Are The Suns Cursed? Book it!

[Cheesebeef]

What if the Suns had put some of their effort into replacing Chris Paul and adding another big man. Even the Ayton trade would look better now.

The Durant trade subtracted assets from the team.

Because replacing a HOF PG just happens easy peasy…

 

[Cheesebeef]

I am with you on the assets. However, minus KD? They are way further away with getting some journeyman PG and PF. That would not have put them over the top.

They’d be a slightly better version of the New Jersey Nets… which is probably still worse than the monstrosity that’s on the court now.

 

[Mainstreet]

I am with you on the assets. However, minus KD? They are way further away with getting some journeyman PG and PF. That would not have put them over the top.

Look at the Suns roster after they traded for Durant and the future doesn't look promising either.

 

[Covert Rain]

Look at the Suns roster after they traded for Durant and the future doesn't look promising either.

I am not disputing that. Only that this team was going nowhere before that.

 

[Mainstreet]

I am not disputing that. Only that this team was going nowhere before that.

Where we differ, I saw the Suns building upon the foundation they had prior to the Durant trade. It's not like the Suns shouldn't have improved the team.

The problem is now, the Suns have few assets to do so and are hindered by the restrictions of the new CBA.

 

[CardNots]

Where we differ, I saw the Suns building upon the foundation they had prior to the Durant trade. It's not like the Suns shouldn't have improved the team.

The problem is now, the Suns have few assets to do so and are hindered by the restrictions of the new CBA.

One cannot argue with the premise of your statement. What I want to point out, over the last few years poor decisions have been made.

I don’t see how that has been fixed.

With those assets how does better decisions get made?

Before we had an owner/GM/coach problem. Now we have a GM/coach problem.

 

[Mainstreet]

One cannot argue with the premise of your statement. What I want to point out, over the last few years poor decisions have been made.

I don’t see how that has been fixed.

With those assets how does better decisions get made?

Before we had an owner/GM/coach problem. Now we have a GM/coach problem.

That's a flaw, no matter how one looks at it. Only the owner can fix a coach and GM problem.

 

[CardNots]

I was thinking the timberwolves are confident they can win one game of 4 remaining. Maybe they want to win this series at home. Our only hope is they take the foot off the gas.

Unfortunately they are a veteran team who is unlikely to coast a game

 

[Covert Rain]

Where we differ, I saw the Suns building upon the foundation they had prior to the Durant trade. It's not like the Suns shouldn't have improved the team.

The problem is now, the Suns have few assets to do so and are hindered by the restrictions of the new CBA.

The team peaked when we went to the finals. The team regressed in so many facets. That team and this team still needs someone better than Booker.

 

[Mainstreet]

The team peaked when we went to the finals. The team regressed in so many facets. That team not this team still needs someone better than Booker.

Too bad the Suns didn't get a younger Chris Paul.

 

[1tinsoldier]

Well i agree with you on this years version of Booker - the one from the 2 years prior was ascending and seemed to give a crap, but something has changed.

With all that said he is athletically limited to only be able to get so good, and when he was at his best last year that was pretty much it I think.

i agree. I thought the first few weeks of the season he seemed poised for the next level. But then it was like CP3's good influence wore off. And his demeanor changed. He used to get visibly hot-headed. Now he kind of mockingly laughs things off a bit like Luca. It's like he's on mood meds.

Then Beal added to our weaknesses. Beal and Book not only play the same position, they also share bad decision making. Last night was a classic example. Book had a great game -- offensively. But in the 4th he started forcing some shots (which got blocked) and started fouling. Beal fouled out. Neither knows how to channel their exuberance into smart basketball. Beal kicks up his defense by reaching for steals and, more often, it frees the shooter (we lost 2 games in the last seconds because of his reaching. Curry's buzzer beater was one).

again. Worst 4th quarter team. Even though Suns were hot last night. T-wolves were hot too. The smart team won.

the real shame is that a strong coach could fix some of Booker and Beal's problems. And Durant's problem too. Stands around too much.

 

[mjb21aztd]

Yuppers cards suns both cursed in terms of champuonships

 

[Bufalay]

I think its worth noting that the consensus after last year's playoffs was that Minnesota's trade for Gobert was the worst trade ever.

