Watching the Phoenix Suns these days, I’m reminded of Melanie, a Woodstock veteran and one of the acclaimed folk singers of the late 1960s.
There was this song of hers, “Look What They’ve Done to My Song, Ma,” that laments it was the only thing she could do half-right and it has turned out all wrong.
I watch the Suns and I lament:
Look what they’ve done to my game, ma.
Look what they’ve done to my game.
It was the only one that wasn’t the same
And now it’s awfully tame, ma, what a shame.
Look what they’ve done to my game.
The Suns are below .500 since their trade for Shaquille O’Neal, with a defining game at home Sunday against the San Antonio Spurs, the team that had the most to do with their making the controversial deal.
After being thwarted by the bigger, tougher, defense-minded Spurs in the playoffs two of the last three seasons, the Suns seemed to give up trying to fight them the Suns’ way and now are trying the Spurs’ way, which means defense, fewer possessions and more half-court play.
If you can’t beat them, join them?
But that’s never the way to beat anyone. You succeed by doing what you do better, not imitating what someone else does.
The Suns certainly took a risk, and it has been debated in the weeks since the trade.
It seems the Suns gave in to conventional wisdom that says you have to play a certain style to succeed. The Suns’ style, running and shooting with panache and enthusiasm, was perhaps the best thing the NBA has seen in the last decade. And it did seem to be working. They averaged 59 victories the last three seasons and had the Spurs 2-2 in the playoffs last year before going home and dealing with a big suspension. That hardly seemed like failure.
At least they are trying to win it all.
“It might not be as pretty,” coach Mike D’Antoni said. “But to go into the playoffs, that’s how we have to win.”
It’s also early into the process.
“Worried?” O’Neal responded to a question after a home loss to the Philadelphia 76ers (geez!). “After [a few] games? Not at all. We have a lot of room [to grow]. I’ve been on teams that really didn’t look that good (the eventual champion 2006 Heat were 2-14 against top teams at one point) and jelled at the finish. There are a lot of teams playing excellent ball right now. We’ll sit back and see if they can maintain that.
“We’ve let a few games slip away. We just have to step up and establish ourselves as a defensive team. Offensively, we’re fine. This team never has been known as a defensive team, so we have to step up. We’ll be all right.”
There certainly is a chance, and you still never want to doubt O’Neal, though he did turn 36 last week. He is working hard. He seems determined to be a role player and make things work.
Yet, even if it does, the Suns have lost what they were.
The Suns, with the exception of Amare Stoudemire, were a bunch of 110-pound weaklings at the beach basketball court. Who couldn’t beat up Steve Nash? But then they would be in such rhythm and sync as they won nearly every game.
Everyone hated playing the Suns. They would step off the team bus running and couldn’t care less if you scored. It just meant they could score again quicker. The pressure was excruciating because you knew you had to chase for four quarters and they never would stop as your shots hit nothing but front rim all fourth quarter. It was all fast breaks, dunks, long three-pointers and layups — fun, fun, fun in the Arizona sun.
Now, no one is laughing through tight smiles.
“You trying to scare me?” D’Antoni joked as questions flew at him about the Suns being blown out by the Pistons and Nuggets last week. “I’m as nervous as anyone else. Right now, [the critics] are winning. I’ve been winning for three years. People think it can’t get done. I can. Our guys still believe. So we’ll see.”
But teams no longer fear the Suns.
The 76ers came in and outran the Suns at home, getting 30 fast-break points to 16 for Phoenix. The Nuggets were furious about a blowout loss in Phoenix in January to the point Allen Iverson was cursing them out walking off the court. The Nuggets torched the Suns easily Wednesday because the Suns can’t embarrass you with scoring and speed anymore.
But it’s not inconceivable it could work. The last makeover like this was in 1995 after the Houston Rockets won the 1994 title. They traded for Clyde Drexler midway through the 1995-96 season because, like the Suns, they didn’t believe their style would work despite their previous success. The Rockets played .500 ball for 30 games after the deal and then blew through the playoffs out of the sixth seed to win the championship. It’s the Suns’ model.
“I’m just trying to fit in, taking four or five shots a game (6.8),” O’Neal said. “We just have to stop people.”
They haven’t been, and that’s why, shockingly, the Suns are finding themselves in a battle now just to make the playoffs.
O’Neal, actually, has been about as expected. He’s averaging a double-double, 10 points and 11.3 rebounds, and the Suns’ rebounding has increased almost 10 per game.
The problem is with Nash. The two-time MVP is struggling with fewer assists and more turnovers.
The Suns game was built around Nash, who then helped everyone else. They were the only team running fast breaks out of made baskets. Nash would swing down the left side and run into a pick-and-roll with Stoudemire, who then could dive for the basket. It was virtually unstoppable. Failing that, Nash took advantage of the open lane, crossing or going along the baseline.
But the middle now is clogged and there’s no spacing, which was the key to the Suns’ effectiveness. Instead of operating full court, Nash now is being reduced to a half-court player. The Suns are trying to get Stoudemire to fill the role Shawn Marion had in running the court and being their best defender, but he naturally prefers to remain closer to the basket. The Suns used to run the high screen with Marion, and he could fade to the corner as well and be another shooting option. Stoudemire doesn’t do that.
Now when they screen, teams are keeping their big men in and clogging it up. They used to have four players running to the three-point line. Not anymore. O’Neal also is not the offensive presence he was when he commanded the double team.
The Suns’ game involved wonderful precision of five moving parts. They didn’t have pure shooters, but they got so much in transition and found open shots.
Now they succumb some to the respect factor with O’Neal, who remains an icon for players. Often, you will see the Suns throw the ball in to O’Neal, who will throw it out trying to fit in while they throw it back in to him figuring, well, it’s Shaquille O’Neal.
“Once I master the offense like everyone else, we’re going to be a dangerous team,” O’Neal said. “I don’t see any problems.”
If the people are buying tears, I’ll be rich someday, ma, Melanie sang.
Look what they’ve done to my favorite game.
———-
sasmith@tribune.com
