NBA Weblog

An Open Letter to Steve Nash - April 25, 2012

chowell — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 05:20:00 GMT

THANK YOU!...(read more)

Phoenix Suns Should Trade Steve Nash Before 2012 Deadline

chowell — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 03:37:00 GMT

Fan's rant, open letter to team management, etc... The Phoenix Suns owe Steve Nash an opportunity to get something more out of his career than busting his as* for a .500 level team. Right now, the Phoenix Suns could trade Steve Nash to a number of NBA teams that would be able to provide some valuable players in return. Wait until the summer and let him walk away... get nothing. Oh, you want to save cap room for free agents in the summer? Who exactly do you think you can get? Dwight Howard isn't coming...(read more)

Missing the NBA... But not as much as those depending on an income

chowell — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 18:45:00 GMT

I've been thoroughly disgusted by the NBA and player's union's inability to come to a compromise and get the season started. Not only did they each have 2 years to plan for this situation, neither side appears willing to bend on the issues that are important to making it a financial stable game again. This is not a win-win situation now - it's a lose-lose for both the NBA & the players. The players' rep is tarnished because you're all being exceptionally greedy and protecting their own interests...(read more)

Lakers Stumbling…

Scott Mitchell — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 17:13:43 GMT

After an impressive start to the 2010-2011 season, the Los Angeles Lakers have, as of late, been left floundering. The Laker’s woes started after Thanksgiving, when they lost four in a row to the Jazz, Pacers, Grizzlies, and Rockets, and was compounded with an embarrass loss on Christmas Day to the Miami Heat. On Sunday, the Lakers were blown out by the Grizzlies at home, 104-85.

There is something different about this team now than there was at the start of the season, and I can’t quite put my finger on it. I think there may be several causes:

Physical Fatigue – this Lakers nucleus has played in the NBA Finals four three seasons in a row – that’s playing from November through June, logging 100+ games on the odometer each season. Add to that Kobe’s playing time in the 2008 Olympics and Lamar Odom’s participation in Team USA basketball this past summer and the increased workload on Gasol without a healthy Bynum. Could the Lakers be running out of gas - too many games, too many minutes in too short a time period?
Mental Fatigue – could the Lakers just be low of gas in the brain? With two championships under their belt, the boys in Purple and Gold may be feeling a bit invincible – “We’ll turn it on come the playoffs.”
Artest – let’s be honest – on offense the Lakers are very often playing 4 on 5. For all his energy and defensive prowess, for everything that he brings to the game from his energy to his experience, he takes it away on the offensive side of the court. He is not a threat; his defender can sag and clog the lane. Heck, in December Artest himself said he didn’t understand the triangle offense: “See, I can't really understand the triangle [offense]. There's 1,000 plays in the triangle. It's such a challenge. I get so frustrated about it. . . . So I just stay in my one spot in the corner. If I leave my spot, I get yelled at. [Lakers Coach] Phil [Jackson's] gonna say, 'What are you doing over there!' So I just don't move." (Maybe Ron should watch this video explaining the Hi-Low Triangle Offense.)

Whatever it is that is ailing the Lakers, they need to identify it and arrive at a suitable workaround. The good news is that this slump is happening now, in mid-season, as opposed to April or May. There’s still plenty of time for the Lakers to turn it around and get back into tip-top shape.

I Can't Lie - I'm an Amare Stoudemire Fan

chowell — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 19:05:00 GMT

I've been a die-hard Phoenix Suns fan since I moved the valley back in 1997 & continuing today - through the days of Jason Kidd, Stephon Marbury, Shawn Marion, Antonio McDyess, etc. Despite my strong interest even back then, it paled in comparison to how I felt about the run 'n gun Suns of the current era w/ Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire. Something about that team drew my interest and had me watching games, reading articles and it even inspired me to start this blog. I now feel that I know...(read more)

The Hi-Low Triangle Offense

Scott Mitchell — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 18:20:51 GMT

Here’s a nice short video detailing how the Hi-Low Triangle Offense – an offensive scheme used frequently by the Lakers – is run. In this set, the play hinges on the 3, who must be a good ball handler and decision maker. The Triangle Offense works best when the 1 and 2 are legitimate outside shooting threats that will make the guard defenders think twice about sagging toward the middle.

