7/6/04 Insider

[Chaplin]

Come on. Let's be honest. What do you consider "having the ball in his hands"? Let's face it--JJ was never the greatest point guard, many on this very board lamented the experiment, even though he greatly improved as he went on.

The ball in his hands? Why can't Nash be a guy that can actually get the ball in JJ's hands? I would think that wouldn't be an issue. If you think JJ is only effective when he plays the point, then I'm not sure where that comes from, because he was at best average at the position.

 

[carey]

The ball in his hands? Why can't Nash be a guy that can actually get the ball in JJ's hands? I would think that wouldn't be an issue. If you think JJ is only effective when he plays the point, then I'm not sure where that comes from, because he was at best average at the position.

I think it's less of him being a point guard and more the fact that he is not a catch and shoot type of a guard. He seems to hit shots better off of the dribble creating for himself or in the post.

 

[elindholm]

Sometimes I think people forget that, in order to get an assist, you have to have the ball in your hands right before the guy who scores does. You can't rack up large assist numbers -- whether you're Kidd, Marbury, Nash, or whoever -- without "having the ball in your hands."

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I think it's less of him being a point guard and more the fact that he is not a catch and shoot type of a guard. He seems to hit shots better off of the dribble creating for himself or in the post.

that's exactly how i view jj. nash may be better suited for jj's game than marbs as nash doesn't dominate the ball, leaving more time for other players to create, but jj definitely plays better individual offense than team offense. of course, with the way d'antoni just wants 'em to run around and chuck up shots i'm not sure that's a big problem.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Sometimes I think people forget that, in order to get an assist, you have to have the ball in your hands right before the guy who scores does. You can't rack up large assist numbers -- whether you're Kidd, Marbury, Nash, or whoever -- without "having the ball in your hands."

i don't get the point of this post. i think we all know this already. a little more please. (just for us slow folk)

 

[Chaplin]

Sometimes I think people forget that, in order to get an assist, you have to have the ball in your hands right before the guy who scores does. You can't rack up large assist numbers -- whether you're Kidd, Marbury, Nash, or whoever -- without "having the ball in your hands."

Who forgets? Me?

 

[Goldfield]

It is difficult to avoid overpaying for free agents. The best buys are guys that are really anxious to leave their former team or their old team has other financial problems.

The hardest ones are when the old team has their full Bird rights and no problems with the team, such as with Nash. He is overpaid, but there would have been no other way to get him.

At least the Suns are overpaying an All Star. Overpaying backup level players is a chancy business. Just look at the Sonices with Calvin Booth with three more years starting at $5.9 million. Last year he had 17 minutes a game and grabbed 3.9 rpg.

Thats a great post. I dont know what players are gunna get money-wise, but I do know 95% of them get overpaid. And 100% of the BIG's get overpaid.

I would jump all over a Dice/Ostertag combo is we could afford it. They seem to be the only "resonably" priced big's, and they are arguably just as good as the others that were out there.

IMO

Ostertag/Dice
Amare/Dice
Marion/Zarko
JJ/Barbosa
Nash/Barbosa

Damn good team if our youngsters keep improving.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Who forgets? Me?

ah, i'm not alone!

 

[cepstrum]

Come on. Let's be honest. What do you consider "having the ball in his hands"? Let's face it--JJ was never the greatest point guard, many on this very board lamented the experiment, even though he greatly improved as he went on.

The ball in his hands? Why can't Nash be a guy that can actually get the ball in JJ's hands? I would think that wouldn't be an issue. If you think JJ is only effective when he plays the point, then I'm not sure where that comes from, because he was at best average at the position.

JJ is a very good individual player and he can probably beat a lot of guys off the dribble, however like marbs he does tend to dominate the ball (not as much as marbs did though). Therefore when you have a guy like nash setting up the offense, it does limit the number of touches JJ gets. As someone already pointed out, he isnt a catch and shoot type player.

Secondly, Im not so sure if JJ is even an average point guard and I wasnt commenting on his point guard abilities at all. What I was saying is that JJ needs to dominate the ball to a certain extend in order to be very productive.

 

[SweetD]

I would like to see more screens off the ball for JJ to get open. He has a very nice touch from the field and can also use his quickness to get to the whole if the player over commits.

