Marion, Bell and Barbosa were exposed in this series

[elindholm]

ARE YOU A MORON? I'm going to tone it down, even as angry as I am. I can't believe any TRUE BASKETBALL FAN, letting go of team fan affiliation, would say this series was played FAIRLY. The refs, along with Stern and Jackson, have made a mockery of the NBA.

So what? If the Suns want to win, this is what they have to expect. We've known all season long that the playoffs would involve a lot more fouling, because they always do. Hoping for a series to be called "fairly" is futile. You need the personnel and an approach that can win unfair games.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Not that it is realtistic.

At least you can admit it.

 

[82CardsGrad]

I've said it a thousand times... (que Cheesebeef!) - this team, as constructed & coached, is not made to win a Championship - period...
They simply can not play "Playoff/Championship" style ball... That is - execute in the half-court, play half-court defense & rebound...
Also:

1.) Why is D'Antoni the only one who thinks his starting 5 can climb Mt. Everest and not be tired?? After a full season and exhausting playoff games, tonight it showed just how tired the team was...

2.) Barbosa = CHOKED!!! He simply failed to lace 'em up this entire series... He killed us...

3.) With only one offensive style, the Spurs completely oput-classed the Suns by taking Nash out of his game... With Nash out of his game, the team resembled an 8 cylinder engine running on 4 cylinders...

4.) I have never seen a guy, over the course of the last 4 seasons, miss so many very makeable "at the rim" shots as Marion does... It's like he goes into some epileptic fit when he's at the rim...

5.) Bell can defend - but man does he make some HUGE bonehead mistakes...

6.) I feel really bad for Amare'... He's great. Truly great. But he's on a team that can not get him to the promised land, and that sucks...

So, until this team can defend when it matters (the Spurs owned the Suns in the 3rd quarter and first part of the 4th), and until they learn how to run a half-court offense, what we see is what we'll continue to get... 60 W's in the reg. season, lot's of excitement in the post season, and no Championship...

 

[jlove]

How can you all post here blaming the Suns and their style? From game 1, the Suns were getting screwed. You ask where was Bell, Marion & Diaw. You say, that the Spurs took Nash out of the games. The refs, Stern and Jackson took the Suns out this series. By letting the Spurs get away with what they got away with in this series, yes, I'll admit it, it got into the Suns heads. However, had the Spurs been officiated the way the Suns were, this series would have been done in 4 maybe 5 games, with the Suns taking the series. Duncan's "blocks" that he got away with were atrocious. AT LEAST half of them were fouls that didn't get called against him. Come on now.

 

[82CardsGrad]

How can you all post here blaming the Suns and their style? From game 1, the Suns were getting screwed. You ask where was Bell, Marion & Diaw. You say, that the Spurs took Nash out of the games. The refs, Stern and Jackson took the Suns out this series. By letting the Spurs get away with what they got away with in this series, yes, I'll admit it, it got into the Suns heads. However, had the Spurs been officiated the way the Suns were, this series would have been done in 4 maybe 5 games, with the Suns taking the series. Duncan's "blocks" that he got away with were atrocious. AT LEAST half of them were fouls that didn't get called against him. Come on now.

Hey man - if blaming the refs gets you through the next few days and allows you to sleep at night - rock on!

 

[Nashfan]

How can you all post here blaming the Suns and their style? From game 1, the Suns were getting screwed. You ask where was Bell, Marion & Diaw. You say, that the Spurs took Nash out of the games. The refs, Stern and Jackson took the Suns out this series. By letting the Spurs get away with what they got away with in this series, yes, I'll admit it, it got into the Suns heads. However, had the Spurs been officiated the way the Suns were, this series would have been done in 4 maybe 5 games, with the Suns taking the series. Duncan's "blocks" that he got away with were atrocious. AT LEAST half of them were fouls that didn't get called against him. Come on now.

Agree with your take. Also, the refs letting Bowen maul Nash was beyond ridiculous. Did you see all the bruises on him tonight?? Disgusting how this series was called.

 

[slinslin]

Barbosa didn't choke, Tim Duncan owned Barbosa, Bell and Marion simply.

He kills what they like to do, or at least his presence kills it.

 

[Hat]

Bell and Barbosa for Garnett? How do you plan to get T-Wolves general Manager so stoned that he would agree to that?

I thought you meant Marion

 

[D-Dogg]

I think trading these two guys would be a mistake. They don't make too much money. They are decent role-players, and they get paid appropriatelly.

I wouldn't be bitching about Marion if he were making half of what he makes.

Lakerfan here, but you guys would be borderline ******** to trade Bell or Barbosa. And I freaking hate Raja, but he's got heart and energy and my team hasn't had a guy like that since Rick Fox. Barbosa may get out of control but he is young and still amazing and improving...I wanted the Lakers to draft him and we took Brian freaking Cook. Seriously...come on.

Marion, he makes way too much money for his Houdini act in the playoffs. And unlike Joe Johnson, I think he'd falter on a team of his "own." He's one of the guys who is really a product of the system.

 

[jibikao]

All we need is another player or two who can actually contribute, and we need one guy who can aliviate some pressure off of Steve Nash.

I haven't watched enough games to see why Diaw couldn't produce well in this year's playoff. His mins were kinda low and I just don't think he had enough confidence/playing time when the ball goes to Amare all the time. I think that's one thing Coach D failed to figure out, or maybe it was Diaw's problem?

I think Diaw was/is the guy they were hoping for that can be the second creator. Barbosa to a certain degree when he can score (except against Spurs).

