Bledsoe Contract: 5 Years, $70 million

[BC867]

I still think you have to have a real 5 in the lineup for 48 minutes per game, unless you happen to have an insanely dominant, 6'10, 270lb low-post PF in which case, you should be able to get away with two PFs.

It was funny that when the Suns decided that Amar'e was the best we had to cover Center, they changed the height in his personal stats from 6'9" to 6'10", which was always considered to be the minimum height for a legitimate Center.

Markieff's stats show him as 6'10"-245. I am trying to remember if they showed him as 6'10" from the start.

 

[Phrazbit]

It was funny that when the Suns decided that Amar'e was the best we had to cover Center, they changed the height in his personal stats from 6'9" to 6'10", which was always considered to be the minimum height for a legitimate Center.

Markieff's stats show him as 6'10"-245. I am trying to remember if they showed him as 6'10" from the start.

I don't believe thats correct. Amare was always listed as 6'10", pre-draft he measured 6'10" in shoes and thats the height that is pretty much always used. Most sites now actually list him at 6'11".

 

[elindholm]

6'10", which was always considered to be the minimum height for a legitimate Center.

Even in Bill Russell's time? Where do you come up with this stuff?

 

[Cheesebeef]

Even in Bill Russell's time? Where do you come up with this stuff?

or Wes Unseld?

 

[JCSunsfan]

or Wes Unseld?

Or Dave Cowans (I am not going to say anything about Alvan Adams because, well, he was a Sun and that won't count, I am sure).

 

[JCSunsfan]

The best center the Suns ever had was when Amare played center. He was all-star level at the position.

Now I opened a can of worms.

 

[JustWinBaby]

The best center the Suns ever had was when Amare played center. He was all-star level at the position.

Now I opened a can of worms.

Amare was a PF playing the center position. Duncan is a center playing the PF position.

San Antonio and Popovich knew and know what they are doing. They have always had a legit center next to Duncan to keep him out of foul trouble. Amare never had that luxury. In addition to all of his injuries he lost a ton of court time due to foul trouble. When he tried to stay out of foul trouble he became the best matador in the NBA.

Probably the best choice we had was KT but I really think he was vastly over rated and really not big enough. Then we traded draft picks to get rid of his contract. We all know how that worked out.

These are the options we had other than Amare at the center position while he was here.

Steven Hunter - had high hopes but he got a better offer and left
Marcei Lampe - overhyped pollock
Jake Voskul
Pat Burke
Brian Grant - Finished by the time we got him
Kurt Thomas - Decent but too small and slow
Sean Marks -
Shaq - Worse on defense than Amare?
Brian Skinner
Robin Lopez - The Amare Lopez duo was lethal (09-10) but Lopez was hurt most of the year and playoffs - then Amare left for the Knicks.
Jaron Collins
Channing Frye

Other than a few decent players that is a pretty sad group, IMO.

Alex Len and Plumlee would have been a welcome sight.

 

[Errntknght]

I think Frye was more suited to play center than Markieff and we are going to see a LOT of Markieff at center this year.

Except for times the opponents go small so Markieff is not at a physical disadvantage at C, I don't expect to see him playing that position. Frye was a decent rim protector and Makieff is not - even against the PF's he faced last year he wasn't. This year he'll be going against the starting PFs much more so he'll have his hands full with them. Both Tolliver and Randolph have played at C during their careers and they won't be logging big minutes so I expect they'll both get chances to fill in at center. My guess is that Randolph will fare well enough to get the bulk of the fillin time. You can't count Tolliver out of it though - if his 3pt shot is on target this year, that could make up for what he gives up on defense (and rebounding).

Last year Plumlee and Len were both off court for approx. 18 min per game on average. With modest improvements for them both, which is what I expect, they figure to cut about ten minutes off that. So the issue of who should fill in at C, is much reduced.

Len looks more imposing this year... I hope that will encourage Hornacek to semd him to defend the most dominating of our opponents bigs. I think it will boost Len's confidence if he's sometimes put in on a mission rather than just giving Plums a breather.

 

[3rdside]

How in the world is that crazy?

Almost everyone believes our biggest weakness is at the 5.

He doesn't have to become an All Star but he needs to become a legit threat on the offensive end along with getting his share of rebounds while protecting the paint. He has been awful up to this point.

If we do get solid production from Len and Plumlee, this team could be pretty good. If we don't we have no chance to make the playoffs, IMO.

Like I say I'm pro len but to call him the most important piece of the puzzle is placing too much in his shoulders when I think it's reasonably clear that he won't be that good.

If you said 'the 5' is the most important piece of puzzle then I'd possibly agree - which I think you did in your response above anyway.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk