Raja's Goosegg

[nowagimp]

To be fair, he's been playing banged up all year long. I definitely think that has something to do with it..

Yeah Raja often plays with injury, he isnt likely to gripe to the media about his hangnails for soap opera effect. Remember he had off season knee surgery. I wonder if he really recovered from it or has been permanently slowed. I do really like strawberry, he will be a serious wing defender in the future, hope the suns keep him.

 

[KOBEnPAU]

You Guys Are Right. Raja Bell Is The Most Underated Defender In The Nba.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

What's sad is that about the time Raja picked up the gooseegg on his head, he had started to play effective defense on Kobe. Of course, this does not negate the rest of the evening.

We could have use like 6 points from him last night though. You cant give someone a pass because they had to guard the best player. He didnt have to guard him on both sides of the court.

Unacceptable.

 

[Chaplin]

We could have use like 6 points from him last night though. You cant give someone a pass because they had to guard the best player. He didnt have to guard him on both sides of the court.

Unacceptable.

Come on. He's not in that game to be an offensive player, and you know it. Raja scoring 0 points? Not really a big deal in the scheme of things. What was more important was Nash's bonehead shot at the end of the game and our nonexistant perimeter defense. Oh, and don't forget Shaq leaving Pau Gasol every time off of pick and rolls throughout the first half.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Come on. He's not in that game to be an offensive player, and you know it. Raja scoring 0 points? Not really a big deal in the scheme of things. What was more important was Nash's bonehead shot at the end of the game and our nonexistant perimeter defense. Oh, and don't forget Shaq leaving Pau Gasol every time off of pick and rolls throughout the first half.

I knew that the Suns would lose this game at half time. After Shaq got his 3rd foul and sat down, the Suns played like crap and the Lakers went on a 10-2 run ?? to end the half. The momentum that we should have had going into the 2nd half, was given back to the Lakers.

 

[D-Dogg]

Oh, and don't forget Shaq leaving Pau Gasol every time off of pick and rolls throughout the first half.

You'll just have to get used to that. Shaq can't guard that play.

I was SHOCKED we ran so much iso and double cuts instead of just two-man game with Kobe and Pau which has been clicking like they've been teammates for years. Phil had to be saving it for the playoffs, because he more than anyone knows what a liability shaq on the PnR is.

 

[Chaplin]

You'll just have to get used to that. Shaq can't guard that play.

I know you're a Laker fan, but there was really no reason for him to leave Pau Gasol. If he didn't, there is nothing to "get used to".

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I know you're a Laker fan, but there was really no reason for him to leave Pau Gasol. If he didn't, there is nothing to "get used to".

Very true. I doubt if I'd ever switch Shaq on a P&R.

 

[D-Dogg]

I'm telling you, it doesn't matter what you want him to do on the PnR, he will do it wrong. It is frustrating. He's terrible at it. Even at his peak...it's his achillies heel.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I'm telling you, it doesn't matter what you want him to do on the PnR, he will do it wrong. It is frustrating. He's terrible at it. Even at his peak...it's his achillies heel.

Thank goodness Amare is there on the weakside then...

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Oh, and don't forget Shaq leaving Pau Gasol every time off of pick and rolls throughout the first half.

LOL - Chap is ALREADY killing Shaq.

I would say teaching a old dog new tricks is pretty applicable here. Your going to have to live with that bro.

Although now we get dunks that make the hoop "sway like a drunken sailor", post defense, and actual real live boxing out. I'd make that trade

 

[green machine]

We could have use like 6 points from him last night though. You cant give someone a pass because they had to guard the best player. He didnt have to guard him on both sides of the court.

Unacceptable.

The Suns offense was not the problem.

 

[Chaplin]

LOL - Chap is ALREADY killing Shaq.

What does that mean? I'm a HUGE fan of the trade.

I would say teaching a old dog new tricks is pretty applicable here. Your going to have to live with that bro.

