Vince Carter's first game. Any thoughts?

Sundamental · Post #1 » by **Sundamental** » Fri Dec 31, 2010 3:58 pm

Haven't basically read any comments on Carter's play in the first game. Everyone was so excited about getting him so let's hear your thoughts. I know it's only one game but I thought there was some stuff that was interesting. Does he help us get to the playoffs?

Birth of the Cool · Post #2 » by **Birth of the Cool** » Fri Dec 31, 2010 4:13 pm

He looked rusty (as can be expected). His perimeter shot still looks wonky and I think he took too many quick shots (it looks like he has the green light from the get go to fire away which with Vince isn't always a good thing).

I liked how they used him in the post. The Suns don't really have a solid post game so Vince brings that dimension to this offense.

He still sucks (and will always suck) at running baseline to baseline so I guess he will be the trailing guy or the guy that sets up for 3 in transition while a guy like Hill will run the full fast break and open up space for a guy like Vince while Hill draws in defenders when Hill runs to the rim.

Saw a little bit of his playmaking (pass to Frye for easy layup / drive & kick to Nash for the 3pt) but he could do better.

His defense was solid. If you watch Vince he's actually a solid defender in terms of knowing when to help his Center pin down the opposing 5, rotate from weakside to help, etc. Didn't see it first game but he can be exposed by helping out too much in the paint & not being quick/fast enough to get back out to the perimeter shooter and he is susceptible to getting caught on screens (meaning he doesn't fight through it as much as I think he could).

Overall, decent 1st game. Needs to find his 3pt range again & fight the tendency to take quick/bad shots in this offense which sometimes in this offense you can get caught up in.

EDIT: Oops forgot the last question - He definitely helps the Suns chances to get into the Playoffs. He's not good enough to make them a contender though. Sad to say but Portland's injury woes have a big impact too for the Suns chances...It's safe to say the following 5 spots are taken:
San Antonio
Dallas
LA Lakers
OKC
Utah

Denver - what happens with Melo (he stays they take a 6th spot)

so that leaves New Orleans, Portland, Houston, Memphis as the main competitors with Phoenix for the other 2 spots...to me, this seems to be a doable proposition for Phoenix to get into the Playoffs. They need to play even a lil' bit of Defense first though lol.

KopLegend · Post #3 » by **KopLegend** » Fri Dec 31, 2010 4:28 pm

It looks like he's going to take a lot of shots for us

carey · Post #4 » by **carey** » Fri Dec 31, 2010 7:29 pm

Vince is a dee eye see kay. Listen to the latest Bucher broadcast: http://c.espnradio.com/s:5l8r1/audio...-27-115431.mp3

21:40 Buch says that he heard among nba players that vince carter really hated going to Phoenix.

23:21 He mentions that Vince tried to pull a TMAC by claiming he had a knee injury before the trade was finalized to block the trade.

Lame.

purplehaze89 · Post #5 » by **purplehaze89** » Fri Dec 31, 2010 8:14 pm

Doubt VC is the greatest liar the world has ever seen. He seemed genuinely excited to be there during the press conference. He legitimately seems happy to be getting world class massages from Aaron Nelson.

And 'pulled a T-Mac'? Didn't the Suns doctors THEMSELVES diagnose him with a quad tendon injury? It's kind of hard to fake a knee injury in this day and age with medical technology being the way it is.

Birth of the Cool · Post #6 » by **Birth of the Cool** » Fri Dec 31, 2010 10:15 pm

carey wrote:Vince is a dee eye see kay. Listen to the latest Bucher broadcast: http://c.espnradio.com/s:5l8r1/audio...-27-115431.mp3

21:40 Buch says that he heard among nba players that vince carter really hated going to Phoenix.

23:21 He mentions that Vince tried to pull a TMAC by claiming he had a knee injury before the trade was finalized to block the trade.

Lame.

A) What does this have to do with the thread asking for feedback on Vince's 1st game as a Sun?

