Myth Debunking: Phoenix Suns (April 2007)
| 13
|
by user Manny Stiles
Welcome to Myth Debunking. I am your host Manny Stiles and today we will be looking the myths surrounding the Pacific Division champions in the NBA, the Phoenix Suns.
It's April, the playoffs begin in mere days and there is some concensus prognostications being tossed around, mostly by people who think they know what they're talking about simply because they see/hear people on TV and they believe those people know what they're talking about.
But what is myth? Myth is a traditional story used to explain a phenomenon. The Phoenix Suns, my friends are indeed a phenomenon. But does mere traditional story telling REALLY explain anything about these Phoenix Suns? I believe the myths are waaay offbase and I'll explain why:
Myth #1: You can't win with the Suns' style in the playoffs
Contrary to popular belief, NBA teams HAVE won championships by scoring a lot of points before. In fact, if you look at the record books, you’ll see that EVERY SINGLE NBA CHAMPION scored MORE points than their opponents in the Finals. It’s TRUE!
What people don’t understand is HOW the Suns score their points, or better yet WHY they score their points the way they do. Obviously the Suns play at a faster pace then the rest of the league, but it’s HOW they do it that makes them so spectacular. It starts with defense!
What? “Starts with Defense”? Manny what the hell are you talking about? The Suns don’t play Def--- ah, ah, ah… that’s another myth we will address in a bit!
The key to the Suns offense is to not let the ball slow down. The Suns lull you into running. They come at you and come at you. And even if you try to slow it down, before you know it you’re running right along. And then your legs are toast in the 4th quarter because the Suns are used to it and you’re not.
Another huge key in their offense is to not foul on defense. Fouling slows the pace down, it allows everyone to catch their breath and that works against what the Suns are doing. So what appears to be easy buckets really are part of the Suns philosophy. As soon as you score, the Suns ram it right back down your throat. I can’t count how many times this season that an opponent made a spectacular basket, seemingly gaining momentum only to have the Suns come RIGHT back (in an instant) inbounds the ball, pass, ‘’maybe’’ one dribble and they score. Worse yet, sometimes that one dribble is towards the basket forcing the defenders to collapse the lane only to have Steve Nash or Leandro Barbosa to kick the ball out to an open shooter for three. Just like that, the opponent goes from “Hell Yeah!” to “Aw crap…”. It’s a strong counterpunch for every jab.
In yesterday’s game against the Lakers, with the game winding down Kobe Bryant made a nice dribble drive, spinning and dunking the ball emphatically. The crowd was raucous; the team was pumped and seemed to get a bit of momentum from Kobe’s effort. Then the inbounds came, Nash passed it upcourt to Barbosa and less than 3 seconds on the game clock after Kobe’s whirling dervish (is there any other kind of dervish?), the Suns had an easy layup (basically the same amount of points as Kobe’s dunk) and the entire building was deflated. The Lakers players slumped their heads and the game was soon out of control and lost.
I don’t care who you are or how good you are, when you bust your ass to make a spectacular play only to have the Suns make an easy bucket ‘just like that’ (snaps fingers) it wears you out and defeats your will. The Suns best defense IS their offense.
AS for whether or not slowing the pace down works against the Suns… the Suns have lost a total of ONE game (the last game against the Spurs) this season when they failed to score 100 points. That means they lose MORE games when they score over 100. Chew on that.
The Suns are 8-3 in 2007 in games decided by 5 points or less. (13-8 overall if you include the slow start)
Let alone the fact that are the best three-point shooting team in the league (WITH the most attempts) and ‘’just’’ behind the Mavs in free throw shooting (over 80%). In fact, this year’s Suns team is trying to become the first team in a LONG time to shoot better than 50% from the field, 80% from the line and better than 40% from 3pt land.
Also, the Suns lead the league in assists per game. Despite their torrid game pace, they are 11th in turnovers. Either way, they lead the league in assist to turnover ratio as well.
