<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">PHILADELPHIA - While playing for Atlanta, Boris Diaw's best chance at a triple-double was at a fast-food drive-through. With Phoenix, it seems clear that his first basketball triple-double Tuesday in the Suns' rout of Philadelphia will not be his last. His "3-D" nickname, born out of his jersey number, name and ability to defend, dish and dunk, had become more appropriate than ever with all his near triple-doubles this season. Diaw did more than reach the barrier Tuesday. He scaled it with flare for a triple-double of 14 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds, the first Phoenix triple-double since Steve Nash did it last season, also against Philadelphia. "It definitely feels much better that we won the game," Diaw said. "If we didn't win the game, it wouldn't have much importance. I wasn't looking for it. It just kind of happened. We all had a really good game offensively and defensively." Diaw was only halfway there in one of the three categories at halftime with four points, six assists and two rebounds, but turned more active as Phoenix kept Philadelphia down by at least 15 points for all of the second half. Diaw's moment came in less than glamorous style, when he had 10 assists and then got to 10 points on two free throws and grabbed rebound No. 10 with 7:43 to play in the game off John Salmons' missed free throw. "We'll make sure he gets a few more," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said. Diaw was not aware of his landmark until Jim Jackson informed him on the bench during a timeout with 5:28 to play, just after Diaw had blown by Chris Webber and drove down the middle of the lane for a hard, two-handed slam. It was the first time Diaw had led the Suns in assists since the last time Phoenix played Philadelphia and he had 10. Diaw is a fine passer, but he also often benefits from a situation created by Nash penetrating the middle or the baseline to disrupt the opponent's defense before kicking it to Diaw on the elbow or ring. Diaw's inclination often is to swing the ball to a more open shooter. With the Suns hitting 58 percent of their shots, Diaw equaled his season high for assists and stayed in the league's top 20 for the category. Diaw was three days removed from a brilliant 25-point, eight-bound performance against his former team in Atlanta. But he was motivated by his disappointing Sunday game at Cleveland, when he fouled out of a game in which Phoenix blew a lead in part because he could not stay on the floor. It was only his first NBA triple-double, though. He remembers having one in his last club game during his high school days in France. It was the first in the family, too, even though his mother is France's greatest women's center of all time. "She wasn't passing the ball," Diaw said. "She was always shooting it." </div> Source
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> "We'll make sure he gets a few more," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said.</div> That quote right there sums up what's so great about D'Antoni as a coach. He's got his team playing unselfish basketball, and at the same time he encourages individuals to prosper in his system. I sure can't imagine Jeff Van Gundy saying something like that.
Phoenix has consistently been one of the top 5 clubs year in and year out for the past 6 years. How good they would have been in 1999 had Tom Gugliotta not been hurt we can only guess. That club was every bit as good as the hyped club last year.
I really like Diaw. He's got a really interesting and fun game to watch on court and he's humble, well spoken and funny off the court. It's great to see him doing so well and I look forward to seeing him get even better.
He was a great offseason acquisition, I am especially enoying the sick two-man game between him and the Matrix. To futher the topic on 3d does anyone know what kind of contract we gave this guy? I hope he realizes that his style fits great with Phx in the case we only have him for a couple of years
he's still on his rookie contract i believe.. let's just hope he ain't like joe johnson and there won't be a dumbass team like atlanta offering a bloated contract.. diaw's good but he ain't that good to overspend on.. that said, i think phoenix will sign him to an extension before he becomes a free-agent..
Boris could be a good role player next season with an another team. Teams want to snatch him away. Hopefully the Suns can keep him.
I see Diaw can be a great 2nd option for a team next year or so. The Pippen to somebody. Phoenix has some tough decisions when Amare comes back, naturally he will get his old job back, but you don't want to lose Diaw this summer. And Matrix - well he's a huge part of your success also. It seems pretty obvious that you can't keep all three guys, as Diaw deserves to start and will want to start somewhere else. Amare wants to play the 4 which is fine cause they got Kurt now.
