Now What?

[TucsonDevil]

I hate to be so ... negative, but we don't stand a chance of beating the Spurs in a 7 game series unless...

1. Amare becomes unstopable offensively (close) and a defensive stopper (I hear he has been working on it)

2. Jones, Diaw, and Bell have career years.

3. Nash has another MVP type year

4. Marion plays incredible defense and graps every board within 10 feet of him.

5. KT plays out of his mind defensively.

... I am just very disappointed right now...

 

[Chaz]

There is so much that could happen between now and next Spring.


I can't believe everyone is so bummed about this.


He would have been a nice pickup but it doesn't sink our team or guarantee the Spurs of anything.

 

[sly fly]

I'm not that disappointed Finley decided to stray off to SA.

I have a pretty good feeling about the role L. Barbosa will play this year. If this summer is any indication, Barbosa is going to finally blossum into one helluva 2-guard. And, he will have a better opportunity to do this w/o another 2-guard vying for his minutes.

I'm almost tempted (if I'm Mike D'), to start off like this:

PG Nash
SG Barbosa
SM Marion
PF Amare
C KT

1.) Raja Bell
2.) Jim Jax
3.) B Grant/Burke
4 ) Diaw
5.) James Jones

Let's see if Barbosa can step up. If he does, it leaves our bench fresh and lethal.

Pairing Barbosa and Bell is going to cause headaches. A Nash/Bell/Barbosa/Marion/Amare lineup sometime during a game is going to cause major headaches.

Bottom line is that this team is still prety flexible. They can go a lot of ways. And, if it doesn't work out... there are going to be mid-season opportunites to shore up one of their weaknesses.

Another unknown factor is Diaw. The Suns have loved him from Day 1. I can remember Cotton raving about him. Wouldn't it be nice if he and Barbosa blossomed into a dynamite 1-2 punch?

I'm not worried as long as Nash, Amare, and Marion stay healthy.

 

[elindholm]

The Suns were already behind the Spurs, and they still are. Finley wasn't going to change that once way or the other. Remember, the Spurs were only 12 minutes away from losing the Finals to Detroit. They are the best team in the league, but they are vulnerable.

 

[fordronken]

Plus, the Spurs can't win back to back championships, so it's irrelevant.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

I'm not that disappointed Finley decided to stray off to SA.

I have a pretty good feeling about the role L. Barbosa will play this year. If this summer is any indication, Barbosa is going to finally blossum into one helluva 2-guard. And, he will have a better opportunity to do this w/o another 2-guard vying for his minutes.

I'm almost tempted (if I'm Mike D'), to start off like this:

PG Nash
SG Barbosa
SM Marion
PF Amare
C KT

1.) Raja Bell
2.) Jim Jax
3.) B Grant/Burke
4 ) Diaw
5.) James Jones

Let's see if Barbosa can step up. If he does, it leaves our bench fresh and lethal.

Pairing Barbosa and Bell is going to cause headaches. A Nash/Bell/Barbosa/Marion/Amare lineup sometime during a game is almost going to cause major headaches.

Bottom line is that this team is still prety flexible. They can go a lot of ways. And, if it doesn't work out... there are going to be mid-season opportunites to shore up one of their weaknesses.

Another unknown factor is Diaw. The Suns have loved him from Day 1. I can remember Cotton raving about him. Wouldn't it be nice if he and Barbosa blossomed into a dynamite 1-2 punch?

I'm not worried as long as Nash, Amare, and Marion stay healthy.

are that confident in Diaw?

wasn't barbosa the summer league MVP last season?

The team will be really good I agree with that 100%, but I am not pinning my hopes on a gaurd who pisses himself in real basketball games, has the mental make up of a 5 year old girl and a frenchman who could'nt crack the starting 5 on the worst team in basketball.

I agree with the poster Amare needs to become all world this year for the Suns to win it all.

Nash needs to be healthy

Marion needs another career year.

Would be nice to pick up another scorer mid year.

 

[sly fly]

are that confident in Diaw?

wasn't barbosa the summer league MVP last season?

The team will be really good I agree with that 100%, but I am not pinning my hopes on a gaurd who pisses himself in real basketball games, has the mental make up of a 5 year old girl and a frenchman who could'nt crack the starting 5 on the worst team in basketball.

I agree with the poster Amare needs to become all world this year for the Suns to win it all.

Nash needs to be healthy

Marion needs another career year.

Would be nice to pick up another scorer mid year.

