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Suns Head Coach D'Antoini Has Words For Orlando's Francis

Discussion in 'NBA Dish' started by mogrod, Dec 20, 2004.

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  1. mogrod

    mogrod Member

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    This week, Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni took exception to Steve Francis' comments that the Suns' up-tempo style will not work in the playoffs and that no team has run to a title.

    "I'm not sure he is a cerebral player," D'Antoni told the Arizona Republic. "He's a talented player who's very good in our league. <b>I love Steve Francis, but he's not known for his thinking on the floor. </b>Maybe he's too young to remember Los Angeles (with the Showtime Lakers) and the old Celtics.

    "I don't think (playoff success) has anything to do with whether you play fast or slow. ... Either you're slugging it out or you're having people try to catch you. I'd rather have people try to catch me than slug it out. I've been a chicken all my life. Slugging it out doesn't interest me."


    http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/12/19/SPGAAAED5L1.DTL
     
    #1 mogrod, Dec 20, 2004
  2. LiLStevie3

    LiLStevie3 Member

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    Those two teams had the personnel to play both the uptempo and the halfcourt game. These Suns have a long way to go before D'antoni should mention those two teams.
     
    #2 LiLStevie3, Dec 20, 2004
  3. wakkoman

    wakkoman Member

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    You have to be kidding me if you think the Suns or Sonics have any chance of winning it all in todays NBA. It just simply wont work and it's not spart to run and gun in the playoffs all game. Sure try to run some fast breaks to increase momentum, but that's about it.

    You need the half court offense and the set defense to win.
     
    #3 wakkoman, Dec 20, 2004
  4. thumbs

    thumbs Member

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    You must have battleships to control the seas.;)
     
    #4 thumbs, Dec 20, 2004
  5. Gutter Snipe

    Gutter Snipe Member

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    Nice quote thumbs, but I expect that in this case, you must indeed have battleships to control the seas.

    It will be interesting to see a Phoenix-Spurs second round matchup.
     
    #5 Gutter Snipe, Dec 20, 2004
  6. blender

    blender Member

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    A little tidbit from Sean Deveney's Inside Dish

    When watching Magic PG Steve Francis, keep in mind this simple scouting report from Warriors analyst Jim Barnett: When Francis puts the ball on the floor and goes right, he is going to drive; if he dribbles left, he will pull up for a jumper. It's almost always true. . .

    The secret's out.

    http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_y...g=insidedishclipperscouldb&prov=tsn&type=lgns
     
    #6 blender, Dec 20, 2004
  7. dreday

    dreday Member

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    Too bad Mr. Barnett didn't tell the coaching staff or any of the players this as he torched GS for 36 8/8...
     
    #7 dreday, Dec 20, 2004
  8. Mr. Clutch

    Mr. Clutch Member

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    It's true that in the playoffs the game slows down. But what's funny is that Steve was braggig about how Orlando is a running team, unlike Houston last year. So is he critizicing his own team as well?

    As for the scouting report, it doesn't really seem to help teams stop Steve, does it?
     
    #8 Mr. Clutch, Dec 20, 2004
  9. DaDakota

    DaDakota Balance wins
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    Nope, he does that all by himself.
     
    #9 DaDakota, Dec 20, 2004
  10. snowmt01

    snowmt01 Member

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    Classless for D'Antoni. I shall stick for our ex-boys.
     
    #10 snowmt01, Dec 20, 2004
  11. DaDakota

    DaDakota Balance wins
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    D'Antoni is right.

    Francis has never been a smart player....gifted athletically, tough as nails, but not cerebral at all.

    DD
     
    #11 DaDakota, Dec 20, 2004
  12. spacepimp

    spacepimp Member

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    unless amare can become a post up monster than D'Antoni is wrong, and I think that the magic hope that howard can come around ( they are posting him up more) by the time the playoffs come around.
     
    #12 spacepimp, Dec 20, 2004
  13. rockbox

    rockbox Around before clutchcity.com

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    The magic execute in the half court better than the suns right now. Pretty much all their playoffs can post up. I think the chances the Magic reach the finals are better than the suns just because they are in the east.
     
    #13 rockbox, Dec 20, 2004
  14. DaDakota

    DaDakota Balance wins
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    Plenty of teams that ran won the championship.

    Lakers, Celtics, Warriors, etc..etc..etc...

    The Suns are perfectly capable of winning it too.


    DD
     
    #14 DaDakota, Dec 20, 2004
  15. dreday

    dreday Member

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    What does that have to do with D'Antoni being right? Steve's comment was pretty much on point. He didn't say they weren't a good team, he stated facts about the play-offs...

    The Suns right now are playing great ball but you can't compare them to the dynastys of the Lakers and Celtics.
     
    #15 dreday, Dec 20, 2004
  16. DaDakota

    DaDakota Balance wins
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    Why not?

    Isn't that what fans do? Compare teams?

    The Suns are the best team in the NBA right now, nothing wrong with wondering where they will end up, or where they are among the all time great teams.

    SHEESH !

    DD
     
    #16 DaDakota, Dec 20, 2004
  17. dreday

    dreday Member

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    Because the Suns haven't done anything to deserve being in the same breath as the Lakers or Celics. When they win a championship then call me but until then compare them to the Mavs or something... :rolleyes:
     
    #17 dreday, Dec 20, 2004
  18. thumbs

    thumbs Member

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    Actually, I was reading This People's Navy -- the Making of American Seapower by Kenneth Hagan and that axiomatic type of thinking just struck me. Before WWII most naval tacticians agreed that battleships controlled the seas -- ergo, there was only one strategic way to win a naval war.

    However, times change. In warfare, technology changes the way combat is waged. In basketball, players change the way games and series of games are waged. Darrell Royal said it best: "You dance with the one that brung ya."

    If a team manages to force its style of play on a game or series, they probably will win. If it's "run and gun" like the Showtime Lakers, then they will win. If its the "lock down" style of the Detroit Pistons, they will win. But, as always, at the end of the game, the team with the most points wins.
     
    #18 thumbs, Dec 20, 2004
  19. MadMax

    MadMax Member

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    i think you're misreading him. i think he's saying they're no where near the caliber of team that the Lakes or Celts of the 80's were. on that point, i would wholeheartedly agree.
     
    #19 MadMax, Dec 20, 2004
  20. spacepimp

    spacepimp Member

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    the suns don't have a Kareem,magic,bird,mchale or parish who all excell in a half court game and a fast break one not to mention worthy,ainge,scott,walton
     
    #20 spacepimp, Dec 20, 2004
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