The Suns are holding their opponents to 97.8 points per game — down from a 105 points per game last season — leading some to believe that Phoenix has made strides defensively. But as Kelly Dwyer pointed out, Phoenix’ supposed defensive improvement is the result of a slower pace of play. The Suns are averaging 108.7 points per 100 possessions — 7th best in the NBA. Defensively, the Suns are holding opponents to 105.7 points per 100 possessions — good for 16th in the league — and identical to their 2007-2008 mark.
The Suns will never be a good defensive team. Never. Steve Kerr could fire Terry Porter and hire Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau, and the results would be the same. Aside from Raja Bell, the Suns don’t possess the shut-down mentality to stymie their opponents over the course of 82-games.
Despite their defensive shortcomings, the Suns remain playoff contenders and will be a tough out come April. But the Suns no longer possess the most efficient offense in the league. And for what? For the chance to win like everyone else?
The Suns are playing more conventionally this season by hitching their trailer to Shaquille O’Neal. And to his credit, O’Neal is doing all he can (15.1 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 59 FG%) to lead the Suns to the promised land. But their destiny is a foregone conclusion. Along with the fate of their franchise player.
It was Steve Nash that put the Suns back on the map. Team president Bryan Colangelo, owner Robert Sarver, and coach Mike D’Antoni recruited Nash with the promise of a run n’ gun attack that would play to his strengths. But with D’Antoni in New York, Nash’s points and assists have plummeted. Nash is averaging 7.5 apg, his lowest number since the 2002-2003 season. Sure, he’s lost a step or two. But he looks lost in the half-court. Instead of dictating tempo and distributing shots, Nash has been relegated to bringing the ball up, feeding the post, and camping out around the three-point line. It’s a sad sight after watching him take the league by storm four seasons ago.
Perhaps no player in NBA history improved more over the course of their career. Nash was drafted 15th overall in the 1996 NBA draft. He went from third-string point guard to two-time MVP. An unheard of turnaround in a league dominated by players content with the status quo. Nash didn’t sign up for Kerr or Porter’s half-court ball. And if his comments are any indication, he won’t be around for its final act. Barring a long-shot NBA championship, Steve Nash is likely gone in 2010. I’m sure that Nash wants to win a championship as much as the next player, but he’s always struck me as a player that enjoyed the journey as much as the destination.
November 18th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Its now or never time for Nash and the Suns. If they dont do it this year, the old guard of Shaq, Nash, and Grant Hill will ride off in the sunset. Amare will be the centerpiece to build around, and the youth movement will begin.
November 18th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
We are having this argument over at BSoS.
I think this system is Nash’s only chance of having enough left in the tank come spring to be able to turn it on. He said several times that he was worn down by the end of last season and that after the team had already begun to be less reliant on him.
Even before the Shaq trade, the offense had slowed and he was not involved in creating every play like in the past. Then when Shaq came you saw the same thing you are seeing now.
Go to Shaq early and then save Nash and Amare pick and roll for the fourth quarter.
The big difference this year is that he not attacking the rim at all.
It’s the only way the aging Canadian can stay fresh for the playoff’s. Even if it is sad to see him feeding the post and standing around.
November 18th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Btw – I agree w/ KD. So far the Suns D is underwhelming. There are signs but there’s a lot of work to be done.
What I don’t agree with is that we don’t have the players. Defense can be taught and with enough emphasis and time to learn all the rotations and covers it can improve.
Besides, Barnes, Hill, Diaw, Bell, Lopez and Amundsun are all very good individual defenders. Amare at the four has looked much much better so far. Shaq can’t move his feet but he does clog up the lane and force more outside shots and he rebounds. Only Nash and Barbosa are truly iffy and Nash can turn it on at times when he’s well rested.
I expect the D to improve under Porter. Give it time.
November 18th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Stan,
How do you envision Nash “turning it on” in the playoffs? Do you see him running the break again and averaging double-digit assists? Nash is supremely talented, but I don’t think you can just “turn it on” because your rested. He and the Suns need to build continuity and momentum. Which isn’t happening right now, even though the Suns are winning games.
I agree that fundamental defense can be taught. Players like Stoudemire, Diaw, and Barbosa can be taught the principles of helpside defense. But defensive intensity cannot be taught. I’m of the opinion that that trait is ingrained in great defenders. And aside from Bell, Phoenix doesn’t have those types of guys.
Great defenders are intense. It doesn’t hurt to have a competitive mean streak either.
