Guess who's coming to take your head off in the lane?

[mojorizen7]

I knew that our boy was scrappy and that he brings some toughness that we've sorely lacked in recent memory....but look who lead the league in Flagrant fouls last season.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/sortab...0&showPlayers=min&position=all&season=regular


Flagrant Fouls-------------------------- Technicals

1) Matt Barnes 5 -------------7

2) Kenyon Martin 3------------- 11

3) Lamar Odem 3 --------------4

4) Carmelo Anthony 2--------------- 11

5) Andrew Bogut 2--------------- 1

6) Marcus Camby 2-------------- 3

7) Erick Dampier 2 ------------------2

8) Mike Dunleavy 2----------------- 2

9) Eddie House 2------------------ 2

10) Brad Miller 2------------------ 11
___________________________________________________

Barbosa finished with 1 flagrant and zero tech's but interestingly, as much a much as Barbs struggles to play defense and who's game is very much a "finesse" style IMO .......i've always liked that he doesn't give up too many wide open layups in a transitional situation. He'll send you to the stripe to earn your points.
Raja finished with zero flagrant's and 10 technicals. Guess he didn't see enough of Kobe last year.

As we know, Shaq will make some guys earn their pts at the line as well with one swift blow.

I'm very excited to see what Porter and this SUNS team is going to bring to the table in terms of toughness this season. My biggest pet peave in watching SUNS basketball over the years has been the matador welcome mat that opponents have been given to cruise on down the lane without consequence. I'm not for injuring people obviously but all it takes is a nice hard hit on a guy in the paint to get him(and his teammates) to think twice the next time around. An important part of the mental advantage in championship basketball IMO.
A smart,well timed flagrant foul can be a powerful thing.
Ask the Sterns.

 

[AceP]

Excellent point!! I didn't know Barnes is such a tough guy!

5 Flagrant fouls in one season?! WOW! Just out of curiosity, who was his victims?!?

 

[Irish]

D'Antoni preached NOT to foul. There were several reasons for that and some have changed:

1. KEEP THE GAME MOVING: Stopping for foul shots gave opponents time to rest and negated their advantage in speed and conditioning.

2. OFFENSE WAS BETTER AFTER MADE BASKETS THAN ANYONE ELSE: One reason the Suns were so effective against Eastern Conference teams is that they didn't play the Suns enough to get used to the way they would run after made baskets. This tactic won't go away, but counting on it probably will.

3. LACK OF DEPTH: Fouliing guys going to the basket may help on defense because nobody hits 100% of their foul shots (as long as fouling keeps the guy from making the shot), but with a short bench the team couldn't afford to get guys into foul trouble. With more depth, this may be less of a problem.

4. LACK OF STRAIGHT ON SHOT BLOCKER: The Suns shot blockers have all been "weak side" blocker who can only block shots when they jump and so cannot do it when guys come straight at them. With Shaq and Robin, they have guys who can get into the lane and block shots without leaving their feet. Bobin can do both, but at 9'5" standing reach defys guys coming at him.

Obviously they need to have quicker defensive rotations, but hopefully they can scare off guys without going flagrant. But having a reputation for being physical does have an effect.

 

[Rab]

I am in shock that Raja didn't get one last year.

 

[Irish]

I'd be curious to know if Barnes got his flagrants when Biendrien was on the floor. Biendrins played only 27.3 minutes a game, so it seems likely

As much as we criticize the Suns defense, but they ranked 13th in the NBA on opponent's shooting percentage (45.6%). The Warriors were 25th at 46.8% (the year before they were 46.4%). It is hard to deal with such a poor defense so frustration cound be a factor in his play.

 

[leclerc]

Eddie House? That surprises me. He didn't use to play hard when he was here, did he?

Good point on Barbosa. He chases down open layups and always makes a play on it. Nothing dirty but he goes pretty hard. I hope he bounces back this year and makes us eat our trade-talk-words.

 

[nowagimp]

D'Antoni preached NOT to foul. There were several reasons for that and some have changed:

1. KEEP THE GAME MOVING: Stopping for foul shots gave opponents time to rest and negated their advantage in speed and conditioning.

2. OFFENSE WAS BETTER AFTER MADE BASKETS THAN ANYONE ELSE: One reason the Suns were so effective against Eastern Conference teams is that they didn't play the Suns enough to get used to the way they would run after made baskets. This tactic won't go away, but counting on it probably will.

3. LACK OF DEPTH: Fouliing guys going to the basket may help on defense because nobody hits 100% of their foul shots (as long as fouling keeps the guy from making the shot), but with a short bench the team couldn't afford to get guys into foul trouble. With more depth, this may be less of a problem.

4. LACK OF STRAIGHT ON SHOT BLOCKER: The Suns shot blockers have all been "weak side" blocker who can only block shots when they jump and so cannot do it when guys come straight at them. With Shaq and Robin, they have guys who can get into the lane and block shots without leaving their feet. Bobin can do both, but at 9'5" standing reach defys guys coming at him.

Obviously they need to have quicker defensive rotations, but hopefully they can scare off guys without going flagrant. But having a reputation for being physical does have an effect.

How about having 2 of the big 3 on the team as the top 2 in the NBA at disqualification. Yeah it should be interesting to watch the approach of porter to defense with those 2 guys.

 

[Bufalay]

I am in shock that Raja didn't get one last year.

It probably had to do with the fact that he sucked last year.

 

[Irish]

It probably had to do with the fact that he sucked last year.