Your Barbosa argument only gets you so far, until you realize the kid is only 23 years old. Not all ballers even BEGIN to reach their peak until they hit 26-27. I've seen enough of him to know that he does have room to improve, and rarely see him making a mistake because he's going half-ass.

Diaw? I've only seen him play a few times, and will reserve judgement on him until I see him start the year. You? My guess is that you haven't seen him play, either. So, instead of claiming the sky is falling... just give it a chance.

You can put Walter Kronkite next to Steve Nash, and he'd probably drop 50 on your head. Just ask JJ.

As I've said before, get the ball to Amare... and get out of the damn way. It's not rocket-science.

 

[George O'Brien]

Last year we thought the Spurs getting Brent Barry would clinch it. BB is now on the block. I honestly think Finley's role will be negligible. He's simply not a good enough defender.

I am not terribly disappointed. I had more than a few misgivings about bringing in Finley because of his defense. I think the Suns new found focus on defense will only work if everyone other than Nash is perceived as capable of playing good defense. Could the Suns really bench Finley if his defense was below par?

At this point, the Suns lineup seems pretty straightforward:

Inside: Stoudemire, KT, and Grant
SF - Marion, Jones
SG - Bell, Jackson
PG - Nash, Diaw, Barbosa

Burke is unlikely to be in the rotation, but the other 10 seem likely to battle for the 8 slots.

BTW, I expect that Padgett will be a Suns now.

 

[wilecoyotesupergenius]

Maybe it's just me, but I don't see Barbosa having a breakout year. He was second in the League in steals per minutes played as a rookie...but his overall defense has declined every year (according to D'Antoni). He does show offensive flashes...but during the summer League he went multiple games with no assists (not great for a backup point guard in this system).

The coaching staff seems to feel that Diaw can be an effective pass first/defensive point guard...if that's true...great.

I'd still like to see us get someone like Damon Jones. I know the Cavs were interested...but Miami still has it's MLE...and though Damon wants MLE money, he can't be thrilled that his team put him on the back burner while attempting to woo Finley. Just my humble opinion...but I wouldn't mind trying to get Damon Jones and his 3pt% in a sign and trade from Miami.

 

[SirStefan32]

Barbosa is a mystery. Once in a while, he will come in and be unstopable, and then will disapear for a few games.

 

[wilecoyotesupergenius]

Nothing to fear.....



....I have my Tim Duncan voodoo doll in hand.....

.......(sticking pin in knee)........

There...all taken care of. Suns will be fine.

 

[sunsfn]

Maybe it's just me, but I don't see Barbosa having a breakout year. He was second in the League in steals per minutes played as a rookie...but his overall defense has declined every year (according to D'Antoni). He does show offensive flashes...but during the summer League he went multiple games with no assists (not great for a backup point guard in this system).

The coaching staff seems to feel that Diaw can be an effective pass first/defensive point guard...if that's true...great.

I'd still like to see us get someone like Damon Jones. I know the Cavs were interested...but Miami still has it's MLE...and though Damon wants MLE money, he can't be thrilled that his team put him on the back burner while attempting to woo Finley. Just my humble opinion...but I wouldn't mind trying to get Damon Jones and his 3pt% in a sign and trade from Miami.

Now that Miami did not get Finley, they will sign Damon Jones very soon.

-

 

[HooverDam]

BTW, I expect that Padgett will be a Suns now.

Agreed

 

[overseascardfan]

There are still guys out there, DeMarr Johnson and Latrell Sprewell. Sprewell is a head case but he is an all around player, Johnson has the size and shooting and could be the second coming of JJ. But besides SG I still feel we need a shot blocking C. I would try to trade for Pryzbilla from Portland for either Barbosa or JJax and a TE.

 

[elindholm]

Przybilla is too injury-prone to warrant a player in a trade, but he might be worth part of the exception. How mobile is he? His block numbers are impressive, but it sort of depends on how he gets them.

I agree that the Suns really could use a shot blocker. That's by far the biggest weakness on the roster right now.

Oh, but Sprewell is a terrible idea. I can only assume you were joking.

 

[George O'Brien]

Spree?

I would love to have a real shot blocker, but I can't see the Blazers giving away JP without getting a lot in return and Eric is right about him having a history of injuries.

 

[TucsonDevil]

Another unknown factor is Diaw. The Suns have loved him from Day 1. I can remember Cotton raving about him. Wouldn't it be nice if he and Barbosa blossomed into a dynamite 1-2 punch?
.

