What's the Reason for Suns Decline?

I'm watching them as they get blown out at Dallas. I'm wondering why this team is looking so bad. I guess last year's first round exit to the Spurs was the beginning of the end.

Is Nash just getting old?

 

I think it's adjusting to the change in philosophy. When they were under D'Antoni, they were all about offense and cared little about the defensive end. Their offense also completely ran through Nash and their ability to get out on the break to create easy opportunities.

Bringing in Porter completely changed this. He's brought a defensive minded philosophy and wants the team to slow it down and work more in the halfcourt. He also focuses his offense moreso on Shaq than letting Nash get out and have everyone run.

The only way this team is going to even come close to LA in the Pacific is if Porter lets the team be who they are - the run and gun team that we saw under D'Antoni. Because quite frankly, despite what Kerr and Porter want to think, this team is not built for a slow-down, halfcourt, defensive oriented style of play.

 

you can say that again

 

Trading for shaq killed this team. at least they had a chance with marion. They could have at least tried to trade for someone that would fit better. Kerr is a way overrated GM.

 

They really didn't have a chance with Marion actually.

In my opinion, the Shaq move was a smartish move, because Kerr was aware that the style that they were playing isn't a style that's going to win championships. Beyond that, Marion was being an issue in the locker room, and those can create chemistry problems.

The only issue with the Shaq move is that by bringing him, they made him the focal point of that offense and that really neutralizes what Nash and the rest of the team is good at....and that's showing this year, because Nash has not looked that good, and this offense hasn't been explosive because of the new style that they play.

 

but they still aren't going to win a championship, and definitely not have a better record.

 

shaq should run the triple threat from the free throw line, he is .500 shooter from there.

nash should start posting up when he gets a smaller guard on him.

diaw should try and bulk up a little more and add some finesse to his game.

and maybe their owner should stop trading players like luol deng/kurt thomas/rajon rondo/rudy fernandez and such for cash.