SB Nation User Blog: Hawk42

Player combinations: what makes them great?

Hawk42 — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:30:49 -0000

Recently Shaq said in a Paul Coro article that he and Kobe were “the best one-two punch in the history of the game”. That got me thinking. We need some definitions here. For instance, is this for one season, or for a whole career? How do you measure the career stat? Most championships? Also, what defines a great one-two combinations? A point guard/center (5/1)? Two forwards (3/4)? A 2/3 combo? Let’s look at some candidates.

Jordan/Pippen – 6 championships – two very good defenders, passers, and rebounders for their position, which negated the need for a point guard, and lessened the need for a center. All they needed was a competent to good power forward (Grant/Rodman) to become great.

Kobe/Shaq – 3 championships – prototypical center with an all-everything shooting guard, who could play the other three positions if he had to. All this team needed was a steady but unspectacular point guard to hold turnovers down and make the stars happy (Derek Fisher). I really believe these guys would have been better if they wanted to mesh their games more. The word is PJ pushed them to get what he got.

Kareem/Magic – 5 championships – two freakish talent packages on one team. Magic could play all five positions, while Kareem could play center or power forward, and even pass the ball. Both revolutionized their positions. All they needed was a hard working and steady supporting cast (Worthy, Scott). I remember these guys because it seemed to me the suns were was always leading them or playing them close with about three minutes left in a half, and then the Lakers would ignite, and we were down by 15 before you could say basketball jones.

Bird/McHale – 3 championships – this is the aforementioned 3/4 forward combo. Bird really could play the 1/2/3/4, although he would suffer on defense with smaller players. McHale’s long arms compensated for Bird’s defense. Put these two together with strong defenders at the 1 and 5 (DJ and Parish) and you have the makings of a dynasty in any other decade but the 80s, where they constantly ran into the Lakers. Went 40-1 at home one year.

Russell/Havlicek – 6 championships – a strange combination of 3/5 players, but not so strange when you consider that Russell had more of a power forward’s body, and Havlicek was adept at either wing position. They had a unique combination – The combination of Russell’s rebounding and defensive toughness along with Hondo’s indefatigable all around hustle made you know you had played the Celtics. Add Heinsohn and the Jones boys, and the Boston teams were the prototypical example of defense feeding offense. Their offense wasn’t the greatest, but the defense played at such a level that the results were not a fluke. Those that think later teams would dominate the 60s Celts with athleticism overlook the demoralizing factor . This team was the NBA version of Nolan Richardson’s ’40 minutes of Hell’. Russell and Havlicek set the tone. The Celts produced two other combos of note which were bridged by this memorable duo:

Havlicek/Cowens – 2 championships – again, a similar combination, Cowens being similar to Russell in playing style. Phoenix played their hearts out in 1976, and the Havlicek/Cowens combo would not let them win. Should have won 3 chips, but a playoff disaster ruined a 68-14 year.

Russell/Cousy – 6 championships – this was the first of some classic 1/5 combos. The best thing about this duo was that the fast break was so devastation. With Russell getting the rebound, block, or steal, and the outlet to Cousy at midcourt, the opposition found itself on its heels most of the game. Cooz had led the team to the first 100 point a game average ever, but the defense and rebounding of Russell made the team lethal in its ability to demoralize an opponent. I was hesitant to add this one since Cooz was a horrible hooter, but so is Iverson. The difference is that Cousy melded instantly with Russell, something AI never did with anyone.

Alcindor/Robertson – 1 championship – for one memorable year, the generation’s all-everything triple double machine was paired with the new big man on the block. For those who remember, Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) was almost impossible to stop in those early years. This team rolled through the league, winning 20 straight in a late season streak, and going 12-1 in the playoffs. This combo featured a 5 and a 1,2, 3, or 4, depending on what Oscar chose to do that day. The 6-5 wizard led the league in scoring, assists, and rebounding at one time or another, and his last few years with Alcindor/Jabbar were spent primarily in the backcourt as a point guard and second scoring option.

Chamberlin/West – 1 championship – this combo would surely have won more had it been together longer. It featured the Most dominant Ever, (with no apologies to Shaq) and Zeke from Cabin Creek, whose combination of sharpshooting and playmaking made him the ideal NBA player, so much so the league used his silhouette for their logo. Wilt was a defensive presence, rebounder, and assist (?) man in his later years, but opponents knew he could still dial it up for 50 if they didn’t pay attention. This team featured a 33 game winning streak, a streak that was ended by Alcindor/Jabbar’s Bucks.

