| Follow The Leader Authored by J.T. Magee - October 19, 2006 - 12:54 am
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Well, yeah. Back when Joe Johnson and Quentin Richardson were keeping bay at the 3-point line two seasons ago, the Suns were going with a regular 8-9-man rotation. That was on a good day. They eventually won over 60 games while leading the NBA in rebounding, points per game and 3-pointers made. In the playoffs, Phoenix played about 7 players. When Joe Johnson went down with his orbital bone fraction (they would’ve taken the Spurs had he been there the entire series), the Suns were barely playing 7 guys. Yet they went 5 games against the Spurs.
Just last season, the D was playing well, they were rebounding and they went a little deeper in the bench, this time sparingly playing 9-10 guys. Head Coach Mike D’Antoni usually went with 8 players consistently, though. After Kurt Thomas and Brian Grant went down with foot and knee injuries, D’Antoni went with 4 small forwards in the frontcourt. Yet the philosophy was the same: run and score, score and run.
In the playoffs, they were 2 games away from reaching the NBA Finals and a match up with Shaquille O’Neal and Dwyane Wade. Considering they went 135-64 in two years under D’Antoni and playing 7 players in the playoffs both years, that’s not too shabby. But the question isn’t whether Phoenix will continue their winning ways, which they will. The question is: are teams like the Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, Charlotte Bobcats and those New York Knicks helping themselves or hurting themselves by trying to follow suit?
The simple answer is each team is hurting themselves. There are a lot of ways to explain why they are hurting themselves, but to fully justify the reasoning; I’ll break down some similarities and differences between the Suns and each team that has been mentioned. One team that is not on this list, the Washington Wizards, was a year or two ahead of the following curve when they had Larry Hughes and Gilbert Arenas in the backcourt next to Antawn Jamison. Ah, hell. I’ll throw them in there, too.
Suns vs. Warriors
Similarities:
Both teams have talent. Phoenix consists of 3 All-Stars in Steve Nash, Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudemire. They will soon have a 4th in Boris Diaw, but that is for another time and place. (Seriously, someone who averages 20+ points, 10+ boards and 5+ assists in the Western Conference Finals has to be considered a future All-Star.) Let’s start with the guards. While Phoenix has the All-Stars, the Warriors have some talent themselves, led by former All-Star Baron Davis. They also have two future All-Stars themselves in Jason Richardson and second-year stud Monta Ellis. They can go small and their 3 guards can match up evenly with the likes of Nash, Leandro Barbosa and Raja Bell. The Suns helped themselves out in the off-season by adding Marcus Banks, a defensive stalwart and speed demon. The Warriors added former Cavalier Dejuan Wagner.
In the frontcourt, the Suns have Shawn Marion, Diaw, Stoudemire and returning rover James Jones. I say rover because he should utilize what helped him stay on the floor against Dallas in the WCFs: weak side shot blocking. They added Jumaine Jones to replace Tim Thomas’ 3-point shooting and he will do just that. The Suns also brought in Sean Marks, but he’ll be yet another cheerleader on the bench and practice player.
On depth, the Warriors may have the advantage. They will likely play Richardson at the 3, along with Mickael Pietrus, who has yet to be used to his full potential (making plays freely rather than forcing him into a slow-down system). They will use Mike Dunleavy for some secondary ball handling at the 4 and start Troy Murphy at the 5. Backing him up will be Andris Biedrins (who I love as the banger off the bench) and Patrick O’Bryant. Second-year 4 Ike Diogu will receive some playing time, but with his low-post game, it’s hard to see him receiving over 20 minutes in this offense.
Differences:
All-Stars and winning. The Suns have them, as well as a two-time MVP. Say what you want about the voting each year, but Nash has been the Suns’ MVP. Their main core has been in the WCFs twice. The players who have been on the floor when it matters will be starting for the Suns. Golden State may have a coach who has been there before in Don Nelson, but the players have yet to have the taste of winning for themselves. Even if they make it into the playoffs, they will have a hard time getting out when their best low-post scorer, Diogu, barely got over 25 minutes a game in the regular season.