Nash is a great team defender. Always has been. But he doesn’t have the lateral quickness to stay in front of the opposition, nor the strength to deter them from powering through him.
I know we disagree, but I just don’t think the Suns have the personnel to be the defensive team they’re trying to be.
November 18th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
D,
Amare is a great centerpiece.
I really think Kerr and company blew a big opportunity by trading Marion for Shaq. They could have acquired two or three young role players to jumpstart the rebuilding process.
November 18th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
With most player I would agree. But with Nash you can see it already how he turns it on and off. There are moments when he will run that pick and roll or drive baseline and create or he will curl of screens and ball hand off’s and look for that fade away shot of his.
There and plenty of times when he does none of that. For Nash that’s what I look for when he’s turning it on.
If you watched him against the Spurs in the playoff’s last year he just wasn’t able to do those things that we would expect him to do. His shot wasn’t falling and his overall game was sloppy. I know the Spurs can do that to a guy but he’s looked great against them in the past. He said that he was wore down by spring and I believe him. There was a huge difference in his playoff game last year compared to years past. Age and possibly some nagging shoulder or back injuries.
As for the defense…well, we will just have to wait and see about that.
I think this team can and will improve on that end. Do you think Finley was a defensive player before going to San Antonio? Or how about Ginobili or Parker for that matter? Rasheed? Rip Hamilton?
Those teams play with a defensive system and the Suns are trying to build that. From scratch I might add.
I think at this level the opponents are all great and it’s about knowing where to go on the floor as much as anything. The Spurs are a great defensive team b/c they are smart. They know their system. Man for man they are not better then the Suns roster. As a team they are light years ahead (or at least they were).
Guys like Bowen and Bell are overrated in that it’s easy to see their aggression and think that everyone has to play that way for the team D to be good. Not so.
As for competitive mean streak – the only Sun that doesn’t bring that is LB. And maybe Diaw. And even Diaw has stepped it up so far this year and he is so fundamentally sound that he makes up for the lack of intensity with his cerebral play on both ends of the floor. He’s really a guy you have to watch closely to appreciate.
Btw – I have not been impressed w/ Bell’s defensive effort this year. He’s getting by on reputation although we will see if he brings it against Kobe. He usually does.
November 18th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
I couldn’t agree more about the Shaq trade. That’s exactly what I’ve argued is that they should have landed solid serviceable center like Diop and some young bigs.
They could have had Marc Gasol. Hawes. The options are endless.
I have a theory on why they didn’t go that route. Not surprisingly I blame D’Antoni and his worship of the O.
November 18th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
I agree that Nash didn’t look like himself against the Spurs last year. Maybe that was fatigue. I think he really missed having that extra target in Marion. There were times when he got in the lane and had no one to pass the ball to.
I don’t think Finley was a good defender before he came to the Spurs. I don’t think he’s a particularly good defender now either. The same goes for Ginobili and Parker. All three guys are serviceable team defenders though (like Nash). Bowen and Duncan made the Spurs great defensively. Both of those guys were incredibly intense on that end of the floor.
Raja was an All-NBA caliber defender. But no one ever mistook him for Bowen in his heyday.
The Pistons haven’t been an elite defensive team since Ben Wallace left. I know the numbers say otherwise. I’m not buying it. When you let one player — Dwayne Wade and then LeBron James — beat you in a playoff series, you don’t deserve elite status. Great defensive teams don’t allow that to happen.
You can build a system, but if you don’t have intense defenders — guys that hate to see their man score and will fight and claw to get a stop — you won’t become an elite defensive team.
I actually like Phoenix’ roster. I picked the Suns to win the 07-08 title. I was in favor of trading Marion, but not because Phoenix’ style of play needed to be changed. I just felt the Suns needed a player(s) that could produce in the half-court as well as the full-court. Marion wasn’t as effective when the game came to a standstill.
I’m not a Barbosa fan. But I’ve always been a Boris Diaw supporter. And given his age and potential — LeBron James is the only player I would consider trading Amare Stoudemire for.
November 20th, 2008 at 6:24 am
Regarding the Suns past and present:
‘Antoni’s short rotation combined with his offense-only style definitely wore down the players, this year with a deeper rotation will help.
I’d have loved to see the Suns hire Thibodeau…
November 20th, 2008 at 7:21 am
Regarding the Suns past and present:
‘Antoni’s short rotation combined with his offense-only style definitely wore down the players, this year with Porter playing a deeper rotation AND slower style will help.
Now if he can somehow get Barbosa and Diaw to play better!
I’d have loved to see the Suns hire Thibodeau…