PJ Still A Long Shot

[azirish]

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/PaulCoro/2612

The Suns' Vegas high rollers


Other than Marcus Banks and new draftees Alando Tucker and D.J. Strawberry, the three players on the Summer Suns with the best shot at making the roster or at least getting to training camp are Pape Sow (an athletic 6-foot-10 rebounder who played 76 games with Toronto over three years but broke his vertebra in summer league last year and was out until January), Michael Bradley (a fine-shooting, 6-foot-10 NBA journeyman who played in Spain's first division last year) and Melvin Sanders (an athletic 6-foot-5 guard who was called up by San Antonio a few times in 2005-06).

Sow, 25, has the best shot of the lot. Bradley, 28, will get a chance in a Pat Burke sort of way. He was a first-round pick in 2001 and had not been out of the league until last year in Bruesa. Sanders, 26, has the talent to compete physically and defensively but must prove his perimeter shot improved while playing in France last year.

A player like Sow or Bradley may be a more feasible type of roster addition if the Suns are unable to trade Kurt Thomas for the purpose of moving his $8.1 million salary and putting Phoenix below the luxury tax threshold.

KTAR-AM reported Monday that former Lakers center Chris Mihm will work out for the Suns during their practices in Las Vegas, where the summer team will gather later this week for the minicamp ordinarily held in Phoenix. But Mihm's agent, Jeff Austin, told the Lakers that he wants the mid-level exception, which is worth about $5.5 million. That's an awful lot for a guy that missed all of last season with an ankle injury.

Guys like Mihm and P.J. Brown will have to exhaust their options elsewhere before they consider taking a minimum deal with Phoenix. Ironically, Chicago will pursue Mihm to replace Brown.

Realistically, the market may at least give them something in the $2 to $3 million range. Brown still could retire too. Phoenix could become more willing to bid on them if Thomas is traded but that became more difficult now that the draft has passed.

Here again is the Suns' summer league schedule if you are interested in going to Las Vegas to watch Banks, Tucker, Strawberry and the aforementioned prospects along with popular summer returnee Adam Hess. The Summer Suns, led by Phil Weber, plan to play an uptempo style with trapping defense.

+ Monday (July 9): vs. Cleveland, 7:30, Thomas and Mack Center
+ Wednesday (July 11): vs. Philadelphia, 5 p.m., Cox Pavilion
+ Friday (July 13): vs. New Orleans, 1 p.m., Cox Pavilion
+ Saturday (July 14): vs. Portland, 7:30 p.m., Thomas and Mack Center
+ Sunday (July 15): vs. New Orleans, 5 p.m., Cox Pavilion

 

[dodie53]

the suns can use trapping defense as long as coach D uses his bench

 

[azirish]

the suns can use trapping defense as long as coach D uses his bench

The Suns have not added a coach to replace Iaveroni. I'm hoping they will bring a defense specialist, but the guys they've talked to (from Houston and Dallas) probably don't have as much experience with the trap as the Suns would need.

A lot of us have mixed feelings about the trap after watching the way Frank Johnson used it. Anybody who could pass the ball simply destroyed it. But the trap can be used with great effect if everybody understands their rotations and players are switched out more frequently than D'Antoni is used to doing.

 

[F-Dog]

Trapping defense reminds me of Frank Johnson. I much prefer the straight-up defense D'Antoni has used.


Kind of sad to learn that PJ Brown will retire before he signs with Phoenix. Pape Sow might surprise, though, if he's healthy--according to Toronto fans, he was underused there.

 

[Gaddabout]

Trapping defense requires a deep bench. Period. It also means fewer touches for Nash.

I doubt this is the direction they're heading for the team.

 

[Errntknght]

D'Antoni tried trapping his first year as head coach... and it looked he'd learned it from FJ. Happily, he didn't persist too long.

I can't imagine D'Antoni using a trap as a regular feature of the defense but the Suns might have a lineup that has a talent for it and uses it on occasion to disrupt opponents offensive flow.

Actually, what puzzles me is why the topic even came up...

 

[azirish]

In the last few years the Suns have taken an attitude of encouraging teams to take jump shots by packing the paint. Usually it works, but not always. Having a more aggressive defense available is certainly something they have to consider.

The Frank Johnson trap didn't work for several reasons:

1. Poor Rotation - The trap only works if the three "non-trapping" players go into denial mode and force cross court skip passes. FJ's trap seemed to be just Bo Outlaw running around like crazy and everybody else standing around with their thumbs in their mouths.

2. Lack of Depth - Traps and pressure defense expends a tremendous amount of energy. You cannot do this for 48 minutes without a lot of guys because everybody gets worn out after a while.

3. Right Players - The trap requires a lot of speed and physical strength to keep the trapped player from simply breaking the trap and to recover when the ball is passed.

I cannot see the Suns going to the trap to any major degree, but I think it is important that they be able to do it. Simply sitting back and letting opponents bomb them doesn't always work.

 

[nash2stouds]

It's just for the summer team. They aren't using it during the regular season.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

it and uses it on occasion to disrupt opponents offensive flow.

Actually, what puzzles me is why the topic even came up...

Because it was bolded in the initial post?

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm not overly knowledgeable about how the trapping defense is applied. However, I watched former UCLA coach John Wooden apply the trapping defense in his day. I know if it is applied correctly it appears there is something like 7 or 8 defensive players on the court with the correct rotation. The defense can absolutely be stifling especially if used situationally. I would really like the Suns to show this type defense sporadically... like a momentum changer.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I'm not overly knowledgeable about how the trapping defense is applied. However, I watched former UCLA coach John Wooden apply the trapping defense in his day. I know if it is applied correctly it appears there is something like 7 or 8 defensive players on the court with the correct rotation. The defense can absolutely be stifling especially if used situationally. I would really like the Suns to show this type defense sporadically... like a momentum changer.

the best example i can remember is the amoeba defense that the running rebs used to implement under tarkanian with augmon, anthony, hunt, grandmama, and george ackles/david butler. it was all about the athletes playing that weird semi-zone and trapping on the sidelines. when it was ratcheted up it was mass chaotic insanity all over the court.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

the best example i can remember is the amoeba defense that the running rebs used to implement under tarkanian with augmon, anthony, hunt, grandmama, and george ackles/david butler. it was all about the athletes playing that weird semi-zone and trapping on the sidelines. when it was ratcheted up it was mass chaotic insanity all over the court.

The bolded is absolutely key in just about all trapping defenses. The sidelines creates the illusion of another defender.