New Year's News featuring defense through Amare's eyes

[SwingMan]

Amaré sets sights on defense (http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/1231sunsnb0101.html)

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/pics/1231amare2.jpg
Amaré Stoudemire defends the basket against the Raptors' Carlos Delfino on Dec. 22 in Phoenix.

Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 31, 2007 05:37 PM

You can see it in Suns center Amaré Stoudemire'schanging facial expression as the man he is defending gets the ball.

Stoudemire's will to be a better defender comes with a scowl. His eyes widen. His teeth clench.

"I'm totally locked in," he said. "I'm trying to set a tone defensively, especially one-on-one defense. If we need help, use it, but we shouldn't need it. I'm trying to become a great defensive player, and it starts now."
http://www.azcentral.com/imgs/clear.gifhttp://www.azcentral.com/imgs/clear.gif

On offense, Stoudemire closed December like he started it. When Phoenix opened the month with four wins, he averaged 30.5 points on 69.6 percent shooting. In the past three wins, he has averaged 29.7 points on 70.6 percent shooting. But he was most proud of his defense against the Clippers' Chris Kaman and Sacramento's Brad Miller.

"Offense, that's nothing new," Stoudemire said. "Scoring is easy for me, but defense is where we're trying to get better as a team."

Recent wins came against the injury-depleted bottom of the Pacific Division, but Stoudemire's work was at the center of holding the Clippers and Kings to 38 percent shooting. It backed up his Christmas call for more will and fewer excuses from his team.

"He's turned on right now," guard Steve Nash said. "It's great to see him being consistent with his energy. He's really working hard at being mentally in the game and knowing the game plan. I'm proud of the way he's tuned in right now."

Bell's breakthrough?

Like practicing short putts to help with the long ones, Suns guard Raja Bell'sroute to a possible long-distance shooting breakthrough started with a fast-break layup Sunday.

A few minutes later to open the fourth quarter, Bell hit a jumper and then a longer one just inside the 3-point line before ending an 0-for-14 3-point shooting drought by sinking a critical one during a decisive 12-0 run.

"It's a challenge to get those (3-pointers) when teams are switching and playing us the way they do," Bell said. "When you're struggling to hit that flat-footed 3, it helps to get in-rhythm midrange jumpers. I'm very grateful for those."

While Bell may be snapping a slump, Boris Diaw appears to be going deeper into one. He made two of his first three shots Sunday with a drive and a follow but missed his final seven shots, including an unguarded layup. Diaw, shooting more frequently of late, is 15 for 53 (28.3 percent) from the field in the past six games.

"We're going to enlarge the rim a little bit for him," coach Mike D'Antoni said.

Marion's giving

Forward Shawn Marion coordinated the launch of his Web site, www.matrix31.com (http://www.matrix31.com) (and his own blog), with the start of a charitable foundation.

"I want to cater to single-family homes and kids and anything to do with after-school education," he said of the Shawn Marion Foundation. "As much money as I give to charity, why not oversee it myself personally?"

[SwingMan]

Here's to turning 40 (http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/BobYoung/13639)

Welcome to 2008!

Sorry about the headache.

But as long as we're in the mood for toasting, let's all raise a glass of Alka-Seltzer to the first 40 years of the Suns franchise.
You might have heard that the Phoenix Suns are having a "Retro Night" when the Seattle SuperSonics visit US Airways Center as part of a 40th anniversary celebration Thursday night.

The team started playing - seemingly out of nowhere - in 1968 and has been one of the most successful franchises in the NBA - with the exception of one thing, and you know what's missing without us even saying "Larry O'Brien."

Anyway, to mark the occasion, The Heat Index has compiled our Suns 40th Anniversary Team. Click here (http://www.azcentral.com/flash/suns40/index.php) for a look at four decades with the Phoenix Suns.

Each member of this exclusive group will receive absolutely nothing except our hearty congratulations:

First Team

Point guard: Steve Nash. He's a two-time MVP, and no league MVP ever has been denied a spot in the Basketball Hall of Fame. The Suns have a long history of terrific, All-Star point guards, including Kevin Johnson and Jason Kidd. But Nash is the only one to win even a single MVP award.

