Team attitude and chemistry

[JCSunsfan]

Watching all the camp video, I am struck by the quiet confidence of every player in every interview. There seems to be a notable lack of tension or concern.

Last year, I was very concerned about chemistry issues going into the season. This year is just the opposite. The team seems balanced and focused and quietly confident.

It will be interesting to see how they develop.

Nash was commenting on Morris' physical style of play.

 

[sunsfan88]

All this hype on Morris "toughness" he better show it during the season.

 

[Mainstreet]

All this hype on Morris "toughness" he better show it during the season.

I don't know about all the talk of toughness but his derriere reminds me of Charles Barkley. Barkley really knew how to clear room with it. Maybe Morris can learn to do the same.

 

[jlove]

They look like they will do well chemistry wise. I went to the open practice last night, and in regards to Morris, he looks to have what we need as a back-up big. He does lack in our defensive scheme so far though. Almost like he was lost at times. Doesn't rotate to the spot on the floor where he should go. Definitely needs to put on some muscle weight to bang more inside as well. Overall, the team looked good. After watching the webcast of the scrimmage Wednesday night, I had a lot of concerns with Telfair, but he looked a LOT better last night. Big air of confidence in this team this year. I'm thinking 4-6 seed IMO

 

[JCSunsfan]

A 4-6 would be incredible success for this team. I doubt it. I am not expecting the playoffs myself.

 

[AzStevenCal]

A 4-6 would be incredible success for this team. I doubt it. I am not expecting the playoffs myself.

If Nash and Gortat stay healthy, I expect us to battle for a playoff spot. Whether we make it or not is anyone's guess but the season should be fairly entertaining. That is, as long as you're willing to ignore the fact we'd have been much better off by trading Nash and claiming a top draft spot.

Steve

 

[chickenhead]

I'll cheer for a win every time out, and I'm no proponent of tanking--but the rational part of me would probably rather get into the lottery than a first round sweep at the hands of the #1 seed.

 

[slinslin]

If Nash and Gortat stay healthy, I expect us to battle for a playoff spot. Whether we make it or not is anyone's guess but the season should be fairly entertaining. That is, as long as you're willing to ignore the fact we'd have been much better off by trading Nash and claiming a top draft spot.

Steve

Almost every team in the west has a better combo than Nash and Gortat.

According to Coro Gortat has been bad enough in camp that he is not even a lock to be a starter.

LAL, LAC, MEM, SAS, DAL, OKC, POR

Those 7 teams are clearly better than us. There is just no argument.

That leaves one spot in the playoffs and I am not going to give us better odds at that then Houston, Utah, Golden State or Sacramento.

We are down there with New Orleans and Minnesota.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Almost every team in the west has a better combo than Nash and Gortat.

According to Coro Gortat has been bad enough in camp that he is not even a lock to be a starter.

LAL, LAC, MEM, SAS, DAL, OKC, POR

Those 7 teams are clearly better than us. There is just no argument.

That leaves one spot in the playoffs and I am not going to give us better odds at that then Houston, Utah, Golden State or Sacramento.

We are down there with New Orleans and Minnesota.

There isn't? I agree that they all are probably better than us but I think you can make an argument that Portland won't be. Granted, if Gortat isn't an improving version from the guy we saw last year, we'll be out of the race early. But I'm expecting him to do what he did in the second half of last season and I'm expecting him to get even better over time.

BTW, I haven't proclaimed us a playoff lock. I think we're going to fall somewhere in the 7 to 10 spot and that means it should be an entertaining and fairly competitive season. Until Sarver sells this team, entertaining and barely competitive might be the best we can hope for.

Steve

 

[slinslin]

Portland isn't better? They will be better than last year. They replaced Miller with Felton and have a full season with Gerald Wallace.

Camby
Aldridge/Thomas
Wallace/Batum
Matthews/Batum
Felton/Smith

 

[AzStevenCal]

Portland isn't better? They will be better than last year. They replaced Miller with Felton and have a full season with Gerald Wallace.

Camby
Aldridge/Thomas
Wallace/Batum
Matthews/Batum
Felton/Smith

Is that what I said?

Steve

 

[Absolute Zero]

Portland also picked up Jamal Crawford which was a good pickup for their backcourt.
http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i...s_guard_jamal_crawford_to_me_the_northwe.html

 

[AzStevenCal]

Portland also picked up Jamal Crawford which was a good pickup for their backcourt.
http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i...s_guard_jamal_crawford_to_me_the_northwe.html

He just seems like a bad fit for their coaching style, I guess we'll see.

Steve

 

[Superbone]

Why don't we let the teams play some games before we decide who's better than who.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Why don't we let the teams play some games before we decide who's better than who.

Settle it on the court? That's just crazy enough it might work.

