JJaded over Suns? You have reason

[sly fly]

I agree a bunch with that statement.

Gone is our "depth". Gone is our shot-blocking presence. Gone is our up-and-down game. Gone is our youthfullness. Gone is the brilliance of signing two very good defensive players (Bell/Thomas) for depth purposes.

The innocence of this team is GONE.

Whether losing JJ is good for the future of Sarver's "cap" space, doesn't matter. What really matters is that we won't get to see this team play together EVER again.

Damn, if you would have told me right after the season that we'd be losing Q, JJ, AND Hunter... I would have thought you were nuts.

I don't know what the hell the front office has in mind to restore some faith in us Sun's fans. Perhaps the $4.9 mil trade exception can bring in a key cog. Perhaps another trade is in the works. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. This is all ********. I'm sick of the spin by everyone how things will be ok.

Who's our backup big to give Amare a blow? Anybody have this answer? Pat effing Burke?

This team is currently built OK for the post-season. Its the regular season I'm worried about. Better hope Nash doesn't develop a re-occurrence of his lower back problems/hamstring.

I'm sick of the spin by everyone how things will be ok.

 

[Chaplin]

I'm sick of the spin by everyone how things will be ok.

Take a deep breath. Everything will be ok.

 

[sly fly]

<inhale>

<exhale>

Nope, still sucks.

 

[Joe Mama]

Who's our backup big to give Amare a blow? Anybody have this answer? Pat effing Burke?

Who was our backup to give Amare Stoudemire a blow last season? It was Stephen Hunter, who played 15 minutes per game. Now we have Kurt Thomas, who averages 35 minutes per game. He's also clearly an overall upgrade over Hunter. He doesn't block shots, but he's a better defender, a much better rebounder, and much, much better on offense.

I do think the Phoenix Suns would have been a better team next season with JJ instead of Diaw. I do believe they are a better team than last year even with that change though. Jimmy Jackson might not be as good defensively, but he'll be oval to spread an offense just like JJ. He shot 45% from the three after coming to Phoenix.

I think they still have some work to do, but I still think this is going to be a very good team.

Joe Mama

 

[sly fly]

Who was our backup to give Amare Stoudemire a blow last season? It was Stephen Hunter, who played 15 minutes per game. Now we have Kurt Thomas, who averages 35 minutes per game. He's also clearly an overall upgrade over Hunter. He doesn't block shots, but he's a better defender, a much better rebounder, and much, much better on offense.

I do think the Phoenix Suns would have been a better team next season with JJ instead of Diaw. I do believe they are a better team than last year even with that change though. Jimmy Jackson might not be as good defensively, but he'll be oval to spread an offense just like JJ. He shot 45% from the three after coming to Phoenix.

I think they still have some work to do, but I still think this is going to be a very good team.

Joe Mama

Steven Hunter is getting sold way short. He actually dominated a few games before his injury. The guy has a nice little offensive game, moves pretty good without the ball, and showed he's a pretty good passer. Couple this with him being the same age as JJ, and voila, there's your starting center in a couple years.

I'm not sure exactly why D'Antoni sat Hunter for long stretches during the season (hence his low minutes per game). But, I do know that Hunter made an impact when he was on the floor. That was plain to see.

Hunter arrived when he had that great game in Cleveland. And, then he took over Voskuhls's role with his great D against Garnett here in PHX.

I realize Hunter simply had to take the $$ in Philly. That was a no brainer. But, didn't we have the option to sign him for anything before we tendered him? A little foresight could have kept Hunter in PHX. He wanted to be here. It's not like young, athletic 7 footers grow on trees.

Oh well, I guess this whole thing called the NBA is like one giant fantasy game now, anyway.

 

[elindholm]

I agree with a lot of your criticisms, sly fly, but what is this about last year's "depth" that we're all going to be missing? The Suns had only eight players who were even marginally in the rotation last year, with McCarty, Outlaw, Voskuhl, and Shirley being all dead weight. That's no depth at all. The current squad has eight players right now (Stoudemire, Nash, Marion, Thomas, Bell, Jackson, Diaw, Barbosa) a couple who might emerge as competent role players (Padgett, Thompson -- I have no hope for Burke), and a fair amount of maneuverability to add another decent talent or two.

This year's team won't be as fresh and "innocent" as last year's, but they should be at least as deep.

