Feeling of Relief More than Joy

[George O'Brien]

I am relieved that the Suns got Q. While I would have liked Dampier, I was not convinced he would sign for the same amount and it would leave the Suns with unused cap space. Yes, they undoubtedly had a plan B, but getting Q makes a lot of sense.

I know some people think this is precursor to trading JJ or Shawn, but I don't. I honestly feel that their plan is to use Q as a classic "sixth man" who will get near starter minutes.

I am hopeful the Suns will sign Traylor or JP in the next few days. There is a real risk that Traylor may get signed by someone else pretty soon. JP may have more potential, but he has had a hard time staying healthy. I could actually make a case for signing both to minimum contracts if they would do it, but I don't expect it.

In any case, I think the Suns will play "small ball" a lot. A lineup of Stoudemire, Marion, Richardson, Johnson, and Nash would be lighning fast and might not be that much worse on defense than their big lineup. It would certainly be tough to stop.

As they get closer to the start of the season, I expect I will get pretty excited. Right now, I'm just relieved.

 

[binkar]

I am relieved that the Suns got Q. While I would have liked Dampier, I was not convinced he would sign for the same amount and it would leave the Suns with unused cap space. Yes, they undoubtedly had a plan B, but getting Q makes a lot of sense.

I know some people think this is precursor to trading JJ or Shawn, but I don't. I honestly feel that their plan is to use Q as a classic "sixth man" who will get near starter minutes.

I am hopeful the Suns will sign Traylor or JP in the next few days. There is a real risk that Traylor may get signed by someone else pretty soon. JP may have more potential, but he has had a hard time staying healthy. I could actually make a case for signing both to minimum contracts if they would do it, but I don't expect it.

In any case, I think the Suns will play "small ball" a lot. A lineup of Stoudemire, Marion, Richardson, Johnson, and Nash would be lighning fast and might not be that much worse on defense than their big lineup. It would certainly be tough to stop.

As they get closer to the start of the season, I expect I will get pretty excited. Right now, I'm just relieved.

Glad to know your doin alright George.

 

[Dylan]

I am relieved as well. I didn't want to take the cap room into next season unless it was absolutely necessary. We got two good guys, it is all used up, and we can maybe look into resigning JJ sooner than later. I believe after the 3rd year, starting in August, you can resign a #1 draft pick. I wouldn't mind getting that taken care of.

Also would be a vote of confidence for him, knowing he is very much in the plans.

Same with Amare next offseason, we don't want him to even SMELL free agency.

We're at the cap now, and it probably will be a long time before we fall below again, unless this team is not successfull. Take care of what you got cause when it hits the market, surprises happen (Boozer).

 

[Bada0Bing]

I like that lineup too (Amare/Marion/Q/JJ/Nash). It'll be fun to watch and should put up some nice numbers during the season. However, I don't think it will work as well in the playoffs. We still need to add some size, somehow.

 

[coloradosun]

I like that lineup too (Amare/Marion/Q/JJ/Nash). It'll be fun to watch and should put up some nice numbers during the season. However, I don't think it will work as well in the playoffs. We still need to add some size, somehow.

I am relieved as well, not by the fact that Q will be in the lineup but by the fact that now we can "entertain" trade opportunities that make sense and are not done out of desperation.

 

[elindholm]

That small lineup would get killed on the boards. A lot of rebounding has to do with who you are matched up against. Marion has not shown that he can compete for rebounds as a power forward, and Stoudemire is questionable at center.

 

[Bada0Bing]

Yes, it will be much less painfull now to lose a 2 or 3. Q, who I guess will be coming off the bench, could easily come in and replace Marion or JJ in the stating lineup. That would leave CJ to be the first guard off the bench. Not to mention Barbosa. I think the Suns are in a nice spot right now.

 

[Bada0Bing]

That small lineup would get killed on the boards. A lot of rebounding has to do with who you are matched up against. Marion has not shown that he can compete for rebounds as a power forward, and Stoudemire is questionable at center.

Have you looked at the numbers of Amare/Marion/Q? Their rebounding numbers are very good. I don't think rebounding will be a problem. Amare almost averaged 10/game last year and I expect him to improve.

 

[Goldfield]

I am relieved that the Suns got Q. While I would have liked Dampier, I was not convinced he would sign for the same amount and it would leave the Suns with unused cap space. Yes, they undoubtedly had a plan B, but getting Q makes a lot of sense.

I know some people think this is precursor to trading JJ or Shawn, but I don't. I honestly feel that their plan is to use Q as a classic "sixth man" who will get near starter minutes.

I am hopeful the Suns will sign Traylor or JP in the next few days. There is a real risk that Traylor may get signed by someone else pretty soon. JP may have more potential, but he has had a hard time staying healthy. I could actually make a case for signing both to minimum contracts if they would do it, but I don't expect it.

