I'm hoping this also means that we will see less Howard Eiseley. I defended Eisley when the Suns first acquired him, but I can't stand to see him on the court anymore. Every once in awhile he'll get a nice run the going, but most of the time he dominates the ball without a lot of good results.
At the end of this article it says that 2 or 3 of the top 5 teams in steals will end up missing the playoffs. IMO this is because the aggressive defense that often leads to steals also leads to a lot of penetration from the perimeter and open big men near the basket. Unless the team has good shot blocking and rebounding upfront I think teams are better off playing sound the maybe not as aggressive defense. The Suns perimeter players in particular are far too aggressive given the lack of shot blocking and rebounding in the middle.
Joe Mama
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/0312sunsnb0312.html
Bigger lineup begins with Johnson at point
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 12, 2004 12:00 AM
There was a time when Phoenix dreaded seeing a big point guard named Johnson. Joe Johnson loved those Showtime years when he idolized the Lakers' Magic Johnson and wants to bring a piece of that to today's Suns.
Joe Johnson, at 6 feet 7, will get more time at point guard over the final 18 games as the coaches tinker with a bigger Suns lineup, helping his ball handling and aggression.
He ran the point for the final 20 minutes of Monday's loss at Dallas. The Suns outscored the Mavericks 39-32 with Johnson at point. He had 10 points, four rebounds, three assists, three turnovers and a steal in those 20 minutes.
"I really love making my teammates look good and making people better," Johnson said. "It helps me out a lot because I feel like I can create my own shot when I get ready. I can also get in the paint and make things easier for the big men."
Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said he is able to get Zarko Cabarkapa on the floor more with Johnson at point. He said it also would help Johnson's court awareness and involvement.
Johnson was on a tear from Jan. 7 to Feb. 4, a stretch in which he averaged 23.1 points and shot 50.3 percent from the field. Since Amare Stoudemire returned to the starting lineup Feb. 6, Johnson has averaged 16.3 points and shot 40.6 percent.
"Joe was really going, and now that Amare is back, Joe's tailed off a bit," D'Antoni said. "I think sometimes he gets lost a little bit in the thing. Keeping him involved as a point guard might help find some juice.
"He's got to run the team, and he's got to be more vocal. I think if he can learn the point-guard position, maybe it'll make him a better two-guard."
As Johnson emerged after the Knicks trade, he showed an ability to fill up the box score in ways anyone from a point guard to a small forward would. He said getting minutes at point guard has re-energized that aggression.
"I'm in the flow, and I'm running with the ball," Johnson said. "It gets me pumped up and gets my juices flowing."
Free throws
Keon Clark, acquired in Phoenix's Feb. 19 trade of Tom Gugliotta to Utah, will not play this season because he must continue rehabilitation of his right ankle. After playing two games for Utah, Clark had November surgery to remove bone chips from the ankle.
• The Suns scrimmaged in front of a group of Gila River Indian Community youths Thursday and signed autographs for them after practice.
• The Suns rank fifth in the league in steals. Two or three of the top five teams will not make the playoffs.
At the end of this article it says that 2 or 3 of the top 5 teams in steals will end up missing the playoffs. IMO this is because the aggressive defense that often leads to steals also leads to a lot of penetration from the perimeter and open big men near the basket. Unless the team has good shot blocking and rebounding upfront I think teams are better off playing sound the maybe not as aggressive defense. The Suns perimeter players in particular are far too aggressive given the lack of shot blocking and rebounding in the middle.
Joe Mama
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/0312sunsnb0312.html
Bigger lineup begins with Johnson at point
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 12, 2004 12:00 AM
There was a time when Phoenix dreaded seeing a big point guard named Johnson. Joe Johnson loved those Showtime years when he idolized the Lakers' Magic Johnson and wants to bring a piece of that to today's Suns.
Joe Johnson, at 6 feet 7, will get more time at point guard over the final 18 games as the coaches tinker with a bigger Suns lineup, helping his ball handling and aggression.
He ran the point for the final 20 minutes of Monday's loss at Dallas. The Suns outscored the Mavericks 39-32 with Johnson at point. He had 10 points, four rebounds, three assists, three turnovers and a steal in those 20 minutes.
"I really love making my teammates look good and making people better," Johnson said. "It helps me out a lot because I feel like I can create my own shot when I get ready. I can also get in the paint and make things easier for the big men."
Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said he is able to get Zarko Cabarkapa on the floor more with Johnson at point. He said it also would help Johnson's court awareness and involvement.
Johnson was on a tear from Jan. 7 to Feb. 4, a stretch in which he averaged 23.1 points and shot 50.3 percent from the field. Since Amare Stoudemire returned to the starting lineup Feb. 6, Johnson has averaged 16.3 points and shot 40.6 percent.
"Joe was really going, and now that Amare is back, Joe's tailed off a bit," D'Antoni said. "I think sometimes he gets lost a little bit in the thing. Keeping him involved as a point guard might help find some juice.
"He's got to run the team, and he's got to be more vocal. I think if he can learn the point-guard position, maybe it'll make him a better two-guard."
As Johnson emerged after the Knicks trade, he showed an ability to fill up the box score in ways anyone from a point guard to a small forward would. He said getting minutes at point guard has re-energized that aggression.
"I'm in the flow, and I'm running with the ball," Johnson said. "It gets me pumped up and gets my juices flowing."
Free throws
Keon Clark, acquired in Phoenix's Feb. 19 trade of Tom Gugliotta to Utah, will not play this season because he must continue rehabilitation of his right ankle. After playing two games for Utah, Clark had November surgery to remove bone chips from the ankle.
• The Suns scrimmaged in front of a group of Gila River Indian Community youths Thursday and signed autographs for them after practice.
• The Suns rank fifth in the league in steals. Two or three of the top five teams will not make the playoffs.
