Phoenix Suns Analysis: Are the Boys Turning the Corner?
by Wil Cantrell on Feb 8, 2012 10:39 AM MST
in Phoenix Suns Commentary
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PrintLast night the Suns played a superb half of basketball. It was what we all like to call "Suns Basketball," which is just a different way of saying these guys are playing up to their potential. The;Suns are 5-2 in their last 7 games. Why? We could dig into numbers or come up with some pretty fancy graphs. But we need not; we've been watching the games. It's pretty clear to see why the Suns have found some recent success.
The Suns recent run can be attributed to a combination of things:
1. Solidification of the Rotation-Brown and Warrick sit, Price's court time diminishes, Redd plays and he's hitting shots, Chill plays and is rebounding and defending. Frye is hitting shots. The key here is SCORING. Price is a defensive specialist, not a big threat from the wing. Sebastian Telfair has an established role, and isn't an awful stop-gap for when Nash needs to rest. Warrick has had flashes, but he's the odd man out against two larger, more physical players in Frye and and Morris.
2. Offense-in the last 5 games, Channing Frye has gone 40% from the field. In the prior 5, he shot 20%. Michael Redd has 3 straight double digit scoring efforts and has played the most minutes in his short tenure with the Suns. These guys are finding their legs. Period. Frye can shoot, we know it. It's not like he isn't trying to get back on track, and we also know that the Suns are a much better team with Frye producing. Redd is also getting in shape. He's healthy, so now its only a question of shaking the rust off. His shots last night were confident. Redd, back in his old stomping ground, was confident. Shooters need confidence plain and simple. And these guys seem to be gaining it.
3. Dudley and Frye Return to Starting Lineup. Dudley's numbers as a starter are always better than when he comes off the bench. Maybe because he gets starters minutes, maybe because Nash is on the floor to find him. Morris clearly wants to come off the bench. Wish granted. Refer to #2 above, add these two to the starting lineup and have them produce. Frye stretches the floor, makes his big defender come out to guard him, which allows Gortat and Co space down low to work for offensive rebounds.
4. Iffy competition. Some will no doubt point out that the last five victories should have a tiny little asterisk next to them. Atlanta without Horford, Milwaukee without Bogut, Charlotte sucks, New Orleans sucks, Memphis without Randolph. Ugly losses to top WC squads-Dallas (twice), Portland, and Houston. But guess what? I don't care. As Elvis plastered all over his airplane, you gotta "T.C.B." Take Care of Business. Against garbage foes and the best of the best.
5. Energy, Defense, and Focus. They all go hand in hand. Said Alvin Gentry before the Bobcat game:
"I am more concerned about the overall energy level as anything. To me that's the most important thing. We've just had too much of a discrepancy and that area right there is something we've got to get back and be consistent with, competing and playing hard night in and night out."
It is all good news for the moment. Winning does that. But the standings remain the same. The Suns are third in the Pacific and 12th in the WC. It will take a Herculian effort to turn it around and sustain this level of play for the remainder of the season. But maybe, just maybe...Anything can happen, right?
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Numbers game.
We could dig into numbers or come up with some pretty fancy graphs. But we need not, we’ve been watching the games.
Actually… I’ve been too busy calculating the electric flux through Gaussian surfaces and integrating vector valued functions to watch more than bits and pieces. :(
This is why I count on your sapient summaries and adept analysis to keep abreast of the situation.
Numbers everywhere… 13, 38, 2/7, 18, 11, 107-105, 11-14…. If you crunch all of those and find intercepts and traces, I believe the resulting graph will provide concrete evidence that Steve Nash rules.
It was only called the mildly irritated house on McDowell until I showed up.
by Jim Coughenour on Feb 8, 2012 10:53 AM MST reply actions 2 recs
Coughenour
Just because Steve Nash has that "dirty hipster" look doesn't mean he's in need of a shower. Steve Nash bathes in the tears of his victims on a nightly basis.
Mark of a Beast, baby. Mark of a Beast.
Screw numbers, this picture says it all.
