SB Nation User Blog: Mike Lisboa

No Franchise For Old Men

Mike Lisboa — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 18:13:03 -0000

More photos » by Paul Connors - AP

"Can you get me out of here?" (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

So, Shaq is gone, Steve Nash is having dinner with Steve Kerr but flirting with the mustachioed Italian at the next table, and Grant Hill is talking to other teams.

I have no problem with any of this.

This team was not winning a championship as currently constructed. Barring several miracles, it was not winning a championship in the next 3-5 years. Why on earth has the front office's free agent priority been to sign or extend two players who are on the wrong side of 35? Not 30, like Marion or Turkoglu, but 35, 5 years BEYOND the universally recognized "slide" age for most professional athletes. Exactly what kind of re-building process was Steve Kerr hoping to initiate with a couple of geezers running the offense?

Nash and Hill are a couple of class acts. Their presence is appreciated both on and off the court for the level of leadership and competition they bring to the game. I love watching them play and have been more than satisfied with their tours of duty for the Phoenix Suns. But it's time for them to go.

In addition to being old and in Nash's case, expensive, neither one of them is a "proven winner." Neither has played on a championship winning team or even led a team to the NBA finals. The only Suns player to have done that got traded last week. And neither one of them has the skills to miraculously transform our also-ran franchise into a winner next year. The best we could hope for from either of them is to shepherd this young and fragile squad through what is now going to be an obviously painful reconstruction while ably filling their roles at the 1 and 3.

Let Grant Hill go chase a ring with the Celtic. He's earned that "right" in his star-crossed career. He should have been one of the G.O.A.T.s but injuries de-railed that dream. Steve Nash, for all his prodigious gifts as a point guard has never established himself as the alpha dog this team has sorely needed and passively torpedoed at least one head coach in the process. Despite the gaping holes they would leave on the floor, it's time for the Suns to look forward and re-configure this franchise around a more youthful core.

Farmar/Black Mamba Endorsement Fail

Mike Lisboa — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:28:24 -0000

This is not Suns-related in the least, but I see this billboard every day on my drive home on the 101 South through Hollywood. It absolutely kills me. Farmar ≠ Black Mamba. Not by association, not by a mile.

Simmons, Murdering the NBA's Officiating

Mike Lisboa — Thu, 28 May 2009 19:05:00 -0000

Simmons, Murdering the NBA's Officiating

A little overboard? Maybe. But it's about as an impassioned and thought out plea for change in officiating as you'll see.

Sarver weighs in on Suns' offseason

Mike Lisboa — Fri, 01 May 2009 20:39:44 -0000

Sarver weighs in on Suns' offseason

Sarver discusses Kerr, Porter, Amare, Shaq and the luxury tax. The crystal ball stays murky, but it's nice to hear him addressing what's on Suns fans' minds.

Hat tip to Presbot for tweeting the link.

2009 NBA Lottery Odds with Ziller-tary

Mike Lisboa — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:25:13 -0000

2009 NBA Lottery Odds with Ziller-tary

I get it. He doesn't like Sarver. But he's not THAT bad.

Lone Suns Cheerleader Makes Playoffs, Unsure of Seed

Mike Lisboa — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:01:40 -0000

The NBA blogsphere is beside itself with the release of the NBA's new "Amazing" campaign featuring clips of playoffs past and a new Kanye West joing.

Personally, I'm beside myself with joy for #06 of the Phoenix Suns Cheerleading Squad (does that even exist?), because she's apparently going to the post-season. Way to go #06! Good luck defending Kobe, though.

At the :38 mark, our solo playoff-bound Sun makes her appearance.

Game "Preview" - Phoenix Suns vs. Dallas Mavericks

Mike Lisboa — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 06:58:32 -0000

More photos » by Joe Murphy - NBAE/Getty Images

3 months ago: MEMPHIS, TN - APRIL 3: O.J. Mayo #32 and Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies celebrate their win against the Dallas Mavericks on April 3, 2009 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

Browse more photos »

Anyone else get the feeling that this season has shades of the movie "Groundhog Day" coloring it? It seems like every time I turn around, the Suns are playing a "Must Win" game and have been since tip-off on opening day. Well, finally, we have a game that the Suns absolutely, positively cannot afford to lose. I thought hope died after the back to back losses to Utah and Sacramento. But then Dallas falls to Memphis and suddenly hope -- like a mindless zombie that refuses to die -- resurrected itself, took a nice chunk out of my thigh, and re-infected me. But, Mike, you say, that's an awful grim metaphor for something as wondrous as Hope.

