Suns Still Lacking

[epicSocialism4tw]

I've seen them play a few times on NBATV against European and American competition. They are the same old Suns. Whether or not you think that is a good thing is up to you, but I noticed some things about their team that will keep them from beating the elite teams in the West, Dallas and San Antonio.

1) Amare Stoudemire is not 100%.
His lateral mobility has been reduced, and his leaping explosiveness is not at the level it was pre-microfracture surgery. I saw Sam Dalembert and Chris Webber both out maneuver him in the post, which should be disheartening for fans of Stoudemire. I compared him to Iguodala who is one of the more explosive forwards in the league. Iguodala's bounce is stronger, his footwork is more smooth, and this defensive set stance is stronger. Stoudemire has had two offseasons and a whole season to get his legs back and they still look shaky. I dont think that he will be the player that he was before. He'll have to recreate his game a little to become a more cerebral player with an elbow post shooting/passing game ala Malone. I think that he'll actually be a liability for the Suns at times when they play more physical teams. That means that the playoffs might be tough for him.

2) The Suns do not Commit Effort to Defense.
The Suns still save all of their energy for the fast break. Until they balance their effort out on both ends, they will not be able to orient themselves confidently on offense or defense in the playoffs when the game slows down and set plays become the standard set on both ends. We saw Dallas take the next step when they slowed their game down and committed to defending. Ironically it took the loss of Nash and the acquisition of defensive players like Diop, Dampier, and Adrian Griffin for Dallas to round out their style into one that was more playoff-capable. The Suns have yet to learn that lesson.

3) Steve Nash is not Getting Younger.
Nash has a history of sputtering out late in the playoffs. It was a problem in Dallas, and it was a problem in both of the Suns' appearances of late. He still competes, but he doesnt compete on the level of the other major Western MVP's (Bryant, Nowitzki, Duncan, and even McGrady) have for their respective teams over the years. Nash needs to take the next step to get his team over the hump just as Bryant, Nowitzki, and Duncan have had to throughout their careers. Im not certain that Nash will be healthy and ready to make that step from this point of his career forward. His best chance was in '06, and Nowitzki upstaged him.

[azbroncfan]

and Mavs don't look too good either. Actually I was wrong 8 straight, but Llama hates the suns and loves taking shots at them.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Originally Posted by azbroncfan

and Mavs don't look too good either. Actually I was wrong 8 straight, but Llama hates the suns and loves taking shots at them.

I wrote that little piece in the preseason after I had seen several of the Suns' preseason games.

In saying that I like taking shots at the Suns, you are only abstractly correct. I love Nash as a player and as a person. He's a quality guy. He's fun to root for. Remember, he was an all-star in Dallas before he was in Phoenix. I like Marion. It's a shame that that organization almost kicked him to the curb a couple of times. I like Raja (even though he's a really dirty player), who is another former Mav. I like Barbosa. He's an authentically humble kid.

I do not like "The Suns" because they are a media creation. "The Suns" are better than they really are. "The Suns" dont have an old PG with chronic back problems. "The Suns" dont keep getting shelved by better teams. "The Suns" have a legitimate shot at a championship. We all know that that is a figment of some NBA marketing manager's imagination.

[GonzoLays]

Originally Posted by angryllama

I do not like "The Suns" because they are a media creation. "The Suns" are better than they really are. "The Suns" dont have an old PG with chronic back problems. "The Suns" dont keep getting shelved by better teams. "The Suns" have a legitimate shot at a championship. We all know that that is a figment of some NBA marketing manager's imagination.

Man, you got somekind of obsession with NBA marketing.

And what exactly are you doing watching the NBA anyway? You swore off the devil last year.

[epicSocialism4tw]

[QUOTE=GonzoLays;1374563]

Man, you got somekind of obsession with NBA marketing.

It's marketed to 12 year olds, but adults still sop up the syrup too. I guess that my frustration concerns the willingful ignorance of adult NBA customers. I can understand the NBA's push to make some coin. That's just business. On the other hand, you have sportswriters and media members that willingly play along to secure their own interests.

And what exactly are you doing watching the NBA anyway? You swore off the devil last year.

Yeah, I know. I have been sucked in by the Mark Cuban v. David Stern aspect of things this season. It's like watching an empowered superfan take on the conglomerate. Fascinating stuff. The Mavs/Spurs series is entertaining too. It's Lakers/Celtics stuff.

Im not watching as much as I have in the past though. I have been doing quite a bit of reading in my free time.

Unfortunately the only satisfaction I will have in any NBA occurrences this season will involve Stern aknowledging what a crook he is and how far down the tubes he has taken the NBA during his tenure. I know that that isnt happening any time soon, but I can hope that Cuban eventually costs him his job.

[azbroncfan]

Llama, are they still lacking?

[azbroncfan]

Llama, how are you going to react when Nash gets third straight MVP?

[ludo21]

i doubt he gets it this year. Too many people whining about it may stop the voters from voting him in.

Besides, LEbron needs to get one, right?

Nash has a great team around him this year tho, but he is the cog that makes our team go round.

[Nuggets4]

This is the year Nash SHOULD have gotten the MVP, so he won't. Last year and the year before he shouldn't have.

