Gasol

[OldDirtMcGirt]

Look. One of the biggest reasons we lost the SA series is because we couldn't run our motion offense because of the size SA had in the interior. On the other hand, SA could drive on us at will and completely run their offense due to our LACK of size on the interior. What does that ultimately tell you? Does it say that we just need to be patient and wait till next year to hope that Marion can chase Parker around a little better? Or does it say that we need to be able to pack the paint a bit in the playoffs?

I feel that the biggest reason we lost to San Antonio is that we had no answer for Tim Duncan.

As for the answer to Parker, I say that you put Marion at the four where he belongs and trade for Ron Artest, but that's a toally different topic.

 

[NastyOne]

I feel that the biggest reason we lost to San Antonio is that we had no answer for Tim Duncan.

As for the answer to Parker, I say that you put Marion at the four where he belongs and trade for Ron Artest, but that's a toally different topic.

No we lost cause we couldnt defend the paint to save our lives.

By not being able to defend the paint, it opened up San Antonio's three point game and the two together killed us.

Jermaine O'Neal helps us bigtime on defense, and his offensive game is heads and shoulders above both Marion and Kurt Thomas.

Hes a legit allstar talent that could put us over the top.

And there will be SF's available to replace Marion this offseason.

The question is does Sarver want to shed payroll or go for it all?

Cause we can easily package guys like Diaw/Kurt Thomas/Banks/Jones with ATL pick in 2008 for a Artest or entice Charlotte or Seattle into S&T us Wallace or Lewis since they probably wont be bringing them back.And in return they get a possible lottery pick and Boris Diaw.Or we can sign a Grant Hill or Desmond Mason for part of the MLE or vet min depending on how bad they want to sign here.

But even if we dont get a top SF, that still wont be a big problem with Nash having two great bigmen to get the ball to in Amare and O'Neal.

We could start James Jones and we'd still be a better team with JO than with Marion.

 

[kps0001]

As opposed to Parker destroying Marion? Did you see Parker at the rim all series long? Did you see him slicing through our "defense" and dropping the ball in at the bucket with ease over as many as 3 guys? Did you see Parker drilling outside shots over Marion?

Marion's D is a myth, IMO. How many times do we need to see tweeners who average 12ppg put up 33 against Marion before we realize he ain't all he's cracked up to be?

Is he a great hustle player? Absolutely! Is he a great loose ball rebounder? Definitely! Can he occasionally block shots of bigger players due to his quick leaping ability? Undoubtedly! Is he good at leaking into the passing lanes and snagging an ill-advised pass? No question!

I'm not sold on his man "defense" whatsoever, though. Too many people have lit him up over the years and while he collectively will get some highlight plays throughout a game, if you look at the aggregate result, it ain't pretty....

So we place all the blame on Marion because he is asked to guard the opposing teams PG? I think more of the blame goes to D'antoni for making horrible personnel decisions in the offseason and Nash. The part of Nash's game that is somehow shadowed by his offense and leadership is the absolute horrible defense the guy plays. While I like Nash, I have no idea how the guy has won 2 mvp's with the defense he plays or lack thereof I should say. Because he can step in and draw a charge does not make a good defensive player.

 

[Goldfield]

I think it is time to make a change.

We stuck with Marion for along time, he is one of the best role players ever.

But it is time to make a move to get alot bigger & tougher inside on BOTH ends of the court.

If its J.Oneal or KG just make it happen and figure out the depth later. This teams needs a long, tall, impact player inside to take the pressure off Amare.

 

[Gaddabout]

So we place all the blame on Marion because he is asked to guard the opposing teams PG?

It's not about blaming Marion. It's about recognizing Marion's true value and trying to make the Suns better.

 

[OldDirtMcGirt]

No we lost cause we couldnt defend the paint to save our lives.

By not being able to defend the paint, it opened up San Antonio's three point game and the two together killed us.

Jermaine O'Neal helps us bigtime on defense, and his offensive game is heads and shoulders above both Marion and Kurt Thomas.

Hes a legit allstar talent that could put us over the top.

And there will be SF's available to replace Marion this offseason.

The question is does Sarver want to shed payroll or go for it all?

Cause we can easily package guys like Diaw/Kurt Thomas/Banks/Jones with ATL pick in 2008 for a Artest or entice Charlotte or Seattle into S&T us Wallace or Lewis since they probably wont be bringing them back.And in return they get a possible lottery pick and Boris Diaw.Or we can sign a Grant Hill or Desmond Mason for part of the MLE or vet min depending on how bad they want to sign here.

