suns/clips

[nobody 2,898]

Brand is a beast

 

Clippers lost because of Dunleavy. How do you sit your best player with 6 minutes left down by two for a guy who can't defend the pick and roll. Phoenix runs the pick and roll with the other team's worst defender the entire 4th quarter every game. How does Dunleavy not get that.

 

Kaman doesn't belong on the floor in this series. He only gets rebounds that go directly to him, and he can't defend the pick and roll, and he's a turnover machine.

 

Livingston would make a good addition to the Olympic team. He has developed into a very good point guard. The two horrible turnovers at the end of the game not withstanding.

 

Nash deserves the MVP for turning Boris Diaw into a decent NBA player. People think Kobe should be the MVP, but if Kobe is not scoring the basketball, he doesn't help your team. That's just the way it is. He gives 25% effort when he is not trying to score. Nash at least dishes the rock, and he is no worse a defender than any other guy in the league. In fact, he's actually a decent help defender.

 

When Tim Thomas sits becasue of fouls, the Suns are actually at an advantage. Tim Thomas is not a good NBA player.

 

Also, the Suns scored 74 points in the second half.

 

Questions, comments, concerns? Let me know.

[Giants Fan 85]

Who cares .... I can't wait until pre-season football!

 

See, I like 2 sports ... PRO football, and COLLEGE basketball ... so this is like my dry season ... kinda forced to pick an NBA team ... Knicks suck ... and Net's have RJ ... so I'm a Nets fan. It get's worse after this. I can't, for the life of me, enjoy watching baseball. If forced to pick, I'd say I was a Yankee's fan ... and I'm not entirely sure about that, either. Baseball sucks.

[Bigtraine 35]

When Tim Thomas sits becasue of fouls, the Suns are actually at an advantage. Tim Thomas is not a good NBA player.

 

I agreed with you until right here. Thomas has been amazing for most of the playoffs. His shooting has been very good, he's made a lot of good inside plays, he is rebounding really well and he stretches the other team's defense to accomodate his 3-pt shot, and that in turn helps free up the paint for Nash/Barbosa/Diaw.

 

As a Suns fan, I'd rather see Thomas out on the floor than Marion right now. But then again Marion=over-rated. He might be the best role-player in the league, but he is no more than a role-player. Gets rebounds, defends well and runs the court. But he doesn't shoot very well, can't create his own shot and has seriously been pissing me off with his missed shots inside 5 feet. I like Marion, but anyone who even thought of him for MVP is retarded.

[nobody 2,898]

I don't know why everyone is on Tim Thomas's jock. If anything D'Antonio deserves coach of the year. He takes all these mediocre players and puts them in a position to succeed. Tim Thomas is a a great shooter, but he brings no inside presence at all. All he brings is shooting.

 

Here are some numbers to back up what I'm saying.

 

http://www.82games.com/0506/0506PHO.HTM

 

When Tim Thomas is on the court, the Suns are +1.1 points better than their opponent. When he's off the court the Suns are +6.3 points better than their opponent.

[jerryskids 7,130]

The Suns actually outscored the Clips in the paint, 48-42. This is because the Clips pushed out their defense to try to defend the perimeter. Obviously that didn't work given the above and the fact that the Suns still shot at will. I expect the Clips to adjust.

 

Brand is indeed a beast. Hopefully this stage gives him the exposure to get noticed more. Chicago's trade of him might make the list of worst evah.

[Bigtraine 35]

Well granted, I've only watched the playoffs and about 3 regular season games all year so my scope is rather limited. But he's been great in what I've watched. I'm not sure of the figures and everything in the link you posted, but there is usually more to a situation than what the numbers will tell you. I definately agree with you that he is benefitting big-time from playing in the Suns system and likely wouldn't be as good anywhere else.

[nobody 2,898]

The Suns actually outscored the Clips in the paint, 48-42. This is because the Clips pushed out their defense to try to defend the perimeter. Obviously that didn't work given the above and the fact that the Suns still shot at will. I expect the Clips to adjust.

 

Do they count fast break points as points in the paint? If so, that was a huge edge. Another huge edge was Kaman's inability to move two feet to pay defense.

[Cdub100 3,996]

That's just the way it is. He gives 25% effort when he is not trying to score. Nash at least dishes the rock, and he is no worse a defender than any other guy in the league. In fact, he's actually a decent help defender.

 

Questions, comments, concerns? Let me know.

 

Are you high?

[nobody 2,898]

Are you high?

 

 

just on life. :highfive:

[jerryskids 7,130]

Do they count fast break points as points in the paint?

I suspect not, but don't really know.

[Greedo 13]

Interesting points nobody - in fact, I was thrilled when Brand sat w/6 minutes left, which means it was a bad play for the CLips. ALthough I thought I read that Brand was gassed near the end of the game - he only had one bucket the last 8 minutes or so.

 

As for Tim Thomas, you might not follow the Suns enough to know that they'd be fishing right now without him. He's shooting almost 60% from 3 in the playoffs, including the game tying shot in game 6 vs. the Lakers. I'll take him.

[nobody 2,898]

I think it's still Dunleavy's fault. If Brand is gassed at the end of a game, he should have gave him a rest earlier. He was playing his ass off though.

 

Tim Thomas is a great shooter, and, yes, he is better than having no one on the bench, but he's not as great as everyone is making him out to be. Kurt Thomas is twice as good.

[Bigtraine 35]

Kurt Thomas is twice as good.

 

I haven't gotten a chance to see Kurt Thomas play too much in the offense, but I'd be amazed if he was twice as good. But I guess I'll reserve judgement until I see him play...

 

he is better than having no one on the bench

 

If Kurt Thomas is twice as good as Tim Thoimas, then Tim Thomas is at least 5 times better than Brian Grant right now.

[Greedo 13]

Kurt Thomas was horrific on offense this year - his jumper vanished. He certainly plays D, however he fought foul trouble in many games. I can't wait to have him back, but as for twice as good, it depends what you're looking for. I just want a Suns win, so I'll take TT's hot hand as long as it lasts.

[nobody 2,898]

Actually you guys might be right. What's making Phoenix dangerous is that it's hard to hide weak defenders against them because everyone on the floor can score. Kurt thomas's offense is pretty much picking up garbage plays. The reason I was saying he's better than Timmy is because he is a much, much better defender and much better rebounder.

 

Here's my gameplan for the Clippers. Sit Kaman as much as possible. Run Brand at center and Radmanovic at power forward. If Kaman is in the game give a zone a try. If the Suns start raining threes they'll have to come out of it, but it should at least slow the game down. The other thing I would make a point to do is throw Diaw on the ground a couple of times. He's pretty soft going to the basket and I think if he's thinking about getting hit, those crazy ass looping hook shots he does won't fall as much.

[Greedo 13]

Your game plan for the Clips makes sense. I should note that Kwame Brown did just what you recommend to Diaw at the start of game 2, then stood over him - should've been kicked out, but wasn't. He did struggle a bit, but really performed well by game 5 on.

 

I think the Lake show tried the physical stuff, but the old "Suns are soft" routine isn't as true as it once was.

 

Instead, I think the Clips can shoot 50% plus in every game against the Suns. They just need to take better care of the ball, shoot later in the shot clock, and guard the three better, even at the expense of more drives and layups, and they'll be right there.