To which I reply, have you been watching this team for the last 76 games? This year's Phoenix Suns have been the Warden Norton to our collective Andy Dufresne. Any time it's looked like the fans have had something to get excited about (a 6 game winning streak, collective chemistry, Matt Barnes getting hot), BAM, Tommy takes a bullet in the head. This team hasn't been able to decide if it's time to get busy living or get busy dying. And while a loss will drive a stake through the heart of my zombie called hope, a win doesn't guarantee redemption. It just means the zombie trudges on mindlessly for a few more games waiting to be eventually put out of its misery. Hope, my friends, has not been a very rewarding experience for the purple and orange faithful this season.

That said, I hope we stomp the bejeezus out of those damn Texans Sunday. I'm not ready for my bullet in the head/decapitation/death by flames just yet.

If you read Phoenix Stan's Practice Report, you'll find a mini-preview from our fearless leader. And if you read this, you'll find a much less insightful mini-preview as well. Frankly, I haven't seen enough of the Dallas Mavericks this season to have much of an opinion on keys to this game. However, ignorance is bliss. For a big dose of bliss, read on.

I expect this will be high scoring affair as neither team is known for its defensive prowess. Dirk will kill us. We have no one remotely capable of matching up with him. (Miss you, Boris! Miss you, Amare'!) That said, if our wings can even begin to frustrate Jason Terry and Josh Howard, things look pretty good for the Suns. Jason Kidd has never been much of an offensive threat which takes a lot of the pressure off Steve Nash on one end of the floor. Yes, he creates and can have big games, but he's not in the same league as Dirk, Terry or J-Ho when it comes to giving Suns fans nightmares.

Phoenix Stan brings up the excellent point that JJ Barea tends to have big games against the Suns. I think that trend stops with this game. We've seen Goran Dragic play some pretty decent defense in short stretches. I think he'll be asked to cool JJ's jets and is up to the task if he doesn't get burned and rattled early.

As a matter of fact, I actually like the Suns depth against the Mavericks. Dallas certainly has a little more size than Phoenix, but I think the Suns' Red Bull chugging second unit has the energy to outquick Dallas' second unit. In a game of this magnitude though, I don't expect they'll see heavy minutes.

I think this game ends up getting decided for the Suns by Shaquille O'Neal. He should have his way against Erick Dampier and ~~Desagana Diop~~ Ryan Hollis. (Embarrassing disclosure: After Dampier had his career-making season with Golden State, I would have given my left arm for the Suns to sign him as a free agent. Reflecting on this, I realize I am in not a very good position to ever, EVER question any future decisions by NBA GMs.) I fully expect Dallas to use all 12 of Dampier and ~~Diop~~ Hollis' fouls (with a smattering from the rest of the Mavs) to slow him down. If he reverts to his rim-rattling ways from the line, it could be a long afternoon.

Anyone else notice that the Suns and Mavericks have sort of been bizarro images of one another the last few seasons? Both Western Conference powerhouses unable to get over the hump. Both having arguments that external forces (suspicious suspensions for the Suns, obscene officiating for the Mavs against Miami) derailed their title hopes. Both having nutty flamboyant owners. Both changing head coaches. Both on the wane. It seems fitting that they're facing each other now with whatever slim chances of glory they have resting on securing an opportunity face a fearsome Lakers squad. Two former championship contenders trying to gouge each other's eyes out for a shot at the 8th seed in the playoffs. That, folks, is as apt a metaphor for the dangers of hope as any Tim Robbins movie.

The Texans take can be found over at Mavs Moneyball. Now, go brains Suns!

Grant played seventy-five straight games for the Pistons in 1996-97, his third year in the NBA, but...

Mike Lisboa — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:49:19 -0000

Grant played seventy-five straight games for the Pistons in 1996-97, his third year in the NBA, but he has never played every game in a full 82-game season. This just might be his year.

From Josh Q. Public via Deadspin. Please don't be a jinx!

Suns Looking at Stromile Swift

Mike Lisboa — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 19:07:16 -0000

Suns Looking at Stromile Swift

Paul Coro is reporting that Stromile Swift is at the top of the Phoenix Suns veteran buyout list.

Steve Kerr on the Dan Patrick Show

Mike Lisboa — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:36:59 -0000

Steve Kerr on the Dan Patrick Show

Dan Patrick interviews Steve Kerr after the big Lakers win. Kerr discusses the Laker win (he didn't think they could do it), various trade rumors that swirled around the Suns, bloggers, Amare Stoudemire's injury and the Terry Porter hiring/firing.