I don't see how that can have any kind of accuracy since it was Shaq's first game with us and OBVIOUS he isn't acclimated to our system yet.

 

[D-Dogg]

What does that mean? I'm a HUGE fan of the trade.



I don't see how that can have any kind of accuracy since it was Shaq's first game with us and OBVIOUS he isn't acclimated to our system yet.

He's referencing that Shaq isn't going to learn how to play PnR defense now. Old dogs, new tricks. Shaq, defending PnR. Ain't gonna happen.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

He's referencing that Shaq isn't going to learn how to play PnR defense now. Old dogs, new tricks. Shaq, defending PnR. Ain't gonna happen.

Thanks Cain

Chap - I was being toungue in cheek. I know you love the trade. I was just assuming there would be SOME sort of a honeymoon period with The Daddy.

 

[nowagimp]

I'm telling you, it doesn't matter what you want him to do on the PnR, he will do it wrong. It is frustrating. He's terrible at it. Even at his peak...it's his achillies heel.

Fond memories of shaqs weaknesses on the way to 3 championships in a row? Yeah, and too much money bulges my pocket and makes me uncomfortable ... HAHAHAH!

 

[nowagimp]

LOL - Chap is ALREADY killing Shaq.

I would say teaching a old dog new tricks is pretty applicable here. Your going to have to live with that bro.

You dont have to live with uncontested layups, just give up another shot, one that is more difficult to make(every other possible shot).

 

[D-Dogg]

Fond memories of shaqs weaknesses on the way to 3 championships in a row? Yeah, and too much money bulges my pocket and makes me uncomfortable ... HAHAHAH!

Fond memories of watching Utah kill us in the playoffs prior to the titles.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

You dont have to live with uncontested layups, just give up another shot, one that is more difficult to make(every other possible shot).

You guys are acting like he hasn't had this banged into his head for the last decade plus. I'm sure that if Brian Hill, Phil Jackson, and Pat Riley have failed to get him to play PnR defense it sure as hell ain't happening with Mike.

Embrace the players flaws and expect them as part of the package. As long as he keeps diving for loose balls we'll be all right.

 

[nowagimp]

You guys are acting like he hasn't had this banged into his head for the last decade plus. I'm sure that if Brian Hill, Phil Jackson, and Pat Riley have failed to get him to play PnR defense it sure as hell ain't happening with Mike.

Embrace the players flaws and expect them as part of the package. As long as he keeps diving for loose balls we'll be all right.

Just rotate a help defender(not shaq) and give up another shot. Does it really take that much imagination?

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Kobe got 40 points with an injured finger and the guy defending him contributed zero points.

How is this acceptable to you guys?

Tell you what: I will hold Kobe to 40 points one night and if you pay me raja's per game salary, I'll give myself a goose egg after the game.

 

[AceP]

To be honest, I really don't mind Kobe's 41. Kobe is a streaky scorer after all, he can do 81 or consecutive 50+ when hot, nobody can stop him. But after all, he is just 45% for career and 46% so far this season. His 40+ games r numbered. I'm glad he did this one in Feb.

Raja's 0 point production is probably the key reason we lost. That's more than 12 points away from his season average. We could have won if he didn't miss all his shots.

Also, our bench did a poor job defending Vujacic (15) and Turiaf (6 by 3-3).

 

[STATfan4Life]

Does anyone know if Raja will be playing tonight?

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Kobe got 40 points with an injured finger and the guy defending him contributed zero points.

How is this acceptable to you guys?

Tell you what: I will hold Kobe to 40 points one night and if you pay me raja's per game salary, I'll give myself a goose egg after the game.

You have to score on Kobe at least once.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Kobe is now playing the best basketball of his career. He is playing both ends of the floor, he is unstoppable on offense, but most importantly, he is involving his teammates.

In my book, he is the MVP of the season--yes, over KG. And I cannot stand Kobe.