B) Your link doesn't work for me

C) Bucher? As in Ric Bucher the ESPN Analyst (ESPN...lol...Analyst...lol)...the same guy that said the Bulls or Cavaliers will get Amare? The guy who said Bosh would be involved in a Sign & Trade for someone like Pau Gasol? The guy that said Sheed wasn't going to Boston?

Let me guess...you get your world news from FOX News lol.

MaryvalesFinest · Post #7 » by **MaryvalesFinest** » Fri Dec 31, 2010 10:57 pm

Guess that takes care of trying to sign him to the midlevel this summer :lol:

He'll probably be traded by Feb if he turns into a cancer but so far he's been professional and saying all the right things. Also couldn't they still trade him this summer and than the other team can buy out his contract? Don't know if the lockout would affect that though.

hunterxaz · Post #8 » by **hunterxaz** » Fri Dec 31, 2010 11:02 pm

Wouldn't blame him, cuz I'd be hating going to a non-contending team w/ a < .500 record as well after leaving a championship caliber team.

Sundamental · Post #9 » by **Sundamental** » Sat Jan 1, 2011 12:05 am

Birth of the Cool wrote:He looked rusty (as can be expected). His perimeter shot still looks wonky and I think he took too many quick shots (it looks like he has the green light from the get go to fire away which with Vince isn't always a good thing).

I liked how they used him in the post. The Suns don't really have a solid post game so Vince brings that dimension to this offense.

He still sucks (and will always suck) at running baseline to baseline so I guess he will be the trailing guy or the guy that sets up for 3 in transition while a guy like Hill will run the full fast break and open up space for a guy like Vince while Hill draws in defenders when Hill runs to the rim.

Saw a little bit of his playmaking (pass to Frye for easy layup / drive & kick to Nash for the 3pt) but he could do better.

His defense was solid. If you watch Vince he's actually a solid defender in terms of knowing when to help his Center pin down the opposing 5, rotate from weakside to help, etc. Didn't see it first game but he can be exposed by helping out too much in the paint & not being quick/fast enough to get back out to the perimeter shooter and he is susceptible to getting caught on screens (meaning he doesn't fight through it as much as I think he could).

Overall, decent 1st game. Needs to find his 3pt range again & fight the tendency to take quick/bad shots in this offense which sometimes in this offense you can get caught up in.

EDIT: Oops forgot the last question - He definitely helps the Suns chances to get into the Playoffs. He's not good enough to make them a contender though. Sad to say but Portland's injury woes have a big impact too for the Suns chances...It's safe to say the following 5 spots are taken:
San Antonio
Dallas
LA Lakers
OKC
Utah

Denver - what happens with Melo (he stays they take a 6th spot)

so that leaves New Orleans, Portland, Houston, Memphis as the main competitors with Phoenix for the other 2 spots...to me, this seems to be a doable proposition for Phoenix to get into the Playoffs. They need to play even a lil' bit of Defense first though lol.

I think this is a pretty fair assessment of VC's play. I'd add a couple things. While you could see the greatness he once had on a few of his plays, overall I thought he was hesitant going to the basket. He appeared afraid to draw any contact. One foul shot in twenty field goal attempts is telling. Also, his lack of ability to run the court is just another step in the wrong direction for the Suns. Overall, I see it as largely a a lateral move versus JRich. Given my choice, I'd take Richardson.

About making the playoffs, I really should have added "Will the Suns have a better playoff chance with VC or "JR ?" For me, as above I'd give a slight edge to Richardson. Overall on making the playoffs, I just don't see it happening. It looks like it's going to take about 44 wins to get in. That means the Suns will have to finish 31-21. Given all the changes and how they're playing, it's going to be very difficult. It almost makes games like tonight must wins.

ma_falaa_50 · Post #10 » by **ma_falaa_50** » Sat Jan 1, 2011 12:11 am

I thought Vc overall played pretty well. He looked rusty but we saw him attack the rim and pass the ball pretty well. He is older that J-rich but he has shown glimpses of more to offer than J-rich. Usually with new players there is a learning curve but I think VC will be for the team and as for ric bucher- :lol:

all that matters now is winning. He is who the suns have so its pointless to bitch and complain about things that prevents the team from moving forward.

carey · Post #11 » by **carey** » Sat Jan 1, 2011 12:12 am

Birth of the Cool wrote:A) What does this have to do with the thread asking for feedback on Vince's 1st game as a Sun?

