Saturday 1/5/08 Game Thread

[Iggyemu]

I've honestly never thought the Suns were a title contending team. A deep playoff team, for sure. But a team that has it's limitations and flaws, in preventing from getting to the finals and winning a title.

They're make-up as a team just isn't championship caliber, and aren't built for the playoffs, basically. They haven't significantly improved in their weak areas since 04-05. And, one of their strengths, in 3PT shooting, has actually dropped off some this season, and not quite being the same as it was in the past. The depth and strength of shooters has decreased in the last two seasons.

To sum it up, a good team, but a "pre-tender" in terms of being able to win the championship.

Eh...more Hornets than Suns man. Credit where credit is due. NO is good and Chris Paul is probably now the best point guard in the league. The Suns will be there at the end...they always are. And being there at the end usually makes you a contender not a pretender.

[corona]

A. Kirilenko 0:00 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Duh.

B. Roy G 9:27 2-2 0-0 0-0 +3 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 1 4

hasn't played in the second half, where Portland took the lead and opened a large lead.

i'd say the importance of roy trumps that of kirilenko.

and utah hasn't looked like a playoff team with him for large portions of this season.

[sprash9802]

Portland pouring it on Utah.

Utah looks befuddled on both ends..folding like a real cheap tent out there..whats going on with them???

[Kobay]

How did Phx get 12 blocked shots?

[sprash9802]

-= original quote snipped =-



Eh...more Hornets than Suns man. Credit where credit is due. NO is good and Chris Paul is probably now the best point guard in the league. The Suns will be there at the end...they always are. And being there at the end usually makes you a contender not a pretender.

Hornets are real good...makes you wonder if Kidd wishes he had Byron Scott back...the Nets have SUCKED since he has left... But the Suns are THE definition of a pretender....much like the Yankees..all offense, no defense...

[YiYaoYue]

Utah lost heart... unless GSW just start playing like poop Utah can kiss their playoff spot goodbye.

[theGreatRC]

Blazer color announcer: "Everyone knows the Blazers are for real."

Seriously? I guess it must be true if he's saying it.

[EGame]

Blazer color announcer: "Everyone knows the Blazers are for real."

Seriously? I guess it must be true if he's saying it.

How can we not be? Sure we may just miss the playoffs, but we are playing some great, team basketball.

[Mad Balla 15]

What a day in the life of Paul Allen. Go to the Seahawks game (whom he owns) then fly to Portland to watch his Trailblazers. Tough life I tell ya!

[Ballings7]

Phoenix has to get more balanced as a team if they want to enhance their chances of getting to the finals.

There are numerous areas where the Suns are needing betterment, but the main area is at PF/C. More size, depth, rebounding, defense.

Skinner and Kurt Thomas, alone, aren't and weren't enough to fill that role as the lone defensive big men. In the last two seasons. Marion, Diaw, Skinner (/Thomas), Amare can't be relied on for the aformentioned areas to be enough. Like with Thomas, if Skinner gets into foul trouble or gets hurt, there's no more designated defensive big man.

Also with Skinner, he plays 14-15 MPG, and doesn't play late in the game. That'll probably be the same for the playoffs.

No team should have a designated defensive big man. In general, a team needs, at least, two big men who can defend and rebound at an effective standard. But with the teams like the Warriors and Suns, offense and speed is put so much emphasis on, the defense, size, and rebounding up front that is required, is put off as a side dish that won't be eaten nearly as much as the main course of food.

The committment from the Suns just hasn't been there enough to get better defensively and deeper, bigger up front. Coach and ownership-wise.

[RealTalkof916]

Blazer color announcer: "Everyone knows the Blazers are for real."

Seriously? I guess it must be true if he's saying it.

Give him a break, man. They're still on cloud nine and they're excited about their team completely exceeding expectations.

Let them enjoy this streak.

[theGreatRC]

-= original quote snipped =-



How can we not be? Sure we may just miss the playoffs, but we are playing some great, team basketball.

Yeah, he should have just said this team is playing great team basketball. "For Real" means they are going to make some noise in the playoffs, which they will soon, but not right now.

[Angry Jimmy]

How did Phx get 12 blocked shots?

Phoenix is one of the best shot blocking teams in the NBA. Only Denver blocks more shots per game than the Suns.

[sprash9802]

Phoenix has to get more balanced as a team if they want to enhance their chances of getting to the finals.

There are numerous areas where the Suns are needing betterment, but the main area is at PF/C. More size, depth, rebounding, defense.

Skinner and Kurt Thomas, alone, aren't and weren't enough to fill that role as the lone defensive big men. In the last two seasons. Marion, Diaw, Skinner (/Thomas), Amare can't be relied on for the aformentioned areas to be enough. Like with Thomas, if Skinner gets into foul trouble or gets hurt, there's no more designated defensive big man.