Shooting guard: Paul Westphal. This one is tough. There is "The Original Sun" Dick Van Arsdale, Dan Majerle, Dennis Johnson, Charlie Scott. We go with Westphal, who led the club in scoring five consecutive seasons and was first-team All-NBA three times.

Center: Alvan Adams. He redefined the position, and what is more appropriate for the history of this franchise than a 40th anniversary center who was a slick passer and probably more of a power forward? Hey, imagine today's team with Adams in the middle. Wow.

Power forward: Charles Barkley. This one is easy. Although his tenure was only four seasons, and there were two playoff flameouts, he was the team's first MVP and led the club to the NBA Finals in his first season. Now in the Hall of Fame.

Small forward: Connie Hawkins. Another tough call, this time between Hall of Famer Hawkins and "Sweet D" Walter Davis, the club's all-time leading scorer. We go with "The Hawk" in part because Davis eventually moved to shooting guard.

Sixth man: Majerle. Did you know he came off the bench in 132 more games than he started with the Suns?

Coach: Cotton Fitzsimmons. He always got the most out of what he had, and he engineered the franchise turnaround from an overblown drug scandal. Bonus points for taking the job on three occasions.

Second Team

PG: KJ. The club's all-time assist leader, and he's third on the team's all-time scoring list. Bonus points awarded for that dunk over Hakeem Olajuwon.

SG: Van Arsdale. If you weren't around to see "The Flying Dutchman" slash to the hoop, then you missed something special.

C: Amaré Stoudemire. He might be first team by the time we pick the club's 50th anniversary team.

PF: Tom Chambers. Along with KJ, he turned the Suns back into an NBA powerhouse after signing as the league's first unrestricted free agent.

SF: Davis. The team's all-time leading scorer, and a six-time NBA All-Star.

Sixth man: Eddie Johnson. He scored more points than any player in NBA history who never made an All-Star team. Well, he makes ours.

Coach: John MacLeod. Club's all-time leader in tenure and victories - by a long shot.

Third Team

PG: Kidd. Points deducted for shooting percentage and Joumana.
Swing's note: :lol: Sad, but true.

SG: DJ. He could score, defend and was money in the clutch. He just wasn't around for very long.

C: Neal Walk. The guy viewed as a consolation prize in the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar sweepstakes actually was a very good player, averaging 20.2 points and 12.4 rebounds in his best season and leading the team in assists in another.

SF: Shawn Marion. Has moved into fifth on the team's all-time list for games played. Scores, defends and is the NBA's best pound-for-pound rebounder since Dennis Rodman. Only without the wedding dress.

PF: Larry Nance. He probably belongs in the club's Ring of Honor, if for no other reason than trading him to Cleveland allowed the Suns to get the pieces to rebuild, including KJ and a draft pick they would use on Majerle.

Sixth man: Boris Di . . . Ha! Just kidding. Danny Manning. Two knee injuries limited him, but Manning was almost exclusively a reserve for five seasons and won NBA Sixth Man of the Year honors in 1997-98.

Coach: Mike D'Antoni. Much like Cotton with KJ, he got himself a great point guard, handed him the ball and let him do what he does best.

Of course, a championship ring would move D'Antoni to the top of the list when that 50th team comes out. Just so he knows.

[ShelC]

I love the talk from Amare but i still need to see more commitment to smart defense. He doesnt need to get every rebound or block every shot, but boxing out so his guy doesnt get the rebound and being in position defensively to stop penetration more would be some nice improvements.

But he was most proud of his defense against the Clippers' Chris Kaman and Sacramento's Brad Miller.

I guess theyre talking about his first game against the Clips as opposed to the 2nd game where Kaman had 20 and 20? And i didnt think his 1on1 defense against Miller was all that great.

The one thing i truly hate about Amares defense is his stance when guarding someone facing up. He stands with his feet shoulder width apart, flat footed and his hands out. Theres no way you can guard anyone on the perimeter like that and think youre going to stay in front of them.

[JediSkywalker]

I love to hear that Amare wants to improve his defense, but can he do it consistently, against top teams? That needs to be seen. What I want to see from him is consistent effort, even if he is not successful every time.

