What this team needs....

[Divide Et Impera]

....if we truly expect to win a championship is a killer. What I mean by that is we need a strong A personality along the lines of a Vince Carter-type. Stoudemire can dominate, but he ain't a killer. Nash is as close to a killer that we have and Marion is part man, part fish. I don't know who's out there, or who can be had, but the Suns need an absolute killer or we will never beat DAL in a series....

 

[Covert Rain]

....if we truly expect to win a championship is a killer. What I mean by that is we need a strong A personality along the lines of a Vince Carter-type. Stoudemire can dominate, but he ain't a killer. Nash is as close to a killer that we have and Marion is part man, part fish. I don't know who's out there, or who can be had, but the Suns need an absolute killer or we will never beat DAL in a series....

Vince Carter type? When has VC ever carried his team at the end of a playoff game? I know what your trying to say but the last thing we need is a selfish player who doesn't play defense on this team.

What this team needs is to play defense, rebound the basketball and get some more bench guys involved. We could use another big man for sure. However, if we can improve on those 3 things prior to the playoffs, we are in good shape.

The last thing we need is a Vince Carter type who will take the last shot and pass up an easy bucket by not passing to a teammate under the hoop.

 

[Divide Et Impera]

I'm talking about personality type. I'm talking about fire. I'm talking about the guy who thrives on late-game pressure and actually wants the ball for the potential game winning shot. We don't have attitude or swagger. I'm not trippin' over the last few games, either. I am talking about the personality of this team over the course of the year....

Would anyone seriously suggest that SEA is 24 points better than a team that has Stoudemire and Marion and Bell and Barbosa on it? The team's psyche is too tentative or aprehensive or nervous, or something. That's a problem and it will be a problem in the playoffs....

 

[green machine]

I'm talking about personality type. I'm talking about fire. I'm talking about the guy who thrives on late-game pressure and actually wants the ball for the potential game winning shot. We don't have attitude or swagger. I'm not trippin' over the last few games, either. I am talking about the personality of this team over the course of the year....

Would anyone seriously suggest that SEA is 24 points better than a team that has Stoudemire and Marion and Bell and Barbosa on it? The team's psyche is too tentative or aprehensive or nervous, or something. That's a problem and it will be a problem in the playoffs....

You mean guys like Raja, Barbosa, Nash, and STAT, all who have come up big down the stretch in games and also hit some big shots?

 

[Covert Rain]

I'm talking about personality type. I'm talking about fire. I'm talking about the guy who thrives on late-game pressure and actually wants the ball for the potential game winning shot. We don't have attitude or swagger. I'm not trippin' over the last few games, either. I am talking about the personality of this team over the course of the year....

Would anyone seriously suggest that SEA is 24 points better than a team that has Stoudemire and Marion and Bell and Barbosa on it? The team's psyche is too tentative or aprehensive or nervous, or something. That's a problem and it will be a problem in the playoffs....

I think you are. This team has played really well in close games this season. They have won lots of close games this season the right way. AT THE FREE THROW LINE.

Realistically in the playoffs, how many games come down to a last minute shot in a 7 game series? It doesn't happen that often. The team that makes it to the free throw line in a close games will win. The percentages are way up for a guy like Amare being 10 feet or closer to the basket over some guy who puts up a 3 or a 2 from 20ft out.

So give me Amare at the line down the strech over a Vince Carter type any day of the week. Worst case scenario if you can't get it to Amare then give it to Nash who is having one of the best shooting percentages for PG in the NBA.

 

[TucsonDevil]

I respect your opinion and suggestion, but I think it is obvious that the only thing this team needs is ...

Backup PG that distributes the ball
Remain Healthy

... then the championship will be found in PHX.

 

[sly fly]

....if we truly expect to win a championship is a killer. What I mean by that is we need a strong A personality along the lines of a Vince Carter-type. Stoudemire can dominate, but he ain't a killer. Nash is as close to a killer that we have and Marion is part man, part fish. I don't know who's out there, or who can be had, but the Suns need an absolute killer or we will never beat DAL in a series....