Chamberlain/Greer – 1 championship – this combo could have been with Chet Walker or Billy Cunningham as well, but Greer was the steady scoring guard that kept one of the greatest teams in NBA history on an even keel. There were so many scorers, and with Wilt averaging a 20/20 in points and rebounds and leading the league in assists, it was difficult if not impossible for the opposition to figure out who to guard. This was more of a team combination than a duo.

Duncan/Ginobli – 3 championships – The Big Fundamental and the helter-skelter Ginobli could not be more different in style, but the combination has proven troublesome for NBA coaches over the years. This is an interesting combo in that Ginobli was not a starter in much of their time as teammates. This is due to coach Greg Popovich’s style, which allowed him to limit the wear and tear on the frenetic Argentinean, while starting a defender with little or no offensive value (Bruce Bowen). The plodding style of the Spurs during this era didn’t endear themselves to fans outside san Antonio, but I have no doubt the defensive toughness and boring efficiency of this team anchored by Duncan, could give fits to some of the best teams in history.

Reed/Frazier – 2 championships – this team was good enough to prevent Chamberlain’s Lakers from winning twice, as well as to stand toe to toe with the Bucks. Willis Reed was a smallish center, but a bear to handle down low. This combo is probably one of the most underrated in history. Reed had a will to win that at least matched Russell and later, Michael Jordan. Clyde, as Walt Frazier was known, was a defensive whiz who would pick your pocket and lay 35 on you in the same game, all the while keeping the shooters (Bradley, Barnett, and DeBuschere) happy with his passes. This combo was the quintessential center/point guard combination, perhaps offensively what we would see if Nash and Shaq played together during their best years. Walt Frazier is one player I could see giving Michael Jordan a problem.

Erving/Malone – 1 championship – the combo of a classic 5 with a prototypical 3 was very entertaining to watch, and would have won more is the opposition (Lakers/Celtics) hadn’t began their runs at the same time. They worked well as opponents were mesmerized by Erving and simply outworked by Moses Malone.

Some combos that never won but were classic

Jerry West/Elgin Baylor – a 1/2 and a 3/4 that were splendid in combination, but could not overcome the Celtics (you have to have the ball to score)

Charles Barkley/Kevin Johnson – an unorthodox power forward and a do-everything point guard made the Suns devastating for a three year stretch, but defensive shortcomings, injuries, and a lack of chemistry doomed this combo.

John Stockton/Karl Malone – had the misfortune of meeting the Bulls twice in the finals, the classic 1/4 pairing was dominating and changed the game with their signature pick and roll. Perhaps the best combo not to win a chip.

Shaq/Penny – this combination of brute power and smooth silkiness was headed towards multiple Finals visits when Shaq abruptly answered the call to Hollywood. One disappointment here for basketball purists was that Penny was never the catalyst in Orlando that he was in college. The Magic would have done better to pair Shaq with Chris Webber, whom they traded for Hardaway.

Please post what you think. What makes a successful combination? It appears that defensive toughness, leadership ability, and of course amazing talent are requirements. Why a premium on defense? I think the whole team is encouraged and inspired when stars play defense. I heard someone say that if Majerle had half the talent of Amare, you have John Havlicek right there. This brings me to a closing comment about the Amare/Nash pairing. In some ways, they were right up there with the best, certainly their execution of the pick and roll. But since both are bad defenders, they will never have what it takes to get on this list. And with Porter de-emphasizing both, I don’t see it happening in the future.

Possible future names on this list:

LeBron/someone else

Wade/Beasley

Roy/Oden

Kobe/Gasol

Clips and Sonics trade

Hawk42 — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:56:31 -0000

Apparently the Clippers are so enamored with Riussell Westbrook, they traded with Seattle to make sure they get him. #4 goes to the Clips in exchange for the #7 and next years #1. Seattle wants Brook Lopez.

Guess that meant the Barbs for #7 and Maggette is by the boards. Now LA keeps Magette and loses perhaps the #15 in a weak draft next year. Do you think we missed out? Maggette may have been just a rental, but the pick might have been Joe Alexander.

Source: NBADRAFT.NET

http://www.nbadraft.net/node/1279

Is everyone on vacation? Draft coming up.

Hawk42 — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:11:02 -0000

Iam not going to try and repeat all of the draft recaps we have seen. There are a lot of angles to this draft, both for the league as a whole, and the Suns in particular.

Where is everyone? Are you all still in letdown mode? It is like a funeral. Nobody posting except PStan, ZF, and MikeL, maybe a few commenting. I can go a day without seeing new posts or comments. I am not terribly disappointed in the season's ending. The bottom line, our multimillionaires didn't deserve it. Much like the Dbacks don't deserve to be in first place.

