My prediction. 1. Their halfcourt offense with Shaq and Amare is predicated around spending 3+ seconds in the paint area. That won't work in a 7 game series in the playoffs. The opponent will pick up on it and will be all over the officials about it. And Phoenix will not be able to adjust. Shaq is very good at having one foot in the paint and then stepping all the way in later. And he's also very good at pushing the very limits of the 3 second rule, sometimes being in there right at 3 to 3.5 seconds before he either gets the shot off or steps out. The refs aren't picking up on it right now in the regular season. But once the playoffs start they'll be all over it. 2. Their halfcourt defense with Shaq and Amare is predicated around one or both of Shag and Amare breaking the 3 second rule. Any opponent in a 7 game series is going to make that a point of emphasis. Utah, for instance with Okur standing out at the 3 point line is going to force PHX away from Shaq or they are going to get Shaq out of the paint area where he is overmatched. We did not emphasize this tonight as we do not have a big man that can shoot from distance, but there were several instances where Deke drifted out to the circle area and Shaq stayed below the FT line, out of arms length. Phoenix is skirting the edge of this issue and getting away with it. But any team that truly spreads the floor on them will force Shaq out of the game. 3. Phoenix, although everyone is saying they are better defensively, is not. Case in point was tonight's game. Fourth game in five nights for us, we played like crap, threw up bad shots, etc. etc. etc., and we are still hanging around with 113 points for the game! If we had been able to play any defense at all, we beat them on their home court. And if we had actually played solid offense to go along with solid defense, we blow them out, plain and simple. Not only that, but how many nights is Shaq gonna hit 7 out of 9 free throws? I'm sorry but it's just not gonna happen. Anybody that plays smart is gonna start fouling Shaq once they are in the bonus. That takes him out of basically the last 5 minutes of every quarter and the game. PHOENIX IS GOING TO GET EXPOSED IN THE PLAYOFFS.
I thought they looked pretty good. It's natural for teams to let up when they get a large lead, particularly those that don't play good defense by habit. I'll have to see how they play against other playoff-caliber teams, as they've been feasting on bad teams of late. Shaquille and Amare are an imposing combination.
Oh, they're imposing. Until you spread the floor and run at Shaq. The man is a shell of his former greatness. He can't do it in a 7 game series anymore. He won't get the calls and he will get the calls against him. The downhill momentum of his career will consume Phoenix in the playoffs.
well, they have recently defeated GS, SA, and us. it seems they are getting better and getting more accustomed to one another. hard to say how far they can go, it will depend on matchups the same as it does for everyone else.
If you video their games and watch them, you will see they are skirting the 3-second rules. A quality team with good scounting is going to bust that loose come playoff time. Nobody is saying anything now. Everybody will put up with it for a game. But when the playoffs start, whoever they play is going to be all over the officials about calling them on it.
defensively, last night, they had shaq sitting in the lane not guarding anyone for 4-5 secs, but the refs never called it and the rox never got on the refs about it. i was yelling at the tv multiple times for the refs to call the defensive 3 secs, the only problem was, the refs kept ignoring me.
I'll take that bet because even though I want the Rockets to advance I am realistic. Without Yao I don't think it's happening. So here's what we are left with. Kobe-Gasol led Lakers, defending Champion Spurs, Retooled Phoenix Suns. Everyone else is a has-been. Lakers, Suns, Spurs Out of these three, I say the Lakers implode first because of chemistry issues. I think it'll be between the Suns and the Spurs but the Spurs will fail this year because of old legs plus it's an even year. I think the Suns advance.
I'm glad they didn't call it. There's plenty of video for teams to put together for the officials when the playoffs start. The officials will know about it when the playoffs start and the coach of the Suns opponent is going to be yelling for that call the whole series. And for the guy calling for the Suns, Spurs, or Lakers, I will just say I don't believe either the Suns or the Lakers can get there. I think it's between the Spurs, Jazz, and I'll throw the Rox in because I'm a homer. But I think ultimately the Spurs to go the Finals and lose to Detroit.
Like the refs are supposed to call the Sonics' illegal defenses from Hakeem's days? I think it's more likely the refs will make two or three 3 second calls in a game and leave it alone.
The premise of this thread is sound. However, it is also predicated on the assumption that the league front office and it's officials are running a legit outfit. In other words, if Stern wants to see Phoenix & Shaq advance in the playoffs then a lot of these three second violations are simply going to be "missed".
I don't know, I think they have just as much of a chance of winning it all. Shaq is really getting it in gear, and is opening the door for Amare to domininate from the PF position.
It's on Nash, more than ever, to initiate the big shot. They lost some good 3pt shooters in the last couple of years that alters the shape of their game. I thought it was telling when they didn't throw it inside, despite the size advantage, during the tense 4th quarter run by the Rockets. Offensive rebounding- we really need size inside if only for that- and non-calls killed us more than them beating our defense. What they need is a redefinition of roles, similar to a D. Rob and Duncan pact that cemented the Spurs dominance, and for the rest of the team to buy into that trust. Otherwise their hopes rely solely upon the wizardry of Steve Nash.
Shaq is FIVE years older than Duncan G. Hill is FIVE years older than Ginobilli Steve Nash is NINE years older than Parker and yet, the SPURS old legs are going to cause them to fail? Got it.
Now bring up Barbosa, Amare (who guess what Duncan is going to have to play quite a lot against) and Diaw vs counterparts in the Spurs rotations. I agree with your dad. Utah can be some trouble with the Suns--particularly Williams, but they would lose to the Suns. I think most of you guys are in serious delusion about the Suns vulnearability. I would pick them versus any team in the opening round except maybe not the Spurs (if the Spurs come in healthy and rolling). That said the really hard part for the Suns will be later in the playoffs--round 2 or 3. Nash, Oneal, Bell, and Hill have a lot of wear, and their rotations are short because of their idiot coach. If the Suns draw somone early to really extend them it will do damage later.
