Alvin's next brilliant move - more duds!

[Errntknght]

Admit it, one of your gnawing concerns is that Barnes will shoot us out of a bunch of games. His energy and swagger are great but his shooting of late sucks. Can't dial his minutes back much, especially in BTB games, because Grant needs his rest.

I flubbed up recording the game last night so I really poured over the box score to get a little better sense of the game. Yep, Barnes was off again. Then I noticed Dudley was 1-1 from behind the arc - never crossed my mind that he had any range on his shot at all. Well, its not that he's a terrific three point shooter but that, generally speaking, his stats are comparable to Barnes. Not as many three's but higher overall FG%, not as many Asst but only half the TOs, very close in rebounds. In short he plays within his limits, he's steady. I've watched him fairly closely when he's been on the floor this year and I haven't seen much not to like - gets up and down the floor well, makes his man work to score, helps out when he should and not when he shouldn't.

Dudley is young but I wouldn't expect a big breakout from him - what I think you get with him is gradual progress with experience but one solid game after another. Sort of the anti-Barnes.

The brilliant move isn't a sparkler at all - just shift some of Barnes minutes to Dudley, particularly when Barnes is bricking shot after shot. On BTB's let him absorb some Grants mins.

 

[lou_skywalker]

Admit it, one of your gnawing concerns is that Barnes will shoot us out of a bunch of games. His energy and swagger are great but his shooting of late sucks. Can't dial his minutes back much, especially in BTB games, because Grant needs his rest.

I flubbed up recording the game last night so I really poured over the box score to get a little better sense of the game. Yep, Barnes was off again. Then I noticed Dudley was 1-1 from behind the arc - never crossed my mind that he had any range on his shot at all. Well, its not that he's a terrific three point shooter but that, generally speaking, his stats are comparable to Barnes. Not as many three's but higher overall FG%, not as many Asst but only half the TOs, very close in rebounds. In short he plays within his limits, he's steady. I've watched him fairly closely when he's been on the floor this year and I haven't seen much not to like - gets up and down the floor well, makes his man work to score, helps out when he should and not when he shouldn't.

Dudley is young but I wouldn't expect a big breakout from him - what I think you get with him is gradual progress with experience but one solid game after another. Sort of the anti-Barnes.

The brilliant move isn't a sparkler at all - just shift some of Barnes minutes to Dudley, particularly when Barnes is bricking shot after shot. On BTB's let him absorb some Grants mins.

yeah I would have shipped Barnes away for some hard working young guy like lou or dud

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

To summarize:

I didnt watch the game

I read that Barnes' shooting sucked even though he locked down 5 rebs and 5 assists and played solid defense

I saw one of our bench players made a 3 pointer

I dont know the situation that allowed the 3 pointer but he should take more

Gentry should play dudley more than barnes

Alvin Gentry is brilliant






I miss anything?

 

[carey]

Only the *Smug Post of the Day* Award!!!! Congratulations!!!

 

[dreamcastrocks]

To summarize:

I didnt watch the game

I read that Barnes' shooting sucked even though he locked down 5 rebs and 5 assists and played solid defense

I saw one of our bench players made a 3 pointer

I dont know the situation that allowed the 3 pointer but he should take more

Gentry should play dudley more than barnes

Alvin Gentry is brilliant






I miss anything?

Awesome!

 

[Ronin]

Im with Errntknght on giving dudley more playing time....ever since the christmas game Barnes defense, shooting, and decision making has been terrible.

 

[Mainstreet]

I think Errntknght made some legitimate points. Barnes' game has become erratic for some time now so why not look at Dudley (although I'm not giving up on Barnes).

 

[lou_skywalker]

U guys remember Barnes pass bouncing off Amare's head?
that was hilarious

 

[Chaplin]

Barnes has done one thing well, and that's move without the ball. Unfortunately, if/when he frees himself up, he bricks his shots. But he can run the break pretty well as a classic trailer.

 

[elindholm]

To summarize:

I didnt watch the game

I read that Barnes' shooting sucked even though he locked down 5 rebs and 5 assists and played solid defense

Boy, if you think Barnes played anything approaching "solid defense," I have to wonder whether you watched the game.

I was one of Barnes's biggest fans early in the season, but he has been abominable since Christmas. I support any proposal that reduces his minutes.

 

[Yuma]

U guys remember Barnes pass bouncing off Amare's head?
that was hilarious

You mean the play where Amare passed the ball back to Barnes using his head?

 

[Folster]

Hey Eric, I think you should remove the Suns piggy bank logo from your avatar. Sarver had the chance to save millions by getting rid of Shaq, but didn't. I am encouraged by recent Sarver comments that he is learning from his past mistakes and appears resolved not to make them again. We'll learn a lot more this offseason.

