Have you seen the Phoenix Suns play with Marcus Banks at the point instead of Steve Nash? Rigid half-court sets. No fluidity. Just constantly kicking the ball out to the perimeter, hoping somebody knocks down the three. It's terrible. How good would they be if a real playmaker like Sergio Rodriguez or Rajon Rondo was backing up Nash at the point? Nope, those draft picks were sold off for cash in the same draft year. How good would they be if they had Luol Deng, who's bound to be an All-Star this year? Nope, sold off back in 2004. All because Robert Cheapskate Sarver is scared to death of even sniffing the luxury tax.
Now this year, they trade Kurt Thomas, their best post defender and the only guy on the team who could even slightly slow down Tim Duncan, and TWO first-round picks for a SECOND-ROUND pick?? Your best player and key to the offense is going on 34 this season, and you give up your next two years' first round picks? I like the Brian Skinner pick-up, but are you counting on Grant Hill, a solid but clearly over-the hill veteran, to take you over the top? Are you hoping the two 6'5" rookie swingmen you didn't sell off in the draft can contain Duncan?
I see Chicago and Dallas drafting wisely and developing their young guys. San Antonio is the master of finding talent late in the draft and letting them develop overseas with an eye to the future. I see Houston picking up free agents and trading for players who actually fit their needs (Swift, Battier, Scola). What the hell is Phoenix doing?
I could care less if this was happening in New York or Philadelphia. The most infuriating part is that Phoenix should be competing for championships every year. But, unlike some crazy NBA analysts, I never think they have what it takes to beat a Dallas or San Antonio in a seven-game series. The Mavs and the Spurs only need to play a good series to beat Phoenix (which apparently is a lot to ask for one of those teams); Phoenix needs every single thing to go their way.
Denver broke the bank to put Allen Iverson next to Carmelo Anthony and Kenyon Martin. Boston broke the bank to put together Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen. I'll give Sarver credit for paying for Nash. That was a money move. He gave Amare Stoudemire the extension he deserved, which was an obvious move. He extended Boris Diaw and Leandro Barbosa (jury's still out on that). But he is killing his team thinking what's he done is enough and can nickel and dime the rest of the way to a championship.
Rob, you are not there yet. If they don't win this year, it's not on Nash. It's not on Stoudemire or Shawn Marion. It's not Mike D'Antoni. It's 100% on the shoulders of Robert Sarver, who is quickly building the worst franchise in the league around one of its brightest teams.
Now this year, they trade Kurt Thomas, their best post defender and the only guy on the team who could even slightly slow down Tim Duncan, and TWO first-round picks for a SECOND-ROUND pick?? Your best player and key to the offense is going on 34 this season, and you give up your next two years' first round picks? I like the Brian Skinner pick-up, but are you counting on Grant Hill, a solid but clearly over-the hill veteran, to take you over the top? Are you hoping the two 6'5" rookie swingmen you didn't sell off in the draft can contain Duncan?
I see Chicago and Dallas drafting wisely and developing their young guys. San Antonio is the master of finding talent late in the draft and letting them develop overseas with an eye to the future. I see Houston picking up free agents and trading for players who actually fit their needs (Swift, Battier, Scola). What the hell is Phoenix doing?
I could care less if this was happening in New York or Philadelphia. The most infuriating part is that Phoenix should be competing for championships every year. But, unlike some crazy NBA analysts, I never think they have what it takes to beat a Dallas or San Antonio in a seven-game series. The Mavs and the Spurs only need to play a good series to beat Phoenix (which apparently is a lot to ask for one of those teams); Phoenix needs every single thing to go their way.
Denver broke the bank to put Allen Iverson next to Carmelo Anthony and Kenyon Martin. Boston broke the bank to put together Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen. I'll give Sarver credit for paying for Nash. That was a money move. He gave Amare Stoudemire the extension he deserved, which was an obvious move. He extended Boris Diaw and Leandro Barbosa (jury's still out on that). But he is killing his team thinking what's he done is enough and can nickel and dime the rest of the way to a championship.
Rob, you are not there yet. If they don't win this year, it's not on Nash. It's not on Stoudemire or Shawn Marion. It's not Mike D'Antoni. It's 100% on the shoulders of Robert Sarver, who is quickly building the worst franchise in the league around one of its brightest teams.
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