The roundballers simply got caught up in three main issues: The coaching/GM rift, the big trade, and the resulting lack of identity, which can make any team look like pussycats (See Lakers performance vs. Detroit a few years back, when Shaq and the pouiting Kobe got shellacked by the no-name Pistons).

The coaching/GM problem has been addressed. The trade, while not initially successfull, needs a whole season to be judged. The identity part? It is being forged right now.

As we see the draftees being picked apart, I feel confident that our braintrust will get a valuable rotation player for the #15, and maybe an eventual starter. I feel that we should keep Barbs and Boris for a year in Porter's system unless someone blows our doors off with an offer of an all-star like Memphis did with Gasol.

The one thing I would like to do is get a later pick (16-21). Wouldn't it be good to get Lopez or Green AND Nick Batum or Koufos?

You go for it, JJ!

Hawk42 — Sun, 04 May 2008 01:09:44 -0000

Now that the Suns are out and the draft pick is locked in, I say we all give a shout out to a very talented and deserving former Sun, Joe Johnson.

With that 20 point quarter and the pressure 3 last night, JJ finally has arrived, after 3 years of losing. This may be short lived, with game 7 tomorrow, but I sincerely hope JJ can somehow marshall his young guys to victory. I have said the season is over, and the fraft is the only thing I am concerned about, but if JJ should lead his team to victory in Boston, I will watch all the Cleveland-Atlanta games and root for the Hawks like I'd be rooting for the Suns had they not lost.

Suns 2008 Player review

Hawk42 — Thu, 01 May 2008 12:49:06 -0000

We must go forward! Let's see what we have. A good review of players is here . I will attempt to put a fan spin on it, with my take from my viewing and reading experience.

Steve Nash

Overall, a nice season, 17 and 11, with over 50% from the field, 47% from three, and 90% from the line. His assist average tailed toward the end of the year due to the shift in offensive emphasis that came with the Shaq trade.

Contract status:

Signed through 2008-2009, with a team option in 2009-2010. His 2008-2009 salary is $12,250,000. Unless Steve has a disastrous season next year, I would think the Suns exercising the option would be a no-brainer. If Steve and the team have another good year, thought should be given to an extension before exercising the option.

Observations:

The coaching braintrust needs to put their heads together and devise an offense that will take greater advantage of Steve's dazzling shooting numbers. Part of Nash's great value is that he offers much more on offense than he hurts on defense. I believe we should devise sets where Steve is the off-guard. In addition, we must re-establish his value as an improvisational floor general in the 2004-2005 mold. Specifically, bring the pick and roll out of hiding and re-establish it as a feared bread-and-butter play. In addition, the alley-oop must come back. STAT and Shaq can be on the receiving end of these, but I see no reason that Hill and Diaw cannot fill the Matrix role in this crowd-pleasing play. These plays must be honed to perfection.

Shaquille O'Neal

Mixed results for the Suns. At times, Shaq appeared to be the missing piece. Other times he just looked old. He averaged about 12 and 10 in a Suns uni. His effect on the play of Amare was positive.

Contract status:

Signed through 2009-2010. His 2008-2009 salary is $20,000,000. There's nothing we can do about this unless Shaq offers to renegotiate for another year or retire, or if some team like the Knicks wants him.

Observations:

As stated before, At times he looked like just what we wanted. We can't help the free throws. I think Shaq needs to concentrate on getting some more lift and making close-in shopts. I think he missed two or three of those per game. The passers often got him the ball too far out. When Shaq was with the Lakers, he would pass it back out, re-establish position closer in, then get a return pass. Often I saw Shaq pass it back out, only to see it go somewhere else.

Raja Bell

The stats were down a bit due to a slow start and injuries. He came on, however, and provided some good offense down the stretch and in the playoffs, as well as his usual solid D. his 12 ppg and 40% from 3 were about what we have come to expect.

Contract status:

Signed through 2009-2010. His 2008-2009 salary is $5,000,000. This is a favorable contract for the Suns.

Observations:

We know what we are getting with Raja. I saw him drive a bit more this year. This is something we should use. He isn't the best on the dribble, but I was pleased to see it as it puts more pressure on the defense. There are some who say he has lost a lot on defense, but I haven't seen it. At his contract, he is a keeper.