And not to get all statty on you: Adjusted FG% - the difference between the third best team (Lakers at 51%) and the last team (Atlanta at 47%) is the same as the difference between the 3rd place team (Lakers at 51%) and the league leading Suns (at 55%). Last time I checked, shooting is an important part of the game.
Myth #2: The Suns can't play defense
This is the myth that cracks me up.
The Suns have won several games this year, specifically ON defensive stops. Yet people focus on the score, not the actual game play. The Suns have been first or second in win differential ALL SEASON. Remember how I told you the Suns lead the league in assists per game? They’re fourth in the league at allowing assists, giving them the widest margin in assists made and assists allowed. They are tied for third in PPS (points allowed per shot) with the Detroit Pistons (does anyone question THEIR defense?)
How about some defensive stats – Shawn Marion is FIFTH in the league in steals per game, Tenth in rebounds per game and 20th in blocks per game. Gee, those are all defensive statistics! Shawn Marion deserves consideration for Defensive Player of the Year. He’s a Small Forward playing undersized Power Forward and thriving on both ends..
Amare Stoudemire is 12th in rebounding and 23rd in Blocks
The Suns lead ALL teams in charges taken by a wide margin (taking charges is playing defense, right?) Steve Nash and Raja Bell are BOTH in the top 3 in charges taken.
Kurt Thomas an Raja Bell are two of the most tenacious defenders and general irritants. James Jones is also a much better defender than you know. He can man up and has a knack for making key blocks along with hios 3pt shooting.
And did you know that MOST fast breaks start on defense? Hard to be a fast break kind of team if you don’t play defense.
At least SOME people are starting to recognize…
Myth #3: Steve Nash isn't the MVP this year
Steve Nash’s 2-time reigning MVP numbers have increased across the board to career highs in PPG (18.9), assists (11.5), and he is blowing out his career highs in FG% - .534 (+.022 over last season), 3pt shooting - .468 (+.029 over last season) . Only his rebounding (-0.7 form last year) and FT % - .893 (-.028 from last season) has dipped a tiny bit. Ridiculous numbers on top of MVP numbers all while leading his team to a third consecutive division title.
He blatantly outshined and outplayed Dirk (who is wearing down) in each of their latest two matchups, just beat Kobe again (whose numbers are DOWN from his non-MVP season last year) and you can see that barring complete voter shenanigans, we will be calling Nash “Three Time”.
Myth #4: The Spurs AND the Mavs are better
Unlike even the most steadfast Suns fans, I truly believe that the Mavs and Spurs suck in comparison to the Phoenix Suns. I am true fan, but I am also a believer in Coach Mike D’Antoni. I believe in the foundation, the materials and the architect. The Eyes ARE on the Prize. D’Antoni came in focused, Nash came in focused and they team is primed to walk right through the playoffs. They have the pieces in place, they have depth and for the first time, they have health on their side.
Everyone and their sister is maintaining that the Mavericks or Spurs are the top contenders for the championship this year. Everyone and their sister is saying that the Suns don’t want to face both the Mavs and the Spurs in the playoffs. Even people here in the valley are concerned with potential matchups and hoping that the Suns get help from other teams to avoid two series in Texas.
No, No, No. The Suns WANT to beat BOTH of them. Badly.
If you’re going to be NBA Champions, beat everyone and anyone who thinks they’re good. The Spurs knocked the Suns out two years ago, the Mavs knocked the Suns out last year. Time to return the favor and knock them both out. The Suns AREN’T afraid of the Mavs one iota. The Mavericks can NOT stop Amare. The Mavs know it, the Suns know it, Amare knows it.
Tim Duncan used to crush the spirits of some of the Suns players. I swear, a couple years ago after their time on Team USA, I saw Duncan reach inside Marion’s chest and rip his heart out. This year, it’s not the same. All eyes are on the prize.
