Live by small ball . . . die by small ball

[BC867]

I know some of you are going to disagree. But Game 1 was ultimately lost when D'Antoni decided to go to three Guards.

Just because Amare fouled out doesn't mean you go to the other extreme.

When Finley hit a three with Barbosa guarding him, our fate was sealed.

Why in the world were we playing three Guards for most of the two overtimes?

You can add a seven foot, 310 lb. Center, but D'Antoni's obsession with Guards and Small Forwards still rules.

Especially with no big men on our coaching staff. That says something.

 

[green machine]

Umm, the big men had foul trouble.

 

[BC867]

Umm, the big men had foul trouble.

Grant Hill should have been in the game guarding Finley.

 

[BillsCarnage]

Hey, does anyone know where Gordy was???

I mean the Suns did trade for him to be a shooter right? And he plays decent D, so does anyone know where he was in the OT's????

 

[joshstmarie]

Grant Hill?

so youre telling me "large ball" hinges on wether GRANT 6'6 hill is in?

wow.

 

[green machine]

Grant Hill should have been in the game guarding Finley.

Hill was off most of the game, probably in pain still from his injury. He wasn't moving well, and probably couldn't have hung with Finley either.

Face it, the Spurs hit some big shots. Kudos to them. Doesn't change the fact that I think the Suns will win this series.

 

[BC867]

Hey, does anyone know where Gordy was???

I mean the Suns did trade for him to be a shooter right? And he plays decent D, so does anyone know where he was in the OT's????

I'm going to sound bitter, because I am.

D'Antoni's seven man rotation with Diaw and Barbosa is back.

 

[joshstmarie]

you are an armchair coach for a reason. and i am thankfull for that.

 

[HooverDam]

I'm going to sound bitter, because I am.

D'Antoni's seven man rotation with Diaw and Barbosa is back.

Giricek and Skinner both played, what are you talking about? Its not as if other coaches are playing guys like Chuck Vaughn a ton of minutes.

Grant Hill looked pretty rigid out there today, his groin is probably still sore and that definitely effects your lateral movement (which is key on defense). D'Antoni had to choose between a dinged up Hill and the fastest guy in the league, its not a crazy whacky obviously bad choice.

The Suns foul trouble is what doomed them more than anything. With out that the Spurs would've have been in position to get so many lucky breaks and the Suns wouldn't have had to rely on bench players in the crunch.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

so youre telling me "large ball" hinges on wether GRANT 6'6 hill is in?

wow.

6'8

And yes, hill is one of the catalysts that would have brought in large ball.

 

[BC867]

you are an armchair coach for a reason. and i am thankfull for that.

Thankful that we lost? Results talk!

Y'see, I've been putting my heart into the Suns for 38 years. This is just SOS.

 

[btimsah]

I know some of you are going to disagree. But Game 1 was ultimately lost when D'Antoni decided to go to three Guards.

Just because Amare fouled out doesn't mean you go to the other extreme.

When Finley hit a three with Barbosa guarding him, our fate was sealed.

Why in the world were we playing three Guards for most of the two overtimes?

You can add a seven foot, 310 lb. Center, but D'Antoni's obsession with Guards and Small Forwards still rules.

Especially with no big men on our coaching staff. That says something.

I'm not going to get on dantoni for anything in this game. Sorry. Double overtime game.

 

[joshstmarie]

6'8

And yes, hill is one of the catalysts that would have brought in large ball.

no. 3 or 4 inches isnt the difference between small ball and large ball. this loss has nothing to do with small ball at all.

 

[joshstmarie]

Thankful that we lost? Results talk!

Y'see, I've been putting my heart into the Suns for 38 years. This is just SOS.

fail.

 

[BillsCarnage]

I'm not going to get on dantoni for anything in this game. Sorry. Double overtime game.

D'Ant deserves it at the end of the 1st OT, because he probably should have turned it into a FT game.

Nash deserves some blame for letting the clock run out at the end of regulation.

Amare deserves some for how and when he picked up foul #6.

The whole Suns team deserves it for leaving Timmeh open for the 3 as long as they did. Apparently Raja was the only one who watched the shooting stars contest at the allstar game. At least Raja made a feeble attempt.

The Suns had leads to end regulation and OT #1 and couldn't close the deal.

All that said, if Shaq is able to stay on the floor longer I still like the Suns chances.

 

[dodie53]

Da will be gone if we don't win the 'ship

 

[DeAnna]

Nash could've sealed in the last play of regulation. He ran a pick n roll with Boris, who was wide open under the basket. For some reason, he kicked it out to Barbs who missed the shot. By the time Amare got the rebound, time was up.