Amare Stoudemire

Amare finished witha 25 and 9 season with a 58% shooting percentage. These numbers are strikingly similar to his breakout season of 2004-2005. The difference is that he has developed his midrange jump shot, which became very reliable. That shot deserted him in the Spur series, but there's no reason to believe it won't be back. His rebounding declined after Shaq came on, but the scoring went up.

Contract status:

Signed through 2009-2010, with a player option for 2010-2011. His 2008-2009 salary is $15,070,550. It is reasonable to assume that if the team prospects are not looking up, he will decline the option and test the market at that time, especially if he has not had more knee trouble.

Observations:

Amare has become a franchise player. He has made defensive strides, which must continue. Tim Duncan no longer routinely abuses him. I saw some of the best sequences I have ever seen in the elimination game. His rebounding has suffered, though. I think that even with Shaq around, he should still average 10-12 rebounds. The biggest improvement I want to see is meshing with Boris. If those two really want to win, they would spend some time over the summer focusing on each others' games. One other note - the normally surehanded Amare muffed a few passes that I usually see him scoop up like Lester Hayes with his stickum. I have to think that was an aberration. Keep the man.

Boris Diaw

Boris completed an up and down season where at times he appeared lifeless, and at times he flashed the form of the 05-06 playoffs. He finished at about 8 points and 4 assists, his worst statistical season as a Sun. In the playoffs, he showed more value, having a pair of 20 point games including a near triple double in the lone win.

Contract status:

Signed through 2010-2011, with a player option in 2011-2012. His 2008-2009 salary is $9,000,000. One positive thing about this contract is that it never goes up. right now, I would think he would be difficult to trade, unless some team thinks they can coax a consistent 15-8-8 out of him, which I consider Boris entirely capable of accomplishing.

Observations: A mixed result this season. The contract is an albatross unless Boris decides to become more consistent and bring it every night. As I mentioned in Amare's review, the future of the Suns rests on whether these two can mesh their games or not. If a GM comes up with an offer for Boris, we would be tempted. I think if D'Antoni is gone, Boris would be shopped also. I still say he is unguardable if he puts his mind to it. I would like to see him and Amare as bookend forwards for the next four years. Can he visit Amare's trainer?

Leandro Barbosa

Leo is infuriating as he is amazing. The Brazilian Blur is still as quick as anyone. His jumper deserted him toward season's end, but he still followed up his Sixth Man of the Year season with solid 15 ppg numbers. He still misses way too many layups, or his FG % would be well over 50%.

Contract status:

Signed through 2010-2011, with a player option for 2011-2012. His 2008-2009 salary is $6,100,000. There are those that say he is trade bait, but this contract is favorable.

Observations.

LB had a nice year except for the aforementioned layups. He has shown signs of being able to handle end of quarter and late game situations, but still has trouble in that are. I feel like if ha can avoid stupid fouls, and concentrate on making those flying layups, he could continue to be our instant offense. I would keep him, but listen to any offers. If he is the key to getting Kevin Love of Batum, I would be very tempted to deal, especially if Tucker's shot has improved like they say it has.

Grant Hill

What's not to like? Except for that untimely injury bug, Grant was just what the doctor ordered for the Suns. He averaged 14 points, and provided a n extra passer. I think he suffered after the addition of O'Neal, which congested the lane more, but oveall a nice surprise.

Contract status:

Grant holds a player option for 2008-2009. His 2008-2009 salary would be $1,9760,400. This is a bargain, and the Suns should do everything in their power to get him to exercise the option. If D'Antoni goes, there is a chance Grant would not re-up, especially if the new coach is a practice monster.

Observations:

I like Grant's game. He developed a serviceable 3 point shot, and filled in admirably in Marion's defensive role after the trade. I think he will be coming off tyhe bech with reduced minutes. It is hard not to conclude that the groin injury was at least partly due to overuse. GH adds a lot to the team, and it was a big blow to not have him in the playoffs. Keep him.

Brian Skinner

Skinner was at times just what the Suns wanted, KT lite, if you will. He didn't have Thomas' nasty streak, and he can't shoot free throws, but the Suns were surprised to see he can shoot, and that he adds some shotblocking. He somehow ended up on the DNP list for a while, and in the Spur series showed that he is no KT.

Contract status:

He completed his contract at the end of the playoffs. The Suns should try to keep him if the draft does not yield a frontcourt player. He may be looking for more than the MDE, and he just does not offer enough for that.

Observations:

He is a nice player to have as the 8th or 9th man, but he should have been used more. As I said above, the Suns should consider keeping him only if the draft yields a guard or small forward. If we get Kevin Love, Skinner is gone.