Here's an idea if the Suns meet Dallas...

... give the ball to Amare.

A healthy, spry Amare is like kryptonite to Mark Cuban. He IS the "difference-maker" every team covets.

I truly believe you're going to see Amare's defense come of age in the playoffs this year. He's shown flashes this year, but nothing close to being as consistent as it can be.

For sure, Amare's presence will be a heck of a lot better than the option they had last year.

 

[82CardsGrad]

DEI is apparently in a perma-state of delussion - poor soul...

But as far as what the Suns "need" - they most certainly do NOT need a Vince Carter type. The Suns can already score. They can already run. And they can already suck it up on defense... Why in the world would they want another guy who builds on that profile??
What the Suns "need" is a scheme that allows them to play in a slower paced, half court set. And they need to find a player or a scheme that can help them get "THE" stop when they need it most.
At present, the Suns' idea of defense is to simply try to out-run the other team, and hope the opponent has an off-night shooting... I like D'Antoni alot, but a defensive guru he is not...
The Mavs - if healthy, will rule over the Suns again unless the Suns and man-up and learn how to play a different brand of ball.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

Vince Carter is not a type A personality. He loves being in NJ where he doesn't have to be the #1 guy.

 

[D-Dogg]

You probably could use more cowbell.

 

[Mulli]

You probably could use more cowbell.

More cowbell? Like Sacramento? How did that work out for C-Webb?



"I've got a fever"

 

[D-Dogg]

More cowbell? Like Sacramento? How did that work out for C-Webb?



"I've got a fever"

As I posted this I thought "that would be 5/5 if it was on a Suckramento board."

 

[Errntknght]

Frankly, I think Nash is as much of a 'killer' as VC... if we need a clutch offensive play I'd as soon have the ball in his hands as anyones. I trust him to make the best decision in those situations, whether its to take the shot himself or pass to a teammate to shoot.

What the Suns indisputably need this year is to be healthy - and if the Mavs are healthy as well its going to a heckuva WC finals.

Of course, there are players which would be very helpful to the team - a strong rebounder, backup PG, defensive stopper. Heck, in retrospect, it looks like D'Antoni had a very good idea in trying to get Salmons though he isn't really in any of the those categories. I think his all around play would have allowed the coaches to rest Nash and Bell a good bit more than they have - certainly Raja.

I'd still like to see D'Antoni have the team polish up some set plays so that Barbs and Banks could succeed in running the offense - but I don't expect it to happen. I think Mike is wedded to the idea that the team can win it all playing his almost completely free-lance offense - and he's one stubborn son-of-a-gun!

 

[D-Dogg]

VC has no killer instinct.

Nash is scary with the ball late in games...that's not a problem you have.

 

[82CardsGrad]

VC has no killer instinct.

Nash is scary with the ball late in games...that's not a problem you have.

 

[Mulli]

As I posted this I thought "that would be 5/5 if it was on a Suckramento board."

True.

 

[Bufalay]

Tim Thomas, Raja Bell, Boris Diaw and Steve Nash were all killaz in the playoffs last year. Would've been nice to have kept Thomas, but the other three are still solid. Just wait.

 

[devilalum]

We have "Crazy Eyes."

 

[arwillan]

I respect your opinion and suggestion, but I think it is obvious that the only thing this team needs is ...

Backup PG that distributes the ball
Remain Healthy

... then the championship will be found in PHX.

and a way to control 7-foot germans who like david hasslehoff.

 

[panfolk]

and a way to control 7-foot germans who like david hasslehoff.

I tend to think he looks more like the Geico caveman.

That and I really think we have everything we need to win if we regain some focus and find a way to stay healthy.

 

[TheFallen49]

Vince Carter types... thats a good one. No team needs a Vince Carter type. A lazy, unmotivated, streaky, selfish, injury prone player who gives up when the going gets rough (you can quote him from his Toronto days).