The High-Low Triangle Offense

Compelling Plotlines for the 2010-2011 NBA Season

Scott Mitchell — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 23:30:30 GMT

The NBA regular season starts this coming Tuesday with an epic opener – the Boston Celtics playing the new Miami Heat! And later that night, the Lakers take on the Houston Rockets to open their season.

With LeBron’s “decision,” the Lakers coming off back-to-back titles, Kevin Durant’s scoring title and emergence as, perhaps, one of the best players in the league, it’s going to be an exciting and interesting season. Here are five plotlines I can’t wait to see unfold:

How will the Lakers fare? The Lakers are predicted by many to be the favorite team in the West, and for good reason. The Lakers have been to the Finals three straight years in a row, winning the last two. They have a savvy group of battle tested veterans and an intensely fierce and competitive leader in Kobe Bryant. But let’s not forget, the Lakers are another year older; Kobe is 32, but has extended miles on his legs due to entering the League at 18 and playing deep into the postseason most years. Speaking of “old legs,” Andrew Bynum will miss a fair part of the beginning of the season after knee surgery. On top of that, the depth and overall strength of the Western Conference has improved since last year. I think it’s safe to say the Lakers will start out slow, but hopefully they will hit their stride by January and be able to lock up a 2nd or 3rd seat for the Western Conference playoffs.
How many points will Kevin Durant score each night? Last year Kevin Durant, at 21, became the youngest player ever to win the NBA scoring title, averaging 30.1 ppg. Durant’s 30.1 edged out LeBron by just 0.4 ppg. This year, I think Durant wins the scoring title again by a wide margin. Westbrook has improved markedly, the Thunder have another year of experience under their belt, and his closest competitor last year (LeBron) will not score as much this year now that he’s in Miami and will be playing a more complementary role. I’m betting Durant will average north of 31 ppg this season – should be a blast to watch!
Who will be the beast from the East? The Eastern Conference has, arguably, three of the best (if not the best) teams in the League – the Heat, Celtics, and Magic. Each time these teams meet in the regular season will be a battle. Will any of the three emerge as a dominant team, or will each of these teams have an equal shot of winning the Eastern Conference title?
How will the “losers” of the LeBron Decision fare? When LeBron decided to take his talents to South Beach, he left two serious contenders for the LeBron Sweepstakes out cold – the Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks. These teams each made some big signings in the off-season – the Bulls landing Carlos Boozer, who I think will complement Noah and Rose exceptionally well, and the Knicks landing Amare Stoudemire (and, perhaps later this season, Carmelo Anthony, if Carmelo has his way). Will either of these teams be serious contenders, or will they just be battling it out for the rights to lose to Miami, Boston, or Orlando in the first round of the playoffs?
How Dominant will the LeBron/Wade/Bosh Trio Become? Have we ever seen two of the three best players in the League on the same team before? Can this newly assembled team gel quickly enough to make a serious run to the Finals? How many games can we expect to see the Heat win this year? (I’m guessing around 65. There’s no way they’re winning more than 70.) This should be the most exciting subplot of the season, and it all starts this coming Tuesday when the Heat welcome the Celtics!

Four days and counting… Let’s go Lakers!

Sionar-Amare - (Former) Suns PF Leaves to Greener Pastures in NY

chowell — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 14:49:00 GMT

The Phoenix Suns have officially downgraded their 2010-11 roster - expect an announcement any minute. While Grant Hill and Channing Frye were retained, one of the biggest free agents of the 2010 summer has officially declared his new destination. Undoubtedly, the team is downgrading after reaching the Western Conference Finals and coming within a hussle-shot by Ron Artest of taking a series lead over the Lakers. Amare was our guilty pleasure - the highlight reel player we love; but he was also our...(read more)

Grant Hills Opts-In w/ Suns for 1 More Year - $3.2m Player Option for 2010 Season

chowell — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:51:00 GMT

Good news for the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, as forward Grant Hill exercised his player option for another year with the team . His salary is minimal at $3.2 million, but he's probably made enough on prior contracts that money wasn't really an issue for him. In his 3rd year w/ the Suns ($3m salary), Hill helped lead Phoenix to the Western Conference Finals and within 2 wins of the NBA Finals. He routinely had the toughest defensive assignments (e.g. Roy, Bryant, Parker/Ginobili) throughout the playoffs...(read more)

Phoenix Suns vs. San Antonio Spurs 2010 NBA Playoff Preview

chowell — Mon, 03 May 2010 19:58:00 GMT

The Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs look to battle once again starting tonight in a best of 7 playoff series. The Spurs have gotten the best of Phoenix over the past decade, but we're hopeful that this is our year to exact our revenge. Vulnerable in several areas and certainly aging quickly, the Spurs are not the same team from 2, 3 or 4 years ago. Tim Duncan is still playing solid, but his overall contributions have declined (or slowed). Tony Parker is coming off the bench, but not for any really...(read more)

Big Game Tonight!

