The New Look Suns

[George O'Brien]

I looks like Ostertag believes that the Clippers will NOT match on Q. The Suns conversations with Trailor and JP suggest they are looking primarily at big guys for minimum salaries. They don't seem to be even exploring other options with the exception of Ostertag and he doesn't think they will have the money.

So for the sake of argument, let's assume the Suns get Q Richardson and a warm body to play inside. What will the Suns look like?

I know some people think that this deal means the Suns have a trade in mind. I doubt it. There are no good ones available. If they wanted a mediocre big man, they could have done that in the free agent market.

So what are they going to do? I think the option that has not received enough attention is that Carbakapa will be moved inside. Yes, I know he's not strong enough, but he IS tall and reasonably athletic. On offense he could play the high post or on the wing in a small ball configuration. On defense he would not be able to play a strong offensive player, but might hold his own against a guy who doesn't shoot much.

Why am I focusing on Carbakapa? Because the Suns will end up using Q to backup both the SG and SF positions, leaving very few minutes for Carbakapa on the wing. Vroman looks like he can play defense while Carbakapa could be an impressive offensive threat on the inside.

In either case, the Suns will be geared to run all the time. Even taking the ball after an opponent's made shot should be treated as just another fast brek opportunity. Since most teams take a few seconds to get into position, it would force them to rush back and leave holes before they are set. It would also force opponents big guys to run up and down the court, which will create fatigue.

"Early offense" will be an extension of the fast break with cutters to the basket and shooters set up to get pitch backs as the defense collapses on the guy driving the hoop. If that doesn't work, the next would be to get the ball to Amare before their opponent's big man is in position.

Most teams defend the break by pulling everyone into the paint and then spreading out from there. This is especially true against the Suns because of the problems created by having someone like Marion available for an alley oop pass. This will leave Nash wide open for quick jumpers - which he hits.

The Suns will do this whether or not they have Q. However, with Q they will be able to keep up the pace for longer stretches. With Carbakapa, Lampe, and Vroman inside to join Amare, they will be able to keep all five guys in the early attack.

Will the Suns be able to play defense? Not at the Pistons, Spurs, Wolves level that is for sure. However, they will probably press the ball in a switching man to man and hope for the best. The real key will be to run so often that opponents will be reluctant to crash the boards hard for fear of giving up too many fast break points. Also, if the Suns are built for speed, other teams may have a hard time keeping their big guys in the lineup due to matchup issues.

Will this work? The Mavericks had some success with this approach. Compared the Mavericks, the Suns do not have nearly the outside shooting but have a vastly superior low post guy than the Mavs. The Suns individual defenders are not as good as we would like, but they are better than the Mavs. Like the Mavs, the Suns will rely on a bunch of guys who can rebound rather than just one big man.

A year ago Frank Johnson came to training camp intent on developing a running style. It failed because Marbury couldn't or wouldn't run it. Nash will and IMHO the Suns will end up looking a lot different than they have for years.

 

[jbeecham]

Very good post. I had been thinking about posting something similar for days. I think Zarko can fill the backup PF/SF role pretty well. If he can get back to his pre-injury intensity and improve his all-around game then he could be key for the Suns this season. I had been thinking about Zarko's effect on the team specifically because his name really hasn't been mentioned much at all on the boards for a while, especially in a backup PF role.

If we get Q, we'll have a bench of Barbosa, Q, Zarko, Vroman & Lampe........which doesn't look impressive if they're all in the game at once. But that lineup should never been in the game together unless we're down 20+ pts at the end of the game. If you mix these guys in with some of our starters for stretches then we should be fine. We will play a lot of small ball, but we should be able to make it work for us pretty well.

 

[Mainstreet]

I thought Ostertag did not want to wait to see if the Clippers matched on Q and has agreed to terms with Sacramento. I did not see any indication that he thought the Clippers would NOT match on Q. He just didn't want to take the chance of being left out there in the cold. See link:

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/0721nbanb0721.html

 

[SweetD]

I would rather have Little Jake or Lampe playing Center over Zarko. I like Zarko but I don't think he has enought weight to play the C well enough.

 

[scotsman13]

dont count out zarko to quick. if he comes back with his shot he can add something on the team that most of the others dont do. that is movement without the ball. (this is one think i wish the team would focus on in the half court plays) by moving with out the ball he creats a number mismatches for himself and others.

