About Next Season

[azirish]

"Usually always"...

It is very hard to find a player like Nash who has great vision, shoots well, finishes well, and makes great decisions. Most "pass first" guys can't perform at warp speed let alone shoot. The Suns are not nearly as effective when he's out of the lineup.

 

[F-Dog]

It is amazing how many people want to blow up a 60 plus win team. Take away a bad start and a long stretch without KT, shorter periods without Nash and Diaw (who is still not 100% healthy), and this could easily be in the 65 plus wing range. I would be very careful about messing this up.

I think the Suns can improve themselves through the draft and some smaller trades, but I don't see any of the core getting moved: Nash, Stoudemire, Marion, Bell, Barbosa, and Diaw. (Boris has not been playing as well as last yera, but he is almost untradeable due to issues about his health and his base year contract).

I don't see KT getting traded unless the Suns can get a low post defender who can replace him. Right now his expiring contract is more attractive than his on the court which is not as good as it was before he was injured.

The problem is, the Suns are looking at $15m worth of luxury tax payments next year, and Sarver's group is not that wealthy by NBA standards. (In fact, Sarver came into the league vowing never to pay the luxury tax, if you remember.) The main factor in our prior discussion of offseason moves has always been saving money, not improving the team.

I just hope the team will be able to pass off their cost-cutting as 'making room for the talented rookie we took with Atlanta's pick'.

 

[slinslin]

Pretty sure we make some big trades if we fall short despite being healthy. You look at our talent and have to say well based on talent there is no reason we shouldn't win it all. Have Diaw practice on his jumper 4 hours every day and move him to SF and trade Marion for a good Center or a PF that is close to center size like Jermaine O'Neal or Kevin Garnett.

I want to see them going away from small ball once and for all if we don't win it all.

 

[azirish]

I'm not convinced Diaw is completely healthy. This could be a big problem.

 

[cly2tw]

Pretty sure we make some big trades if we fall short despite being healthy. You look at our talent and have to say well based on talent there is no reason we shouldn't win it all. Have Diaw practice on his jumper 4 hours every day and move him to SF and trade Marion for a good Center or a PF that is close to center size like Jermaine O'Neal or Kevin Garnett.

I want to see them going away from small ball once and for all if we don't win it all.

I second that. Marion's inability to exploit matchup advantages over the likes of Parker, Harris, Terry, not to mention Billups negates most of the advantages he offers on the court come playoff time. With our style, it's very important that every starter should be able to exploit the mismatches proficiently.

 

[TucsonDevil]

I'm not convinced Diaw is completely healthy. This could be a big problem.

The problem is this - he is playing a ton of minutes. If he was ailing, you could simply reduce his minutes (btw, it wouldn't cut into his production because Zero multiplied by 50% time is still a ZERO). Unfortunately, Coach D'Antoni has done nothing to develop Pike or Jalen for the playoffs to give the the Suns 8-10 min... effective minutes.

I blame Coach D'Antoni. I think the '<07 seconds' plan is great, I like his style, but his management of players and during the game is just not up to par. I know many of you disagree, but I still believe if the Suns win it all, they will have had to overcome D'Antoni's weaknesses. When in the last time a team won an NBA championship with an 'average-to-good' coach? Think about it.

 

[azirish]

I second that. Marion's inability to exploit matchup advantages over the likes of Parker, Harris, Terry, not to mention Billups negates most of the advantages he offers on the court come playoff time. With our style, it's very important that every starter should be able to exploit the mismatches proficiently.

I'm not sure it is the players as much as the scheme. The Suns don't work on creating and exploiting matchup situations as much as I might like. Ordinarily it doesn't make a difference, but against pressure defenses it is important to attack the weak spots and matchups.

 

[Dr. Jones]

Until you win a title..... You are treated like you can't.