Wednesday News: Suns, Nuggets entertain, but defense an afterthought

[sunsdotcom]

Nuggets, Suns entertain, but defense an afterthought
by Charley Rosen
Charley Rosen is FOXSports.com's NBA analyst and author of 13 books about hoops, the current one being "The pivotal season — How the 1971-72 L.A. Lakers changed the NBA."
Updated: April 2, 2008, 1:27 AM EST 11 comments
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GAME TIME: Nuggets 126, Suns 120

This was a must-have game for both teams and, despite the usual shortcomings in the usual places, Phoenix was had in more ways than one.


HOW THE NUGGETS WON

# Even though Denver's interior defense was atrocious, Shaq missed six gimmes.

# Even though Anthony Carter was the only Nugget who played effective defense throughout the game, Marcus Camby made a sensational play in the waning seconds, jumping out to successfully pressure a potential game-tying shot by Steve Nash.

# Even though their free-throw shooting was abominable for most of the game, Carmelo Anthony squeezed in enough of them in the clutch to keep the Suns at bay.

# Even though Camby was 1-for-8 during the initial 47 minutes, he dropped a pair of 18-footers when the game was on the line.

# Even though Denver rarely reversed the ball on offense, or made more than three passes on any given possession, counting buckets, free throws and assists, they tallied a total of 78 points on isolations. Mostly by A.I., 'Melo, and J. R. Smith.

# Denver won because Phoenix could not contain the one-on-one antics of Iverson (31 points), Anthony (25), and Smith (17).

# In other words, the Nuggets won because of their offensive talent and not because of any particular strategy.

# Even though he played only 10 minutes, Nene banged on equal terms with Shaq. Indeed, Nene's physicality, along with the back-to-back games, sapped some of the Big Bully's strength. The Big Fellow was particularly weak at the stripes (2-9), including four straight misses in the endgame.

# Even though Amare Stoudemire had 25 points and 10 rebounds, he also had six turnovers and made several silly mistakes.

# Even though the elbows were flying throughout the game, and several players were blatantly shoved to the floor, Raja Bell (the Suns best defender) was nailed with a second T and banished for grinning too broadly after being whistled for a marginal foul.

# Just a few minutes later, Iverson drove, was hit, and no whistle sounded. Yet A.I. was not penalized in any way when he turned to the nearest ref and said this: "(Bleep) you, man!"

# Even though a screen and three subsequent passes were usually enough to generate open looks for Phoenix, the Suns simply missed too many open shots.

# Even though Nash plunked a critical 3-ball and a long jumper, he also missed a pair of treys that might have changed the outcome. Put down Stoudemire and Leandro Barbosa for likewise misfiring on open jumpers when the game was up for grabs.

The Suns won in Phoenix on Monday, and the Nuggets won in Denver on Tuesday only because somebody always wins and somebody always loses.

So, while the game was important to both teams, and while it was action-packed and totally entertaining, neither of these defenseless ball clubs has the slightest chance to win the championship.

[cap]

# Just a few minutes later, Iverson drove, was hit, and no whistle sounded. Yet A.I. was not penalized in any way when he turned to the nearest ref and said this: "(Bleep) you, man!"

This is stunning. When I was watching it, I was incensed that AI could scream at the ref with no T being called, but I had no idea what it was that he actually said. Now that I know what he said... I don’t know what to say. Raja can get ejected for smiling, but AI can scream “(Bleep) you, man!” at a ref and get nothing.

Fehr must have had money riding on the game. It’s the only way this makes sense.

I know you’re not supposed to protest judgment calls, but this is so blatant that I really think the league needs to review it. The referees indisputably gave preference to one team over the other, and the result of such a game should not be allowed to stand.

[ShelC]

Wheres Charleys article from mondays game?

[DrSublime]

rosen is an a$$ clown

[SpecialSauce]

Ahh Rosen and Hollinger, my 2 least favorite columnists

[harry_pair]

rosen you douche. i'm not even gonna read that article cuz it will only make me insane. has he ever wrote an article after a suns win?

oh thats right, he's under ape arms jacksons' desk, kneeling and bobbing again. i sure would love to take my size 13 shoe and drive it firmly in the face of that jackass.

i'm gonna go get some blood pressure med now...

[CharlesV]

Rosen is the biggest Phil Jackson / Lakers honk around. Of course he would have nothing good to say about the Suns.



He needs to write a piece after we bust their asses in the playoffs again.

