The NASH-less line up

Frank Lee · Post #1 » by **Frank Lee** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 10:31 am

It has been our downfall....often a hair pulling scream session...when leads evaporate and defecits grow. Sometimes I'd rather put a bucket over my head and beat it with a stick....

but against the Spurs I saw something that seemed to work...

I think the line up was Shaq Hill Diaw Barbo and Giricek...Stat and Nash were benched.

and the offense went through the Big Disher....

comments ?

-SDU- · Post #2 » by **-SDU-** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 11:28 am

but i agree, i noticed that when watching the game also

the keys were to give it to shaq to run the offense, but also a key was the hustle and alertness giricek provided us in that run

for the record, the suns were +10 with nash off the court tonight

against the spurs, that is amazing

we MUST have that sort of effort to win a title this year

raff · Post #3 » by **raff** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 12:15 pm

what i think also worked so well for this Nash-less lineup was that Diaw played pretty well tonight.

its a good thing to see the team perform like this with Nash off the court

|||-Abaddon-||| · Post #4 » by **|||-Abaddon-|||** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 1:45 pm

Thats what makes this team SO BLOODY DANGEROUS

If we need the up-tempo game not really suited for Shaq, in can come Nash and Amare so that they can pick and roll teams to death.

But this is the Shaq factor, teams have to adjust to US. We are the most potent and efficient scoring team in the league. Come playoffs, everyone will be in high gear, and I'm thinking, with the amount of talent we have on this team, we should be the most feared in the entire playoffs...

eastsidecrossover · Post #5 » by **eastsidecrossover** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 3:20 pm

This is what should happen in the 4th Q for us when Nash is sitting, same with amare. We did not do this against the mavs either. Shaq is still on of the best out in the league, and can get the job done. He is also a good passer, with Diaw playing up to his tallent, Hills game and barbs and giri running around like chickens with their heads cut off, that is a good unit to start the 4th if the remember to feed the big fella.

Sun Scorched · Post #6 » by **Sun Scorched** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 6:14 pm

eastsidecrossover wrote:This is what should happen in the 4th Q for us when Nash is sitting, same with amare. We did not do this against the mavs either. Shaq is still on of the best out in the league, and can get the job done. He is also a good passer, with Diaw playing up to his tallent, Hills game and barbs and giri running around like chickens with their heads cut off, that is a good unit to start the 4th if the remember to feed the big fella.

That's what I noticed too. I think the hustle is a large part of why we did so well with our second unit.

Shaq simply abused Duncan. That jump hook he has is looking better than it has in a long time. In addition, he frustrated the living tar out of Duncan defensively, he made TD one dimensional, taking only jumpers from 15-18ft... i'll take that any day of the week.

Not to mention mad props to Hill for guarding Parker.

Frankly our second is the best in the league... they just have to believe it.

enigmatics · Post #7 » by **enigmatics** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 6:17 pm

[quote="Sun Scorched"][/quote]

..........that's the method to the madness. Sick Raja on Manu ......Hill on Parker ........that leaves Duncan on Shaq, who makes him look completely one-dimensional. I'm really shocked at how well Shaq slides his feet when guarding him. He shut down that same move Duncan does over and over again.........Shaq keeps his hand up, force him into the middle of the lane, slide his feet, and get up into that shot forcing it way off.

impulsenine · Post #8 » by **impulsenine** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 6:21 pm

We do have to slowly phase Nash out of our system. Dude can't do this forever.

Shaq (C)
Diaw (PF)
Hill (SF)
Barbo (SG)
Giricek (SG)

It's well-balanced for height, outside and inside shooting (Barbs as the 3-threat, Giri and Hill driving with occasional 3's), as well as on the block with Shaq and an aggressive Diaw.

Then we can completely change:
Skinner (C)
STAT (PF)
Whoever!
Bell (SG)
Nash (PG)

... and there's only a 1-person overlap.

Biff · Post #9 » by **Biff** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:39 pm

Anyone else see that Diaw made Hollinger's honorable mention on all-defense?

impulsenine · Post #10 » by **impulsenine** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:48 pm

Biff wrote:Anyone else see that Diaw made Hollinger's honorable mention on all-defense?

Wait WHAT?!

