Best ever Suns lineup you've seen?

[ajcardfan]

The 92/93 team is obvious.

BUT, I have a greater sentimental attachment for the 78-79 squad.

Alvin Adams, Paul Westphal, Don Buse, Walter Davis and Truck Robinson.

Off the bench, Gar Heard, Alvin Scott and the Suns all-time hustle player, Ron Lee.

Plus, the vibe at the Madhouse on McDowell in the late 70s was completely electric. Every game.

 

[slinslin]

I find it absolutely shocking that so many people believe in the 92/93 team.

Eventhough that is the team that pulled me in when I was young and I loved Barkley as a player, his stint in Phoenix overall was a failure and the 92/93 season was great but at best that team was as good as the 2004/2005 team really, certainly not obviously better when the teams had the same record despite an easier schedule in 92/93, and the 04/05 team also winning by a bigger margin.

Not to mention the 04/05 team went from 29 wins to 62 wins and posted historic offensive numbers.

While the 92/93 team had won 55,53,54 and 55 games including 2 WCFs in the 4 season prior to the Barkley trade.

The 2006/2007 team has a good case also with 61 wins , a win margin of 7.3 which tops 04/05 and 92/93 and an even tougher schedule than 04/05.

And since the thread topic specifically says LINEUP then it is a no-brainer. The 92 team had better depth but the starting lineup was certainly not as good.

 

[AzStevenCal]

The 92/93 team is obvious.

BUT, I have a greater sentimental attachment for the 78-79 squad.

Alvin Adams, Paul Westphal, Don Buse, Walter Davis and Truck Robinson.

Off the bench, Gar Heard, Alvin Scott and the Suns all-time hustle player, Ron Lee.

Plus, the vibe at the Madhouse on McDowell in the late 70s was completely electric. Every game.

Me too but that's because I played in a wheelchair basketball exhibition game at ASU that featured several prominent Sun Devils and half of that Suns team.

Steve

 

[ajcardfan]

Me too but that's because I played in a wheelchair basketball exhibition game at ASU that featured several prominent Sun Devils and half of that Suns team.

Steve

Cool.

It was also the closest the Suns ever came to an NBA championship IMO. They lost to Seattle in the Conference Finals 4-3, after being up 3-2 with a chance to clinch at home. they lost 106-105. Waiting in the Finals was a injury destroyed Washington Bullets team that Seattle breezed right through 4-0.

 

[BC867]

Cool.

It was also the closest the Suns ever came to an NBA championship IMO. They lost to Seattle in the Conference Finals 4-3, after being up 3-2 with a chance to clinch at home. they lost 106-105. Waiting in the Finals was a injury destroyed Washington Bullets team that Seattle breezed right through 4-0.

You're right! Everyone felt that whoever came out of the West -- the Suns or the Sonics -- would dominate the Bullets for the NBA championship.

But when Suns Center Alvan Adams went down with an injury, instead of starting backup Center Bayard Forrest, MacLeod went with backup Small Forward Joel Kramer at 6'7"-203. And the Sonics won it all.

Not much has changed in over 20 years. Our regular backup Center now weighs 203 lbs. and has not contributed since his arrival, which has been no surprise

Which is why my posts have been so consistently against Suns small ball.

And why the refs have always let the opposition get away with fouls.

 

[Cheesebeef]

You're right! Everyone felt that whoever came out of the West -- the Suns or the Sonics -- would dominate the Bullets for the NBA championship.

But when Suns Center Alvan Adams went down with an injury, instead of starting backup Center Bayard Forrest, MacLeod went with backup Small Forward Joel Kramer at 6'7"-203. And the Sonics won it all.

Not much has changed in over 20 years. Our regular backup Center now weighs 203 lbs. and has not contributed since his arrival, which has been no surprise

Which is why my posts have been so consistently against Suns small ball.

And why the refs have always let the opposition get away with fouls.

Holy dead horse beating.

 

[BC867]

Holy dead horse beating.

Come on now. I didn't bring it up!

I filled in the "why" to the previous post.

 

[elindholm]

Our regular backup Center now weighs 203 lbs. and has not contributed since his arrival, which has been no surprise

It's too bad you can't make your point without exaggerating.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Come on now. I didn't bring it up!