Gordan Giricek

Gordan was a pleasent surprise. He is versatile enough to be the sixth man and spot starter for Raja. He had several games in double figures, and his defense was to me a surprise.

Contract status:

He completed his contract at the end of the playoffs. In my mind, Gordan was a steal, and could even get someone's midlevel exception. I think we should use part of it on him. This is a valuable player who can plug a lot of holes.

Observations:

As said, Gordan was a nice surprise, and will be in demand. I especially liked his defense and the fact that he can handle the ball, and make decisions. We should concentrate on freeing him on screens . Try to keep him.

Alando Tucker

AT has been a forgotten man in the Suns' scheme. In limited minutes ha flashed some scoring ability, but also showed the tendency to think he is still in college and playing against 6-7 centers.

Contract status:

Signed through 2008-2009, with team options for 2009-2010 and 2010-2011. We can keep hin the year after that with a qualifying offer. His 2008-2009 salary is $1,101,880. In effect, this is alando's contract year, since he will not be renewed unbless he shows some value on the court.

We have heard that he has developed a shot. I saw his gaudy DL numbers, but I seriously doubt the big men are even up to Big Ten status in that league. However, shooting percentages don't lie, and he did develop a jumper. But in the games he did play late in the season, he seemed to revert to trying to take it inside, where his size is against him. Whether we pick up his option after next season is up for debate, but for now, he seems a lock for next year's team.

DJ Strawberry

DJ showed NBA caliber defense that will keep him in the league for a while. The shot looks ugly, and his decision making is what you would expecy t for a rookie. But I like him.

Contract status

The Suns have a team option for 2008-2009 for $711,517. I consider this money well spent. His deal is not a burden.

Observations:

Keep DJ! I like the defensive attitude. He and Leandro need to spend some time together. His shot clanking is a concern, so I would have him shoot 1000 jumpers a day all summer, then play on the Summer team again.

Eric Piatowski

Eric had a good season as lead towell-waver. He didn't offer much, but hit an occasional 3 to let us know he was still there.

Contract status:

He has completed his contract, and is a free agent.

Observations:

There is no reason that I can think of why Pike should be on next year's team. He should retire.

Sean Marks

Sean showed some ability to hit shots, rebound, and even shot-block. When he played, it was mostly in a blowout game.

Contract status:

He has completed his contract, and is a free agent.

Observations:

I do not think he should be retained, unless the Suns do not add any other third center option. since they have several forwards (Diaw, STAT) that can play center, I say goodbye to Marks.

Linton Johnson

LJ showed some athleticism in his 10 day contract.

Contract status:

He has completed his contract, and is a free agent.

Observations:

Linton should work hard over the summer, and someone, perhaps the Suns, will extend him a training camp contract or a minumum make good so he could play on the summer league team.

#15 draft choice

I am including this in the review because this Hawk's pick has been around for so long, it almost seems like part of the team. There are a wide range of bodies available, and it is imperative that the Suns strike gold on this pick.

Contract status:

The #15 pick carried a $1,308,000 salary for the 2007 draft class. This will go up maybe 5%.

Observation:

I am hoping for Kevin Love or Nicholas Batum, but Donta Green and Darrell Arthur have been bandied about. Some of you want DJ Augustin, but I am not sure. He is probably no more than Brevin Knight, but could be Iverson. Outside of the fire-the-coach talk, this will be the main source of conversation for Suns fans for the next two months.

Comments?

Bye, Bye AJ, we hardly knew ye

Hawk42 — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:35:26 -0000

Avery fired in Dallas, D'Antoni reportedly at top of Maverick's list

Avery Johnson was fired today just two short years after holding a 2-0 lead on the Miami Heat in the 2006 NBA finals. This was reported earlier today by Marc stein of SI.com. The sports showss all agree that should the Suns fire D'Antoni, MikeD should be at the top of owner Mark Cuban's shopping list.

I still hold out hope that Mike will stay, but if he feels he is not getting the support of Kerr and Sarver, he should do what he has to do.

Comments?

Hawk's first round look-see

Hawk42 — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:44:21 -0000

ed note: Great playoff preview from Hawk42. ZF and I are (NOT) working on something similar...We don't think we could top this! -Phx Stan & ZF

Here is my take on the first round. I'll let someone else do the in-depth stuff.

Playoff Preview - 2008 NBA first round

(8) Atlanta at (1) Boston

I don't see the Celts having much trouble here. Everyone seems impressed with the Hawks, but really, if the Bulls and Nets hadn't tanked, nobody would be talking about playoffs in Atlanta. 37 victories hardly qualifies as a breakthrough. The Hawks are strong at home, though. The match up of Horford vs. Garnett will be interesting to watch. Rajon Rondo will hound Bibby to exhaustion, and the thin Boston bench will have a fun time with their pathetic Hawk counterparts.

