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The Phoenix Suns talk about defense like politicians talk about fixing the budget: lip service is paid, but generally nothing gets done to actually address the problem.

Neither is an easy fix, due to a multitude of reasons, but at least the Suns may be taking a step -- albeit a small one -- in the right direction. The fallout from Mike Brown replacing Phil Jackson with the Lakers has begun, and according to the LA Times:

It was unclear if any of Jackson's former assistants would be retained, though Chuck Person has the best chance among a group including Shaw, Frank Hamblen and Jim Cleamons. Cleamons probably will interview with the Phoenix Suns to become that team's defensive coordinator, an NBA executive said Wednesday.

A defensive coordinator, what a novel idea. In fact, this isn't the first time the Suns have considered the possibility.

Back in 2007 the Suns found themselves looking for a new assistant. Tom Thibodeau's name was brought up, as the former Rockets coach was looking for a new home. The Suns, great on offense but a sieve on defense, seemed like a natural fit. Thibodeau was interested in the job. Mike D'Antoni and the Suns, however, were not interested in him, and hired Jay Humphries instead.

Thibodeau went to Boston to help the Celtics, who only became the best defensive team in the NBA under his watch. The Celtics went to a pair of NBA Finals, winning one, before Thibodeau left to become head coach of the Chicago Bulls. He won Coach of the Year in his first year at the helm.

Oops.

Hiring Cleamons, who was an assistant under Jackson with the Bulls and Lakers, would be a solid move. While he won't be able to turn players like Steve Nash, Hakim Warrick, Robin Lopez and Aaron Brooks into great defenders, his experience assisting on championship teams gives him a perspective that really couldn't hurt to have around.

Nando88 wrote:lol this team is not buildt to play defense as long as steve nash is here.

Los Soles wrote:

Nando88 wrote:lol this team is not buildt to play defense as long as steve nash is here.

The problem has never been Nash. The problem with the Suns defense has always been the lack of a solid defensive frontcourt. We are one athletic power forward away from playing very good defense.

TheMan44 wrote:so......i posted this question in another thread as well, but whoever answers I guess:

Question: Who do u think is better defender? Pietrus or Childress

Or, in other words, who would u rather have at that main backup 2/3 position off the bench? Pietrus or Childress? You know one of them will get less time than the other - and u know one of them MAY get traded.

TASTIC wrote: with Nash and Frye there's 2 weak spots playing 70mins give or take

BurningHeart wrote:That's cool, I guess.

DRK wrote:Look, last season, our bench unit played some of the best defence in the league; not to mention that that unit was amazingly efficient on offence. We as the Suns, KNOW the formula of how to play good defence while playing goof offence. Why dont we try to emulate the 2010 Suns bench but putting similar-styled players on the court together? (As our second unit)

---- Excellent plan. But it's hard to recreate chemistry - who would have though losing Lou Amundson would be such a blow?

Current Bench/2010 Suns Bench

Dowdell = Dragic ----- Nope. He's a solid bench guard but not a Ginobli-lite, which Dragic was at his best
Barbosa = Brooks ---- Ehhhhhh. Okay, but small small small to play the 2. Move Pietrus here, or Duds. The other plays the SF

Lawal = Lou ----- Yup, and we draft one of Singleton, Faried, etc.
Frye = Frye ------ Yes

Look. We still have 2 of the players from the original "Suns Bench" from last year, and IMO, Brooks is a better version of Barbosa, Dowdell seems to be able to run an offence well. Frye and Dudley, has much improved since, Pietrus and Dudley have similar playing styles, and a healthy Lawal is pretty much Lou with better offence.

---- That's a fine Bench Mob but as you point out next ......


.... even though we could make our bench atleast passable again, we still have problems in our starting lineup. Right now, our strating lineup is:

Nash
Dudley
Hill
????
Gortat

Can Warrick be relied upon as our starting PF? Would Gortat's defence and rebounding be good enough to cover Warrick's lack of defence and rebounding? It will be interesting to see.....

JohnVancouver wrote:The answer to both those questions is, no - which is too bad. Maybe this defensive coordinator coach can teach Hak some fundamentals. He has the physical skills to be an effective one on one and team defender, but then again, so does almost everyone in the league bar Steve Nash.

Here's my lineups -

Bench Mob

Dowdell/Janning
Duds/Janning (kid is an excellent shooter and passer. Great IQ and court vision, really hope he sticks this year, and he may well do because we need bodies cheap). Duds did great as a starter last year but I really think what he adds off the bench is even more valuable. We may not have the luxury of it though
Hill - yeah, I know why not but I think right now the why outweighs it. Grant leads the second string and sets the tone. He's the grizzled sergeant leading the young GIs - Lee Marvin in The Big Red One
Lawal - I was crushed when he went down. A serious Dirt Worker and a more athletic Lou, better offense as stated. Takes defense and rebounding personally
Frye - with his improvements defensively and adding post moves and off the dribble, Frye can be a monster here. He and Duds are two guys who lived up top their new contracts, which is a nice thing to see because it so rarely happens

Starters

Nash
Pietrus (or Duds, I'm open to it. He doesn't have MPs athleticism but he's amore reliable shooter and I'm looking forward to seeing his reported new muscles and offensive additions. He's one guy who truly adds something every year )
Chilly - let's review: very good defender, slasher, rebounder at both ends, putbacks, ugly shot ..... sounds like ..........
????? -
Gortat


This is our four out/one in lineup with four decent to very good defenders. The missing pice is the PF who needs to be an excellent rebounder and defender, athletic enough to capitalize on Nash in the pick and roll. Finding one who fits that description isn't easy but teaching one to shoot an outside shot isn't the hardest thing in the world. Certainly not as hard as teaching Amar'e to box out, say.

My belief is - if you have a guy who devotes effort to defense and boards, you've got a guy who is okay with working. That means he's teachable. Teachers, we got.

That leaves Brooks and Hak, and Siler on the bench. Sign and trade Brooks - likely have to eat Hak's paycheque and keep him. For a while. He can be useful in an SSOL type format. Let's hope he works on finishing this summer - too many blown shots at the rim. Or send him out for whatever we can get. I used to be a fan but he cured me of it, much like Matt Barnes did