Saturday's News: The best place to hide something is right under your nose.....

[SwingMan]

D'Antoni: Off with their head(band)s! (http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0104sunsnb0105.html)

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/pics/0104sunsinside.jpg
Amaré Stoudemire and the Suns wore orange headbands for a retro celebration Thursday against Seattle.

Doug Haller
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 4, 2008 10:45 PM

A day after his team scored 13 points in the first quarter against the struggling Seattle SuperSonics, Mike D'Antoni recommended significant changes, starting at the top.

"Our offense was so bad it was mind-boggling," the Suns coach said. "I really think it was the headbands. We're going without them. Whoever made that decision should be fired."

Managing Partner Robert Sarver wasn't at Friday's practice, but that may have just been a coincidence. The Suns wore orange headbands for a retro celebration Thursday, but D'Antoni said he told his team to ditch them after the first quarter, so fans shouldn't expect a repeat fashion show Saturday against the Hornets at US Airways Center.
http://www.azcentral.com/imgs/clear.gifhttp://www.azcentral.com/imgs/clear.gif

In related news, the NBA suspended Knicks forward Zack Randolph one game for throwing his headband at an official.

"We just haven't been sharp," D'Antoni said, seriously. "Our offense has been sputtering a little. It's not bad, obviously. We're still Number 1 in the league (109.18 points per game), but we haven't been as sharp as we have in past years. We're playing better defense. We're doing a lot better things; it's just our offense is up and down."

The Suns still are shooting 49.1 percent, best in the league. Shot selection, D'Antoni said, isn't the problem.

"Wide open is wide open," he said. "We don't take a whole lot of contested shots; we just haven't been able to consistently knock them down, but we will."

Hill hurting

Grant Hill sat out Friday's practice, recovering from a bruised tailbone suffered vs. the Lakers on Christmas Day.

"(Thursday) night it bothered him a little, but he'll be fine (Saturday)," D'Antoni said. "He takes a couple shots (to his body) every game . . . but he's fine."

Saturday's game

Hornets at Suns
When: 7 p.m.
Where: US Airways Center.
TV/radio: FSNAZ/KTAR-AM (620).

New Orleans update: The Hornets (21-11) trail San Antonio by one game in the Southwest Division. New Orleans beat Phoenix 101-98 at home Dec. 15. Chris Paul is the Western Conference Player of the Month for December. Paul averaged 24.5 points, 10.4 assists and a league-high 3.0 steals during the span. David West averages 19.3 points, and has led New Orleans in scoring four consecutive games. Tyson Chandler collects 11.5 points and 11.9 rebounds per game.

[JediSkywalker]

Dantoni will make Hill play even when he is hurting and could lose him for several weeks.

[Split_T's]

It's just a bruised tailbone. I dont think you can worsen that injury by playing.

[Mori_Chu]

The sense I get with this team is, if they get their shit together, they will be the best Nash-era Suns team and will have a great shot at the title. I mean, we are clearly not playing our best, there are a million little mistakes and frustrations and several players playing under expectations ... and we still have a great record and the league's best offense. What would it be like if we really got in high gear and started playing the way we are capable of playing? Scary stuff.

[zara_drummer]

The sense I get with this team is, if they get their shit together, they will be the best Nash-era Suns team and will have a great shot at the title. I mean, we are clearly not playing our best, there are a million little mistakes and frustrations and several players playing under expectations ... and we still have a great record and the league's best offense. What would it be like if we really got in high gear and started playing the way we are capable of playing? Scary stuff.

You nailed it Mori!!

Thats the scariest part about this team...They aren't even trying their hardest yet they have the best record in the west...one of the, if not the best road record...lead the league in scoring and FG% yet we have a quandry of issues with this team....

You think the Spurs fans are worried like we are about our team?? I think they have some legitamate concerns...especially when it comes to the health of their better players...Already Manu and Parker have missed signifigant amounts of time...They just arent the same without Parker...Much like we are without Nash..BUT...they dont have a Grant Hill type of player.

This next stretch of games will be interesting...especially against NO and Denver....

After watching that game against the Sonics the other nite...I got a sense that this team is starting to figure things out. Ya they got down big in the 1st. It just seems like they toyed with the Sonics the whole rest of the game. Once we took the lead they weren't a threat...Granted it should never have been that close but thats why they play the games.

[SwingMan]

Remembering the 'Pistol' (http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0105pistol0105.html)
Pete Maravich took the NBA to a new level with scoring, creativity

Doug Haller
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 5, 2008 12:00 AM

He died 20 years ago today, a prolific scorer and creative passer who collapsed while playing pickup basketball, his heart giving out at age 40.

"Pistol" Pete Maravich, one of the great scorers in basketball history, played 10 NBA seasons, half of them in New Orleans, whose team, the Hornets, meets the Suns tonight at US Airways Center.