Scott Mitchell — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 19:08:00 GMT

Tonight the Los Angeles Lakers look to close out the young but impressive Oklahoma City Thunder in an important Game 6 in OKC.

The Lakers dominated the Thunder in the first game of the series, winning handily and looking like the current champions they are. But the Thunder did not roll over. They came back strong in Game 2, a game that they lost but played well and led in the 4th quarter. Back home, the Thunder ran the Lakers off the court, winning both Games 3 and 4 handily. Back in Los Angeles, the Lakers returned to their true form and trounced the Thunder, leading by more than 30 at one point to claim a pivotal 3-2 series lead.

And here we stand now, at the precipice of Game 6. A Lakers win and they're onto the conference semi-finals to play the winner of the Nuggets-Jazz series. A Thunder win and the series returns to LA for a deciding Game 7 on Sunday.

To win this game, the Lakers need to do the following:

Go inside on offense. The Lakers have two 7 foot tall, offensive beasts in Bynum and Gasol. Bynum plays like a typical big, back to the basket. He's got some sweet post moves and can clean up on the offensive boards. Gasol is more of an all around offensive threat. He has the 16 foot jump shot, he's got the back to the basket moves, and he's one of the best big man passers in the league. In Game 5 the Lakers went to both big men early and often and dashed out to an insurmountable lead. In the games they lost, the Lakers failed to go inside, instead relying on jump shots and one on one play.
Use Kobe as an offensive facilitator, not a creator. Kobe Bryant has lost a gear. While only 31, he's got too many miles on his odometer, too many nagging injuries, and is clearly not the same player he was in years past. He's got a broken finger that is impacting his shooting, as evidenced by his poor field goal percentage this series. Problem is, sometimes it seems that Kobe doesn't realize this. Too often he seems hellbent on creating something from nothing, instead of acting as a facilitator who conducts the offense (which should mean getting good spacing on the floor and then getting the ball inside to Gasol or Bynum). When Kobe tries to do too much, the Lakers suffer. When he defers, they win. Kobe... please defer tonight!
Slow down Westbrook and Durant. Ron Artest has done a better job in guarding and harassing Durant than I had expected. To be honest, I thought Artest's age and declining skills would be highlighted this series, but the exact opposite has come true. So that's some silver lining in the cloud and gives me some hope that Artest can work similar magic against future opponents the Lakers may face (presuming they get past OKC). Of course, Artest's offense is another story... Artest needs to continue manning up and playing strong D against Durant, but that alone is not enough. The Lakers also need an answer for Westbrook, who has emerged in this series as a premier point guard. In Games 1-4, Westbrook lit up Fisher, blowing by him at will. In Game 5, Kobe started guarding Westbrook and played a more conservative defense. Rather than crowding Westbrook, Kobe would give him a five foot buffer, guaranteeing Kobe enough time to adjust when Westbrook makes his move, and daring Westbrook to shoot the jumper. Fortunately, Westbrook's jumper was flat in the first half of Game 5, allowing the Lakers to build on their lead. Had he been hitting the long ball (as he started to do in the second half), I wonder how successful Kobe's defense would have been. Regardless of what it takes, the Lakers need to limit Westbrook and Durant's impact on the game tonight.
Keep the Thunder players off the offensive boards and limit second chance shots. In the two Thunder wins they dominated the Lakers on the boards and in hustle.

I hope the Lakers come out with a strong focus tonight and put away the Thunder convincingly, rather than dragging this out to a 7th and deciding game. Last year, when the Lakers played Game 6 in Houston in the first round, I was certain that the Lakers would do just that - come out strong and win handily. Unfortunately, the Lakers did the opposite last year, getting rolled by the Rockets and having to win back in LA. Let's hope this year is not a repeat of last year, and that this series can be nipped in the bud sooner rather than later.

