How long do you rest Diaw?

[Chaplin]

Wow, Eric, you are exceedingly negative this morning, considering we won a big game last night.

 

[elindholm]

Wow, Eric, you are exceedingly negative this morning, considering we won a big game last night.

You didn't read where I praised Marion's defense?

 

[Chaplin]

You didn't read where I praised Marion's defense?

It was buried between the parts where you said Diaw sucks and Marcus Banks was a huge mistake.

 

[elindholm]

It was buried between the parts where you said Diaw sucks and Marcus Banks was a huge mistake.

Heh. But let's be fair: The Suns won last night without Banks playing at all, and they probably would have been better off had Diaw not seen the floor either.

 

[Covert Rain]

Heh. But let's be fair: The Suns won last night without Banks playing at all, and they probably would have been better off had Diaw not seen the floor either.

I wouldn't go that far.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I'm pretty sure he had three fouls in the first half. That left 24+5+5=34 more minutes of potential playing time during which he picked up only one foul. His minutes were not limited to 19 by foul trouble.

His first half was due to foul trouble. I don't know if he didn't get into the flow of the game because of it or not. What little he did play in the second half, I think we agree that he was ineffective.

I never said any such thing.

Thats true, but you clarify below.

You're right, I was too specific when using the term "turnover." I meant, more generally, "play that is significantly detrimental to the offense." He had plenty of those.

I don't think that it was Diaw's play alone that was detrimental, but he contributed to the bad play at the end of the half, and the beginning of the 3rd quarter.

I'm sorry, but that just isn't true. Nowitzki shot 11-28 from the field, far below his average. Who was guarding him for those 17 misses? Marion, for most of them. Who was guarding him on the final plays at the end of regulation and the second overtime? Marion. I'm not saying Marion did a super job (although it was pretty good), but it was a hell of a lot better than Diaw's effort.

I still disagree about Marion's defense on Dirk. We may agree that he did a better job that Diaw, but I thought Marion's job was average at best, and he did not force Dirk to do anything that he did not want to do, or force any bad shots. He got whatever shot he wanted all night.

Are you making an observation about me in particular, or did you just conveniently invent this aphorism on the spur of the moment?

Invent?

I just disagree with you on this issue, and I am defending Diaw as a long term solution. I usually agree with you are a lot of points. I respect your opinions, but we disagree on this one.

 

[DeAnna]

What's with all the Diaw hate? Everyone got hired of hating on Marion and have now moved on to Boris?

The guy has a bad back and got into foul trouble. Nobody was hating him when he had a good game against the Rockets.

Oh, and everytime he kicks it out to a 3 pt shooter that's an EXTRA point for the Suns.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

What's with all the Diaw hate? Everyone got hired of hating on Marion and have now moved on to Boris?

The guy has a bad back and got into foul trouble. Nobody was hating him when he had a good game against the Rockets.

Oh, and everytime he kicks it out to a 3 pt shooter that's an EXTRA point for the Suns.

Yep, its the new player to hate. It seems like it's a different player every month.

 

[msdundee]

Yep, its the new player to hate. It seems like it's a different player every month.

That makes Diaw the ASFNPOM? I am really enjoying this thread, and reading last night's game thread this morning was ......... priceless.

For some reason I have a mental picture of (some) posters on this board sitting at their computers with a big old crock of sour dills close at hand, right next to the mousepad.

Won the game on their court, broke the Mavs home winning streak, Suns played great for three quarters and two overtimes, the effort and the energy were there when it counted. Diaw's back acted up again -- so what? I can't think of anything important to complain about.

 

[Gee!]

Yep, its the new player to hate. It seems like it's a different player every month.

I still hate Joe Johnson if thats any consultation.. Been hating him since he left.. My hate never strays and has pin point accuracy..

 

[green machine]

The Suns are winning with Diaw struggling, I have a hard time seeing how he hurts the team so badly. If he did you'd think the team would struggle with him, but as was the case when he was injured, the team didn't look that great without him.

He's been inconsistent this year and it looks much worse given that he got a nice contract extension, but I still believe a big part of the problem is him not being great as a 4th option or an option down the list. Last year he was basically the first option after Nash, he got to post up and do all that. This year he needs to pick and choose his spots and he hasn't been good at that.

 

[msdundee]

I still hate Joe Johnson if thats any consultation.. Been hating him since he left.. My hate never strays and has pin point accuracy..

