[Game #68] Phoenix Suns (34-33) at LA Clippers (27-43)

[charley barkles]

i thought it was Warrick who got BG with the elbow... or was that another time? IIRC, Warrick's face ran into BG's arm and then the next play when the suns were on offense, Warrick had the ball at the top of the key and was pivoting through... i couldn't tell if contact was made or if BG was acting.

whatever. Good win! Grant Hill's defense remains legit.

[JasonDaPsycho]

Thats what they all say every season, then a player like Rudy Gay, Andre Iguadala, Aldridge etc find there way to become franchise players...

the point is.... the SUNS are not the WARRIORS or CLIPPERS... where they draft Best Available Players regardless if they fit into the team or not... year in and year out... those 2 teams suck.

That's why you don't use them as blueprints to success. Look at the Thunder.

Suns are 1 player from being GOOD.... and about 2-3 GOOD YOUNG players from being relevant post 2012 season....

How old are Nash and Hill going to be in 2012?
1 player from being good? HAHAHA
Who's gonna take our "assets"? Who's going to sign with us with that owner we have? What cap space do we have left?

Getting a top 10 pick, can give SUNS AMMO for a big trade..... Carter + Top 10 pick for a STAR player.
That solves scenario 1.

Easier said that done.

The problem is... Some Suns fans are just so so scared to SUCK... and I agree..... but I rather the team TACTICALLY SUCK to reload... than SUCK by DEFAULT... Sports these days are complicated enough that success can be achieved many ways rather than going the "righteous way" of competing as hard as they can with little to no hope to advance against the real good teams.

We're in mediocrity right now. You can't get worse than that unless we're talkinga bout the Clippers a few years ago.

Suns are currently 10th, the other teams competing for that 8th spot are winning and are hot at the moment also.

[/quote]
so just tank?

[thamadkant]

The WINNING CULTURE argument is for FAIRY TALE BOOKS,

I'm confused, doesn't that statement paired with

it requires the GAME to be FAIR, where SUPERSTARS do not abandon each others teams to team up for an easier way of getting RINGS...

contradict each other? Because it happens fairly often.

In short, WINNING CULTURE thingy is only THEORITICAL....

Yes it is a theory, just like "defense wins championships", success in sports is not based on facts.

Spurs are the most successful team of the decade, after tanking 1 season......

Unfortunately, Tim Duncans are not available in every draft. it's also not uncommon that lottery picks turn out to be busts (there's also later draft picks like the Dejuan Blairs, Marc Gasols, Roddy Beaubois who turn out to be good players- which actually wouldnt support with the notion of tanking just to accumulate high draft picks) Or leave their rookie contract teams to play for their hometown or go to a different team because they "just care about winning" or want the spotlight (i.e. Amare Stoudemire).

Also, I'm not sure if the 1997 San Antonio Spurs are a good definition of tanking. David Robinson was out for the season and quite frankly, they sucked. Tanking implies losing on purpose for the sake of solely acquiring high draft talent. I'm all for the idea of playing and trading for younger players and picks when necessary, as I am for not risking using players if they are injured. But tanking should be banned if it was possible to do so. As a fan and "customer" of a basketball team I expect them to practice and give it their all every game- otherwise why not just forfeit for a season or two and wait until they have potential? The idea is ludicrous.

The spurs could of also not acquired the #1 pick and ended up drafting another top 10 pick like Keith Van Horn, Antonio Daniels, Ron Mercer, Danny Fortson, Tim Thomas or Adonal Foyle. I'm not so sure they have been any key pieces in championship teams. Hell, they didnt even remain on their rookie teams.

It doesn't matter though, the Suns have too many wins at this point to get a top 10 draft pick (unless they get very lucky like the Bulls with Rose), so whether they make the playoffs and end up getting pick #18 or so doesn't make much of a difference from getting #15. Especially with this draft and the potential lockout looming. So while suggestions of rebuilding have merit they are premature and should wait to be discussed until the offseason.

The Suns making the PLAYOFFS, meaning the ROCKETS gets that No.15-No.18 pick.

Suns not making the PLAYOFFS, ROCKETS gets what ever MAGIC's PICK is.



