What is the real problem?

[realsunsfan]

I have been thinking about this for a while now and have been really trying to focus in on what the real problem is. I am going to give you my take on the issue and will be looking forward to reading yours, and please guys, let's keep this as positively contsructive as possible. Your responses should be more than just "blow it up and rebuild", take a few minutes and really examine what we have and what you think can be done to improve us this season. with that said.......

Watching the last few games, it has become crystal clear that we are no longer under the radar (duhh), but what has become even more clear to me is that the league has realized that if they take Nash out of the equation they can stop us. Now don't get me wrong, even when they try and smother Nash with longer players he can still score by either driving around them or shooting over them. The problem is they take away Stat at the same time, just as we have always known, Stat is a finisher, always has been always will be one of if not the best finisher in the game. He has never been an iso player, he can occaisionally take his man one on one and drive to the hole, but we all have always known his bread and butter has been the PnR with Nash, if you take Nash out of the equation, no PnR. We, and the league, have always known our strongest offensive option is the Nash/Stat PnR, what helped that was the constant pressure we put on teams defense because of our running. We were always playing at a rediculously fast pace, we kept opposing defenses on their heels and never allowed them to actually set up their defense because they were always scrambling to get back and cover. That created a lot of mismatches for us as well as break away fast break points. (ahh the glory days) Now, we no longer play at the fast pace so defenses have time to set up and match up with us, we no longer have the mismatches created by playing so fast. We are now a "rythem" team as coach Gentry has said so many times during post game press conf's. Yes we still play at an up tempo pace, but that is an up tempo in the half court game, not a running up tempo. While I believe this approach can work, I DO NOT believe we have the correct players to play this way. I do however believe that one position is the key to success with this approach. That is the starting SG position. I know Jrich has won us some games with his play, but he is not the player we need to play the sytem we are playing now. We need a starting SG that can take his man off the dribble and get to the basket and has enough court vision to see the open player on his drives and be able to make that pass, also needs to be able to knock down the three at a "decent" rate and "obviously" needs to be a good defender as well. Barbosa is not the answer as a starter, he needs to continue bringing that change of pace and spark off the bench.

I know many of you will say we need a defensive big more, but it hasn't been the bigs that are beating us most of the time. I think we have been able to do a decent job with our big men and I still believe Lopez will develope when and "if" he learns to slow down his game and not play so excited and hyper. I do not dissagree that a defensive big will also help, I just believe that the starting SG position is our biggest problem right now.

Your thoughts ??????

[justinb80]

Seems like a fairly astute observation.

Taking Nash out of it and making him a scorer is definitely the key. There are very few people on this team who can create their own shot. Really, just Grant Hill and sometimes Jason Richardson. So, if Nash is not able to create the scoring opportunities, then we're eff'd. The Spurs have known this for a long time, which is why they always brought heavy pressure and trapping immediately after he crossed mid-court.

A huge problem I see is that teams are adjusting to the Suns, but the Suns are not adjusting to other teams. Earlier in the season, it seemed like this team was pretty versatile, but they've moved away from that to being a team that has three plays: (1) pick-and-roll with Nash/Stoudemire, (2) drive-and-kick to an open three-point shooter, or (3) short curling jump-shot from Grant Hill or Jason Richardson.

They aren't using Grant Hill and Jason Richardson in post-up opportunities as much, the team has a whole is not slashing to the basket, and only Hill, Richardson, and Nash have a mid-range game at all.

I'm pretty disappointed with how bad Gentry is doing in making adjustments. Yes, not having LB hurts, but fix your game plan as a result. I don't think I've seen a backdoor pass all season. Hill used to have a ton of those backdoor layups. This team almost needs to move to a Princeton offense, and get some of our better ballhandlers involved in facilitating plays. Hill and Dudley could potentially initiate sets.

I think their bigger problem and one that isn't easily fixed, is that they're just mentally soft. They're a bunch of nice guys who don't have a killer instinct, outside of Nash.

[DBrimstone]

I was thinking about this this morning and I realized more or less the same thing. Every team that's blown us out (or even just beaten us) has been a result of their perimeter players getting what they want at the ends of game and all of our guys forgetting to play to win. Nash isn't fast enough to guard good point guards. All Mo had to do was take a couple steps forward, step back and launch a 3 and Nash just wasn't fast enough to stop him. J-Rich has been atrocious in the last 10 or so games.

Cleveland's offense is at it's best when they have 3 solid ball handlers on the floor (Mo, Delonte, Lebron). When they just go to Lebron iso non-sense that it gets stagnant. We really do need more ball handlers. I'm not sure about Dudley doing it (looks awkward doing more than just driving) but LB, Dragic, and Hill could all fulfill that role just fine.

[justinb80]

I don't mean to say Dudley's a point guard or anything. But he's a decent passer and a smart player, so I'd trust him to make the right call with the ball in his hands.

[realsunsfan]

Well I believe when Barbosa comes back, we will get better, he is a player with enough speed to make opposing defenses have to adjust. Although that will not be enough. He is most effective coming off the bench with that spark, although he does play well as a starter sometimes, I think he benefits us most coming off the bench. We need a starting shooting guard that one, plays defense, and two, can run iso plays by himself to help spread the floor and offer another offensive option for us. Everybody knows now to collapse on the Nash/Stat PnR and stay home on our three point shooters, we don't have anything else to go to at the moment......

