Not sure about it this year...

[Mike Olbinski]

I have to say that I've been drinking the Suns kool-aid all year, and last round, and Game 1 of round 2, so last night was a wake-up call...

Not that I think we're done, on the contrary, I think we'll at least force this thing to 7 games and have a good chance to win, just as much as Dallas does.

But my main point to this post is this:

I don't think we're going to win it this year, and the main culprit is Amare. I love him, and am amazed at him. But he can't play defense except for a spectacular blocked shot here and there.

Is is because he can't guard big centers? I don't think so...the guy doesn't move well on defense, loses his man a lot, etc.

In the offseason, if the coaches can improve his defense like they improved his shooting last year, then I think we suddenly will have that complete player.

Nash is the MVP, but Amare is the power that is behind this team, and he needs to be that power on both ends of the court...I want to see him, being so strong, play defense like he plays offense.

Just my thoughts...and on that note, while depressed today big time, I think we'll tie this up on Friday and then we'll see what happens.

Mike

 

[Chaplin]

Dude, he's had 4 great games where he's played like a superstar, and 2 not-so-great games, although he played pretty well in the second half last night.

It's still way too early to write the team off all of a sudden after their FIRST playoff loss of the season.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Bah don't be depressed. It was a close game that was decided on a last second shot. Be depressed when we are knocked out of the playoffs. Even without JJ we were more than competitive.

I am not even thinking about a championship right now, I am thinking about Dallas. My expectations for this team were met around February and I am just enjoying the rest of the ride.

 

[jibikao]

Actually, I think this IS the year.

We have so many things going our ways. The refs certainly didn't try to slow down the game for the sake of playoffs. If you watch the Eastern games, you'll realize that their games are much more physical and the refs allow them to do so.


I feel NBA wants Suns to win this year. I feel this is the year for us.


Amare is still young and he had a bad first half but he did come back in the 2nd half. We can't expect A games all the time from all the players.


Another reason is our game hasn't really been slowed down. We scored 106 last night by shooting only 41%. Mavs still can't stop us. Period.


I have to defend Amare a little bit in regards to his defense against the Mavs. Amare may not have trouble covering other centers but not Dirk. Dirk is getting WAY TOO MANY calls. Almost every time he goes inside, flops a little (or out of balance a little), he gets a call. Several times Amare/Marion already let him go but still got the calls. This is very frustrating, just like how the Rocket fans were complaining about Dirk getting so many calls.

Mavs can afford to have Dampier sitting on the bench when he is in foul trouble but not Suns. We really only have good 7-men rotation. D'Antoni can't afford to have Amare sitting on the bench.


I think we'll have a great game in Game 3. This is not the end yet. The injury of JJ TOTALLY SUCKS but Jim Jackson ain't that bad either. The only thing we need is Barbosa stepping up. If he can't play point, he has to drive inside to score which seems like the only thing he is capable of. Nash can't consistently play 40+ min game. Not with his pace of game.

 

[moviebuff316]

Series aint over.. Lets hope Joe Johnson can somehow get back before the end of the playoffs. If Suns loose, we will learn that we definately need to add to our bench in the offseason.

 

[jibikao]

If the Mavs thinks they have this series, they are DEFINITELY WRONG. We play very well on the road. Sometimes I feel we play even better on the road.

 

[Lefty]

"Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!"

The Suns have beaten Dallas in Dallas already, plus the Mavs lost twice to Houston at home. They are beatable on their home court.

Even without Johnson, this team is capable of winning. Jackson is a very capable replacement that has the experience. I have a feeling Amare and Shawn are going to take over in the next couple of games.

Keep the faith.

 

[Chaplin]

I actually think we're going to see a different Quentin Richardson. He's been the 4th or 5th option all season long, and he himself has even said he's changed his game a bit to mesh with the other starters (becoming more of a 3-point shooter). We're going to see a lot more activity out of Q.

 

[haverford]

I agree with the above comments on Barbosa and Q, as I said in another thread. Barbosa needs to dig deep for a killer mindset and Q needs to take more shots.

 

[fordronken]

Just my thoughts...and on that note, while depressed today big time, I think we'll tie this up on Friday and then we'll see what happens.

It's tied now. We can take back the lead.

 

[boisesuns]

I think the suns will hang in there, but we realy have to play our starters most of the game, for that to happen. I agree with chap, Q needs to step up. the mavs started taking the ball to the basket more in game two, and with finley being on fire, it put them over the top. I still think we have 4 guys who could go for 30 if they had to. the problem is jj made it 5, and i think offensivly, the mavs have enough firepower to match whereas before jj put it over the hump.

I think putting Q on finley might help. Plug the lanes, double dirk. i'm ok with taking a chance of josh howard or even jason terry beating you with a jumpshot. our defensive rotation is terrible.

 

[jibikao]

I am sure Q will want to step up after he misses that game winning shot. He is highly competitive.


We need Barbosa/Hunter. Whichever one to step up. We only have 6-men rotation now and we just need one more. Be it Barbosa or Hunter.

I am leaning towards Hunter since he can go inside as well and he is tall enough to protect our rim a bit more.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Dude, he's had 4 great games where he's played like a superstar, and 2 not-so-great games, although he played pretty well in the second half last night.

It's still way too early to write the team off all of a sudden after their FIRST playoff loss of the season.

