Game 43: Phoenix Suns @ Washington Wizards

[mkot]

Barnes is a streak player. Not being a starter or not playing enough minutes isn't helping him as well. Hopefully we will get his hot shooting back soon.

Every player is streaky, some more so than others.

I can tell you that guys like Shaq and Nash aren't streaky player. Kobe, LeBron, Duncan and Dirk also aren't streaky player, they may have an off night here and there but they bacially give you great numbers night in and night out. That's what separate star players and role players. Role players give you one great night once a week or give you a stretch of good games follow by a stretch of so-so or bad games. That's why Amare is still not the LeBron and Wade and D-Howard. He will give you a stretch of 14 rpg follow by some 4 and 7 rpg. Star players are those that a team and rely on every night. Amare has yet to learn to give his effort every single night, especially on the defensive end of the floor.

[NashtyNas]

I don't care about stats, Amar'e still isn't performing like he needs to. The defensive rotations are slow, he isn't boxing out himself, and he's settling for jumpers too much. I'd say half the rebounds he got today were due to others boxing out their man and Amar'e just cherry picking...

[albasuna]

Whats with the travels, and I always see Barnes do boneheaded passes. Also it's good to see Nash finally figure out how to excel w/ Shaq.

[BurningHeart]

I don't care about stats, Amar'e still isn't performing like he needs to. The defensive rotations are slow, he isn't boxing out himself, and he's settling for jumpers too much. I'd say half the rebounds he got today were due to others boxing out their man and Amar'e just cherry picking...

Baby steps.

[mkot]

Two games in a row and I saw some improvements from Porter on his sub patterns and game plan. Two games in a row he made subs in the 3rd and play the lineup of 3 guards (Nash-LB-JRich) with Amare and Shaq at the 4th to win us the game. He also gave LB 26 minutes, which should be a no-brainer given his shooting tonight but for Porter it's a good progress.

Hopefully he's learning!!

[DaDragicShow]

Spurs are going to kill us in couple of days.

[NashtyNas]

Spurs are going to kill us in couple of days.

Lol I pray to god no1 else makes a game thread that day. I have something special planned

[DaDragicShow]

I was thinking about making one bro but since u got something special planned out then I'll let you do the honors.

[The Hypnotoad]

Well, our season stumbled when we lost on that 3 point BS last game vs the spurs. This time lets put them away and get this season back on track.

[NashtyNas]

Haha, sorry arizona. I'll let you do the honours from now on Just had to do the Spurs one

[Classick]

Despite Amare's great performance tonight, I still say he needs to be traded. As someone else pointed out, putting up good numbers for one game a month isn't good enough. Mainly it's because Shaq is the Suns number one option most of the time. He shouldn't be. Amare should be one, Jrich two, Shaq three, Nash four.

Also, I've always liked Barnes more when he's driving to the hoop. He has a really nice floater than gets him easy buckets all the time. He's way too streaky with his jump shot so driving would be much better for him once he gets more comfortable.

[Jdiddy701]

I still see the Suns in the WCF's with the Lakers. I don't care how horrible you guys think this team is. This team is meant for the playoffs. Years from the past, the Suns were meant for a nice regular season run with no title on their minds. This team, I still believe in. You guys bark on how horrible they're playing in the reg. season.. Give the playoffs a chance and see where it goes. Do you guys want a 60+ winning season again and no completion in the playoffs?

If Amare goes for another good game against the Spurs, all you Amare haters will come back on his wagon. I'm an Amare fan and I believe he'll bring his effort to end this season. Let's go Suns!!

Shaq is a beast, by the way.

[Classick]

I don't see what's so hard about a 60+ season and effort in the playoffs. The Lakers, Magic, Celtics, and Cavs are all doing it. >_>

[lilfishi22]

I still see the Suns in the WCF's with the Lakers. I don't care how horrible you guys think this team is. This team is meant for the playoffs. Years from the past, the Suns were meant for a nice regular season run with no title on their minds. This team, I still believe in. You guys bark on how horrible they're playing in the reg. season.. Give the playoffs a chance and see where it goes. Do you guys want a 60+ winning season again and no completion in the playoffs?

