The picture that is in this post should be a nightmare for Suns fans. Steve Nash on the bench. Raja Bell in street clothes.
What does this mean? Probably that Eddie House is in the game. Eddie House may be the worst player in the entire NBA. No, not juse because he went to Arizona State, although that may account for his lack of intelligence.
The Suns have been leading each game of the Western Conference Finals at halftime. At the end of the third quarter and beginning of the fourth, Mike D'Antoni has put Eddie House in the game to give MVP Steve Nash a rest. In games 2 and 3, the Suns lead evaporated during the time with House in the game.
Sure, he may get lucky and hit an off balance three pointer that he throws at the basket without being set, but he is a liability on every aspect of the game.
He can not defend anyone. Avery Johnson knows this so whomever House is guarding goes to the basket on every possession, and usually comes away with a basket.
He can not pass. The Mavs pressure him and most often come up with a turnover. He can not rebound. There was a loose ball late in game 3 that BOUNCED next to him, and he just looked at it. Either he is too dumb to pick up the ball, or he's being paid secretly by the Mavs. I go with option A.
His basketball IQ is below zero. He pulls up in transition and jacks up awful shots, or he'll throw a shot up when there are 3 guys on him and 4 other Suns standing there unguarded.
Now, back to game 4.
The Suns MUST win this game to stay in the series.
I know they can if they play with the intensity they need to. It is the playoffs. Who cares if you're tired? You have all summer to rest. It's time to empty the tank and leave EVERYTHING on the court.
Luckily, the Suns seem to be at their best with their backs against the wall. I'm confident for a victory tonight, and then it will be a tied 2-2 series, where anything can happen.
Do we want a game 7 at Dallas? Well, that's not the best scenario, but we definately can win there. 3 straight wins would be nice, but realisticly, We'll probably have to go in to Dallas and win a game 7.
4 comments:
Great analysis, but I find it highly suspect to blame house as vigoursly as you seem to do. Sure I agree with you that he sucks... but he is not responsible for slowing down the overall pace of the game.
As a mavs fan through the era of no defense donnie, I can tell you that I woulnd't want to be in your position. When the mavs refused to play defense, and all they did was run the ball, it was devastating and exciting all at the same time. I never really felt confident that they could make stops when necessary.
I must also throw into the hat that I probably despise Mike Dantoni more than any other coach in the NBA. If I was a suns fan, I would be as embarrased of him as you are of House.
His post game comments include such incoherent ramblings that I wonder how he became a legitament coach in the NBA.
When phoenix loses, his reasons stem from not running fast enough, and not shooting the ball well, to looking tired, or not wanting it bad enough. If that's all it takes to be an NBA coach, please sign me up for next years Sun's coaching position. This guy makes no mention of defense, and pardon the pun, but its almost as if he's offended (zing) if someone brings it up.
I don't know.... overall the Suns to me are a bit of a joke, much like the mavs were 3-4 years ago. Unless you guys make a real committment to defense, and adjust the program(that means FIRE MD!!), you guys are going to be an explosive good team who will always be stuck in the first or second round of the playoffs. As a mavs fan having lived through that... I can tell you its not fun.
I'm calling tonight's game a must win for Dallas. They need the cushion of a 3-1 lead, and the psychological edge it brings into the NBA finals. With Miami playing as well as the Mavs(or better depending on tonight), they(mavs) are going to need that psychological equivalency of being up 3-1 in the WCF. I'm really excited about playing in the finals, and look forward to discussing games with a Miami fan.
Your criticism of D'Antoni is warranted, however I believe it goes a bit too far.
There have been some questionable moves in this series by him. Namely, allowing Eddie House to play and resting Nash as much as he does. Also, not playing Kurt Thomas despite him being healthy is questionable.
D'Antoni, however, has done a good job with what he has.
How many teams would go to the conf. finals with their starting C and PF both out? Also, now our SG is out as well. There's really not much else we can do. We must run to win. We can't pound the ball down low, we can't play a slow it down, grind it out type of game with the personnel we have. So, D'Antoni does what he can do with the available bodies.
If you look at this Suns team, as it is now, you have Nash, Marion, Diaw, Barbosa, T. Thomas, and Jones.
Those are the only guys that are really going to do anything for you, and Jones hasn't done much...so...this team HAS to hit it's shots to win. This team HAS to run to win. Our best outside defender (Bell) is out. Our best inside defender (K. Thomas) is out. There's only so much Marion can do against a 7 footer.
It's not that the Suns don't want to play any defense...it's that circumstances have dictated that the available players NEED to run to be effective.
Excellent excellent point... however my criticism of MD stems through out the entire season. There were many games throughout this season when we were completely depleted due to injuries. However, the game and pace was not to outrun your opponents, but instead give yourself an opportunity to win by grinding solid defense and pushing the ball when the availability exists. There is no way we beat the Suns if they shoot lights out... however throughout history strong defense has been the key to winning championships. The mavs have the combination of adjustment, offense and defense. I'm really relieved to see Miami up in this series. They play a SA style of game, which I now favor. Tonights game is crucial for the mavs, and they must view as such.
Hey, easy on us ASU alum!
The Suns haven't fallen apart when House has been in. It could be argued that they got lucky to win game 1.
They lost game 2 because they didn't get many of the lucky bounces that they did happen to get in game 1.
In game 3 they simply came out at halftime and looked very lethargic...while Nash was in the game. With House in the game they managed to climb back into the game.
They need to play better defense and pass the ball better in the paint in order to open up the floor. If they can do this they can put themselves in position to win any game against the Mavs.
I'm curious to know if KT will get any time or if he's just not in the physical condition to give him some time.
Well hope we win tonight!
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