I filled in the "why" to the previous post.

Maybe, but it's the wrong "why". Bayard was horrible. And he was undersized too. He was listed, generously, at 6'10 but it was a soft 6'10. We didn't lose that series because we played Joel, we lost the series because we lost one of our best players. Bayard was one of the worst centers we've ever suited up, even worse than Dale Shlueter and that's saying something. As bad as Dennis Awtrey was, we might have won that series if he'd still been a Sun but neither Anthony nor Bayard was going to positively impact that series IMO. Bayard was a nice guy but that was his best asset by far.

Steve

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Which is why my posts have been so consistently against Suns small ball.

You don't say!

93 was better, but I enjoyed the 2004-7 teams more, nobody saw that team coming.

 

[BC867]

Bayard was a nice guy but that was his best asset by far.

The same could be said for Joel Kramer.

But to make him -- our backup Small Forward -- the starting Center?

Bayard (6'10") could have leaned on Sikma (6'11") and put a hand in his face better than Kramer (6'7").

Do you believe that Kramer was a better choice to defend Sikma than Forrest would have been? That was the choice. The Suns went lite.

 

[AzStevenCal]

The same could be said for Joel Kramer.

But to make him -- our backup Small Forward -- the starting Center?

Bayard (6'10") could have leaned on Sikma (6'11") and put a hand in his face better than Kramer (6'7").

Do you believe that Kramer was a better choice to defend Sikma than Forrest would have been? That was the choice. the Suns went lite.

Let me put it this way. Off hand, I can't think of a big man I'd want guarding Sikma less than Bayard. He didn't belong in the NBA let alone on the court defending Jack. He was a late second round pick IIRC and the only reason we wanted him was because he'd played at Grand Canyon. Back then the NBA draft was a little more like the MLB draft. I think we drafted him the year before in the 4th or 5th round before Seattle took him in the 2nd. IOW, not an NBA caliber player.

Steve

 

[Mainstreet]

It was hard to guard Sikma anyway with that unorthodox shot behind his head.

 

[BC867]

Let me put it this way. Off hand, I can't think of a big man I'd want guarding Sikma less than Bayard. He didn't belong in the NBA let alone on the court defending Jack. He was a late second round pick IIRC and the only reason we wanted him was because he'd played at Grand Canyon. Back then the NBA draft was a little more like the MLB draft. I think we drafted him the year before in the 4th or 5th round before Seattle took him in the 2nd. IOW, not an NBA caliber player.

Steve

But Joel Kramer was not a "big man". I just think that Forrest would have been in Sikma's face more than a 6'7"-203 backup Small Forward.

To me, it's an example of how the BPA philosophy is not the best philosophy for an NBA team, especially in the playoffs when the refs lose their whistles, just as they have been doing against the Suns since the All Star break (as was expected).

 

[mojorizen7]

Thinking more about the '93 team vs the '05 team.
The '93 team had better depth(which has been mentioned) but if this hypothetical matchup was just one game i think the '05 team would have a real good shot at running and shooting the '93 team out of the gym like they did everyone else during that era.

The Quentin Richardson vs Majerle matchup is interesting because both guys had good size, could post up smaller guards and shoot the 3ball. Majerle has the advantage defensively but QRich was a better pure shooter.

KJ vs Nash. Both could create their own shot and create good shots for their teammates. Nash has the advantage in pure shooting and creating something from nothing though. KJ was not great defensively but he wasn't bad either(like Nash). I think KJ was a better all around PG but Nash would give KJ trouble IMO.

I would give the '05 team the overall advantage in the backcourt.

Barkley would draw Stoudemire as a defender, and the taller, lengthy guys like Stat always gave Chuck fits in the post...but MVP Barkley would be able to either get his or find cutters inside better than Stoudemire would on the other end IMO. Barkey was a much better passer out of double teams than Stat(and Amare was no slouch as a passer).

The '93 team could throw Miller, West and Barkley at Stoudemire on defense. Who besides Amare and Marion are you going to stick on Barkley? One of them would probably foul out. Lol.