If Amare goes for another good game against the Spurs, all you Amare haters will come back on his wagon. I'm an Amare fan and I believe he'll bring his effort to end this season. Let's go Suns!!

Shaq is a beast, by the way.

Hate to bring down your little parade, but the best indicator for how well teams go in the playoffs is by looking at our record against the other playoff teams or looking at our record against the + .500 teams, neither of which are looking solid right now.

I don't see what's so hard about a 60+ season and effort in the playoffs. The Lakers, Magic, Celtics, and Cavs are all doing it. >_>

I love the confidence you have in this team's success. But if this confidence is coming after today's game, which looks like it is, then you better re-evaluate our team right now and REALLY compare it to the teams you have mentioned. Today we beat a bottom 2 team IN THE ENTIRE LEAGUE, you should take it with as little weight as possible.

Lakers, Magic, C's and Cavs are on a totally different level we're on. We're not even Nugget, Hornet or Rockets level yet. 60+ is really dream

[BurningHeart]

Do you guys want a 60+ winning season again and no completion in the playoffs?

No, I want my team to look like they're worth a damn. I don't care about our record, I care about things under the surface. What are the things that might rear their ugly head in the postseason? Turnovers, lack of discipline, poor coaching, apathy are all things that are red flags for this team.

[|||-Abaddon-|||]

Despite Amare's great performance tonight, I still say he needs to be traded. As someone else pointed out, putting up good numbers for one game a month isn't good enough. Mainly it's because Shaq is the Suns number one option most of the time. He shouldn't be. Amare should be one, Jrich two, Shaq three, Nash four.

Also, I've always liked Barnes more when he's driving to the hoop. He has a really nice floater than gets him easy buckets all the time. He's way too streaky with his jump shot so driving would be much better for him once he gets more comfortable.

I whole heartedly disagree with you. When Shaq is going for 10-14 shooing on almost perfect free throw shooting, combined with the rebounding and blocked shots he is giving you...I dont care what anyone says...he is the number one option for this team. For simple reasons: he will give you a safe and sound quality possession and will score at a high clip, not to mention draw fouls against a pitifully weak center spot in this league.

Amare, as talented as this guy is offensively, doesnt have a trademark to his game. Is he face up guy? Is he back to the basket guy? Because if he doesnt, he is going to be spoonfed his offense his entire career, and that doesnt make him or his teammates any better.

My List:

1 - Shaq - Start most possessions with this guy, space the floor well and let him to go work.
2 - STAT - Design 10-20 possessions a game for this guy, 10 of those for PnR off dribble penetration from guys like Nash and Barbosa (sick pass from Barbs on that one play in the game)
3 - Nash - I know this sounds ridiculous, but he is a terrific shooter and its a bloody shame he doesnt score more, he needs to be a very critical offensive threat if anyone wants to take this team seriously.
4 - JRich - I look at him as a guy who can bail you out of situations with good shooting and good slashing...Porter isnt giving this guy the opps on ISO's, because his athleticism and quickness alone cannot be controlled by most perimeter defenders. Utilize this guy as much as a you can as a slasher, more fouls on the opposition is a good thing...
5 - Glue guy - We need prime effort from Barbosa, Hill, Barnes and Lou --- these guys can bring it, and Barbosa single handedly won us the game last night.

We have a VERY talented team, and its pitiful we dont play up to spec....

[technoviking]

Does anybody realize that we can't defend the pick and roll at all, and turn the ball over more than any team in the league besides Boston?

[JohnVancouver]

I don't care about stats, Amar'e still isn't performing like he needs to. The defensive rotations are slow, he isn't boxing out himself, and he's settling for jumpers too much. I'd say half the rebounds he got today were due to others boxing out their man and Amar'e just cherry picking...

--- I get frustrated with Stat as much as anyone but i will say in his defense, after watching this game, that he's been effectively shut out of the offense. he looks like he's trying to find a place to be.
That's on Porter to fix.
Amare showed some real hustle and smarts today - some nice passing, he wasn't forcing his offense.