Robin Lopez Update

[slinslin]

We badly need him back, with him this series might very well have been sweep.

 

[Cheesewater]

Since we haven't heard anything yet today, I wonder if we're going to have a little surprise tonight off the bench...our own returning hero as it were.

 

[jagu]

I know I was just taking a 'cheap shot' of my own.

<----Bitter Suns fan

Bowen is god...

<-------- ST. BRUCE!

 

[devilalum]

Bowen is god...

<-------- ST. BRUCE!

Is he a god or a saint? I don't think you can be both.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Since we haven't heard anything yet today, I wonder if we're going to have a little surprise tonight off the bench...our own returning hero as it were.

I know this has said been said to death, but seriously... i never thought I'd see someone refer to Lopez as our returning hero AND agree!?

 

[AzStevenCal]

I know this has said been said to death, but seriously... i never thought I'd see someone refer to Lopez as our returning hero AND agree!?

It's even harder to believe if you actually watch the guy play. I mean, he just doesn't look all that impressive but his presence sure elevates the overall team play and that's all that really matters.

Steve

 

[Cheesewater]

I know this has said been said to death, but seriously... i never thought I'd see someone refer to Lopez as our returning hero AND agree!?

Well to be fair, I was one of the few who defended the pick. I was never down on Robin Lopez. So it's not so strange for me to say.

 

[Sunburn]

It's even harder to believe if you actually watch the guy play. I mean, he just doesn't look all that impressive but his presence sure elevates the overall team play and that's all that really matters.

Steve

I disagree that he hasn't looked impressive. Since entering the starting line-up, I think Lopez has looked very impressive this year, from his statistically ho hum nights where he fought for every rebound and delivered the hard fouls to his 32 point, 10 rebound breakout game. He has looked indispensable to me. Even Sir Charles seems to be impressed with the kid.

 

[Errntknght]

I defended the pick, too, for theoretical reasons but then I saw him play...

 

[AzStevenCal]

I defended the pick, too, for theoretical reasons but then I saw him play...

I hated the pick, for logical reasons but then I saw him play...

Although he has far exceeded my expectations, in some ways I'm still not completely sold on him. I can't help but wonder how good we'd be with a young Theo Ratliff kind of player next to Amare.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

I disagree that he hasn't looked impressive. Since entering the starting line-up, I think Lopez has looked very impressive this year, from his statistically ho hum nights where he fought for every rebound and delivered the hard fouls to his 32 point, 10 rebound breakout game. He has looked indispensable to me. Even Sir Charles seems to be impressed with the kid.

I'm impressed with the improvement in our team and he is integral to that improvement but other than a few games I wouldn't call his play impressive. Indispensable, maybe.

Steve

 

[slinslin]

Lets just hope we can add a legitimate backup center to the roster in the offseason.

All our backup centers are really Power Forwards and have other major flaws:

Amundson - Even undersized for a PF, no offense ability
Frye - Soft, undersized for a C, no inside game
Collins - No athleticism at all, not enough length for a center, can't rebound, can't block shots
Jones - 3rd stringer at best

 

[dodie53]

is Diop or Chandler any good?

 

[slinslin]

Chandler when healthy is one of the top 5 defensive centers in the league with Howard, Bogut and Camby.

Doubtful that he opts out of his contract when he gets 12M$ next year and can only hope for the full MLE I'd think.

 

[cly2tw]

Chandler when healthy is one of the top 5 defensive centers in the league with Howard, Bogut and Camby.

Doubtful that he opts out of his contract when he gets 12M$ next year and can only hope for the full MLE I'd think.

J. O'Neal for the MLE, maybe?

 

[slinslin]

We won't use the MLE unless we can dump Barbosa.

 

[jagu]

Is he a god or a saint? I don't think you can be both.

Actually St. Mary is worshipped, St. Francis of Assisi. There are plenty of Saints that people pray to. Why not the one that jumpkicked Wally Szcerbiak?

 

[Cheesebeef]

does anyone think Jermaine O'Neal gets anything more than 2 mill per season? He's so washed up. I think he'd be great at that cost and our trainers. Even if it was just a one year deal for us to use him and vice-versa.

 

[Sunburn]

I'm impressed with the improvement in our team and he is integral to that improvement but other than a few games I wouldn't call his play impressive. Indispensable, maybe.

Steve

Compared to Hakeem Olajuwon, ya not that impressive, but is that the scale he's being graded on? Is he not impressive unless he's got Howard stitched on the back of his jersey? Come on, he's been fantastic. It's obvious. Like I said, even Charles has been impressed with him, and any PHX player getting any kind of compliment from Barkley, as we all know, is saying something. His shot alteration alone has been impressive. He changes the dynamic of the game and it's clearly seen when watching. Are stat boxes all you look at when deciding if a player is impressive?

 

[AzStevenCal]

Are stat boxes all you look at when deciding if a player is impressive?

Not at all. In fact I rarely look at stats, my comments are based on watching him play. It's possible that I'm not fairly balancing his strengths with his weaknesses but he does a few things that really irritate me. I cringe every time I see that hunchback routine and some of the things he does early in our defensive sets (running out to the perimeter but stopping short and racing back to where he belongs for example).

I watched him at Stanford and never considered him a pro prospect and clearly I was wrong about that. I see what I see but it's difficult to escape your own biases so perhaps I'm still wrong about him.

Steve

 

[Sunburn]

Not at all. In fact I rarely look at stats, my comments are based on watching him play. It's possible that I'm not fairly balancing his strengths with his weaknesses but he does a few things that really irritate me. I cringe every time I see that hunchback routine and some of the things he does early in our defensive sets (running out to the perimeter but stopping short and racing back to where he belongs for example).

I watched him at Stanford and never considered him a pro prospect and clearly I was wrong about that. I see what I see but it's difficult to escape your own biases so perhaps I'm still wrong about him.

Steve

Fair enough. You're entitled to your opinion. I apologize if I came across as contentious or accusatory.

 

[Cheesebeef]

damn man, if we can get to the next round and Robin can be a solid contributor, this team might just be able to make some serious noise this year!

HEAL UP ROBIN!

 

[AsUdUdE]

http://valleyofthesuns.com/2010/04/26/robin-lopez-to-increase-rehab-after-good-report/

looks like he progressed again and can now do contact drills....

 

[Sunburn]

http://valleyofthesuns.com/2010/04/26/robin-lopez-to-increase-rehab-after-good-report/

looks like he progressed again and can now do contact drills....

Damn that really didn't tell me anything

 

[AfroSuns]

Damn that really didn't tell me anything

Pretty much means he may be ready to go next series if he looks good during regular practice, maybe even limited minutes in game 7 if this series goes that far.