What a joke this guy is...

[az1965]

So the Mavs stay ahead of Suns because Howard and Van Horn are sidelined... Does this guy know that Suns have Amare, Thomas, & Jones out????



Detroit's latest recallBy Steve Kerr, Yahoo! Sports
March 7, 2006

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Finally, there's a change at the top.
After a season-long run at the head of the rankings, the Pistons have given up the No. 1 spot following a lackluster 2-2 week. Surging San Antonio takes over after a 3-0 week that included a win over Dallas. Gregg Popovich's club has a history of strong finishes, and the Spurs appear to be peaking as the playoffs approach next month. Their dominating defense in their victory over the Mavericks reminded the rest of the NBA that the championship still goes through San Antonio. Here's a look at this week's rankings (records and statistics are through March 5):

1. San Antonio Spurs (46-12, Last ranking: 3) – Defense, defense, defense. The Spurs are No. 1 in the NBA in points allowed and field-goal percentage defense.

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2. Detroit Pistons (48-11, Last ranking: 1) – The Pistons' depth is a question mark. Other than Antonio McDyess, can they count on anyone? Tony Delk will be given a shot at the backup point guard spot.

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3. Dallas Mavericks (46-13, Last ranking: 2) – They would have dropped to fourth after the loss to the Suns, but with Josh Howard and Keith Van Horn sidelined, the Mavs stay ahead of Phoenix – for now.

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4. Phoenix Suns (41-17, Last ranking: 4) – Boris Diaw's total numbers in wins over Dallas and Orlando were staggering: 42 points, 19 rebounds, 21 assists and one turnover.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AoUuTDhlL_CsN9DQNLLtcOm8vLYF?slug=sk-rankings030706&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

 

[simply_amare]

Your guess is as good as mine about Stevie.

He's doing a Barkley on the team. What's new?

 

[JS22]

And there's rumors that this guy is supposed to be our next GM?

 

[Louis]

They do have a better record and are 2-1 versus the Suns.
Plus Dallas has a better conference record (26-10) than Phoenix (22-12).

 

[Louis]

And there's rumors that this guy is supposed to be our next GM?

He already posted something saying he doesn't want the job he's happy with what he is doing.

I'd be more upset with the fact that he is a part owner and appeared at the all-star break in a Spurs jersey representing SA.

 

[JS22]

He already posted something saying he doesn't want the job he's happy with what he is doing.

I'd be more upset with the fact that he is a part owner and appeared at the all-star break in a Spurs jersey representing SA.

True..

 

[reader]

Well, to counteract Steve Kerr, here is Tony Meija.

Power Rankings: R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to Phoenix

By Tony Mejia
CBS SportsLine.com Staff Writer
Updated March 7

At this point last season, the Phoenix Suns were 45-14, yet few believed they were for real. Despite the gaudy record, five legitimate studs in the starting lineup and a fast-paced, attractive style, the general consensus was that they would fizzle out come playoffs. Honestly, in beating Dallas to reach the Western Conference Finals, they went further than many expected.

James Jones, signed from Indiana, has raised his scoring average five points from last season.

This season, the Suns are 42-17, regularly employ the likes of Boris Diaw, Raja Bell, James Jones and Eddie House -- all role players on their former squads -- and are generally considered to be NBA Finals contenders.

What gives?

Phoenix is now respected. Its style of play is no gimmick. The team plays defense now. The team is feared.

In the midst of an 11-game winning streak, the Suns have proven they can without Amare Stoudemire, Kurt Thomas and Brian Grant. Each was counted on to supply a post presence and defense this season, yet one by one, each was sidelined. Stoudemire hasn't played all year but his return is imminent -- one more reason why everyone in the West should be concerned.

