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TACH
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 Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 2:36 pm Post subject: |
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This was posted in the General NBA Discussion Forum earlier today:
karlmalonefan
| Quote: | Hey, guys! Thought you guys might be interested in what was said on the radio this morning here in PHoenix about this Amare situation. This morning on Xtra Sports 910 on the Bickley and MJ show, they were interviewing a media guy (Paul Coros) who is traveling with the Suns over in Italy and goes to all the practices.
They asked him what the heck is going on with this. He said that apparently, the team is starting to think that he is just dogging it, that there isn't anything really wrong with him, that he just isn't putting in the effort to get back. They brought up Jumaine Jones who I guess tore up his ankle in the off season and they said that he is out there giving it his all inspite of being in some pain. According to the doctors, they did an MRI on the knee and there's no swelling and nothing wrong visibly with the knee that had the microfracture surgery and Amare is shutting himself down. They said it kind of reminded them of the TO/Parcells situation in which the coach wanted the player to practice/thought the player could practice and the player was saying he couldn't practice.
The media guy said that even D'Antoni is starting to grumble about the situation. They didn't mention any direct quotes but said he isn't that type of coach to hang a player out like that and if he's saying stuff, that it shows how much of an issue it is. They also mentioned how Kurt Thomas was on crutches last season going to every practice, big man meeting, etc. making every effort to get back and how can the coach justify starting Amare over Kurt when he isn't showing any effort to get back.
They just said that the team is suspicious of Amare, kind of rolling their eyes when they are asked about him. They are saying that he is isolated from the rest of the team, when the team huddles up and breaks, they don't wait for him to come over and join them, etc. Coros said he saw one time where Amare got up to go over and got about half way there and they broke and Amare just went back and sat down.
The team is getting very frustrated with the situation. Now the guys on the show are saying that the scrubs who are earning less than a million who have been hurt are busting their butts to get back and the 72 million dollar man isn't. Paul Coros is quoted as saying the situation is causing friction and discord on the team. Amare just sits on the sideline and sulks, that he is very moody, 'has dark moods', etc. Now they are speculating how this is going to affect the team next year with the cap situation and that it's the type of thing that can sink the team because he's going to be taking up a significant amount of the salary cap and they are trying to sign Diaw.
Anyway, thought y'all might be interested, seeing as how they are our biggest competition.
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eniq 0x00
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| Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 2:38 pm Post subject: |
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| la45 wrote: | | It is just frightening how dangerous micro-fracture surgery is, and yet how easily one is forced to go through it. It brings to mind the question, should Bynum be careful about jumping "too high and hard?" |
Bynum with his freakishly long wingspan doesn't have to worry about that. The guy blocks shots off his tip-toes.  I can't wait until this kid gets it all together.
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wolfpaclaker
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| Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 2:39 pm Post subject: |
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Trade for Amare ! 
Amare knows his body though. At the same times he seems like the kind of guy that doesn't want to play at less than stellar condition. He is extremely aggressive and physical. A player like that has to be feeling good about his condition to play IMO
Last edited by wolfpaclaker on Fri Oct 06, 2006 2:41 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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eniq 0x00
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| Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 2:40 pm Post subject: |
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| wolfpaclaker wrote: |
Having a third straight MVP season would put him in rare territory in regards to the history of the game. If he could do that, I'd put him ahead of Stockton in the PG rankings. That would be an incredible feat by Kid Canada.
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I don't care what some writers think about Nash. Stockton was a far better player than he is. Putting him ahead of Stockton, considering the criteria they use for voting for an MVP (after the Kobe snafu) is a bit premature.
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"In essence, the trade was: Shaq, Rick Fox and Gary Payton for Odom, Kwame, Mihm, Profit, 2nd round picks, a 1st round pick and 30 million in luxury tax saviings." - LakerJam
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Panthas
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| Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 2:40 pm Post subject: |
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Sounds like we have the next generation of Grant Hill
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MyKRo
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| Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 2:44 pm Post subject: |
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| wolfpaclaker wrote: | Like I said in all the Amare threads this offseason - Amare is still a good player (18/9) but the problem with him will be his minutes per game and how many games he actually plays.