[In2ition]

First of all, Rosen would never write about a good game that the Suns had, he always waits for a bad game. Even if he would, he would bad mouth them over and over. It is easy to say that this or that team do not have the slightest chance of winning a championship, since only one does. It takes real balls to come out and say that this team is going to win if they haven't done it before, but you can't accuse him of having those.

Wow, as far as the calls and the techs, I can't figure it out. The entire team seems to do so little, and yet the refs are quick on the whistle for techs. I have seen many, many, many times that the other team would do something outrageous and instead they look the other way or turn their cheek. I remember watching the Lakers play the Mavs on ABC and have seen Kobe repeatedly cuss and use monstrous demonstrations without anything being called against him. Yet, the GG holds Carmelo to keep him from getting a free shot off, and that is a T. Nash walks over the ref calmly and that is a T. Raja smiles at a call and that is a T and an ejection. Amare makes a face or flaps his arms and that is a T. But, AI can blatantly turn to the ref and say, "F*** you, man", and nothing. Then, when Mike is trying to get thrown out as a protest of the atrocious officiating in a praticular game, they won't even acknowledge him, because they know that exactly what and why he is doing it.

[jkalldaway]

HAHAHAHAHA. That last comment from him came from nowhere. The Suns are by far a superior team than the Nuggets. It was a second night of a back to back and a "must have" for the Nuggets while we were without to key players. Oh, and we still almost won. The Lakers lost to Charlotte and Memphis...at home...without two key players, but do they still have the slightest chance to win a championship? I can't wait until we win it this year, and we will, to see what Rosen has to say. Oh wait, he won't write an article until we lose our first game the following year.

[wpmiller42]

The most ridiculous part of last night's game was after Bell's ejection, martin got a dunk and slapped the backboard. That is automatically a technical, just like throwing the ball at the basket support is. There just isn't anything subjective about that. But it was just ignored like every other potential nugget technical last night.

[DrSublime]

ARE WE SURE that time donahue (or however you spell his name) wasnt a ref last night?

[jkalldaway]

Oh please. EVERYONE hits the backboard. In fact, I thought it was allowed in the NBA. Amare does it on his two handers, Dwight Howard does it, Kobe does it, Melo does it, Garnett does it. They never call that, in fact, I can't remember the last time.

[wpmiller42]

Oh please. EVERYONE hits the backboard. In fact, I thought it was allowed in the NBA. Amare does it on his two handers, Dwight Howard does it, Kobe does it, Melo does it, Garnett does it. They never call that, in fact, I can't remember the last time.

I remember! They called a T on Amare for doing it!

[jkalldaway]

I remember them calling a T on Amare for hanging on the rim, it was in Utah and one more time at home I think. But he didn't hit the backboard.

[v9]

# Even though the elbows were flying throughout the game, and several players were blatantly shoved to the floor, Raja Bell (the Suns best defender) was nailed with a second T and banished for grinning too broadly after being whistled for a marginal foul.

# Just a few minutes later, Iverson drove, was hit, and no whistle sounded. Yet A.I. was not penalized in any way when he turned to the nearest ref and said this: "(Bleep) you, man!"

When Rosen says something bad about the calls going against the Suns, you know things are REALLY bad.

[CNY_xplant]

Suns notebook: Technicals starting to pile up
Jerry Brown, Tribune

DENVER - Gordan Giricek said all he was doing was trying to stop a 3-point play. Amaré Stoudemire waved his hands in disgust at a call. Raja Bell swears he was just laughing.

Phoenix runs out of gas in Denver

But it all added up to four more technical fouls for the Suns in Tuesday’s 126-120 loss to the Denver Nuggets, pushing their total to 11 in just the last three games. “It’s been a pretty expensive week,” center Brian Skinner joked.

Make that an expensive six weeks. In the 23 games since Shaquille O’Neal joined the team, Phoenix has been “teed up” 26 times. To a man, they claim this isn’t due to a lack of poise or intelligence, but because NBA officials fail to grasp the depth of the intensity of this wild playoff race.

“We’re fighting as hard as we can,” Phoenix coach Mike D’Antoni said. “Some people have reactions and they call technicals — so be it.

“I wish we wouldn’t get them, but we’re trying to fight and win the Western Conference and sometimes you get heated and it’s emotional. This is not a regular-season game. For (Denver) it’s do or die. For us it’s do or die. And everyone involved has to understand it’s do or die, and sometimes it does get heated.”

Until Tuesday, the techs haven’t hurt the Suns too badly. But losing Bell to ejection with Grant Hill already sidelined by injury left the Suns short-handed at the wings, where the Nuggets are the most lethal.