Never gets old.
"I'm a nobody." - Steve Nash in 1997
by PHXSunsRunNGun on Feb 8, 2012 11:10 AM MST reply actions 9 recs
How many people have this as their wallpaper?
[raises hand]
Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!
Read my thoughts on Creighton University athletics at Creightonian.com
I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.
Also raise.
Just because Steve Nash has that "dirty hipster" look doesn't mean he's in need of a shower. Steve Nash bathes in the tears of his victims on a nightly basis.
Mark of a Beast, baby. Mark of a Beast.
I still have my
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE
BEAT L. A.!!!
wallpaper up from the 2009-10 WCF…..
It was only called the mildly irritated house on McDowell until I showed up.
by Jim Coughenour on Feb 8, 2012 1:01 PM MST up reply actions
I mean link for the Mission possible Beat LA pic
I already have this as my wallpaper since the first time Fritzy posted it here
I don't know what to put in my sig.
Hey Colton,
I just bought my tickets for the Suns @ Minny game. Where are you sitting?
Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!
Read my thoughts on Creighton University athletics at Creightonian.com
I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.
no
they played bad teams and got lucky a couple of times they are still not even close in the playoff race and this is by far the easiest month in their schedule.
March and April are brutal.
rebuild now
please 2 more years of this medciore fighting for the last pick in the lottery and this team is completely dead in the water with no more fanbase
by TruthTelling on Feb 8, 2012 11:15 AM MST up reply actions
sometimes telling the truth hurts.
Blogging Suns Basketball. Twitter: @willcantrellphx
by Wil Cantrell on Feb 8, 2012 12:51 PM MST up reply actions
And sometimes, it's not the truth.
The fanbase will stay (or come back) if we keep winning. Having players like Morris and Lopez develop and improve gives us the jump in rebuilding – just as if we had a brand new, shiny draft pick. Having players gel, develop chemistry, and learn how to win prepares the way for a team worthy of adding (another) star to. And having players like Redd flourish in an environment that just might be accompanied by some loyalty can’t be a bad thing.
The Suns are finally developing a chemistry, and they are getting the best and most out of the talent they have, finally. We’re not great, but we certainly don’t have to blow everything up and suffer for the next 10 years – we have some really great role players, and we can start 3 all-stars, 4 counting Gortat, That don’t suck.
I will advise truth telling to follow the course that works for me. Try to be happy. If a thread isn’t one you agree with, avoid it, and stick to the ones where you can express your opinion the way you want to. I’m as optimistic as they come, and this place has been no fun for me for much of the year, but I’ve found ways to come to terms with it. I stay out of game threads, rosterbation threads, and I avoid pie fights, for the most part. It keeps me happier. When we win, I gloat. When we lose, I largely stay away. But I’ve learned that you can’t tell people what to think, nor can you stop them from talking about it.
So, I’m just going to enjoy our 3 game winning streak, and be glad I’m not part of a community that doesn’t care – like Memphis or the Wizards.
"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 Feb 8, 2012 1:20 PM MST up reply actions 9 recs
Agreed
I’ve never seen TruthTelling even try to joke around and have fun with any of us. How sad.
In his time here, he’s done nothing but cry “TANK!” and start arguing with people who don’t agree. That’s not very nice…
Just because Steve Nash has that "dirty hipster" look doesn't mean he's in need of a shower. Steve Nash bathes in the tears of his victims on a nightly basis.
Mark of a Beast, baby. Mark of a Beast.
Good to see you Hare...
"We never tried Amar'e, Nash, and a live Grizzly bear." -Scott Howard, January 18, 2010
"All they’re fighting for is to stay as obscenely rich as they are now, based on their ability to bounce a ball and throw it in a hole." East Bay Ray, October 10, 2011
"the players and owners are squabbling over how to divide the pie that WE BAKE FOR THEM." East Bay Ray, October 31, 2011
Good to be seen!
"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."
No, haremoor. The "truth" has been told to us.
