2015-16 Around the NBA

[Phrazbit]

doesn't seem like Goran's off to that 23/10 average that Stefan expected...

He is more marginalized there than he ever was here. And his defense (or lack thereof) has relegated him to the bench during the closing stages of most of their games this year. In their big comeback against Houston he hardly played the 2nd half.

The guy is not an elite talent but he can certainly put up numbers in the right system, although he'll never average 10 assists in any system because he is not much of a passer. Miami is an awful fit for him. The one area of the game he is truly elite is in transition and that is not a transition team in the slightest.

But... thats what he gets when his trade demands were entirely about his market and had absolutely nothing to do with fit, scheme, success or role.

 

[sunsfan88]

doesn't seem like Goran's off to that 23/10 average that Stefan expected...

Yea Miami doesn't have quite the shooters around him. Even Bosh is struggling for the Heat lately.

Then again Dragic always sucked at the beginning of the year so we'll see if he changes it around.

 

[Errntknght]

Parity.

The east has played the west fairly evenly so far this year - west was +2 when the evening started. There are 3 cross conference games on now: Bulls leading OKC by 4; Hornets leading Mave by 16 and Heat leading Minnesota by 12... The East could be leading by one game if all three hang to win. It'll probably be the first time in five years that the east had a lead.

 

[sunsfan88]

Dragic is at his best when he's out in transition

https://twitter.com/NBAlastNight/status/662464436452519936

 

[SirStefan32]

I don't understand the Heat. You have two pick and rolls you can run all game- Wade/ Whiteside or Dragic/ Bosh, and you are not running many. When old man Wade goes out, you should RUN. Dragic, Green, Winslow, McRoberts (or Bosh), Whiteside- that's a running lineup. Your 4 isn't a great runner, but they can shoot 3s, and they can run, to some degree. Instead, they keep taking out Dragic and Wade at the same time, for the most part. I think they'll figure it out soon, but they have not played well so far.

 

[Catlover]

After 6 games, Andre Drummond is averaging 20.3 points and 20.3 rebounds per game. We have him beat. PJ, Markieff and Chandler together are averaging 21.1 points and 20.3 rebounds per game. Of course, our frontcourt is doing it in 69 minutes compared to Andre's 38 but who's counting. Drummond does have a slight edge in shooting percentage. He's at 55% and our frontcourt is shooting 39.5%.

 

[PDXChris]

I am not digging the Fred Hoiberg experiment so far.

 

[elindholm]

After 6 games, Andre Drummond is averaging 20.3 points and 20.3 rebounds per game.

If only the Suns had had a top-ten pick in a recent strong draft.

 

[Catlover]

If only the Suns had had a top-ten pick in a recent strong draft.

Is it too late to swap our 5th pick for their 9th pick?

 

[elindholm]

Is it too late to swap our 5th pick for their 9th pick?

I assume you're joking, but in case you aren't, they were different drafts. Drummond was 2012, behind Davis, Beal, Waiters, Lillard, and others. That was when the Suns took Kendall Marshall, passing on John Henson and Jared Sullinger, as far as bigs go (although this kind of thing is inevitable).

Len was 2013, in which the top ten has been almost a total bust. Oladipo was #2 but that's about it.

 

[BC867]

After 6 games, Andre Drummond is averaging 20.3 points and 20.3 rebounds per game. We have him beat. PJ, Markieff and Chandler together are averaging 21.1 points and 20.3 rebounds per game. Of course, our frontcourt is doing it in 69 minutes compared to Andre's 38 but who's counting. Drummond does have a slight edge in shooting percentage. He's at 55% and our frontcourt is shooting 39.5%.

You bring up a good point, although tongue in cheek. With the game on the line, one pillar of strength, regardless of position, is going to make a difference that three mediocre players can't. As long as there chemistry among the rest.

The Suns roster lacks chemistry, as well as strength at each position.

 

[Phrazbit]

We don't lack "strength". Tucker, Blesdoe, Markieff, Chandler... those are all big beefy dudes at their positions, and we've done well in the stats that seem to convey strength; other than the OKC game we've dominated on the glass.

What we lack most is something you tend to not value. Our shooters stink and along with it our spacing is bad. IMO we'd be way better off swapping Tucker or Morris for a 'soft' player who can spread the court.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I assume you're joking, but in case you aren't, they were different drafts. Drummond was 2012, behind Davis, Beal, Waiters, Lillard, and others. That was when the Suns took Kendall Marshall, passing on John Henson and Jared Sullinger, as far as bigs go (although this kind of thing is inevitable).

Len was 2013, in which the top ten has been almost a total bust. Oladipo was #2 but that's about it.

