<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The idea of the Suns going bigger with Brian Skinner and Amaré Stoudemire playing more together has its limits. Suns coach Mike D'Antoni is not willing to sacrifice too much of Diaw's time. "To change roles, we've got to go bad," D'Antoni said. "If you change bad for a long time, then maybe you do something. "I hate it (the recent losing). I grow irritable. It makes you grow old fast. But I've got great guys, and they're trying and my coaches are trying. They're going to be fine." Skinner said he is more comfortable playing with Stoudemire than earlier in the season. "I'm able to direct a little more, do other things, like some other keys - block shots and rebound and do all the small things," Skinner said. "We've just got to get it on the same wavelength. "When we've got that lineup with me at the five, Amaré at the four and Shawn (Marion) at the three, we make a lot of big stops, and we can still score. That's always an added plus."</div> Source: AZ Central
It worked wonders last night against the Clippers. Amare didn't have to worry about defending Chris Kaman much in the post and was more free to go after rebounds with Skinner boxing guys out. I think Marion's production is going to drop if the Suns keep Skinner in the starting lineup, because Marion is a matchup nightmare when he can play PF. At SF a lot of his advantages are neutralized because he doesn't have the speed and athleticism to blow by a quicker defender.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Shapecity @ Dec 28 2007, 03:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>It worked wonders last night against the Clippers. Amare didn't have to worry about defending Chris Kaman much in the post and was more free to go after rebounds with Skinner boxing guys out. I think Marion's production is going to drop if the Suns keep Skinner in the starting lineup, because Marion is a matchup nightmare when he can play PF. At SF a lot of his advantages are neutralized because he doesn't have the speed and athleticism to blow by a quicker defender.</div> Ah, didn't get to see the game last night. But I did hear Amare played well defensively too last night. Which is a miracle in itself. It might on some nights, it might not on others. He's played SF for most of his career up until few yrs ago and did just as well. But I think we could do it sparingly, just because as you said we should take advantage of Marion against PFs. Marion just needs do everything else at least. Others can score. It may be something we need to do more in the playoffs though.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dissonance19 @ Dec 28 2007, 04:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>But I did hear Amare played well defensively too last night. Which is a miracle in itself.</div> Well, the Clippers did start Al Thornton at the 4, so Amare had quite the size advantage. I like Skinner starting alongside Amare. It allows Amare to play his natural position at the 4, and Skinner gives them a defensive presence. I still think it was ridiculous to get rid of Kurt Thomas, but what's done is done. They could have had Thomas and Skinner... that would be excellent for them. Too bad.
I heard he did a job good on Kaman as well though. But I think people overrate what Kurt Thomas did in the regular season. He played 18 mins, but didn't get that many important mins til the playoffs against the Spurs. He didn't have much impact in the regular season. Suns would've had to pay a massive tax keeping him. Thomas could have opted out and taken A LOT less to stay with the team. Suns are still paying tax though contrary to popular belief. Also, have a higher payroll than 24 other teams, so I wouldn't call that cheap as others say. I said before the season, Suns are gonna regret not pushing that KG trade hard enough. Even if they had to give up Amare/Hawks pick in a combo. It was right there. PHX was KG's preferred destination. But I think Kerr just didn't want to do something like that in his first season. Now when we probably lose again, the big impact move we could have had is in Boston.
