Are the Suns playing better defense?

[Mainstreet]

Alvin Genty contends the Suns are playing good defense, actually top ten defense and the Suns problems are transition 3's. I'm sorry I just don't buy it. I'm not saying stats can't be made to say what you want them to say, but I'm not seeing good defense. Here is a quote from a Paul Coro at azcentral dated 1-14-12. See link below.

"The tempo has to change," said Suns coach Alvin Gentry, whose team is averaging about four fewer possessions per game compared with last season. "We haven't got as many transition 3s as I'd like. We've got to get that back. That's where JD (Jared Dudley) has been really good and that's where Grant (Hill) has been good shooting the corner one. We've got to get teams on their heels. Our defense has improved to where we're top 10. If we're rebounding the ball, there should be opportunities to run."

IMO, an improved offense would help but I believe it might be just a bandage covering for bad defense and poor rebounding.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/sun...x-suns-need-making-transition-3-pointers.html

 

[elindholm]

There's something more than a little absurd about saying, "The key to our success is Grant Hill shooting corner threes." Besides that, though, I do think that the Suns' defense has been quite a bit better for most of this season, but it has dropped off severely in the last few games.

 

[BC867]

There's something more than a little absurd about saying, "The key to our success is Grant Hill shooting corner threes." Besides that, though, I do think that the Suns' defense has been quite a bit better for most of this season, but it has dropped off severely in the last few games.

A key to our success is Grant Hill, but on defense. THE key to our offense is Steve Nash distributing the ball (especially with Gortat having established himself as a solid NBA Center).

But, of course, with Hill as the second oldest player and Nash as the fifth oldest in the NBA, reduced stamina and higher risk for injuries -- slight or major -- means inconsistency for the Suns all season long. What else could we expect?

 

[Mainstreet]

I guess now, even on paper, the Suns defense has regressed although I never thought it was any good. When one lets opponents dominate on the boards and cannot stop scoring both inside and out (not just one or the other) then it's bad IMO.

See quote per an article by Paul Coro at azcentral dated 1-14-12.

The offense, even without Nash on Friday, has been improving while the defense has regressed to land the Suns at 16th in scoring offense (94.1 points per game) and 16th in scoring defense (94.7 points yielded per game). The most encouraging offensive facet has been the play of center Marcin Gortat, whose healed thumb fracture has made him a better pick-and-roll player. That eventually could aid 3-point shooting, an area of gradual improvement.

Giving up second chance points has been a deciding factor and doing a makeover on offense only lessens opponent's opportunities but does not solve the problem.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/sun...5phoenix-suns-prepare-daunting-road-trip.html

 

[slinslin]

To be truly good defensively you need not only commitment and practice you need a big man better yet preferably center that can anchor a defense.
The Suns do not have that. Gortat is not a defensive anchor, Lopez is not, Morris is not and Frye also is not.

 

[jbeecham]

I think the better defense was a mirage set up by teams not having a full off-season to get into basketball shape. Now that teams have played a few more games, they're shooting better and our defense looks worse.

Plus, we have little/zero practice time or time off between games so it's going to be hard for any aspect of our game to get better. We're going to win games when we're making our shots and other teams are tired from playing 4 games in 5 nights.

 

[Mainstreet]

I think the better defense was a mirage set up by teams not having a full off-season to get into basketball shape. Now that teams have played a few more games, they're shooting better and our defense looks worse.

Plus, we have little/zero practice time or time off between games so it's going to be hard for any aspect of our game to get better. We're going to win games when we're making our shots and other teams are tired from playing 4 games in 5 nights.

I totally agree with the above although I would be happy to be proved wrong.

I wish Elston Turner were to the Suns as Ray Horton is to the Arizona Cardinals defense. However, I don't think so. I just do not believe the Suns have the player talent to consistently play good defense (or offense) although the Suns should be playing better defense than they are now.

 

[slinslin]

To be truly good defensively you need not only commitment and practice you need a big man better yet preferably center that can anchor a defense.
The Suns do not have that. Gortat is not a defensive anchor, Lopez is not, Morris is not and Frye also is not.

118 to the Bulls without Rose.

 

[BC867]

118 to the Bulls without Rose.

Carlos Boozer and his outside shot did a job on the Suns. Gortat guarded the PF and, at least, made him work for his points.

When Lopez took over, it was pathetic. Boozer looked like he was just popping them in pre-game shoot-around.

 

[elindholm]

Gortat guarded the PF and, at least, made him work for his points.

Wait a minute. For decades you've complained about the Suns using PFs at center because they're overmatched defensively, and now you praise Gortat for dropping down a position and guarding a PF? Who did that leave guarding the Bulls' center?

 

[slinslin]

Carlos Boozer and his outside shot did a job on the Suns. Gortat guarded the PF and, at least, made him work for his points.

When Lopez took over, it was pathetic. Boozer looked like he was just popping them in pre-game shoot-around.

You are just proving my point.

The Suns have no big man that can anchor a defense. The truly good defensive teams have big man that can do more than guard someone straight up one to one. They have someone that can anchor the defense, protect the rim, step up and stop guard penetration etc.

 

[BC867]

Wait a minute. For decades you've complained about the Suns using PFs at center because they're overmatched defensively, and now you praise Gortat for dropping down a position and guarding a PF? Who did that leave guarding the Bulls' center?

"Guarded the PF" wasn't a praise or not a praise. It was a statement of fact.

He was guarding their scoring big man and, as I said, made him work for his points, as opposed to Lopez, with whom Boozer had a field day.

Besides, a Center dropping down to cover a Power Forward is a lot different that an Power Forward trying to cover a Center. That's what I have complained about for decades.

And with the size of our current Power Forwards, covering a non-scoring Center isn't a hardship.

My post was about the futility of Lopez, while commending Gortat for doing a much better job.

 

[slinslin]

Boozer scored 26 in the first half a majority of which was with Gortat in the lineup and also on Morris.

Saying Lopez specifically allowed Boozer to have a field day is absolutelz baloney.