Game Thread: Suns vs. Cavs

[BC867]

Originally posted by SirChaz
Well I am not sure how good James will be but he is sure getting treated like a superstar by the refs.

Since when do rookies get freebees on traveling and phantom fouls?

Since it's good business for the NBA to have someone step into the void left by Michael . . . just as he followed Magic and Bird. . . . and they followed Dr. J. Plus, of course, the great Centers.

I can foresee Amare passing Karl Malone and Elgin Baylor as all-time Power Forward. But unless he can combine Malone's stats with Barkley's controversial personality, it's James who's going to lead the NBA this decade. You can't blame David Stern for orchestrating it.

It's what the NBA depends upon to be successful.

 

[Chaplin]

I won't be shocked if we lose tomorrow, all I want is for us to be competitive with them. That's all. I don't want us losing by 15, but if we lose by around 5, I will still be happy about that. It shows we were at least doing something right.

 

[Wally]

Originally posted by Chaplin
I won't be shocked if we lose tomorrow, all I want is for us to be competitive with them. That's all. I don't want us losing by 15, but if we lose by around 5, I will still be happy about that. It shows we were at least doing something right.

You can call me stupid if I'm wrong but I won't be shocked if the Suns actually win the game with the Lakers. If small ball has a chance it might be tomorrow.....We'll have to really scramble for rebounds & loose balls and then make it pay off with fastbreak points - Shaq is not very fast on his toes , Malone is getting too old to run and Payton will trip on his tounge as it's allways wagging in the wind

Here's hoping we get to enjoy this one a lot!!!!

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by Wally
You can call me stupid if I'm wrong but I won't be shocked if the Suns actually win the game with the Lakers. If small ball has a chance it might be tomorrow.....We'll have to really scramble for rebounds & loose balls and then make it pay off with fastbreak points - Shaq is not very fast on his toes , Malone is getting too old to run and Payton will trip on his tounge as it's allways wagging in the wind

Here's hoping we get to enjoy this one a lot!!!!

Did you see the Lakers first game? They dominated the Mavs. And without Kobe, who should be playing tomorrow. Kobe's presence might hurt the Lakers, but we can't really cross our fingers for that to happen.

 

[Wally]

Originally posted by Chaplin
Did you see the Lakers first game? They dominated the Mavs. And without Kobe, who should be playing tomorrow. Kobe's presence might hurt the Lakers, but we can't really cross our fingers for that to happen.

Yeah, you're right. I just know that sometimes the Suns get it in their heads that they can win against the better team. I think its possible..... and I'm still looking for that pony in the pile of manure

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by Wally
Yeah, you're right. I just know that sometimes the Suns get it in their heads that they can win against the better team. I think its possible..... and I'm still looking for that pony in the pile of manure

Normally, I'd agree with that, but after losing to San Antonio, I'm not sure if I subscribe to that theory anymore...

 

[Errntknght]

What jumped out at me about this game is that the Cavs with all young guys except Ilguaskus and a new coach in just their second game had a better orchestrated offense than the Suns did. As we did all last year we depended almost completely on one-on-one play to score in the halfcourt. We have very good solo players but you have to be way better than your opponents if you're going to win consistently playing like that. The Lakers this year may be that good though I don't expect to see them playing that stupidly... heck Karl had 9 assists in their Mavs game.

Amare's failure to pass back out is just the tip of the iceberg - FJ ought to be developing plays where Amare is expected to pass as that's the way to maximize the impact of a threat like him.

Now everyone seems to be conceding that Frank is rotten with the X's and O's but it's another order of magnitude of ineptness for a head coach not to use his assistants to cover where he's weak.

 

[hcsilla]

Guys, again a stupid question, I know but what does "X's and O's" mean?

 

[Joe Mama]

Originally posted by hcsilla
Guys, again a stupid question, I know but what does "X's and O's" mean?

X's and O's usually refers to a person's ability to draw up plays and game plans. Think last-minute of a game, and you see the coach the coach drawing a play on his little washboard. Usually he will show one team as X's and the other as O's.