We’re not allowed to enjoy our team showing heart and improvement, and winning games. You know why? Because we’re doooooooooooooooomed!
Blogging Suns basketball for Bright Side of the Sun from California wine country.
Twitter: @EastBayRaymundo
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!
"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."
rec +1
Great post, and I’m all about the positivity. As someone who works with at risk underserved youth; I sure hope you “tankers” don’t talk to youth this way. Nash’s never give up attitude is excactly what these easily influenced people need. if the Suns miss the play-offs, but keep fighting all season to get there; so be it. I have no problem talking about the team’s persistence to influence others. That’s the beauty of sports and competition. Keep up the positive posts! We played 4 games in 5 days and won 3!
by Think about it on Feb 8, 2012 2:01 PM MST up reply actions
I want a thread dedicated to fighting about pie.
No longer trying to light Vince Carter on fire.
by Scott Howard on Feb 8, 2012 5:03 PM MST up reply actions 4 recs
Peach is best.
Voted most likely to say "I told you so"
by jc79 on Feb 9, 2012 10:25 AM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Nah, we should trade the peach for a 3day old lemon meringue and 2 strawberry rhubarb.
"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 Feb 9, 2012 10:29 AM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Hell no.
Village Inn Lemon Supreme.
Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!
Read my thoughts on Creighton University athletics at Creightonian.com
I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.
by Omaha Sun on Feb 9, 2012 11:17 AM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Especially when it's free.
The servers and managers like me.
Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!
Read my thoughts on Creighton University athletics at Creightonian.com
I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.
Are you insane? Lemon meringue or French silk are best!
Definitely the best fighting pies— they leave collateral topping all around the room— ask any of the Three Stooges!
by SteveNash, QuantumPhysicist on Feb 9, 2012 4:08 PM MST up reply actions
i would love..
to be more positive, but this team offers nothing to get excited about right now, the situation is just dreadful.
Yay we have an old as dirt boring team that fights hard for their place to be in NBA no-man land.
Lets not rebuild and experience the same wonderful dull season again next year, and the year after until Nash retires and we can build around someone who has a future in this league.
by TruthTelling on Feb 8, 2012 12:55 PM MST up reply actions
we here you
and we get your point. and I’m sure many on this site completely agree with you. but you are starting to beleaguer the point.
by 2NASHTY on Feb 8, 2012 1:01 PM MST up reply actions 3 recs
How is a fan UPSET by winning?
NBA is the ONLY sport in the world where that thinking is ever entertained. Seriously, the ONLY sport.
I’m super excited by their play. If the Suns shoot well, they can beat almost anyone, and using ten players means our starters are fresh. Only Nash and Gortat average over 30 minutes, and with the compressed season, we might sneak a few “not as tired” wins.
I’m super excited, and look forward to every game, and can’t imagine WANTING tmy team o lose games. It just… doesn’t compute.
Disagree.
NBA is the ONLY sport in the world where that thinking is ever entertained. Seriously, the ONLY sport.
But there is a reason why it is more prevalent in the sport due to the nature of what affects competitive balance….
It was only called the mildly irritated house on McDowell until I showed up.
by Jim Coughenour on Feb 8, 2012 3:04 PM MST up reply actions
You'll never no what will happen.
This season is crazy.A lot of injuries.And remember a bit of luck is necessary to win something. Just a bit. If Suns will play this way anything can happen. This is sport. That’s all.
by roby07 on Feb 8, 2012 11:34 AM MST up reply actions 1 recs
but
this can’t happen, just take a look at march and april, no way we will finish these months with a positive record and we are only in 12th place now.
by TruthTelling on Feb 8, 2012 12:54 PM MST up reply actions
Maybe so.
How many people predicted , that Dallas won championship after 25 games last year.
I know Dallas was much better than Suns but no favourite.
You are right, you can't know
The prescience of some people stuns me. No way I thought we could beat Atlanta, but not only did we win, we won with a solid game plan (pound it inside).
I don’t know what will happen, and that is why I like watching, and why the games are actually played and not just imagined.
