Bryan has come of age

[JCSunsfan]

I'm just gonna sit back and see what D'Antoni rolls out there come October.
He used his best players in a system that worked well, at least for the first 34 games of the season.
Will he adapt the system to 2005 Suns?

That really is the key to DAntoni's coaching philosophy. Put your best starting 5 on the floor, pretty much regardless of position, and play a brand of b-ball that fits those players.

 

[George O'Brien]

There's more to it than that.

1. D'Antoni believes in pushing the ball all the time including after made baskets. The objective is to get into the early offense before the other team has it's defense set. This sometime mean letting guys leak out early.

2. D'Antoni believes in having shooters at every position whenever possible. The goal is to ensure opponents create open shots for someone whenever a player is double teamed. They will try to have three or more three point shooters playing at all time.

3. D'Antoni likes to start most plays with a pick play: pick and roll, pick and pop, pick/roll/kick, etc. This means having lots of guys who can run those plays and shooters that can keep the defense from collapsing onto the roll man.

What is likely to be "new" will be the point center. The goal will be to get Amare the ball with instructions to pass when doubled but to take advantage when he isn't.

Personally, I'd like to see more cutters but that has not been a big part of the Suns offense so far.

 

[BC867]

What is likely to be "new" will be the point center. The goal will be to get Amare the ball with instructions to pass when doubled but to take advantage when he isn't.

That's basically what Barkley did while with the Suns, even with Kevin Johnson at the Point.

The problem was that the league adjusted to it, reducing his ability to shoot or pass effectively. The Chuckster spent more and more time holding the ball, looking for a way out, as time went by.

It wouldn't be surprising if it eventually catches up with Amare, too. Down the stretch and into the post-season is no time to change your team philosophy.

If it starts to prove ineffective, I hope the Coach will react early.

 

[George O'Brien]

That's basically what Barkley did while with the Suns, even with Kevin Johnson at the Point.

The problem was that the league adjusted to it, reducing his ability to shoot or pass effectively. The Chuckster spent more and more time holding the ball, looking for a way out, as time went by.

It wouldn't be surprising if it eventually catches up with Amare, too. Down the stretch and into the post-season is no time to change your team philosophy.

If it starts to prove ineffective, I hope the Coach will react early.

It's an interesting question. Will opponents figure out how to deal with Amare if he learns to handle the ball? Right now they have a lot of trouble and Amare has not yet unveiled his new jump hook he is supposedly working on.

No one can afford to defense Amare's jumper because he is too quick and too strong to stop when attacking the basket. Duncan is considered a great defender and Amare burned him repeatedly. Yao has had some success and he is certainly not going to defend Amare's jump shot. There is no good way to deal with Amare without double teaming, so his ability to pass will be essential to the way the offense is run.

 

[Chaz]

That's basically what Barkley did while with the Suns, even with Kevin Johnson at the Point.

The problem was that the league adjusted to it, reducing his ability to shoot or pass effectively. The Chuckster spent more and more time holding the ball, looking for a way out, as time went by.

It wouldn't be surprising if it eventually catches up with Amare, too. Down the stretch and into the post-season is no time to change your team philosophy.

If it starts to prove ineffective, I hope the Coach will react early.

The difference now is the defensive rules.

Barkley used to back down so he could force a double team then pass out and find the open man.

Without the illegal defense rule the dynamic has changed. Spacing and movement without the ball is much more important.

Eventualy teams will be trying to deny Amare the ball. He already draws a lot of attention out there. He just doesn't always know what to do about it...yet.