And you need the two-time MVP to operate, of course. Oh, how many Steve Nash does the league have? Can every team copy the Suns? The answer is NO. The elite teams always find their own identity. The weak copycats never succeed.
IMO, that's like saying Drexler canceled out Jordan, or Robinson canceled out Dream. Duncan is at THAT level, Amare is a very good player, Nash is a great player, Parker is a very good player - Duncan is an all-time great. He is a talent multiplier, like Jordan, like Bird and like Magic; the Spurs are never at a great talent disadvantage because he is there; and it's been like that since the moment he arrived.
To each his own. I like and respect TD but at the moment he isn't that much better than Amare. IMO, it isn't like those comparisons you mention at all, especially when you lump TD with TP and Amare with Nash. In fact, before the series is over Amare may end up superior to TD. I still think the Suns will win this series because they are too loaded for the Spurs.
My first thought is starting Kurt Thomas with Amare won't work and it will ruin the Suns offense. The Suns don't function as well with a big lineup. Let' see.
That's just silly. I hope you aren't just looking at the boxscore to draw that conclusion. TD is twice the player Amare is, and then some. I can build a successful franchise built entirely around TD, but I wouldn't even dream of doing the same with Amare. You take TD off the Spurs and they would struggle just to get into the playoffs. Now what exactly did the Suns do last year without Amare? Exactly, he's not even a 'pillar' of that system that D'Antoini runs, and you can replace him without the team being much worse off for it. Now, who do you propose can replace Duncan with the Spurs and still make them a perennial contender? When it's all set and done, Tim Duncan is amongst the all-time greats and THE definition of a "franchise player" (admittedly, that label is used/applied far too often and frequently erroneously so). Duncan >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Amare
No it isn't silly and I still haven't even looked at the game 1 boxscore yet. Amare played very well the 2nd half of the season, sometimes spectacularly. In game 1 and so far in game 2, Amare's energy level seems lower than normal, both on offense and defense. I don't know what's going on. Meanwhile, TD's touch on offense has been incredible and he's been like a machine. If Amare doesn't rise up to the occasion like he's capable of, the Suns don't have a chance. But something isn't right with him.
Exactly. The fact that Amare has minimal interest in playing defense hurts him a lot in the comparasion. Few spectacular blocks does not make him a defensive player. Add to the fact that offense runs thru Nash, not Amare. Suns have reached conference finals minus Amare. Amare does not create offense for his teammates. Duncan creates a lot of opportunities for his team. If the suns win it will be because they are talented and stacked and are run by Nash. Nash will be the facilitator, Amare another one of his beneficiaries. If the Spurs win Duncan has a big say in it. Duncan >>>>> Amare (as a player) Amare >>>>> Duncan (as an athlete)
Funny how the Spurs started off slowly and were trailing, only to end up taking the lead again...and they are not even playing all that well. I am starting to wonder if the only way the Suns will ever win it all is if they somehow avoid playing the Spurs altogether. May be they should start thinking about positioning themselves in the seedings and hope the Mavs/Rockets/Jazz or some other team can take out the Spurs for them before the WCF. Anywho...this game is "do or die" for the Suns' championship aspirations. They lose this game and they might as well forfeit the whole series. All I am left with saying is...Go Suns!
I am not even talking about this series, a3po. I am talking about in general. Those two guys aren't even close in terms of value to their respective teams, and it has absolutely nothing to do with their stats. Add to that list the fact that he can't pass worth a lick and almost never demands a double-team, and is just generally not a highly touted defensive player. I like Amare as a player and think he's one of the best finishers in the league bar none, not to mention one of the best athletes in the league bar none. However, I know Tim Duncan, and you sir (Amare, that is) ain't no Tim Duncan.
kerr keeps harping on the fact that g. popp's defensive strategy against the suns is for the guys guarding the 3 pt line to stay home, and to send help on steve nash, forcing nash to score as opposed to finding teammates for open 3's. looks like it worked early on, he went 5-12 on fgs. nash looked uncomfortable being asked to score as opposed to doing what he does best, finding teammates. could this strategy work for us?
funny how a team who actually plays defense (not stats wise like the rockets) can actually change how the suns play.
OUCH, MAGIC just layed the smackdown on Dirk by prasing Nash being a real MVP and how he should learn from Nash. What a burn!!!
That was very harsh, but true. Nash is great while Dirk is very good. Oftentimes during the playoffs, mental fortitude magnifies the difference between the two. Guys, I never said Amare was equal to TD (who is one of my favorite players in the NBA). Right now, because TD is making dogmeat out of the Suns while Amare is on cruise control, the difference is magnified. If Amare doesn't break out during the series and make a huge impact, I'll retract everything and blast him. I assume his relentless passion will come out at some point unless he's injured.
