Steven Hunter: NEW SUNS CENTER

[cly2tw]

Excellent post.

Thanks for encouragement!

It's really frustrating to see how slow Amare develops on the defensive end and rebounding and general positioning. But if we always play scramble ball without good structuring, he will never learn. And worse yet, he might develop bad habits like gambling too much etc., the way Marion never became a good one-on-one defender with the Suns while good at getting steals. There are a lot of tradeoffs in life!

 

[BC867]

Hunter did more in that quarter than most other Suns centers would have doen in an entire year.

He ran the floor.

He finished high above the rim.

He guarded the rim.

He swatted away anything in his way.

The kid has something special. Let's hope he untaps it in PHX.

But he is inconsistent... I loved the quarter, but I just dont think he is ready to be put into the starting line-up.

Maybe if he were given the chance to play consistently (especially this early in the season), he'd be consistent.

Very little to lose . . . alot to gain. But I'd be shocked if the Suns tried it. It's just not in their makeup. Damnit.

 

[JS22]

Maybe if he were given the chance to play consistently (especially this early in the season), he'd be consistent.

Very little to lose . . . alot to gain. But I'd be shocked if the Suns tried it. It's just not in their makeup. Damnit.

Yeah, I thought for sure that we'd see a real center start against Z. But, there was Amare being forced to play against someone nearly 5 inches taller than him. Not to mention Marion was getting killed against gooden.

 

[devilalum]

Well, you may be right, Amare was on Z, and Johnson, Marion, and Q got killed by Gooden. Amare fouled out. If you play your 4 on 5 and your 3's and 2's on 4, you will get destroyed just about every time.

If Phoenix wants to win, they will have to play with a PG, two swingmen, a legitimate power forward and a legit center (or at least two very large PF's).

I mean, I love Amare, but he is a PF. He can not guard big Centers.
Sean is a great rebounder, but he does not have the strenght to defend and block out legitimate PF's. (Hell, Gooden is not even a legit PF and he still kicked Marions ass all over the court.)

I'd like to see the suns get a real center but this is way off base.

They've won 4 out of 5?

The Suns do great when other teams are scrambling trying to match up with their speed and quickness, they struggle when they're trying to match up with thug ball.

Why does it seem like Hunter always subs for Amare instead of playing along side?

 

[JS22]

I'd like to see the suns get a real center but this is way off base.

They've won 4 out of 5?

The Suns do great when other teams are scrambling trying to match up with their speed and quickness, they struggle when they're trying to match up with thug ball.

Why does it seem like Hunter always subs for Amare instead of playing along side?

Because D'antoni doesnt believe in a real lineup.

 

[BC867]

Why does it seem like Hunter always subs for Amare instead of playing along side?

Because Amare is our starting Center.

He will be again tonight, according to the Coach's quote in today's paper.

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Amare doesn't want to play Center.

He's just fouled out playing Center . . . probably causing us to blow the big lead.

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How long before matching up against Centers causes him an injury?

How long before he becomes disenchanted with playing for the Suns?

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Suns management is going to blow a good thing.

 

[WildBB]

Because Amare is our starting Center.

He will be again tonight, according to the Coach's quote in today's paper.

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Amare doesn't want to play Center.

He's just fouled out playing Center . . . probably causing us to blow the big lead.

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How long before matching up against Centers causes him an injury?

How long before he becomes disenchanted with playing for the Suns?

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Suns management is going to blow a good thing.

I'D LIKE TO SEE A STARTING LINEUP OF:

C- Hunter
PF- Stoudamire
SF- Marion
SG- JJ/Q alternate - or Q reserve.
PG- Nash

Then employ Vroman as a sub 1st for Amare. Keep him out of foul trouble and fresh.

Then let's see.

 

[George O'Brien]

The TV guys were praising Hunter after his play in the Hornets game.

It seems pretty obvious that Voskuhl is not responding well to the need to play straight up defense. He is too passive and never was much of a shot blocker. Hunter at least creates a sense of doubt for teams that try to send four guys to the offensive glass to keep the Suns from running.