How Far Does This Team Go?

[Goldfield]

C: KT(25), Amare(13), Traylor(10)
PF:Amare(25),Marion(10),KT(8 )
SF:Marion(25),JJax(15),JJ(8 )
SG:JJ(30)Bell(18 )
G:Nash(25),Barbosa(15),JJ(8 )

(MIN's)

 

[carey]

Wcf

 

[elindholm]

There is no way in flip that Barbosa will get the same minutes as Jackson. And if the Suns do pick up Traylor, he won't be able to average 10 minutes per game.

 

[nothin' but net]

that team could win it, I think. But not with Steve playing only 25 minutes and barbose playing 15 minutes at the point.
I think Steve needs to be at least low 30's and LB with no more than 10 minutes at the point.

It also has 9 players in the rotation. I can't see coach doing that in the playoffs. I would like to see the minutes spread out more during regular season.

 

[scotsman13]

forget taylor and add hunter (he will be back). jackson wont get many minutes until there is an injury. barbosa will be the back up point guard followed by jj. nash will do 32 mins a game. amare will be the starting center not KT.

this team will make a run into the finals.

 

[Goldfield]

C: KT(25), Amare(13), Traylor(10)
PF:Amare(25),Marion(10),KT(8 )
SF:Marion(25),JJax(15),JJ(8 )
SG:JJ(30)Bell(18 )
G:Nash(25),Barbosa(15),JJ(8 )

(MIN's)

These are the min's for the season rotation.

I would guess the playoff min's would be:

C:KT(43 ),Traylor(5)
PF:Amare(43 ),Marion(5),
SF:Marion(38 ),JJax(10 )
SG:JJ(35),Bell(13 )
PG(40),JJ(8 )

 

[Goldfield]

forget taylor and add hunter (he will be back).

Hunter is gunna take more money & get more playing time from another team.

 

[playstation]

These are the min's for the season rotation.

I would guess the playoff min's would be:

C:KT(43 ),Traylor(5)
PF:Amare(43 ),Marion(5),
SF:Marion(38 ),JJax(10 )
SG:JJ(35),Bell(13 )
PG(40),JJ(8 )

gosh, i gotta say i really like that lineup for the playoffs. you could really do some damage with that. i think that gets you to the wcf too.

however, lets be honest. at this point, for us to beat SA, its going to be more of exactly how dominant amare can be rather than the effectiveness of a 3rd big man. we need that big man to get to that position of course, but we only beat SA if stat reaches his potential.

 

[George O'Brien]

I am of two minds when it comes to Hunter or Traylor.

Hunter is tall, athletic, a very good shot blocker, and really runs the court well. But he is only 240 pounds, has only average hands, and minimal offensive skills.

Traylor is very strong, has great hands, fine rebounder, and has pretty good offensive skills for the kind of player he is. However, he is short for a power forward, lacks great footspeed, and is not a shot blocker.

What makes this choice so difficult is that Hunter has games when he looks like he could become a really good player and numerous other games where he seems totally clueless. Not only games, some quarters he plays well and others he is useless.

Traylor is a lot more consistent. He is a bull and player hard all the time.

Neither would get more than 10-12 minutes in most games and would DNP in many. What matters is who would be more useful in key games: a tall athletic guy or storter but much more powerful guy who is a better rebounder?

 

[The Commish]

KT does not play 43 mins a game. Mark it down.

 

[Chaplin]

KT does not play 43 mins a game. Mark it down.

He marked those as PLAYOFF minutes, and I'm sure 43 isn't too far off.

 

[George O'Brien]

He marked those as PLAYOFF minutes, and I'm sure 43 isn't too far off.

KT plays the post in a physical manner. His minutes will not be limited by his endurence but by the refs.

 

[Joe Mama]

KT plays the post in a physical manner. His minutes will not be limited by his endurence but by the refs.

exactly what I was thinking George. If he's playing 43 minutes in the playoffs the team is giving up a lot of points.

