So What's Up With Diaw This Year???

[goldseraph]

Sorry if this has been discussed, I haven't had time to read the board much lately.

At the end of last season, we were all quite enthused about Diaw. He seemed to be a budding all-star that created matchup problems and also was a great passing threat. So, we reward Diaw with a nice contract and now this year he showed up out of shape, played lethargically in the beginning of the year, and still seems lackadaisical to me.

Last year - 13.3 ppg, 53% FG, 73% FT @2.9 FTA/g, 6.9 RPG, 6.2 APG, 0.7 SPG, 1.0 BPG

This year - 9.7 ppg, 53% FG, 68% [email protected] FTA/g, 4.4 RPG, 4.8 APG, 0.4 SPG, 0.6 BPG

I know Amare is back, but Diaw is only playing 4 mins/game less than last year and his numbers have dropped a fair amount. Aside from stats though, he just seems a bit half speed on the court when I watch the Suns. Only a small handful of games can I remember a great performance from Diaw this year.

How much of this is Amare being back, and how much is Diaw slacking? Or is it due to injuries or waiting til the playoffs to turn it on?

 

[hafey]

I can't take credit for this explanation, someone here coined it. But the best way to describe it is : Amare and Diaw do the same thing differently. They occupy the same role in the offense, but do it in very different styles. Watch them, even now this late in the season, they get in each others way on offense.

 

[JS22]

Diaw is passive, lazy, and scared.

Not worth anything near 9,000,000 a year.

 

[dodie53]

the solution is trade diaw, bank and a high pick for gerald wallace..
huh?

 

[overseascardfan]

the solution is trade diaw, bank and a high pick for gerald wallace..
huh?

WHAAAAAHHT! That is alot to give up for Wallace. Especially since there is a guy named Jeff Green in the draft that is better than him that we could get instead.

 

[dodie53]

salary dump..

 

[TJ]

the solution is trade diaw, bank and a high pick for gerald wallace..
huh?

Sounds like a trade that can only be pulled off in NBA Live 07

 

[SO91]

I have thought about this the entire season, but couldn't Diaw just be tired. Last year he played more than he ever had, going deep into the playoffs, then turning around and becoming the captain of the French national team, playing that tournament, only to have a month off (I may be mistaken, it could have been more), and then jumping right into another long NBA season. I know lots of other players have done it this year, but I don't remember him playing that much before coming to Phoenix. What are your thoughts?

(BTW, I'm not trying to create and excuse for him, but trying to think outside the box and find perhaps a reason)

 

[azirish]

Boris played for the French team rather than working on skills development, took a month off and came to camp out of shape, and has not shot as well from the outside. IMHO, Boris needs to spend the summer working on stength training, regaining his shot, and rebounding.

The strength issue critical. He gets pushed around when playing defense, he is too easily pushed away from scoring inside when going to the basket, and he is below average as a rebounding for someone playing his position.

Another major problem is that Boris needs to spend time learning how to protect the ball when dribbling. He's too easily stropped when going to the basket, which is a shame because he's so dangerous when he gets there.

Bottom line? The Suns paniced following the JJ fiasco and did not need to sign Boris an extension last summer. Still, he's got the talent to become a really good player if he works at.

 

[pokerface]

Oh lets trade Diawwww huh? I guess there is absolutely positively NO WAY he can turn it around....EVER. He's just DONE. Lets just trade Diaw and take garbage back for him...garbage with a shorter contract perhaps. Or lets just throw in Atlantas pick and maybe add some more goodies to the deal because DIAW IS DONE and there is no way he can turn it around.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Oh lets trade Diawwww huh? I guess there is absolutely positively NO WAY he can turn it around....EVER. He's just DONE. Lets just trade Diaw and take garbage back for him...garbage with a shorter contract perhaps. Or lets just throw in Atlantas pick and maybe add some more goodies to the deal because DIAW IS DONE and there is no way he can turn it around.

how does everyone else spell hyperbole? I spell it p-o-k-e-r-f-a-c-e.

sheesh man, it's like you want to smite anyone who's not whistling 179% sunshine about a guy who's been somewhat disappointing so far this season - I mean, are you Boris Diaw?

 

[pokerface]

how does everyone else spell hyperbole? I spell it p-o-k-e-r-f-a-c-e.

sheesh man, it's like you want to smite anyone who's not whistling 179% sunshine about a guy who's been somewhat disappointing so far this season - I mean, are you Boris Diaw?

