Errntknght said:
(1) The more we have two bigs running the break the better. I especially like one coming as a trailer - it really demoralizes the opponents when they turn aside the primary break only to have a trailer cruise down the middle and flush one. Even if they come up with nothing we're keeping more pressure on the opp's bigs to run the floor. One less guy pulling up at the 3pt line doesn't bother me at all - I'm not all that happy with the Suns scoring a lot from 3s anyway. It's the first shot to wilt under pressure so I'd rather they spent more effort working into the paint.
The Suns are running a 5-man break, so they've got a trailer--often, it's the guy pulling the ball out of the basket (which is usually Amare).
When everybody's going to the basket on a fast break, the defense can zone up and have a chance to defend with three or four guys. With a player or two fanning out to the perimeter, the defense needs all five players back to cover them--if one defender isn't hustling back, there's no way to cover for him.
Errntknght said:
(2) Spacing the floor isn't a bad idea but it's not an end in itself, you need guys operating inside all that space to take advantage of it. I see it as benefit to have just three guys manning the perimeter and, for example, Amare at mid-range and Hunter lurking on the baseline, a portion of the game.
The Princeton people (like the Kings) would disagree. The post defender is also the main help defender, so if you get rid of him, all five players will have an easier time getting to the basket.
For the Suns, the extra spacing means that teams can't trap the high pick-and-roll and hope to recover.
Errntknght said:
I'm aware it's not a proven type of lineup as coach Mikey resolutely avoids using anything like it but I see that more as a wasted opportunity than as a brilliant strategy. From my point of view, the regular season is about preparing the team for the playoffs and while wins are important they are not the whole story. Part of that preparation is developing a little variety in your lineups so that when they're needed they're ready to go. Frankly, if CJ were a devastating shooter I'd feel the same way - he's been anything but that so it looks like a no lose proposition to develope a more conventional lineup by reducing his PT.
I can see your point. The Suns had a similar problem two years ago IMO--once the Spurs started to punish their traps, they didn't have a fall-back plan, so they fought a losing battle the rest of the way.
I think D'Antoni is a better coach than you do, though. He might surprise you with his resourcefulness when the playoffs arrive.