Arles · Post #11 » by **Arles** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:59 pm

I think that the combo of Giri, Hill and Diaw when Nash sits works. I think having Shaq and Barbs works for different reasons. The first three can all bring the ball up - which means Barbs doesn't have to be the point. Having Shaq means that the defense will collapse on him and free up the shooters (Prim Giri and Barbs from 3, Hill and Diaw from midrange). All save Shaq can create their own shot and all can hit shots 18 feet from the basket. This lineup spreads the floor and has 4 capable defenders paired with Barbs. It's a great "Nashless" option and hopefully we see it more often.

Biff · Post #12 » by **Biff** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:03 pm

impulsenine wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Wait WHAT?!

POWER FORWARDS

Honorable mention: Anderson Varejao, Boris Diaw, Josh Smith, Lamar Odom

I have to mention Diaw (5.29) because his numbers have been huge and opposing power forwards have had only a 13.6 PER against him. His numbers weren't anywhere near this good in past seasons, and subjectively, I don't see his being close to the class of some of these other guys, but the numbers warrant at least discussion.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/ ... nse-080410

albasuna · Post #13 » by **albasuna** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:15 pm

impulsenine wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Wait WHAT?!

POWER FORWARDS

Honorable mention: Anderson Varejao, Boris Diaw, Josh Smith, Lamar Odom

I have to mention Diaw (5.29) because his numbers have been huge and opposing power forwards have had only a 13.6 PER against him. His numbers weren't anywhere near this good in past seasons, and subjectively, I don't see his being close to the class of some of these other guys, but the numbers warrant at least discussion.

source: http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=All-Defense-080410&campaign=rss&source=NBAHeadlines&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba%2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumnist%3dhollinger_john%26page%3dAll-Defense-080410%26campaign%3drss%26source%3dNBAHeadlines

Biff · Post #14 » by **Biff** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:17 pm

albasuna wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

POWER FORWARDS

Honorable mention: Anderson Varejao, Boris Diaw, Josh Smith, Lamar Odom

I have to mention Diaw (5.29) because his numbers have been huge and opposing power forwards have had only a 13.6 PER against him. His numbers weren't anywhere near this good in past seasons, and subjectively, I don't see his being close to the class of some of these other guys, but the numbers warrant at least discussion.

source: http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=All-Defense-080410&campaign=rss&source=NBAHeadlines&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba%2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumnist%3dhollinger_john%26page%3dAll-Defense-080410%26campaign%3drss%26source%3dNBAHeadlines

Just a bit late. =D

NapoleonII · Post #15 » by **NapoleonII** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 12:32 am

Diaw plays good defense? Wow. He plays 'ADEQUATE' man to man, but he's too short and too soft for any real kind of impact.

-SDU- · Post #16 » by **-SDU-** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 1:53 am

behind shaq, i actually rate diaw as our best post defender

the guy has great footwork, great smarts and does a great job on duncan

Post #17 » by **KJ7** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 3:21 am

Best thing Shaq has done IMO is give our "2nd team" a focus offensively.

Where as before LB had to do 2 things (come off a screen and then give it to Diaw) now all he has to do is look for the big fella down low and we start from there.

I think because of LB's ability to shoot and inability to think *and* dribble combining him with a post-up player is perfect. It turns him into a spot-up shooter but if someone comes out of a double to pick him up he can easily take him off the dribble and look for his own shot.

It basically turns into a 2-man game and LB doesn't have to worry about 5-on-5 and all the options that come with that.

Not sold on Giricek ... personally I'd still prefer someone better defensively espec in that line-up. Perhaps DJ or better still a Tim Thomas like player would suit that 2nd unit perfectly (obviously for next season). Lets Diaw play SF defensively and then PF offensively. The Tim Thomas player just becomes a spot-up shooter offensively and provides a bigger body defensively at PF.

Possibly someone like Fazekas or Cook maybe (would obviously have to be cheap). Cook would possibly be too frustrating defensively espec alongside Shaq.

joe.linnen · Post #18 » by **joe.linnen** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 7:33 am

impulsenine wrote:We do have to slowly phase Nash out of our system. Dude can't do this forever.

Shaq (C)
Diaw (PF)
Hill (SF)
Barbo (SG)
Giricek (SG)

It's well-balanced for height, outside and inside shooting (Barbs as the 3-threat, Giri and Hill driving with occasional 3's), as well as on the block with Shaq and an aggressive Diaw.

Then we can completely change:
Skinner (C)
STAT (PF)
Whoever!
Bell (SG)
Nash (PG)

... and there's only a 1-person overlap.

I would go with Barbosa as my overlap guy.

SF:Bell
PF:Stoudemire
C:Skinner
SG:Barbosa
PG:Nash