The Suns are stuck in 3rd gear, with no a MASSIVE hole in the PF spot.
My proposition was simply, the Suns get a top 15 pick, and somehow package it to acquire a Paul Milsap or a Josh Smith..... along with an expiring or R.Lopez.

The Suns getting MAGIC's 24+ pick is not as enticing to other teams.

Again, WINNING CULTURE = Championships.

Suns winning 50 games and going to playoffs losing to the elite 4 I would very very loosely call as WINNING CULTURE.

I hate seeing the Suns lose, no fan wants to see their team lose, but I think some fans are thinking with their HEART too much instead of their BRAIN.

A few teams will most likely try to shed some big salaries, especially the teams stuck in 3rd gear same as the Suns.... some of those teams have pieces that can retool the Suns for the next 5 years.

Assuming Suns and Nash part ways, it would also be valuable to get a high pick to rebuild upon.

But my main intention, IF THE SUNS dont make the playoffs, would be to package that top 15 pick somehow that nets the SUNS a legit PF.

Then post-Nash.... the Suns have a few pieces that can attract free agent STARS in 2012+.

As per example.
Lets say Jazz, decides to rebuild, they have Favors, and they want multiple picks and unload big contracts, they package Millsap somehow to save themselves money and get multiple lottery picks.

Suns...

C: Gortat
PF: Milsap
SF: Dudley
SG:
PG: Brooks

Thats a GOOD way to fill up the roster with capable players.... which will be attractive to FA stars.

Again, I'm thinking Suns mid-to-long term, as opposed to short term.... do Fans here, actually think the Suns have a chance to beat out the 4 elite teams within the next 2 seasons?.... I just have my doubts.

[Mac1]

call me odd but ive liked dowdell more then brooks...

as for carter today he was actualy pretty good..some nice passes..good D ..he took 7 shots..2 of which he missed were contest low block fade aways..hes always done this..its a habit..i thought in the amount of time he played he did well...he doesnt get the ball anywhere near as much as he used too due to our system.

anyhow as bill walton said..people who hate vince carter are just depressed..and to be honest..being a suns fan..your all forgiven..its been a depressing road since day 1 lol.


dowdell looks like a good player..well rounded..i actualy feel more secure with him having the basketball then brooks.

[Mac1]

okay call me dramatic but im calling this right now..the lakers game will decide our season.

[swe_suns]

I'm still laughing about this:



look at warrick lmao

[Calvin Klein]

Yeah. Not Frye. It was Warrick.

[BurningHeart]

I'm still laughing about this:

GIFSoup

Your link is busted, man.

Of course, it could just be my crappy internet.

[swe_suns]

yeah I noticed it, give me a sec

[lilfishi22]

Chris Bosh would've flopped and asked for a flagrant 2.

[IrasArgor]

Now i'm full of hope. Forget about last games and make another stand for playoffs.

[BurningHeart]

Heh....is that Warrick flopping or being his uncoordinated, ridiculous, sloppy self?

[swe_suns]

Heh....is that Warrick flopping or being his uncoordinated, ridiculous, sloppy self?

this for sure!

[gino_giode]

What's up with Brooks? We know if he looks to score first he can have games like the Orl game. The guy is not a facilitator, but if you give him a screen he's a deadeye shooter. It's great that Z has all kinds of swag right now but I'd still take Brooks.

Oh and Lopez is disgusting me.

[BurningHeart]

Lost in the shuffle of the charge and bitchiness was the great job on D that Frye and Gortat did on Griffin.

[YFZblu]

The Clippers were down by double digits, and reacted like they just lost the game at the last second...

Sissies.

[wordsenuff]

i went to this game. i had so much fun. surprisingly there was a lot of suns fans there.

[DRK]

i went to this game. i had so much fun. surprisingly there was a lot of suns fans there.

Probably was just BH making a whole lotta noise just swearing at ref.... no. Swearing at everything.

[BurningHeart]

i went to this game. i had so much fun. surprisingly there was a lot of suns fans there.

Probably was just BH making a whole lotta noise just swearing at ref.... no. Swearing at everything.

Nah, my brother and I couldn't be our rowdy selves. We had to be with two business associates of his, so we couldn't be too bad. Shame. Oh well, free tickets, I don't give a ****.