Totally, I never thought they could win a Championship
I put them in my “Pretender” category. By the way, SA has been in that group for a while now. The last time they were actual contenders was in 07-08.
Don't trade Dudley!
I still believe it was mostly a fluke that they won.
Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!
Read my thoughts on Creighton University athletics at Creightonian.com
I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.
the last 9 games are all against playoff-caliber WC teams, w/3 back-to-backs
the late season schedule is just as Truth describes it, absolutely brutal. And I agree w/his point about rebuilding sooner rather than later.
But don’t advertise tanking, man. If there’s even a 0.001 chance Nash can lead another Suns team on a postseason run, why not let that play out? The trade deadline is a month away, so we don’t have long to wait anyway.
by ninecharacters on Feb 8, 2012 7:10 PM MST up reply actions
Awesome we can win and still get a good pick.
“The Suns are third in the Pacific and 12th in the WC”
We're only 3 games back from the 5th seed
If there is a time to make a run for the playoffs it would be now. We’d have to get a pretty good winning streak going. We’ve got 3 in a row, so let’s keep it up.
Don't trade Dudley!
by Beavis 25 on Feb 8, 2012 12:15 PM MST reply actions 1 recs
Plus...
So many good players are getting injured. It’s unfortunate, but it’s something we certainly must take advantage of.
Just because Steve Nash has that "dirty hipster" look doesn't mean he's in need of a shower. Steve Nash bathes in the tears of his victims on a nightly basis.
Mark of a Beast, baby. Mark of a Beast.
What happened to the FanPosts on the right side?
Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!
Read my thoughts on Creighton University athletics at Creightonian.com
I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.
I'm guessing they now require approval before being posted.
After all, people have been flooding it with rosterbation posts with little to no real effort put into the pieces.
Just because Steve Nash has that "dirty hipster" look doesn't mean he's in need of a shower. Steve Nash bathes in the tears of his victims on a nightly basis.
Mark of a Beast, baby. Mark of a Beast.
I apologize for that.... :(
It was only called the mildly irritated house on McDowell until I showed up.
by Jim Coughenour on Feb 8, 2012 1:04 PM MST up reply actions
But I was just about to blame the escape goat!
Just because Steve Nash has that "dirty hipster" look doesn't mean he's in need of a shower. Steve Nash bathes in the tears of his victims on a nightly basis.
Mark of a Beast, baby. Mark of a Beast.
Not sure
I checked ROTB and their Fanposts aren’t there either. Not sure what the reasoning behind it is.
"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!
I don't know about you guys, but it seems to me that SBNation's servers are having problems.
I almost always get a could not load page message the first time, and I have to refresh it. I’ts been going on for a few days now – I had just chalked it up to being in Vermont, but maybe not.
"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."
Yeah
I just had issues for about 15 minutes not being able to load the page right. It would freak out on me.
"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!
Do you get a picture of Jackie Chan too?
You know, when you get that Server error or something.
Don't trade Dudley!
I also have to hit the links several times
Glad it’s not just me but annoying nonetheless.
I assumed that was just my computer or WiFi connection.
Guess not.
Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!
Read my thoughts on Creighton University athletics at Creightonian.com
I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.
It's an SBN-wide thing apparently.
Also, a story on the mothership loaded really screwy for me. Get your IT guys on this, Seth!
Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!
Read my thoughts on Creighton University athletics at Creightonian.com
I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.
Yeah, anything can happen, right?!
Hey- Don't Blame ME
What is that from?
"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!
Angels in the Outfield of course.
No longer trying to light Vince Carter on fire.
by Scott Howard on Feb 8, 2012 1:22 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Figured since he has the angles hat on
"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!
Angles?
That would be a really stupid name for a sports franchise.
Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!
Read my thoughts on Creighton University athletics at Creightonian.com
I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.
The fact that you did indeed get it impresses me.
Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!
Read my thoughts on Creighton University athletics at Creightonian.com
I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.
Oh well haha
You know what I meant
"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!
Disagree. I think it would be several degrees of cool.
