Compare: Sacramento to Phoenix

[slinslin]

PG
Nash vs Bibby
I would give the edge to Steve Nash. He is the best passer in the NBA.

SG
JJ vs Christie
I would say based on JJ's late performance this would go to JJ as well. At least it would be a tie.

SF
Marion vs Peja
With Steve Nash bringing some fastbreak offense back to Phoenix I think Marion will have a better season than Peja. I think Marion will benefit the most from having Nash on this team and now it will really show how much he added to his game while Kidd wasn't here.

PF
Amare vs Webber
This goes easily to Amare. Even if Webber can come back stronger after his knee surgery this shouldn't even be a contest.

C
Capspace vs Miller
Unless we get a healthy Camby the Kings win this matchup of course.

Bench
Barbosa vs Jackson
Goes to Sacramento as well unless Barbosa makes really big improvements. I wouldn't totally rule out that Barbosa could get to a similiar level very quickly.

 

[Chaplin]

Peja played TERRIBLY down the stretch last year, we'll have to see if he comes back to his normal star self.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I take Bibby oover Nash in a heartbeat - not only is he younger - but he's run that club like a fine oiled machine and has ZERO fear - whether it was taking threes in the NCAA tournament as a freshman or as the only King with Balls to take the pressure shots against the Lakers - no contest there.

JJ and Christie - a tie - JJ has more talent - but he ain't the defender Christie is - both are head cases but at this point and we aren't talking about down the line they are comparable.

Peja and Shawn - it ain't even close - you're talking about a guy who was an MVP candidate befor eWebber came back, can create his own shot and is deadly with it. No comparison between the two.

Webber and Amare - it depends - Amare versus last year's Webber - no contest - Amare blows him away - but Webber's got another year under him and two more years at his prime if he's fully recovered - there it's a tie at best. Webber's passing and ability to handle the ball even out Amare's over-powering strength at this point to make them equal at best if healthy.

Brad Miller - is better than anyone we can get with only six million dollars left plain and simple - the guy is a hard worker - a grunt - a good passer and can actually shoot and rebound.

Their bench - Bobby Jackson is better than anyone we have and so is Vlade.

Ther eis no comparison between the two teams in my opnion. Amare - will be there - but he's not yet - and everyone else is either much better or a push at their positions - plus Adlemen has proven to be a good coach whereas D'Antoni has proven just two thing so far - Jack and Sh*t.

 

[slinslin]

Vlade is FA. He could very well be gone. He might even be our starting center next year!

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

So does this mean we will always be a team good enough to win a title, but somehow choke in every game 7 we play?

 

[hafey2]

lets put down the Suns Kool-Aid. Steve Nash improves the Suns a lot, but the team with all its young players still has growing to do.

 

[pokerface]

PG
Nash vs Bibby
I would give the edge to Steve Nash. He is the best passer in the NBA.

SG
JJ vs Christie
I would say based on JJ's late performance this would go to JJ as well. At least it would be a tie.

SF
Marion vs Peja
With Steve Nash bringing some fastbreak offense back to Phoenix I think Marion will have a better season than Peja. I think Marion will benefit the most from having Nash on this team and now it will really show how much he added to his game while Kidd wasn't here.

PF
Amare vs Webber
This goes easily to Amare. Even if Webber can come back stronger after his knee surgery this shouldn't even be a contest.

C
Capspace vs Miller
Unless we get a healthy Camby the Kings win this matchup of course.

Bench
Barbosa vs Jackson
Goes to Sacramento as well unless Barbosa makes really big improvements. I wouldn't totally rule out that Barbosa could get to a similiar level very quickly.

They're all ties pretty much. Differences arnt even worth mentioning without getting nitpicky

 

[az1965]

Kool-aid aflow...

 

[George O'Brien]

The Kings are a veteran team with extensive playoff experience. The Suns are a very young team with minimal playoff experience. Next spring, take the Kings and give the points. The following year, I think the Suns will be ready to make noise, if......

The big key for the Suns will be the development of their young players: JJ, Leandro, Lampe, Zarko, and Amare. Amare is very good now, but he has the potential to be super. JJ could be a bigger,stronger version of Rip Hamilton, Leandor could be a major contributor, and Zarko threatens to be another Dirk (great offense and no defense).

But a lot depends on Lampe. The Suns are not in a position to get a quality center through free agency so the most they can do is find stop gaps and hope Lampe lives up to his promise. If he does, the Suns will be a real threat to do damage in the playoffs. If not, the Suns will score a zillion points and get knocked out in the first round every time.

 

[SirStefan32]

So does this mean we will always be a team good enough to win a title, but somehow choke in every game 7 we play?

That would be Sacramento...

 

[Yuma]

You are also forgetting the biggest matchup:

Adelman vs. D'Antoni: Adelman big time!

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Peja played TERRIBLY down the stretch last year, we'll have to see if he comes back to his normal star self.

He played great until the playoffs...unless you mean "stretch" as in the playoffs...he was horrible in the playoffs.

Mike

 

[Joe Mama]

lets put down the Suns Kool-Aid. Steve Nash improves the Suns a lot, but the team with all its young players still has growing to do.

No kidding. Even if the Phoenix Suns did overpay Steve Nash is a good signing. They still have a lot of work to do though. Besides, if it was that easy to matchup teams why even play the games?

Everybody knows this is one of the worst ways to look at how a team matches up because the game is played five on five not one-on-one. This isn't a wrestling meet.

Joe Mama

 

[Gaddabout]

Why are we comparing the Suns to the Kings?

I've lived in Sacramento for a year now. The Kings have spent the last month discussing how they're going to REBUILD. Vlade -- an unrestricted free agent -- is finally playing his age, Webber may never return to his old form, and Doug Christie is due for a decline. Peja discovered shooting is not so easy when you have to create your own shots (thanks to the limited ability of Webber in the post). Bobby Jackson showed a lack of heart by not playing against the Lakers, IMO.

Even when the Kings were on solid footing two years ago, they were essentially the 1990 Suns pre-Barkley -- streaky offense through three quarters, untimely defensive breakdowns. They still have that mindset. They just replaced former Suns assistant John Wetzel on the bench with former Suns guard T.R. Dunn (who they hope and pray can teach the Kings how to play defense).

We should be comparing the Suns to the Spurs. As long as Tim Duncan is there and the Spurs have a commitment to winning, they will be the standard.