<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jurassic:</div><div class="quote_post">What does that prove? Nothing but the fact that they score a lot, but ALSO give up a lot of points. Differential is not a defensive stat. Check out opponent fg% and ppg instead.</div> Top 6 Teams according to pt Diff. 1. Detroit 2. Phoenix 3. San Antonio 4. Dallas 5. Heat 6. Memphis I think this is a pretty good representation of not only defense, but who actually has a shot at a championship. Rebounds Per Game: Phoenix 4th, San Antonio 12th Blocks Per Game: Phx 9th, SA 7th Fg%: Phx 43.2%, SA 42.8% Steals Per Game: Phx 22nd, SA LAST IN NBA BTW: IF WE LOOK AT FG% AND PTS. ALLOWED THE HOUSTON ROCKETS WOULD BE 3RD AND 6TH IN THOSE CATEGORIES RESPECTIVELY. SO ACCORDING TO YOUR IDEA OF A GOOD DEFENSIVE TEAM, JURRASIC, THE ROCKETS SHOULD BE ADDED TO MY LIST. Now this being said, BALANCE is what wins championships and the point differential approach shows balance. Phoenix is 1st in the league in assists per game, San Antonio is 19th, but we don't see anyone saying SA has no offense. The Spurs tempo is slow the suns tempo is fast. Look at Suns games when the tempo is slowed down and Spurs games when the tempo is sped up and their stats are basically fip-flopped. So for all the Suns can't play D comments out there I say this: Next time you make a claim you better have some facts to back it up, instead of jumping onto bandwagons of people whose opinions reflect that of last years Suns team. (All stats can be found in the 2005-06 team statistics section @ NBA.com)
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting GiantMidget:</div><div class="quote_post">I also see it as if Detroit couldnt beat the Spurs last year, Phoenix isnt gonna beat them this year.</div> You also saw the Kings as a more superior team then the Suns, WITH Amare Stoudemire!!! Phoenix (without Amare and Barbosa) has already defeated San Antonio (at full strength) this season. The Suns are 8th in opponents FG%, and are a much improved team on the defensive end. Raja Bell frustrates opponents on the perimeter. Kurt Thomas is a very nice frontcourt defender, and frustrated Duncan in their earlier meeting. This entire team has taken a defensive mindset. Steve Nash is also playing much better "D" this season. Shawn Marion, Boris Diaw, James Jones, Raja Bell, Kurt Thomas, are these guys any good defensively?! When Amare returns in March this team will take a few weeks to adjust, but will become an even better team on both ends. Amare will give the team a post-up threat, instant offense, and a dominating force on one end. On the other end he is not a great defender, but will give the team the shot blocking threat this team has lacked. Can this team beat San Antonio in a seven game series???............YES!
^ Why are suns fans such smart mouths? You think the Suns can beat Detroit? Cant blame me for thinking the Kings would be better than the Suns before the season started. The Kings roster is LOADED. Anyhow, I like how you dodged the whole idea of what i posted and turned it into something about the Kings.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting GiantMidget:</div><div class="quote_post">^ Why are suns fans such smart mouths? You think the Suns can beat Detroit? Cant blame me for thinking the Kings would be better than the Suns before the season started. The Kings roster is LOADED. Anyhow, I like how you dodged the whole idea of what i posted and turned it into something about the Kings.</div> What did you post? Of course the Suns can beat Detroit. When they are healthy I think the Suns will be the best team in the league, while you Kings can stay where they are. I actually thought they would be the best California team so I was wrong there too.
Wow, when I think about it a series with Detroit would be awesome. There are some great match-ups there wit Nash-Billups, Bell-Rip, Marion-Prince, Amare and Thomas-The Wallaces. It would be a great series.
The Suns were contenders last year, and they are even better this year. If Amare comes back, and has improved some they will be way better than they are now. A big diference is that they now have a solid build or role players instead of scorers like Q Rich and JJ.
What's impressive about the Suns is the way their players move without the basketball. They are constantly running around slashing, spotting up, and setting picks to free up the shooters. I think what also makes the Suns tough is their length and athleticism. Teams have a hard time taking advantage of mismatches because the Suns players are so interchangeable. They can switch on pick and rolls easily, and they are quick enough to double team and then rotate back and close out on the open shooter.
