State of the Union

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

A bit grumpy tonight, didn't get much sleep, decided to take it out on the Suns.

Here is a breakdown of my comments to each piece of the suns.

Dantoni - Isnt it a bit hypocritical for someone in a bad mood who complains all the time to tell fans to start enjoying the games and stop complaining? Every good coach knows how to adapt. Its not superior coaching to drive home the same process and "make the other team match up." There is nothing genius about being stubborn especially after 3 years and everyone has caught on. There is no logic in stockpiling minutes on the top 7 players on the second oldest team in the league. Get over yourself. Banks, skinner, strawberry need to be integrated into the regular lineup, and not just scrub minutes. They wont get better on the bench, and wont show their abilities if only playing in a second string lineup. These are blatant issues that show their signs nearly every game. Stop accusing fans of being bad sports and improve your team. Our schedule has been a cakewalk so far, and the record isnt fooling anyone.

Bell - Needs to get his shot back yesterday. Needs to not be content with being a role player and step up his aggressiveness. Get healthy. If you become cancerous in the locker room because of self frustration and cant stay healthy or shoot the ball then something needs to be done before the deadline.

Amare - should be 100% by now, still isnt showing whats needed on defense. For illusions and hype of grabbing MIP and MVP all summer it doesnt look like his effort is there. Unacceptable foul trouble.

Diaw - has ridiculous stretches of being absolutely useless. Shows no desire to improve. Should be getting benched and not rewarded. Light a fire under his ass or ship him out. The sixers could use a point forward, and id be completely content with a rebounding evans or sharpshooter korver in our forward spot.

Hill - needs to take control of his minutes because the coach is going to blow him up before we even get to the all star break.

Marion - props for keeping your drama off the court. Consider faking one of your 5 3pt attempts every game and driving to the basket. Learn to dribble so it seems natural. Youre allowed to have the ball in your hands for more than 3 minutes per game.

Nash - See Hill. Also, get your pick and roll game back with Amare, youre not using it nearly enough.

Barbosa - dont shoot so crappy on your birthday

Tucker - draft day probably the best-worst day of your life. Went to a championship caliber team that doomed you into uselessness. A first round draft pick shoved into the d-league is poor management.

Banks - seriously, wtf. You havent convinced dantoni to make you a regular in the lineup yet? Stop buffing your lamborghini and start doing what needs to be done, because youre not doing it yet. If you dont do it for yourself, and wont do it for the team, do it for nash, because dantoni is going to kill him.

Skinner - keep up the good work. Maybe add a roar or a yell to your arsenal so you dont seem like such a friendly beast on the court. More authority in your dunks, and dont be afraid to taking more responsibility and showing us your low-post moves. Youve been in the league for what, nine years? Show it.

Marks - you got re-signed, hyped up, did well in preseason, and will warm the bench indefiniteily unless you change something. You know what youre dealing with, and its not like dantoni is going to change out of nowhere. You need to do something to get yourself in the lineup. Stop being the guy amare practices on; its not helping either of you.


Kerr - You made ugly but easy moves and didnt show anything impressive this summer but hype and spin. Grant Hill was a freebie, the KT trade was gross, and trading away one 1st round pick and sending the other to the d-league just shows complete lack of foresight.

Sarver - You have money, try liking basketball.




Thank you for your time.

 

[NativeSun]

Regarding Bell...am I wrong or do we seem to get off to a better/quicker start (and win) when Barbosa starts over Bell??

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

It helps when he scores 39 points too...

 

[cly2tw]

Regarding Bell...am I wrong or do we seem to get off to a better/quicker start (and win) when Barbosa starts over Bell??

No, you are not. Bell has not been healthy but DA forced him to start that's ruining both his and LB's game right now. Raja vented his displeasure/reservation about that in a recent interview.

 

[Chaz]

Man you are grumpy!

I do mostly agree except for Diaw.
He has been working on his jumper and it shows. He is pretty confident and consistant from 18-20 ft now. His problem is he is not very agressive offensively.
He needs to go strong and get to the foul line more often.

