skyhawk

Quote: We also aren't tough. You mean to tell me that Childress couldn't play last night, but can play Friday? A day of rest does nothing. There is a difference between pain and injury. If his foot is healed then you need to play through the pain. Wow. Chill is definitely a team guy and if he could go he would. I believe you err on the side of caution with this type of injury.

Quote: They will never be able to coexist. I thought the same thing at first until I realized that he's never played with a truly great player - even at Georgetown. I'm not quite sold on Melo as being a great player, but I think with his offensive game, he and AI will be very effective playing together. Iverson's a ball hog because he's always had to be given the teams he played for. And, in spite of all of the negatives from the press, AI plays hard and want's to win. Given this, I believe he'll surprise a lot of people with his unselfishness. I sure hope he does..

...as usual. First, none of you know the context of the statement. Secondly, I think most of you agree with Woody's thinking (with issue being on how it was made) - and I bet Marvin does too. Not being in game shape may have caused him to settle for a jumper or maybe it's just that he's young. In spite of Woody's faults/flaws he's a players coach and the guys enjoy playing for him. I seriously doubt if Marvin felt that he was being called out - just as much as I doubt that Woody was calling him out. Lost in this debate is that regardless of the outcome - Marvin wanted to take the shot and that's what matters to me.

There have been quite a few threads on the Suns board about our pick. They were thinking 4 or 5 when the season began but now they're afraid that we'll make the playoffs. Funny. There's also a big thread on JJ with both positive and negative talk...

I had a chance to watch Solomon play last year against UConn and was very impressed with him. He's athletic, hustles and has a nice touch - great form on free throws. He's definitely a game-changer on D and has the skills to contribute offensively. I don't believe he played much in high school so he's definitely got some upside... I was hoping we'd get in the second and we did.

Quote: I'm glad that Childress is doing well but I'm sticking to my guns; I'd have taken Iguodala or Deng, period. I've said that for close to three years now. I would've been proven wrong (not the first time) if the other two were struggling while Childress was playing lights out basketball but the fact remains that the other two are putting up similar, if not better numbers while having fewer opportunities to shine (wanna compare getting the ball from JJ to trying to pry it from Iverson or Webber's hands? The defense rests) so 'Iggy, Deng, who' one-liners holds no water. Stats aren't the only measure of player's contritubion, regardless of the sport, in terms of assessing that players true value to his/her team. People continue to ignore the intangibles that Childress brings to the team- basketball smarts, unselfishness, leadership, desire, hustle and attitude. You need players like this to win. Sure you need stars and guys who put up stats - but you don't win with 5 stars on a team. I'm not taking anything away from Deng or Iggy but I don't think their 'intangible' contribution would be on the level of Josh's.

Quote: Er, no guy, the first thing you asked was for examples of individual GMs that fit my "good gm" criteria and I gave you several of them. Don't go changing the questions because you can't handle the answers. I'm not saying that your list is flawed but without specific examples your argument lacks credibility. For example, name an impact player that Jerry West has drafted while in Memphis. Debate 101, you can't prove a point where your argument is based completely on opinion..especially on this board.

Quote: It is starting to be clear to me that Shelden Williams should be our starting power forward and Marvin should be our starting Small forward. I got a chance to see the Rockets game and there's no way that Smoove should start over Marvin. I'm basing this on the skillsets they both have and not last night's performance. A frontline of Marvin, Zaza and Shell would be very effective on both ends. Of course, matchups will determine who's on the floor at a given point but I do think that Shel will help tremendously...

Alias Channel 2 for Time Warner..it's the same station that carries road games for the Rockets and Stros..

Living in Houston gave me a chance to watch the game and here are some observations. - We had abolutely no intensity, no game plan and just looked like a bunch guys playing at the Y....being facetious of course. - The game was definitely a blowout as the Rockets were hitting everything while the Hawks were cold. We basically settled for jump shots which was very similar to how we played last year. - Marvin Williams is the real deal so you haters need to shut up. He's going to be a great all-around player as he can do everything on the floor, he's so quick and athletic and he knows how to play the game . I was very surprised at how well he plays defense even though he had trouble with TMAC - but so does everyone else. He even mixed it up with Kirk Snyder who's not a guy you'd want to me ss with. - I didn't realize that JJ was this good. He is so smooth and is another guy who can do it all. He doesn't attack the rim but he can get inside. Noone should have a problem with the trade or his salary. - Shelden is going to be okay once he gets more experience. He knows how to play the game, will definitely become a defensive presence and has a nice touch on his jumper - surprisingly so. He's not Sene (jab at Walter) but he's a definitely a good piece to have. - I'm not hating on Josh Smith but was really disappointed in his lack of intensity and his unwillingness to play inside. He doesn't have the skills of a SF (contrary to popular belief) but he's not a PF either. He's a better passer than I thougt. He had a nice dunk and really nice block (on Alston I believe). Really needs to work on his defensive position and intensity. He's a perfect example of a guy who blocks but isn't a good defender. No way he should start over Marvin if it came down to that. - Chillz is another guy I like but he still needs to get stronger. More athletic than I thought and don't know why people say he's not a good defender as he is. Does everything well but not great in any area. Definitely a keeper though. - I always liked Ivey but what's he doing on the team. Showed nothing last night. - Salim looked okay at PG - certainly not starter quality but he should get better. His shot's off but looked like something's not right with his elbow. - Lo is a good pickup. Lue is solid for his role..didn't really see much anyone else. - I've been a big supporter of Woodson'but I 'm starting to question him as a coach. The team looked unprepared, unmotivated and just totally unorganzed. Van Gundy is head-and-shoulders above Woody as a coach. - Houston is a very good team, with or without Yao. TMAC is a great player - no news there. - Who's running the show in NO? Snyder is nice player to have on your team and can't understand why they spend big money on Peja and ship this guy off for nothing.