"I could tell you to this day, he's the only player that I've seen that I would pay to see play," Hall of Fame center Bob Lanier said. "He was just phenomenally ahead of his time."Raised by his father to change basketball, Maravich brought flair seldom seen. He was "Showtime" before Magic Johnson, throwing passes behind his back, flipping in shots over his head, blurring the line between flash and creativity.
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In college, he set scoring records that may never be touched, averaging 44.2 points a game over three years at Louisiana State. In the NBA, Maravich blossomed into a five-time All-Star, averaging 24.2 points over his career. In 1996, he was named to the league's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.

"I modeled myself after him, (and) he was only a couple years older than me," said Suns coach Mike D'Antoni, who played parts of four seasons in the NBA before taking his game to Italy. "He was so far ahead of the game as far as ballhanding and creativeness. Back then it was like, 'Oh, that's showboating.' No, he took the game to another level."

Once-in-a-lifetime player

It wasn't as easy as he often made it look. The No. 3 pick of the 1970 draft, Maravich spent four seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, none of them satisfying. Teammates resented his $1.5 million contract, then among the richer deals in basketball. They didn't appreciate his shot selection. They thought he received special treatment.

"He came in at a tough time," former teammate and Houston Rockets coach Rick Adelman said. "He was drafted by Atlanta, which was an extremely good team. They had a set lineup, and here was this big draft pick they brought in. He had a lot of pressure on him."

In 1974, the Hawks traded Maravich for what turned out to be eight players to the New Orleans Jazz, an expansion franchise looking to attract fans. The Jazz never won more than 38 games their first three seasons, but Maravich flourished - at least on the court.

"To see him come down the floor and go up in the air and shoot a left-handed running hook, you'd say, 'How did he even think about doing that?' " former teammate Bud Stallworth said. "Because back then you just had layups and jump shots, but Pistol was finger rolling, (putting) English off the top of the backboard; he had it all."

Maravich scored a career-high 68 points against the Knicks on Feb. 25, 1977. Three weeks later, five New Orleans players were injured in an afternoon taxi accident at Third Street and McDowell in Phoenix, leaving only seven to face the Suns that night. It didn't matter. Maravich scored 10 points in the first quarter, 14 in the second, 11 in the third.

"We couldn't stop him," former Suns coach John MacLeod said. "We double-teamed him. Tried to prevent him from getting the ball. Nothing worked."

Maravich finished with 51 points, a Coliseum record. He made 21 of 34 shots and 9 of 10 free throws to record his ninth 40-plus scoring game of the season.

"That night," said Alvan Adams, then a forward with the Suns, "Pistol Pete beat an NBA team all by himself."

Maravich led the NBA in scoring that season. He played two more seasons in New Orleans/Utah, injuring his knee, before the Jazz waived him. Maravich signed with Boston in 1980, playing alongside Larry Bird, helping the Celtics advance to the Eastern Conference finals.

Legacy of a star

He quit the next season, upset that he couldn't crack Boston's starting lineup. One of the game's great playmakers and scorers walked away without a championship. To some, that made sense.

"All those things that made him a great player, they were also his curse," former Suns guard and coach Paul Westphal said. "It was hard for him to blend his game with other players. He had been groomed to see how many points he could score rather than how many games he could win. That's the enigma of Pete Maravich."

In retirement, Maravich tried to find peace. He had grown up under intense media and internal pressure. His mother had suffered from depression, ultimately killing herself. All Maravich knew was basketball, and despite his accomplishments he said later that it never filled the void in his life.

He studied yoga, Hinduism and even UFOs before giving his life to Jesus Christ. He traveled the country telling his story, once confiding in Westphal that for so many years he had been "a lost soul."

Today, his impact is present at most levels. Maravich didn't invent the no-look pass, but his talent planted seeds for future showmanship. It's hard to watch an NBA fast break without witnessing some sort of Maravich hand-me-down.

"We're all doing things he did first," Suns guard Steve Nash said.

Suns assistant coach Alvin Gentry said Maravich would be the game's most popular player had he played today. Adelman, the Rockets coach, said Maravich would've loved the tempo and spacing, especially out West.

"I would've liked to have seen him play on this Phoenix team," he said.

It's a sweet vision, Maravich thriving in D'Antoni's system, pushing the pace, launching 3-pointers with no consideration for the 24-second shot clock.

Jerry Colangelo said he never tried to sign or trade for Maravich, but the former Phoenix general manager didn't hesitate when asked how the Pistol would have fared with this year's Suns.

"Maravich," he said, "would've fit like a glove."

