2008-2009 Roster

[Griffin]

I think this is deceptive. At the end of the season it would be Pike that is being replaced since Banks had been traded already.

I guess you could say that. Still an improvement, since we did not have a back-up PG after we traded Banks. Well, technically we didn't really have one when we had Banks. Actually, we still don't have one until Dragic signs.

At the start of last season, it would be Barnes replacing Marion and Dragic replacing Banks. I love Barnes, but I think Marion is better. But the trade radically changed the team dynamic.

Okay, but then you have to factor in Shaq into the equation. Since the start of last season Stoudemire replaced Marion in the rotation, Shaq replaced Stoudemire, Lopez replaced Skinner, and Dragic hopefully will replace Banks. Then we still add Barnes. Definitely more depth, but on paper we seemed pretty deep last year too, at the start of the year anyhow.

 

[Irish]

My read on it is that a year ago the Suns entered the season totally committed to small ball with Skinner backing up Amare and Diaw backing up Shawn. This year the Suns are going to have a big man playing along side Amare most of the time. This is a huge change.

Getting Barnes gives the Suns a serious backup to Hill, but also a guy to play small ball inside and even another defender behind Bell if needed. I wouldn't draw too many conclusions other than that he brings versatility.

 

[JCSunsfan]

With the Amundson signing, one spot remains for either Dragic or some other back-up PG, though it seems most likely it will be Dragic after all.

Matt Barnes, replacing Gordan Giricek
Robin Lopez, replacing Brian Skinner
Goran Dragic, replacing Marcus Banks
Louis Amundson, replacing Sean Marks

It also looks like Eric Piatkowski's tenure with the Suns is officially over. In Marks and Pike, we are losing two great locker room guys. But we have potentially improved on the floor at every one of those positions.

I would think that Pike's career is over. Heck, its been over. If weren't for the league office paying those vet min contracts he would have been gone a couple of years ago.

So the depth chart now looks like this.

PG: Nash, (Dragic or signee), Barbosa, DJ
SG: Raja, Barbosa, DJ, Barnes
SF: Hill, Barnes, Diaw, Tucker, Amundson
PF: Amare, Diaw, Amundson, Lopez
C: Shaq, Lopez, Amare, Diaw

Three pt threats: Nash, Raja, Barbosa. Wow, now there is a weakness. Gone are the days when we would have 4 shooters on the floor at once. We only have 3 on the roster. I guess Amare DID need to work on the 3 pointer over the summer.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Barnes is a legit 3 shooter and tucker/dj have been working on their range. still not enough though

 

[Irish]

I would think that Pike's career is over. Heck, its been over. If weren't for the league office paying those vet min contracts he would have been gone a couple of years ago.

So the depth chart now looks like this.

PG: Nash, (Dragic or signee), Barbosa, DJ
SG: Raja, Barbosa, DJ, Barnes
SF: Hill, Barnes, Diaw, Tucker, Amundson
PF: Amare, Diaw, Amundson, Lopez
C: Shaq, Lopez, Amare, Diaw

Three pt threats: Nash, Raja, Barbosa. Wow, now there is a weakness. Gone are the days when we would have 4 shooters on the floor at once. We only have 3 on the roster. I guess Amare DID need to work on the 3 pointer over the summer.

Mostly OK. I can't see Amundson at SF and I think Tucker will be used more at SG than SF, but that's pretty much how it should go.

 

[shazaam6]

Sounds like the starters have a pretty good young defensive unit to practice against.


DEFENSE...VS...OFFENSE
Dragic.............Nash
Strawberry.......Bell
Barnes.............Hill
Amundson.........Stoudemire
Lopez...............O'neal

Tucker..............Barbosa
.......................Diaw

 

[Irish]

I think this season will see a lot of "mix and match" stuff.

Twin Towers - Lopez played mostly PF in college and lining him up with Shaq could discourage guys driving the basket.

Small Ball Delux - Barnes at PF and Tucker at SF would be lightning faxt. Tucer shot 40% for three in D-League so this lineup might be like the 2004-05 squad.

Lock Down Guards - Dragic and Strawberry are both considered very good on the ball defenders.

 

[nowagimp]

First of all, signing Matt Barnes means that Kerr found a good player willing to play for the minimum. It means nothing more and it has nothing to do with Diaw. As far as Hill signing a year ago goes- D'Antoni is gone. Hill will no longer be forced to play more than 25 minutes per game.

As far as Lopez goes, I hope that you are not seriously saying that Lopez is more talented or better in any way, shape, or form than Diaw. Lopez is a scrub, and nothing more.

I realize Boris does not live up to his potential, but neither Barnes nor Lopez are serious competition for Diaw.

yup, Barnes and Lopez are great values for little money, but Diaw, though overpaid, is easily a better player than both at this time. Some day lopez may prove to be a gem, likely in 4-5 years if so. Barnes is what he is, a versatile bench player who hustles and can play defense at the 2,3 a place where the suns are very thin. The signing of Barnes is just to strengthen the suns weak bench, and that works for me. Lopez' main attraction at this time is to back up shaq and prevent amare from playing the '5', a place where he physically gets beat up.

