Raja Bell on Michael Finley!?

[HooverDam]

So today on Gambo & Ash they were talking about how the Suns should/will have Raja Bell on Michael Finley to start the game, if thats true, I think my brain will melt. Does it make sense to anyone to put an All NBA First Team defender on Michael Finley? All Finley can do is hit wide open threes with his feet set, thats it. Putting Raja on him is a complete waste of resources. Its like putting a rocket engine in a Geo Metro, just why?

So I called in (I'm "Will, in Phoenix") and told them I think the better match up (as far as starters are concerned) is:

Nash on Bowen
James Jones on Finley
Raja Bell on Tony Parker
Amare on Elson
Marion on Duncan

This seems to be the most sensible match up to me. Nash can hide on Bowen, Jones can cover Finley fine by the three point line and then go on the break, Amare hopefully stays out of foul trouble on Elson, the teams best perimeter defender is on Bell, and Marion, who is pretty 'long' can pester Duncan.

The other good thing about these match ups is that it throws different looks at the Spurs. If part of the game Duncan is being defended by Marion,and the other part by KT, those are two totally different styles he has to adjust to. Once Manu comes in, I'd switch Bell onto him, and Marion onto Parker, and bring KT in for Jones, and put KT on Duncan. This gives Parker two very different defenses (Bell and Marion) to adjust to all game as well.

So anyway, am I crazy for thinking Bell on Finley is a complete waste? Also, I think it was Gambo who said KT should start, and I can't disagree more. First off, you go with what got you here (and thats not starting KT, didnt we learn anything from Avery messing w/ his starting 5?), and that gives Duncan someone to cover. If you go w/ the regular starting 5, Duncan will have to guard either Marion or James Jones, both of who are huge mismatches for him. Marion can blow by him and beat him off the dribble, and Jones will just stand in the corner and jack 3's (and Duncan won't want to come out to guard him), so I think starting KT is an awful idea.

Anyway, thoughts?

 

[Ryanwb]

KT should start and guard Duncan, period

 

[dreamcastrocks]

So today on Gambo & Ash they were talking about how the Suns should/will have Raja Bell on Michael Finley to start the game, if thats true, I think my brain will melt. Does it make sense to anyone to put an All NBA First Team defender on Michael Finley? All Finley can do is hit wide open threes with his feet set, thats it. Putting Raja on him is a complete waste of resources. Its like putting a rocket engine in a Geo Metro, just why?

So I called in (I'm "Will, in Phoenix") and told them I think the better match up (as far as starters are concerned) is:

Nash on Bowen
James Jones on Finley
Raja Bell on Tony Parker
Amare on Elson
Marion on Duncan

This seems to be the most sensible match up to me. Nash can hide on Bowen, Jones can cover Finley fine by the three point line and then go on the break, Amare hopefully stays out of foul trouble on Elson, the teams best perimeter defender is on Bell, and Marion, who is pretty 'long' can pester Duncan.

The other good thing about these match ups is that it throws different looks at the Spurs. If part of the game Duncan is being defended by Marion,and the other part by KT, those are two totally different styles he has to adjust to. Once Manu comes in, I'd switch Bell onto him, and Marion onto Parker, and bring KT in for Jones, and put KT on Duncan. This gives Parker two very different defenses (Bell and Marion) to adjust to all game as well.

So anyway, am I crazy for thinking Bell on Finley is a complete waste? Also, I think it was Gambo who said KT should start, and I can't disagree more. First off, you go with what got you here (and thats not starting KT, didnt we learn anything from Avery messing w/ his starting 5?), and that gives Duncan someone to cover. If you go w/ the regular starting 5, Duncan will have to guard either Marion or James Jones, both of who are huge mismatches for him. Marion can blow by him and beat him off the dribble, and Jones will just stand in the corner and jack 3's (and Duncan won't want to come out to guard him), so I think starting KT is an awful idea.

Anyway, thoughts?

No one on this team has the defensive skills to be on Parker. Barbosa could be, but he is no where as good defensively, as he has become offensively. Bell would get abused guarding Parker.

Besides, this will only be for about 15 minutes per game. Ginobili will still play around 35 minutes, and Raja will on Ginobili most of the time.

 

[HooverDam]

KT should start and guard Duncan, period

Wow thanks for that brilliant bit of analysis. Why? Doesn't that give Duncan someone to guard? Doesn't that go away from what the Suns have done all year? Isn't that changing horses in midstream (which is what Avery did and everyone mocked him for it)?

