POSTED BY PALKA



When not shooting kids, Al Powell/Carl Winslow loves eating twinkies. Deep fried.



FLAT FEET SYNDROME



Playing on your heels... Playing like you enjoyed election night a little too much...

Playing with FLAT FEET.

At what point as a coach do you just acknowledge your team does not have it for the night?

NEVER.

On Friday night, the Suns were Sgt. Al Powell, a desk jockey. A flat footed squad unqualified for the court.

Watching the game on Season Pass, I had no problem sacrificing a night on the town to listen to Stacey King, Neil Funk, and Ronny Garretson's whistle. (No, really, Stat just went to the line again.) They called a decent game, if not a cultural mash-up as King continued to sing Ludicrous while Rose threw it down on Leandro Barbosa, a man who looks lost if not bewildered as to what his role is with the "new" old Suns, and Funk wanted to bring back Johnny Cash, I suppose to match the dark sleep Phoenix conceded to on the third game of a four game Eastern Conference road swing.



That was disgusting.

Not to be deterred, and believing Stacey's proclamation that the Suns are not a team you sleep on, I stuck around to watch a game that pushed every one of my basketball passion buttons.

I understand sometimes it just is not your night. I understand when another team is shooting the lights out, there is not a lot you can do. What I do not understand is the Flat Feet Syndrome which can completely sabotage a team. Where does the hunger go? Where is the pride?

It is not by good fortune that every loose ball is going to one side, it is that only one side wants that loose ball. Only one side cares. Nothing is more infuriating to see.

At one point, I saw Raja Bell get mad. He pulled up hit a three, and tried to stoke the flames of a melancholy squad. When that fell short, after the 200th turnover of the night, he dove in at Rose's body on an extremely frustrated reach in, but a poignant effort to say he would not quit, even if short 20 points. His attempts to ignite the pride in his squad, though, fell on deaf ear. This was a night of Flat Feet. A night the Suns feel short of the qualifications needed to participate on a professional level.

In a 3rd quarter interview Kerr excused the team. "There will be nights like this while we transition" (to paraphrase). Funk, the Bulls play-by-play was more critical, saying he never liked Terry Porter's offense.

Frankly, what I saw had little to do with the sets; it had little to do with new rotations. It had all to do with effort, and the Suns gave none.

To come home with a split would be a major let down, after starting off 2-0 on this swing. And, yes, I realize they are only 6 games deep in the season, but I refuse to be so cynical as to just accept that "there will be nights like this".

Terry Porter was a fierce competitor, and that attitude needs to be a foundation in this squad if they wish to take on the likes of Los Angeles, a team that does not seem to be taking any nights off. As Porter brings his squad into Milwaukee, his former stomping grounds, on the second night of a double header, and last game of the swing, lets all pay attention to the energy level. Lets watch to see if the squad reacts with a determined first quarter, playing on their toes, and going for each ball as if it were theirs. Set the tone early, Terry. Instill the nightly passion that you played with and do not let this veteran laden team be satisfied at any moment.

Flat feet syndrome... be gone.