Biggest Surprise - 2009/2010 season

[Griffin]

Not much going on right now, so let's talk about some of our less-accomplished role players. Who do you think will have the biggest impact on the upcoming season? Who will exceed your expectations and perhaps be in the running for most improved player?

Last year, Amundson surprised a lot of people, but now that we know what to expect, can he improve even further? What about Dragic? Will Clark become our best rookie since Barbosa? Does Lopez really belong in the league? Will Frye prove to everyone that he can be a good player when given a chance? Will this be Tucker's final season with the Suns, or in the NBA? Is Dudley in for a breakout season that will establish him as one of the better defensive wings in the league? He definitely has the potential. Will Taylor Griffin even be on an NBA roster come November, or will someone else be signed instead to keep the bench warm?

• Louis Amundson (4th season, 4.2pts/3.6reb/0.9blk last year in 76 games/13.7 mpg)
• Earl Clark (rookie)
• Goran Dragic (2nd season, 4.5pts/2.0ast/1.9reb last year in 55 games/13.2 mpg)
• Jared Dudley (3rd season, 5.5pts/3.0reb/0.8stl last year in 68 games/17.0 mpg)
• Channing Frye (5th season, 4.2pts/2.2reb/0.4ast last year in 63 games/11.8 mpg)
• Taylor Griffin (rookie, unsigned)
• Robin Lopez (2nd season, 3.2pts/2.0reb/0.7blk last year in 60 games/10.2 mpg)
• Alando Tucker (3rd season, 4.6pts/1.0reb/0.4ast last year in 30 games/9.4 mpg)

I should make it clear that this poll is intended to exclude our star players, so "other" implies someone we haven't signed yet, not Nash or Amare.

 

[Chaplin]

I chose Clark, although I think it could be any one of Clark, Dragic, Frye and Dudley.

 

[TucsonDevil]

Taylor Griffin won't sniff an NBA roster... I mean, look at his hair?!

Robin Lopez will do (or not do) just enough to keep him deep on the bench. I expect his numbers to drop actually.
I think we will be pleasantly surprised with Channing Frye. Soft players have a tendancy to do well in Phoenix, and he is the epitome of soft player. I expect good things from him (not All-Star good things, but 'starter' things).
This is the year that Goran takes a big step forward, MIP. He becomes a reliable backup, which will allow Nash to rest a bit more each game.
Dudley will be vastly improved. He won't be great, but it will be Gentry that will struggle with taking minutes away from him. I see him putting in about 18-22 solid minutes a game of the bench.
Earl Clark won't be anything special. He will find a few minutes here and there, but will lack the drive necessary to keep Amundson/Dudley etc on the bench watching him.
Tucker will be traded for a conditional 2nd round pick in 2032 by the trading deadline.
Louis Amundson, more of the same. Nothing horrible, nothing outstanding - just solid hustle and muscle. We will need him on the boards, so his minutes might get quite high during the season.

 

[Covert Rain]

I said Earl Clark only because if the season goes south he is going to get alot of playing time in the second half of the season to show what he had. I almost said Dudley. I think if gets some regular playing time it could make an impact on this team.

 

[Bufalay]

Most surprising to me: Andrew is gone.

 

[TucsonDevil]

Most surprising to me: Andrew is gone.

considering what andrew was... not surprising at all.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'll vote for Dragic but most of it is based on hope.

 

[Blackification]

Dudley he has been working the hardest from what it seems.

 

[cly2tw]

Dragic, if he could get close to 20 min a game giving Nash sufficient rest throghout the season.

 

[95pro]

i dont expect anything from tuck, roLo, and griffin.

dudley proved he can play in the league.
but what more are we expecting out of him??
same for lou, he is what he is. nothing more or less.

clark? where is he going to get minutes?
there's hill, duds, amare, lou, frye that will play forward before clark.
he'll get minutes only if he absolutely outshines any of those guys.

now, there's dragic and frye left.
looking at their stats and i see them getting more playing time, a lot more than their last seasons.
they are both needed in their pos, pg and center/forward.
therefor their #'s should improve significantly. dragic is still unproven, but he will get minutes based on need.

so my pick is frye. he's can score and does fit our offensive scheme well with amare.

 

[mojorizen7]

I wasn't going to vote because i really don't care that much about this years team but....
I voted for Louie Louie. If he's improved his FT shooting & Amare misses games he'll be in a position to score points and get to the line....in addition to all the other hustle stats he gets.

I wanted to vote for Duds but G.Hill will be taking his minutes away. This could have been a breakout year for Jared.....and probably Dragic too.

 

[PhxGametime]

Earl Clark or Channing Frye. Decisions...

 

[leclerc]

I voted for Dudley, but as Chaplin and TucsonDevil & others have pointed out, it could be any of him, Clark, Dragic and Frye. I'm rooting for them all!

As long as we're not really contenders anymore it's at least better to watch the development of new & young players and hope we make the playoffs for fun and valuable experience.

Next year is going to be a transition year and we'll see what happens after that both in regards to player personell (new contracts, free agents, trades), ownership and the front office. We've had a nice run the last 4-5 years.

 

[boisesuns]

If "Making the Playoffs" a choice, i'd choose that! I haven't watched enough to know who might be a surprise. I guess any of the guys shouldn't be a "Surprise" since they are NBA players. I would have to guess clark if he can get mins from hill, or if we play small ball.

 

[Gaddabout]

Dan Majerle is already the surprise of the year for me. He just opened a new restaurant in Litchfield. After getting shut down three times for health violations back in the day, I was surprised to hear he was still in operation.

 

[Griffin]

I agree that Dragic, Frye, Dudley and Clark have the most potential to be impact players. Of those I picked Frye because I think the change in scenery is going to motivate him while our system will let him play to his strengths. Plus, he may be in our starting lineup and get heavy minutes.

 

[Cheesewater]

 

[TJ]

Dan Majerle is already the surprise of the year for me. He just opened a new restaurant in Litchfield. After getting shut down three times for health violations back in the day, I was surprised to hear he was still in operation.

Could have fooled me. Had lunch there the other day. Great menu, good food and hot staff!

 

[SunsTzu]

I voted other. I think Nash or Amare will have the biggest impact.

Seriously though I hope Clark can produce, because there isn't much else to look forward to.

 

[Blackification]

I voted other. I think Nash or Amare will have the biggest impact.

Seriously though I hope Clark can produce, because there isn't much else to look forward to.

the thread is about our least accomplished role players.