First off, I never wrote this team off...i'm depressed, yes, but I still think we'll win this thing. In a 7-game series, the best team usually wins. I think we're the best team...

Second, he's had 4 great games on OFFENSE, but his defense is still lacking. We just don't see it because he blow people out most of the time.

That's all I'm saying. Dampier got too many free rides to the hoop last night.

Mike

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Bah don't be depressed. It was a close game that was decided on a last second shot. Be depressed when we are knocked out of the playoffs. Even without JJ we were more than competitive.

I am not even thinking about a championship right now, I am thinking about Dallas. My expectations for this team were met around February and I am just enjoying the rest of the ride.

I'm not either, and the whole point of this thread wasn't to say we're not good enough to win THIS series, because I think we are, I'm just saying against the Spurs, or even the Finales vs the Pistons or whoever, I don't think Amare's defense is good enough.

Granted, if we get past the Spurs, then he must be doing something right, lol..

But we gotta focus on this series too.

BTW Chris, you weren't at Jackson's last night were you? Saw someone who looked a lot like you, but didn't think it was you.

Mike

 

[Mike Olbinski]

It's tied now. We can take back the lead.

Sorry, I meant get the split over there...I'm tired, cranky and can't type today

Mike

 

[maddogkf]

the 2 misses in the last 1:30 killed us. The blown ally-oop dunk & the tip-in.

 

[elindholm]

I'm just saying against the Spurs, or even the Finales vs the Pistons or whoever, I don't think Amare's defense is good enough.

I've had that feeling all along, but some people on this board get very angry if you say that Stoudemire isn't already at Duncan's level.

My feeling about the Mavericks series is this: If the Suns can't win without Johnson, then most likely they weren't likely to win two more series if they'd had him available. And if they can get by Dallas short-handed, then who knows, maybe Johnson will be able to return and spark the team to the next level.

In other words, this series isn't for the championship, and frankly it doesn't matter to me that much whether the Suns get eliminated now or later. Either go all the way, or start resting up for next year. I'm still optimistic, but if they lose here, then it just wasn't their year.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

the 2 misses in the last 1:30 killed us. The blown ally-oop dunk & the tip-in.

Yeah, but that's on the offensive side, not too worried about that...although he did miss a lot of easy crap he usually makes last night...

Mike

 

[Cheesebeef]

the 2 misses in the last 1:30 killed us. The blown ally-oop dunk & the tip-in.

those only seem huge because they were in the last minutes - but our inability to build the lead when the Mavs went socreless from the field for 5 minutes in the fourth (when apparently they "couldn't have played better") is what killed us. We were stuck on 94-92 forever and we had so many chances to bump the lead up and never could - that is what killed us.

To say Dallas played out of their heads, when in reality they played one great quarter and then we controlled the game for the rest until the 5 minutes mark in the fourth doesn't jive with reality.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

I'm not either, and the whole point of this thread wasn't to say we're not good enough to win THIS series, because I think we are, I'm just saying against the Spurs, or even the Finales vs the Pistons or whoever, I don't think Amare's defense is good enough.

Granted, if we get past the Spurs, then he must be doing something right, lol..

But we gotta focus on this series too.

BTW Chris, you weren't at Jackson's last night were you? Saw someone who looked a lot like you, but didn't think it was you.

Mike

No I was stuck working. I only work Monday-Wednesday Night, yet somehow that is every freakin Suns home game.

 

[goldseraph]

If JJ doesn't come back we WILL lose to Dallas - season over. You can't beat a team like the Mavs 3 out of 5 with only 6 capable players on your team. McCarty is a stiff, so are Outlaw/Shirley/Voskuhl. We basically have a one man bench right now going up against Dallas' depth.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

If JJ doesn't come back we WILL lose to Dallas - season over. You can't beat a team like the Mavs 3 out of 5 with only 6 capable players on your team. McCarty is a stiff, so are Outlaw/Shirley/Voskuhl. We basically have a one man bench right now going up against Dallas' depth.

Don't underestimate McCarty. Defensively, he is as sound as anyone on the team, and he makes an excellent effort on the boards. He can play significant minutes.

 

[sly fly]

those only seem huge because they were in the last minutes - but our inability to build the lead when the Mavs went socreless from the field for 5 minutes in the fourth (when apparently they "couldn't have played better") is what killed us. We were stuck on 94-92 forever and we had so many chances to bump the lead up and never could - that is what killed us.

To say Dallas played out of their heads, when in reality they played one great quarter and then we controlled the game for the rest until the 5 minutes mark in the fourth doesn't jive with reality.

I thought the "dagger" was when Finley hit the fadeaway jumper with Marion draped all over him and the shot-clock winding down.

PHX was on a little roll, but that kept Dallas within 3 (I believe).

When Finley has his jumper going, he's as deadly as any player in the league.

 

[Amare32]

Q needs to get his butt on the block, i don't know how many more times I can stress this.

we will be fine, we have more than enough to beat dallas. we shot badly in game 2 and still had a chance on the buzzer to win without JJ

 

[green machine]

I think Amare's problem has been fouls. He gets a couple early ones, and he plays softer on D, not wanting to pick up more. His offenseive game/presense are so important, that honestly, we can't afford to lose him because of fouls on the defensive end.

I think the effort is there...the knowhow of playing defense without the fouls is not.