[Nate]

The Suns are leading the Western Conference again, but for much of the season lots and lots of criticism has been directed at the coaching staff. One of the main points of the criticists for years now is the minute distribution, especially the alleged overplaying of the teams heart and soul, Steve Nash. Following, I have compiled a list of the better point guards in the league and their average playing time for this season, just to get a better understanding what the norm is for point guards in the league and whether the ongoing criticism in this regard is warranted. Judge for yourself:

A. Iverson 41.4 min
B. Davis 39.2 min
C. Paul 37.5 min
J. Kidd 37.5 min
D. Williams 37.2 min
A. Miller 36.2 min
T. Parker 34.5 min
S. Nash 34.5 min
C. Billups 33.3 min
D. Harris 31 min

[SwingMan]

The Suns are leading the Western Conference again, but for much of the season lots and lots of criticism has been directed at the coaching staff. One of the main points of the criticists for years now is the minute distribution, especially the alleged overplaying of the teams heart and soul, Steve Nash. Following, I have compiled a list of the better point guards in the league and their average playing time for this season, just to get a better understanding what the norm is for point guards in the league and whether the ongoing criticism in this regard is warranted. Judge for yourself:

A. Iverson 41.4 min
B. Davis 39.2 min
C. Paul 37.5 min
J. Kidd 37.5 min
D. Williams 37.2 min
A. Miller 36.2 min
T. Parker 34.5 min
S. Nash 34.5 min
C. Billups 33.3 min
D. Harris 31 min

Not to purposely bag on your figures Nate, but how many of the above are playing with what are, essentially, cracked vertibrae?

[Nate]

There were numerous comments dating back to last season from D'Antoni and Nash himself that it is easier for him to continue playing instead of sitting longer, getting cold and having to come back into the game. You can disregard this all that you want, but why should Nash not tell the true. That statement even makes sense. What doesnt is all the crying about minutes played when the Suns have exactly one player in the top 55 in minutes played in the NBA.

[UOducks4life]

Long Live Pistol Pete!!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Y5KAaercTI

[ShelC]

Im not really worried abbout Nash as much this season. From what ive seen, hes moving well, doesnt seem to be getting beaten up a whole lot this season and probably doesnt have to carry the load as much as before. Also, with the kind of shape hes in he can handle 34-35mpg. Its when you see those string of playoff games where hes playing 38-40mpg and getting roughed that you get worried. But that comes with the territory i guess.

To be honest, im probably more concerned about Raja and Hill playing as many minutes as they have been on some nights. The wear and tear on Raja is well documented, as is Hills medical history.

[ethan_cohen]

I think Boston has the biggest risk right now. Allen and Pierce are each logging 38 min/game and neither has gone deep in the playoffs before. Pierce and Allen both missed a ton of games last year. At their respective ages, that's scary. Garnett's right behind at 35 min/game. Any one of those guys goes down and they're done.

Also, Nash isn't injury prone like Baron Davis or Iverson and those guys are logging 40+ minutes per night.

And, Swing, not to purposely bag on your post, but how many minutes would you be happy with? Should he be under 30 now? He's always had a "cracked vertebrae". It's the reason Cuban didn't re-sign him. He was wrong. It hasn't hindered him and 34 minutes is already well below the average for MVP type players.

Is 32 OK? Let's say it is, for argument's sake. That's 22 minutes per game or 100 minutes in the remaining season. Are you seriously arguing that 100 minutes spread over the next three months of the season is worth getting upset about?

Just to be obtuse, let's follow the argument to its logical conclusion. What's at stake is home court advantage throughout the playoffs. Trading wins for rest means more travel in the post season. That's hours spent on the planes, hotel beds and travel time all of which will take a much bigger toll on his creaky back than the 2 minutes or so you want us to shave off.

C'mon, man. That just doesn't make any sense.

[v9]

And, Swing, not to purposely bag on your post, but how many minutes would you be happy with? Should he be under 30 now? He's always had a "cracked vertebrae". It's the reason Cuban didn't re-sign him. He was wrong. It hasn't hindered him and 34 minutes is already well below the average for MVP type players.

Is 32 OK? Let's say it is, for argument's sake. That's 22 minutes per game or 100 minutes in the remaining season. Are you seriously arguing that 100 minutes spread over the next three months of the season is worth getting upset about?

Just to be obtuse, let's follow the argument to its logical conclusion. What's at stake is home court advantage throughout the playoffs. Trading wins for rest means more travel in the post season. That's hours spent on the planes, hotel beds and travel time all of which will take a much bigger toll on his creaky back than the 2 minutes or so you want us to shave off.

C'mon, man. That just doesn't make any sense.

34 minutes may very well be different than 32 minutes.

The vast majority of sports injuries occur in two situations:

- When an athlete is not warmed up

- When an athlete is tired; for instance, most ski injuries occur on the last run of the day.

Assuming that Nash is careful about warming up, he's most likely to get injured towards the end of a game.

