The sky's not falling

[mkot]

I'd definltely give them more time, SDU. I'm just afraid that time is not the luxury we have right now in the West. The reality is that we aren't even fighting for a top seed. The West is so strong that we are now fighting for a playoff spot. We can't lose this kind of game.

[Arles]

thinking the season is over is premature also

i feel sorry for the mods at the moment

OK, here's their schedule for the next 6:
@POR
@Den
Utah
SA
Memphis
GS

We could easily be 2-4 after that and out of the playoffs. Then, we get 7 of the next 10 on the road (including teams like Denver, Det, Boston and Philly). I don't know that the season is "over", but it's pretty much on life support.

[-SDU-]

-= original quote snipped =-


OK, here's their schedule for the next 6:
@POR
@Den
Utah
SA
Memphis
GS

We could easily be 2-4 after that and out of the playoffs. Then, we get 7 of the next 10 on the road (including teams like Denver, Det, Boston and Philly). I don't know that the season is "over", but it's pretty much on life support.

sore sure, very tough

ultimately though, finish 1st, or 8th, the west will be tough as hell

if we make it and get there with some form buildng up then we will be fine

this isnt about shaq, its losing marion that is hurting. We need to get more hustle out there to start the games

barbs over bell to start?

[Arles]

I think this really boils down to Mike D only playing 6-7 guys a game. Because of that, the top guys (save Hill, because it's not in his DNA) have "half ass" stretches on transition D to conserve energy/not pick up fouls.

Now that the loss has worn off a bit, I will try and go positive. Here's how this all gets fixed:

1. Play 9-10 guys for the next 4 games. Give Johnson, DJ and/or Skinner consistent minutes (10 MPG range). Cut down the minutes for Bell, Barbosa and Nash. Those three are really struggling and maybe they are just logging too many minutes.

2. Bench anyone when they don't hustle back on D. I don't care if it's Amare or Nash or Shaq. We have to stop accepting this terrible transition D. It's all hustle and effort. And, if the minutes are better contained, there should be no excuse not to hustle. Teams like Detroit, SA and Boston hustle back and they have more fossils than we do.

3. Adjust minutes based on performance. This isn't training camp. If Boris plays the first half like the NO game, slash his minutes in the 2nd. If Raja Bell is building stone walls on the rim, turn to DJ/Barbs more in the second. If Nash is throwing the ball all over the court, play DJ a little more in the 2nd/3rd. There's no reason to give someone who is having a terrible game 35-38 minutes.

4. Setup roles. Let Shaq be the rebounder/defender/low post guy. Don't try to make him a high screen and roll guy. Bring in certain guys to fill roles when needed. in the middle of a 0-6 run? Don't pull Nash off the pine and make him play 40 minutes. Throw DJ and Linton out there and tell them to focus on D. Amare giving up easy baskets in the post? Throw Skinner in for Diaw and tell him to D up guys. The point in having a bench is not to have 5 Lebron James' ready to play. It's to have roles. Some guys are shooters (Barbs/Giri), some are defenders (LJ/DJ/Skinner), some guys are creators (Diaw). Focus on building up what they do well and use them when those areas are needed.

If we are serious about turning it around, these things need to be done. But, Mike D probably won't try any. He'll keep playing Nash, Bell and Hill 40 MPG and complain that we're not scoring enough.

[|||-Abaddon-|||]

I beg to differ --- this Shaq trade is bust if this offense and system persists.

The old Laker teams that one championships are not even merely as talented as our current team.

Shaq Shaq
Horry Amare
Harper Diaw
Kobe Nash
Fisher Bell
Shaw Hill
Fox Barbosa

we have a very vet savvy, offensively potent team that shouldn't be this bad. We have to realize Marion is gone, the versatile 3 position player --- the primary finisher on the fast break.

Playing a half court scenario will only open up shots for Nash --- and his team-mates, who are all above average shooters.

We need to change because its clear our run and gun identity is no more. Its clear we need to change because the west is too strong, too defensive orientated for run and gun to be effective anymore.

How can a team be so dumb not too run things through the post first, as this is the predominant way teams have won championships. Playing slow, grind it out basketball with TWO volatile post options and terrific shooters IS the way to go. But how blatantly dumb can D'Antoni and the Suns organization be. Sure it seems extensive to change the offensive system midway throught the season. But it is a neccessary change, one that if not changed, is detrimental to the success we may not endure if we dont play correctly.

Marion = gone = no run and gun (it just wont work no matter what now)

Shaq's in: who's going to stop him ?

Tyson Chandler??? and injured Yao Ming? Dont give me Okur and Duncan. No one can move Shaq's base, and his effectiveness in the post, combined with Amare FOR GOD SAKES, will only make us better and less reliant on trying to achieve risky, cheap and easy transition buckets on a team not designed to get risky, cheap and easy transition buckets.

Its time for change, change to the norm, change to what is successful. And we have the godfather of this league on this team, one who only reinforces why post orientated teams are forever dominant and successfull in the NBA. Shaq is the epitome of this system. Shaq never adjusts, things must adjust to him. This is our advantage, and once you throw in Amare and all of our wonderful shooters, we basically will never realize the pipe dream team we have until its gone. If we dont play right, wasted 2-3 year window.

[mkot]

You have to remember that THIS IS NOT THE SAME SHAQ THAT WON 3 CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH THE LAKERS. He can't be the focal point of any offense because he simply isn't as good as he once was anymore. I know Shaq shoot a high percentage, but he's been blowing layups like a girl in middle school. I remember against the Hornets there was one play where he got lightly fouled literally 2 feet from the net, and on the uncontested continuation he clunked it against the front rim. I also remember a play where he was 3 feet from the rim and came up 2 1/2 feet short with his shot and I was shaking my head don't know if I should laugh or cry. Maybe it's the timing, maybe not, but he was blowing these in Miami too. It's sad to watch.

My point is that you can't run your offense through him like he's a threat on offense because, at this point of his career, he really isn't. He could still demand respect as a big body so we can definitely look for him in the low post when it's needed.

And please stop running Shaq in the high post. Why are we running high-post weaves with him and having him set screens 30 freaking feet from the hoop? He's not Amare. He can't dribble drive his way to the basket. He can't pick and pop and hit a mid-range. This isn't news. We traded for him so we could have a low post presence, so let's play him in the freakin low post. Why do we always have to get cute? I know Shaq said he would adjust to us, but that doesn't mean we have to make him do something he's never done before.

For those who "believe" Mike is in favor of the trade need to look at what he's doing right now. He can't convince me he's in favor of the trade. You can't trade for Shaq and then turn around and have him out past the 3pt line, setting high screen, doing dribble hands off...my God. Like I said, it's the FO spinning everything trying to tell the public that everyone is on board for the trade.