Its cool if you want to take that opinion, but lets hear some reasons why and not just say "period", thats pretty ********.

No one on this team has the defensive skills to be on Parker. Barbosa could be, but he is no where as good defensively, as he has become offensively. Bell would get abused guarding Parker.

Besides, this will only be for about 15 minutes per game. Ginobili will still play around 35 minutes, and Raja will on Ginobili most of the time.

Why would Bell get abused guarding Parker for a few minutes a game? Raja can sag back, challenge Parker to shoot the long shot (Ill take my chances with that) and pester the hell out of him on his drives, and allow Marion and Amare to potentially come over for blocks.

The other thing about putting Marion and Amare on Duncan/Elson is that it leaves the Suns two best rebounders on the interior, increasing their chances for a rebound and we all know how important rebounding will be in this series.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

If they go with this strategy then D'Antoni is going to have to live with...A) Duncan destroying Marion on offense and on the offensive glass or B) a lot of Spur wide-open 3's as the defense scrambles after the double-team on Duncan. Just because Marion can guard a PF like Nowitski who is essentially a jumpshooter does not mean he can guard a post presence like Duncan.

 

[TJ]

Kurt Thomas, a more explosive Stoudemire, and Barbosa playing All Star ball should be the difference

 

[jbeecham]

If Marion tries to guard Duncan then he'll be in foul trouble really quickly. I'd be fine if KT started on Duncan and if Burke backed up KT. Duncan is going to get his points and he's going to get all of the calls, so why put one of your important players on him? They won't be able to shut him down. Let Duncan get his points and use your better defenders to limit everyone else. Also, don't double team all the damn time and if you feel like you have to double team, then go strong.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

I love how jbeecham is already whining about the officiating.

 

[Ryanwb]

Wow thanks for that brilliant bit of analysis. Why? Doesn't that give Duncan someone to guard? Doesn't that go away from what the Suns have done all year? Isn't that changing horses in midstream (which is what Avery did and everyone mocked him for it)?

Its cool if you want to take that opinion, but lets hear some reasons why and not just say "period", thats pretty ********.

Good lord kid... I have more to do with my time than to call into radio shows all day. I'm sorry if my brief opinion offended you. Why don't you grow up a little

 

[HooverDam]

Good lord kid... I have more to do with my time than to call into radio shows all day. I'm sorry if my brief opinion offended you. Why don't you grow up a little

It didn't offend me, I just thought it was stupid to come into a thread, bother to post but then not post your reasons for why you thought something. And yah, it took a lot of my time to call into a radio show while I was filling gas, I had to cancel a lot of appointments, reschedule my whole day, it was rough. I guess next time I'm filling gas I'll just stare mindlessly into the sun so that I'm not wasting time.

Mao, I'm not saying Marion on Duncan for the majority of the game, just the first 5 minutes or so. I would say don't double team him at all, everyone stick to their man, and let Duncan score if he's going to, I don't care. I think Amare being able to hop off Elson as Duncan shoots and go for blocks would be key if Marion was guarding Duncan. Other than KT, the players that seem to cover Duncan the best are long, rangy, shot blocking type of guys, the closest thing the Suns have to that is Marion.

 

[jbeecham]

Maybe we'll use our secret weapon and activate Sean Marks to play defense against Duncan. He did practice against Duncan a lot over the 2 years he spent in SA so he should know his tendencies. Maybe Sean Marks is Tim Duncans kryptonite

Note the sarcasm in this post, but it would be incredibly funny if it were true.

 

[sunsfn]

KT should start and guard Duncan, period

Avery, is that you?

 

[sunsfn]

There is no doubt that Duncan is a major problem. But the suns have always had a problem with Parker. Parker is not always on with his outside shot, and we have to stop him from driving to the basket. He has a quick first step and gets by defenders, so we have to get help from someone if he gets by Bell, Marion, or whoever is guarding him.

 

[SunsTzu]

Nash on Bowen
Bell on Finley
Marion on Parker
Jones on Duncan
Amare on Elson

If those are the starters thats how I'd defend them. Like was stated earlier Parker's defender will be sagging off him inticing him to shoot jumpers. Marion has a better chance of making Parker alter his shots inside and with his superior quickness to Bell's he could help out on Duncan and recovery more quickly. Also if Jones gets in early fould trouble on Duncan it won't be as big a blow as having Amare or Shawn in earlier foul trouble.

