Suns going back to run and gun!

[the_future23]

"With orders to return to a "breakneck pace," there were non-stop scrimmages with a five-second backcourt rule reinstalled. Talking and walking was gone. Running and gunning was in."

Dangerous team. Kerr also said he isn't trading Amare.

Sorry, I can't post links since I don't have 20 posts. It is on azcentral.com

 

[dodie53]

woohoo!

good news for me.

 

[DeAnna]

Aha!! As I suspected, the whole 'trade Amare' thing was just a smokescreen for Porter's firing.

 

[ActingWild]

...and there was much rejoicing.

 

[PhoenixMaverick]

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2009/02/16/20090216sunskerr0217.html

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

I want to see Amare averaging 28ppg again and he and Shaq becoming an unstoppable force in the paint.

I hope Grant Hill is happy too. Poor guy just wanted to play ball!

 

[the_future23]

Play Dragic, boost his confidence. Maybe he will be a good fast pace PG. Don't play Alando Tucker or Robin Lopez.

Shaquille O'neal
Amar'e Stoudemire
Grant Hill
Jason Richardson
Steve Nash

Leandro Barbosa
Matt Barnes
Louis Amundson
Goran Dragic

Play those 9. Hell, even consider having Shaq coming off the bench. He may not like it, but having Amundson in the starting line-up could benefit the team.

 

[Andrew]

good...maybe this can spark this team

 

[arwillan]

I feel for grant. If i were him, i'd have requested a trade long ago. If i was at the same stage in my career and still able to play the way he is, i'd ask to be dealt to a contender. I admire his loyalty.

 

[AceP]

ARE YOU REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE RETURNING OF GUN AND RUN?

SORRY I AM NOT.

Gun & run couldn't bring them to the final ...
when Nash was much younger ... the whole team was much younger ...
when Marion was here .. he was a much better player by then ...
when Joe Johnson was here ... and Q ...

Most importantly, when D'Antoni was coaching ...

Now? Under Gendry? With 34 years old Nash, 37 years old Shaq, 36 years old Hill? ...

Enjoy the moment. Prepare to face the cold truth very soon.

 

[pokerface]

Was there any mention of defense or is that a four letter word now?

 

[mojorizen7]

Was there any mention of defense or is that a four letter word now?

It has been since i can remember here.

 

[lou_skywalker]

They have to trade Shaq otherwise its gonna be jog and gun

 

[CharlieTheBull]

That is a bad idea. How many rings has Dantoni with the run and gun ? Trade Shaq and Hill to Cleveland, they deserve it.

 

[dodie53]

anyone remember the injuries and suspensions?

 

[mojorizen7]

That is a bad idea. How many rings has Dantoni with the run and gun ? Trade Shaq and Hill to Cleveland, they deserve it.

26-25 career playoff record
4-12 career playoff vs SPURS
The regular season record was impressive (232-96 over the last 4 yrs) but the recurring playoff weaknesses and "how" his teams lost games, as well as repeatedly blowing your home court advantage, having key bench contributers sit(House,KT), running his guys into the ground thinking he was running the opposition out of the gym etc...is not very impressive at all IMO.
One of the best offensive minds in basketball but the game is played on both ends of the floor and when it gets down to the possesions that really count( playoff series,2:00 minutes remaining,close game,everybody's tired etc...the team that can get stops,secure a rebound and get a high% shot)will beat DA's smallish jumpshooting teams 9 times out of 10.

I hope that Gentry can strike a balance between up-tempo & deliberate.
I'm skeptical. This roster is an aging,defenseless mess IMO in terms of chemistry & direction.

 

[hafey]

Increasing the tempo at this point is only a band aid. It will keep the players happy until the end of the season and probably result in a few more wins and thus a low seeded playoff berth.

This team isn't winning a championship either way, so we might as well have fun being slightly above average.

 

[CharlieTheBull]

Increasing the tempo at this point is only a band aid. It will keep the players happy until the end of the season and probably result in a few more wins and thus a low seeded playoff berth.

This team isn't winning a championship either way, so we might as well have fun being slightly above average.

When you have Shaq-Amare-Hill-JRich-Nash and Barbosa, Barnes, Admundson on the same team, you can win a championship. But you have to play DEFENSE and grab REBOUNDS ! It's a shame to see this team 9th in the West. Run and gun is not the thing to do when you don't have J.Johnson, Q-Rich, Bell, Diaw and House......

 

[DeAnna]

Increasing the tempo at this point is only a band aid. It will keep the players happy until the end of the season and probably result in a few more wins and thus a low seeded playoff berth.

This team isn't winning a championship either way, so we might as well have fun being slightly above average.

Sad, but true.

But hey, at least we'll probably make the playoffs! What's the alternative? With Porter, we weren't even gonna make it to the 9th seed.

As long as Nash is around, that's the style they have to play.

 

[Mainstreet]

With DA coaching the Suns I considered the Suns running style as a well calculated system. Proper spacing was integral to his running style as well as getting the ball to the open shooter. It was like a finely tuned sports car at it's best. However, unless Gentry can replicate it, I fear running for the sake of running can easily become just a gimmick. I hope Gentry has learned his coaching lessons well. Also, if Gentry survives, he needs to add a defensive minded assistant next season.

 

[CharlieTheBull]

Who is still happy with the run and gun ? This system is fun to watch, but it's not the solution for winning games.We have the best offensvie team in the NBA, but without defense, this system is useless.

 

[buttsR4rebounding]

Increasing the tempo at this point is only a band aid. It will keep the players happy until the end of the season and probably result in a few more wins and thus a low seeded playoff berth.

This team isn't winning a championship either way, so we might as well have fun being slightly above average.

Exactly...Fun and Done!

 

[Ninjafish]

Who is still happy with the run and gun ? This system is fun to watch, but it's not the solution for winning games.We have the best offensvie team in the NBA, but without defense, this system is useless.

I can't blame you if you haven't been watching the games lately, but the Suns haven't been particularly good on offense just like they haven't been on defense. The problem isn't the run and gun style, it's that there's no chemistry anymore on either offense or defense. The team is a mess of players now that don't seem to fit together.

 

[SirStefan32]

Who is still happy with the run and gun ? This system is fun to watch, but it's not the solution for winning games.We have the best offensvie team in the NBA, but without defense, this system is useless.

While I agree with you, let's be fair and remember that Stoudemire is out and that Suns have no depth at 4.

Run and gun has never been a solution, it is not a solution and it will never be a solution. However, there is no doubt in my mind that Suns would be fighting for 5th or 6th seed had Amare stayed healthy.

Phoenix just doesn't have the personnel to be a a good defensive team. Hell, they don't have personnel to be a fair defensive team. Nash is easily the worst defensive point guard in the league. Amare is a terrible defender at power forward. Shaq, while outstanding one-on-one defender is possibly the worst pick and roll defender among Centers in the league. JRich is a competent defender at best. Outside of Hill and Barnes (Amundson to some degree, as well), Suns have no defenders. Replace Nash with Billups and Amare or Shaq with Camby, and then we'd have a different story, but with this roster, Suns just can't defend.