The Republic of Sport

jburning

jburning's Comments

Posted Saturday February 21, 2009, About: Surgeon: Amare's eye may need more work

I think the Suns have a chance to make the playoffs, since they have plenty of scorers. As evidenced in the OKC game last night, Barbosa and Richardson can easily pick up the scoring slack. They'll need everyone to pick up a couple more rebounds to make up for Amare's contributions there. On the defensive end, they obviously don't miss Stoudemire too much. The Suns have been crippling the passing lanes pretty tenaciously the last three games, so that's making up for some of their other shortcomings. They still have no chance to win a championship, but I think they'll still get in the playoffs.

Posted Tuesday February 17, 2009, About: Why Suns may keep Amare

I think at this point, it's all about delaying the inevitable until the off-season, so Kerr is not forced to make a trade that gets him labeled as "Destroyer of the Phoenix Suns' Franchise" by giving away Amare Stoudemire for the Bulls' caca.

Posted Tuesday February 17, 2009, About: Why Suns may keep Amare

I like Stoudemire and all, but jeezus, just get to the rebuilding already. It feels to me like the championship window for this team (with Nash and Stoudemire as the core) is slammed shut. The sooner the Suns rebuild, the sooner they'll be in contention again. If they can move Shaq and work to rebuild around Stoudemire, then ok. If this story was floated out there to create more of a bidding war for Amare closer to the deadline, then ok. But the Suns team, as currently constituted, is not going much of anywhere in the playoffs. They're only close to an eight seed, because Utah has so many injuries. Once they get Williams, Boozer, Millsap, Okur, and Kirilenko all healthy at the same time, there's no way the Suns are beating them out.

Posted Tuesday February 17, 2009, About: Three-way deal bringing Bosh to Bulls?

Yeah, this trade idea is dumb. The Suns would just trade directly with Toronto and swape Amare for Bosh. Only reason it makes any sense is if the Bulls for some reason, really didn't want Amare, and I don't think that's the case.

Posted Saturday February 14, 2009, About: Bulls, Cavs leading Amare race?

Maybe the Suns front office is leaking these rumors about a Cavs trade, so that it lessens the blow when they accept the Bulls offer? Maybe they think we'll see they traded with the Bulls and go "Oh, whew, at least it wasn't with the Cavs."

Posted Saturday February 14, 2009, About: Bulls, Cavs leading Amare race?

If the Suns do this trade with the Cavaliers, I think Sarver's and Kerr's lives will be in danger, and they might never come back from San Diego. Seriously, that trade is worse than the Gasol-for-Kwame trade.

Posted Friday February 13, 2009, About: Stoudemire to Cavs or Lakers?

I'm pretty sure the Pacers would need to give up Granger to have a shot.

Posted Friday February 13, 2009, About: Source: Suns to fire Porter

Ultimately, though, it seems fruitless. The Suns cannot win a title with the current roster. They ought to stop kidding themselves and start rebuilding anyway, regardless of coaching change. I think a lot of fans will have more fun and less stress rooting for a hardworking, young team than one that who should be winning, but won't. Just more heartbreak.

Posted Friday February 13, 2009, About: Stoudemire to Cavs or Lakers?

The idea that Stoudemire would go to the Cavs or the Lakers is ludicrous.

Posted Friday February 13, 2009, About: Source: Suns to fire Porter

I don't think that's true. We have plenty of scorers. Give Shaq all the touches he wants, have Jason Richardson become more active offensively. I'm assuming (or rather, hoping) we get someone back in the Stoudemire trade that can contribute 10-20 points a night (Beasley/Thomas) right away, but also allows for rebuilding after this season is over. No way the Suns win the title, but the word I hear out of Arizona is that Sarver, while he'd like financial relief in the trade, also still wants the team to host a few playoff games to bring in a bit of revenue, so hopefully that means getting talent back is important.

Posted Friday February 13, 2009, About: Source: Suns to fire Porter

Now that I've read Vescey's article, it sounds like a lot of BS. The Cavs, Lakers, and Heat as the only remaining suitors for Stoudemire? I can see the Heat, but the Cavs and Lakers have so little to offer. Maybe Kerr/Sarver will pull a dumb move, but who on either of those teams would the Suns be interested in except the expiring contracts of Wallyworld and Lamar Odom?

