| Lottery Summit: Phoenix Suns Authored by Andrew Perna & The RGM Suns Forum - June 18, 2008 - 11:01 am
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The Phoenix Suns:
2007-08 Record: 55-27
Difference From 2006-07: Six Fewer Wins
Playoff Result: Lost In Five To San Antonio (First Round)
Restricted Free Agents: None
Unrestricted Free Agents: Gordan Giricek, Grant Hill (P), Linton Johnson, Sean Marks, Eric Piatkowski, Brian Skinner
The Verdicts
1. What could the team have done differently to advance in the playoffs?
albasuna: If we had developed the bench a little more.
Sarlonus: We had too many defensive lapses. They did not execute or finish plays successfully (especially in late game situations). Also, everybody started missing free throws.
TASTIC: Prior to the playoffs we needed to limit Steve Nash and Raja Bell's minutes. We should have tried to use guys like D.J. Strawberry and Brian Skinner for more than garbage minutes, so the starters wouldn't be so exhausted at playoff time.
b-ball forever: If we hadn’t hired Steve Kerr and not traded away Shawn Marion for Shaquille O’Neal. Marion's defense on Tony Parker last year was one of the biggest reasons we kept the series close.
eastsidecrossover: If we had better coaching in preparation for a long season. We had bad front office management of the big picture, and mental laps. Better defense and toughness would have helped as well.
Cash: If we hadn’t made the Shaq trade. Alternatively, developing D.J. Strawberry during the year would've helped, though I don't think he would have been the difference against the Spurs.
2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
albasuna: The pick-and-roll. Right now that's about it.
Sarlonus: Their biggest strength was being able to play two different styles of offense.
TASTIC: Nash. Amare Stoudemire was dominant at times, but at the same time very predictable. The pick-and-roll. Shaq's input cannot be denied. If the trade had gone down before the season started we might have had him completely integrated and who knows what would have happened.
b-ball forever: Amare/Nash on the pick-and-roll.
eastsidecrossover: Nash, Amare and the veterans that were smart at times.
Cash: Offensively, especially with the ruthless efficiency of Nash and Amare.
3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
albasuna: Stoudemire had a great season and basically carried us in the second half of the season. It wasn’t really surprising, but there really wasn't anyone else who had a spectacular season.
Sarlonus: After we signed him midseason, Gordan Giricek was played fairly well. Most of us expected him just to be a spot-up shooter, but he did a nice job creating shots for himself instead of just settling. Stoudemire stepped up his game too and showed some improvements.
TASTIC: Amare managed to stay both healthy and out of foul trouble in the regular season and Nash remained a top-three point guard and didn't slow down until it actually mattered, in the playoffs.
b-ball forever: During the regular season Grant Hill played the point-forward role surprisingly well, especially given his age. Amare was extremely effective after the All-Star break as well. In the playoffs, it was Diaw.
eastsidecrossover: Amare. He is the best offensive big man in the game. Giricek was a nice addition as well.
Cash: Hill. I was very skeptical before the season, but he surprised me by how much he had left in the tank. Amare's beastly offensive run after the Shaq trade was also a pleasant surprise and to be fair, Shaq's effect on team rebounding was surprisingly positive.
4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
albasuna: Barbosa and Bell. Barbosa was the reigning Sixth Man of The Year and he followed it up with a stinker as he decreased in every statistical category. Also, Bell was plagued with an injury problem that hindered his three-point shooting and defense.
Sarlonus: Barbosa was pretty ineffective. His assists, three-point percentage and points went down. It seemed like he started forcing up shots to get back on track, and it certainly did not work.
TASTIC: Well, if you believe the hype they tried to build up with Sean Marks, it'd be Marks. Barbosa's growth is completely stopped. He hasn't improved like he was supposed to; in fact he regressed this season.
b-ball forever: Overall it was Barbosa. He regressed, became less aggressive and his playmaking got worse. If he was playing at his natural spot, I think he'd have done better. Diaw was awful the first two months of the season, but he picked things up in the second half of the year.
eastsidecrossover: Barbs and Bell. Leandro was one of our biggest weaknesses. He is too small at the two, and not good enough to play the point. Bell did not shoot well, which his injuries did not help, but he has become like a prima donna. He was a scrappy defensive player, and to a point, has lost that.
Cash: Bell's defense was straight-up bad for the first few months, and though he rebounded somewhat, he really had an off-year. Barbosa is at an age where you expect him to get better each year, yet he didn’t improve his game. In fact, he regressed badly in several areas, most notably shooting and distributing.
5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
albasuna: I’m not very confident and I probably speak on behalf of the whole board, we are all worried about what Kerr’s next move will be and if he will make the correct decisions for the sake of the team.
Sarlonus: I’m indifferent towards the front office.
TASTIC: I don't have any reason to have faith in the front office. They had the guts to trade for Shaq but also made some idiotic moves, like selling picks for peanuts.
b-ball forever: Very funny.
eastsidecrossover: We have two University of Arizona guys running this ship. What else can I say?
Cash: Slightly more confident than I am in the Bush administration.
6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
albasuna: A backup point guard and a perimeter defender.
Sarlonus: We just need to get younger with the exception of the power forward position. Our most pressing need is a perimeter defender, a backup point guard, a shooter and a backup center.
TASTIC: Athleticism and a backup point guard (ideally they'd kill two birds with one stone by getting Russell Westbrook).
b-ball forever: Right now it's either a backup point guard (so that Barbs only plays at the two) or defensive swingman (to stop the lightning guards of the league) that we need most.
eastsidecrossover: A point that can play defense and run a team, a small forward and center.
Cash: Perimeter defense, a true backup point guard, outside shooting and a true center.
7. Who would you like your team to select?
Sarlonus: If Nicolas Batum or D.J. Augustin fall that far, they would be perfect. Otherwise, we should take the best center available.
TASTIC: Westbrook, Batum, JaVale McGee or Donte Greene.
b-ball forever: Kosta Koufos, Augustin, Batum or Westbrook.
eastsidecrossover: I think Westbrook is smoke and mirrors. I like him, but think we can do better. I like McGee, Greene and Joe Alexander. I’d like us to trade Barbosa or Diaw to get some better depth on this team. Whatever we can’t get in the draft, trade for it.
Cash: At fifteen, the Suns will have to decide between a role player with a chance of helping the team soon or a potential star who's unlikely to make much of an impact on as a rookie. If they go the first route, which I expect, I'm high on Brandon Rush.
The Draft Summit Archive:
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Andrew Perna is a Senior Writer for RealGM. If you’re a fan of one of the many teams that we have yet to feature, surf over to our forums and weigh in on what is happening within the organization. If you’d like to contact Andrew, shoot him an e-mail at Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com |
