Why Is It So Hard To Play Suns Basketball?

A few years ago the Suns rented Waler McCarty during their playoff push. Walter said it was easy to learn the Suns system, "They just run around and shoot a lot of threes". Walter was wrong.

Compared to teams with huge play books, the Suns system looks amazingly simple. However, with standard plays all the player needs to do is learn what his assignment is. In the D'Antoni system, he has to learn floor recognition and be able to react immediately to what everybody is doing. IMHO, that's harder.

In the Suns offense, once a player gets a ball he has to decide three things instantly:

1. Am I open in a position to shoot? If sho, he needs to shoot instantly before the defense recovers.

2. Is there someone else WITH A BETTER SHOT open? If so, he needs to pass him the ball immediately.

3. Is there an open lane to the basket (such as if someone is running by and can be beaten with a pump fake)? If so, he needs to drive before the defense reacts and still look for dump or kickout opportunities.All of this is just when receiving the ball.

It is even more complicated without the ball in deciding whether to set up to receive a catch and shoot shot, set a pick, or cut based on reading the defense.The result is a need for constant and total court awareness. There is not enough time to consider all the options AFTER getting the ball. You don't know if you or your teammates are open without being aware of where all the defenders are. Plus, you have to be ready to get the ball at any time.

My guess is that this approach is more alien than anything new playes have ever seen. Total court awareness is usually left to the point guard, but D'Antoni wants everyone to think that way and not wait until they get the ball to look around. Almost every player has something to work on in this regard.

1. Banks - He still has the old "man on man" offensive orientation and lacks awareness of where his teammates are until after trying to break his man down. Even off the ball, his skills are somewhat of a mismatch for the Suns but could be a big deal on other teams.

2. Diaw - He has great instincts but is still not comfortable with "catch and shoot" and is too indecisive when going to the basket. It is great to pay attention to where the weakside help is coming from, but he needs to know if he can finish before the help arrives.

3. Marion - He doesn't cut to the basket enough and doesn't pass out quickly enough when covered. He also lacks a basic awareness of where his best locations for shooting are.

4. Bell - He has good awareness of when he's open but not of where open teammates are.

5. Stoudemire - He still struggles with recognizing double teams and where the open man is.

6. Barbosa - He tends to challenge weak side defenders in the race to the basket even when it would be better to dump off to a teammate.

7. Thomas - He plays within the offense well but doesn't pass much.

In addition to the "stand or cut" decisions, there is a recurring issue of whether to set picks or clear out. Too often guys would come over to set picks for Leandro even though no one can stop him anyway. The pick just pulls a defender over.

One of the issues is how to properly spread the floor and still move without the ball. It takes court awareness to know who is covering and where to go to a place that does not diminish the floor distribution.Rebounding is also an issue of floor awareness.

Most rebounds are a result of positioning, so once the ball is shot it means going to a likely location for a miss. Long shots tend to bounce wider, so standing under the basket is not the most likely place. When a player is driving, following in is a way to be in a position for a dump pass or to get the offensive rebound.In drafting Tucker and Strawberry, it is easy to be converned about their shooting. But it appears they have the temperment to play this style of basketball.