Yeah, it would also be nice if my employer doubled my salary tomorrow. It would also be nice if I could fly like Superman. It would also be nice if the D-Backs would go on a 10 game winning streak. It would also be nice if the Yankees would go on a 20 game losing streak. It would also be nice if the weather in Arizona would only hit 100+ for 5 days a year, max... well, you get my point - none of those things are ever going to happen.

Bottom line on Barbosa: He has hand and foot quickness, but he doesn't have the mental makeup needed to become a good point guard on an elite team. He performs so well in summer leagues, blow-out games, International ball, etc. but when the real pressure is on - he doesn't have it. YOU CAN'T TEACH THAT - to ANYONE. Even if Barbosa had a good year and his confidence was high - when we hit the playoffs and teams play tougher defense - he will crumble psychologically after the fourth turnover and be done. I have zero confidence and/or hope for him in becoming the productive/competent backup PG that some seem to think he soon will be.

PLEASE, Leandro, prove me wrong!

 

[overseascardfan]

Przybilla is too injury-prone to warrant a player in a trade, but he might be worth part of the exception. How mobile is he? His block numbers are impressive, but it sort of depends on how he gets them.

I agree that the Suns really could use a shot blocker. That's by far the biggest weakness on the roster right now.

Oh, but Sprewell is a terrible idea. I can only assume you were joking.

Pryzbilla has some mobility but for someone that would come of the bench he would do fine. He even chipped in 9 rpg last year to go along w/ his 2 bpg.

Sprewell is a little far fetched but I found there are a couple of other SG out there. Journeyman Ron Mercer and Flip Murray out of Seattle but he is a RFA. Our options would probably be better w/ a trade.

 

[George O'Brien]

Bottom line on Barbosa: He has hand and foot quickness, but he doesn't have the mental makeup needed to become a good point guard on an elite team. He performs so well in summer leagues, blow-out games, International ball, etc. but when the real pressure is on - he doesn't have it. YOU CAN'T TEACH THAT - to ANYONE. Even if Barbosa had a good year and his confidence was high - when we hit the playoffs and teams play tougher defense - he will crumble psychologically after the fourth turnover and be done. I have zero confidence and/or hope for him in becoming the productive/competent backup PG that some seem to think he soon will be.

PLEASE, Leandro, prove me wrong!

I'm not worried about Leandro as a play maker. Bobby Jackson wasn't really much of a playmaker and he was very successful for the Kings before the injuries. My concern with Leandro is that he is slow at learning the defensive rotations. I remain convinced he CAN become a really good defender but it is taking time.

As for Leandro's confidence, I don't know what to say. For over two years it seemed like JJ's confidence was the pits and now he thinks he's a god. I am relucant to make definitive pronouncements on guys that young.

 

[cly2tw]

One liability for us in the series against the Spurs was Marion. He was way easy to defend. We need to replace him with another goto scorer.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

One liability for us in the series against the Spurs was Marion. He was way easy to defend. We need to replace him with another goto scorer.

He did have the second place finisher for defensive player of the year on him.....

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Pryzibilla is pretty much untouchable at this point. The Blazer community is nuts about him, it would take much much more than we would ever want to offer to get him off their hands.

Even when you take off the homer glasses Joel is way to much of a steal to get traded. He was much better than Hunter was last year, and he only makes the LLE.

His numbers last year were pretty damn good.

25 mpg
7.7 rpg
2.14 bpg
6.4 ppg

It didn't hurt that this was his first healthy season since 2001-2002


Damon Jones pretty much had a multi-year deal starting at 3.7 million locked up with Cleveland. He has been waiting on Miami's decision however, and will probably go back to them at this point. The general thought from Heat fans that I have seen is they will split the MLE on Jones and Anderson now.

 

[CronosCard]

"..And in this corner.."

What TucsonDevil said ..The only Caveat being Barbozo's age..., Maybe the Suns can trade him to a team for more shotblocking after his torching the US team for 37 the other day..just a pile of thoughts...

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

After all that nonsense I posted, it is time to make my suggestion.


We should use the TE, the Laker/Boston pick and return the 2008 second rounder we are owed to Cleveland for Luke Jackson.


In all honesty I see him as the perfect long term replacement at shooting guard. He has a money shot, is a fantastic passer and plays unselfish. Not to mention he is like 6'8 and has a pretty high bball IQ from what I remember.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

YOU CAN'T TEACH THAT - to ANYONE.

I thought I was done in this thread, but I guess not. Sorry guys....



Anyways, I seem to remember people saying something very similar about JJ the past couple years.

It isn't about teaching it to someone, because like you said that isn't possible. It isn't a technique that you can practice. It is however a mindset that you can gain by having the confidence of your teammates and coaching staff.