What Phoenix needs is to:
-pray that San Antonio overtakes the Jazz for the third seed.
- be healthy with such a slim rotation come playoff time, (and you wonder why your team is hardly healthy nowadays?)
- hope Marion gets out of that slump soon (probably when Nash comes back, shows how much he relies on him now... its not necessarily a good thing you know)
- rebound, if you look at the stats it's pathetic
- hope the Mavericks bus crashes off a cliff into a volcano... no wait that won't work, Dirk would survive. Well i'm all out of suggestions.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

....if we truly expect to win a championship is a killer. What I mean by that is we need a strong A personality along the lines of a Vince Carter-type. Stoudemire can dominate, but he ain't a killer. Nash is as close to a killer that we have and Marion is part man, part fish. I don't know who's out there, or who can be had, but the Suns need an absolute killer or we will never beat DAL in a series....

Vince Carter type???

LMAO

What are Derrick Coleman, Larry Hughes, and A-Rod not available????

Carter is a glorified second fiddle who has the stomach of ten year old girl. I would take him on this team ONLY if we still had two fire breathers like Nash and STAT.

The biggest difference between the team last year and this year and why we will have more success is the fact that we have an inside presence that we can get the ball to at the end of games and get the hellout of the way.

Nash is also one of the most underatted clutch players in league history IMO. He doesn't make MJ buzzer beater shots often but he takes and makes the preceding three clutch FG's before that put your team in that position to have a chance at that shot.....

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Vince Carter types... thats a good one. No team needs a Vince Carter type. A lazy, unmotivated, streaky, selfish, injury prone player who gives up when the going gets rough (you can quote him from his Toronto days).

What Phoenix needs is to:
-pray that San Antonio overtakes the Jazz for the third seed.
- be healthy with such a slim rotation come playoff time, (and you wonder why your team is hardly healthy nowadays?)
- hope Marion gets out of that slump soon (probably when Nash comes back, shows how much he relies on him now... its not necessarily a good thing you know)
- rebound, if you look at the stats it's pathetic
- hope the Mavericks bus crashes off a cliff into a volcano... no wait that won't work, Dirk would survive. Well i'm all out of suggestions.

I refuse to believe the Mavs are a better team than us everything else being equal. They have more horses for the regular season but we have the better overall players.....

Just wait.....

 

[Ronin]

Vince Carter types... thats a good one. No team needs a Vince Carter type. A lazy, unmotivated, streaky, selfish, injury prone player who gives up when the going gets rough (you can quote him from his Toronto days).

What Phoenix needs is to:
-pray that San Antonio overtakes the Jazz for the third seed.
- be healthy with such a slim rotation come playoff time, (and you wonder why your team is hardly healthy nowadays?)
- hope Marion gets out of that slump soon (probably when Nash comes back, shows how much he relies on him now... its not necessarily a good thing you know)
- rebound, if you look at the stats it's pathetic
- hope the Mavericks bus crashes off a cliff into a volcano... no wait that won't work, Dirk would survive. Well i'm all out of suggestions.

I took a quick look at the rebounding stat’s and what suprsied me is that the suns are the third best defensive rebounding team in the league. Only Chicago and Houston were a better than the Suns in that category, and Dallas is ninth.........

The only "pathetic" part of the suns rebounding is that they are dead last in offensive rebounding, which is excuseable when they shot a high percentage from the field.

 

[elindholm]

I took a quick look at the rebounding stat’s and what suprsied me is that the suns are the third best defensive rebounding team in the league.

You can't look at total rebounds per game; that's influenced way too much by speed of play and lack of fouling.

The number you want is the fraction of possible defensive rebounds collected. The Suns are at .722, which is slightly below average. Dallas is at .749, tied with Cleveland for third in the league behind Houston and San Antonio.

The Suns' offensive rebounding rate is .225, second worst to Toronto. Overall, the Suns are easily the worst rebounding team among serious playoff clubs.