With some time together that team seems to have figured stuff out and that trade doesn't look so bad.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I think its worth noting that the consensus after last year's playoffs was that Minnesota's trade for Gobert was the worst trade ever.

With some time together that team seems to have figured stuff out and that trade doesn't look so bad.

I’ve thought about this too, but they lalso had a rising star like Ant-Man who leveled up this season and had some young talent take big steps this year also.

We don’t have that guy who’s still rising and can level up to Top 5 player in the game which really helped changed the dynamic of that squad.

 

[1tinsoldier]

just listened to a half hour of Gambo -- the company guy. Points the finger at everything but the coach and the team's super max player. He never misses an opportunity to call it "Booker's team" until each occurrence of them being humiliated. Gambo is going with the old "size" and "roster" excuses. It's the brain of the Suns that sucks, not their size. They need to either replace Booker with a real floor leader or replace the coach with someone who calls the shots, roles and plays instead of letting the stars dictate. That only worked when the Sun's had a Chris Paul or Steve Nash or Jason Kidd on the court. Or, to a little lesser degree, a Kevin Johnson or Charles Barkley. Hell, even Marbury was a better floor leader.

same goes for any sport. It takes more brains than brawn. If you watched Caitlin Clark this year, you saw that it's her bb iq that makes her a great player.

 

[Bufalay]

I’ve thought about this too, but they lalso had a rising star like Ant-Man who leveled up this season and had some young talent take big steps this year also.

We don’t have that guy who’s still rising and can level up to Top 5 player in the game which really helped changed the dynamic of that squad.

It's unlikely but Booker could still improve his consistency.

 

[Cheesebeef]

It's unlikely but Booker could still improve his consistency.

True, but his consistency still won’t reach the level of consistency from the other Alphas in the league simply because he can’t match their athleticism or the once in a generation unicornism Jokic has, which is what puts them and their teams over the top

 

[1tinsoldier]

sure, Book could improve his offensive consistency, but he did do that in game 4. It prevented us from being blown out for the 4th straight game, but we still lost -- at home. He just doesn't have the instincts or intellect to be a consistent LEADER, DEFENSIVE PLAYER, or DECISION MAKER. As such, he does not inspire his teammates or bring out the best in them.

this is the 3rd straight season our hopes have ended in humiliation, despite the Suns changing all the coaches and players around him. It's time to get away from Booker ball and get back to Suns ball. He could use a fresh start somewhere else and so could we.

his legacy will be similar to a Westbrook, Carmello, Iverson, etc.. I suppose that would be ok for some fans. But not in a city that's already gone 54 years without a championship.
and i wouldn't add Barkley to that list. He was smarter than them. He was inspiring. He lead. He could play defense in crunch-time and play better when mad. His problem was more related to Michael Jordan.

Nash was as smart as a player gets. He deserved a ring. His Suns team's were cursed with bad luck (injuries, suspensions), not flaws.

 

[1tinsoldier]

Bridges being top dog for the Nets was the same curse as Booker being top dog for the Suns. Neither can lead a team to a championship.The Knicks did the right thing by pairing him with Brunson. Actually, the Suns would have been better off trading Booker for Brunson. We'd have a true point guard to compete for a championship with Durant. We don't need 3 scorer's taking turns.

the Mavs failure in the Finals was the latest example of superstars taking turns instead of meshing together

the Suns need to lose Booker and his super-max salary, sooner than later

the same was true regarding dumping Monty, and people will only believe it now that his latest team lost 65 million to get rid of him

the same was true for Igor, despite resistance to that move.

Ayton too

when a player or coach repeatedly shows you what they can and can't do, believe it. Just paying them more money won't make them better.

Monty and Ayton got worse after their raises. Booker just isn't smart enough on the court to give us a return on his super-max salary

 

[Hoop Head]

Actually, the Suns would have been better off trading Booker for Brunson. We'd have a true point guard to compete for a championship with Durant. We don't need 3 scorer's taking turns

I'm not even going to get into how implausible it is for Booker to be dealt for Brunson specifically but the idea we should build around a 36 year old often injured malcontent who has never led his team to a title is rich.


