After the Last 10 Games, We are the Suns Again!!

toucansma · Post #1 » by **toucansma** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 9:58 pm

I was looking over some stats for the last 10 games, and realizing the team is finally getting of its funk and returning to the flow of last year.

W/L = 7-3

Suns Offensive PPG: 109.6 (#1 in NBA over that stretch)
Opponent PPG: 103.3PPG (#7 in NBA, haha, but still could be worse)
Differential: + 6.3 (Big Difference, #4 in NBA, and was always one of Mike D's Strengths!)
FG%: 50.3% (#1 in NBA)
3PFG%: 44.3% (#1 in NBA)

Some Players:

Nash: 12.7ppg and 9.2apg (I could care less about his scoring numbers, that does not need to be high since we have so many scorers. I agree in the clutch he needs more. However his APG are going up and I bet will be over 10apg by the end of the season so we can hear enough of the decline talk).

Shaq: 22.8ppg, 10.1rpg, 1.7apg 1.8 bpg

Lou: 4.5ppg, 4.3rpg(2.0!! are offensive), obviously will be higher in next few games

Hill: 12.9ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.8apg, 1.2 spg, 47.1 3P%, 95.0% FT, and damn good defense

hitachi7 · Post #2 » by **hitachi7** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 1:13 am

Don't forget about the quality of losses, 2 of them on buzzer beaters and the other in Portland when Roy went off. Things are going well but I'm not going crazy til I see how they play in the upcoming road trip.

Never Fear 33 Is Here · Post #3 » by **Never Fear 33 Is Here** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 12:52 pm

NOICE!!!

So 9 and 0 is a possibility on our trip.

daveang · Post #4 » by **daveang** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 1:16 am

Very nice - now we just have to keep it going......

I agree that Nash in the clutch, down the stretch of games needs to be looking for his shot more. When he gets some good looks, it puts the defense in two minds as to what he will do with the ball, which opens up more assisting opportunities.

Thegorillasrules · Post #5 » by **Thegorillasrules** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 2:35 am

Yeah. Funny how we were happy to let D'antoni go, and excited to see a new coach who would stress defense and extend the bench. Then that wasn't working and we all started to freak (even though we said all through the preseason that it would take some time to get things right). So what happens? Porter starts letting the guys play at a little faster pace, shortens up the rotation, and we start winning.

Now, I'm not saying we're the same old Suns. We definitely post up a lot more and our rebounding isn't horrendous. But our defense still sucks and we certainly don't have the 10-man rotation that we thought we were going to have.

I think this has much more to do with personnel than coaching. The Suns post up a lot more because it makes sense to utilize Shaq this way. They rebound better (around 10th in the league in rebound differential) because Shaq takes up so much room in the paint. They suck at defense because they don't have anyone that can stay in front of their man on the perimeter. And they have a short rotation because they've got a couple of guys in their prime (Amare and JRich) who can play 40 minutes a game and because Goran Dragic isn't ready for the NBA. Coaching really can't change any of this.

TXSun · Post #6 » by **TXSun** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 5:33 am

great observation. and don't forget that Shaq has gone PERFECT from the line the past 2 games!!

tundraknight · Post #7 » by **tundraknight** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 7:37 pm

If the Playoffs started today the 7th seed Suns would take on the 2nd seed Spurs.

toucansma · Post #8 » by **toucansma** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 3:28 am

Thegorillasrules wrote:Yeah. Funny how we were happy to let D'antoni go, and excited to see a new coach who would stress defense and extend the bench. Then that wasn't working and we all started to freak (even though we said all through the preseason that it would take some time to get things right). So what happens? Porter starts letting the guys play at a little faster pace, shortens up the rotation, and we start winning.

Now, I'm not saying we're the same old Suns. We definitely post up a lot more and our rebounding isn't horrendous. But our defense still sucks and we certainly don't have the 10-man rotation that we thought we were going to have.

I think this has much more to do with personnel than coaching. The Suns post up a lot more because it makes sense to utilize Shaq this way. They rebound better (around 10th in the league in rebound differential) because Shaq takes up so much room in the paint. They suck at defense because they don't have anyone that can stay in front of their man on the perimeter. And they have a short rotation because they've got a couple of guys in their prime (Amare and JRich) who can play 40 minutes a game and because Goran Dragic isn't ready for the NBA. Coaching really can't change any of this.

I agree, except not all of us wanted Mike gone. I wanted him to stay. However I am glad stuff is starting to work out. This team will only be an average team defensively, but they still can be a very dangerous team.