Play Bigger?

[Covert Rain]

Guys. I am not sure this will help at all but it seems like as soon as the Suns go small we get into trouble. I am not happy with Frye at all and I am not saying we should not play him because we know he shoots better at home.

However, when Lopez goes to the bench I think we still need size. The only way to play bigger is to keep a Center in there. So as worthless as I think Collins is sometimes, at least he puts a body on someone (unlike Frye). I think either Lopez or Collins needs to be out there for longer stretches. I know sometimes it will be necessary to go small but we can't compete against the Lakers front line as is.

I am thinking this will help Amare out as well. If Amare is our only true "big" in the game it won't work. It has not worked. I know that will mean less spacing on the floor but it's not like we can't create space. We were doing it earlier when Lopez was out there.

Just some thoughts of desperation.

 

[Trophytown]

Phoenix needs to go with its fastest lineup..whatever or whomever that might be. Dragic, Barbosa, Dudley, Amare and Nash. The first two have demonstrated they can get to the rack. Farmar nor Fisher have the footspeed to keep in step or stay in front. The only success you guys might have is to force the tempo but drive to the basket and create fouls (when youre in the halfcourt offense)

I expect more intensity from Phoenix on Sunday.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I think Collins should get some minutes too. As horrible as he was in the Spurs series. I think he can do some good with against Bynum. Have Lopez shadow Gasol whenever he subs.

 

[Covert Rain]

I think Collins should get some minutes too. As horrible as he was in the Spurs series. I think he can do some good with against Bynum. Have Lopez shadow Gasol whenever he subs.

That is what I am thinking too. Keep the Lakers big guys honest in the paint. Stop them from getting those easy put backs. I mean all Collins would have to do is put a body on someone.

Collins didn't do anything special in the first 2 rounds but he did use his body and boxed out. I think that is what this team needs against the Lakers bigs.

 

[AzStevenCal]

This makes no sense to me. The Lakers bigs are bigger and quicker than any we've faced this far so let's insert the slowest guy in the league. In previous playoff games, marginal big men overpowered and outquicked Collins so badly that we were praying for him to go to the bench so we'd stand a chance to play catch-up.

I don't see us getting better with Collins picking up minutes, as a matter of fact I think it's a recipe for disaster. Unless you're suggesting that our bench will all of a sudden improve knowing that they get to face a double digit deficit every time they take the court, we'd best leave Collins where he belongs (anywhere but on the court).

Steve

 

[mjb21aztd]

meh I really don't have to much faith Gasol is going to get his numbers no matter who we put on them, then if somehow anyone manages to atleast slow down gasol we then have to worry about odom, artest, or kobe going off for major points . We just don't match up well at all against the lakers, I really hope we take the two games at home but i'm not feeling all that confident about that right now.....

 

[Covert Rain]

This makes no sense to me. The Lakers bigs are bigger and quicker than any we've faced this far so let's insert the slowest guy in the league. In previous playoff games, marginal big men overpowered and outquicked Collins so badly that we were praying for him to go to the bench so we'd stand a chance to play catch-up.

I don't see us getting better with Collins picking up minutes, as a matter of fact I think it's a recipe for disaster. Unless you're suggesting that our bench will all of a sudden improve knowing that they get to face a double digit deficit every time they take the court, we'd best leave Collins where he belongs (anywhere but on the court).

Steve

Exactly the Lakers are bigger. Quicker? I don't see that at all. Speed isn't the problem with the Lakers. Size is. Also, we don't need Collins to play 30 minutes. Only to spell Lopez. When we go small, the Lakers kill us on the boards.

Also, I don't get your point with the bench having to face double digit deficits. We are not playing Collins and they already are having to face double digit deficits by the time they come in.

Sorry, I think you just need size in their to bang bodies. We don't need Collins to be spectacular. I like what Doug Collins said. No matter how much talent you have, size does matter and makes an impact regardless of the talent level.

 

[AfroSuns]

I think Mojo mentioned this in another thread but i think we should go with Amare, Frye, Lopez, to match their frontline. If anything Frye would draw a big out and we wont get killed on the board. JRich comes off the bench in that scenario but i am not sure how much that would affect his game.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Exactly the Lakers are bigger. Quicker? I don't see that at all. Speed isn't the problem with the Lakers. Size is. Also, we don't need Collins to play 30 minutes. Only to spell Lopez. When we go small, the Lakers kill us on the boards.

Speed is a problem; their bigs are beating us to the basket, they are beating us to spots on the floor, they are beating us to loose balls and consequently they are beating us to death.

Also, I don't get your point with the bench having to face double digit deficits. We are not playing Collins and they already are having to face double digit deficits by the time they come in.

Our starters with Collins in there were leaving us with double digit deficits and that was against smaller, slower and less talented big guys. If marginal players could have their way with Collins what do you think will happen when an Odom, Gasol or Bynum gets a crack at him

Sorry, I think you just need size in their to bang bodies. We don't need Collins to be spectacular. I like what Doug Collins said. No matter how much talent you have, size does matter and makes an impact regardless of the talent level.