I feel confident that the Suns not only will have to beat them both, but will do it convincingly and then win a dull, quick NBA Finals over WHO EVER wins the EAST by default before it even starts.
And the BEST part is it looks like the Suns will get to stomp all over the Lakers in the first round! This is going to be an enjoyable playoff run.
Myth #5: We know everything there is to know about the Suns players
Listen! Shhhh…do you hear that? THAT is the sound of all of the idiots making noise about Amare's knees. Where are you at? I told you BACK IN November that Amare’s knee wasn’t the problem, his head and conditioning were.
Trivia time: Name the only Phoenix Sun to play every game this season.
Trivia Answer: Amare Stoudemire
You know what else you don’t know about the Suns? Anything about the men inside the jerseys. You know their names, their numbers, their games; but you can’t see their hearts, their wills or their determination. Led by “Ole’ Blood and Nuts” Raja Bell this team is tougher than ever. They are going to concede NOTHING in a playoff series.
Here’s something else you don’t know about the Suns: This team is tight. They hang out together, they don’t let ego issues disrupt what they are doing. A few years back Amare and Shawn didn’t get along great. Joe Johnson left because he knew he wasn’t going to be a top banana on this squad. Even Nash and Amare butted heads on occasion. That’s all changed. They play together, they go to war together… they even got all superstitious together… they got each other’s backs.
There are more glue guys and savvy veterans keeping things in check and maintaining proper focus.
THREE Suns players are in the top 12 in the league in double-doubles – Nash, Stoudemire and Marion. No other team has even two players the top 15.
Myth #6: These are the same Suns that lost two straight Conference Finals
After two straight western finals losses (thanks to Joe Johnson and Raja Bell injuries), people seem to think they know who these Suns are. You don’t. The ONLY players that were on the 2004-05 Western Conference Finals team are Steve Nash, Shawn Marion, Amare Stoudemire and Leandro Barbosa.
Gone are former vital cogs/contributors Joe Johnson, Jake Voskuhl, Quentin Richardson, Tim Thomas, Jim Jackson, Casey Jacobsen, Steven Hunter, Brian Grant and Eddie House.
Myth #7: Their window is closing
Steve Nash is wearing down. He’s getting old, he plays too hard and takes too much of a beating to last much longer. These are things Mark Cuban said over 3 years ago.
The Suns have Barbosa, Diaw and Stoudemire firmly locked up in long-term deals. They are all fairly young players yet to see their “prime years”. Nash has 3 more years on his contract, Bell has three and Marion has two more. Oh yeah; thanks to Atlanta, the Suns have THREE first round picks (as long as Atlanta doesn’t ping-pong it’s way to a top three pick) and two first rounders next year.
It will hurt losing assistant coach Marc Iavaroni, who will get a head job somewhere (Memphis?).
But the window of opportunity isn’t closing anytime soon. Not as long as STAT is around.
Summary
I said WAY back in October that the ONLY thing that would stop the Suns from winning it all was health. Have the Suns been healthy this year or what? Look at any championship team in any sport ever. They are almost always perfectly healthy teams. Health is the most valuable commodity in pro sports. Health was more important to the Suns this year than dealing with everyone saying you “can’t outscore teams in the playoffs”.
I remember back to the late 80’s. There was a guy in the league who could outscore everyone but people would tell him over and over that you can’t win with offense. People said he would NEVER win a title. Yeah, his team scored 110 ppg when he won his first title. Exactly what the Suns are scoring THIS year.
What was the guy’s name? Michael Jordan… yeah he went on and won a couple more titles, too…
I can’t help but feeling that the Suns are a bit like the Indianapolis Colts and multiple MVP Peyton Manning who “could never win the big game” with the style they play. It’s always clear to everyone in hindsight WHY a team can win it all. And that’s when all of the people who say “they can never win it all” seem to disappear as though never had existed.
There’s a lot of people who will be silenced this June when the Suns do win it all. I won’t be one of them.
Go Suns!