Anyone still think this guy wasn't worth Joe Johnson? Don't get me wrong, I think Johnson is a great versatile player, but even with all of the playing time he's been getting in Atlanta, he hasn't had as much success as Diaw when it comes to passing and rebounding.
yo the fact that Joe Johnson went to a horrible team for a couple more dollars rather than play with winners and be a part of something tells you all you need to know about his heart straight up
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting asdf:</div><div class="quote_post">Anyone still think this guy wasn't worth Joe Johnson? Don't get me wrong, I think Johnson is a great versatile player, but even with all of the playing time he's been getting in Atlanta, he hasn't had as much success as Diaw when it comes to passing and rebounding.</div> Purely on attitude alone I'm 100% glad of this trade now. The fact that he's contributing so well and has improved so greatly is a huge bonus.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TDoug:</div><div class="quote_post">Phoenix has consistently been one of the top 5 clubs year in and year out for the past 6 years. How good they would have been in 1999 had Tom Gugliotta not been hurt we can only guess. That club was every bit as good as the hyped club last year.</div> Nothing about this statement is anywhere near being true. Im sorry but I must say that statement consists of exagerration and pure incorrectness. PHX was certainly a top 5 team last year and they are this year as well. But the last 6 years? No way. Correct me if im wrong but was the 1999 season when they were missing Gugliotta the year SAC knocked them out of the playoffs? If so theres no way Tom Gugliotta would have made that PHX team as good or better than last year 62 win team that was one of the greatest offensive teams ever.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting asdf:</div><div class="quote_post">Anyone still think this guy wasn't worth Joe Johnson? Don't get me wrong, I think Johnson is a great versatile player, but even with all of the playing time he's been getting in Atlanta, he hasn't had as much success as Diaw when it comes to passing and rebounding.</div> Diaw is doing just as good as Joe Johnson. What he lacks in shooting he gives back with rebounds and assits... We saved TONS of money and we got two 1st round picks for the future. Great trade.
Your right Giant Midget. They were not a top 5 team 3 years ago... they were probably a top 10 or top 12 team for many years though.
Its crazy. Who would have honestly thought Diaw would play this well? Lets be honest, hes not playing AMAZING basketball...but he went from scrub to good player from one season to another. If David West wasnt playing so well id say Diaw has a good shot for MIP. Dude was trash in ATL. It actually bothers me how PHX acquired a bunch of mediocre/semi-good players in the offseason and is still a top team in the west.
D'Antoni and his staff have gotta be the best guys to play for in the NBA if you're a guy who's skills are not being used properly. They seem to know how to fit most guys in his gameplan on both ends of the floor.
I think D'Antoni and Nash make the game easy for everyone else. I think if the draft picks weren't included in the Joe Johnson trade. I think that getting Diaw for max-contract Joe Johnson is a better deal. However Atlanta lottery draft picks only sweeten the deal.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting GiantMidget:</div><div class="quote_post">Its crazy. Who would have honestly thought Diaw would play this well? Lets be honest, hes not playing AMAZING basketball...but he went from scrub to good player from one season to another. If David West wasnt playing so well id say Diaw has a good shot for MIP. Dude was trash in ATL. It actually bothers me how PHX acquired a bunch of mediocre/semi-good players in the offseason and is still a top team in the west.</div> Boris Diaw was never a scrub, just because you never seen him play in Alanta doesn't make him one. In Alanta, he had limited offensive ability, and didnt have a jumpshot, he had a post game he use, and was atheletic his size. He played every position for Alanta, and what made him so good was his defense, he was Alanta's best defender, he guarded every guy on the court, I remember watching him, He guarded Kurt Thomas to Tim Thomas to Marbury to Crawford, he has a high basketball IQ and is alert on the court. Joe Johnson was replacable, and I was one of the few people who thought Phoneix would be a better team than last year, not record wise, but in the playoffs They improved with 3 extremely good defenders in Bell, Diaw, and Kurt Thomas. and when Amare comes back, I don't see no one in the west taking them down.
He didn't shine in Atlanta cause Woodson played him on the 1 and 2 spots rather than his natural 3 position. What amazes me is that he's only 6-8 215 lbs, and he's still able to stay grounded defensively against big power forwards and centers. He should get MIP over West for the fact that he can create scoring oppurtunities for others as well as for himself. Scott never runs plays for West, and he relies on Paul and Claxton to feed him for open jump shots. When Amare comes back they will be unstoppable.