The minutes are ridiculous right now. This early in the season I think they need to run a 9 man rotation with occasional spot duty for Strawberry and Marks as 10 and 11.
I am not upset with Tucker going to the D-league he should get some playing time somewhere and hopefully he can help later in the season.

 

[TucsonDevil]

Dantoni - Isn't it a bit hypocritical for someone in a bad mood who complains all the time to tell fans to start enjoying the games and stop complaining? Every good coach knows how to adapt. Its not superior coaching to drive home the same process and "make the other team match up." There is nothing genius about being stubborn especially after 3 years and everyone has caught on. There is no logic in stockpiling minutes on the top 7 players on the second oldest team in the league. Get over yourself. Banks, skinner, strawberry need to be integrated into the regular lineup, and not just scrub minutes. They wont get better on the bench, and wont show their abilities if only playing in a second string lineup. These are blatant issues that show their signs nearly every game. Stop accusing fans of being bad sports and improve your team. Our schedule has been a cakewalk so far, and the record isn't fooling anyone.

When I posted this about a month ago in the "Fire D'Antoni" thread - I was nearly run off the board. Before the season is over, I predict most of you will see the light - D'Antoni is NOT a great coach and his act has grown tired. Once his 'system' fails again this post season, he will be fired. If, by some unseen force of nature he succeeds with his current 'system', crow will never taste so good. However, HE MUST change for the Suns to win.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Dantoni - Isnt it a bit hypocritical for someone in a bad mood who complains all the time to tell fans to start enjoying the games and stop complaining? Every good coach knows how to adapt. Its not superior coaching to drive home the same process and "make the other team match up." There is nothing genius about being stubborn especially after 3 years and everyone has caught on. There is no logic in stockpiling minutes on the top 7 players on the second oldest team in the league. Get over yourself. Banks, skinner, strawberry need to be integrated into the regular lineup, and not just scrub minutes. They wont get better on the bench, and wont show their abilities if only playing in a second string lineup. These are blatant issues that show their signs nearly every game. Stop accusing fans of being bad sports and improve your team. Our schedule has been a cakewalk so far, and the record isnt fooling anyone.

Heres whats hypocritical - Fans getting on DA for not playing into the bench enough AND THEN bitching when those reserves are not good enough to win us games.

I don't think you will be happy that Marcus Banks gained some confidence because he played in the game if it costs us Home court against the Spurs. Gain that confidence in practice Marcus, Marks, and Pike and we will go from there.

I am with DA - if we are going to win it all we need to get that #1 seed and giving any of those guys 5 - 10 minutes more a night is likely going to cost us 5-6 games before its all said and done.

And this whole breaking down thing is ridculous. I agree I don't want Grant and Nash being tired at the end of the season but I don't think Grant is going to be any more susceptible to injuries if he plays 36 minutes opposed to 32. Yeah he will be out there for four more minutes giving more chance to be injured but under that theory we should all just stay in our rooms under the covers so we don't get killed in an accident.

I actually put the blame on the players for the minutes. Start blowing teams out (Like the C's did last night) and then you can rest the last two quarters. DA wants to win and I for one am with him.

* I will make one point against DA though. I wish when we got that 20 point lead we had a line up that could become more methodical and takes up a little more time on the shot clock and hunkers down for defense. To a degree I understand the "keep up what got us the lead" but at the same time I tire of 20 point leads evaporating into thin air. I actually think we can be a dominant half court offense but DA needs to be able to be comfortable playing different styles.

 

[CaptainInsano]

Heres whats hypocritical - Fans getting on DA for not playing into the bench enough AND THEN bitching when those reserves are not good enough to win us games.

I don't think you will be happy that Marcus Banks gained some confidence because he played in the game if it costs us Home court against the Spurs. Gain that confidence in practice Marcus, Marks, and Pike and we will go from there.

I am with DA - if we are going to win it all we need to get that #1 seed and giving any of those guys 5 - 10 minutes more a night is likely going to cost us 5-6 games before its all said and done.

