Game 1: Suns at Portland

[AfroSuns]

We have a gaping hole, not only with rebounding but also lack of potent offense, especially down the stretch.
The Suns haven't find a way to make up for Amare's absense, the reduction in Nash assist is an indication by itself. hopefully they will figure it out. but one thing is for dang sure, they cant depend on Nash like this. it just wont work.

 

[Folster]

Another thing... How the hell do the Suns pull their home opener as the second night of a back-to-back? against the Lakers no less. I recall that we played the Lakers twice last year as the second game of a back-to-back. Seriously though, our home opener?

 

[Proteus]

Suns with only 15 assists on 36 made shots.

 

[Chaplin]

This was a much taller team and we were in this game until 5 minutes left.

Time for people to start crossing fingers that we'll get that #1 pick, eh?

And remember, this is the Suns. Losing the first game of the season is almost a tradition.

 

[desertrat218]

It's going to be a long year for the Suns.

 

[The Commish]

Offense will improve. Defense and rebounding will not. Unless we shoot 60% from the field we will struggle to win games.

 

[elindholm]

The main reason I miss Amare is because if we would have signed him we wouldn't have been able to sign Frye.

Heh, good one!

 

[Bert]

This was a much taller team and we were in this game until 5 minutes left.

Time for people to start crossing fingers that we'll get that #1 pick, eh?

And remember, this is the Suns. Losing the first game of the season is almost a tradition.

TRUTH!

especially when it's on the road.

 

[green machine]

This was a much taller team and we were in this game until 5 minutes left.

Time for people to start crossing fingers that we'll get that #1 pick, eh?

And remember, this is the Suns. Losing the first game of the season is almost a tradition.

So what you're saying is that those of us who were concerned all offseason that this team would get killed on the boards and struggle to get easy looks should not be worried after the team, after an awful preseason, lost because it struggled to rebound and get easy looks?

 

[dodie53]

only 0-1,
down be so down.

 

[elindholm]

So what you're saying is that those of us who were concerned all offseason that this team would get killed on the boards and struggle to get easy looks should not be worried after the team, after an awful preseason, lost because it struggled to rebound and get easy looks?

The Suns got good shots and made a high percentage. The offensive killer was the turnovers and not getting to the foul line.

 

[jagu]

Everyone chill.

a) The probability of us winning a championship this season is slim.
b) The Suns still are pretty fun to watch. There was some really good ball last night by Phoenix.

Keep expectations low and hopefully they will surprise. If not, I wouldn't mind a high draft pick!

 

[Bufalay]

Everyone chill.

a) The probability of us winning a championship this season is slim.
b) The Suns still are pretty fun to watch. There was some really good ball last night by Phoenix.

Keep expectations low and hopefully they will surprise. If not, I wouldn't mind a high draft pick!

There were fans on here complaining about the fact that the Suns were "fun" while winning. I'm pretty sure they/we aren't going to enjoy a team that is "fun" while losing.

 

[Chaplin]

So what you're saying is that those of us who were concerned all offseason that this team would get killed on the boards and struggle to get easy looks should not be worried after the team, after an awful preseason, lost because it struggled to rebound and get easy looks?

And again, we were ahead in this game with 5 minutes left in the 4th quarter. After giving up 18 offensive rebounds. And 19 turnovers.

Yeah, we lost, which sucks, but come on, can't you see even a little good in that? This was EASILY light years better than all our preseason games and you're still proclaiming doom? This was the first game with an actual rotation, not just a bunch of strange lineups and Matt Janning getting 30 minutes.

 

[Mainstreet]

The 18 rebound rebound differential in favor of Portland plus the Suns had 7 more turnovers tell the story. Despite all this, I thought the Suns played better than I thought and were in the game well into the fourth quarter.

If Babby was the one who sold the Suns into signing Turoglu, he owes Sarver big time. I think the Suns would be a better team if they did not have to work Turkoglu into the rotation.

 

[Chaplin]

The 18 rebound rebound differential in favor of Portland plus the Suns had 7 more turnovers tell the story. Despite all this, I thought the Suns played better than I thought and were in the game well into the fourth quarter.

If Babby was the one who sold the Suns into signing Turoglu, he owes Sarver big time. I think the Suns would be a better team if they did not have to work Turkoglu into the rotation.

So you'd rather have Barbosa? Who, incidentally, hurt his wrist again and will require surgery. Again.

 

[Mainstreet]

So you'd rather have Barbosa? Who, incidentally, hurt his wrist again and will require surgery. Again.

Other than the trade, what does this have to do with Turoglu having a difficult time finding a role with the Suns. The only way I can get Turoglu to fit with the Suns is to play a high post center with the second unit and help Dragic run the offense.

I'm sorry to hear about Barbosa.

 

[Chaplin]

Other than the trade, what does this have to do with Turoglu having a difficult time finding a role with the Suns. The only way I can get Turoglu to fit with the Suns is to play a high post center with the second unit and help Dragic run the offense.

I'm sorry to hear about Barbosa.

Because all we really did is replace Barbosa with Hedo. The potential of Hedo finding his game again is still better IMO than what Barbosa brought.

 

[Mainstreet]

Because all we really did is replace Barbosa with Hedo. The potential of Hedo finding his game again is still better IMO than what Barbosa brought.

As I recall Barbosa had one year less left on his contract than Hedo and Hedo's contract was significantly larger. So it is simply not an issue of making a straight trade of Barbosa for Hedo.

 

[Chaplin]

As I recall Barbosa had one year less left on his contract than Hedo and Hedo's contract was significantly larger. So it is simply not an issue of making a straight trade of Barbosa for Hedo.

And yet, that's what it was.

 

[Mainstreet]

And yet, that's what it was.

If you don't count money as being a part of the trade. The NBA is almost as much about money as personnel under the CBA. This is not the old NBA where a team could just trade players. But you know this.

 

[Chaplin]

On a lighter note, the 3rd Landon Donovan/Steve Nash video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thRRhOaZVhU

 

[Chaplin]

If you don't count money as being a part of the trade. The NBA is almost as much about money as personnel under the CBA. This is not the old NBA where a team could just trade players. But you know this.

True, and I'm not disputing that, but the fact of the matter is that regardless of the money--and that's not what we're talking about--in terms of talent, it was Hedo for Barbosa. That's what it boils down to.

 

[Mainstreet]

True, and I'm not disputing that, but the fact of the matter is that regardless of the money--and that's not what we're talking about--in terms of talent, it was Hedo for Barbosa. That's what it boils down to.

How can one view a trade under the CBA without considering money. It is not just a matter of talent. That's why I said the following:

If Babby was the one who sold the Suns into signing Turoglu, he owes Sarver big time. I think the Suns would be a better team if they did not have to work Turkoglu into the rotation.

I was factoring Hedo's large contract when I made this statement. Turkoglu will cost the Suns a lot more money than Barbosa if he is not a significant contributor to the Suns. I'm sure Sarver will look at it this way as well, as we all looked at Marcus Banks contract as an unnecessary burden.

 

[Chaplin]

How can one view a trade under the CBA without considering money. It is not just a matter of talent. That's why I said the following:



I was factoring Hedo's large contract when I made this statement. Turkoglu will cost the Suns a lot more money than Barbosa if he is not a significant contributor to the Suns. I'm sure Sarver will look at it this way as well, as we all looked at Marcus Banks contract as an unnecessary burden.

And again, the potential of what Hedo CAN bring to the Suns is better than what Barbosa DID bring to the Suns. Do you dispute that?