This team suddenly looks quite deep

[JCSunsfan]

I know its preseason--the most wonderful time of year for b-ball optimists--but this Suns team suddenly is looking pretty deep.

Centers

We know what Jake can do. He brings energy and hustle. Dejan is a veteran who has been proven to be steady and effective. The jury is still out on him as an NBA player but there are indications that he will at least be serviceable. Is it presumptive to think that he will be at least as useful as Big Jake would have been? The "Pole" is a human flyswatter.

While there are big questions here, I am alot more optimistic about this position than a few days ago.

Forwards

Amare, Shawn, Zarko, Googs, DerMarr. Wow, thats a decent group.

Guards

Steph, JJ, Penny, Knight, Barbs, Casey, DerMarr. DerMarr has really shown some flashes in preseason. Barbs is better than I expected.


What this means is that we get a chance to gripe all year long about who is or is not getting pt. There are going to be more minutes deserved than available.

I love these kinds of problems.

 

[Errntknght]

Actually, I don't know what Jake can do. I know what FJ had him doing last year and I didn't much like it. The 'energy' FJ talks about so much seemed to be focussed on chasing around after guards on the perimeter and committing dumb fouls. I suppose Jake is inclined to do that but surely Frank is encouraging the lunacy. I'd love to see what Jake could do if FJ would install him as the starting center, give him a role in the offense and have him focus his energy on interior defense, rebounding and running the floor. Give him all kinds of 'love'!
We don't need tons of offense from our center but he has to be enough of a threat that his man doesn't ignore him with impunity to help out on Amare or whoever else ventures into the paint. Ergo, it would be smart to find out if Jake is up to that, which FJ has never tried to do. I don't know if Jake could hit the midrange jumpers that would do the job nicely but I don't know that he can't either - he says he's been working hard on such shots so he seems to have figured out that it's an important issue. Frank on the other hand still seems to be in the dark.

Koturovic lists the 15-17 foot jumper as a strength on resume, which is very good, of course. If he can defend decently in the paint and rebound some he'll be a useful player either as a back up to Jake or a starter if Jake isn't up to the job we need.

The "Pole" is off impressively - 7 blocks in twentysomething minutes! I can't wait to see him play!


The team is deep as you say and has speed galore at every position - even center. We know Jake can motor pretty well and the writeups on 'Vic' (my nickname for Koturovic) indicate he runs well for his size. For about the first time ever, FJ is saying something about the teams gameplan that I'm happy to hear - that he intends to emphasize the running game. It seems to be under wraps from reading observations on the first two games so lets hope it's not all hot air. I mean, we know the guys will run the floor a fair amount with no encouragement but if Frank will really push it and keep fresh legs cycling onto the floor we could run up a storm.
1st running team: Marbs, JJ, Shawn, Amare, Jake
2nd running team: Knight, Barbosa, DJ, Zarko, Vic
Stragglers: Penny, Googs

 

[Krangodnzr]

I don't think I've seen a single post from Errntknight that didn't take a jab or two at FJ.

 

[Chaz]

The real trick to the running game is limiting turnovers. It is fun when they run but the current team makes me nervous.

Last season we had to many bad things happen when they tried to push the ball.

Hopefully working on it more will help that. Also rebounds and a quick outlet is the key to a running game. Last season they had trouble just getting the rebound in addition to turning it over on the outlet.

I want to see the running pushed as well but execution has been a problem.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Originally posted by Krangthebrain
I don't think I've seen a single post from Errntknight that didn't take a jab or two at FJ.

hehe thats because there isnt one in existance! we have all come to terms with it now though

 

[Joe Mama]

I like the idea of running the ball, but as SirChaz already pointed out the need to limit turnovers. They can't throw the ball down the court every time. More importantly they need to play better defense and hit those boards.

Joe

 

[JCSunsfan]

I believe that we don't have as many running teams in the league now because of the outlet pass.

Defenses have gotten better and player are more athletic and better at anticipating the outlet. Its hard to keep from turning the ball over with the traditional outlet pass.

It seems that teams that run consistently have good rebounding guards or forwards that can start the break on the dribble and then dish to a ball handler.

 

[Chaz]

True that is why Kidd is a running game all by himself. He rebounds the ball.

It is very simple for the defense to keep a guy back and pressure the outlet. If your team is not as fast as the opponent it is the best way to contain the break.


I remember the '93 Suns were good at the long baseball pass. They would turn it over sometimes to but that team had so good of an offense the could afford a few of those. It also helped that Barkley was in shape and would lead the break after getting the rebound.

Maybe Stoudemire and Marion should work on bringing up the ball after a rebound, not to lead the break but enough to beat a press and get the ball to a guard for the give and go .

 

[Errntknght]

The running game is not just about long outlet passes and layins or seizing the occasional favorable opportunity. I see the true running game more as a battle of attrition where you wear the other team down and force the tempo of the game in your favor. You push the ball every time up the floor and every man tries to beat his defender. The breakaway shots are the icing on the cake - the overall plan is to be on the attack before the defense is ready. It might be an uncontested jumper from 15 feet or the last man steaming down a seam to the bucket. Sometimes the defense in going to cover every early option but you've still gained something if you made them run harder than they'd like.
If you run hard enough there is a carryover to the next game because the opponents are going to be dreading playing you. You get some other little benefits like disrupting the other teams substitution patterns and forcing them to go deeper into their bench than they like. You get them backpeddling early when they shoot lessening their chance for an offensive board. Just making them think more about who has backcourt responsibility when they're on offense is a slight edge.
It takes a lot of horses to make this pay off but it looks like the Suns just may have them. I think this would be a great year to try this approach to the game because there is really nothing to lose - unless the Lakers fall apart in some way no one is going to beat them in a half court game. Normally, going into a post season series against the Suns the Lakers are looking forward to it - loose and confident - and play well. (And why not, history being what it is.) But imagine if the Suns had been running opponents into the ground all season long and made the elderly Lakers work hard four times. I'd bet they wouldn't be looking forward to seven straight games against us.
Naturally, it would take a head coach with some imagination and some daring to undertake such a course and the fortitude to stick with it when things were rough. Everyone who thinks that describes the Suns head coach, raise their hands.

(See guys, I can do it if I try hard!)

 

[dyle_ph1]

One team that has demonstrated a good running game is Dallas. In fact, they probably take it to the extreme because I don't think they've had a shot clock violation in the past 3 years Steve Nash does a very good job in pushing the ball and it helps a lot when you have a 7 ft forward that runs very well and could finish on the break.

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by Errntknght
(See guys, I can do it if I try hard!)

Who are you, and how did you get a hold of Errntknght's screenname and password??

 

[JCSunsfan]

Originally posted by SirChaz


I remember the '93 Suns were good at the long baseball pass. They would turn it over sometimes to but that team had so good of an offense the could afford a few of those. It also helped that Barkley was in shape and would lead the break after getting the rebound.

There were two things about those Suns that made them a good breaking team. First, most of the boards were pulled down by Barkley. He could handle the ball on the break himself, and he often did. Sometimes he would rebound, dribble, draw a defender, then deliver the pass to KJ.

Second, Oliver Miller had excellent passing abilities. With those big hands, I don't know if I've ever seen anyone as good thowing the baseball pass.