9 pts, 3 rebounds in less than 6 minutes

[mavsfan1000]

I watched the game and the suns are loaded this year with depth. That frontline of Amare, Diaw, and Marion is as diverse as you get. Amare is a great slasher, jump shooter, and setting picks. Diaw is good at passing, rebounding, and slashing, and Marion's defense, rebounding and both outside shooting and slashing. All of this will make this team that much better at rebounding while improving their inside game on offense and sustaining their outside shooting. This team could be unstoppable if Amare continues to get better.

 

[George O'Brien]

I think the starting lineup will vary at times, but I expect Diaw to start even after KT comes back. He is another matchup nightmare for opposing coaches.

What makes Boris so difficult to defend is that he is too quick for big men to guard, too strong for small guys to guard, he's got a very nice mid range shot, and he is an outstanding passer.

Against the Blazers, he took a rebound and drove the entire length of floor to cut through the defense and go up for a layup. No one stopped him because they expected him to kick out for a three point shot. There really is not way to stop someone like that and how he has even more talent to pass to under the basket.

Last night, the Blazers tried to stop Amare man to man. It didn't work and it was only his first game back. Pretty soon opponents will start double teaming him, which leaves a real problem. Who do you NOT guard?

Steve Nash - One of the top three point shooters in the NBA at 42.8%

Raja Bell - Another top ten three point shooter at 43.6%

Shawn Marion - Averages 51.1% from the field and is a league leader in dunks.

Boris who is a 6'8" point guard with a good shot and the ability to dunk.

Any one of these guys can kill you if left alone.

 

[mavsfan1000]

So is it better with Diaw or James Jones out there? Jones can spread the court better but Diaw definitely has unique skills to penetrate and pass or finish.

 

[Errntknght]

One thing I was glad to see was that Shawn didn't retire to the perimeter - he did hoist up some bad looking 3s but he went inside most of the time.

Its true Amare didn't do much on defense but he was guarding Przybilla most of the time and I assume D'Antoni told him to lay back and clog the middle, which is what he did.

TT had a nice resurgence from the last couple of games - he was blocking out again and more aggressive on his drives. He was lucky to get 9 rebounds but it was still a good effort.

 

[Yuma]

I'd like to see this lineup once in the playoffs:

PG Nash
SG Diaw
PF Amare
SF MArion
C Thomas

 

[zett]

I think Amare played very smart defense, he looked like he was watching KT and learning while he was out. last year he would of come out of the key to try and stay with his own man. Now he was playing off so as to help with team defense and it paid of with a couple of blocks he got. and he never got burned by his man ,so I think he did very well concidering what he's gone through. He was even putting his butt on people to screen out for boards, which we haven't seen since kurt went down! so props to Amare who has a long way to go, but still managed to simi dominate!

 

[jbeecham]

I'd like to see this lineup once in the playoffs:

PG Nash
SG Diaw
PF Amare
SF MArion
C Thomas

I really think we'll need Bell starting for his defense on Ginobili, Kobe, etc. Diaw seems to be better suited defending in the paint where he can use his quickness and length on people and generate mis-matches on offense.

More than likely KT will come off the bench and ease back into playing time for the 1st 2 rounds and then hopefully be ready to start by the WCF against SA.

 

[Chaplin]

I really think we'll need Bell starting for his defense on Ginobili, Kobe, etc. Diaw seems to be better suited defending in the paint where he can use his quickness and length on people and generate mis-matches on offense.

More than likely KT will come off the bench and ease back into playing time for the 1st 2 rounds and then hopefully be ready to start by the WCF against SA.

I agree, Bell needs to start. I think now that he is the most underrated player on the team.

 

[jbeecham]

Hopefully everyone will get healthy and we can actually have our projected starting 5 of

Nash
Bell
Marion
Amare
KT

with

House
Barbosa
Tim Thomas
Diaw
James Jones
Grant

coming off the bench.

Even if Grant is ineffective, that's a solid 10 man rotation.

 

[Bada0Bing]

We also need Bell out there to hit those 3’s that he will be wide open for.

 

[myrondizzo]

my favorite highlight of the night was the behind the back pass to skita. i hope that he has been working on his point center skills.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

I've come to the realization that this is what Amare is going to be like when he is 35. He's hitting the long jumper, (ala malone) still getting inside whenever he wants - but not going up as strong, etc.

Just an observation. Hell, with the beard he looks like a 15 year grizzled vet.

Did a full post on this about two months ago.....i am not complaining if he plays like this the rest of his career with Malone type numbers