ASFN: Suns Continue Hot Shooting Against the Cavaliers

[George O'Brien]

ASFN: Suns Continue Hot Shooting Against the Cavaliers

 

[Errntknght]

Nice recap, George. Lampe might have learned something tonight about closing out on players - twice he overran the stopping point that I saw. He did a good job of keeping Boozer at bay on one sequence - I'd have liked to see him on Boozer more. Of course, it's usually hard to tell who is supposed to be guarding since he switches at every screen.

I'm starting to come up with a new theory about D'Antoni: he learned coaching basketball in Europe and was supposedly a good offensive coach but weaker on defense. In Europe you don't see strong defense, by all reports. The European imports we see generally tend to bear this out. So it makes sense that he would design an offense that was targeted to succeed against weak defense. That is about what we are seeing with the Suns - they only beat teams that are weak on defense. Now, Cleveland's D can't be that bad with Silas running the show but in the first half they played shoddy defense and the Suns scorched them.

I still haven't figured out the guiding principles for D'A's offense. It's clearly not a motion or triangle offense - it features a lot of dribbling and few off-ball screens - and it doesn't appear to have set plays beyond the pick and roll. It includes a high-post alignment but the C in the high post has no passing responsibilities beyond relaying the ball from one wing to the other, so it's not what you'd call a high-post offense. By the same token, it's not a low-post offense because when the ball goes into the low post the intent is almost always to have the recipient of the pass shoot the ball. What the heck does that leave?

 

[George O'Brien]

Nice recap, George. Lampe might have learned something tonight about closing out on players - twice he overran the stopping point that I saw. He did a good job of keeping Boozer at bay on one sequence - I'd have liked to see him on Boozer more. Of course, it's usually hard to tell who is supposed to be guarding since he switches at every screen.

I'm starting to come up with a new theory about D'Antoni: he learned coaching basketball in Europe and was supposedly a good offensive coach but weaker on defense. In Europe you don't see strong defense, by all reports. The European imports we see generally tend to bear this out. So it makes sense that he would design an offense that was targeted to succeed against weak defense. That is about what we are seeing with the Suns - they only beat teams that are weak on defense. Now, Cleveland's D can't be that bad with Silas running the show but in the first half they played shoddy defense and the Suns scorched them.

I still haven't figured out the guiding principles for D'A's offense. It's clearly not a motion or triangle offense - it features a lot of dribbling and few off-ball screens - and it doesn't appear to have set plays beyond the pick and roll. It includes a high-post alignment but the C in the high post has no passing responsibilities beyond relaying the ball from one wing to the other, so it's not what you'd call a high-post offense. By the same token, it's not a low-post offense because when the ball goes into the low post the intent is almost always to have the recipient of the pass shoot the ball. What the heck does that leave?

I'm not sure what their offense is, because it seems to evolving. When they pas the ball it looks a little bit like the Maverick's offense except that the Suns don't shoot like the Mavs do and Nash is better than the Suns PGs. The Mav's offense is focused on matchups and finding the open man off the double team.

One notable element of the last two games is that Dice started. If on reputation alone, he is forcing opponents to put a man on him which is opening up the inside for the Big Three.

 

[frdbtr]

My question is: What in the heck are the Suns thinking beating the Cavs? Are we trying to knock them out of the playoffs so that we don't get their pick again this year

 

[George O'Brien]

My question is: What in the heck are the Suns thinking beating the Cavs? Are we trying to knock them out of the playoffs so that we don't get their pick again this year

The Suns screwed up in losing positiion in the lottery and helping to knock the Cavs out of the playoffs. They can't even lose properly.

 

[Chaz]

I have seen enough losses already, I want wins!

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[George O'Brien]

I have seen enough losses already, I want wins!

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I have to agree. That's why I used the roll eyes.

Seriously, I think the Suns need to prove to themselves that they can win. This is a young team and they need to know that working hard makes a difference.

 

[Chaz]

I have to agree. That's why I used the roll eyes.

Seriously, I think the Suns need to prove to themselves that they can win. This is a young team and they need to know that working hard makes a difference.

I figured as much, I also got the wink from frdbtr.

I agree, wins are more valuable for the players and their confidence than a few additional lottery balls in the hopper.

 

[SweetD]

I heard some dumb ars on 910 this mourning and he was complaing that the Suns were winning. But in same breath he talks about how there is no tallent in the draft next year. He didn't even know who was going to be a top pick out of highschool.... This made me loose any respect I had for the dude and quickly changed it to 1060.

 

[Chaplin]

Would showing that we are capable of playing really well further convince Kobe to sign here?

 

[George O'Brien]

Would showing that we are capable of playing really well further convince Kobe to sign here?

I would think so. One of the reasons no one thinks the Hawks have a whisper of a chance is that they have no talent to build on and Kobe is not likely to want to be in T-Mac's situation. The Suns had a very good team before they got Barkley, but Charles was the missing piece to get them to the finals.

There are few teams today that are as good as the team the Suns had BEFORE the trade:

PG - Kevin Johnson
SG - Jeff Hornacek
SF - Dan Majerle (plus Tim Perry)
PF - Tom Chambers
C - Mark West (plus Lang and Miller)

Their defense left something to be desired, but these guys could flat out score. Adding Barkley gave them that extra push that made them an elite team. But without the supporting cast, not even Barkley would make this a top team.

 

[SweetD]

I would think so. One of the reasons no one thinks the Hawks have a whisper of a chance is that they have no talent to build on and Kobe is not likely to want to be in T-Mac's situation. The Suns had a very good team before they got Barkley, but Charles was the missing piece to get them to the finals.

There are few teams today that are as good as the team the Suns had BEFORE the trade:

PG - Kevin Johnson
SG - Jeff Hornacek
SF - Dan Majerle (plus Tim Perry)
PF - Tom Chambers
C - Mark West (plus Lang and Miller)

Their defense left something to be desired, but these guys could flat out score. Adding Barkley gave them that extra push that made them an elite team. But without the supporting cast, not even Barkley would make this a top team.

I don't think Miller was with the team then.

 

[George O'Brien]

I don't think Miller was with the team then.

I think he was added the same year Barkley came, but someone who has been around longer would know. In any case, Charles forced the trade on the Sixers and he picked Phoenix because he knew they already had a good team.

 

[SweetD]

We did have Cedric Cebalos and Negele Knight

 

[Chaz]

I think he was added the same year Barkley came, but someone who has been around longer would know. In any case, Charles forced the trade on the Sixers and he picked Phoenix because he knew they already had a good team.

Yes, Miller was a rookie in 92-93, Charles' first season with the Suns.