Mavericks @ Suns 03-27-11

[AfroSuns]

Its a good thing Carter was removed from starting line up, but using Dudley will not fix the issue. We need a legit 2 guard. Dudley is a good player, who is perfect coming off the bench with his energy i.e Jason terry, Manu. If the Suns dont address this, we will continue to lose using the current personnel. Hope the Suns sign a player like JRich next season.

I really like Dudley but this pretty much shows he's best used as a sixth man. If we had a guy like Jason Richardson on this team, we're not just a playoff team but a legit contender

 

[desertdawg]

This was the best starting line up we have had all year, and it showed. The second half was ...what you guys call good coaching.

 

[Evil Ash]

As weird as this sounds as awful (and I mean AWFUL) as this past offseason was, this upcoming offseason could turn out brilliantly.

We filled the most difficult position to fill by a LONG shot with Gortat and may end up with our perfect SG again who wasn't that great of a fit with his current team and who knows how the new CBA will change player movement. With a little luck in the lottery as well ... well hey dreaming is free

 

[slinslin]

J-Rich would not make this team a contender.

 

[sunsfan88]

J-Rich would not make this team a contender.

Agreed.

 

[Evil Ash]

And we can all agree NBA officiating is poor, but when a crew has Violet Palmer, it really sinks to abysmal depths.

My favorite part was in the 2nd qtr with what turned out to be Frye's 3rd foul (complete BS by the way) where she was making a call but literally had absolutely no idea what call she was making.

Seriously how in the hell does this woman still have a job?

 

[Evil Ash]

J-Rich would not make this team a contender.

Maybe contender was a bit stong but we would be fighting for the top 4 seats in the Western Conference.

We've had a nice run of winning around 65% of our games with almost zero production from the SG position.

 

[sunsfan88]

Nash just isn't healthy. He's done for this year, I don't know about his future though.

Brooks isn't the problem as has been repeated here several times, the lack of production from our SGs is. Vince Carter - 3 points. Need I say more?

I will put it this way:

If Nash is the best player on your team, you will not be a contender. If he is the only star player on your team, you will definitely not be a contender.

Trade him, get picks and hope to draft a star.

And I agree Brooks isn't the problem but I don't think he can be our future PG. I'll keep him around for cheap $$$ as a backup PG but that's about.

 

[Covert Rain]

The argument of Gortat not starting being the only thing holding us back was proven FALSE

Who made this argument? I don't recall anybody saying this was the "only" thing holding us back. I recall people saying this is one of the things holding us back. The fact that we didn't win doesn't disprove it wasn't a factor. It only supports the notion that there are other things wrong.

If you didn't notice with how much more punch the Suns started the game...than I can't help you. It was obvious.

I still maintain a huge part of what is holding us back is Gentry. WTF is he doing in close games? Unlike some others on the board, I am calling him out. IMO, you find out how good a coach really is in close games because the Coach usually makes all the calls.

Gentry is a huge problem IMO. I don't recall the last Suns team that has lost this many close games.

 

[Evil Ash]

I will put it this way:

If Nash is the best player on your team, you will not be a contender. If he is the only star player on your team, you will definitely not be a contender.

Trade him, get picks and hope to draft a star.

And I agree Brooks isn't the problem but I don't think he can be our future PG. I'll keep him around for cheap $$$ as a backup PG but that's about.

We'll be lucky to get a draft pick for Nash and in a weak draft, its highly unlikely we're getting any stars.

If we don't re-sign Brooks and trade Nash, we're creating 2 holes (starting AND backup PG) without filling any. Not a good plan

 

[jagu]

I would sign and trade Brooks at this point and go for an all out rebuild (minus Gortat, Dudley, Childress, Dowdell). I like Brooks but he has value and I think his size is a detriment to a future Suns team that I want to be focused on defense. Nash can net us a good player, we need to make the move now because Gortat can play and pairing him up with good players will pay off 1-2 years from now. We should not delay the process.

