Trib: Suns remain cloudy on who they are

[Irish]

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/130234

Suns remain cloudy on who they are

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Jerry Brown, Tribune

Confused. Frustrated. Uncertain. All are words which can be used to describe the Phoenix Suns after eight games as they adjust to new players and a new system on both ends of the floor.

But there are also two numbers which can be used to describe them: Six and two.

And Phoenix’s record has general manager Steve Kerr, who all but warned Planet Orange fans that a bumpy start was coming, optimistic as coach Terry Porter and his players seek to work out the bugs that have so far proven annoying, but not costly.

“I like what we’ve shown on defense (allowing just over 98 points a game) and the offense has lots of room from improvement,” Kerr said. “Change isn’t easy.”

But it’s easier against New Jersey, Indiana, Milwaukee and Memphis – teams that the Suns have seemingly beaten by osmosis in the Steve Nash/Amaré Stoudemire era. So while the Suns have coughed and sputtered their way to more than 17 turnovers a game – 25th out of 30 teams – so far this year, they have relied on good shooting, timely defense and veteran guile to keep posting wins as they figure it all out.
But the schedule now turns unfriendly, and grades won’t be calculated on a curve with Houston, Detroit, Utah and the L.A. Lakers all on the horizon over the next nine days. A sour quarter or an epidemic of turnovers against the cream of the league can’t be as easily erased.

“We’re trying to prepare for playoff-caliber games, and there is a lot less margin for error,” Porter said. “You turn the ball over against good teams and you’re really going to struggle, New Orleans (who beat them in the second game of the season) showed us that.”

The second unit continues to struggle with continuity, although Leandro Barbosa’s 27 points was the difference in Monday’s 107-102 win over the Grizzlies. But the starters are also wrestling with Porter’s offense – not only how, but when to use it – and the hesitation and passiveness is hard to watch at times.

When defenders front the Suns players in the post, the pass from the perimeter has often been a lazy lob or telegraphed bounce pass that is getting picked off.

And in transition, some players are thinking up-tempo while others are content to walk.

Both point guard Steve Nash, who struggled through a six-assist, six-turnover night against Memphis, and guard Raja Bell were expecting the philosophy pendulum to swing back toward the familiar on offense.
So far, it hasn’t.

“Honestly, we are a running team. That’s what we’re built to do,” Bell said. “You can see we are confused about what we’re doing offensively, whether we want to run it or try to slow it down. And when there is uncertainty, there are turnovers.”

Porter agrees. He wanted the Suns to shift down from the frantic days of Mike D’Antoni, something that had already happened after the Shaquille O’Neal trade in February. But he didn’t want a dead stop either, and the Suns are slow getting into their offense, moving through the options and finding open teammates.

“Some of it is guys trying to make passes that just aren’t there,” Porter said. “As far as the rhythm of our offense, especially the early part, we haven’t done a good job of getting our spots quicker. You can see the flow of the game and you can see when it’s not clicking. It gets to the point when we’re almost too slow. … I’d like to see us push it more, even on “makes.”

BONUS SHOTS: Porter played for and served as an assistant under Houston coach Rick Adelman and says he had picked up the phone often to pick Adelman’s brain as he’s moved up through the coaching ranks.
“He’s a guy I respect as a coach,” Porter said. “When I got into it, I called him to ask about the profession, dealing with players, offense, and the whole gambit. He’s someone I can and I still call.”

Porter used so much of Adelman’s offense when was hired as a head coach in Milwaukee in 2003, that his matchups with Adelman and Sacramento were almost comical.

“It was like an intrasquad scrimmage,” he said, laughing. “Players knew what was up. They were screaming, 'Here he comes!’ Now it’s a lot more of a mixture.“I watch tape now and still see some of the old Portland stuff and I think, 'Hmm, is that my old play?’ ”

It sounds like Porter understands the problem, but it some of the guys don't.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

This team is on the precipe of implosion. Kerr was asked some pretty pointed questions on his radio show this morning. His response was "I know the guys aren't happy, but I wish they would talk to Terry, not the media."

