Anticipating Clippers adjustments

[sunsfn]

There is no doubt the suns have to keep running as much as they can.

Kaman will tire out and not play as much tonight.
The whole team will tire out just like they did in the first game.
They were missing shots late with tired legs and the suns were running and gunning and not showing any signs they were tired.

I also think you will see the suns go to the free throw line more tonight. They scored more in the paint than the Clips, and the Clips will want to stop that by fouling.

Brand will not score 40 points tonight, but someone else will try to step up. Raja Bell needs to keep hounding Mobley and not let him get started.

I hope you all noticed the unbelievable job Marion did on defense that first game! Just watch him if you can instead of the ball, he is unbelievable the way he runs around the court and covers anyone and everyone. The 20 points and 15 rebounds did not hurt either!

 

[JWF]

You don't expect Brand to shoot 80% from the field in every game do you? Without Brand's heroic effort, this game is a game 7 Suns vs. Lakers type blowout.

There is no way that the Clips will shoot 60% from the field again as a team either. I can see them eclipsing 50% a couple more times, but nowhere near 60% again.

How's it going everyone, first post on here.

I have to agree with this poster, I felt the suns did a decent job of contesting shots, but Brand and Cassell simply couldnt miss(brand for the entire game, and Cassel for the 2nd half). Im not sure the clippers will be able to keep shooting like that.

I also wanted to respond to a poster that claimed phoenix only hits jump shots....You do realize the suns are a drive-and-kick team? Their entire offense is based on guys driving to the hoop and either getting the layup, or finding a open 3 point shot. The clippers tried to defend the perimeter on monday, and barbossa and Diaw made them pay, which resulted in the suns having a +6 advantage in the paint.

I think in order for the clippers to slow down phoenix, they have to get 2nd chance points. I know people talk about getting it into the post, but from what ive seen against Phoenix, getting offensive boards is the best way to truely slow them down.

 

[jibikao]

I've been to a few Clipper forums and looks like they want their defenders to stay with the shooters just like any other teams would do. Their defense rotated a bit slow and they had too much help defense which resulted in open 3pt for us.

I expect we struggle tonight. Game 2 always seems like a letdown game. If we can pull a win tonight, I think we can beat Clippers.

 

[Chaplin]

If we keep running, we win. The key to beating the Clippers 4 times is to tire them out by the time we win the 3rd game. They are a strong team, but I think if we throw a little bit more variety on defense at Maggette and Brand, we win.

Kaman is a non-factor, IMO, Boris should eat him alive. Also, we should really exploit Sam Cassell and get him into foul trouble--Shaun Livingston is a decent player, but if he's going to be the one that the Clips have to depend on, they will have some trouble.

 

[D-Dogg]

We get it. You wish "your" Lakers were still in the hunt.

Is there one post of yours in which you're not comparing the Lakers to someone?

One line about the Lakers and that's what you choose to respond to?

What about all the love I gave your Suns? Believe me, it was painful to write.

 

[Chaplin]

One line about the Lakers and that's what you choose to respond to?

What about all the love I gave your Suns? Believe me, it was painful to write.

Why don't you just let it go, D-Dogg?

 

[D-Dogg]

He even trashed Clippers.... the biggest "soft" team. I didn't know Brand was that soft. He totally owned us.

So what...Kobe totally owned you too in the regular season. You beat us then too.

The Clippers are soft inside...Brand is a finesse player, not a banger.

The only shot the Clips have is to slow the tempo and bang more. If they run with you, they will run home crying.

The Clippers aren't the biggest soft team....they are the the team that has bigs but they play soft...they don't pound in the post enough, even though they have the size to do it. It's not that they are a big "soft" team...it's that they are a big team that plays soft. Big difference.

 

[D-Dogg]

Why don't you just let it go, D-Dogg?

It's not easy to let go of herion.

 

[Chaplin]

It's not easy to let go of herion.

If I knew what "herion" is, maybe I'd sympathize. Replace that with "Kobe", and I'd understand...

 

[D-Dogg]

If I knew what "herion" is, maybe I'd sympathize. Replace that with "Kobe", and I'd understand...

The heroin is clouding my spelling skills. I should just create a macro to make it say Kobe.

Go Suns! What??

 

[Chaplin]

The heroin is clouding my spelling skills. I should just create a macro to make it say Kobe.

Go Suns! What??

That's the best post you've written in a week and a half!

 

[elindholm]

Brand is a finesse player, not a banger.

Huh? Brand has added a jump shot to make himself tougher to guard, but he is absolutely a banger. He's at the top of the league in offensive rebounds every season (10th this year, which is low for him).

 

[Nash]

Elton Brand is all class, I've never even seen him complain, Magette, likewise. Maybe they were taught that at Duke.

