Reason to worry? FJ quote!

[slinslin]

"It was my mistake in that I was saying, 'Run, run, run,' " Johnson said. "My focus should have been defense and then run, run, run; because you can't run if you don't stop them."

Oh really? How long did it cost him to figure this out?

It is really not like the Suns were a good defensive team last year.

 

[3rdside]

Yeah it doesn't take a genius to figure that out but I figure all of his preseason comments are one big smoke screen:

my wacko theory is that Johnson is trying to get people to under estimate this team again. For example, practicing before a game (what the?) giving the nugs the false impression they can beat us, saying our players think they're better than they are (steph and shawn would probably not turn up to training a half hour early which has been reported if this was the case ), and uhh yeah that's about it. Some solid reasoning right there...

Either way, FJ deserves some credit for getting us to the playoffs last season so i say we lay off the guy till the real games begin.

That being said, if Shawn Marion is the tallest guy on on the floor at any time for the suns then it's time for him to go. The line up the other day of Marbury, Barbosa, Knight, CJake and Marion was downright scary.

 

[Errntknght]

Maybe the guys thought that 'run, run, run' was the name of a motion defense FJ was trying out - from reports on the games it sure doesn't sound like run, run, run is part of the offensive scheme.

Do you suppose they cut DerMarr because he looked out of place with the other players - the word on DJ is that he is a strong defender. I might be onto something here - Trybanski goes crazy blocking shots so FJ buries him on the bench. Definitely on a roll... Bo looked out of place expending all that energy on defense - trade him. Heck, Big Jake might defend too if he ever gets in the game, better trade him, too...

Not to worry, though, it's only the preseason and, besides, the guys played fairly well last year in spite of FJ's 'coaching' - at least while we had two PGs on the floor. (Maybe I should keep my mouth shut... FJ may decide if two is good, five is perfect.)

Of course, what Frank said in the quote is right as far as it goes... I mean, it doesn't matter if you run, run, run or walk, walk, walk you still need the ball to go on offense.

 

[schutd]

The sky is falling! The sky is falling!

 

[scotsman13]

The sky is falling! The sky is falling!

you know this sums up the feeling that has been expressed on this and the other suns boards. personally i an willing to wait till the season starts and see how things shape up then. also i dont believe that the suns will be really going for a championship this year and that shouldnt even be part of the expections for this team.

 

[elindholm]

Losing preseason games doesn't bother me. What bothers me is the attitude that, whenever the team isn't playing well, the solution is always to go smaller. It is a knee-jerk reaction which, as we're now seeing, has no end. If games were 64 minutes long instead of 48, I'm sure we would see a five-guard lineup by the end of one.

With this team, small ball isn't a strategy, it's a reflex. That's what bothers me the most.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I have a problem with 3 and 4 guard line ups in preseason. Those line ups are the ones to use when your team is down and you have to do something to shake things up.

There is absolutely no reason to run a "panic" line up in preseason when your biggest roster questions concen your center position.

This seems very short sighted.

 

[SirStefan32]

FJ sucks!!!!!!

 

[KloD]

You know it really cracks me up to read all these negative Frank Johnson comments. The complaining about small ball, they have been playing small ball since way before Johnson. In fact I hear the same complaints said about all the Suns coaches over the past 6 or 7 years...could it be that these decisions are from someone else with the Suns that has more power than the coaches? For some of you people that think they could coach a professional sports team, get real! The complaining about Big Jake not playing is especially funny. You have no idea what he looked like or how healthy he was. Could it be that he was on the block and they didn't see the value in showing the rest of the league how bad he was? Come on, Frank gets along with the players and has created a positive atmosphere with these guys. I don't always agree with his substitutions or lack of, but I also have no idea what's going on behind the scenes. How about supporting all the Suns rather than complaining all the time?

 

[Errntknght]

Klod, "The complaining about small ball, they have been playing small ball since way before Johnson. In fact I hear the same complaints said about all the Suns coaches over the past 6 or 7 years..."

Heck, it goes back a lot longer than 7 years... they didn't call it small ball - I think they called it 'finesse' basketball. And a lot of us complained way back then. Twenty-five years ago.

"could it be that these decisions are from someone else with the Suns that has more power than the coaches? For some of you people that think they could coach a professional sports team, get real!"

Sure it is more than just FJ but he goes along with it with such complete relish you can't say he's just following orders.

" The complaining about Big Jake not playing is especially funny. You have no idea what he looked like or how healthy he was. "

Well, we do know he was playing in a European tournament quite recently. And last year, in the midst of an idle stretch, he was played in one game against the Lakers and performed well then sat again for most of the rest of the season. Of course, we don't know everything but we do pay attention to what we do see. You might try it, it's rather fun...

 

[KloD]

Originally posted by Errntknght
Klod, "The complaining about small ball, they have been playing small ball since way before Johnson. In fact I hear the same complaints said about all the Suns coaches over the past 6 or 7 years..."

Heck, it goes back a lot longer than 7 years... they didn't call it small ball - I think they called it 'finesse' basketball. And a lot of us complained way back then. Twenty-five years ago.

"could it be that these decisions are from someone else with the Suns that has more power than the coaches? For some of you people that think they could coach a professional sports team, get real!"

Sure it is more than just FJ but he goes along with it with such complete relish you can't say he's just following orders.

" The complaining about Big Jake not playing is especially funny. You have no idea what he looked like or how healthy he was. "

Well, we do know he was playing in a European tournament quite recently. And last year, in the midst of an idle stretch, he was played in one game against the Lakers and performed well then sat again for most of the rest of the season. Of course, we don't know everything but we do pay attention to what we do see. You might try it, it's rather fun...

Give me a break!
If you have been complaining about this team for 25 years than you might look into therapy or at least a new team. Christ, that is pathetic! Of course I pay attention, I just don't see it the way you do. So go on, lay out your little insults, feed that ego.

 

[Errntknght]

Oh, no... you mean this isn't therapy...