 

[scudney]

I thought Ostertag did not want to wait to see if the Clippers matched on Q and has agreed to terms with Sacramento. I did not see any indication that he thought the Clippers would NOT match on Q. He just didn't want to take the chance of being left out there in the cold. See link:

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/0721nbanb0721.html

I agree. Just because Ostertag didn't want to take the chance of not getting an offer from the Suns, doesn't mean he knew the Suns were getting Q.

The fact that the Suns had interest in Tag, suggests they're not sure they are getting Q. Otherwise, they would have never had interest in Tag (unless of course they were hoping he would sign for the min.)

 

[Gaddabout]

I would rather have Little Jake or Lampe playing Center over Zarko. I like Zarko but I don't think he has enought weight to play the C well enough.

Zarko might be able to play high post. Maybe if the Suns had 5 years to teach him the nuances, he could pull it off. He's still a small forward in a big forward's body, not neccesarily the best combo.

 

[scotsman13]

Zarko might be able to play high post. Maybe if the Suns had 5 years to teach him the nuances, he could pull it off. He's still a small forward in a big forward's body, not neccesarily the best combo.

i dont know it has seemed to work for a number of very good player, from larry bird to dirk, from danny manning to garrnet. he is 6'11" and is active and has good foot speed. with that and his skills (if his outside shot comes back) he can pull power forwards and centers outside and drive by or shot over them if they lay off him. and if he is moves without the ball he is a nice traget to find for a quick score that way.

 

[elindholm]

Cabarkapa won't have much trouble making contributions on offense. On defense he will get vaporized if he has to guard the other team's PF or C.

George writes, "they will probably press the ball in a switching man to man and hope for the best. The real key will be to run so often that opponents will be reluctant to crash the boards hard for fear of giving up too many fast break points." These are classic small ball gambles. Small ball can be exciting and even effective, but I personally am sick of it. It is a regular-season gimmick only.

Sure, the Suns won't contend this year anyway. But if they are trying to build a contender, why starting molding them into a system that is doomed for playoff failure? Or is their plan to play small ball until some magical moment in the future, then completely overhaul the team's identity?

 

[scotsman13]

the 80's lakers, the 90's sonics, the 78 blazer (i think that was there championship year), heck even the thomas' pistons and jordans bulls were running every time they got the chance. the laker and blazer keys were rebounding, the sonics were steals and trapping defense and and the pistons hard defense to scare their foes away from the basket.

championships are based off from being able to play defense and also score in both the open court and half court, but most improtantly it is about playing as a team and playing together.

 

[George O'Brien]

I'm not wildly enthusiastic about Zarko at center. But I also not wildy enthusiastic about some of our options either. Zarko is about the same size as Ratliff and Camby, so the main problem for hims is strength. As long as they don't use him against tanks, he might actually be more effective inside than outside on defense.

In any case, the key whether Zarko is used inside much or not will be running all the time. The Pistons showed how effective running could be in beating the Lakers and they don't have a team built for speed like the Suns are.

 

[Joe Mama]

I'm not wildly enthusiastic about Zarko at center. But I also not wildy enthusiastic about some of our options either. Zarko is about the same size as Ratliff and Camby, so the main problem for hims is strength. As long as they don't use him against tanks, he might actually be more effective inside than outside on defense.

he doesn't have half the strength, the long arms (as long), the quickness, and most importantly the technique.

Joe Mama

 

[cly2tw]

I second Eric's and scotsman's sentiment. The Kings can play fastbreak as well as half court, and so do the Pistons. With Q we get one more go-to scorer besides Amare for half court situations. I'd like the Suns try to get comfortable with it to make postseason games easier, and to save some legs particularly from Nash for the playoffs.

 

[Goldfield]

Funny, I am very high on Zarko. But I see him playing SF and some PF. not center.

What I thought was weird was on the Suns site they do have him listed as a F/C, while guys like Vroman & I think Lampe are only listed as a F. Kinda interesting.

 

[George O'Brien]

Funny, I am very high on Zarko. But I see him playing SF and some PF. not center.

What I thought was weird was on the Suns site they do have him listed as a F/C, while guys like Vroman & I think Lampe are only listed as a F. Kinda interesting.

Amare doesn't want to play center, so they won't call him a center. He'll be a PF who happens to guard centers.

Position listings are arbitrary. What matters is how the player is used. Too often people get hung up on the title of the player's offensive role, which is irrelvant. Is a center who plays on the wing on offense not really a center. Don't tell Bill Lambier (sp) that.