From Hero to Goat

[okhoops]

God, it's got to be frustrating for an NBA coach to suffer through the same fundamental goofs as we high school coaches do. Richardson makes the huge three and then, despite a time out and I'm sure pleas to secure any rebound, he goes after Kobe's airball like a middle school girl (this is after turning without blocking out Artest) and then lets Ron-Ron grab it from him for the finish.

On another note, why not have Lopez and every on the court to control the D boards rather than Frye?? I don't get it.

I see Nash's last chance for an NBA Final go up in "no block out" smoke.

Frustrating...

 

[Covert Rain]

God, it's got to be frustrating for an NBA coach to suffer through the same fundamental goofs as we high school coaches do. Richardson makes the huge three and then, despite a time out and I'm sure pleas to secure any rebound, he goes after Kobe's airball like a middle school girl (this is after turning without blocking out Artest) and then lets Ron-Ron grab it from him for the finish.

On another note, why not have Lopez and every on the court to control the D boards rather than Frye?? I don't get it.

I see Nash's last chance for an NBA Final go up in "no block out" smoke.

Frustrating...

I was frustrated with Gentry before that. There was a crucial 3 point play he drew up for Frye. You have arguably two of the best shooters in the NBA on your team (Nash and Jrich), not to mention a clutch shooter in Nash and you draw up the play for Frye??!?!?

 

[WuRaider]

On another note, why not have Lopez and every on the court to control the D boards rather than Frye?? I don't get it.

There was 3.8 left, plenty of time for Kobe to get a screen. You would rather have Channing be able to switch and at least contest instead of Robin.

At first I felt like Amare should have been in there but after memories of him fouling George Hill and not switching on Michael Finley, I think Gentry felt Frye was the best big man to keep out there.

I see Nash's last chance for an NBA Final go up in "no block out" smoke.

Frustrating...

J-Rich and Nash both will come out strong, the other guys need to support them just enough. (I'm a huge Amare fan but his last performance was unacceptable)

 

[WuRaider]

I was frustrated with Gentry before that. There was a crucial 3 point play he drew up for Frye. You have arguably two of the best shooters in the NBA on your team (Nash and Jrich), not to mention a clutch shooter in Nash and you draw up the play for Frye??!?!?

He drew TWO plays up for Frye. That was a huge mistake, it should have been Amare/Nash pick and roll to death which has won us at least 10 playoff games in the Nash Era. Teams can't control it at the end of games because they're so afraid of leaving our snipers.

 

[Irish]

I was disappointed with them going to Frye because he is just not as good on the road even though he had a good game. You need practice at taking late game shots and Frye hasn't the experience and not enough icewater in his veins.

I didn't see the replay of the Artest rebound/catch of the Kobe airball. It was a screwy play and I suspect everyone was focused on ball bouding long .

 

[Errntknght]

Its a bit over the top to say that play sent Nash's, and the rest of our hopes in smoke. It would have just sent the game into overtime so we'd have had to win that which is far from a lock. Personally, I think our chances are still quite good to take this series.

I haven't replayed it in slow motion yet but it didn't look to me like Richardson screwed up. I thought Kobe's airball went right to Artest then Jason made him throw up an off balance circus shot that happened to bounce in. 95% of the time thats damn good defense against Kobe and the Lakers.

As far as second guessing Gentry's decisions down the stretch, look what happened when Nash and Richardson shot threes - they both clanked, just like Frye. It was our bit of luck that Richardson got another go and clanked it off the backboard and through the net. In any case, I'm so tickled with Gentry's coaching this year, I think he should be cut a whole lot of slack. It such a far cry from suffering through the whole regular season with D'Antoni running the starters into the ground and doing zip with the bench... less than zip, in fact.

 

[Irish]

I was much more concerned with Gosol leaning on a Suns's rebounder to overpower the Sun. He's been doing it a lot and his physical contact is not treated as a foul. Richardson is a good rebounder, but he's not all that long.