And this whole breaking down thing is ridculous. I agree I don't want Grant and Nash being tired at the end of the season but I don't think Grant is going to be any more susceptible to injuries if he plays 36 minutes opposed to 32. Yeah he will be out there for four more minutes giving more chance to be injured but under that theory we should all just stay in our rooms under the covers so we don't get killed in an accident.

I actually put the blame on the players for the minutes. Start blowing teams out (Like the C's did last night) and then you can rest the last two quarters. DA wants to win and I for one am with him.

* I will make one point against DA though. I wish when we got that 20 point lead we had a line up that could become more methodical and takes up a little more time on the shot clock and hunkers down for defense. To a degree I understand the "keep up what got us the lead" but at the same time I tire of 20 point leads evaporating into thin air. I actually think we can be a dominant half court offense but DA needs to be able to be comfortable playing different styles.

To be honest I flip flopped, last year I never wanted to see banks off the bench but it is just a different story right now.

I and others as you see are not impressed with this team right now, and I believe if we are going to be all shoddy and lose certain games it should be where we rest the starters and give the bench more time.

The spurs were 2005 champs with a 3 seed IIRC. 2007 champs with a 3 seed. If it is seriously at the point where we absolutely MUST have the first seed to stand a chance we might as well give up anyway.

At this point I will take a 3rd seed and fresh starters over a 2nd seed and being completely worn out. Forget the 1st seed, either dallas will heat up or the spurs will continue to coast and yet put up a crazy record. At the 2nd half of last year the spurs were something like 20-2 when they put the gears into overdrive.

This 1st seed rush has not worked the last 3 freakin' years and yet we can obviously see what the spurs do and see that it is working.

This team is old now, I have stated that enough times already. If we are going to be a running team, it is time to switch the plan. Running team + 38-40 MPG starters all season long + 2nd oldest team in the nba = fail in playoffs as far as I am concerned.

 

[Chaz]

The problem is Coach tends to put in the bench all at once. I think that was the problem to start last year. He subbed in the whole bench and they quickly blew a 20 point lead. After that he had no confidence in the bench.

I don't have a problem with minutes and who gets what but the guys on the bench need a chance to play probably down to 9 or 10 deep during the regular season.

What bothers me during the game is when a bench player gets 5 or 10 minutes in the first half and then doesn't see the floor the rest of the game. Or the reverse when they don't play the whole game and then are expected to perform at a high level late in the third quarter. The end of the bench guys don't need to play a lot of minutes or even in every game but I think they should be playing in a regular rotation when they play.

I love D'Antoni and his style of play but his rotations and substitutions drive me crazy sometimes.

 

[buttsR4rebounding]

I am with DA - if we are going to win it all we need to get that #1 seed and giving any of those guys 5 - 10 minutes more a night is likely going to cost us 5-6 games before its all said and done.

And this whole breaking down thing is ridculous. I agree I don't want Grant and Nash being tired at the end of the season but I don't think Grant is going to be any more susceptible to injuries if he plays 36 minutes opposed to 32. Yeah he will be out there for four more minutes giving more chance to be injured but under that theory we should all just stay in our rooms under the covers so we don't get killed in an accident.

Actually, statistics from 82games.com show that there is a significant increase in injuries and games missed when players average over 35 minutes a game. That is why you see the Spurs NEVER have anyone average 35 minutes a game. Several average 34 minutes, but no one avearages 35 and in fact, rarely does a player play more than 35 minutes until the playoffs. I would argue that this number might even be lower for the Suns because the pace that they play at is so much faster than the average team.

Also, I think it is a poor mindset to stress homecourt advantage so much going into the playoffs. Champions win on the road. It is a much better strategy to play your starters fewer minutes, develop your bench, and develop a "we can win anywhere" mindset and be fresh for the playoffs than to stress winning as much as possible during the regular season only to have a team that lacks the energy to raise their game in the playoffs.

 

[CaptainInsano]

The problem is Coach tends to put in the bench all at once. I think that was the problem to start last year. He subbed in the whole bench and they quickly blew a 20 point lead. After that he had no confidence in the bench.

I don't have a problem with minutes and who gets what but the guys on the bench need a chance to play probably down to 9 or 10 deep during the regular season.