 

[Mainstreet]

The quote below pretty much summarizes it for me. I can see more unhappiness growing through the ranks, especially Nash. IMO, Porter should tell Nash how he would like his system of play to look like in the half-court but give Nash the freedom to run the offense otherwise without hesitation. Nash is a veteran QB so to speak that already knows how to run an offense.

Both point guard Steve Nash, who struggled through a six-assist, six-turnover night against Memphis, and guard Raja Bell were expecting the philosophy pendulum to swing back toward the familiar on offense.

So far, it hasn’t.

“Honestly, we are a running team. That’s what we’re built to do,” Bell said. “You can see we are confused about what we’re doing offensively, whether we want to run it or try to slow it down. And when there is uncertainty, there are turnovers.”

 

[Covert Rain]

This team is on the precipe of implosion. Kerr was asked some pretty pointed questions on his radio show this morning. His response was "I know the guys aren't happy, but I wish they would talk to Terry, not the media."

I heard that as well. Made me say "uh oh". Sounds like the team is also fustrated with turnovers and not knowing when to run and when to walk. It's a touchy situation because you don't want the team to get into a position where when they could have had an easy bucket by running and they walk it down the court giving up an easy bucket.

There has to be some sort of logic in those situations and it doesn't sound like everybody is on the same page. I remember a couple times last week where Steve was out on the run and on the other side of the court by himself surrounded by defenders.

 

[joshstmarie]

This team is on the precipe of implosion.

A little dramatic dont you think? To say they are having trouble is fine but IMPLODING....id save that word for the likes of the dallas cowboys.

 

[mojorizen7]

A little dramatic dont you think? To say they are having trouble is fine but IMPLODING....id save that word for the likes of the dallas cowboys.

 

[shazaam6]

6-2 and imploding?

 

[Chris_Sanders]

A little dramatic dont you think? To say they are having trouble is fine but IMPLODING....id save that word for the likes of the dallas cowboys.

Not if you have been hearing the local media.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Suns have been a show case team to the rest of the league for the past four years and brought excitement back to the game. So I recalled the quote from the movie Blade Runner.

"The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long."

 

[Chris_Sanders]

6-2 and imploding?

Nash and Raja are super unhappy. That's straight from them and confirmed by Kerr. Others are unhappy as well but have not gone straight to the media.

If your players are going to the media on record and complaining, being reported as complaining off record, and all of it being confirmed by the GM. It is what it is, regardless of record.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Not if you have been hearing the local media.

Winning cures all.

My feeling. Play D'Antoni's system whenever you sit Shaq and feed the two big men every time else.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Nash and Raja are super unhappy. That's straight from them and confirmed by Kerr. Others are unhappy as well but have not gone straight to the media.

If your players are going to the media on record and complaining, being reported as complaining off record, and all of it being confirmed by the GM. It is what it is, regardless of record.

This might be blaspehemy to say but all I care about is what Amare thinks. He is the future of the franchise and from what I can tell he is happy with the transition.

If Nash is as good as we think he is he should be a All Star player despite the system.

Is he Shawn Marion all of a sudden?

 

[Griffin]

The 6-2 record is a bit misleading, considering the competition we've faced. But if the Suns can win at least 4 of the next 5, all this questioning will be forgotten.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Another question posed to Kerr was:

"Some of the players have complained they can't take shots when open. Is an open 3 point shot with 18 seconds left on the shot clock a good shot?"

His answer was something to the effect of "It depends on who is shooting it. I know the perimeter guys are used to getting their shots but we have gone away from that."

I agree with what Kerr is stating, we don't have the outside shooters to fire it up all the time. Our best bet is with Amare. But right now we are already hearing smoke in the locker room and that is with a 6-2 start. It concerns me.

 

[joshstmarie]

If your new boss comes in and changes the way youre doing things at work the past 4 years dramatically, id say youd be bitching to your coworkers (aka media) too.

 

[Rab]

I think they're adjusting. Everyone is adjusting. This isn't going to work overnight, and I don't think they'll really find their identity for a little while. If they're still griping about this in Feb and the Suns are struggling, then I'll start hitting the panic button. But I do think "verge of implosion" is a little dramatic right now, but you are entitled to your opinion.

