Chris, if the team implodes, as you predict, why is this bad?
We had a change in regime and like every other regime change everywhere in every sport, some of the hold-over players are not buying in to what the new regime of Kerr/Porter is selling.
So the implosion may be inevitable.
Not sure I predicted an implosion, but it wouldn't surprise me. The major problem this year as well as last year is, we can deal with the also rans of the league, but whenever we play a decent team, we lose.
I agree, many of the players are skeptical of the new system but with good reason. If I may make an analogy, one of the biggest reasons the Cards have been successful this year is because Whis has realized where his strength is, the passing game, and has stopped trying to force the running game. Porter keeps preaching a slower game with more of a focus on defense, the problem is we don't have the personnel. We have three players in the starting lineup that are below average defenders, which will always make it difficult to be a decent defensive team.
From watching this team over the last couple years to this year, there is a complete change in offensive philosophy which has really hurt many of the current players. Nash is really underutilized, and the majority of the offense is predicated on dumping it into Shaq, reposting, and then often heaving up a desperation shot, or getting a Shaq flop shot.
Forgetting the boredom factor, it's just not what would be best in the short term or the long term. The Suns are a team built to run, with the personnel to do it. Like I said in my previous post, if it ain't broke, why would you change the offense? The players are clearly dissatisfied, and it's easy to see why, since most of them are just standing there the majority of the time. I remember when we traded for Shaq the comments about "fitting in" and just playing defense and rebounding. As much as I hate to say it, Lakers fans had heard this song and dance before and were right in predicting that he would be demanding his shots eventually. 16 shots a game? There should be only one Sun taking that many shots, and it's not Shaq.
In the short term and the long term, the only player that is irreplaceable is Amare. The team must be built around him now, so he doesn't opt out next year. While Amare is no defensive stalwart, he is about as unstoppable as it gets offensively. If the Suns can find a big man to do the dirty work, play the tough defense and get the rebounds, it will only make Amare better. I've always hoped the Suns could find a way to get a Tyson Chandler type player, he'd be a perfect fit.
When Nash's contract is done, along with Shaq we will have the ability to rebuild, but having said that I think we could still be successful in the short term. We just need to get back to our much higher efficiency offense, for better or for worse, Nash is our Kurt Warner and the straw that stirs the drink. Let him do his thing, have Porter worry about the defense. I am sick of watching final scores in the 80's for the Suns, it's just not Suns basketball. There has to be a happy medium somewhere there...
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