 

[scXfreakX]

You'll have to excuse me for not knowing this, but who is Amundson?

 

[FArting]

You'll have to excuse me for not knowing this, but who is Amundson?

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/f7/suns-sign-louis-amundson-116957.html

 

[scXfreakX]

Thanks, I didn't hear about. Well, one more signing to go.

 

[sunsallday]

yup, Barnes and Lopez are great values for little money, but Diaw, though overpaid, is easily a better player than both at this time. Some day lopez may prove to be a gem, likely in 4-5 years if so. Barnes is what he is, a versatile bench player who hustles and can play defense at the 2,3 a place where the suns are very thin. The signing of Barnes is just to strengthen the suns weak bench, and that works for me. Lopez' main attraction at this time is to back up shaq and prevent amare from playing the '5', a place where he physically gets beat up.

Diaw is both overpaid and overrated. Call me a hater if you want, but I really cannot stand Diaw. After that one year of excellence, his game just has turned to crap. All he does is dishes out passes when he is wide open. His back to the back basket game is nice and his defense is great. But that is all I see in him. However, I want him to make me eat my words if he plays really well this season and becomes the Diaw of 2006 so we can start him at SF. However, if he doesn't play at his potential, he needs to go because all you going to hear for the next few years is ''he almost did it.''

Originally, I wanted Diaw to start at SF.

But as of right now, I would prefer starting Barnes over Diaw. Even though you see him as a bench player, I'll rather have a aggressive player who is more mentally tough than starting than Diaw. If his three point shooting gets to at least 38%, I would rather have him as it allows us to spread the floor. Don't agree with me if you want, but I don't see Diaw starting at SF(his confidence is just blah)

Anyway, here is my opinion of the Suns starting lineup

PG:Nash
SG:Bell
SF:Barnes
PF:Amare
C:SHAQ

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

There is no way or reason Barnes will start over Hill. Diaw maybe, but not Barnes.

 

[scXfreakX]

Agreed, Hill will start most of the time, and maybe we might see Diaw start a bit. I doubt Barnes starts more than a couple of times.

As for the whole Diaw thing, I think that one of the reasons that he did so well 05-06 was because of Amare's injury. I think most will agree. When Amare came back, it ate Diaw's minutes up at certain spots he excelled at. I just think Diaw also doesn't play the same with Amare on the floor. Its just a combination. And then with that big contract, I don't think he has that same motivation to work as hard. Although I don't even know if he ever did.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Thanks, I didn't hear about. Well, one more signing to go.

That is true. After signing the big guy, the only thing left to do is get Dragic in (or someone else). If that happens, its not a spectacular off-season, but a complete one.

That's a change, we are used to being spectacular but incomplete.

 

[HooverDam]

but I don't see Diaw starting at SF(his confidence is just blah)

Ill go one further, I don't see Diaw playing much at SF. I just don't see what skills Boris brings to the table that make people think he's a small forward. He's a Power Forward for a Princeton type system. He doesn't have the lateral quickness to guard opposing Small Forwards, he's no good enough at driving w/ the ball to play SF, he has no shot from deep, his size advantage that he has against guards is gone when he plays SF, and the quickness advantage he has against PF and Centers is gone. Small Forward is not a good fit for Diaw at all, the only worse position for him would be the 2 guard.

I hope they don't start Barnes, Grant Hill still has a much better skill set than Barnes, even if he can't play a ton of minutes. Start both Bell and Hill, they deserve it for one, but also because bringing LB and Barnes' energy off the bench could be a big boost.

My depth chart with this roster would be:
Nash/Dragic
Bell/LB/Strawberry
Hill/Barnes/Tucker
Amare/Diaw/Amundson
Shaq/Lopez

 

[Irish]

I predict that somebody will play much better than expected and someone will play much worse. Problem is, I don't know who.

The great thing about this team is that it is not "these eight or nothing" we've had in the past. IMHO, if somebody doesn't play well, he won't play. There is too much talent for someone to just drift.

 

[mojorizen7]

There is no way or reason Barnes will start over Hill. Diaw maybe, but not Barnes.

Disagree.
1) Makes our starting 5 more athletic.
2) More 3 pt shooting
3) Experience off the bench
You can make an argument for both but your statement was that there is "no way" and "no reason" to start Barnes.

 

[arwillan]

Disagree.
1) Makes our starting 5 more athletic.
2) More 3 pt shooting
3) Experience off the bench
You can make an argument for both but your statement was that there is "no way" and "no reason" to start Barnes.

not really. the first year that hill was really asked to shoot 3's (last year) he shot 32%. barnes shot lower than that last year. his career average is right at 32% (where hill was). also, experience off the bench is not as valuable as energy and hustle which we get with barnes, not hill. barnes is better off the bench because he can't create for himself but he won't need to with both barbs and diaw there. hill can create for himself and others, taking pressure of nash by doing so (which he does while starting).

 

[dodie53]

can the suns trade Diaw and someone to the Bulls for Andres Nocioni so he can be our starting SF?

 

[arwillan]

can the suns trade Diaw and someone to the Bulls for Andres Nocioni so he can be our starting SF?

don't count on that happening.