Why Richardson Worries Me

[George O'Brien]

One of the common commentator remarkes is that now the Suns have Q, this means the Suns should trade Marion for a big man. Maybe they will, but I remain concerned about whether Q is such a great replacement for Marion.

Don't get me wrong, I think signing Richardson was a good idea. Considering how much most free agents went for this summer, he is probably a bargain. However, after watching the USA team on Sunday, I wonder if Q is "too American".

The USA team is vastly more athletic than their opponents and undoubtedly physically stronger as well. However, the USA team does not shoot well, most of them do not move well without the ball, and they do not seem comfortable playing the passing game. Over the past few weeks Marion has been one of the most consistent guys not named Duncan on the USA team because he plays well without the ball.

Richardson seems to be too much like the other athletic wing men on the USA team. In 2002-03 Q shot only 37.2% from the field and shot 39.8% in 2003-04. In 2003-04 he raised his three point shooting to 35.2% from 30.8%; but this is not really very good. At the same time, Q played 36 minutes a game in 2003-04 but had only 2.1 assists per game.

Admittedly, Q played on a team without a real point guard and very poor chemistry. However, if Suns are going to be successful, they have to become a vastly better passing and motion team than they have been in the past. I am hopeful that Q will fit in since he is supposed to be a very hard worker with a great attitude. But his style still worries me.

 

[SweetD]

OK Richarson is a 6th man if he beats our JJ for the starting job so be it, but our bench was the worst in the league last year and he was brought here to up grade that bench. I wouldn't worry about needing to move Marion.

 

[binkar]

George "too American" what in the world? News flash we play American style basketball. If it was "Phoenix Suns vs. Skipper Bolgna" or whatever you MIGHT have a point but I really dont get the whole idea of this post. Its kinda all over the place.

 

[George O'Brien]

George "too American" what in the world? News flash we play American style basketball. If it was "Phoenix Suns vs. Skipper Bolgna" or whatever you MIGHT have a point but I really dont get the whole idea of this post. Its kinda all over the place.

The "American" style is based on "one on one" basketball, dunks, and an emphasis on athleticism. For a variety of reasons, emphasis on shooting, passing, moving without the ball, etc. is not what defines the USA team but does define European basketball. Does that mean that there aren't innumearble American players who emphasize shooting and skills? No. Nor does it mean that there aren't athletic Europeans with great one on one skills (the French in particular have an American style, but don't tell them!).

Make a list of the best shooters in the NBA and a big percentage are from Europe led by Dirk and Peja. It is how they are trained. American players are not given nearly enough training on shooting mechanics nor do they practice shooting enough. It shows. Just watch the USA team.

 

[playstation]

weird as hell argument. if we had a team full of peja's and dirk's, you're argument would be that we're not 'american' enough. as it is, our team is going to play like a euro team next year, and probably out of necessity rather than choice. this 'not-euro-enough' argument needs to go to the trash bin Mr. I-average-over-18-posts-per-day.

 

[Mr.Dibbs]

George, our shooting looks bad in the olympics BECAUSE THERE ISN'T A SINGLE PERIMETER SHOOTER ON THAT TEAM! The dynamics of our Olympic team are horrible. It's not a complete team, but just a bunch of all-stars. In the past, we had people like Payton, T. Hardaway, Reggie Miller, and Mitch Richmond. This year we have no one to shoot from the outside, and our defense isn't very good either.

 

[Chaz]

George I think you are panicking over nothing here. Q will be fine. He is a solid rebounding and defending swing type player that can carry some offense. And I am not convinced his arrival ensures Marion's departure.

I'm sure D'Antoni will be able to figure styles and lineups to make the best use of the players available, that is his job.

Also like someone pointed out, we will be playing the "American" game next season in the NBA. An "American game player" seems a perfect fit.

 

[George O'Brien]

George I think you are panicking over nothing here. Q will be fine. He is a solid rebounding and defending swing type player that can carry some offense. And I am not convinced his arrival ensures Marion's departure.

I'm sure D'Antoni will be able to figure styles and lineups to make the best use of the players available, that is his job.

Also like someone pointed out, we will be playing the "American" game next season in the NBA. An "American game player" seems a perfect fit.

I'm not sure "panic" is the right term. I can certainly see a role for an "instant offense" guy off the bench who can make his own shot, etc. My original point was that people think bringing in Q means the Suns should trade away Marion, even though Marion is proving to be better playing off the ball than the rest of the USA team.

 

[elindholm]

My original point was that people think bringing in Q means the Suns should trade away Marion

I don't think people think that. Bringing in Richardson is consistent with a plan to trade Marion for a center, if the Suns have a mind to do that. It's a game of guessing what the Suns are up to, not instructing them to do one thing or another.