In any case, I think the Suns will play "small ball" a lot. A lineup of Stoudemire, Marion, Richardson, Johnson, and Nash would be lighning fast and might not be that much worse on defense than their big lineup. It would certainly be tough to stop.

As they get closer to the start of the season, I expect I will get pretty excited. Right now, I'm just relieved.

I would have to agree, I would love to sign Traylor & JP. Unless there is a trade for a big soon.

 

[elindholm]

Have you looked at the numbers of Amare/Marion/Q? Their rebounding numbers are very good

Did you even read past the first sentence of my post?

 

[Bada0Bing]

Have you looked at the numbers of Amare/Marion/Q? Their rebounding numbers are very good

Did you even read past the first sentence of my post?

Yep, I guess we just disagree.

 

[George O'Brien]

Rebounding will not be the Suns problem playing small - it will be defense. Small ball is all about trapping and they WILL be able to cause teams problems, but a good passing team will still score at lot against this lineup.

On the flip side, many teams are reluctant to stay with a big lineup if they can't keep up with small guys on defense. Really good small lineups often force opponents to go small themselves, especially if their Bigs aren't good ball handlers. That's part of the chess game.

The recent trend has been for teams to emphasize defense and they aren't really set up to outscore an opponent if their defense fails. The main exception is the Mavs have had one of the best records in the NBA over the last few years without a serious low post threat (A low post threat is crucial in the playoffs because it is so much harder to get open jump shots). During the regular season, a great offense can be very potent.

2003-04 53 wins
2002-03 60 wins
2001-02 57 wins
2000-01 53 wins

During the 2002-03 season, the Mavs did not have a real center (LaFrentz is really just a tall PF), their opponents shot 43.8% and averaged 95.4 ppg - but the Mavs outscored them by just under 8 ppg inspite of being outrebounded by almost 3 rpg.

Like it or not, that is the kind of team the Suns are going to field.

 

[elindholm]

Rebounding will not be the Suns problem playing small

Maybe that will be the case. But in the recent past, when the Suns have gone small, they've given up a ton of offensive rebounds -- even when Stoudemire and Marion have been in the lineup. Granted, that could be a side effect of gambling defense. But either way, it's a big concern.

 

[George O'Brien]

Rebounding will not be the Suns problem playing small

Maybe that will be the case. But in the recent past, when the Suns have gone small, they've given up a ton of offensive rebounds -- even when Stoudemire and Marion have been in the lineup. Granted, that could be a side effect of gambling defense. But either way, it's a big concern.

I am counting on the fact that Q is a lot better rebounder than Casey to help some. Bo Outlaw was not much as a rebounder either. Amare, Shawn, JJ, and Q are all good rebounders. Even Nash averaged 3 prg last season.

But certainly it will be hard to stop teams that put five guys in the paint going after offensive rebounds. However, they may be reluctant to do that as often against a team that pushes the ball like the Suns will.

In any case, the Suns will have defensive problems playing small and it is not a solution for extended periods. But against the right lineup, it could be very potent.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Have you looked at the numbers of Amare/Marion/Q? Their rebounding numbers are very good. I don't think rebounding will be a problem. Amare almost averaged 10/game last year and I expect him to improve.

Have you watched how the rebounding numbers work?

Marion averages less rebounds any time Amare is on the floor. Amare averages about 8-9 rebounds a game unless he has a center boxing out on the defensive end.

Q had no one else to steal rebounds from him. It was him and Brand....


The problem is this:

All 3 players get rebounds based on their athleticism, not on skill. None of the 3 box out their man and fight for the ball. They all fly in and try to out jump the other team. Well, there are only so many rebounds a game that can be had that way. Maybe if Amare learns how to actually rebound the ball, the numbers will be good for everyone, but I doubt it.

 

[George O'Brien]

Have you watched how the rebounding numbers work?

Marion averages less rebounds any time Amare is on the floor. Amare averages about 8-9 rebounds a game unless he has a center boxing out on the defensive end.

Q had no one else to steal rebounds from him. It was him and Brand....


The problem is this:

All 3 players get rebounds based on their athleticism, not on skill. None of the 3 box out their man and fight for the ball. They all fly in and try to out jump the other team. Well, there are only so many rebounds a game that can be had that way. Maybe if Amare learns how to actually rebound the ball, the numbers will be good for everyone, but I doubt it.

Boxing out is very valuable and I can only hope the Suns will start getting some training in it (hello Larry Brown ). But it is also about anticipation. Guys who work at it can get around the box outs if they pay attention and are athletic enough. The key is not how how you can jump, but where you jump. This is especially true against teams that zone.

In any case, rebounding, like defense, is as much about effort as anything else. I think Q will continue to rebound well because he tries.