Seemed as good of place as any to put it since it's about Vince Carter as a Sun.

B) Your link doesn't work for me

It's not hard to find Bucher's latest podcast on ESPN, not sure why direct link isn't working.

C) Bucher? As in Ric Bucher the ESPN Analyst (ESPN...lol...Analyst...lol)...the same guy that said the Bulls or Cavaliers will get Amare? The guy who said Bosh would be involved in a Sign & Trade for someone like Pau Gasol? The guy that said Sheed wasn't going to Boston?

Every NBA analyst has a laundry list a mie long of stuff they were wrong about. However, if this is true I am kind of bummed, and considering Vince's history I don't really doubt it at all. It was widely reported he went to the Magic brass and asked for an MRI the day he was traded.

Let me guess...you get your world news from FOX News lol.

You're just a funny one aren't ya? Sigh, another a hole on this site, I'm shocked.

Birth of the Cool · Post #12 » by **Birth of the Cool** » Sat Jan 1, 2011 12:26 am

carey wrote:You're just a funny one aren't ya? Sigh, another a hole on this site, I'm shocked.

So basically all your responses confirmed my criticism of your original post but I'm the a-hole?
At this point I think i'm being trolled as the quality of the posts are laughable. Good day to you sir.

Stix · Post #13 » by **Stix** » Sat Jan 1, 2011 12:27 am

Meanwhile...

ma_falaa_50 · Post #14 » by **ma_falaa_50** » Sat Jan 1, 2011 12:27 am

I really do not see how carey's point has anything to do with VC's first game?

Sundamental · Post #15 » by **Sundamental** » Sat Jan 1, 2011 12:34 am

ma_falaa_50 wrote:I thought Vc overall played pretty well. He looked rusty but we saw him attack the rim and pass the ball pretty well. He is older that J-rich but he has shown glimpses of more to offer than J-rich. Usually with new players there is a learning curve but I think VC will be for the team and as for ric bucher- all that matters now is winning. He is who the suns have so its pointless to bitch and complain about things that prevents the team from moving forward.

If bitching and complaining weren't allowed here this board wouldn't exist. I try to discuss basketball in an intelligent manner with more thought than most put in here. Sorry you don't agree with that perspective.

ma_falaa_50 · Post #16 » by **ma_falaa_50** » Sat Jan 1, 2011 12:42 am

phungk wrote:Meanwhile...

good point but I think the suns need to continue to work the phones and actually find a decent PF something will eventually turn up.

AJ15 · Post #17 » by **AJ15** » Sat Jan 1, 2011 2:06 am

carey wrote:not sure why direct link isn't working.

because you didn't copy the link.. you copied the text

hunterxaz · Post #18 » by **hunterxaz** » Sat Jan 1, 2011 2:24 am

AJ15 wrote:
carey wrote:not sure why direct link isn't working.

because you didn't copy the link.. you copied the text

No, it/'s because your link is broke.

http://c.espnradio.com/s:5l8r1/audio...-27-115431.mp3

That's what happens when you "Copy Link"

Ru_Paul · Post #19 » by **Ru_Paul** » Sat Jan 1, 2011 5:52 am

carey wrote:Vince is a dee eye see kay. Listen to the latest Bucher broadcast: http://c.espnradio.com/s:5l8r1/audio...-27-115431.mp3

21:40 Buch says that he heard among nba players that vince carter really hated going to Phoenix.

23:21 He mentions that Vince tried to pull a TMAC by claiming he had a knee injury before the trade was finalized to block the trade.

Lame.

Vince DID have a knee injury before the trade. It was confirmed by the Susn doctors.

gino_giode · Post #20 » by **gino_giode** » Sat Jan 1, 2011 8:05 pm

^ Pulling a T-Mac would have been getting surgery as soon as the rumors picked up.

Vince simply asked for a MRI. Yeah, real dick move.