Hey- Don't Blame ME
by escape goat on Feb 9, 2012 6:44 AM MST up reply actions 3 recs
SNQP would be proud.
Oh wait, he’s an English teacher and that’s math related. Never mind.
Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!
Read my thoughts on Creighton University athletics at Creightonian.com
I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.
by Omaha Sun on Feb 9, 2012 8:44 AM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Angles would be an awesome name!
“They’re playing all the Angles today!”
“Right, Angles! You got that right!”
Their team slogan could be, “Try, Angles, Try!”
Their mascot could be “Isoscoles.”
Their cheerleaders could be “Acute.”
Their manager would be called, “Obtuse.”
Their fans could bang triangles instead of cowbells.
by SteveNash, QuantumPhysicist on Feb 9, 2012 4:18 PM MST up reply actions
What have I done...
I thought you were supposed to hate math. You’re an English teacher.
Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!
Read my thoughts on Creighton University athletics at Creightonian.com
I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.
Flying V y'all!
Just because Steve Nash has that "dirty hipster" look doesn't mean he's in need of a shower. Steve Nash bathes in the tears of his victims on a nightly basis.
Mark of a Beast, baby. Mark of a Beast.
quack………Quack…..QUACK..QUACK .QUACK ! .QUACK!!!!!
by 2NASHTY on Feb 8, 2012 1:47 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Quack Quack, mother-annoyer.
Just because Steve Nash has that "dirty hipster" look doesn't mean he's in need of a shower. Steve Nash bathes in the tears of his victims on a nightly basis.
Mark of a Beast, baby. Mark of a Beast.
Suns fly together?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3M21tPByIM&feature=related
No longer trying to light Vince Carter on fire.
a single tears rolls down my cheek
Hey- Don't Blame ME
Maybe this is the part in the movie
where we get a montage of of ally oops, drives to the bucket, buzzer beaters, high fives and fist pumps…all set to thin lizzy’s “the boys are back in town”
All we need is the little golden retriever to miraculously show up at the door and we're golden.
Just because Steve Nash has that "dirty hipster" look doesn't mean he's in need of a shower. Steve Nash bathes in the tears of his victims on a nightly basis.
Mark of a Beast, baby. Mark of a Beast.
As Frye goes, so go the Suns.
Ok, maybe it’s not quite that simple…but Frye’s efficiency is tied in to the Suns’ success much more than many people probably realize.
There was actually a really good article on here about this very subject a little over a year ago, but I couldn’t find it in the archives. Anyway, it’s no coincidence that these last two games that Frye has shot the ball so well have also been much needed road wins for the Suns. When he’s shooting well our offense is simply much more effective.
Blogging Suns basketball for Bright Side of the Sun from Gilbert, AZ.
Follow me on Twitter: @thereal7footer
by 7footer on Feb 8, 2012 1:00 PM MST via mobile reply actions
In other news
Hollinger released his power rankings.. Suns come in next to dead last at 29th right in front of the Bobcats. The Suns are a bad basketball team this year but 29th?? Behind teams like the Hornets, Wizards, and Pistons? We may suck but any team we form with Nash running point does not deserve to be behind teams like this.. I hate Holliger..
Suns
Always getting disrespected.
"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!
It's a computerized formula
He just plugs in the stats and tells us the result. It’s not disrespect.
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."
This seems like a very rational assessment.
It was only called the mildly irritated house on McDowell until I showed up.
by Jim Coughenour on Feb 8, 2012 3:08 PM MST up reply actions
Actually...
the boys are finally starting to look like men.
Just because Steve Nash has that "dirty hipster" look doesn't mean he's in need of a shower. Steve Nash bathes in the tears of his victims on a nightly basis.
Mark of a Beast, baby. Mark of a Beast.
Manly men, doing manly things with other men...
"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."
NashMV3 lives in San Francisco. He's very familiar with that concept.
Blogging Suns basketball for Bright Side of the Sun from California wine country.
Twitter: @EastBayRaymundo
by East Bay Ray on Feb 8, 2012 2:49 PM MST up reply actions 3 recs
Ok that was good.
