John Hollinger Writes Suns Article, Entire Online Community Jumps In Pool Of Toasters

[fordronken]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/trainingcamp05/news/story?page=overview05/suns

1. How do the Suns replace Joe Johnson?

The Suns were dealt a huge blow in the offseason when Joe Johnson agreed to a bloated offer from the Atlanta Hawks.

Though Phoenix managed to salvage two first-round picks and reserve guard Boris Diaw in a sign-and-trade deal, Johnson's departure puts a crimp in its title hopes this season. Johnson was the Suns' top perimeter defender and also loosened things up offensively, hitting 48 percent on 3-pointers and often running the point when Steve Nash checked out.

His primary replacement will be former Utah Jazz guard Raja Bell. Bell has become a competent jump shooter and should benefit from the many open looks that Nash and Co. provide. His defense also won't be much of a downgrade from Johnson's. However, he lacks the ballhandling and shot-creating skills of his predecessor, putting more pressure on the rest of the offense.

Several others will take turns filling in, as well. Veteran Jim Jackson is similar to Bell -- a reliable veteran who defends and hits jumpers but doesn't create. Free-agent pickup Eddie House is an undersized streak shooter who could thrive in Phoenix's run-and-gun style.

Diaw is an intriguing possibility, too. Although he flopped with the Hawks, he starred for France at the European Championships and can play four positions.

2. Can Nash turn in a repeat performance?

2004-05 was a dream season for Suns point guard Steve Nash, as he led Phoenix to a 62-win season and captured the league's MVP award.

Nash was the catalyst for the league's most potent offense by continually pushing the ball up court and feeding explosive forwards Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion. In doing so, Nash shattered his career best in assists, leading the league at 11.5, and also shot better than 50 percent for the first time in his career.

Phoenix is unlikely to stay atop the Pacific Division unless Nash maintains that level of play. Repeating a career year at the age of 31 is no easy task, and with the departures of wingmen Johnson and Quentin Richardson, the Suns need Nash to be more creative than ever.

Additionally, the Suns lack a competent backup for Nash, which is one reason they struggled so much when he was out of the lineup last season. House and Leandro Barbosa are his primary subs, but both are shooting guards in point guards' bodies.

3. Have they improved the defense enough?

After the Spurs exposed the Suns' defensive shortcomings in the conference finals last season, Phoenix decided to get bigger and tougher.

Richardson was sent to New York for veteran big man Kurt Thomas, and the Suns added defense-minded free agents like Bell, Brian Grant and James Jones. This year Phoenix will go with a bigger lineup, with Marion moving back to small forward and Stoudemire to power forward, which should make them more resistant in the paint.

On the other hand, the Suns lost their best perimeter defender in Johnson, and that was the area where they struggled the most in their loss to San Antonio. Additionally, some of the veterans they added to the mix have clearly lost a step. Thomas slipped defensively in his final two seasons in New York, while Grant is a shadow of his former self.

Unless Bell can step up as a stopper and Thomas has an extra gear that he wasn't using a year ago, the Suns may find their defensive shortcomings again become a roadblock to the championship.

John Hollinger writes for ESPN Insider. His new book, "Pro Basketball Forecast: 2005-06," is now available at both Amazon.com and Potomac Books, Inc.

 

[Amare32]

Phoenix is unlikely to stay atop the Pacific Division

Stopped reading after that garbage comment.

Saying Jimmy doesn't create is also garbage, Jax often handled the ball last season and run some point guard.

 

[fordronken]

Referring to Raja Bell:

His defense also won't be much of a downgrade from Johnson's

 

[JCSunsfan]

Wow. Interesting varied perspectives are on issues. I disagree with:

1. The exhaltation of JJ's perimeter defense. JJ was a good perimeter defender--our best. But I don't think anyone thought of him as a stopper.

2. The ignorance of Bell's defense. I don't know of anyone who considered JJ's defensive capabilities better than Raja's.

3. The idea that JimJ can't create his own shot. He's not as good at it as JJ, but he's capable.

4. The assumption that Amare is moving to pf. Amare is a center and will be an all-star starter for the next 10 years.

5. The fact that he completely ignores Amare and any progress he might make in this off-season.

Oh well, just another sports writer trying to meet a deadline.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Hollinger is a tool. Really makes me miss Ford.