 

[Chaz]

I'm not sure "panic" is the right term. I can certainly see a role for an "instant offense" guy off the bench who can make his own shot, etc. My original point was that people think bringing in Q means the Suns should trade away Marion, even though Marion is proving to be better playing off the ball than the rest of the USA team.

Marion is an energy guy that puts up numbers, just like Q.
The Suns need to add some size but a mid-tier center is not automatically more valuable than Marion. Q along with Marion gives us depth which was probably our biggest concern last season. Marion is our team captain, he is the longest tenured Sun. To rip him out of this team may cause a bigger loss than just his numbers. I would rather stick it out with Voskuhl, Lampe, and anybody than trade Marion for someone else's problem center or overpaid big man.

 

[binkar]

Here is where I think you are just trying to think of stuff you could post. But in response to the point you are arguing, I really hope we dont trade Marion. After watching the olympics I absolutley love the way this guy plays and feel it is an absolute perfect fit for the other players we have. We now have a scorer in the front court (Amare), a couple scorers who can create their shot in the back court (Joe and Q), a great shooter and passer who can run an offense extremely well, and then Shawn who is just kind of a clean up. I can't think of the words to describe his game but it just fits us perfectly. We now need someone who can just bang, block some shots, and grab a few boards (obvious as we have said this 100 times). My feeling is just that I dont think there is a big man out there that we can get for Marion that will help the team as much.

 

[jbeecham]

I really don't think that Q coming here means Marion is on his way out. I think Q was brought here because our bench sucked last season. Whether Q or JJ starts at SG, it gives us a hustling & scoring player coming off the bench so we don't fall as far behind while our starters get a breather. I'm actually glad we got Q because our 2nd team would be Barbosa, Jacobsen, Zarko, Vroman & Lampe......Sure they should never all be in at the same time, but none are great scorers or great at creating their own shots.

I'm actually excited to see a lineup of Nash/Barbosa, Q, JJ, Marion & Stat. That lineup should be able to outrun, out-hustle & out-score any lineup thrown at them. Defense and rebounding might be tough, but with they might be able to make up for it with their speed and athleticism.

 

[NJYAJ09]

I just hope Q is not so much of a ball hog. I hope D'Antoni drills team play into his head.

 

[green machine]

I just hope Q is not so much of a ball hog. I hope D'Antoni drills team play into his head.

I never heard of this being a problem with Q?

My guess is Q is here to replace JJ. Thing is, we don't know what type of player we're gonna get with him.

If JJ continues to improve and play well, then his trade value goes up, and then we can maybe land our center that way. If JJ falters, well, we don't have to extend his contract and we'll have a capable replacement already.

Win/Win!

 

[PhxGametime]

Richardson averages .35 from 3PT but he also averages almost 2 made a game, I agree with what elindholm said and also what a few have said about Q coming off bench. Instant offense (inside/outside), he passes into post very well (where you might not always get an assist) plus Brand as much as I like his game... well it's the same thing the last 12 games I've seen. 1. Feed Brand, he fumbles, misses inside shot. 2. Feed Brand, he fumbles, misses inside shot, gets rebound back, either scores or draws the 2 shot foul. 3. Feed Brand, draws 2 shot foul. 4. Feed Brand and every once in a while, he'll dunk.

Amare is a much better finisher than Brand and has better hands. Drawing the 2 shot foul (at times will equal 2 Points) and I wouldn't complain but you don't get assist and Q appeared to be the best post feeder on team (last 3 years I've seen on tape, in last couple of weeks). Not quite the defender Marion is but will give offensive player space and has athleticism to get hand up and the Suns did miss a lot of shots (if that means anything). Great rebounder.

IMO Steven Hunter would fit team perfect.

1. Nash, Barbosa, Johnson = solid
2. Johnson, Richardson, Jacobsen, Barbosa = solid
3. Marion, Johnson, Richardson, Jacobsen, Cabarkapa = solid
4. Stoudemire, Lampe, Hunter, Cabarkapa, Vroman = solid
5. Hunter, Voskuhl, Lampe, Stoudemire = good

 

[Joe Mama]

IMO Quentin Richardson is here because he was willing to sign a reasonable contract, he's insurance in case JJ signs an unreasonable offer sheet with somebody next summer. Of course that is assuming that they don't work out an extension this summer.

I really don't believe Richardson was brought here, so one of the other players could be shipped.

Joe Mama

 

[NJYAJ09]

I never heard of this being a problem with Q?

My guess is Q is here to replace JJ. Thing is, we don't know what type of player we're gonna get with him.

If JJ continues to improve and play well, then his trade value goes up, and then we can maybe land our center that way. If JJ falters, well, we don't have to extend his contract and we'll have a capable replacement already.

Win/Win!

You never heard about Q and him being a ball hog?

Thats basically all he was in LA...

 

[JS22]

We must be reaching for topics today.