Steve

 

[Mainstreet]

I can see the Suns missing the playoffs, however, I can also see them improving from last season when there were so many personnel changes. A couple of things could help the Suns. They have a veteran roster for the most part and should be able to come out of the gate quickly. If not then I worry. Also the hire of defensive assistant coach Elston Turner should help the defense.

In regard to specific player personnel, there are too many "ifs" for my comfort but the games are played on the court so some teams will rise and some teams will fall inexplicably. A lot depends on how much Steve Nash has left in the tank. Also will Gortat and Lopez both be better, have the Suns found a player that can back up Nash at PG and is Markief Morris the real deal at PF? I do not know where the Suns will land but I plan to watch them for the entertainment value knowing the Suns are not a contender

 

[Magnus]

Right now, I'm thinking the suns will be somewhere in the range from outright horrible to borderline playoff (8th spot best case).

I don't know which one I'd like to see. I hope for a competitive season, yet it would be nice to have a high pick in an excellent draft next year.

 

[slinslin]

Hollinger

14. Phoenix Suns (24-42)

It took the Suns just two offseasons to completely dismantle a championship contender, although 2010 was the big one. By chasing away Steve Kerr and David Griffin, letting Amare Stoudemire walk, and then spending the money on Josh Childress and Hakim Warrick, they sealed their fate. A year from now, after Steve Nash and Grant Hill flee for Gotham, they'll be a 15-win team with virtually no young talent.

The Suns weren't that bad last season, but the only changes for this season appear to be downgrades. They replaced Aaron Brooks with Sebastian Telfair at backup point guard, and the ghost of Vince Carter with Shannon Brown at the 2. On a positive note, the Suns drafted power forward Markieff Morris -- adding him to Marcin Gortat and 7-footer Robin Lopez gives the Suns a better frontcourt than in recent seasons.

But with Stoudemire and Jason Richardson gone, there's just no scoring pop around Nash. Channing Frye endured a frustrating campaign last season and historically has performed much worse as a power forward, where's he's slotted for 2011-12. Nash and Hill are both in their late 30s and obvious risks for decline, especially with such a punishing schedule.

This looks like the inverse of the Hornets: a team that will finish maybe 12th in offensive efficiency and in the bottom five defensively. I can't see them getting back to the playoffs.

22-44 was my prediction

 

[Mainstreet]

In regard to Hollinger's comments, Brooks was no loss for the way he played for the Suns last season... still I had hope, at least for a sign and trade. I can see Ronnie Price beating out Telfair for the backup PG position. Anyway, I do not see the backup PG position being any worse and perhaps improved. Losing Carter was addition by subtraction. The Suns front line, particularly the center position needs to be the Suns strength. If Morris can contribute, this would be huge. Did he forget the Suns have both Dudley and Brown at SG?

 

[AzStevenCal]

Hollinger just lost what little credibility he had IMO. The suggestion that all our offseason changes are downgrades is absurd. Even if Shannon Brown never steps foot on the court he's a huge upgrade over the Vince Carter of last season. The guy clearly did not want to be here and he showed it with his play on the court and his countenance on the bench. I'm not sure but I have hope that Price and Telfair will prove more valuable than Brooks/Dowdell did last season.

Steve

 

[JCSunsfan]

Hollinger just lost what little credibility he had IMO. The suggestion that all our offseason changes are downgrades is absurd. Even if Shannon Brown never steps foot on the court he's a huge upgrade over the Vince Carter of last season. The guy clearly did not want to be here and he showed it with his play on the court and his countenance on the bench. I'm not sure but I have hope that Price and Telfair will prove more valuable than Brooks/Dowdell did last season.

Steve

His first paragraph was spot-on though. Except for the part about Hill leaving for NY. If Grant was going to go to NYC, he would have done it by now. Steve is another matter.

 

[slinslin]

Shannon Brown is a downgrade from Carter no matter how you look at it.

 

[Mainstreet]

Shannon Brown is a downgrade from Carter no matter how you look at it.

Then I will gladly take it.

Wasn't Carter backing up Dudley at the end of last season? I can't remember.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Shannon Brown is a downgrade from Carter no matter how you look at it.

You really couldn't be more wrong. The only thing that kept Carter from being the single worst rotation player in the NBA during his Suns stretch was the fact that Hakim Warrick was still in the league. Boy do I pity the team that was stuck with that guy. Could you imagine how bad you'd be if you had both of those guys on your team???

Hyperbole off:

Steve

 

[Mainstreet]

You really couldn't be more wrong. The only thing that kept Carter from being the single worst rotation player in the NBA during his Suns stretch was the fact that Hakim Warrick was still in the league. Boy do I pity the team that was stuck with that guy. Could you imagine how bad you'd be if you had both of those guys on your team???

Hyperbole off:

Steve

Did you read that Warrick is being pushed out of the front court. The Suns are giving him a look at small forward.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/sun...9phoenix-suns-hakim-warrick-playing-time.html