 

[Superbone]

I haven't replayed it in slow motion yet but it didn't look to me like Richardson screwed up. I thought Kobe's airball went right to Artest then Jason made him throw up an off balance circus shot that happened to bounce in. 95% of the time thats damn good defense against Kobe and the Lakers.

Unfortunately, JRich did screw up. I watched it many times after it happened. Jason was in front of Artest (between Artest and the basket and ball). He allowed Artest to run around him, grab the ball, and put it in off the backboard. If JRich would have pursued the ball aggressively like he sometimes does, the game would have gone into overtime as he had position. The problem was, JRich assummed the ball was going to draw iron and bounce back in which case he wouldn't have had a chance at procurring the rebound.

 

[Cheesebeef]

He drew TWO plays up for Frye. That was a huge mistake, it should have been Amare/Nash pick and roll to death which has won us at least 10 playoff games in the Nash Era. Teams can't control it at the end of games because they're so afraid of leaving our snipers.

agreed. especially because the pick and roll was WORKING. I understand maybe going for the big 3 once... but TWICE? Gotta fault Gentry on that one. Wreaked of desperation to me.

 

[jibikao]

You know, I watched that clip over and over again... we defended Kobe's last shot so well that it's not even funny. Kobe threw an air FREAKING ball. Who would have thought it's an air-ball from Kobe?!!! Grant Hill did a good job on that.

I expect Richardson to go on fire tomorrow night.

 

[Covert Rain]

You know, I watched that clip over and over again... we defended Kobe's last shot so well that it's not even funny. Kobe threw an air FREAKING ball. Who would have thought it's an air-ball from Kobe?!!! Grant Hill did a good job on that.

I expect Richardson to go on fire tomorrow night.

I hope so. We need JRich and Amare both to play possessed. I would also like to see the bench get it done early versus late.

One thing I noticed is that when are bench goes off, Phil puts Kobe right back in the game and it shortens his rest. I think that is important.

 

[cly2tw]

Can't really blame JRich for that. Artest did a hell of a job anticipating the rebound, which was far away from where both positioned.

 

[jagu]

It's funny how that game ended..

Artest takes an early three for no reason and misses (turns into a goat)
JRich hits a big bankshot three (hero)
Artest takes the rebound and puts it in (hero)
JRich has trouble tracking Artest and can't get the rebound (goat)

Crazy lol. Oh well, its done! Game 6 is here let's kill em!

 

[jagu]

I hope so. We need JRich and Amare both to play possessed. I would also like to see the bench get it done early versus late.

One thing I noticed is that when are bench goes off, Phil puts Kobe right back in the game and it shortens his rest. I think that is important.

Yea, I hope all of this goes right for us.
We still haven't had a game where the bench and the starters went off together in harmony.

 

[Irish]

It's funny how that game ended..

Artest takes an early three for no reason and misses (turns into a goat)
JRich hits a big bankshot three (hero)
Artest takes the rebound and puts it in (hero)
JRich has trouble tracking Artest and can't get the rebound (goat)

Crazy lol. Oh well, its done! Game 6 is here let's kill em!

Was J-Rich really at FAULT for not anticipaing a last second air ball by Kobe and not pushing the 260 pound Artest out of the way?

 

[jagu]

Was J-Rich really at FAULT for not anticipaing a last second air ball by Kobe and not pushing the 260 pound Artest out of the way?

Naah, I think he tried his best but some labeled him as a goat so I'm just saying.. You can't predict that Kobe was going to shoot an airball there. I think the Suns were too busy guarding their players which you can't blame them.

 

[Superbone]

Was J-Rich really at FAULT for not anticipaing a last second air ball by Kobe and not pushing the 260 pound Artest out of the way?

He didn't need to push him out of the way. He just had to go grab the ball before Artest did and he was between Artest and the ball to start.

 

[az1965]

Was J-Rich really at FAULT for not anticipaing a last second air ball by Kobe and not pushing the 260 pound Artest out of the way?

Whether or not an air ball, Richardson was supposed to box him out and he just did not do it. Heck, even just tapping the ball away would have killed the clock.