If any of you have NBATV, have you seen when Hollinger asks questions at press conferences? The coach's face has been priceless everytime I have seen it. A sort of "who the hell are you look", followed by a "oh I know you, you are an idiot" look.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Ya know its getting to the point where I’m wondering if Hollinger hates everybody’s moves all the time or if he just has a strong distaste for the Suns. Losing JJ was rough but as JC said, Bell has been known for his defense much longer than JJ had. Plus for all intensive purposes I expect Diaw can at the very least earn a spot in the rotation with perimeter defense. By all indications that is one of his strong suits and he is MUCH more athletic than Joe with a longer wing span. Putting him at the top of the key will undoubdtly cause less drive when he is in. Oh and most important, one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA is returning to his former wing position where I expect him to rank in the top 5 steals wise. Shawn Marion has excellent length, is a pretty good on ball defender.



Remember when MJ was in his last all star game and he made the final shot before Kobe shot those 3 free throws and the West won? Guess who was placed on MJ for that final play that everyone knew he was getting: Marion. Jordan being Jordan made the shot but that’s repect for Marion’s ability right there. I would be inclined to say that if Marion was not busy snagging 11 rebounds a game at PF, this whole talk of JJ being our best perimeter defender would never exist. I am more than confident that Bell, Diaw, Marion, and a veteran JJax will provide good/great defense out there. And that’s w/o including potential defensive stud Barbosa, but it is hard to count on him at all. Combine this with even an “old” KT helping anchor our interior defense ( I still contend this is the best proven big we could have gotten for what we gave up) and even if Hollinger’s “Apocalypse Now” predictions ring true, he will be an massive upgrade over what we had. Hell Burke is an upgrade over what we had in terms of a big body/



I am more worried about someone taking over the offense when Nash is out or double teamed (which will happen A LOT) I don’t think JJAX is on JJ’s level in that regard but D’Antoni seems to have faith in Bell in that capacity (see coach chat transcript) so I will go with him on this. As I see it our biggest potential problems stem from Nash being forced to get rid of the ball and someone not stepping up and hitting threes at a high enough clip where the shot has to be respected. Yet if we want to count on unknown factors to be pessimistic, we should look to those as well for possible optimism.

It’s a safe bet that Amare will be better than last year, but the question is how much better? Are we talking MVP Duncan like stuff or more likely 28-10-1.5? I will take either but if Amare continues with the progression curve he has shown, there should be talk of him as one of the three best players in the game hands down.

Will either Diaw, Jones, or Barbosa develop enough that they will be valuable contributors to the team? While it seems unlikely all will take off (as the first one that does is likely to get D’Antoni’s trust and PT) its not crazy to consider that one of those young players will come into their own. And really if all other player play up to projections (STAT, Nash, Marion, Bell, KT, Jackson, and Grant) these guys are just icing on the top. Its also possible that one of these guys REALLY steps up and takes over the starting two guard spot. Not inconceivable as all of them have the tools and only Barbosa is lacking size. Nash has been known to help the careers of more than one previously inconsistent player (…paging Joe Johnson…..)That would also be nice as our perimeter depth would be unmatched.

Will Nash remain healthy? Obviously this is the most important and the one we cant factor in. Lets just say it is more than likely that Nash will miss 10 – 12 games this year. Anything more than that might be a death knell as Marion and to a degree STAT rely on him to get them the ball. Hopefully we can rest him in blow outs as well as give the occasional night off so we prevent any unnecessary injury.


Other than those concerns, I really like our team. Better defensivly and rebounding and I don’t think our PPG will drop dramatically as the PG and the system our the most important facets rather than Joe and Q. I think those two are replaceable but we will find that out after 30 games into the season. Hollinger is an idiot, but its very hard to be a national guy and focus intently on all 32 teams. Unlike Stein, Bucher and Ford though, I feel like he has the worst pulse for our team. Or maybe he is just grumpy period………



BTW I have added a new sig. and this might be my favorite in a long list of Amare Stoudamire quotes……

 

[elindholm]

Nice font.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Using Microsoft word while im at work so i dont get busted for monitored Internet usage....

 

[Joe Mama]

As someone else said, I'm far more concerned with losing Joe Johnson's playmaking skills than his defense. He was hardly a stopper. Yes, he was the Phoenix Suns' best perimeter defender, but that isn't saying a whole lot. Joe Johnson is a good defender. He isn't great.

As a team the Phoenix Suns shot 39% from beyond the arc last season. My guess is that while the quantity of three-point shots might fall off a bit that accuracy won't change.

Joe