Staring 5

[Griffin]

So far in training camp D'Antoni has been going with last year's (pre-Kurt Thomas injury) starters of Nash, Bell, Marion, Diaw and Thomas. We'll see if that's the staring lineup when they play their first pre-season game on Friday. This is of course in part due to Amare being out awhile, but I can't imagine Stoudemire (even at 80%) not starting when the regular season begins, even though he said he is fine with coming off the bench. I wonder though about Kurt Thomas. I remember last season there was one game when Diaw started in place of KT and after the game KT said it was a "brilliant coaching move" because it worked so well. But the next game when Thomas was benched again, he said something to the effect of preffering to start or being more effective as a starter. I wonder how he feels about the prospect of coming off the bench this season. Will he be able (and willing) to adjust to a reduced role?

 

[Chaplin]

If we don't sign Diaw to an extension this summer, he'll come off the bench. Print it!

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

If we don't sign Diaw to an extension this summer, he'll come off the bench. Print it!

speaking of . . .

it's october already.

didn't you say that you'd be worried about diaw if it came october and he still wasn't extended . . . ?

i know i'm worried.

 

[Chaplin]

speaking of . . .

it's october already.

didn't you say that you'd be worried about diaw if it came october and he still wasn't extended . . . ?

i know i'm worried.

End of October. Not the beginning. I'm a little miffed that we haven't heard any kind of update about it, but they're in Italy for a while longer and he's only been with the team for a couple days, so hopefully that's why the silence.

 

[fordronken]

I like Diaw off the bench anyway, because he needs to be on the floor when Nash rests. If Diaw starts, that means he either has to take a breather in the middle of the first quarter, or play through all the way until Nash comes back.

 

[Chaplin]

I like Diaw off the bench anyway, because he needs to be on the floor when Nash rests. If Diaw starts, that means he either has to take a breather in the middle of the first quarter, or play through all the way until Nash comes back.

Why is that? There's a reason we signed Marcus Banks, after all.

 

[fordronken]

Why is that? There's a reason we signed Marcus Banks, after all.

To have the offense not stall to a very large degree with Nash out, I think we need Banks, Barbosa and Diaw on the floor at the same time.

 

[Nasser22]

I think KT will start. They brought him in to play with Amare. He can hit the mid-range shot and play good defense. Having another big man there will help Amare. I think Diaw will get more minutes than KT, but Kurt should definetly be the starter. When we don't have a true passing point guard on the floor, like fordronken said, it will be nice having Banks, Barbosa and Diaw playing at the same time. Diaw will get a few starts probably if Amare needs to take a game off or for w/e reason until he's 100%.

 

[HooverDam]

I accidentally clicked the second option, when I really meant to click Nash-Bell-Marion-Amare-KT. Bringing Diaw off the bench gives the Suns a player who can play anywhere, and can replace whatever starter needs a breather first.

 

[George O'Brien]

I went for Amare and KT for the same reasons I've given all along. KT is the team's best interior defender and interior rebounder. Having him in at the start can help keep either Amare or Boris (if Amare is slow healing) from getting into foul trouble right at the start of the game. Also, it is much easier to trigger the fast break if the ball is rebounded.

As an older player, I'd rather have KT start when he's warmed up rather than have him come off the bench. By contrast, I don't think Boris would need any time at all to get warmed up.

As a further element, I like the idea of having Boris come in with the backup guards. He gives the team another ball handler and a really fast lineup against the opponent's backup guys.

 

[Errntknght]

I have to admit there are good arguments all around and, yes, I remember George making the same case for KT starting all summer. I'll counter with the same case I've been making all summer - Diaw started and was a major contributor in the playoffs. My guess is that in D'Antoni's mind that trumps what KT did during the regular season so that Boris is a lock to start. Kurt starts only if Amare is not ready for everyday wear and tear.

 

[HooverDam]

I forgot to also mention, I think KT should start, because I think he can help the Suns get a few stops early, and help them jump out to an early lead. Then, after that, you put in Boris and really turn the jets on and blow teams away.

I've noticed that so many times the last two years, the Suns will win by 10+, but it wont be until late when they take over. I contribute this to their style eventually wearing the opponents down by the 4th qtr. A wins a win, but I'd like to see the Suns take the lead early, and then blow it open from there.

 

[msdundee]

"I've noticed that so many times the last two years, the Suns will win by 10+, but it wont be until late when they take over. I contribute this to their style eventually wearing the opponents down by the 4th qtr. A wins a win, but I'd like to see the Suns take the lead early, and then blow it open from there."

Hoover, that made me smile, because you've noticed the same thing I have. The Suns have started something new of late -- coming on strong in the fourth Q. But I look at that as a big improvement because what they used to do more often was "take the lead early, and then blow it" ---- period.

Those games where they find a way to turn up the heat in those last 12 minutes are nailbiters and not good for the BP, but to me it shows a grittiness they never seemed to have before.

 

[George O'Brien]

The Suns tendency to blow leads came from:

1. Playing House rather than Nash. House was not a point guard and the Suns offense struggled. Banks should be a huge improvement.

2. Poor half court execution. The Suns were great when running, but tended to brick too many shots when ahead rather than focusing on high percentage shots. Not having Amare hurt, but it also involved guys getting too loose when they had a lead. This team needs to keep up the pressure offensively and defensively and never relax.