I also expect changes to each line-up earlier in the 1st.

 

[Gee!]

I guess next time I'm filling gas I'll just stare mindlessly into the sun so that I'm not wasting time.

Really, thats all we ask of you..

Thank you, and have a good day..

 

[elindholm]

Do we really need more evidence that Gambo and Ash are full of it?

 

[Jay Cardinal]

Isn't having Marion guard Duncan kind of like the Spurs guarding Amare with Bowen? Not sure if thats gonna work. I think you have to put Amare on him to start. If Amare has trouble bring in Thomas to guard Duncan.

 

[Gorilla]

I have mixed feelings about what lineup the suns should use. The thing I like the most about the actual starting lineup, is that as we all know, Bruce has shut down Marion in previous meetings. With the current lineup the suns force Bowen to defend one of the guards. I think that it is important for Marion to have a good start to the series.

In the other hand, Thomas and Amare in the frontcourt will give the suns better defence and rebounding.

Offtopic: what's with game 2 on tuesday and game 3 until saturday!!??

 

[Louis]

KT should start and guard Duncan, period

Ditto.

The James Jones Experience should be set aside for this series.

Nash - Bowen
Bell - Finley
Marion - Parker
Amare - Elson
KT - TD


Bell doesn't have the foot speed to defend Parker for an extended period of time, IMO.

 

[F-Dog]

James Jones is out there to keep Bowen off Marion. Either the Spurs find somebody for Elson to guard, or they'll have to start small, which kills their defensive rebounding.

Amare - Duncan
Marion - Tony Parker
Bell - Finley
JR - Elson
Nash - Bowen

The Suns will force the refs to prove their bias for Duncan before they switch things up. Amare will get plenty of help, but he'll have a lot of responsibility, too...

 

[DevonCardsFan]

KT should start and guard Duncan, period

The whole reason that got KT, remember was to match up better with the Spurs, Suns added Raja Bell remember because he was a Manu stopper, anybody remember Manu and Bell have the same agent and Manu was pissed when bell was added. I hope we see alot of KT this series.

 

[Bufalay]

kurt should start...period.

this guy is right. don't compare that to starting devean george either. Its not like the suns have some set starting lineup that won them 67 games. James Jones has started like 10 games this year, take him out of the lineup for kurt, that makes sense. There is no reason why kurt should play fewer than 30 minutes per game.

 

[Errntknght]

James Jones is out there to keep Bowen off Marion. Either the Spurs find somebody for Elson to guard, or they'll have to start small, which kills their defensive rebounding.

Amare - Duncan
Marion - Tony Parker
Bell - Finley
JR - Elson
Nash - Bowen

The Suns will force the refs to prove their bias for Duncan before they switch things up. Amare will get plenty of help, but he'll have a lot of responsibility, too...

(By the way, your post is confusing because while you talked about the Spurs defensive assignments, the list you gave immediately thereafter, is the Suns defensive assignments.)

The Spurs are not likely to put Duncan on Amare until the last part of a close game. They've got 12 fouls between Elson and Oberto to use and I imagine they'll not hesitate to use them. IMO, Duncan will guard Marion in the lineup you have and lay off him, letting him fire away all he wants from long range. Why waste Bowen on Shawn when taking Nash out of his game is far more important? In any case, the idea that the Spurs would bother to put their best perimeter defender on Jr just doesn't hold water - Finley could easily defend him or even Parker.

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see the Spurs go small late in a game - Duncan, Bowen, Finley, Manu, Parker - or semi-small with Horry instead of Finley or Bowen. They lose some rebounding but they are all strong defensive units with no bad matchups for them. Duncan, Horry, Finley, Manu and Parker is the weakest defensively but has their 3 best long range shooters and is a decent rebounding unit.

 

[PhxGametime]

Nash - Bowen
Bell - Parker
Jones - Finley
Marion - Elson
Stoudemire - Duncan


Nash is obviously going to guard Bowen and I like Marion helping off of Elson; if Bell is the defender the League thinks he is, then let him worry about Parker until Marion rotates onto him, Parker isn't much of a shooter and I like Bell being able to take charges packing it in on Parker; Stoudemire, Kurt Thomas, and Diaw have 18 fouls on Duncan... I'm not an expert though lol


Maybe I'll stick to the Draft