I’ve heard that the Phoenix Suns will adjust to the suspensions of Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw with a very small starting line-up (Nash, Bell, Barbosa, Ja. Jones, and Marion) for Game 5. I think this would be disastrous for a number of reasons and feel they should use some of their bigger players (Thomas and Rose) instead.
Bench Scoring: If the best sixth man in the Association starts, Phoenix will not have any players remaining to provide a scoring lift off the bench. I’ve always felt that Leandro Barbosa is most effective as a reserve, although he has started in pressure situations and performed admirably.
This is the type of game where Jalen Rose could contribute by scoring, like Tim Thomas did last year. Like Tim Thomas, Rose can’t guard anyone but Phoenix’s success is contingent on playing at their tempo – a variable that is even more critical tonight – so some sacrifices can be made at the defensive end in order to maintain their points-per-possession.
Post Defence: Kurt Thomas is the Suns’ best hope of stopping Tim Duncan, who will go off for forty and twenty if covered by Shawn Marion. Furthermore, Marion will be in foul trouble throughout the game, Duncan will find cutters and shooters like he did during Game 4’s third quarter, and the defensive rotation will still be slow as molasses (due to a lack of anticipation among inexperienced players).
Covering Duncan with Thomas and mixing traps and double-teams when San Antonio penetrates with the dribble or enters the ball into the post is the best course of action. Multiple defenses have kept the Spurs off-balance and there will be an opportunity to play some zone. If Mike D’Antoni doesn’t keep two forwards on the court, Fabricio Oberto will also hurt them with an efficient contribution.
Offensive Execution: Sparing Marion the defensive assignment of Duncan will save his energy for the offensive end. A two-man game with Steve Nash should be the primary focus of Phoenix’s offense. The Suns must attack the basket – the officials will give them the benefit of the doubt due to the controversy – in order to take high percentage shots and put the Spurs in foul trouble. Bell, Barbosa, and Jones will have plenty of time to shoot when the defence collapses but outside shooting should not be a primary goal.
Kurt Thomas screens and rolls well with Nash. Nash will have to hit his pull-up jumper with a good percentage in case he can’t get to the rack and Thomas must make Duncan, Oberto, and Bowen pay if they don’t step out to guard his shot.