Joe Mama

 

[hcsilla]

Thank you, Joe Mama.

 

[elindholm]

Usually he will show one team as X's and the other as O's.

Mainly in football though, right? The plays I've seen drawn up in the NBA (when the camera is on the bench during time outs) have uniform numbers or position numbers (point guard = 1, etc.). One Suns coach (MacLeod?) used to use players' initials.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Originally posted by Errntknght
What jumped out at me about this game is that the Cavs with all young guys except Ilguaskus and a new coach in just their second game had a better orchestrated offense than the Suns did. As we did all last year we depended almost completely on one-on-one play to score in the halfcourt. We have very good solo players but you have to be way better than your opponents if you're going to win consistently playing like that. The Lakers this year may be that good though I don't expect to see them playing that stupidly... heck Karl had 9 assists in their Mavs game.

Amare's failure to pass back out is just the tip of the iceberg - FJ ought to be developing plays where Amare is expected to pass as that's the way to maximize the impact of a threat like him.

Now everyone seems to be conceding that Frank is rotten with the X's and O's but it's another order of magnitude of ineptness for a head coach not to use his assistants to cover where he's weak.

I noticed this as well. Our half court offense seems almost non-existent. Everyone stands around and watches Steph. Sometimes a screen is set, but not with much success. We don't even execute the two man game well. We pass it around the perimeter until someone finally goes one-on-one with his man (in Amare's case 1-on-2) and rarely is there the extra pass to any open cutter.

The reason we won the Cleveland game was our running, ability to create turnovers, and a stingy half-court defense. I am happy about those things, but our half court offense needs big help.

 

[dyle_ph1]

Originally posted by JCSunsfan
I noticed this as well. Our half court offense seems almost non-existent. Everyone stands around and watches Steph. Sometimes a screen is set, but not with much success. We don't even execute the two man game well. We pass it around the perimeter until someone finally goes one-on-one with his man (in Amare's case 1-on-2) and rarely is there the extra pass to any open cutter.

The reason we won the Cleveland game was our running, ability to create turnovers, and a stingy half-court defense. I am happy about those things, but our half court offense needs big help.

Do you guys think that Steph still has a lot to improve in terms of running an offense(half-court)? I do. He's a great individual player and maybe because of it, he depends on his quickness and strength too much. Steph's play has been usually drive and dish because he could really breakdown an offense doing that. However, to do this, he needs space and that is why the rest of his teammates stand around while he does his thing and then start moving once he penetrates.

I don't get to see a lot of Suns games but from what I have seen so far, I don't recall steph actually directing a play like more conventional point guards do. Something like telling players where to go or start going to the basket and use other players to get the ball to somebody else. Again, he's a great player and a top two point guard in the league. I'd like to see more balance on his game though which would really make him the best point guard in the league. Imagine if he learns how to setup teammates like Stockton but still has the ability to penetrate when a play breaks down? He has demonstrated improvement in his game each year, I'd like this to be the next one.

 

[JCSunsfan]

There's nothing wrong with developing a half-court offense that keys off of Stephs strengths. Clear a side and let him work one on one. Just have a play built off of that so he will know where his teammates will be when the double-team comes.

We also need to develop an inside out half court set. Let Amare establish position. One of Amare's strengths is his lightning quick move to the hoop once he gets the ball. He doesn't hesitate long enough for the defense to respond. But there are times when that move is not available. He needs to recognize that and look for cutters or kick the ball out.

We have a good coaching staff, especially the assistants. I am surprised that our half court offense looks as bad as it does. You wonder if Frank isn't delegating enough, or if we need to add an offensive specialist to the staff.

 

[SirStefan32]

I think STeph's half- court game is allright though it could be better. One thing I really want to see him learn is entry pass to the low post (Stoudemire). Penny is probably the best entry passer the Suns have, and I would love to see Marbury, as well as JJ and Marion learn to do it just a little bit better.