The Suns are 27 & 4

[82CardsGrad]

When J-Rich goes for 20 or more points. That's incredible to me... I mean, we're not talking about 30 points, or 40 points or more. It's 20!

Keep Hill/Duds on Miller and this should be a given!

 

[dodie53]

by all means let Jrich score more.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Make that now 30 & 4!!! And, while Nash put up 33 & 10 last night, the game was still up for grabs until the Suns finally decided to feed J-Rich! IMO, it's more important that he get his 20+ than Nash scoring...

 

[chickenhead]

It wasn't even his 20+, it was the 6 points that came from his two pivotal threes. I think he's showing a killer instinct that we haven't had a lot of in previous matchups with the Spurs.

 

[devilalum]

IMO this is one of those meaningless stats. Check the record of any playoff team when their third option goes for 20 or more.

 

[AzStevenCal]

IMO this is one of those meaningless stats. Check the record of any playoff team when their third option goes for 20 or more.

I agree that having your third option come up big often leads to a win but I fail to see how that makes it meaningless. In fact, I'd think just the opposite. Also, this stat has been a season long indicator of success for us.

Steve

 

[82CardsGrad]

IMO this is one of those meaningless stats. Check the record of any playoff team when their third option goes for 20 or more.

Not sure how a stat like 30 & 4 is "meaningless"??

 

[devilalum]

I agree that having your third option come up big often leads to a win but I fail to see how that makes it meaningless. In fact, I'd think just the opposite. Also, this stat has been a season long indicator of success for us.

Steve

Isn't the third option scoring 20 or more an indicator of success for just about every team?

So playing as a team and getting more players involved in the offense leads to victory?

 

[82CardsGrad]

Isn't the third option scoring 20 or more an indicator of success for just about every team?

Could be... if you have some time, produce similar stats from other teams...

So playing as a team and getting more players involved in the offense leads to victory?

There have been plenty of games when J-Rich has gone for more than 20 points, and both Nash and Amare have contributed far less. Yet, the Suns still win. It's not a stat that says others NEED to also score more than 20 along with J-Rich. It simply points out how important it is for J-Rich to get his 20 or more. No doubt, in order to go 30 & 4, others have to contribute. However, if/when J-Rich doesn't score 20 or more, the Suns clearly have a much more difficult time getting the W.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Isn't the third option scoring 20 or more an indicator of success for just about every team?

So playing as a team and getting more players involved in the offense leads to victory?

FWIW - is J-Rich really the "3rd option"?? I would argue that given his performance this post season, he has emerged as a legit 2nd option, if not the primary option in many instances.

 

[jagu]

Feed the Beast...

 

[SirStefan32]

FWIW - is J-Rich really the "3rd option"?? I would argue that given his performance this post season, he has emerged as a legit 2nd option, if not the primary option in many instances.

Agreed. During the 2nd part of the season, J-Rich has emerged as the 2nd option, at the very least.

 

[Black Jesus]

Scoring wise it should go

1. Amare: Just because a bad game for him is 19 pts or less.
2. J-Rich: Either goes off for 26 or chills around 12.
3. Nash: he is gonna get his
4. Whoever is hot between: Dudley, Frye, HIll
5. Whoevers hot beween: Dragic/Barbosa
6. Amundson

 

[BC867]

Scoring wise it should go

1. Amare: Just because a bad game for him is 19 pts or less.
2. J-Rich: Either goes off for 26 or chills around 12.
3. Nash: he is gonna get his
4. Whoever is hot between: Dudley, Frye, HIll
5. Whoevers hot beween: Dragic/Barbosa
6. Amundson

Yup. That's why they call it Shooting Guard.

As we all know, the Point Guard should never be one of the first two options during the first 42 minutes or the rest of the guys will end up standing around.

 

[jagu]

I hope Amare takes over like he did in Game 1 , his rebounding was awesome. I think its key that J-Rich remains heavily involved in the offensive attack. If we shy away from him , he loses that killer instinct he's had all playofs.

 

[Chaplin]

Yup. That's why they call it Shooting Guard.

As we all know, the Point Guard should never be one of the first two options during the first 42 minutes or the rest of the guys will end up standing around.

Unless he's given a lane the size of a dumptruck.

 

[mojorizen7]

S.A. knows this and will likely zero in on it by taking JRich out of the equation.

 

[elindholm]

Unless he's given a lane the size of a dumptruck.

Seriously. You can't afford to let the opposition base its defense on the assumption that the point guard won't shoot. At this level, the offense needs to be prepared to take whatever the defense gives them.

I have no problem with Nash scoring 30+ a game if he does it so efficiently. Points scored in the first quarter are worth just as much as those in the last two minutes.

 

[SunsTzu]

S.A. knows this and will likely zero in on it by taking JRich out of the equation.

Will be interesting to see what they decide to do. JRich has a significant size advantage on Hill, Parker and Ginobili and Jefferson despite his size and athletic ability gets lost on defense quite a bit.

Hopefully someone else will show up if they can take out JRich since Nash and Amare are already getting so much attention.

 

[Chaplin]

Will be interesting to see what they decide to do. JRich has a significant size advantage on Hill, Parker and Ginobili and Jefferson despite his size and athletic ability gets lost on defense quite a bit.

Hopefully someone else will show up if they can take out JRich since Nash and Amare are already getting so much attention.

This game will be all about Grant Hill. We remember his defense quite a bit from Game 1, but what about his offense? Watch him be more aggressive. He scores a bit more, that actually helps JRich.

 

[jagu]

This game will be all about Grant Hill. We remember his defense quite a bit from Game 1, but what about his offense? Watch him be more aggressive. He scores a bit more, that actually helps JRich.

I prefer JRich on Parker than Hill. Hill has good left -right movement to guard Ginobili's crossover cutting. The Suns defenders do a poor job of bodying Parker before he turns the corner after the screen. If the center can get into a position to prevent Parker from turning the corner we can force him to pass or try again. Once he is past the corner the center will just have to watch him take a layup.

Rolo was probably our best big man when guarding the pick and roll. Amare and Frye are very poor at it although Amare has been better this season. Frye is just awful at it. Probably the worst I've ever seen.

 

[Chaplin]

Rolo was probably our best big man when guarding the pick and roll. Amare and Frye are very poor at it although Amare has been better this season. Frye is just awful at it. Probably the worst I've ever seen.

Totally and completely disagree. Guarding the high pick and roll is about the only defensive thing Frye IS good at.

 

[Cheesewater]

This game will be all about Grant Hill. We remember his defense quite a bit from Game 1, but what about his offense? Watch him be more aggressive. He scores a bit more, that actually helps JRich.

But can we afford that? What is more important, Grant Hill expending energy on defense at the expense of his offense, or a reduction in his defensive effectiveness as he applies energy to getting free on offense?

Giving 100% on both ends is not easy.

 

[Chaplin]

But can we afford that? What is more important, Grant Hill expending energy on defense at the expense of his offense, or a reduction in his defensive effectiveness as he applies energy to getting free on offense?

Giving 100% on both ends is not easy.

But he's proven that he can do it.

 

[Cheesewater]

But he's proven that he can do it.

Really? In the Portland series, in which Grant increased his defensive energy, his points per game average was down 3.3 as his rebounding and blocks numbers went up.