Next Year and Boris

[azirish]

In another thread, I suggested that Boris is likely to be the player to make the biggest improvement over this past season.

By all measures Diaw was less effective this season versus last.

Stat 2006 2007

PPG 13.3 9.7
RPG 6.9 4.3
APG 6.2 4.8

Statisically he was below Ryan Gomes (almost the same minutes) except for his big advantage in assists.

Ryan Gomes
Boston Celtics
Position: F
Height: 6-7 Weight: 250
College : Providence
Player file | Team stats
2006-07 StatisticsPPG12.1RPG5.6 APG1.6SPG.66BPG.18FG%.467FT%.8113P%.381MPG31.2

Was this year just a bad year, or can Boris return to last year's performance?

My feeling is that he can get a lot better, but mostly he needs to work on strength training to help on his defense and rebounding. It would also make him more effective scoring near the basket.

The real question is whether he has the drive to become a top player. If he can find it, then it would be a huge mistake to move him. If not, they probably would not be able to.

 

[HooverDam]

He has nowhere to go but up in my estimation, part of it will be the Suns coaching staff figuring out better ways to use him, but a bigger part will be his own drive. If Boris is aggressive, he's great. I like him starting, but perhaps its better for KT to start, allowing Boris to come off the bench, where he can fill in for almost all of the starters. It also keeps Boris and Amare on the court at somewhat different times, which I think is a good thing.

In the off season I really hope Boris works on his jump shooting, free throw shooting, and of course defense and rebounding. I think this year was a 'sophomore slump' of sorts, and he'll be back to last years form in no time

 

[CaptainInsano]

I predict boris is going to go down, possibly even bigtime.

Amare I would bet will take off this year, it could be monstrous and that will leave boris with even less room to play his game.

 

[elindholm]

I predict boris is going to go down, possibly even bigtime.

How much further down can he go?

 

[dodie53]

boris should improve his jump shooting, even learn how to shoot the three..
so, amare can play on the block and diaw can play from the outside,
if small defenders leave him, he shoots the three,
if a bigger guy defends him, amare should know when to give boris space and boris should know when to attack to the basket..

 

[CaptainInsano]

How much further down can he go?

He got 31 mpg this year, I am talking bencher 9-10 mpg like james jones.

Honestly a scrub like pike couldn't do worse, how many 0 or 2 point games with 2 or 3 assists and a rebound or two can boris put up in 30 minutes before coach (no matter how foolish he can be) finally realizes that someone else could easily do better?

We will see.

We could really use a mini-Tim Thomas to spread the floor by hitting 3's and grabbing a couple of boards instead of boris doing absolutely nothing.

 

[Freddie]

Can we worry about this next year? Or at least until the playoffs are over. No need to overanalyze everything about this team.

 

[elindholm]

Can we worry about this next year? Or at least until the playoffs are over. No need to overanalyze everything about this team.

Sorry to have interfered with your enjoyment of the playoffs.

 

[dodie53]

Can we worry about this next year? Or at least until the playoffs are over. No need to overanalyze everything about this team.

out of the 4 remaining teams, who's our favorite right now?
=)

 

[95pro]

He has nowhere to go but up in my estimation, part of it will be the Suns coaching staff figuring out better ways to use him, but a bigger part will be his own drive. If Boris is aggressive, he's great. I like him starting, but perhaps its better for KT to start, allowing Boris to come off the bench, where he can fill in for almost all of the starters. It also keeps Boris and Amare on the court at somewhat different times, which I think is a good thing.

In the off season I really hope Boris works on his jump shooting, free throw shooting, and of course defense and rebounding. I think this year was a 'sophomore slump' of sorts, and he'll be back to last years form in no time

what i reallly hope for boris to do, is to use his left hand. that's his major weakness. amare has learned to sometimes go to his left and finish(not neccesarily a dunk).

but this late in his life(basketball terms), how soon can he adapt at using his left hand dribble, finishing, and passing.

 

[dodie53]

diaw is still young isn't he?

 

[scoutmasterdave]

It seems to me that Boris struggled with conditioning all year. If he can whip himself into shape and put on some muscle, I really think he will be much better next year. I do worry that he just doesn't have the drive to be great - hopefully he'll prove me wrong.

 

[azirish]

It seems to me that Boris struggled with conditioning all year. If he can whip himself into shape and put on some muscle, I really think he will be much better next year. I do worry that he just doesn't have the drive to be great - hopefully he'll prove me wrong.

I think conditioning was a huge problem at the start of the season, but strength has always been an issue. I think his lack of agressiveness is at least partly a result of him getting shoved around.

One obvious problem he has in going to the basket is that he stands up to much when dribbling and loses the ball too often to quick defenders. This is something that CAN be changed. IF it was changed, itbe might lead to the change no one seems to like: making Boris a PG.