Nerlens Noel hasn't been a bust. He missed his first year, but his second year, he averaged 10/8/2/2 and post all-star game, he averaged 13/10/2/2. And this year, he's averaged 12/10/2/2 again. I mean, if those numbers are a bust, then Len at this point is a MEGA-BUST (along with everyone else in that draft).

 

[sunsfan88]

Nerlens Noel hasn't been a bust. He missed his first year, but his second year, he averaged 10/8/2/2 and post all-star game, he averaged 13/10/2/2. And this year, he's averaged 12/10/2/2 again. I mean, if those numbers are a bust, then Len at this point is a MEGA-BUST (along with everyone else in that draft).

Not only Noel but I don't understand how the other top 10 picks Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and CJ McCollum (who has broken out this season now that he's getting playing time) are busts either. Otto Porter, the 3rd overall pick, is also having a good year for the Wizards this season in starting capacity.

 

[elindholm]

I mean, if those numbers are a bust, then Len at this point is a MEGA-BUST (along with everyone else in that draft).

Your point?

 

[BC867]

We don't lack "strength". Tucker, Blesdoe, Markieff, Chandler... those are all big beefy dudes at their positions, and we've done well in the stats that seem to convey strength; other than the OKC game we've dominated on the glass.

What we lack most is something you tend to not value. Our shooters stink and along with it our spacing is bad. IMO we'd be way better off swapping Tucker or Morris for a 'soft' player who can spread the court.

I should have spelled out what I meant by strength.

I wasn't referring to bulk. Rather, to players who combine skill, teamwork and character to outplay their opposition with the game on the line.

And, yes, one All Star calibre player who can take over a game when needed.

The current Suns seem to be a team of role players, some of whom are cast in roles not suited to their strength. Strength!

 

[Cheesebeef]

Your point?

my point is that Noel hasn't been a bust and after looking at the draft class a little more, with the way McColloum, Porter and Pope have played, it's starting to look like that class wasn't awful as most made it out to be (which both you and I suggested it was). We just happened to take one of the guys who hasn't really progressed all that much.

Still mad we didn't take Noel.

 

[elindholm]

Still mad we didn't take Noel.

I wanted McLemore, which just reinforces my claim that I don't follow draft prospects and really don't know anything about who rates where. I do remember, however, looking at that Noel-Len breakdown video and thinking that Noel was pretty clearly the better prospect. I even made a long post to that effect.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I wanted McLemore, which just reinforces my claim that I don't follow draft prospects and really don't know anything about who rates where. I do remember, however, looking at that Noel-Len breakdown video and thinking that Noel was pretty clearly the better prospect. I even made a long post to that effect.

yeah... McLemore was who I wanted 2nd. But I thought it was a no-brainer to go Noel over Len.

Gotta be honest, outside of one stretch of games where Len looked like he was starting to become a player, he's been an incredible disappointment... made worse by that one stretch of games for me.

 

[sunsfan88]

yeah... McLemore was who I wanted 2nd. But I thought it was a no-brainer to go Noel over Len.

Gotta be honest, outside of one stretch of games where Len looked like he was starting to become a player, he's been an incredible disappointment... made worse by that one stretch of games for me.

Noel's front court mate rookie Jahil Okafor has looked pretty impressive this season as well.

 

[sunsfan88]

Minnesota is not looking too bad. It's gonna be a shame if they end up with the #13 or #14 pick which means they don't get their pick (it's too 12 protected) and Suns traded that pick to Boston.

It may end up looking like we traded a lottery pick for 3-4 months of Brandon Wright....

 

[Phrazbit]

I think most here were on the 'McLemore or Noel... and please not Len' wagon prior to the draft.

McLemore certainly isn't panning out, Noel's numbers might be misleading as he is on a terrible team and someone is going to get some stats there, but still, he easily looks better than Len.

Len's not the terrible player I figured he'd be after his rookie season but I don't see him evolving beyond a serviceable rotation guy/sub par starter. He vanishes for loooong stretches, the questions about his "motor" coming out of college were legit.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Heat suspend Gerald Green for two games reportedly for detrimental conduct.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--heat-suspend-guard-gerald-green-for-two-games-235222652.html

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/1...pend-gerald-green-2-games-detrimental-conduct

 

[sunsfan88]

Former Suns PG Tyler Ennis is starting for the Bucks tonight.

I honestly don't see what Ryan McDonough saw in him to draft him with a 1st rd pick...may end up being worse than Kendall Marshall.

 

[Catlover]

Refs make mistakes but they really shouldn't miss it when a player steps out of bounds. Tough loss for the Raptors but it's not the kind of thing they can review.