I do believe that Knight tried for that pick but the Suns turned him down and chose to deal with Boston. If you were the Suns and owned a pick from a team that could be as high as #4 - would you help them get better??

Completely agree on the half_court game. You can run-and-gun during the season but that ain't happening during playoffs. Good ball movement combined with a low-post option or guys who create off the dribble is essential to the half court game. I think we have the potential to be very good with ball moveout but obviously there are questions around the post option...

Quote: Look at your past championship teams: Miami, San Antonio, Detroit, The Lakers... Detroit is the only team from this list that was a truly a great defensive team. The Lakers and Spurs won because they both had dominating big men who were bigger factors on offense than defense. MIami won because Dallas choked allowing Wade's offensive game to become the deciding factor. Phoenix would undoubtedly have come out of the West if Stat hadn't gotten hurt and they would have been a better matchup than Dallas..just my opinion. Throughout the NBA teams are talking "up tempo" and are going with smaller lineups. The recent rule changes favor this style and teams are adapting - by filling their rosters with long athletic players..ala the Hawks.

Quote: Quote: They can easily man the SF and PF spots. Basketball is not about what you play offensively, it's about what you can defend. I'm not sure if I agree with that as the NBA is becoming an offensive game as more teams are adopting the 'run-and-gun' style of play. Consequently, offense dictates/determines matchups, tempo and style of play - not defense. Everyone's talking about how we won't be to match up with other teams defensively while ignoring the fact that we're a very good offensive team that will definitely cause problems for the other teams D.

Yao can play the post when he's guarding a guy like Dampier but smaller centers will force him to the perimeter to take advantage of his immobility with their quickness. Diaw took abused Yao by doing just that. Look for more teams to go small against the Rockets...

Quote: But the test will still be weather or not Yao can dominate. If Yao can dominate and everybody stays healthy, Houston could be the best in the West! Good analysis on the Rockets. I live in Houston so I know the team very well. I like the Rockets and expect that they'll do well as long as T-MAC holds up - which is always a concern. Also, I'm not a big Yao fan as he can be neutralized with a smaller lineup - which is where the game is going

Quote: The Dominant Centers are on their way BACK to the game. We will have to have one to be competitive in the future. All the sudden, we're going to look around and Phoenix won't be the most talked about team, but it will be LAC and Seattle. Dominant centers are on the way BACK - did I miss something? Where are they? Kaman? Sene? Swift? Bynum? Harrison? Diop? These are all projects who, even if they live up to their potential, will never be dominant. The world awaits Oden's arrival but he's not a sure thing either and even if he becomes dominant there aren't others like him on the horizon. The hyprid C/PFs are still the most effective big men playing today and that's not likely to change in the near future as the game relies on skill more than power. I do agree that the game goes cycles (as does everything) but we're still years away from the "traditional" big man.

Quote: Have no fear, we will see JJ and Chillz in the backcourt together. Chillz will be at 3 positions. Some fail to grasp the marvelous depth and versatility of this team. Marvin and Smoove will have a lot of time on the court together. Either and both will man the paint defensively and offensively. We will not be able to pigeon hole any of these p[layers to single positions, rotations or responsibilities. I remind, it is not so much who starts, it is more of who finishes. Good post. I couldn't agree more as we have a lot of flexibility on this team which will definitely cause some matchup problems. Everybody bags on BK for the long, athletic 6'9 guys that he's stocked this with but that's the future of the NBA and we're right there... I believe there are enough minutes to go around and it's not important who starts, as matchups will always dictate who's on the floor at any given time once the game begins to flow.

I'm in Houston, TX but grew up in St. Louis during the days of Zelmo Beatty (what a name), Paul Silas, Sweet Lou Hudson, Coach Lenny Wilkens..etal. BTW, how many of you, besides Graymule, remember the St. Louis Hawks??

I feel that the Suns have a dilema in that the feeling throughout the league is that Diaw can only be effective playing with Phoenix. Given, that, it would be wise to let him become a free agent and let the market determine his salary. I'd be really interested to see what offers he'd get from other teams.

Happy Birthday!! Thanks for always remaining positive and acting as a voice of reason...comes with age:) Keep on kicking..

Quote: Trade Childress for a center a true with potential and this team is set. As much as I like Chill, I can't think of any team that would be willing to trade a promising young big man for him. Who do you have in mind? Howard? Okafor? Or some boom-or-bust types like Swift, Sene, etc..

Quote: Mihm shoots 50% from the field and is a much better defender than Zaza. In fact he blocks about 3 times as many shots per game. Plus he only has 1 yr left at 4 mill so we would get to see how good he is before making a commitment. If Mihm is so great then why are/were the Lakers willing to give him up? Is it because Kwame's such a force that they don't need Mihm?? Don't think so. Why did the Celts move him? I think you're overrating Mihm and Pryz...

All the talk of getting a pick in the 20s and Al being the final piece of the puzzle is something I just don't see as Indy is an overrated team. No matter what Al brings, Indy's only going to go as far as JO can take them. Yeah, they may be a more athletic and higher scoring team, but JO and Tinsley are the keys to their season and both of them have a history of injuries. Even if both stay healthy, I don't see the Pacers as being a 'beast in the east'. Al's health is also a concern in my book which certainly lowers his value and potential contribution. I think they make the playoffs but I don't see them being more than a bottom seed. No matter what Ford says, only time will team as to how great of an off-season they've had.

Quote: Quote: Again, they are thinking they are using Al's money to get Lo+Speedy Al made 6.8 mil this past season. Speedy and Lo make 9 million. I think you need to look at what Al would have made if he'd signed with us. Adding that to the 1M we gained from trading Edwards certainly adds up to 9M.