Even when Hill actually played, the all-star skills and play was still there. |
Grant Hill actually had SKILL that's why he was still pretty good after returning from his surgery(s).
Amare relied COMPLETELY on his athleticism and explosiveness. He doesn't have a jumper or any good finesse moves to fall back on. That's why Amare will never be the same or even an all-star. He's a normal human now not a mutant. |
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Ataris_PunK
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| Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 2:53 pm Post subject: |
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Do it Mitch!
Build a timemachine and dont waive Brian Grant.
Grant
Bynum
for
Amare
Do it! |
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eniq 0x00
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| Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 3:10 pm Post subject: |
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| MyKRo wrote: | | wolfpaclaker wrote: | Like I said in all the Amare threads this offseason - Amare is still a good player (18/9) but the problem with him will be his minutes per game and how many games he actually plays.
Even when Hill actually played, the all-star skills and play was still there. |
Grant Hill actually had SKILL that's why he was still pretty good after returning from his surgery(s).
Amare relied COMPLETELY on his athleticism and explosiveness. He doesn't have a jumper or any good finesse moves to fall back on. That's why Amare will never be the same or even an all-star. He's a normal human now not a mutant. |
Man, if only Grant Hill didn't have those injuries. IMO, in his prime he would've been right there with Kobe and T-Mac. I love watching Grant Hill still, the guy just has such a sweet game.
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"In essence, the trade was: Shaq, Rick Fox and Gary Payton for Odom, Kwame, Mihm, Profit, 2nd round picks, a 1st round pick and 30 million in luxury tax saviings." - LakerJam
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LakerJam
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| Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 3:14 pm Post subject: Re: Amare could be out another 2-3 months. Heard this when watching the Suns play an Italian team in exhibition game (Relevant to Pacific division) |
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| psydesho wrote: | | wolfpaclaker wrote: | D'Antoni said he is approaching the season thiking that he doesn't have Amare and just moving forward. That he'll adjust when he actually gets him back, but that for now he's not considering Amare a part of the process. Also, word was that Amare has injured BOTH knees now and that one of the reason's is that since his injury he has been compensating too much on the other leg. Don't know how serious it is (career threatning) but he is defintely not a factor for Suns right now. They started Thomas at C.
Will this have any effect on the Suns? They won 54 games last year without Amare. To me, they've added more speed this offseason but still have questionable play inside if Amare is still out.
Nash is a year older and one has to think he can't have a third straight MVP season.
How many games do you think the Suns win this season? IMO 52 wins will get them the division, but there could be a drop off if Nash can't match last year's play and Amare can't come back ..... |
 Amare out doesn't change Phoenix's chances of the Pacific Title anymore than last year. What it does do is make it nearly impossible for them to get to the Finals coming out of the West. |
I disagree. Am I the only one who noticed the Suns playing .500 ball to close out last season? Tim Thomas gave them a boost, but do you really think Pike will do that? Banks can only help when Nash sits, so while he can try to slow down opposing PG s defensively (and who knows with the new rules), offensively we just don’t know yet.
Also, it isn’t just Amare, you have Raja, K. Thomas, Nash’ chronic back... they have several guys with question marks. You then add how little depth they had, and all the minutes their main guys had to play last season as a result of that, and they’re not a lock for anything. |
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Panthas
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| Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 3:18 pm Post subject: |
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They still have rebounding problems comming into the season, plus the injuries...looks like they will be struggling a bit till the mid season point.
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wolfpaclaker
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| Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 3:18 pm Post subject: |
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Actually Jam, D'Antoni is taking small ball to an extreme. He cares so little about D that he was playing a lineup of Nash, Banks and Barbosa as the 1-3. Something tells me he is going to do that a number of times this season to give the opposing coach fits. That is penetration central, and they would be running buck wild.