Stoudemire got his eighth technical foul of the season — six of them coming in that 23-game span. He feels the whistles are coming too quickly.

“It’s like they don’t want you to show any emotion,” he said. “If you show a little emotion or say anything you get a technical, and T’s are a grand ($1,000) apiece. It’s not a cheap foul and we can’t afford to have them.

“I waved my arms and got a tech for it … I don’t know.”

Steve Nash avoided the whistle Tuesday, but he has gotten his share as well.

“Not getting any calls concerns me, not the technicals,” Nash said. “It just feels like the same thing every night, but we keep fighting. (The referees) can’t expect us not to get emotional. It’s an emotional competitive game at this time of year and we don’t feel like we get a break ever, so guys are going to get excited. Guys are out here playing with our heart and soul. This is important to us.”

BACK IN ‘GIRA’

After struggling over the last three games, Gordan Giricek watch Brian Skinner move ahead of him in the rotation Tuesday. But when he got his chance, Giricek upped his production with 13 points on 5-for-6 shooting the first half including three 3-pointers.

He finished with 16 points.

“My biggest problem is sometimes I think too much — that’s my biggest trouble,” he said. “The last three games I have been thinking about mistakes. I have to realize this system is that if I’m open, I have to take the shot. Tonight the shots were going in.”

The Suns also got a lift from Skinner, who hit four of his six shots and contributed nine points and three rebounds in 16 minutes. “My job is to stay ready and I think I work hard to make sure I am ready,” he said. “I was glad to get in there tonight and I’ll be glad the next time.”

D’Antoni indicated Skinner, who had played a total of five minutes in the last five games, wouldn’t have to wait long. “Skinny did a good job and hopefully we can keep using that a little bit,” he said.

WELCOME TO THE CLUB

Dan D’Antoni was surprised to get his first NBA technical foul Monday. His brother was only surprised that it took two years for it to happen.

Complaining about a string of no-calls on Leandro Barbosa drives to the basket with referee Monty McCutchen near the end of the third, Dan D’Antoni tried to continue the conversation with official Zach Zarba when the third quarter ended — only to be hit with a technical foul by McCutchen from about 60 feet away.

“(McCutchen) didn’t know what I was talking about. He guessed,” Dan D’Antoni said. “Now I have to figure out a way to tell my wife about the ($1,000) fine.”

RUNNING ON FUMES

After hitting a career-high eight 3-pointers and producing 36 points against Denver on Monday, Nash said he felt the effects of the altitude and the quick turnaround Tuesday

He took only five shots in the first three quarters, missing four, but dished out 17 assists to pass Suns Ring of Honor member Kevin Johnson (6,711) and take over 16th place on the all-time assists list. Nash now has 6,720.

But in the fourth quarter Nash exploded for 14 of Phoenix’s 25 points, including a pair of three’s that pushed Phoenix into the lead. He missed a chance to put them ahead with another off-balance try in the final 30 seconds.

“Early on I just didn’t feel good and tried to fake my way through it,” he said. “I didn’t have a lot in the tank, but in the fourth the competitiveness takes over.”

It's definitely being put out in the media more about the validity of these technicals and non-calls.

[PHarvey]

I didn't watch the game, so it may not be the case, but from looking at the boxscore, it looks like the refs handed the game to Denver on the freethrow line...

how can there be a difference of only 2 fouls, but a difference of 21 FTA? Something seems a bit odd there... Of course, if the Suns had shot 80% on their FTs, they would have won the game.

The Suns attempted and made more shots in the game, but didn't get to the freethrow line nearly as many times, that's where the difference in the game was.

[lazyboy62]

I didn't see this anywhere. I'm also not sure if its still relevent, but I liked Iavaroni so I thought I would post it. Please get rid of it if its not wanted


One and done for Grizzlies' Iavaroni?
Rookie coach has support, but it's owner Heisley's call
By Ronald Tillery (Contact)
Wednesday, April 2, 2008



Less than a year ago, Marc Iavaroni was highly touted and coveted as the NBA assistant coach most ready to call his own shots. It now appears that the Grizzlies are on the fence about how much longer Iavaroni will keep his first head coaching job.

Interviews with Grizzlies insiders create a picture of a rookie head coach who, while extremely intelligent, passionate and prepared, has underwhelmed in so many aspects of the job that his status is now in question.


Grizzlies coach Marc Iavaroni may very well go from the hottest coaching commodity in the NBA to out the door in a year. No matter what, it's been a rough season for the rookie coach. Steve Yeater Associated Press

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As the Grizzlies (19-55) prepare to face the New York Knicks tonight -- one of eight regular-season games remaining -- sources inside the organization and close to Iavaroni believe it's possible the former Phoenix assistant may not return as Grizzlies head coach next season.

