Suns' Hill now a 3-point threat

[Rab]

Again, you guys aren't seeing the big picture. Of course right now nobody is going to send a big man at Amare at the 3-point line. The whole point of this argument is about what would happen IF Amare can actually start hitting them out there. IF that happens, then you better believe teams will be throwing big men at him.

It's a "what if" that I don't really care to see though. That's why I take issue with it.

 

[playstation]

I do think that there are more important holes in his game for him to plug up before he starts working on something like a 3 poont shot, ie: rebounding, defense, ball handling. If he could improve on those areas, he'll be a much bigger help to the team than if he adds a 3.

in order to get better at rebounding and defense, you have to play games. he did that, but it's not all-consuming. you also have time individually to work on your game. he does that by doing everything, including ball-handling and 3 pt shooting (along with turnaround jumpers and plenty of other stuff).

the thing is that it is really novel for him to even bother being so motivated to seriously practice a 3. therefore it gets attention. its not like he's not doing other stuff, but 'amare practices turnaround J' doesn't sell as many papers as 'amare knocking down 3's!'.

he's doing what he can, and he has the guidance of some of the best minds in basketball. it's not like the coaches are like 'amare, maybe you should work on defense this year' and amare's like 'hell no, i'ma go get my 3 on'. a dude that is in doing 4-a-days? i'll never fault that kinda guy. some parts of the game come slower than others, what can you do?

 

[Stargazer]

I agree -- I don't fault Amare for practicing threes, so long as he's also working on other aspects of his game, which I assume he is.

More generally, it's actually hard to think of anything I would want any player to be working on on the offensive side of things (with the possible exception of Hill developing a 3 shot, and Boris a strong move to the rim). Truth is, the Suns already have a great offense, and any additional improvements on that end will be strictly at the margins. Or to put it another way, the bar is very high for a Sun's player to add something new to the offensive arsenal, because that "something new" will have to be better than all of the weapons the Suns already have at their disposal to actually be useful.

The real low-hanging-fruit for this team is on defense. Shawn and Raja aside, there's lots of room for every other player to improve the team's collective defense just by going from below-average defensive play to average to (hopefully) above average. But I don't really know how you improve defense other than by playing games.

 

[PetryJr]

Even if other bigs leave Duncan by himself to jump at Amare or whoever, it won't make much of a difference IMO. Duncan is that good defensively. Just his presence down low makes a lot of our players change their shots. Plus you can't forget he never gets fouls called against him. The Spurs also rotate better than any other team in the league. There seems to always be someone there to help out. Like I said, they might get other teams to fall into this trap, but the Spurs, being our biggest hurdle, could still easily find ways to adapt.

Maybe you're right, we'll have to wait and see. I don't know, you make it sound like there's nothing the Suns can, because the Spurs will be able to adjust anyway. I just don't necessarily see it that way.

35% is a lot to ask of Amare. If he shot 30% I'd be surprised.

Totally disagree. He has probably worked more on his three this offseason than Marion has in his entire career, and Marion always shoots over 30%. Plus, his shooting mechanics are very good, which obviously isn't the case with Shawn. If Amaré ends up shooting 30% from beyond the arc, then I agree that it's not a good option to have. But I don't think that will be the case.

The main goal of every player should be finding ways to improve. I don't really knock him for wanting to add to his game, but I do think that there are more important holes in his game for him to plug up before he starts working on something like a 3 poont shot, ie: rebounding, defense, ball handling. If he could improve on those areas, he'll be a much bigger help to the team than if he adds a 3.

I'd like to see him progress more quickly on defense, but it is what it is, apparently. We don't know if it's because it's more difficult for him or if it's because he prefers to work on offense only.


I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree, and see what happens in the regular season. Whatever happens, let's hope it's for the good of the team.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Rasheed wallace is a 35% 3pt shooter. Amare has a solid midrange shot and great mechanics. I see no reason why he cant pull a wallace and toss one or two 3 pointers down within a 40 minute stretch.

 

[Rab]

Maybe you're right, we'll have to wait and see. I don't know, you make it sound like there's nothing the Suns can, because the Spurs will be able to adjust anyway. I just don't necessarily see it that way.

Yeah, it does sound doom and gloom, huh? LOL. I only say this because they seem to adjust well to everything we throw at them. I do think the Suns can beat the Spurs, but I think they're going to have to become a more than one dimensional team, and DA needs to be more flexible, and I also don't think trying to spread the floor with Amare will solve anything.

Totally disagree. He has probably worked more on his three this offseason than Marion has in his entire career, and Marion always shoots over 30%. Plus, his shooting mechanics are very good, which obviously isn't the case with Shawn. If Amaré ends up shooting 30% from beyond the arc, then I agree that it's not a good option to have. But I don't think that will be the case.

A part of me wants to believe that to be true. Word is that he shoots well in practice, but game shooting is different than practice shooting. If James Jones could've made a living off practice shooting, he'd be able to retire a VERY rich man right now.

I'd like to see him progress more quickly on defense, but it is what it is, apparently. We don't know if it's because it's more difficult for him or if it's because he prefers to work on offense only.


I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree, and see what happens in the regular season. Whatever happens, let's hope it's for the good of the team.

Agreed.

 

[Rab]

I agree -- I don't fault Amare for practicing threes, so long as he's also working on other aspects of his game, which I assume he is.

More generally, it's actually hard to think of anything I would want any player to be working on on the offensive side of things (with the possible exception of Hill developing a 3 shot, and Boris a strong move to the rim). Truth is, the Suns already have a great offense, and any additional improvements on that end will be strictly at the margins. Or to put it another way, the bar is very high for a Sun's player to add something new to the offensive arsenal, because that "something new" will have to be better than all of the weapons the Suns already have at their disposal to actually be useful.

The real low-hanging-fruit for this team is on defense. Shawn and Raja aside, there's lots of room for every other player to improve the team's collective defense just by going from below-average defensive play to average to (hopefully) above average. But I don't really know how you improve defense other than by playing games.

In game experience is probably the best way, but you can work on things such as denying post position, working on foot speed, working on footwork, as well as learning where you need to be as a help defender or rotation wise within a defensive gameplan. A lot of defense is just plain desire as well. I would at least like to see Amare give more of an effort on defense. He might never be a great defensive player. Look at Nash, he'll never be known for defense, but it won't be because of lack of effort. We all know Amare has a great work ethic, and he tends to gets results when he puts his mind to something, so I don't doubt he could improve.

 

[azirish]

IMHO, no shot blocker can defend the paint alone against a team that passes the ball. For all his skills, Duncan is mostly a weak side shot blocker but when attacked has to pull out from under the circle where he's vulnerable to a dump pass. Clearing out his protector seriously limits his effectiveness.

 

[The Man In Black]

IMHO, no shot blocker can defend the paint alone against a team that passes the ball.

Just pointing out that the Spurs play a team D. Tim will never have to go it alone as you say. The Spurs won't follow Amare all the way to the corner unless he turns into Dirk Nowitzki and if he does, then the Spurs have already won the interior.