Suns at Heat Thread

[Mainstreet]

I think the Heat virtually butchered Amare. I thought Shaq gave up using the elbows but I guess it was because he couldn't keep up with the Suns in previous games to throw any. Anyway, a couple of old dogs had their day tonight (Mourning and Shaq) and the Suns still won. This is not an excuse for the Suns but they were clearly intimidated inside and the Heat were out to send a message.

 

[Nash2Amare]

Nash is god. Amare got screwed over. Shaq threw 3, 4 elbows, zero calls. Dumb.

 

[hcsilla]

Amare's track record is way better than Diaw's and he gets a pass until he can get back into playing shape.

He didnt play in preseason except the last game, then with the knee swelling that made him miss a couple of games, hes really hasnt gotten a chance to get himself into a flow of things yet so hes looked rusty.

Diaw sucks plain and simple and he has no excuses.

Everyone is entitled to find out who has excuses and who hasn't.

However the fact is that Diaw plain and simple did a much better job on Shaq than Amare did plus he at least moved the ball while Amare tried to make some very weak moves and constantly failed to score.

If Amare is indeed rusty it would be better to get him back in shape without losing games.

 

[S_Nash]

This game was live down under. Although the commentary was done by two guys who had sounded like they hadn't watched the NBA in about 5 years. (One of them kept remarking about how J-Will had really fine tuned his game and wasn't throwing flashy passes anymore)

It was really frustrating to watch, especially in the first half. Amare is obviously not strong enough to man Shaq 1-on-1, so he kept trying to anticipate passes. This led to him being out of position for pretty much the whole first half. He just had one of those games where, because he wasn't getting it done on the offensive end, he became disinterested on the defensive end. Amare's offensive game trancends his play on the defensive end. If he's hitting his shots, he becomes more active on the defensive end and hustles alot harder. Although this explains why he tends to get into foul trouble alot.

But like a true star, the second half is like the start of a new game. He puts it behind him and goes to work all over again. So it was unfortunate that he fouled out.

Barbosa kept us alive in the first half. It was good to see him get some confidence. He needs to be on top of his gane if we're to make any noise in May/June. Yeah he struggled in the second half, but others picked up the slack.

The Matrix played well. I saw him go inside a few times which makes a change from him jacking three-pointers all the time. Obviously he'll never be a go-to guy, but he is so invaluable with all the intangibles he brings. It's justa shame he's the highest paid player on the team.

Nash was outstanding. Best PG in the league and definitely in the top 3 overall. I noticed that a lot of teams anticipate his passes a whole lot more now, so thats why he gets alot of turnovers. IMO Nash should be either getting 15 assists per game or averaging 15 FT's per game. I made a post about a year ago about how when Nash retires we won't be the same. He is the heart and soul of this team. You could sub him for any PG in the league and we're barely a .500 team. When Nash retires, D'Antoni needs to go aswell otherwise we'll be in the lottery for the however long he remains coach.

Just some random thoughts and observations from a drunken Aussie guy

 

[jandaman]

Okay...

Surely the people still who doesnt see the Suns weakness must admit it now.

This isnt the team that started 1-5 and won 61 games... the Suns are just plain struggling.

Nash having to score 30 points again to carry the Suns is a sign that something is not right.... not with Nash but with the System..... it should be Nash with 10~15 assists considering the setup around him... a scorer in each position....

I think Hill should come off the Bench.... sacrifice stats for effectiveness...



And hout bout that Marion eh... the people who wanted him gone... well he is 6'7 and grabbing 24 rebounds, basically the only player that really prevents the Suns from being historically the worst rebounding team ever.

 

[NastyOne]

Okay...

Surely the people still who doesnt see the Suns weakness must admit it now.

This isnt the team that started 1-5 and won 61 games... the Suns are just plain struggling.

Nash having to score 30 points again to carry the Suns is a sign that something is not right.... not with Nash but with the System..... it should be Nash with 10~15 assists considering the setup around him... a scorer in each position....

I think Hill should come off the Bench.... sacrifice stats for effectiveness...



And hout bout that Marion eh... the people who wanted him gone... well he is 6'7 and grabbing 24 rebounds, basically the only player that really prevents the Suns from being historically the worst rebounding team ever.

The reason the Suns are struggling is because Amare isnt Amare Yet.

He needs a few more games to get his conditioning back to its normal level.

Plus Grant Hill is new to the team and needs more games to build some type of chemistry with his teammates and find his own little role with this club.

Its alot of problems right now that will be worked out by the 20th or so game of the season.

The only thing thats going to stop this team from winning it all is our dire need of another bigman.

Kerr has to use that damn trade exception from his ******** trade and bring a legit big in here. Skinner has been decent but im talking about someone that can start at C/PF and move Marion back to SF and move Hill to the bench where hes better suited to play on this team.

(And Marion has started off this season playing his ass off, but my problem has never been what Marion can do in the regular season. Hell hes one of the best players in the league during the regular season)

 

[Rab]

This team without an effective Amare is very average, much like the 05-06 team after Kurt went down.