I have little problem with an AVERAGE of 34 minutes played. What I'm more worried about are games where his minutes spike up past 40 mpg (or back-to-back games). That being said, I think that the coaching staff is aware of the situation, and is doing a better job of managing Nash's minutes than they did in previous years.

Agree with Shel that Grant Hill's minutes need better monitoring...he's playing too many meaningless minutes towards the end of blowout wins and losses. Not to mention that Raja needs to rest in the worst possible way.

[INFORMER]

To be honest, im probably more concerned about Raja and Hill playing as many minutes as they have been on some nights. The wear and tear on Raja is well documented, as is Hills medical history.

Agreed.


Allen and Pierce are each logging 38 min/game and neither has gone deep in the playoffs before.

That's not even close to being true.


What's at stake is home court advantage throughout the playoffs.

Home court advantage is overrated.

[INFORMER]

The sense I get with this team is, if they get their shit together, they will be the best Nash-era Suns team and will have a great shot at the title. I mean, we are clearly not playing our best, there are a million little mistakes and frustrations and several players playing under expectations ... and we still have a great record and the league's best offense. What would it be like if we really got in high gear and started playing the way we are capable of playing? Scary stuff.

Great post.

[misteradiant]

i concur.

[AlanS]

From the "Another day, more killer minutes versus a bottom feeder" file:

• Last night in San Antonio, the Spurs beat the lowly Knicks by just 4 pts. Bowen played 41 minutes, Duncan and Parker played 37 minutes.

• The Mavs beat the lowly Heat by just 5 pts, in Dallas. The Heat, who were without Shaq, Wade, and starting PG Jason Williams, had a 3 pt lead to start the 4th qtr. The refs missed a foul call that would have put Ricky Davis on the line near the end that would have made the game even closer. Josh Howard played 38 minutes, Nowitzki 37.

Maybe this is a minor flu-like bug that is affecting some top teams in the early part of January. Hopefully this little exposure the Suns got will inoculate them from future occurrences. Hopefully.

[AlanS]

The website dougstats.com provides info and rankings for NBA teams' performance in their last 10 games. Some factoids of interest from http://www.dougstats.com/07-08TeamsLF.html

Team Scoring - last 10 games
1 GSWarriors 108.1
2 LALakers 107.3
3 PhoenixSuns 106.6
4 DenverNuggets 105.2

Team Offensive FG Pct - last 10 games
1 UtahJazz 0.496
2 PhoenixSuns 0.483
3 LALakers 0.482
4 DetroitPistons 0.480

Team Defensive FG Pct - last 10 games
1 BostonCeltics 0.418
2 PhoenixSuns 0.421
3 DetroitPistons 0.423
4 HoustonRockets 0.428

Team 3 Pt. Pct - last 10 games
1 DetroitPistons 0.442
2 UtahJazz 0.412
3 BostonCeltics 0.404
4 CharlotteBobcats 0.398
***
9 PhoenixSuns 0.371

Team FT Pct - last 10 games
1 DallasMavericks 0.813
2 NOrleansHornets 0.809
3 DetroitPistons 0.802
4 WashingtonWizards 0.789
***
14 PhoenixSuns 0.752

Team Rebounding Difference - last 10 games
1 NJNets 4.6
2 SanAntonioSpurs 4.5
3 NOrleansHornets 4.0
4 NYKnicks 3.2
***
29 GSWarriors -5.6
30 PhoenixSuns -6.4

Team Blocked Shots - last 10 games
1 DenverNuggets 9.10
2 PhoenixSuns 8.80
3 HoustonRockets 6.00
4 ChicagoBulls 5.90

[ShelC]

Our FT percentage really bothers me. I cant stand seeing our guys make 1 of 2 so often.

[SwingMan]

There were numerous comments dating back to last season from D'Antoni and Nash himself that it is easier for him to continue playing instead of sitting longer, getting cold and having to come back into the game. You can disregard this all that you want, but why should Nash not tell the true. That statement even makes sense. What doesnt is all the crying about minutes played when the Suns have exactly one player in the top 55 in minutes played in the NBA.


I think Boston has the biggest risk right now. Allen and Pierce are each logging 38 min/game and neither has gone deep in the playoffs before. Pierce and Allen both missed a ton of games last year. At their respective ages, that's scary. Garnett's right behind at 35 min/game. Any one of those guys goes down and they're done.

Also, Nash isn't injury prone like Baron Davis or Iverson and those guys are logging 40+ minutes per night.

And, Swing, not to purposely bag on your post, but how many minutes would you be happy with? Should he be under 30 now? He's always had a "cracked vertebrae". It's the reason Cuban didn't re-sign him. He was wrong. It hasn't hindered him and 34 minutes is already well below the average for MVP type players.

Is 32 OK? Let's say it is, for argument's sake. That's 22 minutes per game or 100 minutes in the remaining season. Are you seriously arguing that 100 minutes spread over the next three months of the season is worth getting upset about?