I think it's kinda unfair to judge Bell this way 'cause he was never brought in to deliver offense. It was a "shock" that Bell could even shoot as well as he does now. His offense is very inconsistent but as long as he is willing to run and defend, I think we should definitely keep Bell.

 

[elindholm]

Actually Bell shot 50% (12-24) from three-point range for the series and about the same from two-point range. Defensively he didn't do a particularly good job, but it's hard to play tough perimeter defense when the secondary help is nonexistant and you aren't allowed to foul. Except for the mental errors (including turnovers), I think he had a pretty good series.

 

[The_Matrix]

Barbosa didn't choke, Tim Duncan owned Barbosa, Bell and Marion simply.

He kills what they like to do, or at least his presence kills it.

Exactly. Those three were killing the Lakers. Who remembers Marion crushing a half-court alleyoop vs. Lakers but flubbing it when the Spurs are all over him? The Spurs closed out on our three point shooters and neutralized them. But what about Ginobili and Finley cashing shots right in the face of the Suns D? I think our guys are so used to being wide open due Nash and bad defense that they're not used to shooting when covered well.

 

[Ciani]

Actually Bell shot 50% (12-24) from three-point range for the series and about the same from two-point range. Defensively he didn't do a particularly good job, but it's hard to play tough perimeter defense when the secondary help is nonexistant and you aren't allowed to foul. Except for the mental errors (including turnovers), I think he had a pretty good series.

He had a few good games defensively and a few terrible ones as well, but I wish everyone defended his man as bad as Bell did... Its not fair to blame Raja for the loss.

 

[Ronin]

Bell and Barbosa will be fine, but you know who could help out the suns at SG position?

Spoiler

Bonzi Wells

too bad his head isn't in the game.

 

[schutd]

I agree, it just seems when it counts, there is only one guy who steps up. He did what he said he was going to do.

Like in game 3??? Amare talked it up, and then rode the pine because he couldnt keep himself under control. I love the guy. I worship at the altar of Black Jesus, but lets be honest here. He MOSTLY backs it up. When he does every single time, we'll be champs.

 

[Nasser22]

I am fine with Bell. He played very good defense most of the time and made his shots when he had the opportunity. I'm fine with him as a starter, but hopefully if we trade Marion we can get somebody that will show up against the Spurs who will be our biggest challenge in these Nash years.

 

[mribnik]

Bell going after Horry pretty much excuses him of any criticism from me. The Suns really need to get tougher in the worst way.

 

[Nasser22]

Bell going after Horry pretty much excuses him of any criticism from me. The Suns really need to get tougher in the worst way.

That's another thing. His temper could cause trouble sometimes, but we NEED his toughness. We would've been swept by the Spurs without him....and KT of course.

 

[BC867]

Watching the Spurs hits 3's as though they were in practice (at a better rate than the best 3-point shooting team in the NBA -- ironically the Suns) points out that defense has to become a 48-minute-per-game-priority, just as it is with the Spurs.

The problem is that it doesn't fit into D'Antoni's approach.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I've said it a thousand times... (que Cheesebeef!) - this team, as constructed & coached, is not made to win a Championship - period...

dude, are you dense or just mentally ********? Before the series I said SPURS in 6. Just cause I thought the officiating was awful in one game didn't mean I thought we had the makeup the beat the Spurs (emotion aside in my "all or nothing pep talk").

 

[Milgod]

Marion didn't step up when needed, but not many have thought of him as our go to guy on offense. He did however put in one of the bext 1/4s of D I have ever seen in the game 4. The guy was everywhere!

The Spurs are the best defensive team in the league yet as a team we scored over 100 5 times out of 6. Maybe you could say the Spurs got exposed as well.

 

[cly2tw]

Exactly. Those three were killing the Lakers. Who remembers Marion crushing a half-court alleyoop vs. Lakers but flubbing it when the Spurs are all over him? The Spurs closed out on our three point shooters and neutralized them. But what about Ginobili and Finley cashing shots right in the face of the Suns D? I think our guys are so used to being wide open due Nash and bad defense that they're not used to shooting when covered well.

That's exactly the dilemma with Nash-led offense. We don't have a chance to practise skills useful for playoff basketball.

That's the reason Bell and LB got exposed. I again blame it on the coaches.

 

[dodie53]

isn't it time for the suns to run less and concentrate more on their half-court offense?

it will benefit nash's health and will develop the other players' skills

 

[Errntknght]

dodie,

isn't it time for the suns to run less and concentrate more on their half-court offense?

it will benefit nash's health and will develop the other players' skills

Running up and down the floor is not hard on Nash as it is merely a question of being in shape for it. Defense and running the P&R is what takes the toll. Thus diversifying the offense would help some.

(Those of you wanting to deal Marion might think of the implications that has for Nash... one of the most taxing jobs on defense is chasing PG's around one screen after another and against quite a few teams Shawn does that for Steve.)

Last year I was almost sure the Suns would evolve a double high post offense with Amare and Boris at the elbows - Diaw being a no-show for the season cooked that idea good. Now, I don't have any ideas along that line because a front court of Amare, Diaw and Marion won't cut it against the Spurs even if Diaw returned to his 05-06 form. And whats the point of having an offence that you can't run against your chief rival?

As far as Marion and Bell being exposed against the Spurs - they both performed better than I expected. Barbosa's offense was exposed though and his value to us is greatly diminished if something can't be done to fix it. I think adding a mid-range pullup jumper is what is needed and Barbs was showing quite a good shot of that type during 05-06 and even some in latter 04-05.