 

[Evil Ash]

Who made this argument? I don't recall anybody saying this was the "only" thing holding us back. I recall people saying this is one of the things holding us back.

The fact that we didn't win doesn't disprove it wasn't a factor. It only supports the notion that there are other things wrong.

If you didn't notice with how much more punch the Suns started the game...than I can't help you. It was obvious.

BC in his stalkerish rants.

I never was against starting Gortat. However I knew it wouldn't make a difference as it takes time to adjust and we have holes on our roster - most notably at SG

 

[BC867]

Lopez surprised me with his play off the bench after Gentry had to take that one time out to get things straight.

I felt that early in the game and was glad to see it, too.

It has to be less pressure on a young guy who has a lot to learn to go against subs vs. the A-team.

But still, Gentry didn't use him to give Gortat a reasonable breather (2 1/2 minutes?) when he needed it and Frye was spending a long time on the bench, because one aspect of his game wasn't working..

Believe me, I was rooting for Lopez to do well so Gortat could come back strong.

Going double-small with both Gortat and Frye on the bench shows that Gentry is not the coach to lead a team with Nash's stamina (and shooting) eroding.

 

[Covert Rain]

J-Rich would not make this team a contender.

The hell it wouldn't. JRich in the system? Are you freaking kidding me? He was playing like one of the best SG in the entire NBA last year and before he was traded.

Vince Carter has shot us out of so many games I have lost track. If JRich even hits half those shots we have 10 more wins this season. At least.

Total and complete crap. If we had JRich in addition to our current roster, this team is 100% a contender assuming we still had Gortat, Brooks etc...

 

[BC867]

Gortat started and still played the same amount of minutes. If BC, sunsfan88, desertdawg, etc think Lopez or Siler was going to help, you are all sorely mistaken.

1) When given the chance, Lopez seemed to show more confidence by going against their 2nd team in this new lineup.

I was rooting for him to be used the same way in the 2nd half, but Gentry didn't. He defeated his own purpose. That was ignorant. It was half-assed.

2) As far as Siler, I have been advocating that he be given the same chance as Lopez to show us his basic skills during this chaotic and disappointing season. He was the only player on the roster to not be given that chance.

Rather than saying "sorely mistaken" and taking shots at three of us (+ etc.), tell us. Do you really see no merit in those two specific points?

The coach saw merit in making a change (unfortunately too little, too late and not consistent). You still don't?

What say you about 1) being consistent in his lineup change from half to half and 2) giving Siler a chance if he doesn't have the confidence in Lopez?

At this point, what the hell did we have to lose?

Fielding a team where Grant Hill was the biggest man in a Suns uniform on the court was ludicrous.

 

[sunsfan88]

We'll be lucky to get a draft pick for Nash and in a weak draft, its highly unlikely we're getting any stars.

If we don't re-sign Brooks and trade Nash, we're creating 2 holes (starting AND backup PG) without filling any. Not a good plan

I don't think both will happen. And I'm pretty sure we can get a #20-#30 pick from some team for Nash.

Imagine if this happened...We trade Lopez & Pietrus + 2012 1st rd pick (lottery protected) to Washington for their late 1st rd pick. (they have 2) Suns trade Nash to Dallas for a 1st rd pick. They get Alec Burks with their own lottery 1st and Marcus Morris with the Washington 1st rd pick. Then get Nolan Smith with the Dallas pick.

Lineup for next year:

Smith, Brooks
Burks, rookie
Dudley, Childress
Morris, Frye
Gortat, rookie

Our starters would be amazing once they all hit their full potential. IMO Burks has the potential and skill to be a star or even more.

Me and my dreams. lol (going from 1 first rd pick to 3)

 

[slinslin]

Morris won't be available when Dallas picks I'd guess and I don't think that lineup has any chance of ever being amazing because none of those players has a high ceiling as far as potential goes. There is no player with star potential on that roster.

I'd rather keep our 2012 lottery pick than trade it for Raymond Felton.