Bottom line is though they've struggled with turnovers and decision making early on, they've been able to overcome that whether it's been against bad competition or not. That gives me some hope going forward.

 

[Skumbag]

The Suns have been a show case team to the rest of the league for the past four years and brought excitement back to the game. So I recalled the quote from the movie Blade Runner.

"The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long."

ever heard of LED ?

 

[mojorizen7]

I remember thinking(reluctantly) the SUNS should have made a deal this summer in getting a top value deal done involving moving NASH. That would've been a PR nightmare & definately a debatable move. However, NASH is quickly becoming the guy who's numbers & apparently who's happiness is waning under the new offense.
It will be interesting as the trading deadline nears what kind of rumours begin to swirl around NASH if he's still talking about this team not knowing what to do after made baskets. Maybe i'm being naieve here but wouldn't on the floor communication from coach to PG be fairly simple to convey after opponents made baskets?
This teams' gonna need another pure shooter if they want to make a serious run IMO. I thought NASH could adapt his instincts to be that extra shooter. His shot is near perfection but he's struggled so far.
Again its still very early and IMO the SUNS should be very happy being 6-2 depite the weak competition in getting those wins.
If NASH wants out i'm pretty sure Sarver/Kerr would oblige, i just hope that Kerr stays focused on getting pieces in return that can help now.....and in the years ahead. In other words, an established,All-Star talent. Getting ahead of myself

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Hey NASH....RAJA....."Just **** and stick to the system! If you're still clueless in 2 months and you guys want to go run somewhere else for somebody else then fine."

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[dbUNIT16]

I actually just wrote an article on this... seems very intersting... like the Suns players want coach D back, and how coach D seems to still be emotionally attached to the the team while Steve Kerr seems surprisingly sympathetic... can somebody say love triangle?

Love triangle: Does Mike D’Antoni regret leaving Phoenix?


Does Phoenix miss him?


Recently Steve Nash and Raja Bell have both made comments to the media along the lines of the Phoenix Suns being a running team, an idea that seemed to have left with the departure of the “7 Second or Less” run-and-gun offensive mastermind, Mike D’Antoni.


Raja Bell also complained about being discouraged from taking open three point looks, something that coach D’Antoni welcomed with open arms, even with 21 seconds still remaining on the shot clock.


No doubt Raja Bell, and perhaps even Steve Nash miss the scoring opportunities and touches on offense. When Coach D was here the team was a jump shooting team, giving Bell, Nash, and Barbosa more looks. Now the offense is ran from the inside out, where you first go inside to Shaq or Amare, who then pass the ball back out to the shooters only if they do not have a scoring opportunity inside.


Is this part of change, or are certain Suns players longing for their former coach that gave them more offensive opportunities, didn’t make them play defense, and ran cupcake practices?


Read the rest of the article

 

[AfroSuns]

I totally agree with Chris, these team is indeed imploding!
If anything Nash complaining is all one needs, and i wont be surprised Barbosa is feeling the same way as Raja and Steve. Old habit die hard, and it will be tougher to depart from the one that got you 2 time MVP, so i can see Nash reluctance to adapt.
If a compromise is not reached soon between fast tempo and walk it up; very soon. Then i wont be surprised to see Stevie in a deal, actually compromise or no compromise the statements he made to media is enough to make Mike D'antoni start looking for a way to get his favorite player and Nash wouldnt mind NY since he pretty much lives there off-season.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Crappy effort against a playoff level team. Worst offensive production in two years. Oh yeah and a fight. I was way off base.

 

[dodie53]

Nash complaining?

maybe he wants to be traded?

 

[mojorizen7]

Ahhhh the microcosm that is sports.
On Monday a team takes 5 out of 6 games including a 3-1 road trip then drops one at home on Wednesday against a solid team and they're imploding.
Football is the worst in this regard since there's a week in between W's and L's.

 

[dodie53]

will the time come that the suns fan would want nash to be traded?

 

[cly2tw]

I have been creative at creating a mutually beneficial trade involving Nash.