Joe

 

[George O'Brien]

KT's job will be to do the dirty work that Amare cannot afford to do because Amare is needed on the offensive end. That means the Suns need someone who can defend the low block for 10-12 minutes without having to play Amare there against the main low post players.

BTW, keeping Amare on the weak side against low post offenses will have a number of advantages besides keeping him out of foul trouble. It is easier to rebound from the weak side than the strong side. The main thing the strong side defender has to be focused on is blocking out, while the weak side defender can focus on going for the ball and making weak side blocks.

This is not really necessary against teams without a major low post threat and the Suns can go small against everyone's backups. But letting Amare play more to strength from the weak side should be a huge advantage.

 

[devilalum]

KT does not play 43 mins a game. Mark it down.

never mind

 

[Goldfield]

KT's job will be to do the dirty work that Amare cannot afford to do because Amare is needed on the offensive end. That means the Suns need someone who can defend the low block for 10-12 minutes without having to play Amare there against the main low post players.

BTW, keeping Amare on the weak side against low post offenses will have a number of advantages besides keeping him out of foul trouble. It is easier to rebound from the weak side than the strong side. The main thing the strong side defender has to be focused on is blocking out, while the weak side defender can focus on going for the ball and making weak side blocks.

This is not really necessary against teams without a major low post threat and the Suns can go small against everyone's backups. But letting Amare play more to strength from the weak side should be a huge advantage.

Thats why I think I prefer Traylor. We got pushed around alot in the WCF last year. We need some BEEF up front even if its only for 5-10 min's per playoff game. Someone who can really lean on his guy and help tire him out with his physical play. 6 good hard fouls, and a guy who will be happy with his role.

 

[Goldfield]

Also Traylor is alot better rebounder then Hunter.

A BIG problem we had vs the Spurs was giving them so many second chance shots off missed rebounds.

 

[AsUdUdE]

I agree with the mins... for the most part... But I have to say I see Bell getting fmore than 18 Minutes per game.... I think he will get between 24-28 Minutes a game, filling in on the two/three spots... her you have JJ playing on Ave of 46 minutes per game... I think he will play more like 38, and Bell will take those 8 minutes at SF....

Also I think Traylor would only be used on certain ocations for any extended period of time... I see him Ave. about 5 minutes a game unless we are playing Shaq, or someone like him,, IMO

 

[Arizona's Finest]

i know this is MB is meant as a point of discussion but this is all we can say right now.....the suns have put themselves in position to beat the spurs now and being they are the champs....well put two and two together. This isnt to say we WILL beat them (JJ and Amares development, Nash playing lights out again, KT and bell solving our defense and rebounding, injuries all have to be factored in) because it has to happen before anyone can say it absolutly will but i am thrilled with what the suns have done so far. While i watched the team last year there was apart of me that didnt think they could thump w. SA and DET in the playoffs but now i know longer feel that way. we need to make a couple more positive roster moves but we are in a good seat for everything to fall into place (although i felt the same way in 94' and 95')......

 

[George O'Brien]

I agree with the mins... for the most part... But I have to say I see Bell getting fmore than 18 Minutes per game.... I think he will get between 24-28 Minutes a game, filling in on the two/three spots... her you have JJ playing on Ave of 46 minutes per game... I think he will play more like 38, and Bell will take those 8 minutes at SF....

Also I think Traylor would only be used on certain ocations for any extended period of time... I see him Ave. about 5 minutes a game unless we are playing Shaq, or someone like him,, IMO

Minute counting gets very confusing because different opponents will require different configurations. Lets take Hunters minutes in the playoffs, where he averaged 14.2 minutes a game. However, the way those minutes were allocated varied wildly:

Date Minutes
4-24 20 Memphis
4-27 16
4-29 20
5-1 13
5-9 10 Dallas
5-11 3
5-13 2
5-15 2
5-18 7
5-20 16
5-22 30 San Antonio
5-24 30
5-28 16
5-30 14
6-1 13

Some of Hunter's minute drop in the Spur series came when JJ returned, even though they don't play the same position. In any case, he played 14 minutes once.