George O'Brien
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With 12 guys under contract, it seems unlikely the Suns will add someone whose name anyone recognizes. Perhaps someone will "fall into their laps", but at this point its all tallk.
The problem is that most players are ill suited to playing Suns basketball. This is in part because the Suns fast break is unlike any other in basketball.
The Suns break is not about positions, but roles. A lot of people misunderstand the roles and end up making incorrect assumptions about what the Suns need. From what I can tell, the Suns break works like this:
Once the ball is rebounded or stolen, two wing players go either corner, the trigger man pushes the ball forward followed by a "hammer" and a "trailer".
What happens depends on the defense. If the defenders collapse to defend the basket against layups (standard transition defense), the trigger man hits one of the wings for three. If the defense spreads to stop the wings, the trigger man heads toward the basket to draw away the initial defender. At that point, the hammer takes a second path toward the basket and can take a pass if the path is open. If all four are defensed, then the trigger man kicks back to a trailer who sets up for a jump shot. If the defense rotates, the ball is passed around the horn to the open man.
The key is to be set to take a shot before the opponent's big man/men get back. Even if they do get back, it usually takes a few seconds for their defense to adjust and re-establish their perferred matchups.
Why use this terminology? 2004-05, the trailer was Q Richardson and Hunter was used as hammer. Going into last season, the Suns expected to use KT as trailer. KT is not really suited to play hammer, but he makes sense at trailer because trailer is typically the last player down the court - not uncommon for a rebounder. It is nice if the trailer has some range on his shot, but accuracy is more important because he will usually be open.
It is notable that the Suns offseason has involved getting a trigger in Banks, and wing in Pike, and a trailer in Marks. Banks is not an exceptional three point shooter, but in the break it is more important that he be able to get the ball to the open man - which he can do. What makes so interesting is that he is a vastly greater threat to take the ball all the way to the basket than Nash. But unlike Barbosa, Banks has a lot more experience kicking the ball out and appears to be a better finisher.
How does this effect recruiting? IMHO, adding wings who can't shoot a high percentage of three pointers is not going to get playing time. Likewise, big men who can only play hammer are unlikely to play much with both Amare and Boris being well suited to hammer and Marion might also play hammer in a small ball lineup.
For all the interest expressed in Wilcox, he is at most a hammer. What role does Devon George play? Whenever a player comes up in conversation, the issue of what they do on the break is crucial.
Trigger - Nash, Banks (maybe Barbosa, but he is far from ready)
Wing - Bell, Marion, Barbosa, Jones, Pike
Hammer - Stoudemire, Diaw
Trailer - KT, Marks plus Diaw and any of the wings in small ball lineup
The problem is that most players are ill suited to playing Suns basketball. This is in part because the Suns fast break is unlike any other in basketball.
The Suns break is not about positions, but roles. A lot of people misunderstand the roles and end up making incorrect assumptions about what the Suns need. From what I can tell, the Suns break works like this:
Once the ball is rebounded or stolen, two wing players go either corner, the trigger man pushes the ball forward followed by a "hammer" and a "trailer".
What happens depends on the defense. If the defenders collapse to defend the basket against layups (standard transition defense), the trigger man hits one of the wings for three. If the defense spreads to stop the wings, the trigger man heads toward the basket to draw away the initial defender. At that point, the hammer takes a second path toward the basket and can take a pass if the path is open. If all four are defensed, then the trigger man kicks back to a trailer who sets up for a jump shot. If the defense rotates, the ball is passed around the horn to the open man.
The key is to be set to take a shot before the opponent's big man/men get back. Even if they do get back, it usually takes a few seconds for their defense to adjust and re-establish their perferred matchups.
Why use this terminology? 2004-05, the trailer was Q Richardson and Hunter was used as hammer. Going into last season, the Suns expected to use KT as trailer. KT is not really suited to play hammer, but he makes sense at trailer because trailer is typically the last player down the court - not uncommon for a rebounder. It is nice if the trailer has some range on his shot, but accuracy is more important because he will usually be open.
It is notable that the Suns offseason has involved getting a trigger in Banks, and wing in Pike, and a trailer in Marks. Banks is not an exceptional three point shooter, but in the break it is more important that he be able to get the ball to the open man - which he can do. What makes so interesting is that he is a vastly greater threat to take the ball all the way to the basket than Nash. But unlike Barbosa, Banks has a lot more experience kicking the ball out and appears to be a better finisher.
How does this effect recruiting? IMHO, adding wings who can't shoot a high percentage of three pointers is not going to get playing time. Likewise, big men who can only play hammer are unlikely to play much with both Amare and Boris being well suited to hammer and Marion might also play hammer in a small ball lineup.
For all the interest expressed in Wilcox, he is at most a hammer. What role does Devon George play? Whenever a player comes up in conversation, the issue of what they do on the break is crucial.
Trigger - Nash, Banks (maybe Barbosa, but he is far from ready)
Wing - Bell, Marion, Barbosa, Jones, Pike
Hammer - Stoudemire, Diaw
Trailer - KT, Marks plus Diaw and any of the wings in small ball lineup