The Suns won't have that much trouble scoring without Amare but again, I see that they will be a weak defensive team and at the same time I suspect that Nash will not have another MVP season. That is what gives the Lakers+Clippers a window to move up and challenge them for the Pacific.
As for the playoffs, I'd be shocked if they went to the Finals without Amare.
Last edited by wolfpaclaker on Fri Oct 06, 2006 3:20 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Ataris_PunK
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| Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 3:19 pm Post subject: |
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| Clippers win the pacific this year. Anyone see the Clippers euro game? Livingston played a great game! |
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LakerJam
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| Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 3:39 pm Post subject: |
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| wolfpaclaker wrote: | Actually Jam, D'Antoni is taking small ball to an extreme. He cares so little about D that he was playing a lineup of Nash, Banks and Barbosa as the 1-3. Something tells me he is going to do that a number of times this season to give the opposing coach fits. That is penetration central, and they would be running buck wild.
The Suns won't have that much trouble scoring without Amare but again, I see that they will be a weak defensive team and at the same time I suspect that Nash will not have another MVP season. That is what gives the Lakers+Clippers a window to move up and challenge them for the Pacific.
As for the playoffs, I'd be shocked if they went to the Finals without Amare. |
It's not about defense with the Suns and I'm not talking about defense, Wolf-man. I'm talking about how worn down their players were that they were extremely mediocre for the last 2 months of the season. The Lakers were a far better team to close out the season than the Suns or the Clippers. This off-season, Phoenix traded away their draft picks which could have injected some energy for the early part of the season and save some veteran legs for the stretch run. Instead, they didn't really add any depth, as they only tried to replace out-going players, and given the injury issues Raja, Kurt Thomas and even Nash with his back have, I AM talking about their offense.
I think too many of you are giving them too much credit. .500 ball to close out the season is hardly a moniker of a great new season, and I don't think they've improved themselves such that they're anymore of a lock than anyone else. I also think the Clippers are over-rated, but that's another topic.
The Pacific Division is anyone's guess and anyone's game. The Warriors could win it with Nelson using those athletes in a fun-n-gun, Mavs style of offense - even without defense - that's how wide open it is. Most teams here improved themselves, including the Lakers. As we face the new season, I'm not making assumptions about any team's excellence except for San Antonio and Dallas. |
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wolfpaclaker
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| Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 3:51 pm Post subject: |
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Ok, I see what you're saying.
Well they have added some new blood in Banks. He will bring some energy and maybe sustain some leads that Nash has built so Stevie doesn't have to 36-38 minutes each game.
Apart from that, they may run into some tired legs in March/April. All that running takes it toll. That is probably why Nash consistently has broken down towards the end of the season. Well, maybe broken down is an exageration but he has had some trouble finishing games ..... cost them game 4 and almost the series (should have) |
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Freakout
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| Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 3:54 pm Post subject: |
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| LakerJam wrote: | | wolfpaclaker wrote: | Actually Jam, D'Antoni is taking small ball to an extreme. He cares so little about D that he was playing a lineup of Nash, Banks and Barbosa as the 1-3. Something tells me he is going to do that a number of times this season to give the opposing coach fits. That is penetration central, and they would be running buck wild.
The Suns won't have that much trouble scoring without Amare but again, I see that they will be a weak defensive team and at the same time I suspect that Nash will not have another MVP season. That is what gives the Lakers+Clippers a window to move up and challenge them for the Pacific.
As for the playoffs, I'd be shocked if they went to the Finals without Amare. |
It's not about defense with the Suns and I'm not talking about defense, Wolf-man. I'm talking about how worn down their players were that they were extremely mediocre for the last 2 months of the season. The Lakers were a far better team to close out the season than the Suns or the Clippers. This off-season, Phoenix traded away their draft picks which could have injected some energy for the early part of the season and save some veteran legs for the stretch run. Instead, they didn't really add any depth, as they only tried to replace out-going players, and given the injury issues Raja, Kurt Thomas and even Nash with his back have, I AM talking about their offense.