 

[BC867]

He ran a pick n roll with Boris, who was wide open under the basket. For some reason, he kicked it out to Barbs who missed the shot. By the time Amare got the rebound, time was up.

That's the problem. Boris and Barbs are not going to get us past the Spurs, let alone go for a Championship.

 

[green machine]

D'Ant deserves it at the end of the 1st OT, because he probably should have turned it into a FT game.

Nash deserves some blame for letting the clock run out at the end of regulation.

Amare deserves some for how and when he picked up foul #6.

The whole Suns team deserves it for leaving Timmeh open for the 3 as long as they did. Apparently Raja was the only one who watched the shooting stars contest at the allstar game. At least Raja made a feeble attempt.

The Suns had leads to end regulation and OT #1 and couldn't close the deal.

All that said, if Shaq is able to stay on the floor longer I still like the Suns chances.

Exactly.

The Suns made just enough mistakes to lose this game, and the Spurs made just enough plays to pull it out. It happens.

Come back, win game 2, and all will be good again.

 

[BC867]

Come back, win game 2, and all will be good again.

I'm rooting for it. But will D'Antoni make better use of his bench when the fouls mount up?

 

[green machine]

I'm rooting for it. But will D'Antoni make better use of his bench when the fouls mount up?

Who else was he supposed to play?

Skinner was terrible in the time he got, and I don't think Strawberry, Pike, and Marks are the answer.

Now, I wouldn't mind seeing Giracek get more time, but he's not a sub for the guys who got in foul trouble.

 

[BC867]

Who else was he supposed to play?

Skinner was terrible in the time he got.

Of course, he was. Which is why I've been SHOUTING for him to be part of the regular rotation all season long, to be in playoff shape. The fault is not his.

DejaVu. Last year it was Kurt Thomas who was made part of the rotation, in desperation, after losing Game 1 to the Spurs.

Didja notice that the same Kurt Thomas got 10 rebounds vs. us today? Pop knows how to use him.

Now, I wouldn't mind seeing Giracek get more time, but he's not a sub for the guys who got in foul trouble.

And Barbosa, a third guard, is?

Take a look at the minutes played by each Sun in this 58-minute double-overtime, foul-troubled game.

Bell-G 54
Amare-F 45
Nash-G 44
Barbosa-G 40
Diaw-F 31
O'Neal-C 30
Hill-F 28
Giricek-F 12
Skinner-C 2

The first, third and fourth most minutes went to Guards. Two minutes went to a backup Center. Only 12 to Giricek. Why?

Because D'Antoni hasn't learned very much in a year.

 

[Chaplin]

Of course, he was. Which is why I've been SHOUTING for him to be part of the regular rotation all season long, to be in playoff shape. The fault is not his.

DejaVu. Last year it was Kurt Thomas who was made part of the rotation, in desparation, after losing Game 1 to the Spurs.

Didja notice that the same Kurt Thomas got 10 rebounds vs. us today? Pop knows how to use him.


And Barbosa, a third guard, is?

Take a look at the minutes played by each Sun in this 58-minute double-overtime, foul-troubled game.

Bell-G 54
Amare-F 45
Nash-G 44
Barbosa-G 40
Diaw-F 31
O'Neal-C 30
Hill-F 28
Giricek-F 12
Skinner-C 2

The first, third and fourth most minutes went to Guards. Two minutes went to a backup Center. Only 12 to Giricek. Why?

Because D'Antoni hasn't learned very much in a year.

We get it! You hate D'Antoni! Same old song and dance.

One thing is for sure--you completely and utterly overrate Brian Skinner.

 

[Cheesebeef]

One thing is for sure--you completely and utterly overrate Brian Skinner.

I hate DA as well, but there's no doubt that Skinner has NO BUSINESS being on the floor against anyone worth a lick in the playoffs. I don't fault DA for not using him. I fault the FO for getting him at the beginning of our season as our only big off the bench (but that's an ENTIRELY different matter thatneed not be discussed here).

Brian Skinner is what he is - a tremendous scrub who has never played on a good team in his entire life because good teams recognize him for what he is - nothing.

 

[BC867]

We get it! You hate D'Antoni! Same old song and dance.

Yeah, yeah, Chap. Make it a personality issue.

The same old song and dance today was the Suns coaching. Do you not believe that? Do you really not believe that?

One thing is for sure--you completely and utterly overrate Brian Skinner.

Do I overrate the need to have a backup Center playoff ready? And a backup Point Guard, for that matter?

Once again, do you really not believe that?

Criticizing my reaction to another Suns coaching playoff flub doesn't really say anything substantial.

And I had really gotten my hopes up with the addition of Shaq.

Getting the most powerful diesel for the Indianapolis 500, then putting a half-blind Grandmother behind the wheel, and a pit filled with accountants, is a waste.