 

[Goldfield]

I would like to see more screens off the ball for JJ to get open. He has a very nice touch from the field and can also use his quickness to get to the whole if the player over commits.

Good post.

You HAVE to have a go-to-guy. JJ has shown he can create off the dribble, he has a nice touch around the basket, and he will even dunk it home when he can. Not to mention he can pass well.

I honestly feel if we add Dice & Tag, this team will be pretty much complete to start to think late round playoffs. Depending on our players development. Whice I see as taking a big step fprward with the additions of veterean like Nash & Dice. And a Solid Role player in Ostertag...

 

[Cheesebeef]

I can't believe I'm saying this - and no way in hell did I think I would before Junly 1st - but Tag and Dice may just be what the doctor ordered - maybe not - but at least we'd have some size and one more year of recovery on Dice's knee and who knows - maybe he becomes a force somewhat again - I did like what I saw from him late last year rebounding wise. Will be interesting to see what happens - but I guess Nash, Dice and Tag isn't so bad of an offseason and probably gives us a shot to be pretty good - depending IMO on how JJ comes out next year - we know what we'll get from everyone on this team - and probably we'll get a little more from Amare - but if JJ has problems, it'll cripple the team - his play will likely be the difference between playoff fodder and possible 2nd round or more playoff contender (assuming we sign Dice and Tag).

 

[slinslin]

How serious is LaFrentz' injuries? His contract is pretty horrible. If Sarver plans to spend maybe Boston would be interessted in swapping Eisley for Lafrentz.

LaFrentz has 5yrs/55M$ left on his contract. It would expire in the same year as Nash' assuming we buy him out before his 6th season.

Boston should throw in something more though because that contract is just nasty.

 

[Dave64]

In my opinion, Raef can stay in Boston. What a bust.

 

[Evil Ash]

How serious is LaFrentz' injuries? His contract is pretty horrible. If Sarver plans to spend maybe Boston would be interessted in swapping Eisley for Lafrentz.

LaFrentz has 5yrs/55M$ left on his contract. It would expire in the same year as Nash' assuming we buy him out before his 6th season.

Boston should throw in something more though because that contract is just nasty.

Do we need this team to get softer? He sucks as a defender and he's not that great of a rebounder. The very 2 things we need out of our Center position

Stay far, far away from LaFrentz!

 

[Errntknght]

I suspect the combination of Dice and Etan Thomas would be out of our price range but I'm leery of such a short range deal as Dice & Ostertag. And like I said before Sloan's teams are the antithesis of the D'Antoni's, so I'm quite worried about Ostertag being a bad fit. I'm more inclined to shoot for Thomas as plan A, then fall back to Dice and Tag as a last resort.

 

[Evil Ash]

I suspect the combination of Dice and Etan Thomas would be out of our price range but I'm leery of such a short range deal as Dice & Ostertag. And like I said before Sloan's teams are the antithesis of the D'Antoni's, so I'm quite worried about Ostertag being a bad fit. I'm more inclined to shoot for Thomas as plan A, then fall back to Dice and Tag as a last resort.

I don't mind going after Thomas, but it does come at a risk. Since he's a restricted FA and Washington owns his Bird rights, the Suns have to wait 15 days to see if the Wizards match the offer. If you wait for 15 days for Washington to make their decision, its quite possible that the Suns may lose out on all of them.

Its up to the Suns to decide if it is worth the risk

 

[elindholm]

If LaFrentz is healthy, he's not a bad idea. True, his contract is very expensive, but if the Suns have some money to work with then it shouldn't be crippling. They don't need him to be a great rebounder, and he is a very good shot-blocker and perimeter shooter.

Actually I think he would be an excellent fit if healthy.

 

[George O'Brien]

If LaFrentz is healthy, he's not a bad idea. True, his contract is very expensive, but if the Suns have some money to work with then it shouldn't be crippling. They don't need him to be a great rebounder, and he is a very good shot-blocker and perimeter shooter.

Actually I think he would be an excellent fit if healthy.

Really really big "IF".

I do agree that he would be vastly more effective with the Suns than he was with the Mavs because they did not have someone like Amare around. But he has FIVE MORE YEARS ON HIS CONTRACT coming off an injury season. Too rich for my blood.