"Been hating him since he left...." Can't fault you for that, but that's quite a bit different. Don't know about hate but I have a healthy dislike for several players, just happens they're on other teams and not ours.

 

[Errntknght]

As far as I'm concerned Diaw has had one excellent playoff in one attempt, so he's perfect where it counts most. Of course, at this point I'm worried because he doesn't exactly look like he's headed for another one but I'm certainly not going to call for him to be benched, unless its beneficial to his health. I won't even label his contract a mistake until we see how he does in the playoffs.

As far as last nights game against Dallas, he started out great and then virtually disappeared. He guarded Dirk most of the time he was playing during the first half and did fine - I don't think Dirk hit a FG during that time. The statement that his defense killed the Suns during Dallas' 2nd Q run is malarky because he wasn't on the floor then.

During the 4th Q I thought D'Antoni kept Diaw out because Raja was doing a pretty good job on Dirk and he wanted to keep on with his three guard lineup, which was clearly getting the Suns back in the game. Mike probably sat him because of the 4th foul, but it couldn't have been much of factor in keeping him on the bench. Who knows, maybe Boris' back tightened up or the coaches thought it better to limit his minutes.

 

[mathbzh]

I agree Diaw is a disapointment this year. But if for some reason Nash miss a few games during the playoff, he will be once again a key player for the team.

 

[TheHopToad]

I agree Diaw is a disapointment this year. But if for some reason Nash miss a few games during the playoff, he will be once again a key player for the team.

If Nash misses a few games in the playoffs, we are screwed! End of story.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

That makes Diaw the ASFNPOM? I am really enjoying this thread, and reading last night's game thread this morning was ......... priceless.

For some reason I have a mental picture of (some) posters on this board sitting at their computers with a big old crock of sour dills close at hand, right next to the mousepad.

Won the game on their court, broke the Mavs home winning streak, Suns played great for three quarters and two overtimes, the effort and the energy were there when it counted. Diaw's back acted up again -- so what? I can't think of anything important to complain about.

Completely agree. One of the biggest things that was talked about here was how poorly Diaw played, rather than how the Suns came back from a 16 point deficit in the 4th quarter, rather than giving up one and losing.

I still hate Joe Johnson if thats any consultation.. Been hating him since he left.. My hate never strays and has pin point accuracy..

Glad to know that you don't waver in your hating.

Joe became bitter at the organization over 1 mil per year difference. Seems petty for such a little amount, (eventhough it might be more than I see in a lifetime)

The Suns are winning with Diaw struggling, I have a hard time seeing how he hurts the team so badly. If he did you'd think the team would struggle with him, but as was the case when he was injured, the team didn't look that great without him.

He's been inconsistent this year and it looks much worse given that he got a nice contract extension, but I still believe a big part of the problem is him not being great as a 4th option or an option down the list. Last year he was basically the first option after Nash, he got to post up and do all that. This year he needs to pick and choose his spots and he hasn't been good at that.

Absolutely agree. It appears to me that Diaw is the only one that does not yet know his role on the team.

 

[azirish]

Why did Boris play well in the previous two games and disappear in the Mavs game?

On defense, he cannot deal with Dirk. Dirk is bigger, stronger, and has some great moves to get open. Marion struggles, but at least has a major quickness advantage.

On offense, it seems like Boris has trouble with really physical defenders unless the refs call a close game.

IMHO, Boris is not going to be worth his contract untill he gets a lot stronger. Not much can be done now, but over the summer he really needs to get focused.

This year, I'd say the Suns should bring him off the bench so that KT can get the physical opponents that Boris cannot handle.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Why did Boris play well in the previous two games and disappear in the Mavs game?

On defense, he cannot deal with Dirk. Dirk is bigger, stronger, and has some great moves to get open. Marion struggles, but at least has a major quickness advantage.

On offense, it seems like Boris has trouble with really physical defenders unless the refs call a close game.

IMHO, Boris is not going to be worth his contract untill he gets a lot stronger. Not much can be done now, but over the summer he really needs to get focused.

This year, I'd say the Suns should bring him off the bench so that KT can get the physical opponents that Boris cannot handle.

That's a lot of money to be paying someone to come off of the bench. I am not saying that I wouldn't do it, just mentioning it.

 

[pkdumas]

How long do you rest Diaw? Until he learns to play! Trade Diaw and Tim Thomas for Amare and Barbosa and we are no better than last year. I knew Amare and Diaw wouldn't find any synergy.