What bothers me during the game is when a bench player gets 5 or 10 minutes in the first half and then doesn't see the floor the rest of the game. Or the reverse when they don't play the whole game and then are expected to perform at a high level late in the third quarter. The end of the bench guys don't need to play a lot of minutes or even in every game but I think they should be playing in a regular rotation when they play.

I love D'Antoni and his style of play but his rotations and substitutions drive me crazy sometimes.

Yeah that is a perfect example.

I actually believe we had a 30 point lead on either minny or memphis last year and D'antoni emptied the bench early and we almost lost the entire lead.

Just learn from popovich for gods sake, does he put bonner or vaughn in there with all the other benchers? Nope, yet they get a combined 30 mpg. He is obviously doing something right.

 

[mojorizen7]

Amare - should be 100% by now, still isnt showing whats needed on defense. For illusions and hype of grabbing MIP and MVP all summer it doesnt look like his effort is there. Unacceptable foul trouble.

Very true. Amare wants the offense to be run thru himself & Nash with the pick & roll. Selfish? No way IMO.....It's the most effective way to run our offense. His frustrations are legitamit, but so is his immaturity & lack of focus & desire on the defensive end.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Heres whats hypocritical - Fans getting on DA for not playing into the bench enough AND THEN bitching when those reserves are not good enough to win us games.

I don't think you will be happy that Marcus Banks gained some confidence because he played in the game if it costs us Home court against the Spurs. Gain that confidence in practice Marcus, Marks, and Pike and we will go from there.

I am with DA - if we are going to win it all we need to get that #1 seed and giving any of those guys 5 - 10 minutes more a night is likely going to cost us 5-6 games before its all said and done.

And this whole breaking down thing is ridculous. I agree I don't want Grant and Nash being tired at the end of the season but I don't think Grant is going to be any more susceptible to injuries if he plays 36 minutes opposed to 32. Yeah he will be out there for four more minutes giving more chance to be injured but under that theory we should all just stay in our rooms under the covers so we don't get killed in an accident.

I actually put the blame on the players for the minutes. Start blowing teams out (Like the C's did last night) and then you can rest the last two quarters. DA wants to win and I for one am with him.

* I will make one point against DA though. I wish when we got that 20 point lead we had a line up that could become more methodical and takes up a little more time on the shot clock and hunkers down for defense. To a degree I understand the "keep up what got us the lead" but at the same time I tire of 20 point leads evaporating into thin air. I actually think we can be a dominant half court offense but DA needs to be able to be comfortable playing different styles.

I have yet to encounter that hypocrisy this season from anyone on the board. I dont understand why this is brought up as an argument in November either. If we were in the last few games of the regular season you would have a fine point.

playing more than 35 minutes a game has been a longtime rule of thumb for many coaches. Sure there are exceptions for a handful of players, but this mentality for the second oldest team in November is simply not kosher.

And you cant have the "we have to have top seed and play our top players into the ground from the beginning of the season" and "enjoy the ride" mentalities all at once. THAT's whats hypocritical.

I dont accept the premise of your argument on many counts.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Very true. Amare wants the offense to be run thru himself & Nash with the pick & roll. Selfish? No way IMO.....It's the most effective way to run our offense. His frustrations are legitamit, but so is his immaturity & lack of focus & desire on the defensive end.

I fully agree. How many highlights last year came from the Nash&Stat Show? It never gets old either!

Tonights game vs Orlando will be the ultimate test for Stats defense. I dont expect him to be a Howard stopper, but if he picks up 3 fouls in the first quarter Im going to turn the TV off.

 

[dodie53]

you're just going to listen on the radio?

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Well it looks like the Suns took my rant to heart. You can really they meant to impress with the way they turned it around tonight. I just wish their motivation didnt have to come from such harsh words.

GO SUNS!

 

[cly2tw]

Well it looks like the Suns took my rant to heart. You can really they meant to impress with the way they turned it around tonight. I just wish their motivation didnt have to come from such harsh words.

GO SUNS!

Hahah, this is a good one! Keep up the harsh words!