Suns at Knicks 1-17-2010

[elindholm]

carter knew he was getting his 20,000.

he could produce like this more often if he was motivated all the time

That's the story of Carter's career.

 

[sunsfan88]

This is a BIG win cause Utah & Memphis lost today so we might move up in the standings.

I might start believing again.

 

[mojorizen7]

For those who buy into the plus/minus stats(which i don't):
Amare was a -12
and Vince Carter finished at +3

Could we get more of the Lopez we saw today in terms of finishing in the 2 man game?

 

[mojorizen7]

That's the story of Carter's career.

Yep.
Although i liked his aggressiveness on the defensive boards today.

 

[Mainstreet]

I also liked that Gentry recognized how Warrick was bothering Amare defensively and stuck with it. Amare still got 41,but it wasn't easy for him in the 2nd half.

Amare does not like anyone tall and athletic to challenge his shot. Warrick bothered him enough where he had to change his shot. I didn't think Warrick was capable of doing this. Warrick was also able to score and rebound inside as well. If the Suns keep winning I may have to rethink my outlook for the team. I hope they don't let down against Cleveland.

 

[sunsfan88]

best parts were that all our "bigs" each had a nice dunk; lopez, frye and gortat

Gortat had one?

 

[Chaplin]

Gortat had one?

Yes, on a drive. Very unusual.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm still having trouble believing the Suns have two legitimate centers (Lopez/ Gortat) on their team that can actually contribute.

 

[DeAnna]

Oh, good .. they won. Now I can watch my tiVo, lol

 

[Covert Rain]

I'm still having trouble believing the Suns have two legitimate centers (Lopez/ Gortat) on their team that can actually contribute.

They do? Robin still got a total of 2 rebounds which isn't a long term solution. Robin did some other nice things for once but he has never done that consistantly. Dragic is the only person on the team with less rebounds. A freakin guard.

One rebound in the first half and one rebound the second have doesn't say legitimate to me. Tom Chambers said it best today....Robin needs to start playing like a big man.

The Suns still played crap defense but at least they got a much needed win on the road. I will be anxious to see how they do on this road trip.

 

[Mainstreet]

They do? Robin still got a total of 2 rebounds which isn't a long term solution. Robin did some other nice things for once but he has never done that consistantly. Dragic is the only person on the team with less rebounds. A freakin guard.

One rebound in the first half and one rebound the second have doesn't say legitimate to me. Tom Chambers said it best today....Robin needs to start playing like a big man.

The Suns still played crap defense but at least they got a much needed win on the road. I will be anxious to see how they do on this road trip.

I used the word "contribute" in referring to Lopez and Gortat. Big men are often slow in developing and I'm thinking this may be the case with Lopez. If he can learn to score rolling to the basket and shoot a more consistent mid-range jump shot, he will help the Suns. Lopez does have the height to bother shots inside (2 blocks today) and who knows how many shots he alters. I think his rebounding will improve the more he plays. Satisfactory rebounding is often learning where to be on the court. Certainly Lopez has not been a quick learn.

 

[desertdawg]

I honestly think our home crowd should yell "Lopez" everytime the opponents shoot the rock. Get him going, keep him focused to get in position and block out. He doesn't seem to remember until after the ball is bouncing off the rim. Get the board you damn 7 footer, little midget point guards are out rebounding you.

 

[Covert Rain]

I used the word "contribute" in referring to Lopez and Gortat. Big men are often slow in developing and I'm thinking this may be the case with Lopez. If he can learn to score rolling to the basket and shoot a more consistent mid-range jump shot, he will help the Suns. Lopez does have the height to bother shots inside (2 blocks today) and who knows how many shots he alters. I think his rebounding will improve the more he plays. Satisfactory rebounding is often learning where to be on the court. Certainly Lopez has not been a quick learn.

I can't think of one instance where a poor rebounding big man learned to rebound. Can you?

 

[FArting]

Awesome win

 

[Mainstreet]

I can't think of one instance where a poor rebounding big man learned to rebound. Can you?

It's hard not to get better than 2 rebounds a game.

If I had the time I'm sure I could find one who significantly improved their rebounding.

 

[sunsfan88]

Gortat: 7 rebounds
Lopez: 2 rebounds

Gortat is clearly superior but its a shame that both are awful at making point blank layups.

