The topics sounds easy to do, but the Spurs just took 2 in Phoenix and the Spurs are going home where they even play better ball... at home.
I said before the playoffs the Suns weren't real contenders because their offense would blow up eventually (i.e, their lack of reliable half-court sets) and their defensive deficiency would be magnified. Judging by the 2nd quarter, it looks like the Spurs may have figured out how to stifle the Suns offense like the Rockets did. If the Suns have a low scoring 3rd quarter, that will prove the jig is up. Then again, it may just prove the Suns lost their poise beginning in the 2nd quarter today. D'Antoni needs to bring in an experienced assistant coach who specializes in defense. You must play both ends to be championship material. This Suns team is similar to so many they had during the 80s when they would lead the league in blowout wins but only made the NBA Finals one (very memorable) time, agains the Celtics. I get the feeling Nash must totally take over the game or the Suns have no chance.
The time they made the finals against the Celtics was actually the '75-'76 season when they had Alvan Adams, Paul Westphal, and Gar Heard and even then they only went 42-40 (they pulled 2 consecutive upsets to get to the Finals) but I agree with the rest of your post.
The Suns got further then most teams just playing the way they did. I say they did very well. Better then the rockets, sonics, grizz etc etc. The Suns just need more depth, and they will go very far next season. plus they have a higher pick then the rockets in the draft. So there going to get some help.
The suns are falling apart, Good they always came across to arrogant for me. Except for Nash, hes likeable because he seems to be very humble.
That still misses the point. It isn't about talent or depth, it's DEFENSE! They will continue to do "very well" during the regular season with that style of play as long as their talent level stays high. But they will not win a championship. At some point during the Western Conference playoffs, they will meet a complete team that will beat them because their shock therapy style of play won't be as successful in a 7 game series.
If u do very well in the reg season, u get number 1 seed. That gets u a good run at the finals. U make do with what ur got as a team. U dont try to be somthing ur not. The suns are better then 85 percent of other teams in the nba. Miami, Det and Spurs are the only teams better then the suns. I understand they need to play D, but they play a style, where D isnt needed like a slow half court style.
Defense wins titles. The Spurs are more disciplined and play a better team game and are superior fundamentally to the Suns on both sides of the ball.
So true, both equally talented teams. Actually give the Suns the edge in atleticism but the Spurs are flat out shutting down the Suns contesting every shot. Mavs might have beat the Suns if Terry had contested Nash's last second three pointer in game 6. If I was AJ, I would show the Mavs the tape of the last shot of game 2 of the Suns/Spurs over and over, when Parker and Bowen covered Nash like a blanket and didn't let him breathe on his last shot.
If you plan on going deep into the Playoffs and into the Finals, there will always, ALWAYS be instances when you absolutely, positively need to get a few defensive stops. The Suns have been unable to get those stops in the postseason. Phoenix was been blowing everyone out in the regular season. Well guess what, you can't rely on blowouts late in the postseason, the rest of the league is just too good. You absolutely must be able to get stops late in the game if you want to be a championship team.
And the rest of the teams in the league are going to adjust to Phoenix's style and upgrade their own teams. It's not as easy as Phoenix going out and getting a few more players and continuing to play at the same level that they played at this year. The other 85% of the teams are going to improve.
Next year, the other teams will be more prepared to defend the Suns style of play because it won't be a novelty they are unfamiliar with. They will still pummel weak teams by 20-30 points. But by virtue of what the Spurs & Rockets did this year against them defensively, the book has been written. You MUST concentrate on getting back on defense every posession whether you score or not. Send no more than 2 guys after offensive boards. Focus on shutting off Nash's passing lanes, even if this allows him to get to the basket sometimes (I'm not talking about what the Mavs did. That was stupidity). Lastly, take it straight at them when you have the ball because they put up little resistance on defense. Yes, Amare gets a few blocks but everyone can see now he is a terrible defender of the paint for the most part. I promise you right here and now the Suns won't finish #1 in the West next year, even if they hogtie themselves financially by resigning Joe Johnson with a huge contract.