Also with Skinner, he plays 14-15 MPG, and doesn't play late in the game. That'll probably be the same for the playoffs.

No team should have a designated defensive big man. In general, a team needs, at least, two big men who can defend and rebound at an effective standard. But with the teams like the Warriors and Suns, offense and speed is put so much emphasis on, the defense, size, and rebounding up front that is required, is put off as a side dish that won't be eaten nearly as much as the main course of food.

The committment from the Suns just hasn't been there enough to get better defensively and deeper, bigger up front. Coach and ownership-wise.

I dont think D'Antoni and his staff preach defense... They think they can outscore everyone shooting jumpers all day..In the playoffs, when legs are tired and shots dont go in, they are toast...

[NetsForce]

[quote="sprash9802"]Hornets are real good...makes you wonder if Kidd wishes he had Byron Scott back...the Nets have SUCKED since he has left...quote]

You obviously have no idea what you're talking about. Strike one. Two more and your posting privileges will be revoked. Forever.

Kidd, Martin, and Jefferson had a problem with Scott. What do you do trade all three of them and Keep Scott? Or get rid of the guy who had lost the team?

[Ballings7]

I've honestly never thought the Suns were a title contending team. A deep playoff team, for sure. But a team that has it's limitations and flaws, in preventing from getting to the finals and winning a title.

They're make-up as a team just isn't championship caliber, and aren't built for the playoffs, basically. They haven't significantly improved in their weak areas since 04-05. And, one of their strengths, in 3PT shooting, has actually dropped off some this season, and not quite being the same as it was in the past. The depth and strength of shooters has decreased in the last two seasons.

To sum it up, a good team, but a "pre-tender" in terms of being able to win the championship.

Eh...more Hornets than Suns man. Credit where credit is due. NO is good and Chris Paul is probably now the best point guard in the league. The Suns will be there at the end...they always are. And being there at the end usually makes you a contender not a pretender.

I did give the Hornets credit, in my previous post before that one. I have been to them, too.

That post you quoted was meant in general on the Suns. Not really relating to tonight's game, so much. It's just tonight's game is another example of the Suns being exposed. So it relates to their issues.

It was also off of sprash9802 saying what he/she thought of the Suns, and I wanted to say what I thought about the Suns, in what was specifically being said.

[Ballings7]

I dont think D'Antoni and his staff preach defense... They think they can outscore everyone shooting jumpers all day..In the playoffs, when legs are tired and shots dont go in, they are toast...

Yeah.

The focus, and energy expense is lesser on defense compared to offense. As goes with the majority of the players, moreso offense, rather than a balance of kinds of players and what they bring. They have some known individual defenders, but that's it.

The defensive mind-set, and partly personnel are lacking for them.

They're offense also still isn't diverse enough. Mainly the problem there, is relying too much on threes and fast-breaks.

[sprash9802]

Hornets are real good...makes you wonder if Kidd wishes he had Byron Scott back...the Nets have SUCKED since he has left...quote]

You obviously have no idea what you're talking about. Strike one. Two more and your posting privileges will be revoked. Forever.

Kidd, Martin, and Jefferson had a problem with Scott. What do you do trade all three of them and Keep Scott? Or get rid of the guy who had lost the team?

yeah..and they are all doing so well after Scott's departure, right?? The Nets have to be THE MOST over rated team of the past few years..they have no identity, no half-court offense, no frontcourt at all and Carter is soft as hell, while all Jefferson does is yelp like a dog after each dunk.... And is Thorn really a good GM??? Signed Jefferson to a massive contract, almost all of is draft picks are busts, Kristic is another soft jump shooting Euro big, Planinic and Wright SUCK.

[sprash9802]

-= original quote snipped =-



Yeah.

The focus, and energy expense is lesser on defense compared to offense. As goes with the majority of the players, moreso offense, rather than a balance of kinds of players and what they bring. They have some known individual defenders, but that's it.

The defensive mind-set, and partly personnel are lacking for them.

They're offense also still isn't diverse enough. Mainly the problem there, is relying too much on threes and fast-breaks.

If you think about, Amare isnt really a post up guy..He finishes off the break and off pick and rolls..Nash is terrific, Barbosa is a good complimentary piece, Marion vanishes too often in the playoffs for my liking and Diaw looks lost. They could've had Deng, but traded the pick to the Bulls. They could've had Rondo but gave him to my Cs...they just dont defend at all..And when your two best players (the PG Nash and the C Amare), the two MOST critical positions on defense, dont play any D, you are in big trouble in the playoffs.

[Tesla]

Good posts Ballings. I agree with a lot of what you are saying.