Didn't they learn this in high-school?

 

[DeAnna]

keep him focused to get in position and block out. He doesn't seem to remember until after the ball is bouncing off the rim. Get the board you damn 7 footer, little midget point guards are out rebounding you.

LoL, seems that way. I usually replay whenever he misses a rebound (that he shoulda gotten) and notice he gets easily pushed around.

 

[Covert Rain]

It's hard not to get better than 2 rebounds a game.

If I had the time I'm sure I could find one who significantly improved their rebounding.

I seriously doubt you could find anybody with a "significant" difference that could be contributed to him improving versus getting more minutes. Even if you could it doesn't hold much water since there are not glaring examples that come to mind. Another words it doesn't happen often enough to put any faith in Robin being the next.

If Lopez even managed to get two more then his stellar 2.2 per game then in his last 10 games (in the next 10 games) it would still be beyond pathetic for a 7 footer.

 

[BC867]

Warrick bothered him enough where he had to change his shot. I didn't think Warrick was capable of doing this. Warrick was also able to score and rebound inside as well.

I commented about 4th Quarter Warrick in the Nash: We have no real kind of Power Forward thread . . .

Hakim Warrick brings much needed life onto the court and, besides his thunderous dunks, played good defense (as best as a sub can vs. Amar'e) at the Garden, as we beat them. And he rebounded. And shot free throws. His 3 made (out of 4) were the third most on the Suns for the game.

Hakim divided the minutes pretty evenly with Frye at PF. Although a 219 lb. PF is not ideal, the tandem of Frye & Warrick at that position has worked well in the last two games.

As has Frye moving to C in the 4th quarter. Game by game, he seems to be growing into that role.

It's not ideal, but it's the best we can do with this roster.

 

[Mainstreet]

Hakim divided the minutes pretty evenly with Frye at PF. Although a 219 lb. PF is not ideal, the tandem of Frye & Warrick at that position has worked well in the last two games.

As has Frye moving to C in the 4th quarter. Game by game, he seems to be growing into that role.

It's not ideal, but it's the best we can do with this roster.

I agree it is the best the Suns have at PF. I think Gentry has finally found his player rotations. Also Gentry seems the most comfortable having their centers, Lopez and Gortat, on the bench to close out games.

 

[Covert Rain]

I agree it is the best the Suns have at PF. I think Gentry has finally found his player rotations. Also Gentry seems the most comfortable having their centers, Lopez and Gortat, on the bench to close out games.

Which I think makes sense provided your not trying to make stops. If you need points then having Lopez/Gortat on the bench makes sense because both have been missing easy shots. However, if your trying to close out a team with defense, you need Gortat on the court or the Lopez that shows up about every 10 games or so.

 

[elindholm]

Also Gentry seems the most comfortable having their centers, Lopez and Gortat, on the bench to close out games.

Lopez was on the floor at the end against Portland, but I think Gortat is such a liability offensively that Gentry can't risk him in crunch time.

 

[Covert Rain]

Lopez was on the floor at the end against Portland, but I think Gortat is such a liability offensively that Gentry can't risk him in crunch time.

And on the flip side Lopez has been on the bench almost all season at crunch time because he has been a liability on defense and on the boards. Gentry in a few press conferences has said he put Frye in their to grab boards at the end versus Lopez.

 

[elindholm]

And on the flip side Lopez has been on the bench almost all season at crunch time because he has been a liability on defense and on the boards.

I'm sure that's true. But the Suns can't afford to let their opponents get away with leaving a big man wide open under the basket. I mean, heck, if you don't have to guard the rim, you can overload on the perimeter and make the offense's job basically impossible. If Gortat can't convert a point-blank layup, that's an even more crippling weakness than poor rebounding.

 

[Mainstreet]

Which I think makes sense provided your not trying to make stops. If you need points then having Lopez/Gortat on the bench makes sense because both have been missing easy shots. However, if your trying to close out a team with defense, you need Gortat on the court or the Lopez that shows up about every 10 games or so.

Actually I think Gentry (thus far) sits them down the stretch to improve the Suns defense and FT shooting. Certainly in some games down the road Gentry will need to insert at least one of the two if the Suns are forced to go big although Frye and Warrick are not exactly small. It's hard to argue with Gentry finding a winning combination since he has worked so hard to get the rotation right.