We must go SSOL when Odom is in

[lilfishi22]

I wrote something similar on other forum, except we can't put Lou on Gasol, because he will be able to see over him and create plays like he did in Game 2. We have to play Lopez on Gasol as much as possible. If they're playing Gasol-Odom, then play small ball with Lopez or Lopez-Amare. NO Amare-Frye lineup when Odom is on the floor unless Frye starts hitting shots.

I understand what you're getting at but we just aren't out-running them with Lopez/Amare on the court at the same time, which is why I'd try Amare first (but you have to double, he gets abused one-on-one against Pau) and if he's not punishing Pau as much at the other end then we have to go defensive with Lopez instead of Amare. Lopez hasn't been doing great against Pau but at least you don't have to run a double at him immediately and every time.

Couldn't agree more about saying NO to Amare/Frye line-ups ... we looks absolutely terrible defensively with those 2 on at the same time. They both looked lost as to when to double team and both have switched off against Odom.

I actually agree with ppl in regards to Clark. Mainly because we are asking a lot of Hill and Dudley with what I'm proposing. They will undoubtedly pick up fouls guarding bigger players and/or Kobe so Clark should get some mins. Odom likes to face up and Clark is a good defender of dribble penetration. Odom is bulkier but I wouldn't mind seeing Clark trying to keep his own when getting backed down. It looks like he's got some mongrel and fire in him. At worst he's another 6 fouls against Odom. At best he frustrates Odom and hits some 18 footers. Def worth a try espec considering we want Hill/Dudley to get out and run at every opportunity. They're gonna need their rest.

Lopez is one of the quicker 5's in the game but I also don't believe he would be ideal for SSOL speed. But if Lopez can't handle the speed, I doubt Gasol would be able to either, but since we haven't really reached SSOL speed in either games, I can see why Gasol has been able to stay in the game. Also absolutely no more Frye/Amare lineups. We get away with it during the regular season but against great teams like the Lakers, it just doesn't work. That combination only works when the opponent need to throw the double team at Amare but since they got like 3 guys who can guard Amare to some degree, they can keep the other big on Frye.

I really think EC needs a run. I'm not sure he could actually guard Odom but it really can't be no worse than Frye.

[hunterxaz]

I can't believe you're expecting one of our worst players (Clark) to be effective in the Western Conference Finals... seriously. The kid has shown that he's oblivious on defense and blows his assignments consistently, and he has no offensive game.

Frye will show up.

[rsavaj]

I can't believe you're expecting one of our worst players (Clark) to be effective in the Western Conference Finals... seriously. The kid has shown that he's oblivious on defense and blows his assignments consistently, and he has no offensive game.

Frye will show up.

I don't think he's as bad as you think he is, but playing an unproven rookie in the WCF is a bad idea IMO

[Miklo]

Great analysis KJ7, I completely agree that we aren't playing their lineups the right way at all.

[lilfishi22]

I can't believe you're expecting one of our worst players (Clark) to be effective in the Western Conference Finals... seriously. The kid has shown that he's oblivious on defense and blows his assignments consistently, and he has no offensive game.

Frye will show up.

I don't think he's as bad as you think he is, but playing an unproven rookie in the WCF is a bad idea IMO

With the way Frye is playing, it's hard to out-crap him.

[rsavaj]

http://valleyofthesuns.com/2010/05/21/s ... he+Suns%29

[hitachi7]

I pretty much agree with you guys. It's the only answer that actually gives us a chance to actually win this series and not just a game or two. That said, I don't want to give up on Frye yet. He changes the game when he's making shots, and we probably need him to get out of his funk. However, like you guys said, there's probably no advantages to having Frye over Dudley/Hill if Odom is in the game.

[RunSunRun]

http://valleyofthesuns.com/2010/05/21/small-ball-could-save-phoenix-suns/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ValleyoftheSuns+%28Valley+of+the+Suns%29

The one thing that just jumped out of me in that article : "but in the other 40 minutes of Gasol-Odom they are +53. That’s largely because Channing Frye is -26 in 18 minutes against this dynamic duo."

-26?!?

How could Clark possibly be worst than that?

I think Gentry will still stick with Frye, but if his shot isn't falling and Odom is still killing the Suns by halftime in Game 3, I think you have to mix it up and use Clark. I don't want to regret it when Clark explodes next year and we look back and go "what if we had just used Clark on Odom, could we have beaten the Lakers?"

[Frank Lee]

BS on these line up changes

Bottom line is IF we make our jumpshots, our open looks that have been served up with a layer mortar.... it does not matter.

Play our game correctly as drawn up ... and they will need to adjust.

[KJ7]

http://valleyofthesuns.com/2010/05/21/small-ball-could-save-phoenix-suns/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ValleyoftheSuns+%28Valley+of+the+Suns%29

With the exception of starting Frye that article is exactly what I'm talking about.

As to Clark, I prolly wouldn't play him many mins but I would give him a run. For a while there we were playing him about 5-6 mins in the 2nd qtr so I might consider going back to that in order to give Hill and Dudley a rest. We just need to see how he goes and whether he's up for it. Like someone said he can't be worse then Frye.

Correct me if I'm wrong but Hill didn't play in the 2nd qtr at all in game 2 so there is obviously scope for him to increase his mins. For a game and a half if he wasn't slowing down Kobe he would get rested. Well this is another way to use our most versatile player. Must admit one thing that really frustrated me was seeing Hill pass up an open 3-pter. Until he started putting the ball on the court and pulling up for that J he was completely ineffective offensively. Putting him at PF gets him into his shooting zone automatically and the fact that he can drive gives Odom fits cos he can't just run at the play with a hand in his face like he does to Frye. If he does that to Hill he'll easily go past him for an easy lay-up/pull-up.

Hill had 21 and 31 mins respectively in the first 2 games. We need him to play about 35-38 to win this. Dudley played 19 when he didn't shoot well and 30mins in game 2. Considering he fouled out I think that's about right.

Only time I would put Frye in is if we were desperate to spread the floor in the 4th quarter cos we were down and Dudley wasnt shooting well.

Anyway I look forward to Frye going 7 of 8 from 3-land and completely dispelling my theory.

[garrick]

Play Frye at home and bench him on the road in favor of Clark. I'm pretty sure Clark can go 1-13 with better defense.

[joe.linnen]

The only chance the Suns have is trying to out score the Lakers, but they don't have the fire power for that at all. Odom will murder Clark, it wouldn't be fair. I say go big and try to match up with the Lakers as bets a possible and try to stay at home on the arc with the Lakers.