Just because Steve Nash has that "dirty hipster" look doesn't mean he's in need of a shower. Steve Nash bathes in the tears of his victims on a nightly basis.
Mark of a Beast, baby. Mark of a Beast.
Not really sure
I thought we would be better this season and I realize that we have had Dudley and Frye struggling to shoot for most of the season. Now they are warming up and we are winning some games, albeit against some less than great opponents but we are starting to score again regardless against which teams. These are still NBA rosters and we were struggling to hit 85 for most of the season and now we seem to have cured that for the time being. We are playing better but I don’t know if this is going to continue or just be a blip on the overall picture.
"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!
On Nashs mile-stone game he hits the game winner.
On Kobes mile-stone game he chucks up 1-10 in the 4th, Lakers come up short.
That is all.
by Sunderstruck on Feb 8, 2012 1:34 PM MST reply actions 4 recs
JUSTICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"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!
The bench is still killing us
They don’t get good shots, and playing through Telfair is a recipe for fail.
During the Bucks run, it was so frustrating to see the Suns completely unable to get the ball to Lopez deep in the post with mismatch, or to Redd at all, and never with time on the clock. Telfair is just a very poor PG who lacks the ability to set anyone up, and can only generate deep jumpers for himself. Oh, and he over dribbles something chronic.
With JChill and Kieff providing energy and athleticism, Redd a spark and Lopez size few benches can match, they have tools, they are just bogged down in NY Knick-itis – aka no PG.
The bench will have the odd good game, but when the starters shoot well over 50%, and the bench shoots a combined 11-36 for .305 – and 4-24 excluding Redd – well, that is how you give up a 20+ point lead and force your starters to come back in.
Gentry STILL needs to find a way to score effectively without Nash, and running the bench offense through Redd, i.e. getting him the ball EARLY in the shotclock, makes a lot of sense. I’d like to see Redd bring it up court – and play Price as a 2 – but I can’t see Gentry agreeing to that.
Dudley or Hill
would seem to be the other guys on the team who could bring it up and set an offense.
Not necessarily create, but read and playcall and deliver the ball to where it needs to go.
Voted most likely to say "I told you so"
We are playing better
I think we’ll end up similar to last season’s team, just a bit under .500. Win a few in a row, lose a few in a row….and I bet it’ll coincide with how Dudley and Frye shoot!
I don’t think Telfair should be getting any minutes if the goal is to win games.
On offense, we’re -6 pts per 100 possessions when he’s on, and -8 pts on defense.
We’re 14 pts worse per 100 possessions when he plays.
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."
Telfair is a player that looks good on TV
Because he is a little guy with fierce defense, a mean look and a big mouth. But if you look at his numbers, he is just horrible.
Alea iacta est!
He doesn't even usually look good on TV
By my count, he’s looked good in exactly one game that I’ve seen: Monday night. And then, as Seth succinctly put it last night, he looked horrible again.
Blogging Suns basketball for Bright Side of the Sun from California wine country.
Twitter: @EastBayRaymundo
I did some serious analysis of the last games
And the optimal strategy for winning is to score at least one point more than the opposing team.
Alea iacta est!
by PolishHammer on Feb 8, 2012 2:30 PM MST reply actions 1 recs
60% of the time, it works every time.
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 Feb 8, 2012 2:44 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
It all makes sense now.
"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!
Wouldn't it be awesome if there was another 09-10 WCF finalist team! Except you know we make it to the finals. And win.
I rock so get used to it.
by Colton Dodson on Feb 8, 2012 6:57 PM MST reply actions 2 recs
Ricky rubio will never be better than nash
No matter what. Nash will always be better then rubio until hes retired and done playing ball. Rubio in his prime will only be able to be par with nash in his older years. Rubio will always be sucking the gum on the bottom of nashes shoes. Fact. Just wanted tp say that.
"Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose"
by phxpurple on Feb 8, 2012 7:26 PM MST via Android app reply actions 3 recs
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