D'Antoni says Phx has more talent then Spurs

[Reality]

Thanks for the bulletin board material, Mike.
I get the context of what he is saying but still.....

"I hate to say this and I hope it sounds the right way. I think we have more talent than they do,'' D'Antoni said after the Suns practiced on Monday. "I think that we're individually better. Collectively, they're better right now.''
http://www.nba.com/nba_news/sunsheart_070507.html

They plan on starting Tim Thomas for Gm 2 to guard Duncan and relieve Stoudamire of that assignment.  No suprise.   And continue to have Marion guard Parker.  Thank you Phx for that one, Parker should go off for 30 again or have 10+ assists.  He'll drive right past him.

[westkoast]

"I think that we're individually better. Collectively, they're better right now.''

Basketball is a team sport.  Mike about sums it up for me.

Just to entertain the idea for debate...

Nash vs Parker - Nash
Amare vs Duncan - Duncan
Marion vs Manu - Marion posts up a bit better numbers but hasn't been major factor in the playoffs
Bell vs Bowen - Bowen is the better defender and a better 3 pt shooter in tough situations
SA bench vs Suns bench - Very close...Horry is clutch, Barbosa is a matchup nightmare in foot speed, Barry is a shooter, Banks/Jones can shoot. 
Fabs vs everyone - Fabs hair automatically makes him a better player
SA staff vs Suns staff - SA coaching staff
SA heart vs Suns heart - SA, no brainer, a team that good shouldn't have trouble getting motivated if they have a chance to win a title.  If that doesn't motivate you then you have a major weakness.

Sounds to me like he is even wrong on that too..

[SPURSX3]

"Fabs vs everyone - Fabs hair automatically makes him a better player"


 

[Skandery]

Got a solution for ya ole' Mikee D'antonee.  Instead of a 48 minute game, lobby for 8 of your players to play 8 of San Antonio's players 1 on 1 for 6 minute intervals.....oh wait the NBA probably won't let you do that.  Hmmm, so where does this comment really fit in to anything of what NBA basketball is about? 

I've never really liked this guy.  I'll tell ya, without Nash, I have no doubt in my mind he would've been a footnote in the annals of NBA coaching. 

[JoMal]

Clearly, D'Antoni was watching his offense during practice and not the defense. If he thinks his players are better individually on defense then the Spurs, and good defense tends to win more championships then flashy offense, he must not be such a pretty fart smella...er....smart fella...after all. 

[SPURSX3]

D'Antoni has always been cocky for a coach who has not done anything really.  ALthough I will point out he does NOT seem as cocky as when knocked them out last time we met in the playoffs....and for goodness sake- what's up with those pearly white chompers of his...with teath like that you would think he could be a motivational speaker...too bad he bites at that too.   

[jn]

Yeesh.. what foolish thing to say.

[rickortreat]

Well, he has younger talent than San Antonio, but better?  That's a reach.  None of them have rings, or a championship.  They did win more games in the regular season, but not that many more.

If he has more talent, then he should win the series.  I think he is saying the Spurs are a better team because they play better team defense.  It's not their individual skills, but the way they trap the ball handler and disrupt the offense, that makes them better.

Physically, the Suns are better athletes, I doubt Duncan could run down the floor with Stoudamire, but I'd still want Duncan in the post over Amare right now.

I'm not sure if the Suns are ready to take out the Spurs.  So far, it looks like San Antonio is just a little bit better, a bit more in control, a bit more poised.  A confident team is tough to beat. D'Antoni is just trying to build the confidence in his own squad.  If it pisses off San Antonio, it's not like they can play any better- he had nothing to loose, except make SA loyalists unhappy. 

[westkoast]

Well, he has younger talent than San Antonio, but better?  That's a reach.  None of them have rings, or a championship.  They did win more games in the regular season, but not that many more.

If he has more talent, then he should win the series.  I think he is saying the Spurs are a better team because they play better team defense.  It's not their individual skills, but the way they trap the ball handler and disrupt the offense, that makes them better.

Physically, the Suns are better athletes, I doubt Duncan could run down the floor with Stoudamire, but I'd still want Duncan in the post over Amare right now.

I'm not sure if the Suns are ready to take out the Spurs.  So far, it looks like San Antonio is just a little bit better, a bit more in control, a bit more poised.  A confident team is tough to beat. D'Antoni is just trying to build the confidence in his own squad.  If it pisses off San Antonio, it's not like they can play any better- he had nothing to loose, except make SA loyalists unhappy. 

They can't play any better?  I'd say keeping the Suns under 90 points would be playing better and they surely can do that.

[Laker Fan]

They didn't keep them under 90 last night, apparently D'Antoni's big mouthed, ill-advised "shot" at the Spurs did nothing to motivate the rather unexciting, unenethusiastic machine called the Spurs, they still take this series but not like that.

As much as this galls me to say, (actually it makes me sick to the deepest pit of my stomach) I have to agree, small ball will not beat the Suns. Now excuse me while I go wretch up my breakfast.