What I think happened.

[slinslin]

- Phoenix didn't offer a fair deal for TMac before. Colangelo probably tried to lowball them and offered only Marion and Vujanic or so.

-Orlando takes Houston's offer as a negotiating ploy.

-Phoenix calls Orlando again and offers Marion and Johnson which is better than what Houston offers.

Of course the papers assume because Phoenix is back in the trade talk means that we have now offered Orlando its dream trade already.

 

[Ryanwb]

If they can get T-Mac without giving up Amare or JJ...

Bryan Colangelo for GM of the year

 

[Gee!]

TMac sux.

 

[Joe Mama]

OK. We all should be agreeing that these trades will never happen if Tracy McGrady doesn't agree to sign an extension with the team and is trading for him. My question is what he agree to sign an extension with a Phoenix Suns team and is coming off a poor season and will be without two of its best three players and their lottery pick? I'm not sure I would if I was McGrady.

Joe Mama

 

[slinslin]

Another reason why Phoenix might have only now upped their offer to Johnson and Marion might be that they worked out Josh Smith again today.

Maybe they wanted to get another look at him to see if it would be worth to give up Marion and Johnson instead of just Marion and #7.

Makes sense doesn't it?

I am assuming Phoenix never offered Orlando Marion and Johnson before the rumor with Houston was leaked.

 

[slinslin]

. My question is what he agree to sign an extension with a Phoenix Suns team and is coming off a poor season and will be without two of its best three players and their lottery pick? I'm not sure I would if I was McGrady.

Joe Mama

Amare Stoudemire and if the pick is included 18-20M$ caproom should be a good argument.

Amare and TMac could recruit whoever they want and who wouldn't want to come? They wouldn't even have to take a paycut like the MLE to play with Amare and TMac.

 

[Gee!]

TMac = bad back, cant play defense, and cant penetrate a zone defense WHHOOHOO lets all jump on the TMac bandwagon

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

TMac = bad back, cant play defense, and cant penetrate a zone defense WHHOOHOO lets all jump on the TMac bandwagon

No player can penetrate a zone defense, at least a good one. Thats the POINT of them. The reason TMac looked so horrible against them is because he was the ONLY option.

To beat a zone, you have to do 1 of 2 things.

1.) Get it into the middle of the zone, to a player that can score around the basket and in traffic.

-----The magic sure as hell didn't have that (but we do).

2.) Nail open jump shots forcing them to drop out of the zone. Who is going to step up for that? Tyron Lue???




McGrady has the physical abilities, and knowledge to play stellar defense. He jsut doesnt. However, before last season, it wasn't like he was horrible. If a player needed to be locked down at an important time int he game, he would do it.

THe only thing that worries me is the back. However, like I have said, I dont think it keeps him out a whole lot. He will just whine about it.

 

[Errntknght]

GrahamCracker," To beat a zone, you have to do 1 of 2 things.

1.) Get it into the middle of the zone, to a player that can score around the basket and in traffic."

The player getting to the middle needs to be a good passer... that's just as important as his being a threat to score. Needless to say, that requires that some other players are finding the seams in the zone down low. The best attack for those players is to move along the baseline where the low defenders have trouble watching both them and the ball.

 

[perivolaki]

Beating the Zone

I was always taught that you had to pass to beat the zone. If you can move the ball quick enough and get the other team out of position you'll get some open looks. Doesn't look like T-Macs strong suit to me.

 

[slinslin]

TMac is averaging only 5.5apg at the 2-guard spot.

 

[coloradosun]

Orlando owes us, just had a bad flashback

That's because he was the only scorer on the team, no body else on the team could hit the broad side of a barn.

The most painful thing I saw all season was when the Magic beat the Suns to stop their 19 game losing streak, that was the only time they could.

And by saying that, shouldn't it be mentioned in the trade, we did them a huge favor by letting them win that game and now it is time to collect on that favor. I think pride is worth the #7 pick.

 

[Errntknght]

"I was always taught that you had to pass to beat the zone. If you can move the ball quick enough and get the other team out of position you'll get some open looks."

Of course you have to move the ball to beat a zone but if you only move it around the perimeter you usually wind up with a perimeter shot. If you can move the ball to the middle into the hands of good passer then it is a much shorter and quicker pass to a guy that has found an opening close to the hoop. Zones, by nature have seams in them (where individual defenders areas of responsibility come together) but they close quickly near the hoop - so a 10 foot pass is effective where a 20 foot pass wouldn't be.

 

[George O'Brien]

"I was always taught that you had to pass to beat the zone. If you can move the ball quick enough and get the other team out of position you'll get some open looks."

Of course you have to move the ball to beat a zone but if you only move it around the perimeter you usually wind up with a perimeter shot. If you can move the ball to the middle into the hands of good passer then it is a much shorter and quicker pass to a guy that has found an opening close to the hoop. Zones, by nature have seams in them (where individual defenders areas of responsibility come together) but they close quickly near the hoop - so a 10 foot pass is effective where a 20 foot pass wouldn't be.

Quick, sharp passing is crucial, but it is also something that young teams rarely do as well as veteran teams - that plus moving without the ball.

Much of it requires learning to think like a quarterback. A good quarterback sees the field, spots the open man, and passes to him before the defense can react. But most basketball players are like running quarterbacks who only pass because they are about to get tackled.