SB Nation User Blog: matrix7

Is Amare the problem?

matrix7 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:16:31 -0000

Before the season started I think few people expected a very hopeful beginning. What is the problem? The main problem is that people start to want unreasonable goals. At first people were happy with achieving the PO. However, after a 10-2 people believe that we can compete against the best teams and when the first unexpected defeat comes we came down and begin the criticism.

One of the major problems of the Suns for long time has been the lack of rebound. What can we do? The answer is simple: signing a specialist. But who? And by whom?

One name comes to my mind, Noah. He isn’t only a good rebounder, he is in one way or another a complete player; no a great player, no a superstar, but a complete player. He can run, score, rebound, defend ....

Whom do we place on the other side of the scale?

If we want to make a trade this player must to be Amare.

Let’s see the statistics:

	Min	Ppg	Rpg	Apg	Bpg	St	TO	Shots pg
Amare	35,5	19,8	7,5	1,2	1	0,6	3	13
Noah	33,5	12,1	12,6	2,3	2	0,7	1,8	9

What is more important: to score or rebound? I think rebounding is more important because there are many scorers on the team but not good rebounders.

Moreover Noah could play center while Frye would play power forward, which is his more natural position. Noah can defend big men better than Frye.

I talk about defense because defense is one of the main factors for a contender team; of course, also the talent, chemistry, etc.. are.

Celtics, Spurs and even Lakers can score 85-90 points in a game and win. The Suns NO. That's because a good defense.

Damn, I'm extending more than I thought. Well, I finish.

Why the Bulls would want Amare if they already have Noah? I don’t know, but you can put any other name where I wrote Noah.

ANDRÉS MONTES, a very peculiar journalist.

matrix7 — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 22:26:32 -0000

Today is a sad day. Today has died a journalist, special, different. He made me enjoy with the NBA with his style so characteristic of a game broadcast. Today has died Andrés Montes.

I know that for you is a true unknown, but in Spain was an idol. Perhaps you have seen him in any All-Star because he was there every year and his image was very characteristic www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhN1GsqZ7kE

He quickly connected with fans and people in general.

We interviewed him in our radio program and was special.

I have nothing more to say. Rest in peace.

Risk and Reward

matrix7 — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:57:31 -0000

It would be very easy to be a GM having all the money in the world and with the great players wanting to play on your team. But usually the reality is just the opposite. So you have 2 options: be quiet or risk.

Let's play to be a GM. I would make a risky change: JRich x Eddy Curry. I must say that I looked at the ESPN trade machine and the trade doesn’t work, but only for 100.000 $, so I guess that this problem could be solved.

Arguments in favour of the trade:

- We have good scorers in the roster and SG & SF position are well covered.

- We need big players.

- This trade involves changes in the starting lineup; Hill can play at SG and Dudley at SF, keeping LB as 6th man. This team: Nash-Hill-Dudley-Amare-Frye is better defensively and keep scoring capacity.

- Coming off the bench: PG: Dragic-Barbosa SG: Barbosa-Tucker SF: Clark PF: Lou-Curry C: López

- It seems that this season Curry is better physically. He has always been a good scorer in the low post. With the duo López-Curry we can emulate the duo Chander-Curry. One is the rebounder and the other the scorer.

- Looking at the financial aspect of the operation, you can save 2,8 m$ in salary and other 2,8 m$ in luxury tax the 1st. year and 3 m$ in salary and other 3 m$ in luxury tax the 2nd. year.

To end: I know JRich is an asset for the team and Curry is an ( ? ). But, do we have anything to lose? I think not because we aren’t a championship contender team, simply we are a team that can make a good season.

THE COACHES IN THE N.B.A.

matrix7 — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:30:18 -0000

I usually see many basketball games: NBA, Basketball Spanish league, European Championships and there is a thing that caught my attention a lot: the different distribution of the minutes of play in the NBA and other leagues.

In the NBA there is a clear differentiation between starters and bench players and the minutes that each one must play. Even the moment that they have to play those minutes.

In Europe it doesn’t happen.

NBA coaches have fixed ideas. There are at least 3 times during games where this happens:

1. Start of the game. Always starters (logical)

2. Start of the 3rd. quarter. Always starters (??)

3. Final minutes. Always starters. (?????????)

How many times a team has lost a match in the final minutes for making a change (starter x bench player) that was playing well, simply "because the starter has to play"?

I remember games of the Raptors; in the final minutes TJ Ford always had to play and Calderon had to go back to the bench.

I understand that there must be a hierarchy, but I also understand that coaches must be flexible and if a player is playing well he doesn´t have to be replaced by the simple fact of being a bench player.

I repeat, this doesn’t happen in Spain. I look for an explanation and the only thing I can think of is that all NBA coaches have been players and customs often endure lifelong.