Iavaroni, whose three-year contract pays between $1.2 million and $1.8 million this season, said he has not been told his job performance is under heavy scrutiny, though he admits that the sudden and constant press about his employment status adds to the daily pressures.

"Of course these things are distractions. We're human beings," Iavaroni said. "It makes the challenge greater and it also makes the satisfaction greater when we achieve our goals."

Iavaroni has always indicated that turning around a franchise that owned the NBA's worst record a year ago would take more than one season -- and even more so given the Grizzlies' dramatic changes during this campaign.

"We have to wait until we've finished what we started with the Pau Gasol trade," Iavaroni said. "Everyone was on board with that. We understood that it was going to be a tough time this season. We want to work the plan."

Griz owner Michael Heisley and general manager Chris Wallace said nothing has been decided with regard to Iavaroni. Just like with the players and other members of the organization, he'll be evaluated after the regular season ends April 16.

The critique will surely deal with Iavaroni's decision-making and key relationships throughout the organization.

Managing up

Heisley has communicated with Iavaroni about basketball matters more than he ever did with previous coaches, and their relationship has been more involved.

Heisley signed Iavaroni before the team hired a general manager, and empowered the coach like he had no other. Iavaroni instantly wielded heavy influence with regard to personnel decisions.

Iavaroni immediately raised eyebrows with his abrupt and unexplained dismissal of veteran media relations director Stacey Mitch. The decision reportedly ended with a settlement between Mitch and the organization, and drew Heisley's ire.

There also existed a belief that certain offseason roster additions/subtractions constituted change for comfort more than basketball upgrades.

Iavaroni's decision to waive emerging swingman Tarence Kinsey remains a point of contention for a number of people in the organization.

In fairness, Iavaroni changed the team's toxic culture, inspiring his players with positive reinforcement and on-court freedom.

With Iavaroni's philosophy in place and a healthy roster, the expectation from the top last October was for the Grizzlies to win 30-35 games. Heisley then began to grow more and more dissatisfied with the team's pace as the Grizzlies lost a number of games by three points or less over the first six weeks of the season.

The Grizzlies own the worst record (2-11) among NBA teams in that category.

Issues concerning the team's lineup rotation dogged Iavaroni. His insistence on playing journeyman Casey Jacobsen significant minutes was as wildly unpopular as the decision to keep forward Hakim Warrick out of the rotation.

Iavaroni was eventually instructed from above to stop playing Jacobsen, who saw action because "he is an NBA 3-point shooter," according to Iavaroni.

Iavaroni was eventually instructed to use Warrick, "whose defense and rebounding weren't up to par," according to Iavaroni. That directive happened before Gasol was traded Feb. 1 to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Unpacking Phoenix

Iavaroni arrived with a philosophy that was easy for players to love. He would unpack the Phoenix Suns' free-flowing style of offense in Memphis.

And, indeed, he empowers players to make decisions on the run.

Iavaroni could never be criticized for his work ethic, either. He is described as prepared albeit somewhat inflexible. One of Iavaroni's early assertions was that he would improve the team's defense.

When the team's defensive struggles became more and more apparent, Iavaroni declared he wasn't a zone coach. He now uses zones routinely and the adjustment has helped the Griz become more competitive.

Offensively, there was concern about it being too much of an equal-opportunity system given the team's youth and inexperience at point guard. Players, at different times, appeared confused about what Iavaroni wanted in huddles.

To that end, there is credence to the notion that Iavaroni struggled somewhat with team-building. The Griz never really established an identity amid constant changes from the bench and off the court. Iavaroni is viewed as someone who has tried to figure out how best to win from game to game, which equates to wavering conviction.

Some of that can be blamed on circumstances. And to his credit, Iavaroni has never given up on teaching and he clearly has reached players such as Darko Milicic and Kyle Lowry -- both of whom have developed over the course of this season.

"The goal of all of us, aside from the No. 1 goal of winning games ... is to add value to the players," Iavaroni said. "Are we adding value? Are they improving? Do they help us overall? I think we've added value to Kyle (Lowry), we've added value to Mike Conley. I can go right on down the roster. Darko Milicic now stands out. Rudy Gay is a most improved player (candidate) and Hakim (Warrick) is playing the best ball he's played. I don't think there's anybody on this team that's taken a step back despite it all."

