Reasons why Suns lose in playoffs

[JPlay]

woe woe woe woe here.....nowhere did i say that this team should be winning like they were back when we were 31-4. nowhere did i say that we should be winning like the 96 bulls. in fact i'm taking this completely different stance that what you are assuming.

i for one think that our torrid start was more of a combination of beating bad teams, going on a hot streak, then beating more bad teams. our play right now is more indicitive of what we have to offer, both right now and in the playoffs.

so, what i'm saying is that right now this is the kind of play to expect from this team for the remainder of the season...and that's why i'm not expecting the ring this year. we are extremely weak in places that will only hurt us and affect us negatively where we are strong.

if anything, i should have said this to you:

"Sorry you guys believed we were as good as that 31-4 record to start the season - it's not my fault you didn't realize we were int he soft part of our schedule there and probably not as good as that record indicated."

you were the one using our early success as a reason to say that we have what it take to go deep in the playoffs. and you have pretty much just recanted everything that people have used as an arguement (our 42-12 record, our 10+ point wins, etc). i was mearly trying to say that we've been playing horribly lately, and that our lack of defense and rebounding is starting to catch up with us.

Damn good Post.

 

[elindholm]

so, what i'm saying is that right now this is the kind of play to expect from this team for the remainder of the season

Why? I think one could say that the last two games are about as bad as the Suns have looked all year, except during the Nash injury. What makes that the true level of the team? I don't think they are really as good as they look at their best, but I also don't think they are really as bad as they look at their worst. It isn't fair to take a terrible stretch and proclaim it representative of the entire season.

I agree that the Suns are not a threat to go deep in the playoffs with the way they've played recently, but I don't think anyone would argue that point.

 

[Chaplin]

Defense doesn't win championships. Are you out of your gourd? Defense does win championships, however I agree with your second statement that you must also have balance on the offensive side. That's what those great defensive teams were missing. The Suns are definately off balance right now.

Good thing they're winning then, huh?

 

[JPlay]

uh - actually - I have been pretty consistent in saying all along that I don't think we have a shot to beat SA - and am actually a little more fearful of Seattle than I was a week ago and I could see us losing a tough six or seven game series against them. I just think JPlay is going to such an extreme that I am trying to balance out his ridiculousness.

And even though we've been playing horribly lately - we are still 9-2 playing horribly - and I DO believe that some of it is us just hitting the wall and playing a tough stretch.

Finally he caves and admits that the Suns are vulnerable and that he's fearful of Seattle and Memphis, just as I said these other teams aren't scared to play us in the playoffs because of our defensive deficiencies.

And nowhere have I gone to an extreme. I have merely said the Suns play bad defense. And it has been getting worse. They have struggled to beat bad teams lately. I would much rather have a few loses against bad teams and more quality wins over Memphis, the Spurs, Kings, Detroit and Seattle.
Much like the Seattle team does. They may have a worse record however they beat the best teams in the league consistently and are going to be a force in the playoffs. Their team has much more balance.

 

[Chaz]

I'm not sure I have seen any improvement on defense for Amare Stoudemire. Sure he could still learn a thing or two. Even when he puts forth a full effort he isn't a great defender. However he is pretty good. As far as I can see the biggest problem with Amare's defense and much of his problems on the boards are solved by simply giving a full effort. He just doesn't do it most nights. I'm hoping that by playoff time he will have saved enough energy to be a monster on both ends of the court. I'm honestly not holding my breath though.

Also, as thegrahamcrackr pointed out a good part of the entire team's problem on the defensive boards is that they are running down the court for fast breaks instead of securing the rebounds. Amare in particular likes to release early for the fast break.

Joe

Consistancy is the problem right now but I have noticed a change since the Sacramento game. Amare is playing much better and more agressively on defense and is grabbing some impressive rebounds. In addition some of the offensive rebounds against the Jazz were flat out amazing.

My biggest problem with the Suns is their lack of effort at times. Not running out to challenge shooters, Not challenging shots inside, Lack of fouls when players get inside. I understand Amare is concerned about foul trouble but when you are aggressive you tend to get the breaks.

 

[JPlay]

Yeah, I've seen that also. The Suns don't challenge shots inside the lane. Amare is too worried about foul trouble and the others would rather concede the two than risk an and one. I don't remember anyone really fouling out this year, so F-that. I would rather the Suns play up on players and challenge the shots, then go for the block regarless of foul trouble.

 

[F-Dog]

Of course the Suns are vulnerable this year. They don't have the versatility or the experience of the Spurs or Pistons, and they don't have a guy like Shaq who can do his thing against any defense.

On the other hand, they aren't going to go 29-53 this year, right?


The good thing is, the Suns will continue to be challenged from here on out. The longer they stick around, the more they'll learn about what they need to do to make themselves a legitimate contender in the future.

 

[cardsunsfan]

I thought we were going to be better with the signing of Jim Jackson...we all agree he was a really big pickup right? I think he's helped increase our scoring overall by quite a bit. I think we are getting tired though, that's we have so many lapses on defense and overall on rebounding. I think our guys need some rest, much like I mentioned in my post about allowing the Spurs and possibly the Sonics the homecourt advantage so we can rest Nash for awhile and maybe some other players that need it....

