Suns @ Trail Blazers Game Thread

[95pro]

did we really miss a jrich starting for us??

now i understand a potent 2 coming off the bench, like barbs, to bring some punch to the bench.

but did we really miss jrich starting for us?

 

[elindholm]

but did we really miss jrich starting for us?

Yes. Richardson is a better rebounder than Dragic, he's a more versatile defender, he doesn't panic when asked to handle the ball, and he can create his own shot. It's not even close.

 

[Covert Rain]

did we really miss a jrich starting for us??

now i understand a potent 2 coming off the bench, like barbs, to bring some punch to the bench.

but did we really miss jrich starting for us?

I say absolutely. Aside from a few games, JRich is playing great this season. He is more of what the Suns wanted from the trade. He has been hurt. Before he hurt his hand, he had been playing pretty damn well. His stats ranked up there with the best 2 guards in the NBA.

The Suns went though that stretch in the 4th where we could not make a shot. They started doubling down on Amare and staying home on Nash for the most part. The Blazers seemed to be OK with the other guys trying to score. The Suns starting forcing the ball down to Amare when other shots were not falling.

If JRich was in there he is a legit threat they would have to account for. That would have freed up either Amare more down low, Nash in the lane or at least forced Portland into a rotation scenario to give us a few more shot opportunities. What I like about JRich this year is that he is doing more then shooting 3's. His little midrange shot has really helped this season.

 

[Mainstreet]

Yes. Richardson is a better rebounder than Dragic, he's a more versatile defender, he doesn't panic when asked to handle the ball, and he can create his own shot. It's not even close.

I agree, Richardson is a surprisingly good rebounder which the Suns miss not to mention he can play a physical brand of basketball. Also with Richardson and LB not in the lineup there is no one to put a 3 point dagger in the other team when they make a run.

 

[Yuma]

I know you guys will disagree with this, but back in the late 60's early 70's when I first started watching basketball, every team had a Robin Lopez on the end of the bench. When a guy like Roy would keep dribbling into the lane like he did last night, in would come the goon! I think they should have put Lopez in to give Roy some HARD fouls. That probably would have resulted in Roy staying oustide and shooting jumpers the rest of the game. It was his dribble penetration down the stretch in the fourth that killed our defense. I think that's why the Suns are thought of as soft. We never give the hard foul when the game is on the line.

Roy was dribbling to the same freakin spot in the lane each trip down the floor. As a coach you point that out to Lopez and tell him, I want you to meet him there and block his shots. If you can't block the shot, make sure he's getting up off the seat of his pants every time he goes in the lane.

 

[AfroSuns]

I know you guys will disagree with this, but back in the late 60's early 70's when I first started watching basketball, every team had a Robin Lopez on the end of the bench. When a guy like Roy would keep dribbling into the lane like he did last night, in would come the goon! I think they should have put Lopez in to give Roy some HARD fouls. That probably would have resulted in Roy staying oustide and shooting jumpers the rest of the game. It was his dribble penetration down the stretch in the fourth that killed our defense. I think that's why the Suns are thought of as soft. We never give the hard foul when the game is on the line.

Roy was dribbling to the same freakin spot in the lane each trip down the floor. As a coach you point that out to Lopez and tell him, I want you to meet him there and block his shots. If you can't block the shot, make sure he's getting up off the seat of his pants every time he goes in the lane.

I dont . Other teams do it to the Suns.

 

[devilalum]

The Suns do a lot of damage by changing up looks and creating mismatches. Not having JRich and LB really limits what they can do.

 

[mojorizen7]

I know you guys will disagree with this, but back in the late 60's early 70's when I first started watching basketball, every team had a Robin Lopez on the end of the bench. When a guy like Roy would keep dribbling into the lane like he did last night, in would come the goon! I think they should have put Lopez in to give Roy some HARD fouls. That probably would have resulted in Roy staying oustide and shooting jumpers the rest of the game. It was his dribble penetration down the stretch in the fourth that killed our defense. I think that's why the Suns are thought of as soft. We never give the hard foul when the game is on the line.

Roy was dribbling to the same freakin spot in the lane each trip down the floor. As a coach you point that out to Lopez and tell him, I want you to meet him there and block his shots. If you can't block the shot, make sure he's getting up off the seat of his pants every time he goes in the lane.

It is against the SUNS nature/culture/philosophy/style/M.O./direction/personality to play a physical brand of basketball and thus, using any one player to enforce any overtly hard fouls or otherwise deemed "dirty" tactics used against our players would be percieved as.........uncharacteristic.

We've had a few players over the years who have employed this widely used and sometimes very effective strategy but they are few and far in between.

Watching the S.A. game the other night, forget who it was for the SPURS but he drove the lane rather wildly, missed the shot and came down rather hard on Nash & someone else for the SUNS.
The S.A. player was in a heap in the lane(he wasn't hurt) but quicker than $hit,there was two SUNS players right there to lend a helping hand in getting him to his feet.
This is the San Antonio Spurs we're talking about!
There's a time and place for sportsmanship......but those aren't the times for it.
Just a microcosm but I've been seeing that from the SUNS for years.
Probably doesn't bother most fans but I don't like it.

 

[joshstmarie]

I don't know what's worse, losing the game like this or anticipating the inevitable complaining from people on this board that we never traded for Jared Bayless.

hahaha. So true...

Which will probably somehow lead into Iggy, Rondo, Rudy ect.

 

[krazyasiankid]

Amare can't make a 10 foot jumper? It was falling until the 4th.

Yes. I meant in the fourth he couldn't make a 10 foot jumper. He missed a wide open shot from there I remember, and then got blocked (no call fouled) by Martell Webster.

PLUS. As we've seen all season the Suns forgot how to shoot free throws.

 

[krazyasiankid]

We've had a few players over the years who have employed this widely used and sometimes very effective strategy but they are few and far in between.

Like Shaq dropping Stuckey last year? Oh man, that was a hard fall.. But in no way i think Shaq should've been ejected. It looked worse than it seemed...

That time, for example, would've been a good time for two Suns players to help him off the floor. I would've payed money to see a crazed fan pour his beer (Ron Artest style) on that 'little Spurs Player" you were talking about.

 

[cly2tw]

Yes. I meant in the fourth he couldn't make a 10 foot jumper. He missed a wide open shot from there I remember, and then got blocked (no call fouled) by Martell Webster.

PLUS. As we've seen all season the Suns forgot how to shoot free throws.

The odd thing was Amare had been very aggressive and dominant for a while. But in crunch time, he settled for jumpers. Was he run out of gas or what?

 

[krazyasiankid]

The odd thing was Amare had been very aggressive and dominant for a while. But in crunch time, he settled for jumpers. Was he run out of gas or what?

Maybe he got lazy? But its a 10 foot jumper. I dont think fatigue would affect his shooting THAT much. Anyway its just one shot, and everyone makes mistakes. Amare had a brilliant game and Im not gonna take anything away from that.