Last year's team started slower, but was better. They had better chemistry, and the offense was flowing. It sure would be nice to have Kurt right about now.

We still can't really judge them until Amare is back to where he is playing games like last year. I have to admit I am a little concerned though. So many 3's, not so many shooters who can put them in.

Kudos to Shawn tonight though. That was impressive.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

All you people who said nash was old and going to possibly be out of it this year, I literally command you to eat a real live worm.

Right now.

I'm serious.

I just ate a worm for fun.

 

[simply_amare]

Come on now, Amare is obviously not in game shape after missing some games. Overall, the Suns lost their perimeter shooting from the start of this season. They're in a shooting funk.

 

[Wally]

This team without an effective Amare is very average, much like the 05-06 team after Kurt went down.

Last year's team started slower, but was better. They had better chemistry, and the offense was flowing. It sure would be nice to have Kurt right about now.

So..... How many games has KT played this season? How would he help?

Suns need to use a draft pick or two to see if they can find a surprise...or

Remember Lampe? He never did much but I sure thought he had the potential.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maciej_Lampe
He currently plays for Khimki BC of the Russian Basketball Super League. Lampe will be playing in the ULEB Cup and signed a one-year deal with Dynamo St. Petersburg. The bankrupt Dynamo squad were thrown out of the Russian League one day before the start of the season. Thus, making Maciej play for the BC Khimki Moscow region.
In February 2007, he was named the best player (MVP) in the Russian league[citation needed].

 

[Bufalay]

anyone notice that James Jone...I mean Raja Bell is shooting 29% from the field so far this season. He's like James Jones without the rebounding. I love how his flops aren't being called fouls anymore.

 

[Rab]

So..... How many games has KT played this season? How would he help?

You don't think Kurt would play here with Amare being injured? You really don't think he'd make a difference?

 

[Covert Rain]

You don't think Kurt would play here with Amare being injured? You really don't think he'd make a difference?

We are at the bottom in interior (in the paint defense) and rebounding. People cannot be serious about Kurt not helping this team. This team misses him more then even the Suns thought.

 

[Bufalay]

We are at the bottom in interior (in the paint defense) and rebounding. People cannot be serious about Kurt not helping this team. This team misses him more then even the Suns thought.

hopefully this isn't true. how could they not realize how much they would miss him? That would be pretty incompetent

 

[AnonymouslyKnown]

I think it's nice that the Suns are struggling and yet they are 4-2. They should do pretty well when they figure stuff out. They aren't going to look like this all year so I am not worried.

 

[dodie53]

kurt would have helped.. bigtime.

 

[Nate]

So..... How many games has KT played this season? How would he help?

hopefully this isn't true. how could they not realize how much they would miss him? That would be pretty incompetent

We are at the bottom in interior (in the paint defense) and rebounding. People cannot be serious about Kurt not helping this team. This team misses him more then even the Suns thought.

kurt would have helped.. bigtime.

You guys are missing that Kurt is out with an harmstring injury and hasnt played this season. That means that he wouldnt have been able to help us out so far anyway. The playoffs could be a different story, though.

 

[Hugh D'Man]

Nate bringing home the reality.

 

[Bufalay]

You guys are missing that Kurt is out with an harmstring injury and hasnt played this season. That means that he wouldnt have been able to help us out so far anyway. The playoffs could be a different story, though.

if he hadn't been traded his life would be exactly the same as it is now? how do you know he would've been injured? good call.

 

[Wally]

You guys are missing that Kurt is out with an harmstring injury and hasnt played this season. That means that he wouldnt have been able to help us out so far anyway. The playoffs could be a different story, though.

That was my point........ Thought it was obvious but I guess some only pay attention to the Suns and don't follow what's happining with other teams.

I do agree that IF, IF, IF, KT didn't have problems like what kept him out for long periods of time (how long was he out when he played for us???), and again, IF, DAntoni would play him - especially along with Amare, that he would be a big help. But the fact is, he's gone, he's not playing at all, and that's the past. I'm not worried yet - the Sun's have not played well (understatement) yet this season and they still are in the top 8 - 9 teams in the NBA - This early in the season, things can change in a hurry with a couple losses here & a couple losses there the worst team could be tied with the best team. It's no time to panic.

 

[Nate]

if he hadn't been traded his life would be exactly the same as it is now? how do you know he would've been injured? good call.

Im not the one hypothesizing here, or whose talking woulda shoulda coulda about Kurt Thomas and the Suns this year. Im shure you make a good call this time around.

@Wally: I agree.

 

[FArting]

We should have fouled Shaq more.

 

[Ciani]

anyone notice that James Jone...I mean Raja Bell is shooting 29% from the field so far this season. He's like James Jones without the rebounding. I love how his flops aren't being called fouls anymore.

Raja started very slowly the season, couldnt hit a jumper to save his life, but in the last 3 games he was doing pretty well. And his defence is way better than Junior's, so lets hope the injury is not serious, because Barbs is a big disappointment so far.