Suns vs. Nuggets
Similarities:
Both like to run. They run differently, but they both like to run. Each team has a legit point guard, with Andre Miller running the Nuggets’ offense. Each team has a prolific scorer. Phoenix may have one on any given night with the combination of Nash, Marion, Stoudemire and now Diaw, but Denver can only ride on the shoulders of Carmelo Anthony, who is bound for a 30-10-5 average at some point in his career. Both teams play in the West. Both teams have good guard depth. Umm…
Differences:
Aside from where they’ve been in the past two years, the Nuggets lack the outside shooting Phoenix obtains year in and year out. Last year for the Suns, it was Tim Thomas and Eddie House. This year, it is Jumaine Jones. Denver has yet to obtain the 3-point scorer needed to stretch out the D for Anthony. Although J.R. Smith has the range, he has yet to prove he can be reliable consistently behind the arc. With Nash, the Suns have a PG who will pass more than shoot, but will shoot when he deems it necessary. Miller will pass but will shoot randomly. He’s a very underrated PG and I don’t want to take anything away from him, but he’s still a little ways away from becoming the PG for a consistently winning team. Earl Boykins, the only NBA player, aside from Nate Robinson, whom I can say I’m taller than, loves to score and is not a traditional point guard. Who are these days, though?
Point being, the Nuggets lack the system that really benefits the point guard like Phoenix has. Nash just uses the most simple set in basketball to his advantage: the pick & roll. With Denver, they utilize Kenyon Martin’s athleticism and not his low-post scoring. Phoenix utilizes Stoudemire and Diaw’s athleticism, but will let them makes decisions with the ball. Denver doesn’t have that pick & roll post player needed to help their half-court set succeed. They’ll be able to run, but without the long-range bomb, they won’t be able to put up enough points to outscore the opposition 7 times out of ten, which is needed in the NBA.
Suns vs. Bucks
Similarities
Both teams have athletic bigs. Milwaukee made out like bandits, trading for Charlie Villanueva and solidified the point guard by adding Portland’s Steve Blake. Both moves cleared the way for a faster pace. With the addition of Villanueva, it allows the Bucks and Head Coach Terry Stotts to add some versatility in the frontcourt with Villanueva playing alongside Andrew Bogut. Both can shoot, both can pass and both can run well for their size. I’d mention the Suns’ frontcourt, but it’s a little overkill.
Although Milwaukee lost TJ Ford, arguably the fastest guard (my vote goes to Monta Ellis), they have Blake, Mo “in-a-contract-year-and-about-to-put-up-some-numbers” Williams and Charlie Bell. All three bring a different element to the position. Blake can run the system and make sure Michael Redd gets his 26 PPG. Bell brings an ability to score and defend at both the 1 and 2. He’s not a pure PG, but he can play alongside both Blake and Williams.
Then there is Williams; perhaps one of the most underrated second round picks within the last 5 years. He’s fast and he can score. He can penetrate and create for himself and his teammates with ease. He has a knack for making the game-winning shot, hitting a couple of them last year for the Bucks. But he’s the starter and will provide the Bucks with versatility that will help them get in the playoffs.
Differences
Coaching. Coming into his third full season as head coach of the Suns, D’Antoni has been to two WCFs already. He knows what his team can do in the playoffs and is stubborn in his rotation. He may the same 6 guys in a deep playoff series, but he knows they are conditioned enough to make a difference. His system works at every level and he’s been there before and will be there again this year.
Stotts is coming into his second season as the Bucks’ Head Coach. He’s been in one playoff series, last year. He was coaching the Atlanta hawks a couple of years ago, but he never received the time or players needed for him to succeed. In Milwaukee, he has the talent, but he hasn’t proven he can coach at the next level: deep into the playoffs. Milwaukee will be a god team this year and it will not help them missing Bogut for a little while. It will be on Stotts to make sure this team can get back to the playoffs and win.
Suns vs. Bobcats
Similarities
Both teams have fast points guards. Phoenix has Nash and Banks. Charlotte has Raymond Felton and Brevin Knight, both undersized points who can get up and down the floor with ease, cruising past anyone in their way. Felton will be in his second year and was lost in the shuffle that was Chris Paul, but he will make his name felt this year when the Bobcats go small to help fit his style of play. Knight will be the wily vet., backing him up and dishing out the assists like he has been in the past two years for Charlotte.
