Brisbane Bullets @Suns (preseason) 10-13-17

[Superbone]

The Suns desperately need a big man coach on the staff though, it might be too late for Len, but we still have Bender and Chriss here for the next 3-4 years, at least.

They do have one in Mehmet Okur.

 

[BC867]

"Couldn't hurt." "The closest we've got." That explains why the Suns potential has always been limited.

For fifty years, with rare exceptions the Suns identity has concentrated on the backcourt and wing positions.

Even the exceptions were short lived -- Maurice Lucas, the Chuckster, an over-the-hill Shaq.

"Big man" has always been incidental to the Suns. It hasn't required a specialist coach.

 

[JCSunsfan]

"Couldn't hurt." "The closest we've got." That explains why the Suns potential has always been limited.

For fifty years, with rare exceptions the Suns identity has concentrated on the backcourt and wing positions.

Even the exceptions were short lived -- Maurice Lucas, the Chuckster, an over-the-hill Shaq.

"Big man" has always been incidental to the Suns. It hasn't required a specialist coach.

Wrong perception. Big man has always been just out of reach. Jerry Colangelo's biggest mistakes were in trying to get big men. It was almost always his first choice.

Dennis Johnson for Rick Robey, Dan Majerle for Hot Rod Williams, signing Wayman Tisdale, Tom Chambers, Danny Manning, AC Green, Truck Robinson. Drafting Armen Gilliam etc. They were always trying to get a big guy. They thought they finally had one in Nick Vanos and he died in a plane crash. They had another decent big in James Edwards, but then he got wrapped up in a drug scandal. If you want to criticize them for not be able to evaluate big guys well, I guess you could make that case. But I do not think it is correct to say that it was not a priority.

 

[pokerface]

The next draft has intriguing big men and I think it's more important than this uphill battle season. This should be a season for development and evaluation.

 

[BC867]

Wrong perception. Big man has always been just out of reach. Jerry Colangelo's biggest mistakes were in trying to get big men. It was almost always his first choice.

Dennis Johnson for Rick Robey, Dan Majerle for Hot Rod Williams, signing Wayman Tisdale, Tom Chambers, Danny Manning, AC Green, Truck Robinson. Drafting Armen Gilliam etc. They were always trying to get a big guy. They thought they finally had one in Nick Vanos and he died in a plane crash. They had another decent big in James Edwards, but then he got wrapped up in a drug scandal. If you want to criticize them for not be able to evaluate big guys well, I guess you could make that case. But I do not think it is correct to say that it was not a priority.

OK, they weren't able to evaluate big guys well . . . because the Suns and their coaching staffs (and, yes, General Manager) have always been, first and foremost, a Guard and Wing oriented team.

The Chuckster started the "Franchise, Jr." tag on KJ to try to change that. But the Round Mound of Rebound was temporary. Even now, and since our last playoff appearance, we are a Guard oriented team -- our two top players are Guards; the 3 Point Guard lineups, etc.

If you don't think from a position of power, you're not going to act from a position of power. Not in the NBA.

 

[Mainstreet]

Wrong perception. Big man has always been just out of reach. Jerry Colangelo's biggest mistakes were in trying to get big men. It was almost always his first choice.

I agree. Losing the coin flip for Kareem still stings.