Obviously this is not going to happen as long as he gets stripped so easily. But if he can learn to protect the ball, he could optimize his other skills as a big PG. Obviously using Boris at PG would mean cross defending since he could not defend guys like Tony Parker, but neither can Steve Nash.

At 6'8" and 230, he is far bigger than most PG's. Billips is considered good sized at 6'3" 205. Delonte West is 6'4" 180. Kirk Hinrich is 6'3" 190. Jason Terry is 6'2" 180. Jamal Crawford is 6'5" and 190. The biggest PG's are Jason Kidd at 6'4" 210 and Gilbert Arenas at 6'4" 215.

There are numerous advantages to having a big PG as long as he can keep from being being stripped. First, he can see over the defender which helps in making entry passes. Second, he can post up the smaller defenders as well as simply drive the basket. Third, he can simply pass over small defenders who try to double team.

Boris is a very good passer and sees the court better than anyone other than Nash. If he could be taught to hang onto the ball better, he is more of a "pass first" point guard than most NBA point guards.

IMHO, if the Suns decided to commit to making Boris a PG rather than trying to make him play five different positions, I think he could be developed into a pretty good one. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'd like to try before simply giving up on him.

 

[dodie53]

if diaw becomes a PG, can the suns still run and gun?

 

[azirish]

if diaw becomes a PG, can the suns still run and gun?

It's hard to say. The fast break offense and the half court offense do not necessarily have to be run by the same guy. Barbosa pushes the ball pretty well and is likely to keep improving at finding the open man in the early offense. His main problem has been in the half court.

 

[dodie53]

when boris joined the suns after the JJ trade,
was he an instant starter or just worked his way to be a starter?

 

[azirish]

when boris joined the suns after the JJ trade,
was he an instant starter or just worked his way to be a starter?

Definitely worked his way into the lineup although his development was fairly quick.

 

[Errntknght]

At the start of the year Jr was the starter at SF but he was a tremendous liability on the boards and after about a month D'Antoni started to tinker with the lineup. Diaw and Barbosa were coming in together as part of the second unit and they were working very well together. A fair number of posters here opined that two of them should stay together because they were doing so well but no one else was working out as a starter in place of Jr so Diaw was finally inserted.

 

[dodie53]

what if next year diaw will become the player that he was when he won the MIP

BUT

at the expense of amare being traded to another team?

would you do it?

 

[Mainstreet]

When Amare stood up, Diaw stood down. I really don't know what to make of Diaw except I think if he were the Suns starting center again, he would stand up again. However, obviously this is a risky gamble to make. I do think Diaw is all about team basketball. I think if another team were to make Diaw there center he would produce. He has the makings of a good high post center, but he also has some devastating inside moves when he decides to apply them. Sometimes I think the Suns should pass Diaw the ball inside and then go run and hide. If Diaw cannot pass the ball from underneath the bucket I am sometimes amazed at the moves he can make, even against Duncan.

 

[dodie53]

diaw as a center is good on offense..
but what about on defense?

 

[azirish]

I don't think Diaw is strong enough to be a solid defender/rebounder. He's OK against weak offensive inside guys, but a requires double team help to stop most low post threats. He's long enough, but gets pushed around a lot.

I wish he would spend the summer working on strength training, but I fear he'll just mess around with the French national team. It may help his confidence, but not his defense.

 

[mr_sunshine]

When Amare stood up, Diaw stood down. I really don't know what to make of Diaw except I think if he were the Suns starting center again, he would stand up again. However, obviously this is a risky gamble to make. I do think Diaw is all about team basketball. I think if another team were to make Diaw there center he would produce. He has the makings of a good high post center, but he also has some devastating inside moves when he decides to apply them. Sometimes I think the Suns should pass Diaw the ball inside and then go run and hide. If Diaw cannot pass the ball from underneath the bucket I am sometimes amazed at the moves he can make, even against Duncan.

I agree, but this means Marion, if we keep him, will be playing SF and will hinder his productivity.

 

[sharkman]

I agree, but this means Marion, if we keep him, will be playing SF and will hinder his productivity.

If one has to go between Marion, Stoudemire, or Diaw...

...Diaw is the obvious choice. He definately has talent...but he lacks drive...sometimes the lane is wide open for a dunk...and he instead passes....and the shot clock buzzer sounds...

...5 plays later he makes an impressive move to the hoop for two points...

...his next points are two quarters later.

 

[elindholm]

If one has to go between Marion, Stoudemire, or Diaw...

...Diaw is the obvious choice.

The problem is that Diaw has negative trade value, so there's no way the Suns can improve through a Diaw trade unless they include other players.