Just to be obtuse, let's follow the argument to its logical conclusion. What's at stake is home court advantage throughout the playoffs. Trading wins for rest means more travel in the post season. That's hours spent on the planes, hotel beds and travel time all of which will take a much bigger toll on his creaky back than the 2 minutes or so you want us to shave off.

C'mon, man. That just doesn't make any sense.

Just saying that you've gotta treat a man with a broken back with kid gloves is all - don't you two even start to think I'm a fucking nut for using common sense.

Wait - this is the new millenium..... :roll:

[misteradiant]

From the "Another day, more killer minutes versus a bottom feeder" file:

• Last night in San Antonio, the Spurs beat the lowly Knicks by just 4 pts. Bowen played 41 minutes, Duncan and Parker played 37 minutes.

• The Mavs beat the lowly Heat by just 5 pts, in Dallas. The Heat, who were without Shaq, Wade, and starting PG Jason Williams, had a 3 pt lead to start the 4th qtr. The refs missed a foul call that would have put Ricky Davis on the line near the end that would have made the game even closer. Josh Howard played 38 minutes, Nowitzki 37.

i noticed these stats reading the paper this morn and thought "ha! take that, poetic justice!" we're playing our guys less than our main rivals are playing theirs.

we're #1 in the west and look at our home vs. away games. who has played as many away games as us? nobody in the west.

but detroit? 13-5 on the road.

and just for good measure, and because i'm on my 36th ounce of beer, fuck the lakers.

[misteradiant]

Our FT percentage really bothers me. I cant stand seeing our guys make 1 of 2 so often.

agreed. it's not like the suns to suck so bad from the freebie line. leandro and shawn have especially sucked.

[misteradiant]

whoo-hoo! i am on a "distiguished road!" thanks everybody! now i feel like a big man.

[Wormwood]

Suns plan to stand pat
Comments 2| Recommend 2
Jerry Brown, Tribune
Ask fans and analysts what the Suns need and you’ll get a variety of responses. Some scream Phoenix is short a big man to cover Amaré Stoudemire’s defensive deficiencies.

Others want to add another outside shooter (the departed James Jones leads the NBA in 3-point shooting with Portland) or make the annual request for a backup to Steve Nash at the point.

But after spending the past several weeks closely examining their cards and measuring their stacks against the rest of the title contenders — with the luxury tax chip also playing a major role — anyone waiting for that deadline trade or veteran signing to bolster Phoenix’s ranks shouldn’t hold their breath.

A source within the brain trust said the decision has been made: With 23 wins in the first 32 games, the Suns will stand pat and play the hand they’ve been dealt.

That means no rugged vets like P.J. Brown coming in off the couch. No deals for a sharpshooter like Gordan Giricek or Kyle Korver — two players the Suns coveted who were swapped for each other last week.

No understudy to spell Nash.

Would the Suns like to tweak things a bit? Sure. But they don’t have an expiring contract on the bench or an intriguing, reasonably priced player to dangle in a deal. The roster is made up of untouchable core players, untradeable contracts and players at or near minimum salary that don’t help get trades done.

And with any free-agent addition costing twice the going rate thanks to the luxury tax, simply adding payroll is not an option that interests ownership.

So any improvement will have to come from within.

Raja Bell (35 percent from 3-point range) and Leandro Barbosa (36.6 percent) need to regain their outside shooting touch and get closer to their 41 percent career averages. The Suns averaged 9.6 3-pointers per game last season, a number that is down to 8.3 this season.
Stoudemire needs to maintain his current torrid offensive run, which has him averaging 30.8 points, 13.3 rebounds and a boatload of oohs and ahs during this recent four-game winning streak over Western Conference bottom feeders.

Stoudemire’s play has been more about a soft spot in the schedule. His energy and activity on both ends and more dominant moves around the basket have shown the way for the Suns, who are otherwise still not playing with their usual sharpness. As a result, the ball is finding him more and in better position.

Whether it’s going all out in practice, attacking his off-court work with a renewed vigor or backing up his own tough talk with actions, the Suns are riding his back to wins.

“I want to get to my full potential,” Stoudemire said after a 34-point, 11-rebound effort against the Sonics Thursday night. “Due to the injuries and minor setbacks, at the start of the season I started off a little slow. I missed preseason and wasn’t quite as healthy as I wanted to be for the first 15 or 20 games. But now I’m starting to feel better, my legs are back, my conditioning level is where it should be and I should go higher from there.”

The caliber of opposing centers will also spike upward. Tyson Chandler and New Orleans visit tonight, followed by Marcus Camby and Denver on Monday and Jermaine O’Neal of Indiana on Wednesday.

