The Suns took Game One from the Clippers last night, despite an incredible performance from Elton Brand… I’m thinking I may have shortchanged him in earlier MVP discussions. I’m not saying I’d have voted for him, but I’d move him up the list and give him a little more respect than I had previously.
Just to compare him to the guy who is, in my opinion, the gold standard of big men, Tim Duncan… Brand isn’t quite the back-to-the-basket technician that Duncan is, but the touch he has on his shot is incredible. He really is a threat to score from anywhere around the basket, no matter what’s going on around him. He’s not as good defensively as the best big men in the game, but he can get there. He’s also going to have to get better, particularly in this series, with recognizing the double team a little earlier, and making a better pass out of it.
The Clippers are also going to have to get more disciplined on offense… Kenny Smith talks all the time about the Suns baiting team into taking shots. They do. They let you have long jumpers early in the shot clock, and they’re begging you to take them. The Clippers took too many of them, which surprised me. Sam Cassell should know better. I expect them to adjust to that as the series goes on.
There is no reason, none whatsoever, for either Elton Brand or Chris Kaman to touch the ball every time down the floor. Every single possession that isn’t a clear fast break, the ball should be in Brand or Kaman’s hands. The Suns can’t defend them in the post. I can’t make this clear enough. Every single time.
Great shooting performance from the Suns last night. 54.7% from the floor, and 44.4% from behind the 3-point line. What’s add about it is that I felt the Clippers defended them better than the Lakers did. They’re better equipped to handle the pick-and-roll, and the Suns made a lot of tough shots. Boris Diaw and Leandro Barbosa hit a lot of contested shots, and Steve Nash was outstanding at getting a big man on him after a pick-and-roll, and then stepping back and hitting the jumper. He really is the Suns halfcourt offense. Everyone thinks about his up-tempo game, but he doesn’t get enough credit for what he does in the halfcourt.
VC Says:
May 9th, 2006 at 4:06 am
I just finished reading the Daily Dime, here is a stat that floored me; points in the paint 48/42 for the SUNS, and this was with Brand scoring 40 points. It would appear, just based upon those numbers, that the Clippers were as you say, enticed into taking longer shots, not driving to the hoop.
dj2fly4u Says:
May 9th, 2006 at 9:48 am
I was really surprised with the Clippers. I felt like they knew going in they could not get into a run and gun show with Phoenix. It didn’t look like they understood that as the game wore on. Phoenix was great, they did what they wanted to. They’ve always lived with the other team’s star getting his and just running the other team out of the gym.
The Clippers looked confused and/or slow when they were double teamed. They didnt look like they had a plan on where to swing the ball once the Suns committed 2 or even 3 guys on a guy in the post. If they don’t wanna get swept, they will have to slow the tempo down and not get baited by the Suns, as Kenny Smith said. The Clippers have the personnel, but now they need to bring the basketball IQ. Even then, the Suns are a tough out, this strategy at least gives you a chance.