Game 50: Suns (28-21) @ Hornets (26-21)

[Suns_RoadRunner]

if amare needs to go, than nash and hill must go too.

why? Hill showed us tonight he'still extremely valuable, although age may be catching up to him a bit. Even if we can somehwo move Grant to a sixth man role he's an incredible bargain. Nash is still a top three PG and mentor to Goran. Hill is a great teacher and role model for the young guys.

Amar'e and JRich - we move them and we have a chance to reload rather than rebuild, but at the same time we're bringing along the team leader of the future in White Jesus.
Best of both worlds

You are kidding yourself if you really believed we could just reload by replacing Amare with whatever garbage we were supposed to get in the rumored deals. Nash is over the hill, not by his age but by how his game has been figured out. Our 3 wins all featured Amare to take the most touches and needed Nash to restrain himself from dribbling too much, which was the reason for 13:1 ass/TO ratio. If Amare is gone, we won't make the playoff next year whatsoever, with Nash or not. That's why Nash needs go if Amare is gone. Simple as that.

Nash's game hasn't been figured out or he wouldn't have a 28:1 assist to TO ratio in the last couple games.

[SSOL]

Nash's game has been figured out? Dumbest thing ever said on this board.

[hunterxaz]

You can't figure out the #1 PG in the game. He's just too damn good.

[lilfishi22]

if amare needs to go, than nash and hill must go too.

why? Hill showed us tonight he'still extremely valuable, although age may be catching up to him a bit. Even if we can somehwo move Grant to a sixth man role he's an incredible bargain. Nash is still a top three PG and mentor to Goran. Hill is a great teacher and role model for the young guys.

Amar'e and JRich - we move them and we have a chance to reload rather than rebuild, but at the same time we're bringing along the team leader of the future in White Jesus.
Best of both worlds

I normally find myself agreeing with you on most matters, but I must disagree here.

The Nash era is coming to a close. He's just having fun right now while playing the best ball he can with the few good years he has left and once he plays out his contract, he'll probably sign to a contender or NY/TOR. What I'm saying is, rebuilding takes time and Nash doesn't have that time. Even if we reload this Suns team, we're still unlikely to be contender and Nash can only carry this reloaded Suns team for another season, maybe two. But to be honest, I just can't see us winning a championship in the Nash era. This has nothing to do with Nash being "figured out" as dantian mentioned, but I just think that without Amare, Nash is not as effective as he can be. As much as people say Amare's game is a product of Nash's playmaking, Nash is only one-half of the unstoppable PnR. Throwing the pass is one part, catching it is another and Amare is one of those few big men who has the ability to catch Nash's passes and finish.

I don't think we desperately need to move Nash because I want to see him play the last few years of him playing at the top level as a Sun and he's a great mentor for our "PG of the Future" (Love Dragic, but still not convinced). But if we find a good deal that brings us maybe a pick and some young talent and we can send Nash to a team he wants to go to, then I think it's a win-win situation for both sides. Most of us entertained and even accepted the idea of Nash leaving the Suns last off-season before he got his deal extended and I was one of those who would've wished him well if he had chosen to go to a contender.

[sunsfever68]

I think Dragic will be our combo point guard shooting guard off the bench of the future. He could start but I'd love to get a dynamic 2 guard to start at shooting guard definitely. If Dragic keeps improving like he has maybe he'll start at point guard. But I like Dragic as our do it all 6th man off the bench ala Ginobili.

[Sandra]

Nash's game has been figured out? Dumbest thing ever said on this board.

You can't figure out the #1 PG in the game. He's just too damn good

Get used to it, guys. The fellow has been copy-pasting this "Nash's game has been figured out" stuff for a couple years. He's also tried to develop a theory, kinda "when Amare turns the ball over, it's not a bad thing", IIRC

[JohnVancouver]

if amare needs to go, than nash and hill must go too.

why? Hill showed us tonight he'still extremely valuable, although age may be catching up to him a bit. Even if we can somehwo move Grant to a sixth man role he's an incredible bargain. Nash is still a top three PG and mentor to Goran. Hill is a great teacher and role model for the young guys.

Amar'e and JRich - we move them and we have a chance to reload rather than rebuild, but at the same time we're bringing along the team leader of the future in White Jesus.
Best of both worlds

I normally find myself agreeing with you on most matters, but I must disagree here.

The Nash era is coming to a close. He's just having fun right now while playing the best ball he can with the few good years he has left and once he plays out his contract, he'll probably sign to a contender or NY/TOR. What I'm saying is, rebuilding takes time and Nash doesn't have that time. Even if we reload this Suns team, we're still unlikely to be contender and Nash can only carry this reloaded Suns team for another season, maybe two. But to be honest, I just can't see us winning a championship in the Nash era. This has nothing to do with Nash being "figured out" as dantian mentioned, but I just think that without Amare, Nash is not as effective as he can be. As much as people say Amare's game is a product of Nash's playmaking, Nash is only one-half of the unstoppable PnR. Throwing the pass is one part, catching it is another and Amare is one of those few big men who has the ability to catch Nash's passes and finish.

I don't think we desperately need to move Nash because I want to see him play the last few years of him playing at the top level as a Sun and he's a great mentor for our "PG of the Future" (Love Dragic, but still not convinced). But if we find a good deal that brings us maybe a pick and some young talent and we can send Nash to a team he wants to go to, then I think it's a win-win situation for both sides. Most of us entertained and even accepted the idea of Nash leaving the Suns last off-season before he got his deal extended and I was one of those who would've wished him well if he had chosen to go to a contender.

I don;'t think we really disagree much - and I'm with you on Stat being a whole lot more than just a big guy who sticks his hands up and gets spoonfed by Nash. Amar'e has great body control and finesse around the rim. Not easily replaced. But ....

for the money, we can add some young talent that defends and rebounds - Amar'e is about 20/9 and gives up a lot of points. A tougher defender doesn't have to score as much, but is still likely to score more than they're used to thanks to playing with Nash. A big who who works hard near the rim is likely to get the ball ...

but 100% that a reload is not likely to make us a contender - moving JRich as well is very important though I'd prefer to see Nash stay here and become the backup PG/asst. coach, as Dragic moves into the top slot.

right now we have some good young guys who benefit form Hill and Nash - moving JRich and Sat should allow us to build on that rather than go through a full teardown. My fear is that scenario could end up losing us some people we want to keep -

[hunterxaz]

I'm not sure where people make assumptions about Nash's time being over. Guy is playing better than he's ever played in his career... and he's only 35. He could play at least 5 more seasons, 3 of them at an extremely high level like now. The Nash era is still in it's prime. We just need to get pieces around him to get us to the Finals. Amare is one of them. Barbosa is another.

[sunsfan13az]

Glad the suns hanged on and got the win vs the hornets, Man it's so nice seeing Robin Lopez continue to have good games at rebounding and attacking the rim, also love the way Amare continues to play. But we have a huge game vs Denver tomorrow if we somehow manage to find a way to win it could start a even more nicer win streak. Great start to the road trip though.