 

[sunsfan88]

Morris won't be available when Dallas picks I'd guess and I don't think that lineup has any chance of ever being amazing because none of those players has a high ceiling as far as potential goes. There is no player with star potential on that roster.

I'd rather keep our 2012 lottery pick than trade it for Raymond Felton.

Yea I messed up. I meant Burks but I typed Leonard because I was talkin to a friend about him. (we're from SD)

I fixed it on the original post.

 

[Chaplin]

I don't think both will happen. And I'm pretty sure we can get a #20-#30 pick from some team for Nash.

Imagine if this happened...We trade Lopez & Pietrus + 2012 1st rd pick (lottery protected) to Washington for their late 1st rd pick. (they have 2) Suns trade Nash to Dallas for a 1st rd pick. They get Alec Burks with their own lottery 1st and Marcus Morris with the Washington 1st rd pick. Then get Nolan Smith with the Dallas pick.

Lineup for next year:

Smith, Brooks
Burks, rookie
Dudley, Childress
Morris, Frye
Gortat, rookie

Our starters would be amazing once they all hit their full potential. IMO Burks has the potential and skill to be a star or even more.

Me and my dreams. lol (going from 1 first rd pick to 3)

FRYE WILL NOT COME OFF THE BENCH. How long before you actually realize he's become a legitimate starting PF in the NBA? We all see it, why can't you?

 

[desertdawg]

FRYE WILL NOT COME OFF THE BENCH. How long before you actually realize he's become a legitimate starting PF in the NBA? We all see it, why can't you?

+1

 

[Covert Rain]

FRYE WILL NOT COME OFF THE BENCH. How long before you actually realize he's become a legitimate starting PF in the NBA? We all see it, why can't you?

If Frye continues to develop around the post and doesn't regress to being a 3 point spot up player, I think Frye will do just fine at PF. He is still a tad soft at times in the paint more than I like but PF is not the glaring hole it once was before the all-star break.

This team needs a legit SG and possibly someone who can really back up Gortat. He can't continue to play the # of minutes he does for his entire career here or we will run him into the ground. I wouldn't mind seeing another PF as well. Someone who is a big body that can still be a true PF when Frye is not in there.

 

[AfroSuns]

This team needs a legit SG and possibly someone who can really back up Gortat. He can't continue to play the # of minutes he does for his entire career here or we will run him into the ground. I wouldn't mind seeing another PF as well. Someone who is a big body that can still be a true PF when Frye is not in there.

+1
If the Suns can get a good SG plus a replacement for Warrick and Rolo, the Suns will do well next season

 

[SirStefan32]

+1
If the Suns can get a good SG plus a replacement for Warrick and Rolo, the Suns will do well next season

I agree. If you take this team, replace Carter with J-Rich, this team woulod be fighting for home court advantage right now.

 

[Mainstreet]

I don't think both will happen. And I'm pretty sure we can get a #20-#30 pick from some team for Nash.

Imagine if this happened...We trade Lopez & Pietrus + 2012 1st rd pick (lottery protected) to Washington for their late 1st rd pick. (they have 2) Suns trade Nash to Dallas for a 1st rd pick. They get Alec Burks with their own lottery 1st and Marcus Morris with the Washington 1st rd pick. Then get Nolan Smith with the Dallas pick.

Lineup for next year:

Smith, Brooks
Burks, rookie
Dudley, Childress
Morris, Frye
Gortat, rookie

Our starters would be amazing once they all hit their full potential. IMO Burks has the potential and skill to be a star or even more.

Me and my dreams. lol (going from 1 first rd pick to 3)

I don't think the Suns can trade their 2012 pick without a new CBA.

 

[BC867]

FRYE WILL NOT COME OFF THE BENCH. How long before you actually realize he's become a legitimate starting PF in the NBA? We all see it, why can't you?

I agree! He has become a multi-tool Power Forward (defense, rebounding, blocking, driving to the basket and clutch shots) as well as a usually dependable 3-point scorer.