A GAME THREAD we can all believe in!

Suns shooting 57.1% from the field, and 77.8% from the 3.

They can't keep that up all game.

We'll pull ahead when they miss a few.

 

Travis seems like the odd man out all of a sudden. He's been invisible.

 

Frankly, it's because we have mostly offensive minded personnel. You can teach it, but you need guys that take pride in it and right now there are probably only 4 players on the team that you could say are committed to the defensive end of the court (LMA, Greg, Batum, Joel) and two of them are rookies.

 

I think Travis not scoring is part of the reason why we've been struggling in second quarters. He's usually the one along with Rudy who provides that scoring punch off the bench. Now... he doesn't seem confident out there.

And this is without Martell.

 

I cannot believe we used a zone against the Suns' bench. Yeah, leave Matt Barnes to spot up when the one basketball skill he possesses is being able to hit a jumper when squared up.

 

Based on their setup with LMA having his back turned to the ball, it appears Batum did what he was supposed to do; funnel his person into the double team. Aldridge failed to react and cut him off, therefore giving Nash a running start.

 

i couldn't agree more. this team is just gawd awful with the Xs and Os of the game. we seem to have no defensive feel for the game. we double at the wrong times, get beat off the dribble too easy, expect help when there is none... it seems like any halfway decent ball movement by the other team just kills us. and poor oden can't get any burn because the guys on the perimeter keep getting beat and he has to help.

and once, just once, i would like to see nate let a guy play through some foul trouble.

 

The hell? A Steve Novick for Senate commercial? Is it last May again?

 

Wow.... a Derrick Coleman sighting.. That guy had skills back in the day, and could've been one of the best.

 

we did the same thing against orlando and got just roasted from deep.

we also seem to wind up with a lot of bad switches up top. it's always great seeing blake guarding a big SF...

 

Yes they can.

You have to question WHY they're shooting such a high %, and it's because our defense is so lacking.

 

Nate wants to stop the bigs, except the zone also sucks since the bigs keep roasting us too.

 

If we don't make the playoffs this season, I would seriously consider firing McMillain. I'm just not impressed with his coaching skills. He demands respect, he is a decent teacher, but the guy just doesn't have the coaching IQ of a Phil Jackson, Jerry Sloan, or Don Nelson. We have one of the most talented rosters in the league, but we have one of the most basic, elementary offenses in the league. Pick and roll, iso Roy, kick to Aldridge and kick back out... that's it. He hardly ever changes his rotation... the guy can't think on his feet.

 

Two words.

Gregg Popovich.

Pry him from the Spurs any way you can. Hell, give them Rudy.

 

The music is not Philip Glass. It was written by Carly Comando for this video:

[video=youtube;6B26asyGKDo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6B26asyGKDo[/video]

 

For the people who are upset about our X's and O's, please share your knowledge with us. It's easy to say our X's and O's are bad, but I would like to hear a better plan. I bet I could shoot it down quickly. On top of that, we don't know if the plan or the execution is failing. Regardless, the Suns are making a lot of outside shots and Shaq came ready to play. Sometimes you've just got to tip your cap to the other team for shooting the ball well. The Suns have three potential hall-of-famers to go with Grant Hill and Jason Richardson. Not a sad bunch of players by any stretch...

It's funny that some of the best coaches and players in the game talk about Nate being one of the best coaches ever, but some fans seem to think they're all wrong. I'll take Coach K, LeBron, Kobe, and Mike D's word over any poster on this board...

 

Am I the only one here with the sense that this team just doesn't believe they can beat the Suns? They just look kind of mechanical on the court at times ... I mean they're shooting well, and Brandon is on fire, but I their body language just looks like they have a passive rather than aggressive mentality.

 

I hope we find some way to pull this one out.. this is going to be tough if Phoenix extends this to 10-15 points

 

Absolutely. No doubt Nate and the coaching staff will make a point of this at half time.

Our defence will pick up in the 2nd half, the Suns shooting % will drop, and we'll win the game.

 

Good idea Reggie... Amare's not going to want to pick up his fourth. Go at him with LMA