 

[jibikao]

Defense doesn't win championships. Are you out of your gourd? Defense does win championships, however I agree with your second statement that you must also have balance on the offensive side. That's what those great defensive teams were missing. The Suns are definately off balance right now.

No, Defense DOES NOT win you championships. The objective of the game is still putting the ball in the basket.

Warriors had so many good defense against us but they still lost. I think they had like 70+ rebounds and had more than 20 shot attempts but still lost. Why? Because they don't have the BIG O = offense.

You need a good combination of Offense and Defense. You don't just win because you have great defense. If that's the case, then why Pistons isn't the top 3 team in the league?? Pistons is in the weaker East and they should have the best record by now!!!

Spurs has a good combination of defense and offense.

Suns has the best offense. Our defense is weaker but mainly because we choose offense over defense. We run fast breaks all the time so we can't secure our boards. We are undersized to allow us to run faster and take advantage on the offense end.

Overall, I don't think it's a fluke that Suns has this 41W record. People don't win Suns with defense. They win it with offense.

 

[jibikao]

Yeah, I've seen that also. The Suns don't challenge shots inside the lane. Amare is too worried about foul trouble and the others would rather concede the two than risk an and one. I don't remember anyone really fouling out this year, so F-that. I would rather the Suns play up on players and challenge the shots, then go for the block regarless of foul trouble.

You probably haven't watched much then. Amare was constantly in foul trouble early in the season.

I think Suns' defense is pretty good in the 4th quarter when foul trouble is less important. We made some good defense against Warriors and won that OT game. I know we can do it but it's just the matter of time.

 

[JPlay]

You probably haven't watched much then. Amare was constantly in foul trouble early in the season.

I think Suns' defense is pretty good in the 4th quarter when foul trouble is less important. We made some good defense against Warriors and won that OT game. I know we can do it but it's just the matter of time.

I watch every single game. Every minute. And the defense has been bad in the fourth quarter. That's when other teams usually make their runs. We play good defense occasionally on a few possessions, however Q has been getting us some wins, hitting clutch shots or grabbing key rebounds at the end of games. Usually we outscore teams to win in the 4th. Not shut them down.

 

[JCSunsfan]

The whole idea of this thread is so fatalistic. I would prefer to ask, "What will it take for the Suns to go deep into the playoffs?"

1. More quality minutes for Steven Hunter. He is a key to the Suns interior defense, and seemed to be playing more of a role earlier.

2. Amare must step up his defense. At this point, it looks like a matter of will. He's a young player, he can play D, but he looks a little disinterested at the midpoint of this long season.

3. Refs making that exterior handchecking call--at least some. I am not very hopeful on this one. If I was in the Suns front office I would be squawking to the league office every chance I get about making sure the refs keep calling that. Its what has allowed the increased scoring, revived interest in the game, and the Suns success this year.

4. And of course, stay healthy, especially Nash.

 

[JPlay]

The whole idea of this thread is so fatalistic. I would prefer to ask, "What will it take for the Suns to go deep into the playoffs?"

1. More quality minutes for Steven Hunter. He is a key to the Suns interior defense, and seemed to be playing more of a role earlier.

I totally agree with this statement. Get him more minutes so he can develop as a rebounder and shotblocker. Plus he's learning to be agressive offensively from Amare.

2. Amare must step up his defense. At this point, it looks like a matter of will. He's a young player, he can play D, but he looks a little disinterested at the midpoint of this long season.

I agree with this also, however I would make this case for all of the Suns players. More emphasis on not leaving shots unconstested. I hate when they make no effort to block a shot or body someone up.

3. Refs making that exterior handchecking call--at least some. I am not very hopeful on this one. If I was in the Suns front office I would be squawking to the league office every chance I get about making sure the refs keep calling that. Its what has allowed the increased scoring, revived interest in the game, and the Suns success this year.

Nash does get hand-checked by the physical teams in this league, but he is also the victim of countless moving screens. Watch the games and see how the screener slides to block Nash. I think the NBA has let this get out of hand. I also believe the Suns need to use the same method SA does to guard against the screen. Have the big man flash out, then the defender can recover.

 

[George O'Brien]

I think the Suns CAN play adequate defense, but don't always.

Right now the biggest concern is that the refs won't call fouls in the playoffs and so the Suns will not be able to outscore opponents. That was certainly the problem with the Jazz game and the Grizzlie game. With the Sonics the problem was strictly the fact that the Suns couldn't stop the Soncis - but few teams can when Seattle is hitting its threes.

Is there any hope that the Suns could get beyond the second round? Maybe. I think the real key is whether the answer to whether the Suns are just a bad defensive team or just mentally tired.

A couple of years ago the Suns were better against good teams than bad ones. That was because they had no problem getting "up" for the big games, but then played down to the level of the weaker teams. This year the Suns have been vastly better against weaker teams, but the strain of having to be "up" all the time is wearing. It is even harder after playing so many games and so many minutes, but they show in bursts that it not fundimentally physical.

Maybe they will find their energy again. We can only hope.