Go Lakers!

Amare Stoudemire Dunking on Anthony Tolliver - "Throwdown in Oaktown" - Video

chowell — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 14:44:00 GMT

A must-see NBA highlight last night, the Suns' Amare Stoudemire dunks on Anthony Tolliver of the Golden State Warriors : Amare's dunk was quickly dubbed the " Throwdown in Oaktown " and many are suggesting it's the best dunk of his career. I'm not sure you could go that far this early - it's definitely one of the best in recent memory, but the timeliness itself has an affect on people's opinion. The dunk made Sportscenter's Top 10 plays last night and will surely be a YouTube hit as people wake up...(read more)

Steve Nash Encourages Suns Fans & Arizona Residents to Observe Earth Hour

chowell — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:28:00 GMT

In a public service announcement (PSA), Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash encourages people to conserve energy by observing Earth Hour. Thursday, March 11, 2010 – Two-time NBA MVP and Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash has recently shown his support for WWF’s Earth Hour by filming a video that encourages people around the world to join him in turning off their lights for Earth Hour on Saturday, March 27th at 8:30 pm . He joins fellow celebrity supporters, NFL great Tom Brady, his wife, supermodel Gisele Bündchen...(read more)

Kobe Returns To Action

Scott Mitchell — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 23:32:00 GMT

After an extended break to nurse some injuries, Kobe Bryant returned to the lineup last night to help the Lakers beat the Memphis Grizzlies, 99-98.

The Lakers steamrolled during Bryant's absence, winning all but one game comfortably. Their one loss came to the Boston Celtics and highlighted Kobe's important roll to the team. In the 4th quarter the Lakers lead against the Celtics started to vanish as the defensive intensity magnified. Each possession, the Lakers struggled with getting their offense started. They throw it into Pau, who would kick it out to Farmar, who would sling it over to Lamar, who would dribble, dribble, dribble, before passing it back to Farmar. Most possessions ended with Farmar or Shannon jacking up a tough, long distance jump shot with the shot clock winding down. Without Kobe the Lakers had no one who could get their own shot.

Fast forward to last night, with Kobe returning to the team. While he started off a little rusty, he finished strong, hitting a three late in the game to knot up the score, and then a last second three to put the Lakers up by one with only a few ticks left on the clock. (The Grizzlies missed the ensuing shot and the Lakers walked off with a 1 point victory.)

Amare Stoudemire Remains a Sun (for now); Phoenix Readies for Playoff Run

chowell — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 15:58:00 GMT

With all the hype surrounding Amare Stoudemire and whether or not he would be traded before Thursday's deadline, most assumed that STAT would be wearing another team's jersey to start his next game. Stoudemire played (& played well) last night @ home in a win for the Suns (vs. Atlanta) - this continues a streak of Amare scoring over 20 pts (now 9 straight games). Even w/ his name being mentioned in trades w/ the Cavs & Heat for the past few weeks - he still remains a Sun & he's handled...(read more)

Suns Looking to Rebound after Consecutive Bashing(s)

chowell — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:39:00 GMT

The Phoenix Suns are coming off of two embarrassing losses in a row to the NY Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers , respectively. In both games, the Suns simply looked like a team that didn't have much energy and/or were kind of on auto-pilot. Against Cleveland, they looked tentative, avoiding Shaq & LeBron James defensively as if they had H1N1. The game vs. New York was unexpected and really should have been a Win for Phoenix. Former coach Mike D'Antoni certainly got the best of his former team ...(read more)

Suns Escape L.A. Victorious - 109-107

chowell — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:40:00 GMT

The Phoenix Suns entered a new era on Wednesday night some would say... lowered expecations era. While the team is still exciting to watch and can play with virtually any team on a given night, many NBA analysts are writing the Suns off as a likely playoff team, but nothing more. That's all fine & dandy, but the season is long, players get traded and really, anything is possible. I'm not writing this team off until they're a) out of playoff contention or b) eliminated in the playoffs. I expect...(read more)