I still believe that a personal coach to teach him defense would pay great dividends for the team. It will also keep him motivated for EVERY game.

[CharlesV]

Suns All Time Third Team:
SF: Shawn Marion. Has moved into fifth on the team's all-time list for games played. Scores, defends and is the NBA's best pound-for-pound rebounder since Dennis Rodman. Only without the wedding dress.

Shawn is going to be pissed that he only made Third Team.

[Nodack]

Amare is a work in progress, but you can't deny that he has made huge strides in the past 7-10 games.

[FrontRowSun]

Suns All Time Third Team:
SF: Shawn Marion. Has moved into fifth on the team's all-time list for games played. Scores, defends and is the NBA's best pound-for-pound rebounder since Dennis Rodman. Only without the wedding dress.Shawn is going to be pissed that he only made Third Team.

HAHAHAHA!!!

I thought the same exact thing!

[Xcon]

The problem with Amare is he lets his man post up right under the basket and then he tries to play defense. He needs to learn to deny position in the first place. Push his guy out further.

[ShelC]

Exactly!

[Ish]

The problem with Amare is he lets his man post up right under the basket and then he tries to play defense. He needs to learn to deny position in the first place. Push his guy out further.

The funny thing is the article even points this out in the very first paragraph:

You can see it in Suns center Amaré Stoudemire's changing facial expression as the man he is defending gets the ball.

Something that Amare has trouble with right now is understanding that good defending technique requires a lot of work before his man gets the ball. Same with rebounding, you don't just go for the rebound once the ball is in the air, you get position beforehand.

I can think of at least two other star bigs have shown an ability to become a better rebounder as they age (Garnett and Camby) so maybe there is still hope for Amare, but it is surprising into his sixth NBA season no coach has gotten him to start playing defense before his man gets the ball.

[ShelC]

Same with rebounding, you don't just go for the rebound once the ball is in the air, you get position beforehand.

I remember somebody writing to SI about a photo of Rodman that was shown in one of the issues. The person pointed out that in the picture, everyone on the floor except Rodman was watching the guy taking the shot. Why wasnt he watching the shooter? Cuz he was already moving towards the basket to get the rebound. I'd love to find that issue and the picture, but it was probably close to 10 years ago and is in the "archives", so to speak.

[phnart]

Here's what I would love to see...The Suns 68-88 squad versus the 89-08 squad.

Starting lineups:
68 to 88:
F: Davis
F:Hawkins
C: Adams
G: Westphal
G: DJ
Bench:
6man: Van Arsdale
F: Nance
F: Truck Robinson
F: Lucas
C: Walk
G: Scott
G: Goodrich
G:Hornacek


89-08 team:
F:Chambers
F:Barkley
C: Stoudemire
G:KJ
G:Nash
Bench
6man: Majerle
F:Marion
F:Manning
F:Ceballos
C:AC Green (that's how bad the selection is)
G:Kidd
G:Joe Johnson
G: Eddie Johnson

The score of that game would be something in the low 200's......208-203, and 89to08 would win in a squeaker.

[phnart]

oh..and Barkley and Lucas would probably exchange punches in the third quarter.

[LazarusLong]

A couple of observations on Bob Young's team...

DJ was more a point guard than an off guard, but obviously Young wanted to find a place for him as well as Nash, Kidd and KJ.

No mention of Silas, one of the great rebounders and defenders in Suns history.

Majerle was great, but he would have been eaten alive by Ronnie Lee, whose stay as a Sun was too brief.

For about 40 games in 1976, Curtis Perry and Gar Heard were the best forward tandem the Suns ever had. They played with the tenacity of starving Rottwielers going after raw meat.

Gail Goodrich put up some solid numbers as a Sun.

Kyle Macy was a perfect "third guard" a guy who had a great mid-range jumper and who also could distribute the rock.

Mo Lucas, along with Walter Davis, was one of main reasons an otherwise mediocre '84 Suns team gave LA all it could handle in the Western Conference Championships.

Truck Robinson had some great numbers as a Sun, but will be remembered for being hurt in the '79 playoffs, being Reggie King's jenny in the '81 playoffs, and missing a playoff game in '82 because of day-old pizza.