But even if we dont get a top SF, that still wont be a big problem with Nash having two great bigmen to get the ball to in Amare and O'Neal.

We could start James Jones and we'd still be a better team with JO than with Marion.

I'm not totally opposed to bringing in O'Neal (although his injuries are a huge concern), I just think that if we do we need a top tier perimeter defender as well so that we can let Nash take it easy on defense.

 

[Diawsome]

I feel that the biggest reason we lost to San Antonio is that we had no answer for Tim Duncan.

As for the answer to Parker, I say that you put Marion at the four where he belongs and trade for Ron Artest, but that's a toally different topic.

small ball is a failure waiting to happen

 

[Gaddabout]

small ball is a failure waiting to happen

Whoa. I just had a dallas-mavs.com flashback. This is what the Mavs sounded like shortly before and long after they exchanged Nash for Dampier.

 

[kps0001]

It's not about blaming Marion. It's about recognizing Marion's true value and trying to make the Suns better.

I understand but it seems people seem to forget the things we ask Marion to do that most other players wouldn't or couldn't because 1) they would have a hissy fit over it 2) couldn't come close to the job Marion does, even if it is deemed as inferior play.

I realize there are flaws to his game but much bigger flaws in our overall personnel that we have which can only be determined as D'Antoni's fault.

 

[Diawsome]

Whoa. I just had a dallas-mavs.com flashback. This is what the Mavs sounded like shortly before and long after they exchanged Nash for Dampier.

Ahh the brilliance of Mark Cuban

 

[Gaddabout]

I realize there are flaws to his game but much bigger flaws in our overall personnel that we have which can only be determined as D'Antoni's fault.

I appreciate the sentiment, but there is one thing all Suns fans need to wrap their brains around: Marion minus D'Antoni = a much less valuable or effective Marion. Marion as a small forward is < Marion as a power forward.

 

[Divide Et Impera]

So we place all the blame on Marion because he is asked to guard the opposing teams PG? I think more of the blame goes to D'antoni for making horrible personnel decisions in the offseason and Nash. The part of Nash's game that is somehow shadowed by his offense and leadership is the absolute horrible defense the guy plays. While I like Nash, I have no idea how the guy has won 2 mvp's with the defense he plays or lack thereof I should say. Because he can step in and draw a charge does not make a good defensive player.

If we could protect the paint, having Nash faced-up on Parker wouldn't even be an issue. In fact, we'd be light years better off! Nash could tail Parker and face him up when he is stationary. If we had an interior defensive presence in place of Marion, we'd be in the playoffs still....

 

[kps0001]

I appreciate the sentiment, but there is one thing all Suns fans need to wrap their brains around: Marion minus D'Antoni = a much less valuable or effective Marion. Marion as a small forward is < Marion as a power forward.

I agree with the last sentence however how do you say Marion is less valuable or effective without D'Antoni? I think he has played for 4 coaches now as a member of the Suns and I don't really think there was a huge increase in Marions game when D'Antoni came in. The one exception could be on the defensive end, imo, because we have relied on him much more on D since D'antoni came on board possibly due to horrible personnel moves. Who knows.

I think Marion has the highest probability to be moved this offseason but I feel he will be missed tremendously for the small things he does for this team that nobody will be able to replace and the most fans don't give him credit for.

 

[NastyOne]

If we could protect the paint, having Nash faced-up on Parker wouldn't even be an issue. In fact, we'd be light years better off! Nash could tail Parker and face him up when he is stationary. If we had an interior defensive presence in place of Marion, we'd be in the playoffs still....

Thats what most people that Bash Nash's defense dont realize.

Most PGs in this league arent going to shut down another scoring PG, cause its probably the hardest position to defend in the league with the way the rules are setup.

You need that second line of defense that will reject and alter shots after the guard penetrates.And we really dont have that on this team other than Amare, and even hes not that good of a shotblocker yet.

JO would do wonders for this defense.

 

[kps0001]

If we had an interior defensive presence in place of Marion, we might be in the playoffs still....

I think thats probably more fair to say. Just an outright claim like you made is pretty arguable but yes I am nitpicking and I understand your point.

 

[Divide Et Impera]

Hey, I thought you didn't participate in these kinds of threads....