We'd be a lot better off if we had big guys that were the equal of their guys in size, speed and talent. But just putting big guys out there simply because they bring size has never been the solution (by itself, at least), they need to actually have some talent. There's a reason that Luc Longley, Jake Tsakalidis and Dennis Awtrey aren't in the Hall of Fame.

The only thing Collins can do is to set a nice illegal screen. Anything else he can give you can be matched by drawing a happy face on a broomstick.

Steve

 

[jagu]

The bigger we are

Collins, Amare, Frye

the dumber we get.... Play small, fire the ball up and down. Our smarter players are smaller.

 

[Covert Rain]

I think Mojo mentioned this in another thread but i think we should go with Amare, Frye, Lopez, to match their frontline. If anything Frye would draw a big out and we wont get killed on the board. JRich comes off the bench in that scenario but i am not sure how much that would affect his game.

You know that is not a bad idea. Although, I think I would like Lopez, Amare, Frye, JRich and Nash. You know the funny thing is, no matter how we adjust or lineup, I could see Phil putting Lamar back in the starting lineup at SF just to mess up any adjustment we make.

 

[dodie53]

why not give Lou more minutes?

he is undersized but atleast he hustles

 

[Covert Rain]

why not give Lou more minutes?

he is undersized but atleast he hustles

You think he is big enough to help out? It seems like Lou can't get in there in this series. Balls that I normally see him grab are now tip ups that are going the Lakers way.

 

[jibikao]

If Suns haven't played with "bigs" in mind, it is too late to do that now. It will only frustrate players with a different system.

Lopez will play more in game 3. The first two games let him get back into game shape. The 3-day rest will allow his body to play 25-30mins easily if he is not in foul trouble.

Lopez is the only big we need.

Frye's height is very over-rated if he has no inside-game (which he doesn't). His height is only there for him to shoot over shorter defenders. And since he couldn't make shots and couldn't play good defense, it is pointless to keep him in the game.

 

[jibikao]

You think he is big enough to help out? It seems like Lou can't get in there in this series. Balls that I normally see him grab are now tip ups that are going the Lakers way.

Lou did have an awesome block on Lamar Odom to send him a message. Lou has the effort at least. I rather have bench players committing hard fouls than not fouling at all.

 

[Irish]

The sad part about size is that you can't get bigger in a few days.

The Suns strategy of shooting the Lakers out of their "three guys in the box" has not worked. Maybe if Frye had a seven threes night it would be different, but it hasn't. Phil is playing the odds and the odds of getting killed by Frye is lot lower than playing Amare one on one.

It's too late to really experiment. I wish we knew more about Dwayne Jones, a D-League guy who averaged 16 rpg down there. He's taller than Lou and 15 pounds heavier. I can't confirm this, but he had a reputation for being a real stong player. Unfotunately, he has almost no experience with the Suns.

Earl Clark is another guy I wish we knew more about. He's listed at 6-10" 225 compared to Odom at 6-10" 230. It was reported that in a workout against Jennings (star of the Bucks), Clark got Jennings extremely frustrated because Jennings couldn't get by him. But with almost no floor time, he's not ready.

 

[jagu]

I thought it would have been smart playing Jones instead of Collins just so we could see if he isn't completely useless like Collins. It's too late now. Earl Clark definitely is not ready to be in the game against the Lakers. He is the Dragic, Lopez of rookie years.

 

[SunsTzu]

I wish Clark had been able to produce more offensively during the season. He looked to be the best defender on the team and a decent rebounder whenever he got time.

 

[Irish]

I wish Clark had been able to produce more offensively during the season. He looked to be the best defender on the team and a decent rebounder whenever he got time.

They took Clark as a future replacement for Hill, but he is so raw offensively...

I'm hoping he gets a lot work over the summer.

 

[jagu]

They took Clark as a future replacement for Hill, but he is so raw offensively...

I'm hoping he gets a lot work over the summer.

His jumpshot is a sight for sore eyes. I like his agility, hops, defensive ability, and vision is pretty decent. If he gets confidence I think he will be a really good player in the league and makes the Suns long and agile.

Dragic (big pG)
Lopez (big C)
Clark (big SF)

 

[SunsTzu]

They took Clark as a future replacement for Hill, but he is so raw offensively...

I'm hoping he gets a lot work over the summer.

I don't really think Clark is raw. He needs to refine his jumper but other than that I think he has a fairly complete offensive game. Whatever problem he has is between his ears.

 

[Covert Rain]

His jumpshot is a sight for sore eyes. I like his agility, hops, defensive ability, and vision is pretty decent. If he gets confidence I think he will be a really good player in the league and makes the Suns long and agile.

Dragic (big pG)
Lopez (big C)
Clark (big SF)

I hope that he develops a shot. Remember that Amare couldn't hit that 18 footer when we first got him. Now it's money. I hope he develops a similar shot. It's too late to use him in the playoffs but when Hill is gone I think he get alot more time.

 

[Irish]

I don't really think Clark is raw. He needs to refine his jumper but other than that I think he has a fairly complete offensive game. Whatever problem he has is between his ears.

I'll admit I did not see him late in the season, so my early impressions stick. Still I love his potential.