The Suns are the closest team to the 'Showtime'-era Lakers

41 points in the 2nd quarter...

For some ridiculous perspective- that's how many points the Rockets scored in the first HALF...of a game we won by 23.

 

Yeah, I'm watching them too. But the Lakers did have a system. They had a tremendous ball distributor and the fast break was by design.

What will be interesting to see is when we play Phoenix and the styles clash. To me, that will tell a lot about whether Van Gundy's philosophy of controling the game by slowing it down works in this day and age with the rule changes regarding the perimeter hand checks. I can't see the Rockets playing the convservative run the shot clock down and play tough defense game doing much to slow the Suns game. On defense, the Suns scramble constantly, causing the offensive team to have to speed up their play or risk the swarming D and the steals. Really Phoenix's defense is designed to hurry up the game by giving the opponent early looks, but you have to be willing to take advantage of that with the backdoors and the layups. I'm afraid if we throw it around like we are doing right now, they will cause us to have about 35 turnovers and run us out of the building.

I really am questioning Van Gundy's coaching style right now in light of the rule changes. As we can easily see, at this point in the season, the 2 best teams are the teams with outstanding running games and perimeter games and neither of them really play the post up game.

It will also be interesting to see Phoenix match up with Miami with a healthy Shaq and Wade. I haven't kept track if they have already played but Miami really is flexible with the inside game with Shaq but they are still willing to run off the defensive boards with Wade, Jones, and Jones.

 

hate to admit it but i agree. they are fun to watch and are running on all cylinders. they got great guards in nash, barbosa, johnson and Q (casey's not that shabby either) and then you add in Marion and Amare, they're dangerous. enough to win the championship? i wouldn't say it's impossible, but i think it'll be hard to run on all cylinders for that long span.

 

They are all cutting and setting picks too, did you see Amare slip that pick for the nice hanger in the 2nd?

They play good, smart, sound basketball.

DD

 

Marion looks like a duck flapping when he shoots. His release point is somewhere between his pectorals and his calavical.

 

I really don't think they can. They are playing like Dallas and Sac of 2, 3 years ago. Sac had been my second favorite team for many years now. As much as you kick ass in regular season, the playoffs always play half court ball.

1)In the playoffs, teams have many days to adjust.

2)If they fail to slow you down in one game, they have many more left.

3)teams focus on one team at a time.

All of the above leads to a slow half court game. In the regular season, teams just don't have enough time to figure out a way to slow down a run and gun team.

I agree the Suns are the most fun to watch though.

 

Amare is the best finisher in the league.

 

Could you imagine TMac running the floor with Nash? Dude would average 40.

 

i don't think TMac needs a Nash. He just needs a PG and he would drop 40. ward...lue....those aren't PGs

 

If Suns can score over 100 points with Rockets, then I would be truely impressed. However, they probably only need 90 points to beat Rockets.

 

The Suns new home court design is probably the best I've ever seen. That looks awesome.

 

I bet the same five players wouldn't be able to average 90 ppg under JVG.

 

lol. Probably true.

We'll see how they do in playoffs. They might actually change history. I won't hold my breath though. I don't think they are any better than 2002 mavs and Kings. We'll see.

 

the other good thing about the suns is they even have interesting players to pull out in garbage time, which happens alot. They have Zarko, the bizarro-Darko, Tabuse, and you know they have a blowout when they light the Lampe.

 

You think Tmac would have prefer going to PHOENIX NOW for Marion/Joe Johnson? (wasn't that the offer)


TMAC/AMARE/NASH/QRICH

 

they prob wouldn't be as successful. it's a team - where there is not designated superstar over the others. t-mac would take that away.