[ludo21]

17 in a row, man the Suns are lacking

[azbroncfan]

33-2 over past 35. Every other team to do the same won the title. Llama made this thread because the suns have him nervous and his arguments couldn't be farther from the truth.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Originally Posted by azbroncfan

33-2 over past 35. Every other team to do the same won the title. Llama made this thread because the suns have him nervous and his arguments couldn't be farther from the truth.

All of the arguments I made in this thread are still valid today. They are all oriented to whether or not the Suns will be able to take down superior playoff-style teams when it really counts. Look again, the thread doesnt say "the Suns suck HAHAHA l-o-l!!!!!"...it is entitled "Suns Still Lacking."

By the early returns, it doesnt look like the Suns have made any advances. They have made a living off of broken and beaten down teams so far. Their record against the West's top teams speaks volumes for itself.

I'll eat my words if they end up winning the West, but I still dont think that they can do it. They arent equipped. Looking down the pike at the rest of the season, it looks like Phoenix will end up in second place, playing the Lakers, Rockets, Jazz, or maybe the Nuggets in the first round, and then the Spurs in the second round.

Given how evenly the Lakers and Clippers played PHX last season in the playoffs, I dont see how any Suns fan couldnt be worried that a vastly improved Laker squad or a McGrady/Yao Rockets team or a hungry and talented Utah team could knock them off in round 1. Then they would have to beat a highly efficient and disciplined Spurs team with loads of playoff toughness. If they got through the Spurs in one piece, it would be off to play the Mavs, who are the best team in the NBA. That's quite a gauntlet.

[ludo21]

Without Steve Nash we are lacking our MVP for sure.

The last 3 games we look bad, even in our win vs. Portland we played awful.

Nash is MVP, he makes this offense go, without him, well... just watch a game and u will see.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Originally Posted by ludo21

Without Steve Nash we are lacking our MVP for sure.
The last 3 games we look bad, even in our win vs. Portland we played awful.
Nash is MVP, he makes this offense go, without him, well... just watch a game and u will see.

Nash may be your MVP, but he's certainly not the league MVP.

Nash ran out of gas trying to keep pace with Dirk's Mavs. Dirk's still rolling strong, evidenced by the 38/11/8 night he had last night carrying the Mavs on his back when no one else could hit a shot, and making people miss before grabbing their rebounds on the other end.

It's Dirk's year. The Mavs are on pace for 70 wins. If they get anywhere near that, no one else will be in the conversation. Dirk will win in a landslide.

[ludo21]

he deserves it too. No problem with me.

[Jason7730]

how does he look now llama?

[azbroncfan]

Originally Posted by angryllama

It's Dirk's year. The Mavs are on pace for 70 wins. If they get anywhere near that, no one else will be in the conversation. Dirk will win in a landslide.

Dirk will win MVP and he derserves it but it will be at the expense of a raw pud for Llama.

[Northman]

Poor Lama, always getting his hopes up just to be shot down again.

[CHEF LUIGI]

nash scored 10 points in 57 seconds, the last minute of regulation !
four letter word for "clutch" n-a-s-h.
four letter word for MVP, same spelling, n-a-s-h.

[ludo21]

1) Amare Stoudemire is not 100%.

that is hilarious now even more....

and....

2) The Suns do not Commit Effort to Defense.

Nash is only leading the team in charges... and that steal was sicktastic!!

Id go on, but we still gotta win in the playoffs, so i dont wanna put the footb in my mouth..

[Inkana7]

Originally Posted by CHEF LUIGI

nash scored 10 points in 57 seconds, the last minute of regulation !
four letter word for "clutch" n-a-s-h.
four letter word for MVP, same spelling, n-a-s-h.

Dirk hit the game winner earlier this year.

But I guess that doesn't count because he's not Steve Nash.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Originally Posted by Inkana7

Dirk hit the game winner earlier this year.

But I guess that doesn't count because he's not Steve Nash.

Dirk also brought down the Suns in the Western Finals last season with a cumulative legendary performance including a game where Dirk blasted the Suns in the fourth quarter for most of his 50 points.

Nash has yet to do anything in his career to trump that.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Originally Posted by ludo21

2) The Suns do not Commit Effort to Defense.
Nash is only leading the team in charges... and that steal was sicktastic!!
Id go on, but we still gotta win in the playoffs, so i dont wanna put the footb in my mouth..

If allowing 131 points to the Nuggets, 111 in regulation to the Mavs, and over 100 points to the Pistons in recent games is an example of their defensive effort, then you have put your foot in your mouth already

[azbroncfan]

Originally Posted by angryllama

Dirk also brought down the Suns in the Western Finals last season with a cumulative legendary performance including a game where Dirk blasted the Suns in the fourth quarter for most of his 50 points.

Nash has yet to do anything in his career to trump that.

It's funny how you go into hiding after a Mavs loss. Too bad Dirks legendary performance in the finals cost the mavs the series.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Originally Posted by azbroncfan

It's funny how you go into hiding after a Mavs loss. Too bad Dirks legendary performance in the finals cost the mavs the series.

I love it when people who have absolutely no idea what they are talking about weigh in on issues that they have no perspective on.

Keep up the good work!