I think too many of you are giving them too much credit. .500 ball to close out the season is hardly a moniker of a great new season, and I don't think they've improved themselves such that they're anymore of a lock than anyone else. I also think the Clippers are over-rated, but that's another topic.
The Pacific Division is anyone's guess and anyone's game. The Warriors could win it with Nelson using those athletes in a fun-n-gun, Mavs style of offense - even without defense - that's how wide open it is. Most teams here improved themselves, including the Lakers. As we face the new season, I'm not making assumptions about any team's excellence except for San Antonio and Dallas. |
Plus we pretty much gave every team a blueprint on how to beat them. Hell I could end up being completely wrong but I believe with Kurt Thomas back starting (Amare being out) they would be easier to defend. Kurt Thomas doesn't spread you like Tim Thomas did. He may get a few post scores but most teams would rather trade 2's instead of 3's with them. |
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Ataris_PunK
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| Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 4:00 pm Post subject: |
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That suns team is GOING to swing a trade by next summer. Guaranteed. Either Marion or Amare are going to have to go.
Small market team like PHX with 65+ salary?
This is Phx last chance to win. |
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wolfpaclaker
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| Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 4:01 pm Post subject: |
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| I can back that up, Freakout. Saw them today, they are NOT the same team offensively with Thomas inside. He is what you would call a blue collar PF and that may help their rebounding but it hurts their O without the same flow or spacing. Kurt is also up there in age and isn't as quick at getting upfront. |
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eniq 0x00
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| Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 4:07 pm Post subject: |
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| LakerJam wrote: | This off-season, Phoenix traded away their draft picks which could have injected some energy for the early part of the season and save some veteran legs for the stretch run. Instead, they didn't really add any depth, as they only tried to replace out-going players, and given the injury issues Raja, Kurt Thomas and even Nash with his back have, I AM talking about their offense.
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Adding Banks seems like a nice fallback plan in a worst case scenario.
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"In essence, the trade was: Shaq, Rick Fox and Gary Payton for Odom, Kwame, Mihm, Profit, 2nd round picks, a 1st round pick and 30 million in luxury tax saviings." - LakerJam
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dino
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| Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 4:37 pm Post subject: |
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jam - yup, phoenix was in a tailspin towards season's end...one of the reasons why they were so primed for an upset in the first round...
phoenix without amare makes them a less likely western conference finalist but doubtless they compete for the pacific division crown...
maybe now they do try trading for another bigman... |
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LakerJam
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| Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 4:40 pm Post subject: |
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Banks was a nice pick up but then when he's in, Nash is sitting and while I like Banks, he'll never be confused with running a team like Steve Nash does. If you have both Nash and Banks in, that's way small in the back court.
It may work out great, it may not. Point is there are enough questions marks to have it be enough of a question that they're not a lock to win the pac-division. It's going to be a very interesting and exciting season! |
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Ataris_PunK
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| Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 4:42 pm Post subject: |
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| Banks isn't a very good shooter either Lakerjam. He doesn't seem to fit with the team at all. |
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dino
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| Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 4:47 pm Post subject: |
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| the suns really might have no other choice given what wolf said about the state of their current frontcourt but to play small ball... |
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LakerJam
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| Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 4:48 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm also wondering about wear and tear on still recovering injuries when you have no depth. |
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LakerJam
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| Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 4:49 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm also wondering about wear and tear on still recovering injuries when you have no depth. |
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Aussiesuede
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| Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 4:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Ataris_PunK wrote: | That suns team is GOING to swing a trade by next summer. Guaranteed. Either Marion or Amare are going to have to go.
Small market team like PHX with 65+ salary?
This is Phx last chance to win. |
Small Market? Phoenix is the 6th larget metro area in the US and ranks #4 in affluence amongst metro areas with more than 1 million people. It's larger than Dallas, Detroit, Denver, Miami, and every other US NBA market outside of LA, New York, Chicago, Philly, Chicago, & Houston. If there was ever a place other than Chicago, New York, & LA that could afford a high payroll - it's Phoenix.....
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