A key player in this match up for Atlanta is Marvin Williams. If he can get in a groove, the Hawks can spread the floor for Joe Johnson and Josh Smith. I don't think Hawk fans are in good shape if they must trust Marvin, though. I'm calling for a sweep, with one close game in Atlanta. The Hawks missed a chance to beat the Celts last week and plant some doubt in the minds of the Boston players, but they dropped the ball.

Boston, 4-0

[Edit] I seriously underestimated the Hawks. They may not win a game 7 in Boston, but they have shown that they are not slouches, and JJ is a superstar. The JJ-Smith-Horford duo could be a playoff regular if the point guard situation is resolved long term.

(7) Philadelphia at (2) Detroit

Some have tabbed this match up as one to watch. I am not one of them. The Pistons are primed and ready for another title run. The Sixers have shown some moxie in their second half push for a playoff spot, but have cooled off in the last few weeks. I just don't see the Sixer combination of backcourt wizardry (Iggy and Miller) and overachieving frontcourt men (Green and Dalembert) can stay with the veteran lineup of Hamilton-Billups-Prince-Wallace-McDyess. I don't even think Philly's frontline guys can beat Detroit's second five of Afflalo-Maxiel-Hunter-Johnson-Stuckey.

Philly did win 2 late season games from the Pistons in their playoff push. These games are hard to read since Detroit had a huge lead for their division, and have been locked into the #2 seed for over two months. If Detroit lets Sammy D get loose for 20 and 13 again, they could lose a game. Welcome to the playoffs, Sixers!

Detroit, 4-1

[Edit] underestimated the Sixers, but only missed by one game.

(6) Toronto at (3) Orlando

The Magic carved out a nice season in central Florida, riding the athletic freak Dwight Howard in his breakout year. Hedo Turkoglu also had a career year, which took some pressure off of the new free agent, Rashard Lewis. Toronto looked to be moving in to the elite group after last year's division winner, but clearly took a step back as Bryan Colangelo's moves weren't all peaches and cream. I really think the improvement shown by Sam Mitchell was a mirage, and the Raps will have to get another coach to push this young and talented team to the next level.

Orlando won the season series , 2-1, but the one loss was an embarrassing 127-110 defeat as Calderon had a fantastic game and Bosh played Howard to a standstill. The Raps have the talent to make it a 7 game series, but the malaise they find themselves in is good enough to extent the series to 6 games.

Orlando, 4-2

[Edit] pretty spot on

(5) Washington at (4) Cleveland

This is the one people are waiting for. The Wizards have stayed true to their nickname, somehow winning games with 2/3 of their talented stars out of the lineup from time to time. The result is that they have a strong bench, which was not the case in years past with the Jamison-Butler-Arenas troika averaging 75 points and 125 minutes per game. I do not know of the status of Arenas and Butler, but I think this series is a dogfight in any event.

As for the season series, you have two early blowouts, one by each team, and more recently, two very close games, also split. Much depends on the availability of Caron Butler, but also someone besides James needs to provide some consistent offense. A classic 7 game series is probably in order. I give the edge to LeBron and his boys, but it could swing either way.

Cleveland, 4-3

[Edit] also spot on

(8) Denver at (1) Los Angeles Lakers

Denver can be an exciting team. They closed the season on a 26-16 run, overtaking the Warriors, who faltered with a 7-10 record down the stretch. All three losses in the Laker's season sweep of the Nuggets (average margin of 16.3 points) occurred before this run, which commenced on January 21st. So those losses were with Andrew Bynum and without Gasol.

How can we predict how the Nugs will play given the new circumstances? We do know one or two things. The supporting cast for the Nuggets has been virtually nonexistent, while the Lakers trounced Denver with a well-balanced attack. The Nuggets defense (or lack of it) has allowed an average of 118 points per game, while scoring 102. I just don't see a sure Nugget win in this series, which is a bad matchup for Denver. They may be able to scratch one out due to the fact that LA has Gasol instead of the shotblocking Bynum. So I'm calling it Lakers in 5 games.

LA, 4-1

[Edit] pretty boringly spot on

(7) Dallas at (2) New Orleans

The Mavs played for this match up. As the old saying goes, be careful what you wish for. Clearly the Mavs pulled out all the stops in the last game of the season. This gives the Hornets a tactical advantage, as Byron Scott now knows that he will face the trap. Whether New Orleans can adequately prepare a counter punch remains to be seen, but suffice it to say, the first punch in this first round match up has already been thrown. Expect the Hornets to come back with a counterstrike.