You're making it sound like Brand is totally clean of any uncalled for agression. After all he is a PF and dirty play now and then is part of his game too. If you watched the entire Clippers-Nuggets series, you wouldn't say he is all class. I think in game 3 or 4, immediately after a play at the post for which a foul was called on another guy who had the ball, Brand threw an elbow at the guy who committed the foul. Not the Kobe kind of girlish elbowing the one behind him.
Brand took a shot at a guy who was a step or two in front of him, so it was a more deliberate looking blow. Slow mo's showed what he did clearly though I don't recall the refs noticing it. The commentators repeatedly said that was a 'cheap shot' from Brand.

They learnt it at Duke? Anyone who follows college basketball knows how Duke is without exception given preferential treatment by refs. It was taken way too far in Redicks case, who could spit on an opponent without being called for it. And Coach K is a wild man on the sidelines. I'm sure you've seen the fits he throws when calls go his way.
So probably Brand and Maggette never had to dispute calls because it always went their way

just my 2 cents
PS: The dookies are the ones with the rapist Lacrosse team remember! Don't trust 'em.

 

[D-Dogg]

Brand is a finesse player, not a banger.

Huh? Brand has added a jump shot to make himself tougher to guard, but he is absolutely a banger. He's at the top of the league in offensive rebounds every season (10th this year, which is low for him).

Every time I've watched Brand play (about 10 times this year) he doesn't just use his size...he is much more finesse. He's far more a sweet skills player than a physical banger. No question in my mind.

And I love Brand...he's a fantastic player. He's got a good nose for the ball too.

 

[nowagimp]

Every time I've watched Brand play (about 10 times this year) he doesn't just use his size...he is much more finesse. He's far more a sweet skills player than a physical banger. No question in my mind.

And I love Brand...he's a fantastic player. He's got a good nose for the ball too.

Brand a finesse player? Is that the herion talking? C'mon D-Dogg, Brand craves physical contact, goes to the line alot. Can he play some finesse? Yes, but he doesnt have to, cause he's a load, fast and physical. I have Brand rated as the best power forward in the NBA this year, he does it all. He's smart, strong, quick, jumps well, he's a real good shot blocker, is a hell of a shooter, and he's sooo smooth with the ball. Duncan is a better passer, but Duncan is gimpy, else he'd be the best.

 

[nowagimp]

You're making it sound like Brand is totally clean of any uncalled for agression. After all he is a PF and dirty play now and then is part of his game too. If you watched the entire Clippers-Nuggets series, you wouldn't say he is all class. I think in game 3 or 4, immediately after a play at the post for which a foul was called on another guy who had the ball, Brand threw an elbow at the guy who committed the foul. Not the Kobe kind of girlish elbowing the one behind him.
Brand took a shot at a guy who was a step or two in front of him, so it was a more deliberate looking blow. Slow mo's showed what he did clearly though I don't recall the refs noticing it. The commentators repeatedly said that was a 'cheap shot' from Brand.

They learnt it at Duke? Anyone who follows college basketball knows how Duke is without exception given preferential treatment by refs. It was taken way too far in Redicks case, who could spit on an opponent without being called for it. And Coach K is a wild man on the sidelines. I'm sure you've seen the fits he throws when calls go his way.
So probably Brand and Maggette never had to dispute calls because it always went their way

just my 2 cents
PS: The dookies are the ones with the rapist Lacrosse team remember! Don't trust 'em.

I am not a Duke fan by any means, but if you look at the NBA players: Brand, Magette, Duhon, Battier, Grant Hill etc., they are all hard workers that dont whine, cheap shot, or lobby the refs much. And as far as Brand giving a cheap shot, I cant say one way or the other, but the nuggets are definitely full of cheap shot artists: Evans the ball puller, patterson the mugster, Melo the elbow(ask Marion). Maybe Brand was acting in retaliation.

 

[Nash]

I see your point about the guys you listed. yes they are a clean lot, agreed. of the few games I've watched Brand play , this incident stuck out, so I mentioned it. But yes, he didn't win the Sportsmanship award for nothing. Lets not even get started about the Nuggets, their reputation as goons is well known.

peace <

 

[Errntknght]

I feel out of place talking about the topic of this thread.

One more thing I'd change if I were the Clips... have Maggette guard Diaw some - he's strong enough to bang with him and quick enough to stay with him. Fight speed with speed. It gives them another advantage, too - when Diaw and Nash go into the P&R he can switch onto Nash with much less problem than Kamen or Brand.

Frankly, I don't think they should worry about Kamen tiring, just put Maggette in for him down the stretch. They're going to be going to Brand every time down the floor so its not like they'll need tons of offensive rebounds. And Maggette is a pretty fair rebounder, I think.

 

[F-Dog]

One adjustment I'm waiting for is for the Clips to bring James Singleton into the rotation. I think his rebounding could hurt the Suns--frankly, Singleton concerns me more than Q. Ross.

Speaking of Ross, I expect the Clips to move Maggette to the starting lineup at some point, as well.

 

[elindholm]

The Suns' strategy of doubling off of Ross hasn't worked. He's made pretty much every open 15-footer.

Not that it matters if they get outrebounded by 40, but you know what I mean.