Raja Bell and Boris Diaw Appreciation Thread

[rsavaj]

They did amazing things for this franchise, and that 05/06 squad was effing inspiring. Raja was the heart of this team, and Boris showed us how beautiful basketball could be played.

I'll miss them so, so much.

Thanks for everything you guys did for us...I'll never forget you!

/sappy

[The Hypnotoad]

I know, i really liked both players. I don't know if this trade makes us better when we lose both those guys. Bell was a warrior and deserves better than to play on the Bobcats. Diaw had become part of the identity of this team. Both guys really, we lost more of the heart of what made the Suns so great.

[HootieRules]

That '05/'06 team will always be near and dear to a lot of us for a long, long time... Will never forget the Raja 3 over Daniel Ewing in game 5... and Boris is as friendly as you'll meet in person... best of luck to the both of them...

[GaliSun]

I was high on Doris, he really knew how to play the game but always lacked that "thing" to to reach a higher level.

Raja was nearly done, but he was all Suns toughness in his tenure here.

Good riddance for them both!

[Go7enKs]

I'll miss especially Raja. I liked 3D in that amazing 05/06 season but we have to be honest, he's regressed and I was getting tired of waiting for him to express his full potential.

[Miklo]

In theory JRich could be interesting here. I will miss both Bell and Diaw.

Bell - who is gonna chokeslam Kobe tonight and in the (fingers crossed) WCF?

Diaw - who's gonna be the goofy bast**d in the locker room? Bad streaks aside, he does have versatility, defense and talent in general.

[b-ball forever]

They brought us much needed defense, and saved our 2005-2006 season by stepping it up in Amare's absence and being major pieces of our 06 playoffs run, making the WCF despite missing Amare/KT... Too bad Bell had to go down too after the Clips series and kill the last c-ship hopes we had that year.

Raja : Thanks for the bigtime needed defense, thanks for helping us lead the league in 3 point shooting, thanks for the clothesline, thanks for the toughness, thanks for landing us J-Rich

Boris : Thanks for the versatality, thanks for the 2006 MIP, thanks for the defense and low post play , thanks for being our only player to show up in the 2008 playoffs, and thanks for landing us J-Rich.

Good luck with the Kitty Cats to both of yall

[NapoleonII]

Best of luck to both of you guys.


Bell, you were **** awesome 3 years ago. Anyone remember that Clipper series when Amare was out? Tim Thomas got most of the glory, but every shot Raja hit was crucial and always seemed to keep us in it.


Diaw, you have mucho talent. I hope you prove Kerr wrong and tear it up in the east.

[Seattlesun]

Boris will wind up in New York and do well.

Raja may fade away in Charlotte.

Both were great to have in Phx. One of the greatest shots in Suns history came from Raja in the paperClips series. And of course the clothesline. I thank Raja as a legit great part of the Suns family.

Boris was ok but nothing special to me. Good luck to both.

[mkot]

Funny I was watching the game 6 of the Suns-Clippers series during the 05-06 playoff just this morning. I will never forget that 3 with 3.6 left that brought us to the WCF. That team is my favorite Suns team, although the 06-07 team were the better team, but the 05-06 team has all the heart and characters. I will miss them both. Good luck with them. Although Boris had never live up to his contract, I always love his game. When he's aggressive and active, he's a beautiful player to watch. I didn't think we'd trade Bell, but then I also thought they wouldn't trade LB if they have any class.

Nash got Raja here, he sure wouldn't be happy about the move.

I will miss Raja. I don't know what to think about his move but as a Suns fan, I think you got to like this deal though. JRich gives us a legit scoring 2 that can break down a defense, create his own shot, and play above the rim. I think he will give us a whole new dimension.

All in all, I'm really sad that we've given up a warrior and an emotional leader in Raja, and a part of me always hoped that Boris would play with intensity consistently one day. But I'm excited about JRich and I think he's really going to help out this team alot.

Good luck with the Cats, Boris and Raja, I will miss you guys

[daveang]

While I'm not overly disappointed to see them go, it has been great watching both have their excellent moments in the Run N Gun System. Diaw, obviously we think back to the 05'06 MIP season, and Bell, more or less the same "clothes lining Kobe" era of the Suns, when he truly stamped his mark as a gritty, hard-nosed defender in the league.

I think both guys will do well in Charlotte, with Diaw being the guy to flourish the most with those extra minutes....

All the best boys!

[BurningHeart]

Nothing to say that hasn't already been said. Raja is the definition of HEART. We traded the glue last year, and today we traded the heart.

Boris could never put it together after 05-06, but man....I've never wanted to love a player as much as I wanted to love Boris. Guy was so frustrating on the court, it drove a stake in my heart everytime I saw him do something I KNEW he could do every freakin' time.

Thank you Raja. For your passion, for your character, for your heart. For the 3 against the Clippers, for clotheslining that punk Kobe Bryant. For giving us motivation in the subsequent Game 6, which was "For Raja" because you were suspended.

Easily one of my favorite Suns in HISTORY.

[Never Fear 33 Is Here]

Appreciated.

But where is the love for Singles?

[rsavaj]

Appreciated.

But where is the love for Singles?

Eh, Singles cost us Strawberry. No love for Singles

[TXSun]

We can honestly say we got the best of those 2 guys. Bell was an all NBA selectiona and Diaw was the MIP. You guys were great for us. Best of luck in N.C.

[Sarlonus]

Bell was the heart of this team while he was here. I liked him a whole bunch. He will be missed.

I was among the first to defend Boris when everybody was down on him. I hope the move will help him regain his MIP form.

I wish them success with the bobcats.

[JohnVancouver]

[quote="BurningHeart"

Boris could never put it together after 05-06, but man....I've never wanted to love a player as much as I wanted to love Boris. Guy was so frustrating on the court, it drove a stake in my heart everytime I saw him do something I KNEW he could do every freakin' time.


--- +1 .... the most frustrating player in the league. Hope he gets his act going fulltime in CHA.
Raja is just one of my favourite guys of all-time, so much heart - remember him trying to play against the mavs in 05-06, dragging his bad leg up the court.
Circle of Honor for sure.

[toucansma]

Man, I hate doing these, as these favs leaving are taking a lot out of us (Joe J, Shawn, Mike and now Raja). I wish both of them luck, and hope they succeed.

Another piece of SSSOL has died...

[rsavaj]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOez1788AvY

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V8ZukXsWmk

[orange blood]

I thank you raja bell for that buzzer beating 3 pointer against the lakers in the playoffs.. I also thank you for clothelining kobe Bryant and sending his pompous ass to the floor..... I thank you Boris diaw for providing offense downlow when amare was down and for taking your game to another level for one season and helping up beat both LA teams... You're gone but never forgotten. R.I.P. SSOL