I don't disagree that the Lakers can be problematic for the Suns. I think Utah, NO and Dallas could be trouble too. The West is a mind field--these are all very talented/balanced teams who have some match-up problem causing guys in the half court, and can play defense. Utah is a bit more of a threat to Phx than SA or LAL IMO--though I think any of the 3 would probably beat the Jazz (but not easily and not without wear from Williams and Boozer). Sadly, he isn't--and I do think he is key to beating the Suns from the Rox perspective--he was the one efficient killer in the half court Phx doesn't have an answer for and can throw off Amare (and now Shaq). If I were a WC foe I'd want to draw Hou, GS or Den of the playoff contenders. Any are capable of stealing a game or two, but they are more exploitable over a playoff series IMO than the others.
If Yao were around, I think we'd be fine, without him, I don't think we'll do well at all. Celtics manhandled us because our smurf frontcourt couldn't do anything against Garnett when they started going to him in the post. Phoenix can go low to either Shaq or Amare, Mutombo can only do so much against Shaq, and that leaves 6-9 Scola, 6-6 Harris, or 6-6 Hayes to try and handle Amare. Can't double either of them. We match up better with the Jazz and Mavs w/o you, but NOT the Suns. Evan
Utah isn't more of a threat to Phoenix than LA simply because they aren't as good as LA. Period. In a 7 game playoff series, I think any of the Lakers, Spurs or Jazz would beat the Suns.
Scoring not sacrificed with Shaq Paul Coro The Arizona Republic Mar. 21, 2008 10:07 PM If you want to find Shaquille O'Neal in Phoenix, try the Wal-Mart near 38th Street and Thomas Road. He said he's there every other night. "They've got everything," O'Neal, citing fake owls for his birds-on-the-balcony problem as proof. If you want to find O'Neal in the Suns offense, look down low. There's no mystery to where O'Neal functions best offensively. The Suns coaching staff relented from early attempts to use him in the pre-existing offense and now puts him on the block regularly. Upon arrival, O'Neal said he did not want the Suns to adjust to him, but they had to if they were going to maximize his effect. Phoenix runs five sets of offenses, all with internal variations. Some are designed for when O'Neal is on the court and some are for when he is out. With a comfort level in the new varied attack, the Suns are averaging 116.2 points during the six-game winning streak. It did not mean giving up on their fast and furious ways. Phoenix is averaging more fast-break points with O'Neal (18.2 per game) than before his debut (17.9 per game). The Suns are shooting 57.6 percent from the field in the past five games. "In the past eight years, the championship teams have been able to play both sides," O'Neal said. "This team has only played one style, and that was a fast style. It got them to almost the top of the mountain. Now, you bring a guy who does a certain things so Coach, the great coach that he is, is integrating the slow-down style into our style. "Basically, guys miss. Shaq is going to get the rebound. He's going to start the outlet. Let's run. If guys are making shots, let's just come down, get it into Amaré (Stoudemire), get it into Shaq, pass, cut and we'll just execute our offense. That's how you win championships." The O'Neal addition has had the desired immediate impact on rebounding (a swing in rebounding differential from minus-5.6 before O'Neal to plus-4.0 with O'Neal) and post defense (opponents are shooting 41.9 percent during the Suns' win streak). The unexpected was how Phoenix can score at the same rate with O'Neal on the floor, like the 17 points the Suns have scored in the first five minutes in two of the past three games. Nobody knew whether the spacing would work for 3-point shooters, but Raja Bell (44.7 percent), Leandro Barbosa (43.1 percent) and Steve Nash (49.3 percent) are shooting better from 3-point range with O'Neal on the team than they had for the season. "He's inside, but his man is glued to him," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said. "We have plenty of room anywhere even with Shaq on the floor because his man has to lean on Shaq so much that if he leaves Shaq's body, which would cut down the space, than they're risking a lob or a quick pass into Shaq. Shaq is one of those unique guys that you can space him in the middle of the floor." But for Wednesday's six turnovers, Nash has shown he has made much of the adaptation to having a regular post-up threat for the first time in his career. He is shooting 61.4 percent during the six-game winning streak and his assist-to-turnover ratio is back to a Nash-like 3.44-to-1 during the streak. "It's the timing of coming down the floor and the rhythm," Nash said. "It's changed our rhythm and our timing when Shaq's in the game and when we're going inside. That's been different. The pick-and-roll game with Shaq is different. We're starting to get a feel for it. There are two paces. There are two speeds to do things in order to be successful." http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0321suns.html
I told you that you guys were writing off the Suns too early. I don't know about the Mavs though. It's all up to the coaches and Avery is the one that seems to not want to adjust his team to their new acquisition. The Suns are finally incorporating Shaq into the offense and you can see it. There were screens set down low in the paint between the big men to get Shaq good position tonight, leaving Mutombo helpless.
Suns will not get to the finals this year and their window will be slam shut. The Rockets will win it all next year and who knows about this year.
Food for thought.... Last years' Miami Heat (IMO and arguably not better than this years' Suns) took the season series from Utah 2-0 and split with LAL ansd SAS. I don't think you are giving the Shaq Suns nearly enough credit. From the first moments the Rockets' drafted Yao, I felt the best way to utilize him was Showtime II. Surround him with greyhounds. That (thanks in part to JVG and Morey's $Ball) never happened. The current Suns roster is an excellent test of the Showtime philosophy. And IMHO, it's working. I doubt Morey is paying attention. But we can always hope.
Wait, so the Suns got LESS athletic with the addition of Shaq, and you are now saying that is the way to go? Or are you saying that is the way the Rockets should go with Yao? The Rockets are so much more athletic than they were 1 year ago, and with the additions of Brooks, Landry, Harris etc...they are trending that way. I think you need to give Morey some time.......he will sort it out. DD
DaDa - I have from the moment David Stern announced the Rockets' selection of Yao been a proponent that they should become Showtime II for success. I (figuratively) love Yao..the person and the player. But that does not blind me to his short comings. He's the slowest starter/rotational player in the entire NBA. No one can instantly imitate the transtion games of Magic, Byron, Worthy, and Cooper..and to some extent even Rambis. But whatever the Rockets have assembled pales in comparison to the transition unit the Suns have assembled. Take off your homer hat and your fixation for "hustle' players. It's not even close. Nash or Alston in transition? Amare or Scolandry in transition? Grant Hill or (run to the short corner) Battier in transition? Barbosa or Luther Head in transition? Morey? The guy that diminished Brooks' PT by acquring Jackson? The GM that gave us Battier over Gay and Swift? You want me to believe this guy is remotely aware of the benefits of transition athletes? I won't "buy" that in this lifetime. Brooks, Landry, Harris...all decent...all with Achilles heels. Reasonably athletic but all with the flaw of being under-sized for their position. You can choose to believe the $Ball equation has "above average size" as part of the equation. I don't and never will.
Understood. We will see. The great thing about these chalkboard discussions is that the playoffs start in a month.