Phoenix loves to play their power forwards at the 5 spot. Charlotte will likely do the same with Emeka Okafor and even Melvin Ely. They aren’t the fastest bigs, but at least Okafor can keep up with Felton, but only if his ankle is fully healed. By keep up with Felton, I use the term loosely because there are very few bigs, if any, that can keep up with Felton. Compared to others his size, Okafor is above average.
Differences:
Age. The Suns are a veteran team. Even though most of the team has only been together for a couple of years, each player has been in the league for a minimum of three seasons. The Bobcats have only been in existence for two years, this year being their third. Head Coach Bernie Bickerstaff will make sure this team won’t go past their game plan, but he will let Felton and Knight run the break. Both teams may run, but Phoenix has the experience necessary to help them later in the season and the fourth quarter.
Suns vs. Knicks
Similarities:
Both teams are going to run. Both have depth in the backcourt. Both have some veterans on their team. Both have a coach who has played in high-pressure situations. Both teams have athleticism at each position.
Differences:
Everything else. The Suns have been there. There are only a couple of players on the Knicks’ roster who have made a contribution in the playoffs. Only Jared Jeffries will receive a lot of minutes. The other two, Jalen Rose and Malik Rose, will be riding the pine in favor of the younger kids. Mentioning Jerome James is just a waste of breath and use of my fingers.
While both coaches have been to the playoffs, only D’Antoni has gone past the first round as a coach. Thomas failed to get past the first round in the 3 years he was a Pacers coach. He had a lot of talent but they just couldn’t get the job done. Say what you want, but players win game, coaches lose games and refs ruin games. Could be a combo of all three, but Isiah Thomas has his work cut out for him this year. Judging from the little bit of the Knicks I saw in the Vegas Summer League, this will be a fun offense to watch, but it all depends on whether or not Stephon Marbury and Steve Francis can coexist. Phoenix doesn’t have to worry about that with Bell and Nash.
Suns vs. Wizards
Similarities
Both have guards who love to push the tempo anytime they can. Washington will have Gilbert Arenas carrying them into the postseason and into some MVP votes. Arenas was in his first year of being the go-to guard, so this year will be a little easier to cope with the burdens of being a leader. Both teams have experience at the guard spots when it comes to the playoffs. Antonio Daniels was introduced to the NBA Finals by scoring eight points in a minute against the Knicks.
Both teams have forwards who can score. Caron Butler is the most underrated small forward in the NBA. Everyone says that about Marion, but he’s underrated when it comes to the superstars. Butler is just underrated overall. They still have Antawn Jamison who can shoot from the perimeter or take it to the hole. The Wizards added Darius Songaila to help their low-post offense, or lack thereof, for playoff time. For the Suns, everyone knows about Marion and Stoudemire, but they’re going to find out about Diaw, who proved himself in the playoff series against Dallas back in May.
Differences
Their philosophies on running. Washington will run but will slow it down if there isn’t an opportunity to score quickly. Phoenix will keep moving until they score quickly. Both coaches have coached in the postseason, but Wizards’ Head Coach Eddie Jordan was just one game away from reaching the ECFs. LeBron James stood in his way and may be there again this year. While Washington has some experience in the postseason, they are not as deep as the Suns this year. They will need to heavily rely on their starting 5 and the five players who finish out the fourth quarter’s game in and game out. Phoenix will let the depth of their team open the lead up in the second and third quarters so the Suns’ starters can rest.
Overall, there are teams that are adapting to the new rules of defense on the perimeter. Sure they can’t touch anyone, but once the hot is up, they’re going to run. Phoenix has this attitude and it’s worked for them. They have had everything in place for them to succeed this year. They will likely produce the same results again and it’s on the teams that are following in their footsteps to repeat their success. It’s going to be hard, but most of those teams play in the Eastern Conference. At least that means only facing the originals a couple times a year. Hey, which reminds me…
“There's an old saying in Tennessee -- I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee -- that says, fool me once, shame on -- shame on you. Fool me -- you can't get fooled again.” Sometimes, trying to copy the original never works out. |
