenour on Jan 18, 2012 3:12 PM MST up reply actions

Anything's possible.

Neither of us can know for certain.

I thought Garnett was still a pretty accomplished player through his first year in Boston where he turned 32. He was serviceable for a couple years after that.

Garnett turns 36 this year.

It was only called the mildly irritated house on McDowell until I showed up.

by Jim Coughenour on Jan 18, 2012 3:06 PM MST up reply actions

Yeah, but KG was more healthy and just a better player

He was a true #1. Amar’e is best as a #2 next to a #1 PG.

I could be wrong about Stoudemire and I hope I am. Hopefully that team can find a good PG and he can stay healthy.

Don't trade Dudley!

by Beavis 25 on Jan 18, 2012 3:11 PM MST up reply actions

I was thinking the same thing.

Why did the Knick trade for Melo when they could have had him as a FA. Imagine that line up with Melo at the SF.

PG Felton
SG Chandler
SF Anthony
PF Gallinari
C Amar’e

Bench- Chandler, Douglas, Walker, Fields and Jeffries,

by Sunderstruck on Jan 18, 2012 2:18 PM MST up reply actions

They could have done that too

Except, it’s still not a very balanced team. Melo and Amar’e don’t compliment each other well. In fact, one cancels the other out.

Don't trade Dudley!

by Beavis 25 on Jan 18, 2012 2:21 PM MST up reply actions

Yep that is true

by Sunderstruck on Jan 18, 2012 2:25 PM MST up reply actions

We should start Morris

And keep him there for the rest of the year.

by Sunderstruck on Jan 18, 2012 2:13 PM MST reply actions

GOING TO THA GAME!!!!!

I will be the naked guy running across court at the half

NYC Suns Fan!!!

by DustinAe on Jan 18, 2012 3:32 PM MST reply actions

rofl

"If Gortat pulls off a real Dream Shake in-game this year I will shave my head.
Mark my words." Piotr Szczesniak 12/12/11 2:12 PM
Cardinals, Suns, D-backs for life!

by Airwave on Jan 18, 2012 3:37 PM MST up reply actions

Anyone else going?

NYC Suns Fan!!!

by DustinAe on Jan 18, 2012 3:47 PM MST up reply actions

fundamentals please

I can’t stand Gentry not developing the bigs we have, shame to watch Morris throw horrible pass after horrible pass cause Gentry can’t run the offence. Makes Morris seem lost. I know he is a rookie, but all the more to correct him before bad habits develop. Has anyone seen a play ran to Morris in the post? He is a PF, right? Look what he has NOT done for Lopez. Lopez’s inability to have somewhat of a decent post up game lies directly on the coach. Brown’s ‘greenlight’. sad. I don’t even want to get started on Frye, wasted short jumpshot on what, ‘juicy’ three? Up until a week ago I have tried to remain positive, but how long before we stop blaming untalented players. Half the league is untalented, but seemed to be fairing better than suns ‘untalented’ players. If what I say has any merrit, Suns will tank, make some desperate trade (like last season), and have same results. Been a huge fan since 1980 and without a doubt most dissapointing three years. Maybe not the worst, but certainly the most dissapointing. go suns

by rdgroce on Jan 18, 2012 4:37 PM MST reply actions