Anybody who saw Lamar Green play has a story or two. He's a guy looked like he was playing at half speed until he sent your shot into orbit.

[FrontRowSun]

Kyle Korver was traded to the Jazz for Giricek, & a 1st rounder.

Korver's contract is awful, not banks awful, but still pretty bad, but he should help the Jazz. Nice little move for them

[SpecialSauce]

Kyle Korver was traded to the Jazz for Giricek, & a 1st rounder.

Korver's contract is awful, not banks awful, but still pretty bad, but he should help the Jazz. Nice little move for them


zzzzzzzzzz are we flashing back like 4 days?

[desertcoast]

Same with rebounding, you don't just go for the rebound once the ball is in the air, you get position beforehand.

I remember somebody writing to SI about a photo of Rodman that was shown in one of the issues. The person pointed out that in the picture, everyone on the floor except Rodman was watching the guy taking the shot. Why wasnt he watching the shooter? Cuz he was already moving towards the basket to get the rebound. I'd love to find that issue and the picture, but it was probably close to 10 years ago and is in the "archives", so to speak.

along those lines, Big Ben once said there was no big secret to his great rebounding numbers:

he anticipated every shot as a miss ( either team, any player)

sounds so simple...

[jed]

Suns All Time Third Team:
SF: Shawn Marion. Has moved into fifth on the team's all-time list for games played. Scores, defends and is the NBA's best pound-for-pound rebounder since Dennis Rodman. Only without the wedding dress.

Shawn is going to be pissed that he only made Third Team.

Hee, hee.

[ShelC]

along those lines, Big Ben once said there was no big secret to his great rebounding numbers:

he anticipated every shot as a miss ( either team, any player)

Good philosophy. Going back to Rodman, i think i once read that he actually watched tapes of players, including his own teammates, and watched how they shot the ball, what kind of spin they got, where they normally shot the ball from to determine where it would come off the rim, etc.

[LazarusLong]

More on all-Suns' teams ...

If there was an all gym-rat team, Jeff Hornacek would have been captain.

Ricky Sobers and Don Buse would have been ranked high on all defensive teams.

"Swiss-Army-Knife" Awards for playing multiple positions would go to Mike Sanders and Alvin " 'Bone" Scott.

[harry_pair]

along those lines, Big Ben once said there was no big secret to his great rebounding numbers:

he anticipated every shot as a miss ( either team, any player)

Good philosophy. Going back to Rodman, i think i once read that he actually watched tapes of players, including his own teammates, and watched how they shot the ball, what kind of spin they got, where they normally shot the ball from to determine where it would come off the rim, etc.

good stuff.

rodman said this when he played for the bulls. he actually studied the way the ball would bounce off the rim whenever jordan and pippen would shoot, and found that their shots would go to the right whenever they missed.

talk about a missing link for this team.

[FrontRowSun]

Kyle Korver was traded to the Jazz for Giricek, & a 1st rounder.

Korver's contract is awful, not banks awful, but still pretty bad, but he should help the Jazz. Nice little move for them


zzzzzzzzzz are we flashing back like 4 days?

:cry: I work retail. This was news to me.


My bad.

[scosuns]

Good philosophy. Going back to Rodman, i think i once read that he actually watched tapes of players, including his own teammates, and watched how they shot the ball, what kind of spin they got, where they normally shot the ball from to determine where it would come off the rim, etc.

If only we had that kind of dedication... IMO, guys who are having trouble should adjust a little bit. I think since Boris is having trouble with his shot(and everything else), he should try to focus on the boards. He really hasn't been affecting us either way. We need more boards, bottom line. Come playoff time, a lack of rebounds can hurt us.

[SpecialSauce]

Kyle Korver was traded to the Jazz for Giricek, & a 1st rounder.

Korver's contract is awful, not banks awful, but still pretty bad, but he should help the Jazz. Nice little move for them


zzzzzzzzzz are we flashing back like 4 days?

:cry: I work retail. This was news to me.


My bad.

lol sorry I definitely came off as a dick, I was just giving you a hard time.