Comments on: Failed Experiments? http://with-malice.com/2008/04/30/failed-experiments/ The NBA, and the mad ramblings of a sports-mad guy living in Japan... Sat, 22 Nov 2008 21:09:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: khandor http://with-malice.com/2008/04/30/failed-experiments/#comment-11233 khandor Thu, 01 May 2008 11:52:59 +0000 http://withmalice.wordpress.com/?p=2031#comment-11233 ... Steve Nash is a great player ... but he is also flawed in a way that Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson never were. Amare Stoudemire is a great phyical talent ... but he is also flawed in a way that James Worthy, Kevin McHale and Horace Grant never were. Mike D'Antoni is a good NBA coach ... but he is also flawed in a way that Red Auerbach, KC Jones, Pat Riley, Chuck Daly, Phil Jackson and Gregg Popovich never were. The <b><i>Basketball Philosophy</i></b> of "Seven Seconds or Less" is an interesting concept ... but is also flawed in a way that the well-balanced tenets of 'Celtic Pride', 'Showtime', 'the Bad Boyz' (with their 'Jordan Rules'), 'the Triangle' (with its Zen-based principles) and 'Air Force One' never were. The Phoenix Suns, constructed thusly, have been fated not to win the NBA championship, from the outset. …

Steve Nash is a great player … but he is also flawed in a way that Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson never were.

Amare Stoudemire is a great phyical talent … but he is also flawed in a way that James Worthy, Kevin McHale and Horace Grant never were.

Mike D’Antoni is a good NBA coach … but he is also flawed in a way that Red Auerbach, KC Jones, Pat Riley, Chuck Daly, Phil Jackson and Gregg Popovich never were.

The Basketball Philosophy of “Seven Seconds or Less” is an interesting concept … but is also flawed in a way that the well-balanced tenets of ‘Celtic Pride’, ‘Showtime’, ‘the Bad Boyz’ (with their ‘Jordan Rules’), ‘the Triangle’ (with its Zen-based principles) and ‘Air Force One’ never were.

The Phoenix Suns, constructed thusly, have been fated not to win the NBA championship, from the outset.

]]> By: khandor http://with-malice.com/2008/04/30/failed-experiments/#comment-11232 khandor Thu, 01 May 2008 11:38:30 +0000 http://withmalice.wordpress.com/?p=2031#comment-11232 DMtS, While I agree with your basic premise that solid individual Defense at the PG spot is important for a team to advance in the NBA playoffs, I must also state that is only part of the equation for a team truly intent on going the distance, in conjunction with (1) a Commitment to Rebounding, (2) solid Team Defense, (3) High Efficiency Offense, (4) top notch coaching, and (5) an exceptionally deep roster filled with complimentary players who can both create and combat mis-match advantages for their team. Without equal doses of all 5 of these crucial ingredients a NBA team is simply kidding itself - and its fanbase - thinking that it has a legitimate shot at taking home the Larry O'Brien Trophy any given year. DMtS,

While I agree with your basic premise that solid individual Defense at the PG spot is important for a team to advance in the NBA playoffs, I must also state that is only part of the equation for a team truly intent on going the distance, in conjunction with (1) a Commitment to Rebounding, (2) solid Team Defense, (3) High Efficiency Offense, (4) top notch coaching, and (5) an exceptionally deep roster filled with complimentary players who can both create and combat mis-match advantages for their team.

Without equal doses of all 5 of these crucial ingredients a NBA team is simply kidding itself - and its fanbase - thinking that it has a legitimate shot at taking home the Larry O’Brien Trophy any given year.

]]> By: news 10 now http://with-malice.com/2008/04/30/failed-experiments/#comment-11231 news 10 now Thu, 01 May 2008 11:20:55 +0000 http://withmalice.wordpress.com/?p=2031#comment-11231 [...] unit. Whilst Phoenix managed to be competitive against the Spurs, it was evident that they cannot bhttp://with-malice.com/2008/04/30/failed-experiments/News April 29: Swanni's 10 Hottest Shows In HDTV! TVPredictions.comWashington, D.C. April 29, 2008 [...] [...] unit. Whilst Phoenix managed to be competitive against the Spurs, it was evident that they cannot bhttp://with-malice.com/2008/04/30/failed-experiments/News April 29: Swanni’s 10 Hottest Shows In HDTV! TVPredictions.comWashington, D.C. April 29, 2008 [...]

]]> By: khandor http://with-malice.com/2008/04/30/failed-experiments/#comment-11211 khandor Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:42:32 +0000 http://withmalice.wordpress.com/?p=2031#comment-11211 According to my assessment, the Lakers and the Spurs have been the 2 best teams in the Western Conference since early in the regular Season ... and I can see no reason for this perception to change in th next 2 weeks. San Antonio vs LA ... is going to be a great WC Finals series. According to my assessment, the Lakers and the Spurs have been the 2 best teams in the Western Conference since early in the regular Season … and I can see no reason for this perception to change in th next 2 weeks.

San Antonio vs LA … is going to be a great WC Finals series.

]]> By: withmalice http://with-malice.com/2008/04/30/failed-experiments/#comment-11198 withmalice Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:38:48 +0000 http://withmalice.wordpress.com/?p=2031#comment-11198 Succinctly put. Scoring well there (at the point) isn't a necessity, neither is having an assists-machine... but defending there? Currently, with guys like Parker & Paul, as you stated DMtS, it's a must. <em>Sidenote: sorry about <a href="http://www.epiccarnival.com/2008/04/top-13-suspects-in-murder-of-my-sports.html" rel="nofollow">your blog</a> man... if you're ever looking for a place to put something up, look no further - always welcome.</em> Succinctly put.
Scoring well there (at the point) isn’t a necessity, neither is having an assists-machine… but defending there? Currently, with guys like Parker & Paul, as you stated DMtS, it’s a must.