“He’s been unbelievable, and that’s a level that we are accustomed to, so sometimes you aren’t as impressed as you should be,” Phoenix coach Mike D’Antoni said of Stoudemire. “If he sustains this energy level, he can be a pretty good defender, and if he does that he becomes an MVP-caliber player because he’s one of the best finishers in the game.”

At least the Suns are doing a great job of getting to the free-throw line — they have taken five more than their foes this year, as opposed to 75 less last year — but have already missed 165 free throws (.769) and are under 60 percent in the fourth quarter, a bad playoff omen.

“We just haven’t rounded into shape. I think we’ll iron all that out, I really do,” D’Antoni said.

Throw in the usual bugaboos, defense, rebounding and a penchant for playing to the level of their opponent, and 23-9 fits the Suns just fine heading into a run of opponents that features the Hornets, Denver and Utah before they get another shot at the Lakers in Los Angeles on Jan. 17.

Hornets at Suns
When: 7 p.m. today
Where: US Airways Center
TV: Fox Sports Arizona
Records: Hornets 21-11 (through Thursday); Suns 23-9
Series history: The Suns lead the overall series 28-17 and have won 11 of the last 13 meetings. But the Hornets won the only matchup so far this season, 101-98 in New Orleans on Dec. 15.

Scouting report:
Hornets — New Orleans had won six of seven games overall and was looking for a fifth straight road win Friday in Golden State. Injury-plagued at this point last season, the Hornets were 12-20 in Oklahoma City, but are now in position to give the franchise its first winning season since 2002-03 back in Charlotte. They rank fourth in the league in points allowed at 92.5 a game but will face a tough physical test with the Warriors and Suns on back-to-back nights. The Hornets have cleaned up against losing teams (17-3) but are 4-8 against teams that were .500 or better at the time.

Suns — Phoenix has won four straight but the competition (Clippers twice, Sacramento and Seattle) hasn’t been stiff. Speaking of stiff, Grant Hill sat out practice after landing hard on his tailbone in Thursday’s win over the Sonics, but said he expects to make his 33rd straight start tonight. The Suns outrebounded Seattle — the No.1 rebounding team in the NBA — by a 39-31 margin over the final three quarters Thursday, when they outscored the Sonics 91-63. A win tonight would give the Suns their third five-game winning streak just 33 games into the season.

Well, this indicates that we're not going to do anything at all. Hope it doesn't lead to us doing something stupid, though. If Mighty Mouse got cut, I sure would like to take a look.

Saying we're standing pat, and then ignoring a cheap half season rental that could put us over the top because we're being inflexible for the sake of being inflexible would really bother me.

[misteradiant]

regarding the first half of that article: no shit. isn't that what i've been saying for two months?

yes, it is.

go ahead, make a trade scenario post. see if i care.

[AlanS]

Some more 10 game stats

Suns scoring, last 10 games
1 Stoudemire 24.6 ppg
2 Marion 15.9
3 Hill 15.7
4 Barbosa 15.3
5 Nash 15.1
6 Bell 8.9
7 Banks 7.0
8 Diaw 6.3
9 Skinner 3.4

Suns minutes, last 10 games
1 Marion 36.1
2 Bell 34.6
3 Stoudemire 33.9
4 Nash 33.8
5 Hill 32.5
6 Barbosa 28.3
7 Diaw 23.4
8 Skinner 15.8
9 Banks 13.0 (in 3 games)

Suns FG%, last 10 games
1 Stoudemire .581
2 Marion .565
3 Nash .500
4 Hill .496
5 Skinner .452
6 Barbosa .449
7 Banks .412
8 Bell .349
9 Diaw .342

Suns 3PT - Total 3PM/3PA, last 10 games
1 Nash 19/40 (0.475)
2 Marion 13/28 (0.464)
3 Barbosa 22/49 (0.449)
4 Banks 4/9 (0.444)
5 Stoudemire 1/3 (0.333)
6 Bell 11/49 (0.224)
7 Hill 2/12 (0.167)
8 Diaw 0/3 (0)

Other last 10 game stats of interest:
• Suns have averaged 7.2 3PM, while shooting 37.1% from the arc. Opponents are averaging 4.5 3PM, and shooting 29.2% on 3s.

• Suns averaged 8.8 blocks, vs 4.2 blks for opponents.

• Suns averaged 9.1 offensive rebounds, vs 15.5 off reb for opponents.

• Suns averaged 12.1 turnovers, vs 11.7 TOs for opponents.

[AlanS]

“I want to get to my full potential,” Stoudemire said after a 34-point, 11-rebound effort against the Sonics Thursday night. “Due to the injuries and minor setbacks, at the start of the season I started off a little slow. I missed preseason and wasn’t quite as healthy as I wanted to be for the first 15 or 20 games. But now I’m starting to feel better, my legs are back, my conditioning level is where it should be and I should go higher from there.”

