2005 West Finals Game 1 - Spurs @ Suns - 2nd Half

http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200505220PHO.html

Suns end up with the best record in the league, but missing Joe Johnson in this series hurts them against the Spurs.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Spurs @ Suns 2005 Game 1
• Nash
• Amare
• Duncan

[joekiddlouischama]

@tyday005 ... the 2005 Suns? Maybe if teams only had to play offense ...

[joekiddlouischama]

@joekiddlouischama So while Gortat would have helped defensively, he wouldn't have solved everything. Stoudemire's problem was less his "position" (and playing "center" helped him offensively because there was more space for him and he proved much faster than his opponents) and more that he failed to consistently compete on the defensive end of the court.

[joekiddlouischama]

@joekiddlouischama Finally, keep in mind that regardless of whether Stoudemire was playing "power forward" or "center," he constituted arguably the worst defensive big man in the league. Yes, he would occasionally make a spectacular block from the weak side, like in that third quarter, but otherwise he was giving up points on possession after possession with his inert or foolish defensive actions.

[joekiddlouischama]

@joekiddlouischama Granted, Gortat is a better offensive player with better shooting range than Hunter, but the point remains that the spacing would not have been the same. I'm not saying that adding Gortat would have been bad, but there would have been at least something of a tradeoff and we don't know what the net result would have been.

[joekiddlouischama]

@joekiddlouischama Conversely, that floor spacing and speed, that system that turned Nash into an MVP, would not have been the same with Gortat playing simultaneously as Stoudemire. Just examine the third quarter here: when big man Steven Hunter enters the game and plays alongside Stoudemire, the Suns' offense becomes much less efficient and effective. Then when Stoudemire exits and Phoenix again returns to a lineup with just one big man, the floor again opens and the offense again thrives.

[joekiddlouischama]

For everyone suggesting that adding Gortat to this Phoenix team would have turned the Suns into a dynasty, consider that the principal reason why this squad proved so dominant and efficient offensively was its floor spacing. With the Nash-Stoudemire pick-and-roll surrounded by three fleet three-point shooters, the lane either remained open or the defense surrendered open three-point shots.

[joekiddlouischama]

@XChronicHash The Suns lacked depth and defense (although Joe Johnson returned after the first two games).

[XChronicHash]

what a team, how did the spurs even beat them?

[Wislak27]

If only player like Gortat were in SUns in that times, they could to have a nba tittle. Amare could be play on PF.

[Hinasil]

Gimme this team and Gortat, if he were in the league, or some other average to good center and yes this team would have won 9 rings by now.