This team is an enigma. Last night was an absolute joke, capped by a weird Star Wars theme, IT's awkward return, a bench full of new faces, and no Sarver present at the game (which is rare).
I see most of the stuff you guys see on TV, so most of the analysis is pretty close. It doesn't take being there live to see just an absolute lack of desire and focus for 48 minutes. We get snippets here and there of brilliant play... but the rest is why it's so perplexing. It's a VERY young team, so any expectations and criticisms need to be tempered (keep reminding myself).
- EB is hard to figure out (if you haven't noticed). His/Suns persona was captured in about 30 seconds. Avery Bradley picks him clean, so Eric actually hustles back to block his shot from behind. Only maybe .00001% of the people on earth have the capability to do that. The rest of the Suns didn't attempt to get back on D... which is normal for this team.
EB lets things get to his head too quickly. Some guy sitting right next to the bench said something to him when he didn't get back on D late. Bledsoe gave him the long death stare and the rich guy sitting next to the trainers had to step up and intervene. EB did the same thing earlier this year when a Philly fan sitting in the front row gave him some grief. EB stared at the guy during a timeout and kept calling him a p***y under his breath. Funny stuff actually.
- Morris brothers. Spend most of their energy giving hugs, laughs, and handshakes before and after the game. Long gone are the days in which you had Rambis against McHale. It's a lovefest out there!
- I really don't think Hornacek is ideally suited for the players on this roster. I don't know who could? Maybe Calipari? Might as well if/when PHX acquires Nerlens Noel or Karl-Anthony Towns. Hornacek would be better suited on a team with veteran leadership. I don't get the feeling that this has been a pleasant year for him. There's a TON of teaching that needs to be done with this young team.
- I've been reading the criticism of management going on in regards to the Dragic situation. I hated to see him go (and was a reason I purchased season tix). None of us really know what went on behind closed doors. The perception I get is that Dragic just didn't like or accept the make-up of this team since they acquired EB. An opportunity presented itself (in the form of a motivated agent), and things transpired quickly. Dragic got what he wanted, and the Suns (who apparently discussed a Dragic/Knight trade earlier) got their man. Like it or not, if true... McD has stuck to his plan. I'm sure he'd tell you in private the signing of IT backfired.
- Brandon Knight can play, just worried about his size right now. He'll get beat up if he has to guard NBA 2-guards for too long. He seems to have the personality and ball IQ that fits Hornacek... his type of player. I do think all things being financial, cap-related, and age-wise that this was a very good recovery for PHX. PHX was not going anywhere with Dragic... not with this roster. This year, next year, or the year after.
- Gerald Green talked to himself during a timeout for a good 3 minutes straight after IT hit that 4. Not sure what he was saying, but he's in a baaad place right now.
- IT wasn't glaring and yelling at the bench. He was glaring and yelling at Hornacek. Shades of Mario Elie. Like him or hate him, that's kid's been an absolute phenom since high school. We often say how easy it is for tall, long players to play this game. I'm amazed at what he can do out there being the complete opposite.