[lazyboy62]

Relating to players

Sometimes Iavaroni's sincerity has come into question. That's the NBA, though. Players get down on their coaches for various reasons. They rally around coaches, too, all during the course of a season.

The departed Gasol recently said he had no problem with Iavaroni, and believes the coach should get another year to iron out obvious wrinkles. And despite his little tiff with former Griz Stromile Swift, Iavaroni isn't described as a screamer or antagonist.

Iavaroni hasn't lost the team like his predecessors, Mike Fratello and Hubie Brown. Iavaroni isn't demonstrative and grating like Brown. Iavaroni doesn't exude the mean-spirited vibes that Fratello once did.

Iavaroni is described as similar to former Griz coach Sidney Lowe. In other words, Iavaroni is considered too nice most times -- and the team lacks discipline because of it. There's concern that the team's younger players need a tighter rein.

But Iavaroni's soothing personality is what many found refreshing upon his arrival, and it continues to make work fun for the team. Iavaroni's attitude and basketball IQ are the main reasons former Griz president Jerry West strongly recommended the hire.

That former ally, however, is now an obstacle Iavaroni must overcome. West still has Heisley's ear and is privately fuming about what he perceives to be Iavaroni's foibles and the team's direction.

West is said to no longer support Iavaroni, and has repeatedly told confidants in Memphis that a change should be made. It's unknown who West would recommend.

It's important to note that West is known to waver in his opinion of players and coaches from day to day. Heisley, while often emotionally charged, operates with more conviction.

He has support

Iavaroni has internal support that will make the case that one season isn't the tell-all of his ability.

His backers point to the success of great coaches who struggled early in certain situations.

NFL Hall of Fame coach Bill Walsh lost 24 games in his first two seasons. In college basketball, Duke's Mike Krzyzewski endured back-to-back 17-loss seasons early in his tenure. In the NBA, Larry Brown won 59 games in his first two seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers before eventually leading them to a Finals appearance.

Iavaroni's supporters also make that case that he has relied on rookie point guards in Mike Conley and Lowry, who played only 10 games last season. The logic is that even Deron Williams, Chris Paul and Allen Iverson didn't make the playoffs in their rookie seasons.

Adding to the case to keep Iavaroni is that he started out with a different team and a different direction last October. The roster and direction of the franchise changed when Gasol was shipped to the Lakers.

The questions will be asked: How could he succeed with a full-blown youth movement? Doesn't he need time to learn and grow just as a young, inexperienced nucleus?

In short, isn't patience and stability required in this situation? And doesn't Iavaroni, who hadn't been in charge before, deserve to learn from his mistakes and correct them?

What next?

Nothing is imminent. Iavaroni will finish the regular season, and then comes one more game -- the waiting game. Iavaroni and Heisley had what both called a productive meeting last week while the team was in Los Angeles. They only discussed players and strategy.

Iavaroni's job status didn't come up even amid national reports that Heisley was already putting together a short list of candidates. If Iavaroni is released, it wouldn't be an unprecedented move given that Sacramento fired Eric Musselman last year after just one season.

If Iavaroni is retained, some insiders will view that decision as Heisley acting less emotional and exercising the patience required for such a rebuilding process.

This is certain: Heisley no longer seeks or accepts advice on such matters. It was his decision to execute the Gasol deal and he will make the final decision about his coach.

Interestingly enough, Iavaroni had just completed a long conference call Tuesday when reached for an interview. He was working on plans for the Grizzlies' off season.

"I think," he said, "we can make this work."

-- Ronald Tillery: 529-2353

[cap]

Dan D’Antoni tried to continue the conversation with official Zach Zarba when the third quarter ended — only to be hit with a technical foul by McCutchen from about 60 feet away.

What. The. Fuck.

[CNY_xplant]

Dan D’Antoni tried to continue the conversation with official Zach Zarba when the third quarter ended — only to be hit with a technical foul by McCutchen from about 60 feet away.

What. The. Fuck.

cap, you stated my opinion much more eloquently than I would have.

[UOducks4life]

This has nothing to do with the terrible officials or the Suns for that matter, but I for the benefit of the league, I believe everyone should at least visit this site and sign the petition if they'd like to.

http://hirebillsimmons.com/

[INFORMER]

So, while the game was important to both teams, and while it was action-packed and totally entertaining, neither of these defenseless ball clubs has the slightest chance to win the championship.

[cap]

Gambo & Ash report that Stu Jackson admitted that Raja should not have been ejected.

[CNY_xplant]

No shit Stu!!! You're so brilliant, it's obvious that they picked the right guy for your job.