Random observation from last game!

[Yuma]

1. Marion is taking over the leadership reigns now that Marbury has been traded. I observed several times where he talked to players as they were headed to the bench, including consoling Barbosa after a key turnover.

2. Joe Johnson is becoming a goto player after Penny was traded. This point is being made in the media a lot, anyway.

3. Jake Voshkuhl just doesn't WANT the starting center job. This guy helps us a ton when he is on the court. However, he doesn't want to move his feet or keep from bodying people for silly fouls!! He is getting used to fouling out of games. He needs to learn to back off once he is truely beat on a play. He HAS to learn to keep space between him and the offensive players!

4. Barbosa had 7 turnovers, but he is WAY ahead of where I thought he would be in development. Remember KJ used to turn it over all the time his first few years. I remember his favorite play was dribbling off the side of his foot. Barbosa is already stealin the ball a ton and playing solid D. You just have to give rookies a break on the turnovers until they learn how to really create without pressing too hard.

We still have a remote hope for the 8th playoff spot. If not, I'll be happy with the top spot in the draft!!

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by Yuma
1. Marion is taking over the leadership reigns now that Marbury has been traded. I observed several times where he talked to players as they were headed to the bench, including consoling Barbosa after a key turnover.

2. Joe Johnson is becoming a goto player after Penny was traded. This point is being made in the media a lot, anyway.

3. Jake Voshkuhl just doesn't WANT the starting center job. This guy helps us a ton when he is on the court. However, he doesn't want to move his feet or keep from bodying people for silly fouls!! He is getting used to fouling out of games. He needs to learn to back off once he is truely beat on a play. He HAS to learn to keep space between him and the offensive players!

4. Barbosa had 7 turnovers, but he is WAY ahead of where I thought he would be in development. Remember KJ used to turn it over all the time his first few years. I remember his favorite play was dribbling off the side of his foot. Barbosa is already stealin the ball a ton and playing solid D. You just have to give rookies a break on the turnovers until they learn how to really create without pressing too hard.

We still have a remote hope for the 8th playoff spot. If not, I'll be happy with the top spot in the draft!!

I agree, although I think the problems with Voskuhl are mostly physical. He is not quick enough nor strong enough to defend the post. Also, I fear he lacks the instincts necessary to be a great defensive player.

 

[scotsman13]

yuma i agree with you on all of these. there is something else that i think needs to be said.

amare needs to rebound. he can grab 10 boards in a heartbeat. and take some of the load off marion.

this team can rebound with the best of them if they set their minds to it. but we need amare to rebound like he is able to.

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by scotsman13
yuma i agree with you on all of these. there is something else that i think needs to be said.

amare needs to rebound. he can grab 10 boards in a heartbeat. and take some of the load off marion.

this team can rebound with the best of them if they set their minds to it. but we need amare to rebound like he is able to.

One of the problems with having a relatively weak rebounding center is that it puts the other players in a bind. If Amare is guarding his man in the corner, then he is not available to rebound. None the less, I think the coaches need to stress rebounding to Amare because he can be a great one when he puts hims mind to it.

 

[Joe Mama]

It would be nice if Amare Stoudemire was putting up better rebounding numbers, but I'm not really going to complain about it when the Suns are outrebounding their opponents and winning games. I think Amare actually needs to work harder in general when the ball is not in his or his opponent's hand. That means he needs to do a better job of getting defensive position before his opponent gets the ball, and he also needs to do a better job of boxing out.

Joe Mama