Byron Scott is an experienced coach who hasn't always pressed the right buttons. It is critical for him that he devise a way to stop Kidd from going to the basket. The outside shots, he can live with, as JK will not be hitting those consistently. If the Mavs can confuse the Hornets by trapping CP3 effectively, Dallas will wind up with the upset. I don't think they can. New Orleans will figure it out.

New Orleans, 4-3

[Edit] I gave the Mavs too much credit. In retrospect, this wasn a 'hope' prediction. I ewally felt sorry for the Mavs and the Jerry Jones type meddling that has led to this team's downfall.

(6) Phoenix at (3) San Antonio

The fear is gone. All that remains is for the Suns to press their advantage. With Barry back, and Ginobli returning to full strength, the defending champs won't go down without a struggle. A key sideline is the health of Grant Hill, who can contain Tony Parker in the same role as the Matrix. Another key is the series-long battle between Raja Bell and Manu Ginobli. The Spurs have no answer for Shaquille O'Neal, who averaged 20 and 12 in two late season games. If Shaq can limit Duncan like he is supposed to, that will put the onus on the outside shooters.

Look for a dust up at some point. The Suns will be glued to their benches when it happens. Bowen will try something. Floppy Ginobli is annoying, but harmless, but someone might end up turning an ankle on a strategically placed Bowen foot. This matchup has all the drama of a titanic struggle, and the Suns finally bring all of their guns to the party.

Phoenix, 4-2

[Edit] Totally missed this one. I really thought the Suns would play better, although they practically mailed it in after the game 1 collapse.

(4) Utah at (5) Houston

This is the matchup the Jazz were angling for. With Rafer Alston out and no Yao Ming, Houston is running out of weapons. If the Rockets had an overpowering home record, I would lean towards them. Bobby Jackson is not a huge dropoff from Alston, and Scola will battle Boozer as well as anyone. But who keeps Deron Williams out of the lane? And what if Okur gets hot?

Houston does own one of only four league wins at Salt Lake City this year, but that was with Yao. However, Yao had a subpar game with 11 points and 7 rebounds. McGrady, however, hit for 47. This appears to be the blueprint for Houston success. I don't think Tracy can sustain it.

Utah, 4-2

[Edit] Again, spot on

[Edit] Grade: 6 series predicted correctly, one wrongly, and one incomplete. A 7-1 record if the C's do their job, but I wish the one miss wasn't so close to home.

Poll

Who are the first round playoff winners?

Raptors over Magic

1 votes

Rockets over Jazz

0 votes

Jazz over Rockets

4 votes

Wiz over Cavs

0 votes

Cavs over Wiz

0 votes

Suns over Spurs

11 votes

Spurs over Suns

4 votes

Mavs over Hornets

1 votes

Hornets over Mavs

0 votes

Magic over Raps

0 votes

21 votes | Poll has closed

If the season ended today

Hawk42 — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 20:19:43 -0000

The season has ended.... Playoff positioning set in stone...p> Update [2008-4-17 00:39:39 by Hawk42]:

4/17 update

No changes.

Lakers 57-25
Hornets 56-26
Spurs 56-26
Jazz 54-28
Rockets 55-27
Suns 55-27
Mavs 51-31
Nuggets 50-32

Here are the current East playoff teams: No changes.

Celtics 66-16
Pistons 59-23
Magic 52-30
Cavs 45-37
Wizards 43-39
Raptors 41-41
76ers 40-42
Hawks 37-45

Matchups
Here are the matchups for the playoffs (home court advantage first):

Lakers-Nuggets
Hornets-Mavs
Spurs-Suns
Rockets-Jazz
Celtics-Hawks
Pistons-76ers
Magic-Raptors
Cavs-Wizards

Atlanta pick watch: Atlanta has made the playoffs. No lottery pick here. Draft position: 15

Poll

Which possible midseason move helps the most

Golden state signs Chris Webber

11 votes

San Antonio signs Damon Stoudamire

5 votes

Phoenix signs Damon Stoudamire

13 votes

Dallas trades for Jason Kidd

18 votes

Nets jettison Kidd for Stackhouse and Diop

7 votes

54 votes | Poll has closed

NCAA madness

Hawk42 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:04:00 -0000

It's that time of year again. time to fill out your brackets and watch endless games and look at possible draft picks...