Why do people insist on superstar or bum? Raja went from being the #2 perimeter defender to the team's #1. I'd guess he took on harder covers after Marion left.

BTW, technicals seem to be more about "showing up the ref" than anything the guy does. Raja did his flagrant against Kobe, but generally it's not his temperment. Without looking at Barnes flagrants, I'd guess he was reacting to being the last line of defense.

 

[AceP]

I only watched several GSW games, less than 10 in total for last 2 seasons, so I can't say for sure. But almost every time I saw Barnes, he was assigned to guard the opponent's star scorer. GSW is really poor as a team in defence, and hustle is Barnes' trademark. So 5 flagrant fouls a season might not be that much a surprise.

 

[Irish]

I notice none of the Pistons were on the list. I don't know how this fits, but it suggests they did not tollerate flagrants. But somehow I'm not surprised to see three of George Karl's guys on the list:

2) Kenyon Martin 3------------- 11
4) Carmelo Anthony 2--------------- 11
6) Marcus Camby 2-------------- 3

 

[mojorizen7]

I notice none of the Pistons were on the list. I don't know how this fits, but it suggests they did not tollerate flagrants. But somehow I'm not surprised to see three of George Karl's guys on the list:

2) Kenyon Martin 3------------- 11
4) Carmelo Anthony 2--------------- 11
6) Marcus Camby 2-------------- 3

IMO one of the reasons that teams like the Pistons,the Spurs etc...don't rank higher on this list is because the more a team has the long term reputation of being a "physical,tough defensive team" they are allowed to commit hard fouls without the consequence of being called "flagrant." It's BS and i don't like it but i believe thats the way the game is officiated.
Would a guy like Matt Barnes or Kenyon Martin have been whistled for 5 flagrant fouls last season playing for Detroit or S.A.? I cant say buy i doubt it. Instead ,these two guys in particular played on uptempo offensive oriented teams(G.S. and Denver) and these teams(like the SUNS) reputations of being finesse or "soft" IMO dictates the way these referees are determining whats a good,hard foul and whats a flagrant foul.
Ex: If Antonio McDyess takes a guy out in the lane it's percieved by the officials as "well these are the Pistons so it could've been worse and they do play a very physical type of game." = hard foul.
If a guy like Boris Diaw takes a guy out in the lane the refs perception is "whoa! that was out of character and uncalled for." = flagrant foul.
I don't like it but i think that team reputation in terms of physicality plays a large role in what teams are able to get away with on a nightly basis.
The SUNS have to change their image eventually of being a weak , defensively soft franchise but i don't know if thats even possible.

 

[Irish]

Porter is talking about the Suns becoming at top 5 defensive team, so this will be an interesting test.

 

[nowagimp]

IMO one of the reasons that teams like the Pistons,the Spurs etc...don't rank higher on this list is because the more a team has the long term reputation of being a "physical,tough defensive team" they are allowed to commit hard fouls without the consequence of being called "flagrant." It's BS and i don't like it but i believe thats the way the game is officiated.
Would a guy like Matt Barnes or Kenyon Martin have been whistled for 5 flagrant fouls last season playing for Detroit or S.A.? I cant say buy i doubt it. Instead ,these two guys in particular played on uptempo offensive oriented teams(G.S. and Denver) and these teams(like the SUNS) reputations of being finesse or "soft" IMO dictates the way these referees are determining whats a good,hard foul and whats a flagrant foul.
Ex: If Antonio McDyess takes a guy out in the lane it's percieved by the officials as "well these are the Pistons so it could've been worse and they do play a very physical type of game." = hard foul.
If a guy like Boris Diaw takes a guy out in the lane the refs perception is "whoa! that was out of character and uncalled for." = flagrant foul.
I don't like it but i think that team reputation in terms of physicality plays a large role in what teams are able to get away with on a nightly basis.
The SUNS have to change their image eventually of being a weak , defensively soft franchise but i don't know if thats even possible.

I disagree, the pistons and spurs rotate so well a flagrant is mostly not needed. Flagrant fouls are taken when a man is just beaten(or repeatedly beaten) and they cant allow a bucket. Better team defense means less need for fouling a guy without making a play on the ball(most flagrants). Barnes had 5 and the warriors were the worst defensive team in the NBA. The warriors have no shot blocking so if the man gets by barnes its '2'.

 

[Bufalay]

Why do people insist on superstar or bum? Raja went from being the #2 perimeter defender to the team's #1. I'd guess he took on harder covers after Marion left.

BTW, technicals seem to be more about "showing up the ref" than anything the guy does. Raja did his flagrant against Kobe, but generally it's not his temperment. Without looking at Barnes flagrants, I'd guess he was reacting to being the last line of defense.

Not sure what you're talking about. He had a noticeable decline in offense and defense. At least he stopped trying to dribble so much.

 

[nashman]

Barnes is kinda of a rough hussle guy which we needed should be a good fit.

 

[Irish]

Barnes is kinda of a rough hussle guy which we needed should be a good fit.

The Suns had a reputation for being "soft". Barnes may do a lot to cure that.

 

[Superbone]

The Suns had a reputation for being "soft". Barnes may do a lot to cure that.

Yep, I think this going to be one of the tougher Suns teams than we've had for a long time. Hopefully, no more easy baskets down the middle for the opposition.

 

[dodie53]

remember when LB tried to contest a LBJ dunk from he baseline and ended up as a poster?

 

[mojorizen7]

Yep, I think this going to be one of the tougher Suns teams than we've had for a long time. Hopefully, no more easy baskets down the middle for the opposition.

That would be a good start to getting stops.