D'Antoni preaches patience - article

[Joe Mama]

This guy needs to do his research. The Dallas Mavericks are currently the best offensive rebounding team in the NBA. In fact they are one of the better rebounding teams in the NBA now and not that far behind San Antonio. We also played San Antonio without Tim Duncan. I know we've been down this road before, but I wish these writers actually knew what they were writing about instead of just using the general perception. It's similar to when the national writers and media were still saying the Phoenix Suns were soft defensively when they were one of the best teams in the NBA defensively (a couple seasons ago under Skiles).

Joe Mama



http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/0311sunsnb0311.html

D'Antoni preaches toughness

Tim Tyers
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 11, 2004 12:00 AM


It's one thing for the Suns to be outrebounded by the San Antonio Spurs, but when Dallas, the NBA's bastion of finesse, gets 24 offensive boards and treats the Suns like a collective group of 98-pound weaklings, it's time to address it.

It's one of the things coach Mike D'Antoni was stressing Wednesday, on Day 2 of the Suns' three-day schedule break before hosting the Utah Jazz on Friday night at America West Arena.

"Against better teams, we either get intimidated or we don't come out with the same mentality that we have against lesser teams, and it's something we have to overcome," D'Antoni said, stressing the team's recent games against four of the top five teams in the West.

"The Lakers, San Antonio, Dallas and Sacramento, I don't think we came out thinking we could win, and we're a little in awe of them. By getting our feet wet, we're learning we can play with anybody and I think we'll do a better job going forward."


Tickets available


Tickets are available for the two-night coronation of Charles Barkley into the team's Ring of Honor.

The initial night, Friday, March 19, when the Suns host Minnesota, is Barkley Bobblehead Night and will feature taped moments from Barkley's career. He'll be initiated into the Ring of Honor on Saturday, March 20, when the Suns host Milwaukee.


Minutes limited


Suns forward Antonio McDyess didn't play against San Antonio and saw just four minutes of action against Dallas. D'Antoni said McDyess hadn't suffered a relapse in his rehabilitation from knee surgery.

"I'm not leery about his knee," the coach said. "We have so many young guys, and Amare (Stoudemire) is going to take up a lot of minutes - and he should. It's hard to work through. I know four to five minutes doesn't do him justice, but I don't know where I can find 25 or 30 minutes."

Stoudemire has averaged 38 minutes a game and 23.9 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists in his past 14 games since returning from his ankle injury.

D'Antoni gave guard Joe Johnson minutes at point late in the Dallas game and said Wednesday that he'll do it again. He said it lets him get Zarko Cabarkapa on the floor more as part of a bigger lineup with Shawn Marion, Johnson and Cabarkapa playing together.

 

[George O'Brien]

I certainly sounds like D'Antoni was confirming his thesis.

There is another theory that I'm sure D'Antoni would not like. The Suns have running a lot of practices and I suspect they are tired. Defense and rebounding are as much about effort as anything and the Suns players may be using their energy on the practice court.

Right now heavy practice time is invaluable. The Suns need the ping pong balls more than the wins, so sacrificing wins to develop the players is a great decision. But next year they will have to back off on the practices if they are going to get back into the playoffs.

 

[SweetD]

D'Antoni gave guard Joe Johnson minutes at point late in the Dallas game and said Wednesday that he'll do it again. He said it lets him get Zarko Cabarkapa on the floor more as part of a bigger lineup with Shawn Marion, Johnson and Cabarkapa playing together.


I like this line up allot! I would also like to see Amare and Antiono on the floor at the same time.

 

[frdbtr]

One thing that I thought was interesting is the blurb on McDyess. It said that D'antoni can't find minutes for him. I guess this means that playing him alonside Amare is out of the question. Probably means that the suns will not try to resign him this offseason.

 

[SweetD]

Or they exptect is value to drop so the can sign him to a very low contract.

 

[elindholm]

Or they exptect is value to drop so the can sign him to a very low contract.

I hestitate to disagree with someone whose motto is "****," but someone raises this so-called possibility every time a big man on the Suns gets no playing time, and it has not once proved to be correct. The Suns weren't hiding Tsakalidis for two-plus (three-plus?) years, they weren't hiding Donnel Harvey earlier this season, and they aren't hiding McDyess now.

 

[SweetD]

I agree I don't see McDyse back next year. Maybe Harvey since he can come at a very low price ala Voskul.

 

[Chaz]

I would love to see the majority of minutes go to JJ, Marion, Zarko, Amare, and Lampe. But for some reason I think Lampe and Zarko will continue to get sporatic, inconsistant minutes.

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by SirChaz
I would love to see the majority of minutes go to JJ, Marion, Zarko, Amare, and Lampe. But for some reason I think Lampe and Zarko will continue to get sporatic, inconsistant minutes.

In the last game, the reason Lampe and Zarko got sporatic minutes was because they weren't agressive enough. There is too much thinking about what they are supposed to do rather than just going out and doing it. I think this will pass.

So far Dice looks slow. I suspect that he is still thinking about his knee, but he seems as tenative as the rookies.

There is nothing tenative about White, but he is way slow.

 

[Chaz]

Originally posted by George O'Brien
In the last game, the reason Lampe and Zarko got sporatic minutes was because they weren't agressive enough. There is too much thinking about what they are supposed to do rather than just going out and doing it. I think this will pass.

So far Dice looks slow. I suspect that he is still thinking about his knee, but he seems as tenative as the rookies.

There is nothing tenative about White, but he is way slow.

Ok but why do we see them in the first half sometimes and they don't even enter the game in the second.

So if they are not being aggressive in the first half, have a talk at halftime or on the bench, then give them another look in the second.

It is just frustrating sometimes. Like the other day against the Dallas zone. Zarko is the key guy when playing against the zone IMO. He is a good passer and makes him self available in the middle and can pass, shoot, or drive to the hoop from there.

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by SirChaz
Ok but why do we see them in the first half sometimes and they don't even enter the game in the second.

So if they are not being aggressive in the first half, have a talk at halftime or on the bench, then give them another look in the second.

It is just frustrating sometimes. Like the other day against the Dallas zone. Zarko is the key guy when playing against the zone IMO. He is a good passer and makes him self available in the middle and can pass, shoot, or drive to the hoop from there.

When Lampe was playing, it seemed like they never threw him the ball. I am not sure the players are used to having a ball handler at the high post, so they are aren't using their skills.

In any case, Harvey played well in the second half. I don't mind them playing a guy if he is playing well. What bugs me is when they take out a guy who is playing well just because someone else was supposed to get some minutes.