PF: Amare Stoudemire C: Kurt Thomas OR PF: Kurt Thomas C: Amare Stoudemire Both front court players can play either position, which is great for you guys. I was just wondering which frontcourtl ineup do you think will work better? Do you think Amare plays better at Center? or would he have broken out last season no matter what position he played?
The first one. I think that Kurt is probably more of a C then a PF. And Amare did come into the league as a PF.
Doesn't really matter, but to satisfy Amare more, I would label Kurt as the C. The Centers in the West, are the PF's, if you know what I'm saying. They'll guard which ever front court player is assigned to them by Coach D'antoni. Against Dallas, you'll probably see Amare and Marion on Dirk, with Kurt on Damp. Against LAC, you'll probably see Kurt on Elton for the majority of the time. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting The Manchurian Candidate:</div><div class="quote_post">And Amare did come into the league as a PF.</div> As did Kurt.
Here is how I see it............ First let me start of by saying it is very difficult to assign these guys a position. On offense Amare would be much better playing Center as he did last year. It gives him more space to occupy for pick and roles and drives. He also can play more versatile with the position. In an end of the year interview Amare said that he would like to play Point Center (PC). This pretty much means that he does everything on the floor (utilizing his strengths of course). Mike D'Antoni even said that he would bring the ball up the court and shoot 3s on occasion (he will predominately be in the post though). I just think offensively with Amare being able to occupy more space to do what he does best he would be would better positioned in the middle (it's not like anyone can guard him anyway). This way if anyone clogs the lane not only will he have the 3 point shooters to spot up when he is doubled, but Kurt Thomas will have a nice jumper in space as well. On Defense Kurt Thomas will guard the best big on the floor so it is really dependant on what position that person plays. Amare is not the great defender he can be (and is working his ass of to be). He is also not the greatest player on the boards but he has improved (especially in the playoffs). Overall this is how I would construct the team in 05-06 based on strengths by position. This is also how D'Antoni coaches (strengths of players) and it worked so well last year.
I can almost guarentee that Thomas will be the center. They got him because Amare hated playing at center, and I read in the paper that there is a very good chance Kurt is the center. I'm 99% sure that he will be.
I'm sure kurt can guard time duncan and kg, BUT he can't guard the other big centers because he's too small.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MAKEOUTCITY:</div><div class="quote_post">Amare Stoudemire is shite without Nash...does Kurt still got game?</div> HUH? He got ROTY without Nash...doesn't look like shite to me.....
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MAKEOUTCITY:</div><div class="quote_post">Amare Stoudemire is shite without Nash...does Kurt still got game?</div> He won ROY in year 1 and averaged over 20 ppg in year 2! It is a progression, he is becoming a better player so his stats will increase every year, though Nash did greatly help in the whole process this season.
Doesn't really matter what set positions they get, because most likely the matchups are goign to get altered throughout the game. I don't think Amare boards enough to play C, Thomas although only 6'9 and more of a PF than C, is a better fit there.
i think that we will have a smal version of twin towers... kurt and amare on the inside and steve plus two wingmans on the perimeter
http://www.nba.com/suns/news/qa_stoudemire_050808.html Nice interview with Amare (most dominant player in the game). I really feel with his improvement we can be better then we were last season, even with JJs (MR. SELFISH) defection. Also talks briefly about what I said about the Point Center position. "Suns.com: What do you personally need to get better at? Stoudemire: I?m just trying to become the "point-center" that a lot of people classify me as. That is pretty much every position on the court. I?m just trying to master the game of basketball itself. I?ve been working on everything. Defense you can?t really work on until an actual scrimmage game. But as far as everything else, I?ve been working on my left hand, right hand, jump hooks, ball-handling skills, moves off the dribble, and just watching film and studying the game".
Kurt is more adapt to playing center, so thats where I would play him...Amare will beast on most NBA power forwards and I think playing center wore him down as the season progressed...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Shooter:</div><div class="quote_post">Kurt is more adapt to playing center, so thats where I would play him...Amare will beast on most NBA power forwards and I think playing center wore him down as the season progressed...</div> Being as Suns fan who watched a majority of the games I do not think he wore down at all. If anything he played better during the playoffs.
It depends on the match-up like Banks said. The Suns will just play it by air and depending on the players, it will decide who plays who. For the quick, athletic players, You'll probably Amare guarding them, but for the classic post up guys, you'll probably Kurt Thomas on them.
I'm not even certain Kurt Thomas will be a starter on the Suns. I could see him coming off the bench and playing Steve Hunter's role instead. The Suns managed to win 60 games with an Amare/Marion frontcourt, I don't see why they don't go with that duo in the regular season again. Then come post season they can start KT, as needed. PG - Nash SG - Bell SF - Jackson PF - Marion C - Amare
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm not even certain Kurt Thomas will be a starter on the Suns. I could see him coming off the bench and playing Steve Hunter's role instead. The Suns managed to win 60 games with an Amare/Marion frontcourt, I don't see why they don't go with that duo in the regular season again. Then come post season they can start KT, as needed. PG - Nash SG - Bell SF - Jackson PF - Marion C - Amare</div> Kurt Thomas will start. We did not bring him in to be a backup especially with his salary and the impact he could have on the team.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting emannen:</div><div class="quote_post">Kurt Thomas will start. We did not bring him in to be a backup especially with his salary and the impact he could have on the team.</div> He will likely start, but I think the Suns brought him in more for post-season play, than the regular season. In the regular season, the Suns dominated teams with small-ball because coaches simply don't have enough time to break down film on the Suns and figure out defensive schemes to contain them. In a 7 game series, coaches have this luxury, so they can pick apart all the weaknesses the Suns had and protect against mismatches. Next season teams will be better prepared for the Suns, but if I'm Phoenix I don't try to fix something that worked so well for me in the regular season. Last year the Suns won 62 games, and if Steve Nash was not injured, maybe they could have won 70 games. They won so many games because of their small-ball attack, which caused mismatches for teams. I think it would be best if the Suns let KT rest and be fresh for the post-season. The main obstacle for the Suns should be the Spurs, and the Suns will need KT playing at 100% to slow down Tim Duncan.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">He will likely start, but I think the Suns brought him in more for post-season play, than the regular season. In the regular season, the Suns dominated teams with small-ball because coaches simply don't have enough time to break down film on the Suns and figure out defensive schemes to contain them. In a 7 game series, coaches have this luxury, so they can pick apart all the weaknesses the Suns had and protect against mismatches. Next season teams will be better prepared for the Suns, but if I'm Phoenix I don't try to fix something that worked so well for me in the regular season. Last year the Suns won 62 games, and if Steve Nash was not injured, maybe they could have won 70 games. They won so many games because of their small-ball attack, which caused mismatches for teams. I think it would be best if the Suns let KT rest and be fresh for the post-season. The main obstacle for the Suns should be the Spurs, and the Suns will need KT playing at 100% to slow down Tim Duncan.</div> Very wise idea. The Suns have stated that they still intend to play small ball, but this will happen when KT is on the bench. I'm sure the Suns will limit KT's mpg. I will agree that Kurt will need to be healthy in the playoffs but he also needs time to gel with his teammates. Kurt Thomas will not play 40 mpg but I forsee 20-30 minutes in a starting position.
