nowagimp
Registered User
I think a few points can condense this discussion.
1 )Basketball, more than perhaps any other team sport is a game of matchups, and pure talent. When you have an MJ, TD, kobe, or a young shaq, the game is much easier. Note that those guys also defend very well or have a big defensive presence. That Blazers team had great talent and was VERY deep. Porter was an excellent PG, but his backup playmaker was a better creator of shots for himself and others than Porter(Drexler). That team had a big post presence(duckworth), defenders, shooters, shot creators, they were stocked to the gills, and very balanced offensively and defensively. When you have a team like that, offense is easy, many plans will work, and in that era, scoring was even higher than now for many reasons.
2) The suns talent is, IMO, WAAAAAY overrated by suns fans because in todays NBA their offense put up big stats. MANY current and former suns players had career years getting to play in the DA system after being unimpressive in other systems. Does this mean they are more talented suddenly? Guys like Bell, Diaw wouldnt have started for more than 1/2 of all NBA teams, and certainly no contenders would have used them 20+ mins a game. Perhaps the only players on the suns that are all stars without "the system" are nash and stat, and before stat developed the midrange shot over the last two years, he DEPENDED on nashs pick and roll genius to get his all star numbers. After all, a guy who goes to the rack every time driving right, and doesnt dish is easy to play defensively with help. Thats why amare is 4th in the league in charges even after developing the mid range shot.
So, this idea that porter will do for the suns what he did for that stacked blazer team or that his offense will work with the suns as well as DA's is a bit of a reach. The same for the spurs or bulls offense, teams that had better talent, are easier to coach on offense.
The depth factor is huge, as everyone knows the SSOL suns didnt score so well when nash sats, they were terrible. Well duh, no kidding they cant create their own shots, aside from amare, and perhaps 36 year old grant hill. And the bench was never competitive with other elite teams.
I am glad to see the suns concentrate more on defense as team defense can help them at the end of halfs to close out the opponent, but call me a skeptic that an offense that depends more on individual skills is going to keep them competitive. I hope to see it, but my expectations are moderate for this team.
1 )Basketball, more than perhaps any other team sport is a game of matchups, and pure talent. When you have an MJ, TD, kobe, or a young shaq, the game is much easier. Note that those guys also defend very well or have a big defensive presence. That Blazers team had great talent and was VERY deep. Porter was an excellent PG, but his backup playmaker was a better creator of shots for himself and others than Porter(Drexler). That team had a big post presence(duckworth), defenders, shooters, shot creators, they were stocked to the gills, and very balanced offensively and defensively. When you have a team like that, offense is easy, many plans will work, and in that era, scoring was even higher than now for many reasons.
2) The suns talent is, IMO, WAAAAAY overrated by suns fans because in todays NBA their offense put up big stats. MANY current and former suns players had career years getting to play in the DA system after being unimpressive in other systems. Does this mean they are more talented suddenly? Guys like Bell, Diaw wouldnt have started for more than 1/2 of all NBA teams, and certainly no contenders would have used them 20+ mins a game. Perhaps the only players on the suns that are all stars without "the system" are nash and stat, and before stat developed the midrange shot over the last two years, he DEPENDED on nashs pick and roll genius to get his all star numbers. After all, a guy who goes to the rack every time driving right, and doesnt dish is easy to play defensively with help. Thats why amare is 4th in the league in charges even after developing the mid range shot.
So, this idea that porter will do for the suns what he did for that stacked blazer team or that his offense will work with the suns as well as DA's is a bit of a reach. The same for the spurs or bulls offense, teams that had better talent, are easier to coach on offense.
The depth factor is huge, as everyone knows the SSOL suns didnt score so well when nash sats, they were terrible. Well duh, no kidding they cant create their own shots, aside from amare, and perhaps 36 year old grant hill. And the bench was never competitive with other elite teams.
I am glad to see the suns concentrate more on defense as team defense can help them at the end of halfs to close out the opponent, but call me a skeptic that an offense that depends more on individual skills is going to keep them competitive. I hope to see it, but my expectations are moderate for this team.
