looking back at the losses

[Covert Rain]

Just another thought.

IMO, if the Suns had someone with height who could slow down a player like Dirk, their Playoff chances would be greatly improved. Dirk is a tough matchup for the Suns. Marion just does not have enough height to consistently guard a player like Dirk. Dirk needs to have to shoot over a taller defensive player to be slowed down. I'm not saying the Suns can't beat a team like the Mavs in the Playoffs (because they can), only that their task would be easier if they had a better matchup against Dirk.

I don't think anybody can slow down Dirk when he is on. I think Dirk is one of those players that will get his. It's the other guys that you have to slow down and not let have big games.

The Suns don't have an answer for Terry or Howard when they get rolling. Unfortunately, the Suns pace seems to inspire them.

Wouldn't it be nice if Banks found some kind of role so D'Antoni would have confidence to stick him out there for 5 minutes a game for defense on Terry?

Terry? He is back and forth. I have seen him play horrible against the Suns then come back and have a great game. Howard to me is the x factor for the Mavs. He is playing lights out right now.

Before the season started I thought to myself if Amare is back, the Suns have the best starting 5 but.... I thought the Mavs were so close that if comes down to a shot (in a game 7) the Suns were doomed. However, the Suns have been winning close games for a change this year. Also, the Suns are much more physical down low. The team the Mavs played last year ran the heck of them but were not physically beat up on the post by a long shot. Now factor in Amare and Kurt banging down low on top of spurts of running.

So to me from a roster perspective the Mavs don't worry me. What worries me is the mental factor. I don't think people realize how bad that can play games with these players heads. That's why I think we can't just take a "we will beat em in playoffs" mentality. We need to do it during the regular season so we don't carry any baggage into the playoffs.

Not to mention that seeding is going to be SUPER important this year because of how it will work. Meaning the Suns really need to get the #1 or #2 seed to make life easier.

 

[elindholm]

From a Suns perspective, Josh Howard is the scariest player on the Mavericks, hands down. Of course Nowitzki is going to put up big numbers, but Howard has the potential to kill the Suns almost single-handedly, and so far they've had zero success slowing him down.

I will say right now that if the Suns and Mavericks meet in the playoffs, and if Dallas wins, it will be in large part because of Howard posting one monster game after another.

 

[cly2tw]

Howard indeed stands out as the toughest problem for the Suns. I have the feeling that JR might be a better defender on him than Marion. However, when the shots of our perimeter guys fall, we will still have a very good chance to beat the Mavs. Crucial will be Amare's state by then. With him mixing things up upfront, we will have it easier to score at the end of a close game.

 

[F-Dog]

There's one thread that runs through every one of the Suns' losses this year, and it's Boris Diaw playing like complete garbage. (Not that he hasn't been subpar in some Suns wins, too.) Also, the turning point in the Dallas game was Boris fouling out--the Suns lost their second ball-handler for the stretch run and wound up committing several bad turnovers as a result.



I agree with Eric that Howard is the x-factor in Mavs/Suns. What often limits Howard is his proneness to fouls, and--with the exception of Monta Ellis last night--the Suns aren't good at going after a specific opponent and getting him in foul trouble.

The other thing about the Diaw/Amare Suns is that they can force Dirk Nowitzki to play as much defense as they want to.

 

[jenna2891]

Found this on another board. The first point is part of what I'm saying. The second point is an arguement I haven't heard.

first of all, your sig makes me want to claw my eyes out.

second, explain this:

Not every "open" shot is a "good" shot.

i've always been of the mind that, if you are a professional basketball player, any open shot should be a make-able shot. if a player has time to set, why is it unreasonable to expect the shot to be made?

 

[JCSunsfan]

From a Suns perspective, Josh Howard is the scariest player on the Mavericks, hands down. Of course Nowitzki is going to put up big numbers, but Howard has the potential to kill the Suns almost single-handedly, and so far they've had zero success slowing him down.

I will say right now that if the Suns and Mavericks meet in the playoffs, and if Dallas wins, it will be in large part because of Howard posting one monster game after another.

If JR can keep his offensive production consistent, he will prove to be a great help against Howard. He's not going to shut him down, but he is going to slow him down some.

Boris is the odd man out of the rotation against Dallas. Nash does OK with Harris, Raja and LB defend Terry (Ok, not well, but), JR against Howard, Shawn on Dirk and KT or Amare (or Boris) against the second best center in the league.

 

[HooverDam]

Damn, thought Utah was going to knock off Dallas tonight and help the Suns move towards the #1 seed, but they went cold and blew it.

 

[Errntknght]

JCSunsfan,

If JR can keep his offensive production consistent, he will prove to be a great help against Howard. He's not going to shut him down, but he is going to slow him down some.

I'll have to wait and see JR doing anything worthwhile defending Josh Howard before I believe it. For the most part D'Antoni does his best not to put JR on any serious offensive threat because he can be backed down, pushed around and ran past. He puts him on guys who pose little offensive threat because he's very good at helping out. I recall a few times when he tried JR against someone who was hot but I don't recall any resounding successes.

Boris is the odd man out of the rotation against Dallas. Nash does OK with Harris, Raja and LB defend Terry (Ok, not well, but), JR against Howard, Shawn on Dirk and KT or Amare (or Boris) against the second best center in the league.

Boris had his best playoff series against Dallas so what has changed that dramatically? D'Antoni doesn't like to put anyone on the floor that Dampier can guard and KT is just such a player - though a little less so this year than last. My bet is that KT won't see much floor time unless Dampier is able to do okay against an Amare, Diaw, Marion front line - in that case he might as well play him.