Sidenote: sorry about your blog man… if you’re ever looking for a place to put something up, look no further - always welcome.

]]> By: DMtShooter http://with-malice.com/2008/04/30/failed-experiments/#comment-11197 DMtShooter Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:38:18 +0000 http://withmalice.wordpress.com/?p=2031#comment-11197 If you want to win in the West, you have to -- absolutely have to -- defend well at the point guard position. Dallas had Kidd, who's a spent fighter against quick 1s; they would have been better off, though not to the point of advancing, with Devin Harris. Phoenix had Steve Nash, who has never defended well and certainly won't now; combine that with asking Shaq to guard the pick and roll (his second great weakness, after free throw shooting), and the rest of the Suns could play out of their minds on defense and you've still got a leaking ship. (Look at Game 5 -- even Amare is D'ing it up.) Denver had AI and Anthony Carter, and couldn't stop dribble penetration and easy hoops for the Laker bigs. And Houston had no Rafer Alston in the first two games at home when they (probably) lost the series; Rafe is certainly not a stopper, but he was better than what they had, which against Deron Williams, was really not enough. How does Dallas get past the Hornets this year? Simple. Trade for Andre Miller instead of Kidd. How does Phoenix get past the Spurs? Stop playing games with the cap and start thinking about advancing; the fact that the Spurs had Kurt Thomas to give them fouls, minutes and hustle and you didn't speaks volumes. Oh, and try Diaw full time at the point. So long as you're going to go big with Shaq, go big with Shaq. How do the Nuggets give the Lakers a series? Well, they don't. But shooting George Karl in the head would give them enough of a coach that they wouldn't have been in the 8 spot in the first place. Too bad Larry Brown's already in Carolina... If you want to win in the West, you have to — absolutely have to — defend well at the point guard position.

Dallas had Kidd, who’s a spent fighter against quick 1s; they would have been better off, though not to the point of advancing, with Devin Harris.

Phoenix had Steve Nash, who has never defended well and certainly won’t now; combine that with asking Shaq to guard the pick and roll (his second great weakness, after free throw shooting), and the rest of the Suns could play out of their minds on defense and you’ve still got a leaking ship. (Look at Game 5 — even Amare is D’ing it up.)

Denver had AI and Anthony Carter, and couldn’t stop dribble penetration and easy hoops for the Laker bigs. And Houston had no Rafer Alston in the first two games at home when they (probably) lost the series; Rafe is certainly not a stopper, but he was better than what they had, which against Deron Williams, was really not enough.

How does Dallas get past the Hornets this year? Simple. Trade for Andre Miller instead of Kidd.

How does Phoenix get past the Spurs? Stop playing games with the cap and start thinking about advancing; the fact that the Spurs had Kurt Thomas to give them fouls, minutes and hustle and you didn’t speaks volumes. Oh, and try Diaw full time at the point. So long as you’re going to go big with Shaq, go big with Shaq.

How do the Nuggets give the Lakers a series? Well, they don’t. But shooting George Karl in the head would give them enough of a coach that they wouldn’t have been in the 8 spot in the first place. Too bad Larry Brown’s already in Carolina…

]]> By: withmalice http://with-malice.com/2008/04/30/failed-experiments/#comment-11191 withmalice Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:56:23 +0000 http://withmalice.wordpress.com/?p=2031#comment-11191 "...because eventually Nash won’t be around." Which is precisely why they should trade him now, while he's worth something. I think that the problem with the Suns this season was that they abandoned what was a pretty successful basketball philosophy mid-way through a season (when they did so, they were ranked #1 in the West). If the roster they have was younger, then there'd be no reason to abandon their plans, but another year on the guys they have is going to be tough. Retain D'Antoni, hold onto Stoudemire/Diaw/Barbosa - blow up the rest. “…because eventually Nash won’t be around.”
Which is precisely why they should trade him now, while he’s worth something.

I think that the problem with the Suns this season was that they abandoned what was a pretty successful basketball philosophy mid-way through a season (when they did so, they were ranked #1 in the West). If the roster they have was younger, then there’d be no reason to abandon their plans, but another year on the guys they have is going to be tough.

Retain D’Antoni, hold onto Stoudemire/Diaw/Barbosa - blow up the rest.

]]> By: Steve http://with-malice.com/2008/04/30/failed-experiments/#comment-11189 Steve Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:12:53 +0000 http://withmalice.wordpress.com/?p=2031#comment-11189 The Suns need to build around their 3 best young players: Amare, Boris Diaw and Leandro Barbosa. Phoenix needs to think about the future rather than the present. Using older players isn't working. The Suns are going to need to develop their rookies (DJ Strawberry, Alando Tucker) because eventually Nash won't be around. There is one last problem: DEFENSE I know the Suns are a run-and-gun team, but that doesn't mean that defense should go out the window. The reason that the Spurs are consistently championship contenders is because they play excellent defense. Boston plays excellent defense. Detroit plays excellent defense. All the teams that advance deep into the playoffs are teams that can play good D. Offense can win games but good solid D is what wins a chip. The Suns need to build around their 3 best young players: Amare, Boris Diaw and Leandro Barbosa.

Phoenix needs to think about the future rather than the present. Using older players isn’t working. The Suns are going to need to develop their rookies (DJ Strawberry, Alando Tucker) because eventually Nash won’t be around.

There is one last problem: DEFENSE

I know the Suns are a run-and-gun team, but that doesn’t mean that defense should go out the window. The reason that the Spurs are consistently championship contenders is because they play excellent defense. Boston plays excellent defense. Detroit plays excellent defense.

All the teams that advance deep into the playoffs are teams that can play good D. Offense can win games but good solid D is what wins a chip.

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