This is something I pointed to in an earlier post. Amare's has been able to play at full potential due to health reasons. Now that he seems well and fit, we are seeing the guy who was 1st Team All NBA. Sometimes all it takes is patience.


Saying we're standing pat, and then ignoring a cheap half season rental that could put us over the top because we're being inflexible for the sake of being inflexible would really bother me.

If a truly cheap half season rental (like the Sonics waiving KT) comes along, I'm sure the Suns will go after it. But that's a big IF at this point.

[ethan_cohen]

Inf-

Of course it's true. They rank 19th and 20th in the LEAGUE in min. at 38/game. And neither has played in a championship series. So I suppose you're playing semantics with the word deep. It ignores the point.

[ethan_cohen]

Swing,
I just think you're being over cautious. That's all.

[Wormwood]

“I want to get to my full potential,” Stoudemire said after a 34-point, 11-rebound effort against the Sonics Thursday night. “Due to the injuries and minor setbacks, at the start of the season I started off a little slow. I missed preseason and wasn’t quite as healthy as I wanted to be for the first 15 or 20 games. But now I’m starting to feel better, my legs are back, my conditioning level is where it should be and I should go higher from there.”

This is something I pointed to in an earlier post. Amare's has been able to play at full potential due to health reasons. Now that he seems well and fit, we are seeing the guy who was 1st Team All NBA. Sometimes all it takes is patience.


Saying we're standing pat, and then ignoring a cheap half season rental that could put us over the top because we're being inflexible for the sake of being inflexible would really bother me.

If a truly cheap half season rental (like the Sonics waiving KT) comes along, I'm sure the Suns will go after it. But that's a big IF at this point.

I sure hope you're right AlanS. This FO is perplexing at times. Sarver's definitely got an ego (i.e. firing a security guard who didn't know his face), and I could see him saying "I made a decision, and that's final. I've spent all I'm going to spend." regardless of what player is released, or how they could help us. SOrt of like my kids deciding they won't eat their veggies, without having even tried them. It's a matter of pride. I said I won't, and nothing will change that. I could see a battle of wills between Kerr, D'Antoni, and Sarver at some point in a situation like this.

[AlanS]

Also, Nash isn't injury prone like Baron Davis or Iverson and those guys are logging 40+ minutes per night.

And, Swing, not to purposely bag on your post, but how many minutes would you be happy with? Should he be under 30 now? He's always had a "cracked vertebrae". It's the reason Cuban didn't re-sign him. He was wrong. It hasn't hindered him and 34 minutes is already well below the average for MVP type players.

Is 32 OK? Let's say it is, for argument's sake. That's 22 minutes per game or 100 minutes in the remaining season. Are you seriously arguing that 100 minutes spread over the next three months of the season is worth getting upset about?

Just saying that you've gotta treat a man with a broken back with kid gloves is all - don't you two even start to think I'm a fucking nut for using common sense.

Wait - this is the new millenium..... :roll:

I see the point Ethan is making. I think we ALL want Nash to play as few minutes as possible. But there are two questions to ask:

• At what particular minutes per game do you say "this is too much"? As a fan watching from the outside, I don't know the answer to that.

• Are fans, coaches, management willing to accept more losses, so that we can treat Nash with kid gloves? The answer to that, obviously to me, is no. I'm sure D'Antoni would like to play Nash less, but he can't take the losses (and pressure from the fans, GM, owner) that would result.


Of course it's true. They rank 19th and 20th in the LEAGUE in min. at 38/game. And neither has played in a championship series. So I suppose you're playing semantics with the word deep. It ignores the point.

Just my opinion, but going to the Conference Finals IS equal to going deep into the playoffs. And both guys have been to Conference Finals at least once.

[EDC]

Amare doesn't have problems scoring on better centers. He just needs to get the ball early so he can put them in foul trouble before they put him in foul trouble. Hopefully tonight we see them go to him early. Coach D doesn't see it that way though. Hopefully the guards throw him the ball.

[AlanS]

I could see a battle of wills between Kerr, D'Antoni, and Sarver at some point in a situation like this.

If it's a battle of wills, then the guy who signs the checks will always win.:wink:

But I don't think Sarver is totally inflexible. The Suns ARE paying luxury tax this season, some people said he'd never do that. But I don't think an extra $1M in payroll (from salary and tax combined) is a deal killer for Sarver, if it REALLY looks like it will help the Suns chances of going all the way. Buy it wouldn't be much more $$ than that.

[SwingMan]

Swing,
I just think you're being over cautious. That's all.

Leave nothing to chance.

Where luck is concerned, the only sure bet is that this franchise has none.....

[INFORMER]

Inf-

Of course it's true. They rank 19th and 20th in the LEAGUE in min. at 38/game. And neither has played in a championship series. So I suppose you're playing semantics with the word deep. It ignores the point.