3. Inadequate depth. The Suns wore down opponents, but they also wore down themselves. They were generally sufficiently well conditioned that eventually the other team would lose it, but adding depth will let the Suns play at a higher level of intensivity for 48.

 

[msdundee]

The Suns tendency to blow leads came from:

1. Playing House rather than Nash. House was not a point guard and the Suns offense struggled. Banks should be a huge improvement.

2. Poor half court execution. The Suns were great when running, but tended to brick too many shots when ahead rather than focusing on high percentage shots. Not having Amare hurt, but it also involved guys getting too loose when they had a lead. This team needs to keep up the pressure offensively and defensively and never relax.

3. Inadequate depth. The Suns wore down opponents, but they also wore down themselves. They were generally sufficiently well conditioned that eventually the other team would lose it, but adding depth will let the Suns play at a higher level of intensivity for 48.

That's all true, but it was the past two years and especially last year when they seemed to have better fourth quarters. Nash's break usually included only the first couple minutes of the fourth, depending on how things went, and then he came back in for the final run. I haven't seen much of Banks but hope he's all they say and more.

Amare being out last year hurt, no doubt, but in some strange way I think it was the match that lit the fire. Once the news came out, the Suns were counted down and out from the beginning by just about everyone, so they really had something to prove. Credit for some of that grittiness I mentioned can go to Raja, but mostly it just seemed to be a new get-it-done attitude thing and it was good to see.

This year is a big question mark, as they all are, but I do like some of the offseason moves. Some I'm still wondering about (Piatkowski) However it goes, it will be fun.

 

[George O'Brien]

Welcome aboard.

I think you are right. I've suggested that if Amare does come back full strength, the year off may prove to have a silver lining in that these guys know they can perform without him. They also learned that the D'Antoni system really does work if they do.

 

[Chaz]

Coach will start his best five players.

I would expect that to be Amare and Diaw, but only a training camp can show D'Antoni and us if that is the case.

I think I prefer Diaw's fexibility and playmaking off the bench as a 6th man but based on past experience I don't think D'Antoni coaches that way.

 

[Chaz]

That's all true, but it was the past two years and especially last year when they seemed to have better fourth quarters. Nash's break usually included only the first couple minutes of the fourth, depending on how things went, and then he came back in for the final run. I haven't seen much of Banks but hope he's all they say and more.

Amare being out last year hurt, no doubt, but in some strange way I think it was the match that lit the fire. Once the news came out, the Suns were counted down and out from the beginning by just about everyone, so they really had something to prove. Credit for some of that grittiness I mentioned can go to Raja, but mostly it just seemed to be a new get-it-done attitude thing and it was good to see.

This year is a big question mark, as they all are, but I do like some of the offseason moves. Some I'm still wondering about (Piatkowski) However it goes, it will be fun.

I think the Suns had to be tougher mentally to survive last year.
They took a huge hit blowing a lead to Dallas on opening night.

There was all that talk (and stats) about them losing close games early in the season. If I remember right that stigma stayed with them all the way into the playoffs.


Most of the problems George mentioned are from the Suns trying to survive on outside shots exclusively. Inside scoring came from passing not post ups which is much more difficult to execute.

When guys weren't hitting and Nash and Diaw weren't finding guys inside it was a struggle.

Last years team really had no "go-to" guy. That was in many way their strength but it was also a weakness at times.

 

[Errntknght]

The nice thing about Piatkowski and Marks is that we've all discounted them so completely that anything they contribute will be pure gravy.

 

[George O'Brien]

The nice thing about Piatkowski and Marks is that we've all discounted them so completely that anything they contribute will be pure gravy.

As Cotton always said, you can never have too many shooters and these guys can shoot.

 

[BC867]

Coach will start his best five players.

I would expect that to be Amare and Diaw, but only a training camp can show D'Antoni and us if that is the case.

I think I prefer Diaw's fexibility and playmaking off the bench as a 6th man but based on past experience I don't think D'Antoni coaches that way.

This is true. KT will get playing time, and start at Center, only until Amare is ready to return. They will be our interchangeable Centers.

Unless Amare can talk the Coach into ultimately playing them side-by-side, which is what he originally wanted.

 

[msdundee]

The nice thing about Piatkowski and Marks is that we've all discounted them so completely that anything they contribute will be pure gravy.

Sometimes surprises are good. A friend of mine (big Spurs fan) thinks highly of Marks and predicts he'll do very well here if given the chance. He didn't get much playing time in SA because they had plenty of bigs -- Nazr, Rasho, Oberto -- and Marks wound up 3rd or 4th in line. From what I've read, he plays hard and he can shoot. There's no speed limit in Phoenix, training camp should tell if he can keep up with traffic.

 

[Chaplin]

Marks looked like he can at least run with us a lot. Not so sure about finishing, though.

 

[asudevil83]

i think with both the lakers and clippers coming in the first two nights of the season, the suns will be looking at interior defense and rebounding as a HIGH priority.

so, i think we will go with the lineup of Amare/KT/Marion/Bell/Nash to start the season. i think though, that within a few weeks, Diaw will be replacing KT in the lineup, which would then allow KT to sub in for Amare in order to keep his minutes down.