If the Suns can stroll into Dallas and end the Mavs' 16-game home winning streak without Stoudemire, imagine what they can do with him. What's going to happen when Shawn Marion and Diaw can return to their natural positions? Their gaudy numbers figure to dip, as Marion rolling out 20-rebound games and Diaw putting up triple-doubles won't be necessary. But as a whole, with Steve Nash getting back his favorite option, the Suns figure to be more explosive, more efficient.

Diaw has emerged as a 6-foot-9 version of Nash, becoming the best passing big man in the game and perhaps the front-runner for Most Improved honors. Where Quentin Richardson loomed as a 3-point threat, Bell and House pick up the slack. The transitions have been seamless, with replacement parts fitting in as easily as Lego's.

Phoenix takes aim at San Antonio on Thursday, looking to continue its winning streak and send another message to a West power. Last year wasn't a fluke -- just the beginning. This year, no one is calling the Suns' style of play cute, finesse or any form of soft you want to use. Simply, it's effective. Only the foolish would fail to take them seriously.

The week's Power Rankings:
POWER RANKINGS
Current Team Previous
1 Detroit Pistons 1
In Lindsey Hunter, Maurice Evans, Carlos Delfino and the newly added Tony Delk, the Pistons have an abundance of options to help spell their All-Star backcourt.
2 San Antonio Spurs 3
Bruce Bowen will be pushing 37 by the time the 2008 Olympics roll around, but given his conditioning, the game's premier perimeter defender will be an asset if he makes the squad.
3 Phoenix Suns 4
The addition of Tim Thomas provides another versatile weapon Mike D'Antoni can utilize to give the opposition headaches.
4 Dallas Mavericks 2
Give Erick Dampier credit for handling his demotion to the bench like a true pro. Given his propensity for picking up fouls, he's probably better suited being an aggressive reserve.
5 Miami Heat 5
James Posey has been ineffective on offense for much of 2006, so it wouldn't be a shock to see him lose minutes to Derek Anderson.
6 New Jersey Nets 7
Since they were unable to land Tim Thomas, don't be surprised if improving rookie Antoine Wright becomes the beneficiary of added minutes.

http://www.sportsline.com/nba/powerrankings/

 

[Louis]

And espn.com has the Suns at #2 behind SA.

It all means nothing. Phoenix was #1 last year and it got them a sweep at home at the hands of SA and an exit in 5 games.

 

[kaesile]

They do have a better record and are 2-1 versus the Suns.
Plus Dallas has a better conference record (26-10) than Phoenix (22-12).

If Kerr had actually used that as a reason, then I wouldn't have a problem with it. Saying that Dallas gets a freebie for being injured but totally ignoring Phoenix's own injuries is weak.

The fact that Dallas lost to both San Antonio AND Phoenix last week, and that we're on an 11-game win streak should have also counted for something.

Like I said, it's not the ranking that annoys me. It's the pathetic rationale.

 

[tobiazz]

If Kerr became our GM he would get us some sweet players like Ginobili and Finley.



...all for just Marion + Diaw. It's funny that he always gives more love to the Spurs than Magic does to the Lakers.

 

[George O'Brien]

Power rankings are simply weird. It's not like they are predictions of who would win NOW if matched on neutral courts, what will happen in the playoffs, nor what would happen if the playoffs were now.

It's worse than MVP, because with MVP they take the entire season into account. The rationale seems to change from slot to slot and from week to week from the same guy.

 

[baltimorer]

If Kerr had actually used that as a reason, then I wouldn't have a problem with it. Saying that Dallas gets a freebie for being injured but totally ignoring Phoenix's own injuries is weak.

The fact that Dallas lost to both San Antonio AND Phoenix last week, and that we're on an 11-game win streak should have also counted for something.

Like I said, it's not the ranking that annoys me. It's the pathetic rationale.

So, because Steve Kerr ranks a team with a better record both in the league and in the head-to-head matchup, ahead of the Suns, he's a joke? Of course Kerr "used (the Mavs' better overall and head-to-head record) as a reason," but he can't mention every single reason for 30 team rankings in one sentence each. The point is, Josh Howard and Keith Van Horn have been key role players for them this season. So Amare doesn't factor into it, because who knows what he'll be like when/if he even comes back this season?

