Two notes from a great game...

[JJ13]

First off...amazing game tonight, in my opinion the best of the season so far. That being said, two notes, one may being more pertinent than the other...

First, and perhaps less pertinent...when Banks hit that ridiculously long 3, did anyone else see Grant being the only one standing up (And cooling marcus off with his towel)? Grant looked back at the rest of the bench and looked a bit confused as to why no one else was standing up. The bench has got to get rowdy for Banks, he earned his minutes tonight.

Second, if I'm Steve Kerr, I'm immediately looking to move Boris after this homestand...the guy looks totally lost. Packaging Boris, Pike and pick for the piece that will get us over the edge. I feel VERY strongly that another shooter/role-player would fix our consistency and establish the Suns as a W. Conf. favorite, if not champ favorite.

Thoughts?

[JJ13]

And of course as soon as I hit "submit" Banks hits his 7th 3-pointer and the whole bench stands up

[NapoleonII]

Good to hear, but I say package Banks as well. The kid will see no playing time in the playoffs, and we NEED another big body to throw at Duncan, unless you guys think we can win in the post-season with Amare playing 20-25 minutes w/ foul trouble.

[JJ13]

I'd agree with that, especially considering Mike's press conference and Banks's performance tonight...get the best bang for our buck:

Artest for Banks/Diaw/Pike

I know people don't like Artest, but I think that guy's career is due for a turn-around (much like Randy Moss)

[movingaz]

Who is going to take on Diaw's Salary 5 years 45 Million?

I think the Suns are stuck with him.

Banks is looking more trade-able daily but, it looks like the Suns could use him now and in the future. 3 years 13 million left after this year does not sound bad for a guy with great defense and a little bit of offense with some playing tim.

Wow what a little playing time can do for a guy like Banks.

[Cash]

I'd agree with that, especially considering Mike's press conference and Banks's performance tonight...get the best bang for our buck:

Artest for Banks/Diaw/Pike

I know people don't like Artest, but I think that guy's career is due for a turn-around (much like Randy Moss)

What'd Mike say in his press conference?

[JJ13]

Just pesimistic in general, not really giving Banks his due. He said Banks's minutes was a trade off, and asked how many minutes Raja got. Then he asked the reporter to ask Raja if he was happy with that amount of minutes.

Bottom line is that Raja's not playing great, so there's no reason for Banks not to share some of those minutes. I'm going to say this...despite a great win and what seems to be a new direction, if the Suns don't play to their potential this season it will be because of Mike's attitude, pride and stubborness. I ain't no democrat, but Mike ain't exactly an "agent of change" either.

[JohnVancouver]

Just pesimistic in general, not really giving Banks his due. He said Banks's minutes was a trade off, and asked how many minutes Raja got. Then he asked the reporter to ask Raja if he was happy with that amount of minutes.

Bottom line is that Raja's not playing great, so there's no reason for Banks not to share some of those minutes. I'm going to say this...despite a great win and what seems to be a new direction, if the Suns don't play to their potential this season it will be because of Mike's attitude, pride and stubborness. I ain't no democrat, but Mike ain't exactly an "agent of change" either.

I resisted the anti-D'Antoni wave as long as I could but .... wouldn't it makes sense that since Raja has been hurt most of the season with back/ankles, now flu, that after tonight's strong showing by banks that we would sit Raja, get him fully healthy, and start Banks for a while.
Not a demotion for Raja, who's is integral to this team, but Banks played tough defense on AI, gave us our best outside shooting of the year and put up one bad shot in all the minutes he had.
Surely that would make most coach's happy and comfortable letting one of their key players rest up and play his way back into the starting five?

Having both Skinner and Banks, if this wasn't a fluke and I don't think it was, really improves this team.

[PHXfan85]

Not only does the bench need to get more rowdy, the crowd needs to be consitently loud. There was barely any cheering Sat. night when I was there and tonight it was so loud/consistent that I actually noticed it. The crowd only got loud during parts of the fourth on Sat., not to mention loads of people leaving with 2 minutes left. Tonight it was consistently loud, at least for the majority of the game that I saw.

I'm seriously considering writing a letter to the newspaper as a concerned Suns fan haha

[ma_falaa_50]

I think the lack of crowd support because the honeymoon phase is over. As for trading banks. I say no. Kerr understands banks ability to contribute. Im glad that everytime Banks has a good game, his teammates always commend him and say they need him but its all for not because MD wont play him.

[NapoleonII]

D'antoni is like the evil step mother, and we all know what happens to her at the end of the story.

[TASTIC]

Villanueva and Charlie Bell would be nice...

[GoDogGo]

Villanueva and Charlie Bell would be nice...

Something like this? Maybe the Atl pick and other picks envolved?
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/t ... &te=&cash=

[-SDU-]

man, diaw to me seems to be far better the last 10 games than the ones before

i think he is doing more than people think
he still has a big role on this team

[KJ7]

I agree ... I've liked his contribution to this team lately. Could always help to have a bit more rebounding but at the moment I'll suffice with him posting up smaller players and finding the open man.

While he is only avg'ing about 4apg in the last 5 games the fact is he is making the right option when he is kicking the ball out when he gets doubled and it results in points (just because it gets wheeled around the arc to find the open man and he doesn't get credited with the assist means little to me).

I tell ya what he is one of the best passers out of the post I've seen in a long time. He is very aware of where his team-mates are and who leaves their man to come and double him. If he was 3 inches taller he would be a beast!

[-SDU-]

^ agreed

also he is definately being more active with and without the ball, boxing out and at least looking like he is a threat to score every time he gets it which is something he wasnt doing earlier this year

forgetting his contract, diaw is playing his role well so far lately, im happy with him

[Frank Lee]

I give these Doris comments a 3 on my optimystical-optomitral-meter

[-SDU-]

i guess you HAD to find something to be unhappy about today didnt you chief

[PHXfan85]

Frank, you really don't see an improvement in Diaw? I have to agree with these observations as well.

...and that's a 3/?

[JJ13]

Sorry guys, I don't see the improvement...

http://www.nba.com/playerfile/boris_dia ... stats.html

More minutes, same ppg, fouls are up & rebs about the same

maybe had a few more assists