RealGM

From the looks of things (wiretap), Strawberry has been tearing up the D-League, he is virtually the same type of player as Bell and is much cheaper and younger. So i guess the question is, do the Suns now shop Raja Bell in hopes of adding someone who can make an impact? Which teams would want Bell and what could we get back for him?

DJ is not ready to take over Bell's role, plus i hope Bell retires a Sun for everything he brings to the team.

Isn't Banks ahead of DJ in the rotation at this stage?

I don't get too excited about pre-season performances. I get even less excited about D-League performances. He can beat up on scrubs, that's great. But in no way does that tell me he's ready to take a quantum leap in becoming a rotation player let alone a starter.

It's encouraging to see him doing well but I don't think it means that he has all of a sudden become this great player. I think we've bagged ourselves someone who can become a really solid rotation player in years to come and I hope we hold onto him.

BTW, wasn't Tucker ripping it up when he was in the D-League as well?

Well Bell has been bricking shots and he has always been a streaky player so it doesnt surpised me how he has done offensively all season. the thing about raja is his defense would always be consistent but not this year. I think he has lost a lost of ability from his recent surgery.

DJ is not really a bell type because Raja can not be a pg. Alando is more of a Raja Bell. I think these teams problem is dancing around the idea of lack of chemistry. I think the players and Dantoni knows exactly whats going on but they do not want to adress it outside the clubhouse. I think shawn wants more props, Amare wants more shots, and Nash wants to incorporate the whole team more. Shawn wants his props that he isnt a scrub or an Amare sidekick. Amare wants more shots because its what he feels, as a leader, he can contribute to the team. Amare asking his shots in crucial parts of the game is his way of leading this team to victory not with intent to diminish what his teammates can do. shawn wants more recognition and more plays called for him because he feels he deserves it for hustling on the defensive end. Nash wants to give guys equal oppurtunity regardless of who is hot or not because he knows down the road the suns are harder to beat with the team clicking on all cylinders.

what exactly is happening here are 3 important players not being on the same page. It has been the main contributer to lack of chemistry. Amare has alluded to it. Nash has alluded to it.

Its time for Dantoni to set these guys straight. Nash needs to consider where amare is coming from. Amare needs to understand why Nash wants the whole team to be involved. shawn needs to stop being so whiny as evry chance he gets. Amare, Nash and Shawn has to get it together because evryone else on the team feeds off of thier actions.

if we were going to trade bell because we had another SG ready, then we would have done it because barbs could take over

Banks has been defending well and shooting the 3 well, so maybe??

Bell is all heart though.

banks definately deserves more time

haha,

that topic is ridicilous, after a slow start from bell and a good game from banks....

just don

I would be comfortable with either Banks or Barbosa starting at SG. A guard rotation of Nash/ Banks/ Barbosa with Hill playing spot minutes at the 2 (and DJ and Tucker waiting in the wings) would suffice for an 8-9 man rotation.

But damn, it would be hard to get rid of Raja after all he's done for this team.

I am actually in favor of trading Barbosa. If we can trade him and the ATL pick for Iggy, then I say we do it.

Bell's problem is his health as of now. Coach didn't trust Banks. LB's defense is still suspect. So, he might feel urged to play Bell not healthy. The ideal however would be to rest Bell for 2-3 weeks. Force LB to play better defense and give Banks more time. D

You guys will be sorry if you keep increasing Bank's minutes.

-from a Celtics fan.

If we trade Bell, who is going to take his starting spot? There's really not a guy on the market that I'd like on our team that provides his shooting and his defense....other than Joe Johnson

Trade Bell? Not unless we get an amazing deal for him. He is the heart and soul of our defense. Great at the catch and shoot. He also brings the toughness and vetern leadership that we need on this team to win a championship.

phungk wrote:From the looks of things (wiretap), Strawberry has been tearing up the D-League,

I'd agree that Raja isn't untouchable, but DJ to replace Raja? Seriously? Just because he's been tearing up the D-freakin-League? The D-League is a big step down competition wise from where they came from in the NCAA. Watch a D-League game and you know what I'm talking about.

No way.

The guy is hobbled and is slowing down, but at his cost no way. Can you imagine how physical his D would be on Nash???

TASTIC wrote:No way.

The guy is hobbled and is slowing down, but at his cost no way. Can you imagine how physical his D would be on Nash???

I can't remember the last time Raja guarded a PG, certainly not one with a quick first step anyway. He never gets the assignments on the Parkers/ Pauls/ Williams of the league and consequently we seemed to get burned by these guys. He always gets the assignment on a swingman ala Manu because, simply, he's just not quick enough anymore.

I'm not having a dig at the guy either, he's one of my all time favourite suns, but as long as we're playing Shawn at the 4 (and not having the luxury of having him take the oppositon's PG like in the past) we're going to get burned by good PGs.

This is why I suggested a while back that while Raja was injured, that we rest him and trial Banks starting at the SG. He can definitely D up the opposing PG and let Steve sag off on the lesser of the two swingmen. Given the shot, I think Banks' stock would have risen to the point we may actually be able to trade him (if that's what management is hoping to do).

I agree with resting Bell and playing Banks at SG, but wouldn't it be wiser to start Barbosa so we get off to those quick starts of 30+ in the first?

Either way, I see a trade coming.

TASTIC wrote:I agree with resting Bell and playing Banks at SG, but wouldn't it be wiser to start Barbosa so we get off to those quick starts of 30+ in the first?

Either way, I see a trade coming.

As long as Raja is okay enough to put on a uni, Mike D will start him.
If not, Barbs will start, and Banks will come in where Barbs did.
It actually works better for Barbs, but just like you said about us getting off to a good start, the counter arguement will work for the other teams good pg. If we allow that pg to go off because Nash or Barbs can't guard him, it might be tough to slow that guy down.
Anyway you look at it, Banks contribution and his attitude towards getting any mins he can is a huge plus for this team.
I am having a hard time with Hill's mins. On one hand he is so vital to everything we are doing right on the court, so lowering the mins is tough to justify. On the other hand, if he gets too worn down, he will be useless where we need him, the playoffs.
We are still having trouble with the boards. This is an area that all our bigs have to commit to. If we can give Skinner a solid 15+ mins a game, that will help some. Or if Diaw can grab at least 7 boards a game consistantly.

If Bell can't get his shot down, I want to see him getting it done on the boards, and setting good back picks(like Jeff Hornesek(sp) in his Utah days) to free up Marion for that Diaw lob that has disappeared this year.

Great, just after I posted, I read that Hill is out because of an appendex. Good time to start Skinner, yet why would Mike D do that? Diaw will get the start.