The Valley of the Sun is Shaken

[Shooter]

Seems that a certain sportswriter for the Arizona Republic is mighty concerned about the Suns' chances against Portland.

This 105-100 loss to the Trail Blazers on Sunday was like an alarm clock shaking the Valley out of a sweet slumber. And suddenly, the Suns have a new dilemma.

"They just outplayed us," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. "There's no getting around it."

The Trail Blazers are athletic, long and compete on defense. They block shots. They clog the middle. They bottle up Amar'e Stoudemire about as well as any team in the Western Conference. In Game 1, Stoudemire needed 19 shots to score 18 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter.

Their point guard, Andre Miller, is a terrible matchup for Steve Nash. Miller posted 31 points and eight assists, forcing Gentry to switch defensive assignments. And Portland's plodding style will test the Suns' resolve, a team that held the hosts to 10 points below their season average.

"All the games we play against them are going to be just like this," Gentry said.

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarep...phoenix-suns-loss-portland-trail-blazers.html

 

[<-=*PdX*=->]

"All the games we play against them are going to be just like this," Gentry said.

Thats the quote right there.

 

[RR7]

Thats the quote right there.

Best part of that is him basically admitting they can't play their game. Already conceding the style shift to us. Haha.

 

[EPIC FAIL GILDERHUS]

What, this guy just had an epiphany? Its not like we just adopted this style of play. Shows how when some people form opinions, they do it with the least amount of info possible, i.e.: "Blazers will lose because they don't have Roy, Suns are hottest team in the L, etc." Kinda sad really, with all the info that we have at our fingertips with the internet.

 

[BIG Q]

Dan Bickley is a good writer and also has an afternoon radio show here. He wasn't one of the guys saying Portland has no chance. He is actually a Chicago homer that lives down here. But the media and fans are going crazy down here. Fans are blaming it all on the officiating. I have been pointing out that the matchups favor the Blazers. Some people can not grasping the fact that the Suns are losing the Nash/Miller matchup in this series and if Aldridge does not have to guard Amare then he wins his matchup with Collins and that Camby will defend Amare well and block shots/grab boards. Nic is a puch with Hill or Richardson leaving Bayless/Rudy as an iffy matchup with whoever.

 

[maxiep]

Let's not forget that out last game against PHX was like this one, too, and the Suns pulled it out. I think they'll adjust and this series will go at least six games. Gentry did have it right when he said we outplayed them, however.

If I'm Gentry, I feed the ball to Hill and put Nico in foul trouble. Our Frenchie gave them all kinds of problems last night.

 

[BGrantFan]

Dan Bickley is a good writer and also has an afternoon radio show here. He wasn't one of the guys saying Portland has no chance. He is actually a Chicago homer that lives down here. But the media and fans are going crazy down here. Fans are blaming it all on the officiating. I have been pointing out that the matchups favor the Blazers. Some people can not grasping the fact that the Suns are losing the Nash/Miller matchup in this series and if Aldridge does not have to guard Amare then he wins his matchup with Collins and that Camby will defend Amare well and block shots/grab boards. Nic is a puch with Hill or Richardson leaving Bayless/Rudy as an iffy matchup with whoever.

I feel the need to give Batum huge props for last night. Grant Hill looked lost offensively. Nic dominated that match-up.

 

[mook]

If I'm Gentry, I feed the ball to Hill and put Nico in foul trouble. Our Frenchie gave them all kinds of problems last night.

Can Hill really do much against Batum, though? I mean, he's not exactly an offensive juggernaut anymore. Hill pretty much relies on Nash to create for him.

Besides, I think Batum is going to be used more on covering Nash in game 2. It was pretty clear he could do a decent job of preventing dribble penetration on him.

 

[maxiep]

Can Hill really do much against Batum, though? I mean, he's not exactly an offensive juggernaut anymore. Hill pretty much relies on Nash to create for him.

Besides, I think Batum is going to be used more on covering Nash in game 2. It was pretty clear he could do a decent job of preventing dribble penetration on him.

It doesn't take athleticism to pump fake or flop.

 

[Minstrel]

Besides, I think Batum is going to be used more on covering Nash in game 2. It was pretty clear he could do a decent job of preventing dribble penetration on him.

I hope so. Shades of Pippen being put on Stockton. Totally disrupted Utah, as they were completely built around Stockton creating. The Suns are equally dependent upon Nash...if Batum can disrupt Nash, he disrupts the entire Suns' offense.

 

[RR7]

I hope so. Shades of Pippen being put on Stockton. Totally disrupted Utah, as they were completely built around Stockton creating. The Suns are equally dependent upon Nash...if Batum can disrupt Nash, he disrupts the entire Suns' offense.

And, as was mentioned during the broadcast b y the Mike's, it's easier to switch because Batum on the guy setting the pick isn't nearly the mismatch that one of Miller or Bayless on that individual would be.

 

[mook]

Yeah, I can see the Batum strategy resulting in Steve Nash shooting a lot of contested three pointers. Which isn't great, but a damned sight better than the Suns playing a real offense where Amare gets the ball rolling to the hoop.

I think it'll also take the ball out of Nash's hands as they look to expose Miller guarding Richardson. Which suits me fine. I'd love to see the Suns offense turn into the retro-Golden State offense.