Suns Lose Annual Outdoor Game, 104-101 to Warriors

chowell — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 14:57:00 GMT

Highlights from the Suns annual outdoor preseason game: Just a preseason game, but the highlights don't show Phoenix too favorably. They are regularly out of position and being caught off guard on defense. I would hope we're better than Golden State overall at season's end, but we couldn't take care of this one. They probably could have one easily, had Steve Nash (1-6 FG), Earl Clark (4-16 FG), Leandro Barbosa (2-8 FG) and others just hit their shots. The Suns shot 40.4% FG on the game - that's not...(read more)

Robin Lopez Out 6-8 Weeks for Phoenix Suns

chowell — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 02:11:00 GMT

The Phoenix Suns , already short on reliable players in the post, will lose 2nd year center Robin Lopez for 6-8 weeks due to a foot injury. Lopez broke his fifth metatarsal—the long bone on the outside of his foot that connects to the little toe—in the second half of the team’s intrasquad scrimmage Saturday in San Diego. Team officials say the procedure to insert a screw in Lopez’s foot will be performed Tuesday at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix. Source: Yahoo Sports (AP) The loss of Lopez may...(read more)

Suns Sign 1st Round Draft Pick Earl Clark; Suns News

chowell — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 04:58:00 GMT

The 14th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, Earl Clark, officially signed a contract w/ your Phoenix Suns last Friday. An established big-game performer, the 21-year-old Clark averaged 15.0 points and 8.0 rebounds and shot 56.8 percent from the field in NCAA Tournament games during his final two seasons at Louisville. Clark adds versatility and athleticism off the bench, but it is unclear how well he'll perform in the NBA. He will be a welcome sight off the Suns' bench, however, as their lack of...(read more)

Summer Basketball Equipment & Season Preparation - Get Started Early

chowell — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 04:41:00 GMT

(A-d-v-e-r-t-i-s-e-m-e-n-t) With the NBA's Summer League in full swing this week, amateurs and school organized basketball teams are also getting underway. As pro basketball goes, so usually does the average fan. When the professionals start playing, everyone starts getting more into the game - local leagues are organized, pick-up games started on playgrounds around the country and gyms/fitness centers a full of players saying "we got next". If you're anything like me, your basketball equipment is...(read more)

Phoenix Suns Add Grant Hill, Channing Frye to 2009-10 NBA Roster

chowell — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:47:00 GMT

The Phoenix Suns have reportedly reached agreement w/ free agents Grant Hill and Channing Frye , a former Arizona resident (UofA). As is being reported by Paul Coro, Suns insider for the Arizona Republic, Hill is signing a 2-yr deal w/ a player option on the 2nd yr, while Frye is also expected to receive a 2-yr deal. Here are the details on Grant Hill's re-signing: Hill will return for a third season with the Suns by agreeing to a contract that will pay him $3 million this season with a player option...(read more)

NBA Trades & Free Agent Signings 2009

chowell — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 05:21:00 GMT

Big moves this summer, including your Phoenix Suns... unfortunately, the Suns traded away players for financial reasons & are not getting much in return. In addition, key free agents are looking elsewhere (Grant Hill, Matt Barnes), so the team is looking mighty thin in some key positions. Most notable NBA trades & free agent signings of 2009: Suns traded Shaq to Cleveland for Ben Wallace (waiving) & Sasha Pavlovic, a decent 6th or 7th man. Hedo Turkoglu traded from Orlando to Toronto...(read more)

Shaq Traded to Cleveland Cavaliers

chowell — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:32:00 GMT

The Phoenix Suns have traded Shaquille O'Neal to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic . ESPN is breaking the news right now, as Yahoo Sports probably reported first (?). No Tweets from Shaq or Amare (yet)... Shaq has tweeted quite a bit tonight, but nothing on the trade. This move is "mostly" salary related, since it really won't make the Suns any better. Not sure it makes Cleveland any better to be honest... Realize this is a business and the Suns can't over-pay for a non-playoff...(read more)

Suns Outlook Fuzzy Entering 2009 NBA Draft

chowell — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:33:00 GMT

While some teams appear to have their 2009 NBA Draft plans in stone already (think LA-Griffin), the Phoenix Suns and other teams after the 1st pick are a little less clear. Starting with the 2nd pick, the NBA Draft looks to be one of the most dynamic in recent history. Not only is there no clear selection of players, but many teams are lining up for the 2010 free agent season when LeBron James and others will be available. Many franchises will be unwilling to take on huge salaries right now with...(read more)