People are just so quick to give up on a player thats having a down moment. OK so he's having a bad year...its not over yet. I just cant stand the trade him talk...thats a last ditch resort in my mind after every conceivable solution has been explored. Diaw knows he isnt doing good....give him a chance to redeem himself. Why treat him as garbage and give him up for garbage?? Whats does trading him do for us? Trade him for what and how much is it going to cost us to do it? Besides, he's not injured and he's still got talent....let him come around!!

 

[SO91]

People are just so quick to give up on a player thats having a down moment. OK so he's having a bad year...its not over yet. I just cant stand the trade him talk...thats a last ditch resort in my mind after every conceivable solution has been explored. Diaw knows he isnt doing good....give him a chance to redeem himself. Why treat him as garbage and give him up for garbage?? Whats does trading him do for us? Trade him for what and how much is it going to cost us to do it? Besides, he's not injured and he's still got talent....let him come around!!

While I wouldn't have said it the way you did...I too hate seeing how fickle some fans are.

 

[azirish]

I don't suppose it is time to mention the base year contract problem?

 

[JS22]

Oh lets trade Diawwww huh? I guess there is absolutely positively NO WAY he can turn it around....EVER. He's just DONE. Lets just trade Diaw and take garbage back for him...garbage with a shorter contract perhaps. Or lets just throw in Atlantas pick and maybe add some more goodies to the deal because DIAW IS DONE and there is no way he can turn it around.

yeah pretty much.

 

[tobiazz]

It seems like Diaw decides what he's going to do a few seconds before it happens rather than reacting to the situation. He'll take a bad fadeaway from 10 feet when he could pass to someone else. Also, He'll pass out to someone that's covered on the three point line when he is open, right under the hoop.

If he can fix that problem, improve his rebounding, and improve his mid-range jumper, he'll be well worth his contract. Trading him would probably not be beneficial unless he was part of one of those KG trades or something equally impossible.

 

[Lynx280]

FAR OUT!!! HES IN BAD FORM RIGHT NOW, what ever happened to standing by the team?? jeezus

 

[elindholm]

Just out of curiosity, who believes that there can be reasons to trade a player even if he's not awful?

 

[TucsonDevil]

Let's assume Diaw doesn't 'better' his performance in the post-season... for those that want to trade Diaw, who do you suppose would take him and that contract? Maybe Isiah, I guess.

I am just hoping that Diaw elevates his game for the post-season, enough that we can get to the Finals. He is important. Though I am tired of his soft play, I am not ready to give up on him yet. Last summer, he played very well.

 

[azirish]

Let's assume Diaw doesn't 'better' his performance in the post-season... for those that want to trade Diaw, who do you suppose would take him and that contract? Maybe Isiah, I guess.

I am just hoping that Diaw elevates his game for the post-season, enough that we can get to the Finals. He is important. Though I am tired of his soft play, I am not ready to give up on him yet. Last summer, he played very well.

I repeat - base year contract. The problem is that the other team has to recognize the entire salary but the Suns only get credit for half of it. This means that somehow there has to be a team with cap space involved in the deal. Finding such a trading partner is all but impossible.

I would not be shocked if they worked to move him in 2008, but right now the Suns are going to work on helping him get better. There is simply no plausible scenrio for a move this summer.

 

[Diawsome]

salary dump..

Wallace is going to get a contract like Diaw's this summer so the only "salary dump" this deal would offer is getting rid of Banks' contract.

 

[Covert Rain]

I still don't agree with any of the takes that Diaw is dogging it. I really think Diaw is the type of player that needs touches and a confidence boost to be effective. He is not getting the ball as much and he cleary is lacking confidence. Look at how many times the guy has wide open looks to the bucket and he hesitates? Then you see him do something difficult around the bucket. I am convinced his issues are completely mental.

 

[DeAnna]

I can't take credit for this explanation, someone here coined it. But the best way to describe it is : Amare and Diaw do the same thing differently. They occupy the same role in the offense, but do it in very different styles. Watch them, even now this late in the season, they get in each others way on offense.

LoL, I've seen them bumping into each other several times.

 

[Ryanwb]

Can't trust the french

 

[dodie53]

bring diaw off the bench..
he will get his touches when amare is sitting.