The point that Kerr was quite obviously making is that last week's game, while certainly important, isn't enough to put the Suns ahead of the Mavs. He adds that "not yet" because the teams play again one more time this season, and the way the Suns have been playing of late, they might very well move ahead of Dallas. But pathetic rationale? How is it pathetic? Do you not think that Steve Kerr knows what the Mavs' record is? Maybe he realizes that the Dallas Mavericks have a 4 1/2 game lead on the Suns for second place overall in the Western Conference?

I bet that most of you guys on this board still think that all the "so-called experts" were wrong last year because they claimed that the Suns wouldn't be able to compete with San Antonio's size in a 7-game series. Remember? It was one of the main points that you guys were using as proof that everybody who isn't a Suns fan doesn't know anything about basketball.

 

[Chaplin]

They do have a better record and are 2-1 versus the Suns.
Plus Dallas has a better conference record (26-10) than Phoenix (22-12).

So? Power Rankings aren't a summary of the entire season. It's a summary of how the team is performing RIGHT NOW.

 

[carrrnuttt]

And espn.com has the Suns at #2 behind SA.

It all means nothing. Phoenix was #1 last year and it got them a sweep at home at the hands of SA and an exit in 5 games.

I'm convinced.

You ARE cubby. Same exact name, same demeanor (mildly talking smack against the Suns - but real subtle, so as not to get found out) as the "Louis" found out to be cubby at phxsuns.net.

 

[George O'Brien]

So? Power Rankings aren't a summary of the entire season. It's a summary of how the team is performing RIGHT NOW.

That's my read on how it is supposed to be. But if that's the case, what part of 11 in a row and 13 of their last 14 is so hard to fathom?

BTW, if Kerr said that the Suns weren't better because their defense isn't as good or something like that, I could live with it. Right now the Suns defense (at least prior to the fourth quarter) is not that great. But that's not the argument he used and it's not clear it would be true if the Suns were at full strength.

 

[Louis]

I'm convinced.

You ARE cubby. Same exact name, same demeanor (mildly talking smack against the Suns - but real subtle, so as not to get found out) as the "Louis" found out to be cubby at phxsuns.net.

Not that it matters but http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=69314

More smack talk there.

 

[Louis]

That's my read on how it is supposed to be. But if that's the case, what part of 11 in a row and 13 of their last 14 is so hard to fathom?

What about a team that has won 20 of their last 23?

Kerr tried to sum up a team's week in 1 sentence. I'm sure if it was an all out diatribe he would list all possible scenarios/comparisons.

But if it's any consolation, the Suns right now are the 2 seed in the West and Dallas is 4. In the rankings that really matter.

 

[kaesile]

So, because Steve Kerr ranks a team with a better record both in the league and in the head-to-head matchup, ahead of the Suns, he's a joke? Of course Kerr "used (the Mavs' better overall and head-to-head record) as a reason," but he can't mention every single reason for 30 team rankings in one sentence each. The point is, Josh Howard and Keith Van Horn have been key role players for them this season. So Amare doesn't factor into it, because who knows what he'll be like when/if he even comes back this season?

I didn't say he's a joke for giving the Mavs a higher rank, and Kerr didn't use superior record as a reason at all. I said his one sentence on why he kept them higher than the Suns was a weak and pathetic reason since the Suns could use the same excuse. However, the Suns actually won that game. Howard and Van Horn are two role players, but Kurt Thomas is our starting center. Howard + Van Horn are perhaps more important than Kurt Thomas, but we are also missing A LOT of other players, and that makes his reasoning of 'Dallas stays ahead of Phoenix because they were injured in that game' irrational. Forget Stoudemire for a second - James Jones was another key player that got crippled and only played 8 minutes (on a sore foot, no less). Our roster is in shambles, and it's just lucky that Boris Diaw can play center so well that we're still winning. If we hadn't had Tim Thomas in the Dallas game, we would have dressed only eight players.

