A case for the defense or the offense?

Posted by Ira Winderman on November 2, 2009 04:51 PM


Granted, there rarely is such thing as a statement game in November, especially against teams from different conferences with limited playoff resumes in recent seasons.

But Tuesday's visit by the Suns is compelling for what it represents.
A case for the defense. And a case for the offense.

Both teams enter 3-0. But that's where the similarities end.
Steve Nash
The Suns enter averaging a league-best 117.3 points, shooting .516 from the field, and, 52.4 percent (yes, 52.4 percent) on 3-pointers. They play loose, fast and with more than a bit of sass.

The Heat enters with a league-best .386 defensive field-goal percentage, allowing 87.7 points per game, with opponents shooting only 21.6 percent (yes, 21.6 percent) on 3-pointers.
"I saw part of the game last night," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after Monday's practice of the Suns' Sunday victory over Minnesota. "They look as fast as they've ever been.

"They pose a lot of problems and the heart of it is with Steve Nash (pictured at left). At that pace, he makes all the right plays. He shoots the ball from three. So it really changes you pick-and-roll defense at the point of the pick. And you end up, just because of that, becoming stretched out more than you like."
Even with Spoelstra's own team averaging 102 points on 50-percent shooting, it remains defense first with the Heat.

Of course, perspective also is required. The Heat, after all, has opened against the Knicks, Pacers and Bulls, while the Suns have opened against the Clippers, Warriors and Timberwolves. Combined, those opponents went into Monday at 2-15.
But Tuesday night, the exhibition season ends for both the Heat and Suns, with the challenge tangible and at opposite ends of the spectrum.

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