 

[sly fly]

I agree with a lot of your criticisms, sly fly, but what is this about last year's "depth" that we're all going to be missing? The Suns had only eight players who were even marginally in the rotation last year, with McCarty, Outlaw, Voskuhl, and Shirley being all dead weight. That's no depth at all. The current squad has eight players right now (Stoudemire, Nash, Marion, Thomas, Bell, Jackson, Diaw, Barbosa) a couple who might emerge as competent role players (Padgett, Thompson -- I have no hope for Burke), and a fair amount of maneuverability to add another decent talent or two.

This year's team won't be as fresh and "innocent" as last year's, but they should be at least as deep.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that the additions of Bell and Thomas were absolutely perfect, UNTIL JJ and Hunter departed.

Their effectiveness is highly predicated on them being "role" players. My fear is that they'll be relied upon to do more than they're capable of.

 

[Billythekid]

The current squad has eight players right now (Stoudemire, Nash, Marion, Thomas, Bell, Jackson, Diaw, Barbosa) a couple who might emerge as competent role players (Padgett, Thompson -- I have no hope for Burke), QUOTE]

Out of that 8 only 3 can put up quality scoring numbers. Q and JJ could go for 20 on any given night. Often more. I think we're going to struggle to put points up unless we pick up Finley or someone like Rose. And heaven help us if Marion, Nash or Amare get injured.

I'm with Sly Fly on Hunter. He was a massive part of our chemistry and his style fit perfectly with the team. Young, quick and a live wire. We're not replacing that with KT. KT is slow, long reach but can hardly jump, and KT is replacing Q in the starting line up i would think. Who's going to be the energy guy of our bench and change a game with his defense? Scott Padgett? He is trash! Make no mistake about that.


We're staring straight at going from a young, engergic, exciting team with the future at our feet to an ageing team with a 2 year window.

JC... do something!

 

[Joe Mama]

Steven Hunter is getting sold way short. He actually dominated a few games before his injury. The guy has a nice little offensive game, moves pretty good without the ball, and showed he's a pretty good passer. Couple this with him being the same age as JJ, and voila, there's your starting center in a couple years.

I'm not sure exactly why D'Antoni sat Hunter for long stretches during the season (hence his low minutes per game). But, I do know that Hunter made an impact when he was on the floor. That was plain to see.

Hunter arrived when he had that great game in Cleveland. And, then he took over Voskuhls's role with his great D against Garnett here in PHX.

I realize Hunter simply had to take the $$ in Philly. That was a no brainer. But, didn't we have the option to sign him for anything before we tendered him? A little foresight could have kept Hunter in PHX. He wanted to be here. It's not like young, athletic 7 footers grow on trees.

Oh well, I guess this whole thing called the NBA is like one giant fantasy game now, anyway.

Nobody, I repeat nobody thought Hunter was more underused and undervalued during the regular season than I did last year. Offensive he is easily replaced. To argue otherwise is just flat out silly. On the boards there are guards that do a better job. His area of expertise was blocking shots and guarding some of the longer low post players.

I do think we might miss Hunter in that department, but we are going to get Kurt Thomas to cover his minutes. He isn't a shot blocker, but he's better in every other department. I also expect the Suns to look for another long Athletic player with a bunch of upside to sign for the minimum... Lonnie Jones.

BTW we had no rights to Hunter. To re-sign him it would have taken about half of the mid-level exception over 5 years. That would essentially take us out of the running for Bell. Also, if the Phoenix Suns were planning on playing much small ball at all there would have been only limited minutes left over for Hunter.

Joe Mama

 

[Arizona's Finest]

The current squad has eight players right now (Stoudemire, Nash, Marion, Thomas, Bell, Jackson, Diaw, Barbosa) a couple who might emerge as competent role players (Padgett, Thompson -- I have no hope for Burke), QUOTE]

Out of that 8 only 3 can put up quality scoring numbers. Q and JJ could go for 20 on any given night. Often more. I think we're going to struggle to put points up unless we pick up Finley or someone like Rose. And heaven help us if Marion, Nash or Amare get injured.

I'm with Sly Fly on Hunter. He was a massive part of our chemistry and his style fit perfectly with the team. Young, quick and a live wire. We're not replacing that with KT. KT is slow, long reach but can hardly jump, and KT is replacing Q in the starting line up i would think. Who's going to be the energy guy of our bench and change a game with his defense? Scott Padgett? He is trash! Make no mistake about that.


We're staring straight at going from a young, engergic, exciting team with the future at our feet to an ageing team with a 2 year window.

JC... do something!

Calm down bud....i dont like losing JJ as much as anyone...but we still have AMARE....we will contend as long as he is a Phoenix Sun