The point that Kerr was quite obviously making is that last week's game, while certainly important, isn't enough to put the Suns ahead of the Mavs. He adds that "not yet" because the teams play again one more time this season, and the way the Suns have been playing of late, they might very well move ahead of Dallas. But pathetic rationale? How is it pathetic? Do you not think that Steve Kerr knows what the Mavs' record is? Maybe he realizes that the Dallas Mavericks have a 4 1/2 game lead on the Suns for second place overall in the Western Conference?

I can see how that might have been Kerr's point, but my whole argument is that I think his /way/ of making it was not effective. I actually agree with your rationale! Yes, the Mavs have a much better record! Yes, it was only one game! But Kerr should've used THOSE reasons, not the 'they were missing two key players, and that's why they're #3' explanation.

Kerr had a lot of real reasons he could've used to justify his answer, but he picked a non-sensical excuse. That's the crux of my argument. He can put whatever teams wherever he pleases in his personal rankings, but he could at least use a legitimate excuse.

 

[cly2tw]

why is it so important anyway? let's win the championship and forget about those irrelevant power rankings.

 

[Errntknght]

carrnutt >>I'm convinced.

You ARE cubby. Same exact name, same demeanor (mildly talking smack against the Suns - but real subtle, so as not to get found out) as the "Louis" found out to be cubby at phxsuns.net.<<

If you are interested in finding him out, you might try looking at the body of his posts on AzSportsFanNetwork... it will give some idea of his other interests so if they line up with the other Louis person then its likely to be him. If I recall correctly the people on PhxSuns.net used to talk about their other interests a fair amount... music, movies... things like that. (Its been a while since I visited there)

 

[az1965]

And espn.com has the Suns at #2 behind SA.

It all means nothing. Phoenix was #1 last year and it got them a sweep at home at the hands of SA and an exit in 5 games.

I don't care about power rankings and know these don't mean anything. The intent was to point at his lame logic for positions.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

Steve Kerr = Danny Ainge...

 

[nowagimp]

That's my read on how it is supposed to be. But if that's the case, what part of 11 in a row and 13 of their last 14 is so hard to fathom?

BTW, if Kerr said that the Suns weren't better because their defense isn't as good or something like that, I could live with it. Right now the Suns defense (at least prior to the fourth quarter) is not that great. But that's not the argument he used and it's not clear it would be true if the Suns were at full strength.

The suns defense is not great by some stats like ppg, but in points allowed per possession, they are 3rd or 4th in the NBA.

 

[jibikao]

If Kerr had actually used that as a reason, then I wouldn't have a problem with it. Saying that Dallas gets a freebie for being injured but totally ignoring Phoenix's own injuries is weak.

The fact that Dallas lost to both San Antonio AND Phoenix last week, and that we're on an 11-game win streak should have also counted for something.

Like I said, it's not the ranking that annoys me. It's the pathetic rationale.

Yeah, I agree. I don't mind us being #4 because that IS our record right now and Mavs is 2-1 against us. It's the REASON that is pathetic. Amare is the THE MAN that Mavs is afraid of. Nash + Amare pick&roll is something they can never figure out and Amare will put their big men in foul trouble probably in 2 quarters.

 

[Chaplin]

The Mavs record against us is irrelevant. If a person writes a Power Rankings article that is based on total records, then why do a weekly Power Ranking at all?

The point of a Power Ranking is to gauge who the best teams are in a particular week. The Mavs lost 2 games in the last week--one of which was to Phoenix, who was perfect last week.

That in itself, and taking the original intent of a "Power Ranking", should put us above them. Because THIS WEEK, we have been, and PROVEN, mind you, that we have been a better team. Next week might be different, but that is for the next installment.