Marion was a better one on one defender than both Ced and Dumas, but the rotation of Dumas and Ced at SF was a beautiful thing. Ced cleaned up the garbage underneath with his offensive rebounding(much like Marion) and Dumas was a tough matchup for anyone when his jumper was working.

When you consider that Amare and Marion would have to deal with Barkley down low and Chambers outside i give the advantage to the '93 team up front. The '05 team had trouble vs teams with a low post presence...so did the '93 team, but when you consider the depth and guys that Westphal could throw at Stoudemire it would be tough on Amare.

In a one game matchup i think it could go either way, but in a seven game series the '93 team wins every time because the '05 team relied upon their amazing shooting, transition and speed. The '93 squad ran everything from the inside-out via Barkley in the halfcourt, but could also run you out of the gym with the 3ball. The '93 teams depth and bettermatchups up front would wear down the '05 team over the course of a long series.

 

[Phrazbit]

In spirit of the hypothetical teams playing each other...

I love Nash, one of my favorite players of all time, but KJ is the kind of guard that eviscerated him. KJ was basically Chris Paul, only much faster... and with bad hammies. He would be able to get into the lane at will against Nash. I think he would represent the biggest problem defensively for the 05 Suns. Well, that along with that the 93 Suns would probably destroy them on the glass.

I loved that 05 team but I think the 1993 Suns would beat them handily. The Suns biggest advantage in 2005 was their crazy pace vs the rest of the league, but those 1993 Suns actually played faster than the 05 team.

That 05 team was a joy, especially with how they came from out of no where to storm through the league. But those 93 Suns were a monster. I mentioned it earlier, IMO it was arguably the best team ever to not win the title. I doubted in 2005 that the Suns wouldn't get passed the Spurs, mostly because of their inexperience, it was not until 2007 that I felt they had a real title team. While in 1993 I thought that Suns team was destined to win it all. I was so sure of it... I remember being catatonic afterwards. Sitting in a state of shock in my parents drive way.

 

[SirStefan32]

'93 team would demolish any of the Nash/Stoudemire teams. KJ would be in the lane any time he liked, and Barkley was way too physical for anyone on any SSOL roster to handle.
Frankly, the '93 team was a physical team, and SSOL teams were finesse/ gimmick teams. Physical teams typically beat finesse teams if the talent level is at least close.

 

[Cheesebeef]

In spirit of the hypothetical teams playing each other...

I love Nash, one of my favorite players of all time, but KJ is the kind of guard that eviscerated him. KJ was basically Chris Paul, only much faster... and with bad hammies. He would be able to get into the lane at will against Nash. I think he would represent the biggest problem defensively for the 05 Suns. Well, that along with that the 93 Suns would probably destroy them on the glass.

I loved that 05 team but I think the 1993 Suns would beat them handily. The Suns biggest advantage in 2005 was their crazy pace vs the rest of the league, but those 1993 Suns actually played faster than the 05 team.

That 05 team was a joy, especially with how they came from out of no where to storm through the league. But those 93 Suns were a monster. I mentioned it earlier, IMO it was arguably the best team ever to not win the title. I doubted in 2005 that the Suns wouldn't get passed the Spurs, mostly because of their inexperience, it was not until 2007 that I felt they had a real title team. While in 1993 I thought that Suns team was destined to win it all. I was so sure of it... I remember being catatonic afterwards. Sitting in a state of shock in my parents drive way.

I drove halfway to Flagstaff and back in total silence, by myself after Paxson's shot... Didn't know what else to do.

Had tickets to Game 7... That would have been the most epic NBA Finals game since Lakers Celtics Game 7 in the eighties. Freaking Barkley going for that steal on Pippen at the top of the key... Just screwed us, putting veryoen out of position.

 

[Phrazbit]

Those 89-92 Suns teams were pretty freakin good, the 3rd best team in the West over that span, behind the Blazers and Lakers. They took that group that was already one of the best teams in the league and added one of the top 5 players in the league to it, hell, arguably one of the 10 best players ever right in the middle of his prime.

It eats me up that they didn't win.

And we have not even talked about Ainge, who replaced much of Hornacek's production. Ainge is the kind of guy this year's Suns needed. More for his intensity and leadership than three point shooting.