I thought it would be fun to reminisce about some past tournaments, and I specifically wanted to examine contributions to NCAA lore by current and former Suns.

Two of the most amazing moments in NCAA history featured current Suns players prominently. Here are some moments featuring current Suns players:

In the 1993 tournament, Steve Nash led 15th seeded Santa Clara to a 64-61 upset of the 2nd seeded Arizona Wildcats. Chris Mills and Damon Stoudamire could not stop the 'Cats from choking even though Nash missed two free throws in the final minute as the Broncos hung on. This was especially memorable to me as I was rooting for the 'cats, and they had been knocked out in the first round the year before. I remember exactly where I was since I was in Puerto Vallarta on a sailboat, which is why I couldn't watch it. After this, Olson went out and got the recruiting class that won it for him in 1997.
In what some say is the greatest college basketball game of all time, Duke stunned Kentucky 104-103 in a third round game in the 1992 tournament. Christian Laettner's turnaround jumper from the top of the key with 2.5 seconds left stunned the Wildcats. The play was practiced by the Blue Devils for weeks after it failed in a game with Georgia Tech. The passer of the 3/4 court bomb to Laettner? None other than our own Grant Hill.
Also in the 1993 tournament, Shaquille O'Neal led perhaps his best LSU team toward a much hyped game against Georgetown and Alonzo Mourning. Alas, Bobby Knight had other ideas. Although Shaq scored 36 points, the Hoosiers choked off the other Tigers and advanced, spoiling the sportswriter's dream matchup.

DJ has played in four tournament games, two each in 2004 and in 2007. He shot 8-27 in 2 2007 tourney games, so nothing to write home about. He was a sub for the 2004 Terps team that made the NCAA.

Tucker has played in eight NCAA games, winning 3. I cannot find any write up about his performance.

I can't think of any former Suns that have been tournament heroes except Steve Kerr, who had quite a career down the road from Phoenix. Maybe someone else can dig up his stats.

Feel free to add your memories. Also, go ahead and use this space to post your observations on this year's tournament.

Poll

Who will win this year?

Xavier

0 votes

Kansas

1 votes

USC

0 votes

Duke

0 votes

North Carolina

4 votes

UCLA

5 votes

Texas

3 votes

Georgetown

0 votes

Memphis

0 votes

Stanford

0 votes

13 votes | Poll has closed

New Style suits Suns

Hawk42 — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:47:28 -0000

Analyzing the first ten games of the Shaq era...

A quick and dirty analysis of the last ten games reveal a definite trend. The wins feature a slower paced, grind-it out style, and the losses show that these Suns can't win by running all the time.

Specifically:

Wins

Boston, 95-87
Portland, 97-92
San Antonio, 94-87
Memphis, 127-113 (This game actually should have been a loss, but the Grizz stink. We played badly)

Losses

Detroit, 116-86
LA, 130-124
NO, 120-103
Den, 126-113
Phi, 119-114
Utah, 126-118

See a trend? When we try to run, we lose. Now I am not saying we ditch the running. It is clear, however, that our defensive schemes AS CURRENTLY EMPLOYED, cannot handle the increased opportunities that the wide open game affords the opposition.

What we must do is to pick our spots, and run when we have the advantage. What was our disadvantage in the 6 losses?

LA - Kobe vs Raja, LA bench vs our bench
Det - Chauncy vs Nash, Rasheed vs STAT
Phi - Raja vs Iguodala
Utah - Nash vs Deron williams
NO - Nash vs Paul
Den - Nash vs Iverson

Notice in these 6 games, we played 3 of Nash's most difficult matchups. We have to figure out how to help him out.

Also, in each of these games, we had advantages that we did not press. In all of them, the biggest was Shaq vs his man. This is an advantage we cannot waste. In addition:

LA - Hill vs Odom
Det - Amare vs McDyess
Utah - Hill vs Utah SF
Den - Amare vs Martin
NO - Hill vs Peja
Phl - Amare vs Dalembert or Young

There are other matchups we should win. LB and Boris should always win their matchups, but both are in a funk now. Have you ever seen anyone stop Boris when he wanted to score? And LB, I have always said he waits too long to lay it up till he is under the basket and it is an almost impossible angle. He is an athlete. He has established that 'blow by the defender' move already. Time to change it up and pull up for a 5 foot jumper. The defender flill go for the usual layup. After that, he will have his man guessing.

I think we are figuring it out, but the GS game is a good test. If we keep the pace down, we will win. That sounds strange when talking about the Suns, but if that game is played above the 110 point level, we lose.