[KLEON]

I think the problem with the suns is that gentry needs to manage the players minutes better. I've seen in most games where he has the starters on the bench too long when their opponents start making their run which eventually cost us the game, the cavs game last night is a perfect example. Then bench is too thin and they obviously need LB back. They need to start running more and cut out this up tempo half court game. They need to starting setting up plays for Jared Dudley the man can shoot the ball well and J Rich needs to take better shots and stop rushing them, he just needs to focus more on the game and play intelligently.

[Jdiddy701]

Cutting minutes down in the NBA is so overrated. Do you think Nash feels a different with a minute more break?! I hate when people say minutes is a concern. They're NBA players for a reason.

[Qwigglez]

I think our success rides on J-Rich's game to game delivery, Mr Inconsistency. I think when it comes to games against elite teams he simply folds under pressure, unless of course, he shoots decently, then he'll try and and step up a bit. Richardson's lack of basketball IQ is hurting the team, and with our system we need everyone to be on the same page or we lose games. Everything needs to click in order for the Suns to be successful. Again, Richardson is one of those players that is good on bad teams.
Remember when Nash made that behind the back pass to Richardson on the fast break, and Richardson wasn't expecting the pass? Like seriously, did he think Nash was gonna dunk or something? A good example of lack of team chemistry, lack of basketball IQ, and just folding under pressure, leaving Nash, Amare, and Hill to take on a bigger role. When one guy falls, our whole team falls.
The obvious way to solve this problem is to trade Richardson, but there simply aren't many options available at this point. Again, the only trade I see that would make sense for both teams is a straight swap for Richard Hamilton. I think this trade would put us with the elite teams of Dallas, Denver, San Antonio, Orlando, Atlanta (I believe Lakers, Celtics, and Cavs are in a class of their own). I hate to keep reiterating my point on why this trade makes sense for both teams but I'll do it again anyway.
First off, its a Western Conference team trading with an Eastern Conference team, the most ideal trade scenario. Suns take on a longer contract in Rip, and I think Detroit is looking to shed salary to keep building around their new look. Rip would be the hardest guy to move in Detroit because of his long contract, and I think they would jump at the opportunity to simply get rid of him.
Another trade scenario would be to trade Richardson for Mike Miller and Deshawn Stevenson, both are expiring, but it doesn't make much sense for the Wizards except that Miller always catches the injury bug and Stevenson is shooting horrible so they need a more consistent player (Yes, believe it or not Richardson is more consistent than Stevenson).

I agree with the OP that our front court is fine. If anything, we can adjust our roster to make it a more half-court tempo team, putting in big bodies of Jarron Collins and Robin Lopez. I don't think the Suns can get someone else who would be fine getting sporadic minutes like JC does. Plus it hasn't been the bigs who've been beating the Suns.

[realsunsfan]

Qwigglez..................I think I would have to agree with you on that trade scenario. Richard Hamilton would be an excellent addition. Even with his longer contract, that is if he delivers what he is capable of delivering. I think he would like to play along side Nash, Stat and Ghill.

[Sun Scorched]

Mike Miller in a Suns uni......

Dear God,

Please see above.

Sincerely,

Scorched

[MaryvalesFinest]

It's not just certain positions but the whole team, everyone on that team from Nash to the last guy on the bench seems fine with this being a medicore team. Last night they played like they didn't even care if they lost or won while the Cavs went out and showed they wanted the game. They already are 4-7 in the month of December and unfortunately I think this is the real Suns team we will see for the rest of the year.

[realsunsfan]

Qwigglez, Detroits board seems to like the J-rich for Rip trade as well.........

[rsavaj]

I just want Joe Johnson back

[sunsfolife]

I just want Joe Johnson back

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

watch for first min and a half.

miss ya joe

[realsunsfan]

Hey guys, what would all of you think of a J-rich/Lopez for Rip/Maxiell trade ??

[Qwigglez]

Hey guys, what would all of you think of a J-rich/Lopez for Rip/Maxiell trade ??

No need to go overboard lol. We're already taking on a huge contract in Rip, no need to take Maxiell's. Plus, we'd definitely need a center if we did this, Maxiell is like 6'8.

[realsunsfan]

Hey guys, what would all of you think of a J-rich/Lopez for Rip/Maxiell trade ??

No need to go overboard lol. We're already taking on a huge contract in Rip, no need to take Maxiell's. Plus, we'd definitely need a center if we did this, Maxiell is like 6'8.

No, no, just asking as that is what the Detroit board asked if we would consider. They do however like the Jrich for Rip trade straight up. They are just looking for ways to get a center.

[rsavaj]

I just want Joe Johnson back

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

watch for first min and a half.

miss ya joe

Dang dude was an absolute beast.

[rsavaj]

I just want Joe Johnson back

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

watch for first min and a half.

miss ya joe

Dang dude was an absolute beast.

[RaisingArizona]

I cried watching that video. The avril music combined with knowing Joe was our shot at a title run for years just made the tears flow.