Pardon the cheesy quip at the beginning (wait, I might actually be turning into a sports writer!), but this new Phoenix Suns team impresses me more and more every day. It's not that the Shaq trade has been a success (it has) or that we have resucitated the career of Gordon Giricek (who hustles now) and that the team is actually 9 deep. It's not that Amare has exploded or that Diaw is playing better.
No, the main thing that has changed about this team is its attitude. The previous incarnation of the Suns would not have gotten tough on the Spurs the other night and locked down on defense. No, they would have just kept running and trying to out-offense them, which usually cannot be done. In fact, such a tactical mindset could be seen as a hardwood manifestation of its personality. They just kept running away from their problems, refusing to meet them head-on. But now, especially with the Big Shaqtus's bravado, this team is tough.
The two main examples (both funny and fierce) to follow: Shaq making sure to let the world know that he is still "the baddest 36 year old on the planet" and this response from Amare, after another cheap shot from Bruce Bowen near the end of the game:
Asked if he would be Bowen’s friend on the MySpace Web site, Stoudemire responded negatively at first, then changed his mind. “I probably would,” he said. “But just to get his address. Then I might go visit him at his home.”
I know this comment in jest (maybe) and subtle, but the Suns of last year would have just turned the other cheek, or worse, complained about how Bowen is dirty and done their whole "woe is me" schtick. But now, the Suns ain't taking this crap from nobody. Period. It's not the jersey popping or screaming that proves your might. Sometimes, it just takes a big time butt whooping and an ambivalent quip about potential bodily harm to let your enemies know that you plan to come at them. And the Spurs can react any way they want, but deep down they know they can't handle the Suns anymore. The same might be said about the rest of the West? We will see. Cause the Playoffs are right around the corner, baby. No Holds Barred!
1 comments:
While of course nobody should count out the Spurs, being that they're the defending champs and all, I think you're right that the Spurs probably can't handle the Suns anymore. In what I think is a pretty funny irony, the Spurs can't match up with Phoenix's size right now, and when the Spurs then try to go small Phoenix just flatly overmatches them because they're so good at small ball.
Like I said, you gotta respect the Spurs cause they're the champs and they should not be underestimated, but I think the two teams the Suns should probably be more worried about are the Jazz and the Lakers. The Jazz have the size to probably match up OK defensively with the Suns (Shaq should own Okur, but not as much as he does Oberto, for instance), but the Jazz have the weird wrinkle of being able to create a mismatch on the other end of the floor by having Okur's 3-pt shooting pull Shaq away from the paint. Shaq could guard Boozer with Amare on Okur, but Boozer can face up from mid-range as well and still pull Shaq away from the rim if need be. Factor in Deron Williams vs. Nash and throw in the athletic players the Jazz have and that's a tough matchup for the Suns (and for anyone else, really).
The Lakers could pose a problem for the Suns, but only if Bynum comes back and is able to play fairly well. With Bynum, Gasol & Odom (as well as Turiaf, Mihm & Radmanovic) the Lakers have enough size to hang with anyone in that regard, and they too have the athletic guys and shooters to keep pace with Phoenix. But if Bynum either can't play or is extremely limited, then Phoenix probably wins that matchup, because Gasol's gonna get worn down quick having to guard Shaq for 7 straight games, and Odom's not going to be able to keep up with Amare.
Phoenix is definitely being overlooked a bit right now by a lot of people. The Shaq trade has worked out and they are now really well put together for the playoffs. I don't know if they can beat Boston or Detroit if they make it to the Finals though, but they're definitely going to be a tough matchup for anyone this postseason. The only downside to the Shaq trade at this point will come if the Suns don't win and they have to face trying this again next year with an old roster that's even older. The championship window is definitely closing, but it's still open enough for the Suns to have a shot this year, no doubt about that.
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