Sorry, I just don't see how it's relevant. Suppose they had made it to the "championship series" before, and held up. Does that meant they won't breakdown now? That would be a silly assumption, as would to assume not playing that deep is going to hurt them. One could just as easily say that is less tread off the tire.

[ethan_cohen]

They've each been once and lost handily. And it's been years. Allen played for Mil. and Pierce hasn't been since 2001. And that argument still doesn't address their minutes or ages.

But, again, that's debating semantics rather than the point which is, if any team is overplaying they're starters and painfully thin at the bench for replacements, it's Boston.

[SwingMan]

Amare doesn't have problems scoring on better centers. He just needs to get the ball early so he can put them in foul trouble before they put him in foul trouble. Hopefully tonight we see them go to him early. Coach D doesn't see it that way though. Hopefully the guards throw him the ball.

When I was more of a pessimistic cynic, that used to be my golden rule: "Do unto others as they would do unto you, only do it first"

[EDC]

The minutes this year haven't been too bad. I wouldn't mind seeing em lower but only because that would give our bench a little more time in the game. It would be nice to let some of the players have a chance to get some minutes.

[desertcoast]

Swing,
I just think you're being over cautious. That's all.

Leave nothing to chance.

Where luck is concerned, the only sure bet is that this franchise has none.....

when it comes to winning rings, I'll give you that.

But no luck at all?

We've got 3 All Stars that fell between 9 and 15 in the draft.
We've had a few moments...( but that coin toss...now that was bad luck :wink:)

[ethan_cohen]

Inf-

Of course it's true. They rank 19th and 20th in the LEAGUE in min. at 38/game. And neither has played in a championship series. So I suppose you're playing semantics with the word deep. It ignores the point.

Sorry, I just don't see how it's relevant. Suppose they had made it to the "championship series" before, and held up. Does that meant they won't breakdown now? That would be a silly assumption, as would to assume not playing that deep is going to hurt them. One could just as easily say that is less tread off the tire.

OK. Maybe it isn't relevant. I think he's being asked to carry a load that his body has never been asked to do before.

The last time Ray Allen went to the ECF he was 25 years old. He's averaging the same number of minutes this year as he did during that season. I think it's relevant because he's never played more than 100 games in a season and he didn't last 56 last season.

Point being, he's too old for 38 min/game. Do you agree with that part?

[ShelC]

The answer to that, obviously to me, is no. I'm sure D'Antoni would like to play Nash less, but he can't take the losses (and pressure from the fans, GM, owner) that would result.

If the organization (MikeD, Kerr, Nash and whatever other players involved) made the conscious choice to lower/limit minutes in order to pace ourselves for the season in the hopes of less wear and tear when the playoffs start, and thus made statements to the media and fans saying so, then i think everyone would be cool. To me, going from 60 wins to 54-55 and a 2 seed to a 3 or 4 seed isnt a huge deal if it means less minutes on our starters and more minutes for Skinner and Banks, or developing DJ or Tucker. It could pay dividends come May. But i think money does come into play. The higher the seed, the greater the chance of more home games in the later rounds which means more revenue. Dont assume thats lost on management.

[ethan_cohen]

If we're really so concerned about wearing Nash out before we get to play San Antonio and we're willing to concede seeding for health, shelve him. Drop to an 8th seed and we'll get San Antonio in the first round, well rested and ready to roll.

[ShelC]

Sounds like a plan to me!

[INFORMER]

The last time Ray Allen went to the ECF he was 25 years old. He's averaging the same number of minutes this year as he did during that season. I think it's relevant because he's never played more than 100 games in a season and he didn't last 56 last season.

Point being, he's too old for 38 min/game. Do you agree with that part?

He may be playing tons of minutes, but sure isn't carrying the same load he's had to in the past, not with KG and Pierce next to him. Nevertheless, if something is wrong with the Celtics, it is Allen. He struggles with his shot at times. Maybe he's wearing down, maybe he just has adjusted to KG and Pierce. I don't know if Allen is too old for that many minutes/game, but I don't think it would be unreasonable to be concerned, from Celtics' POV.

[INFORMER]

Side point: SEVEN teams in the west are have winning percentages of 60 or better. That's a beautiful thing. The East? It's Boston, Detroit, Orlando, and garbage (though the Nets are starting to turn it on now that they have Josh Boone and Sean Williams starting).

[JediSkywalker]

Side point: SEVEN teams in the west are have winning percentages of 60 or better. That's a beautiful thing. The East? It's Boston, Detroit, Orlando, and garbage (though the Nets are starting to turn it on now that they have Josh Boone and Sean Williams starting).


That is why Boston and Detroit have those beautiful winning percentages. They are playing more games against garbage teams while the western teams are destroying each other. Unfortunately no western team has beaten the Celtics yet.

If there is a bright spot somewhere- Atlanta lost again tonight.