I know KD has rings, he joined a championship team to acquire them. That was also 8 years ago and before he had ACL surgery.

It's one thing to dislike Booker, it's another to believe he's somehow responsible for all the Suns problems, as you do.

 

[JCSunsfan]

We didn’t need Durant. Booker has regressed since Durant arrived. What we needed was a top point guard to replace Chris Paul. Jrue would have been nice. We had a rookie owner who got stars in his eyes because he could get a player he worshipped.

This is why I even have a hard time paying attention anymore. I hate super teams—especially older teams. They seem to fail, and that is the reason I have a hard time even paying attention to the Suns any more.

 

[1tinsoldier]

the Suns' glaring problem is ZERO championships while we just watched the Celtics bag their 18th with SMART ball play.

the biggest problem this season, is that our bad decision making in 4th quarters was among the worst in NBA history. Why this season when for a couple of seasons we were the best 4th quarter team with Chris Paul? Devin Booker added point guard responsibilities to go with his role as #1 offensive option. His ball handling, passing, and shot selection stink when the defense intensifies on him in the 4th.

his quote regarding taking clutch 4th quarter shots..."whether i'm open or not, i just try to make them"
stupid and indicative

the 2nd biggest problem this season was our defense -- and Booker blow-by's was key

the Booker era was an error and a series of busts ranging from being the worst team in the league to one of the best with inexplicable, embarrassing melt-downs despite replacing every other player around him

trading him for a top point guard makes sense if we still want a shot at a ring while we have Durant
otherwise, frankly, i'd give him away for nothing just to get out of his salary and make room for a true leader

 

[1tinsoldier]

the biggest problem this season, is that our bad decision making in 4th quarters was among the worst in NBA history. Why this season when for a couple of seasons we were the best 4th quarter team with Chris Paul? Devin Booker added point guard responsibilities to go with his role as #1 offensive option. His ball handling, passing, and shot selection stink when the defense intensifies on him in the 4th.

his quote regarding taking clutch 4th quarter shots..."whether i'm open or not, i just try to make them"
stupid and indicative

the curse strikes again...

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how many times has Booker dribbled himself into this situation in critical moments?
how many times have you seen a snapshot like this from Jordan or Kobe? I do believe they've seen many double teams in their careers?

why was Booker taking the shot again last night? He had just missed a big shot and we had a guy on the court who had just made a 3, and who was the top 3pt shooter last season?

why, at the end of these last 2 games, was Booker our pg when we finally have a very competent pg on the floor that we hired because we were historically bad closing out games last season with him at the point doing his 1 on 1 thing?

how bad has he been?

last week i posted this...
Booker's clutch shooting stats, NBA.com
(this season + prior 2, last 2 minutes in games with 5 pt diff or less)
FG% 3P%
12.5 0.0
47.1 11.1
32.3 23.1
----------------
31% 11% averaged

now with last night's 0 for 2 in the final 2, this season he's
FG% 3P%
10.0 0.0

and we're 1 and 7 without Durant, having lost against a team with only 4 wins so far this season because more of Booker's bad decisions (and another coach who won't reel him in -- unlike Steve Kerr who knew just what to do with Booker on team USA)

and i've been ranting for years that Booker doesn't get better when he's pissed, he gets worse. That's also what happened in the third. We were comfortably ahead all game until the last half of the 3rd when Booker lost his cool -- and, like the Dallas series (after the best regular season ever) we got destroyed after Doncic got inside Booker's head and the rest of the team followed his funk)

 

[1tinsoldier]

i can't wait for the Suns to move on from this dismal decade aka The Booker Era. And to get back to team ball and a smart coach and/or point guard calling the shots. The only highlight of the decade was technically, the 2 year Chris Paul Era.

 

[1tinsoldier]

now, we've got no good options for 2 reasons:

1. we gave up too much for KD (he wanted to be here, we didn't have to give the Nets everything they wanted)

2. Booker's ego and salary. Otherwise, he could play a role here without crippling our payroll and sabotaging the close-out of games with Booker Ball and bad decisions.

as is, i'd try to move him before the trade deadline while he's still riding the cred he got from Team USA, and hope that some other team believes he might have a higher ceiling with a change of scenery.