 

[PoolBoy]

so just to be clear, there are already gentry haters? the guy who is 2-0 and has the team averaging 141 points per game? alright....just making sure.

haha dudley for 3 point champion!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mojorizen7]

I'm still not sold on selling Barnes.

 

[Duke of Oysters]

Barnes or Diaw. Who is the more frustrating player to watch?

 

[Chaplin]

Barnes or Diaw. Who is the more frustrating player to watch?

Diaw. Barnes isn't making 9 million a year.

 

[DeAnna]

Well, Barnes did finally make a 3 pt shot, then threw his hands up to the heavens. Pretty funny.

 

[nashman]

get off Barnes the guy is playing for the min. to come play here he could make more somewhere else he has been in a funk but give him time he probably comes back around with the run n gun style opposed to the craptastic Porter bball we were playing before!

 

[elindholm]

Hey Eric, I think you should remove the Suns piggy bank logo from your avatar.... We'll learn a lot more this offseason.

I think your last sentence nails it.

 

[nowagimp]

Admit it, one of your gnawing concerns is that Barnes will shoot us out of a bunch of games. His energy and swagger are great but his shooting of late sucks. Can't dial his minutes back much, especially in BTB games, because Grant needs his rest.

I flubbed up recording the game last night so I really poured over the box score to get a little better sense of the game. Yep, Barnes was off again. Then I noticed Dudley was 1-1 from behind the arc - never crossed my mind that he had any range on his shot at all. Well, its not that he's a terrific three point shooter but that, generally speaking, his stats are comparable to Barnes. Not as many three's but higher overall FG%, not as many Asst but only half the TOs, very close in rebounds. In short he plays within his limits, he's steady. I've watched him fairly closely when he's been on the floor this year and I haven't seen much not to like - gets up and down the floor well, makes his man work to score, helps out when he should and not when he shouldn't.

Dudley is young but I wouldn't expect a big breakout from him - what I think you get with him is gradual progress with experience but one solid game after another. Sort of the anti-Barnes.

The brilliant move isn't a sparkler at all - just shift some of Barnes minutes to Dudley, particularly when Barnes is bricking shot after shot. On BTB's let him absorb some Grants mins.

This had occurred to me, dudley is a very smart player. The problem is that dudley plays better D at the PF, gets torched a bit at the '3'. I am in favor of more dudley and less barnes, but I would move JRich to the '3' or play dudley against the slower 3's. Barnes decision making and shooting has been poor lately. I am hoping that the running will help him as he is NOT a half court player.

 

[Errntknght]

YJGS,

I miss anything?

Well, you exaggerated my position some. I didn't say, or even hint, that Dudley should shoot lots of 3's. He's about 26% for his career but he's 5 for 11 this year which suggests that he's maturing in his shot selection - something you'd never accuse Barnes of.

If the situation demands a flurry of 3's then go with Barnes by all means - he'll keep firing them regardless of what happens. But if a bunch of missed 3's is the only way to lose a game then I much prefer Duds on the floor. Its a statistics thing - two guys with about the same averages but one with a higher variance than the other. The smart way to use them is to play the higher variance fellow more when a big performance is needed and when an average performance is enough tend toward the lower variance one. And pray you're reading the situation correctly...

I've nothing against Barnes - I'd like nothing more than to see him flourish in the uptempo style - but I like having a reasonable alternative on hand, too. Our schedule is tight from here on out and I'd like to see Hill's minutes kept low, so I don't think there will a problem finding minutes for both Matt and Jared.

We romped and stomped with the Clips but the Suns play down to the level of their competition far too often and we can't afford to lose any games to teams we 'should' beat. One thing that can help is relying more on the bench guys in those games - on the theory that they're always tickled to get on the floor so they'll play hard when the starters are inclined to coast a bit. I'd like to see Gentry going earlier to guys like Lou, Barbs, Dudley and Dragic in those games. First sign of slacking off, send 'em in...

 

[dodie53]

LB is improving,
Barnes is regressing..

kinda evens it out.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Hey Eric, I think you should remove the Suns piggy bank logo from your avatar. Sarver had the chance to save millions by getting rid of Shaq, but didn't. I am encouraged by recent Sarver comments that he is learning from his past mistakes and appears resolved not to make them again. We'll learn a lot more this offseason.

I can pretty much guarantee that there will be a trade to lower salary next year. I'd be willing to be money on it. The cap space that we will have in 2010 won't be worth the luxury tax that we will have to pay. (according to Sarver)

 

[AnotherHOMER]

I think Barnes will get better. He is having troubles but hopefully it will get worked out.

Barnes > Dudly

****

 

[da_suns_fan]

The two things Barnes has to work on:

1) TURNOVERS - Ive never seen so many bad passes from an NBA player before.

2) Attitude - His temper gets the best of him and its unbecoming of a professional.