Posted Friday February 13, 2009, About: Source: Suns to fire Porter

I think they're looking to trade Stoudemire for other reasons. Mainly, because he's not the leader they were hoping he'd be, and the Suns would like to rebuild. I'm hoping that Porter's dismissal doesn't mean that the Suns still think they can win a Championship with these players. The window is closed, let's move on already while the players still have some trade value.

Posted Friday February 13, 2009, About: Source: Suns to fire Porter

Most sources here in AZ are saying that yes, Porter is not long for the job, but that Alvin Gentry will take over as coach, not Kerr. It SHOULD be Kerr, though, to keep some accountability.

Posted Thursday February 12, 2009, About: Amare Sweepstakes: Portland fails, Heat takes lead

Yeah right. The Suns can just as easily leave out Barbosa (which they'd rather do anyway) and not take crap back like Hughes. If Barbosa's in, then I would imagine Hinrich would have to be in.

Posted Thursday February 12, 2009, About: Amare Sweepstakes: Portland fails, Heat takes lead

I think this one is okay. Having a good backup PG like Hinrich is better than Barbosa. The problem with Thomas is that he's like Amare: Pretty inconsistent and not really living up to his potential, though he's starting to. If he keeps playing like he is now, he's a fine replacement for Stoudemire, since I think Thomas is averaging something like 15 points and 10 rebounds his last handful of games.

Posted Thursday February 12, 2009, About: Amare Sweepstakes: Portland fails, Heat takes lead

This is where discussion gets ridiculous. Amare is a great basketball player. Taken objectively, the man averages 21 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block a game, and this is a rough year for him. Also, he's a big guy who gets to the line a lot and shoots free throws at an 83% clip. You're really going to tell me you'd rather have 85% of the other players in this league than Amare?

The problem is that, for someone who wants a max contract, he's not playing to his potential. To be a max contract player, you should definitely carry passion every game, all game. That's where his problem lies, unfortunately.

Posted Thursday February 12, 2009, About: Amare Sweepstakes: Portland fails, Heat takes lead

Haslem's a great player, but he's probably a little too old, and not enough of a player to start building around. He'd be an excellent player for the Suns to look into trading for using other pieces, though.

Posted Thursday February 12, 2009, About: Amare Sweepstakes: Portland fails, Heat takes lead

Thabo's fine as a bench player, but NOT as a centerpiece of a deal. Kirk is fine, too, but the Suns don't appear to want back a lengthy contract for a player who's a bit overpaid. Deng is perfectly fine, too, but also locked up for a while on a healthy contract and the Bulls appear unwilling to deal him anyway.

I think the Bulls package that's commonly mentioned (Thomas, Gooden, Sefalosha, and picks) is okay, but one of the lesser deals rumored to be on the table.

My contention is with people who just spew trash, such as what I mentioned. I've heard a deal of Larry Hughes, Sefalosha, Nocioni, etc. Basically, all the stuff the Bulls don't want and are looking to get rid of. It's the Suns saying, "Ok, we'll give you Goran Dragic, Robin Lopez, and Alando Tucker for Derrick Rose."

Posted Thursday February 12, 2009, About: Amare Sweepstakes: Portland fails, Heat takes lead

This is why Kevin Durant, though his rookie year was not fantastic, is now becoming a truly great player. He's much more well-rounded than he was, he's learning how to shoulder not just the responsibility of being the leading scorer, but also the responsibility of being the team leader.

Posted Thursday February 12, 2009, About: Amare Sweepstakes: Portland fails, Heat takes lead

I think Beasley could be a fantastic player, even a franchise player. I think any player with skills has the potential to be a franchise player. It just depends on how he's fostered once he reaches the NBA. With the Heat's plan of 20 minutes a game as a bench player, it ain't gonna happen. Franchise players are built by taking young talent, thrusting them into the starting lineup and allowing them to make mistakes. I don't have any numbers handy, but I wonder how many of the game's franchise players came off the bench for an extended period of time? These players need to know the team is rebuilding around him, and make them understand that while expectations will be high, he will be allowed to make mistakes and learn the game.

Posted Thursday February 12, 2009, About: Amare Sweepstakes: Portland fails, Heat takes lead

I don't think they're that desperate. I (hope) at least, that if the Suns don't find the right deal, they'll approach it again in the off-season or look at keeping Amare. It may mean that the Suns just suffer until Shaq and Nash come off the books in 2010 (and Stoudemire, if he opts out and they don't re-sign him).