ESPN with an impressive stat

[Phrazbit]

http://espn.go.com/nba/powerrankings/_/year/2015/week/9

The Suns have rebounded from a scary six-game skid with six straight W's -- five on the road -- in which Goran Dragic, Eric Bledsoe and Isaiah Thomas logged 50 minutes of court time together and outscored the opposition by 35 points per 100 possessions in that span.

BLOW IT UP!!! We should be tanking! They all secretly hate eachother!

 

[BC867]

http://espn.go.com/nba/powerrankings/_/year/2015/week/9



BLOW IT UP!!! We should be tanking! They all secretly hate eachother!

In the long run, the 3-lead Point Guard concept may lead us to playoff strength or it may not. Many of us have varying opinions at this point.

But I would hope that NBA level basketball would be more sophisticated than "They all secretly hate each other". Please reference where any of us have ever posted that.

Goran Dragic himself said, "There are 3 Point Guards and only one ball." That is a legitimate personnel problem that has to be worked out, if it can be.

 

[SirStefan32]

Every time there is a new gimmick, people jump on the bandwagon and forget that every single gimmick always gets figured out. Size, defense, rebounding win championships. It's all about balance. Yay, let's cheer for the newest gimmick so we can MAYBE make playoffs and get our asses kicked in the first round. Then let's keep cheering as we get bounced from playoffs year after year while maybe making it to the next round once in a while.

EDIT:
And let's not forget the great competition we faced during this winning streak. Old Mavs on the second night on back to back, along with Washington, Lakers, Hornets, Knicks, and Sacramento without their All Star. *Championship*

 

[Chaplin]

Every time there is a new gimmick, people jump on the bandwagon and forget that every single gimmick always gets figured out. Size, defense, rebounding win championships. It's all about balance. Yay, let's cheer for the newest gimmick so we can MAYBE make playoffs and get our asses kicked in the first round. Then let's keep cheering as we get bounced from playoffs year after year while maybe making it to the next round once in a while.

EDIT:
And let's not forget the great competition we faced during this winning streak. Old Mavs on the second night on back to back, along with Washington, Lakers, Hornets, Knicks, and Sacramento without their All Star. *Championship*

Always making excuses over why the Suns suck. Amazing. Washington isn't a slouch, and neither is Dallas, even with your "old" moniker.

 

[sunsfan88]

Suns have also played against two actual good teams during this winning streak, the Wizards and Mavs who were still trying to figure Rondo into their offense & were on the road on the 2nd night of a back to back.

I wanna see how this 3 PG lineup works against Houston, Memphis, Clippers, Blazers, etc aka teams with actual size.

 

[Chaplin]

We're always going to have problems against teams with a lot of size, with or without 3 point guards.

 

[BC867]

We're always going to have problems against teams with a lot of size, with or without 3 point guards.

But they are related. Bringing IT off the bench to take over Point Guard, moving Bledsoe to Shooting Guard and Dragic, already moved to Shooting Guard, to Small Forward. Forcing a Small Forward to Power Forward and the Power Forward to Center. That's four people playing out of position -- all at heavier positions. And that is how we have been closing games.

With three Point Guards, you are right. We're always going to have problems against teams with a lot of size. And in hoping to find instant chemistry to adjust to those teams.

It doesn't matter how "good" or "bad" a team is. Just that, on any given night, they strive to be better than their opponent. Not just the weak ones.

 

[AzStevenCal]

But they are related. Bringing IT off the bench to take over Point Guard, moving Bledsoe to Shooting Guard and Dragic, already moved to Shooting Guard, to Small Forward. Forcing a Small Forward to Power Forward and the Power Forward to Center. That's four people playing out of position -- all at heavier positions. And that is how we have been closing games.

With three Point Guards, you are right. We're always going to have problems against teams with a lot of size. And in hoping to find instant chemistry to adjust to those teams.

It doesn't matter how "good" or "bad" a team is. Just that, on any given night, they strive to be better than their opponent. Not just the weak ones.

Better yes, bigger though, I don't really care about.

I'm drawing a blank on which team did it but did you notice a couple of games ago that a team gave us a taste of our own medicine? We were rolling with a traditional lineup with Keef and Len and the other guys went small to put pressure on our bigs? It worked too. Our lead evaporated and we didn't stabilize until we matched their size with our little guys and we then put the game away. I just though it was a little funny that some other team wanted to force our big guy to the bench. That's unusual territory for us.

Anyway, I think there's two things to consider. We're not locked into this group of players, Mcdonough has made that clear. I don't see the problem with doing whatever it takes in the short run. Secondly, with Keef and Len we're not too far away from being able to run a traditional offense. Replace Dragic, Bledsoe and Tucker with Ennis, Gordon Hayward and a 2 guard such as Butler and we'd be a completely different team in style from what we're running now. I doubt it will be those specific players but I do believe we'll move in that direction.

Steve

 

[sunsfan88]

Gordon Hayward looks nice this year. Jazz fans were ready to set their GM's house on fire when they matched the max contract offer but they seem to be loving the move now.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

I don't think this is particularly a gimmick. I think it is more about having your best players on the court all together. In the case of the Suns their best players are their PGs and thus they have a 3 PG lineup when all 3 are in the game together. It's not like they are doing it just to have 3 PGs on the floor at the same time, but they are doing it because they want their best players on the floor when the game is on the line. There may not be another team in the league that could successfully do what the Suns are doing with that lineup and that is simply because they don't have 3 PGs of this high of quality.

 

[SirStefan32]

I don't think this is particularly a gimmick. I think it is more about having your best players on the court all together. In the case of the Suns their best players are their PGs and thus they have a 3 PG lineup when all 3 are in the game together. It's not like they are doing it just to have 3 PGs on the floor at the same time, but they are doing it because they want their best players on the floor when the game is on the line. There may not be another team in the league that could successfully do what the Suns are doing with that lineup and that is simply because they don't have 3 PGs of this high of quality.

And why do you suppose that is?

 

[Mainstreet]

And why do you suppose that is?

I think the Suns went after the best player they could find (for a reasonable contract) when they signed IT. They then added him to their best players, Dragic and Bledsoe. It's all about signing BPA rather than going for average.

 

[BC867]

It's all about signing BPA rather than going for average.

Rather than BPA at each position to achieve balance of all the skills required of a successful basketball team?

 

[SirStefan32]

Rather than BPA at each position to achieve balance of all the skills required of a successful basketball team?

Neh, balance is what silly teams like San Antonio do. Suns know better!

 

[sunsfan88]

Rather than BPA at each position to achieve balance of all the skills required of a successful basketball team?

That's what I'd think they do.

 

[sunsfan88]

I think the Suns went after the best player they could find (for a reasonable contract) when they signed IT. They then added him to their best players, Dragic and Bledsoe. It's all about signing BPA rather than going for average.

So you know Reggie Jackson will be a FA next summer right? How would you feel about the Suns signing him if they get him on a bargain deal like IT? He may be BPA after the other free agents sign with their respective teams or whatever.

I can totally see McD and Hornacek's reasoning:

"Well, we wanted 2 fresh PGs on the floor at the same time and we figured we can have Goran and Eric rest while those two guys come in so everyone will be fresh".

I'm not joking, I can seriously see the Suns resigning Dragic and STILL pursuing Reggie Jackson to have a core PG group of Dragic/Bledsoe/IT/Jackson.

Sad part is that they will get some fans to buy into that crap too.

 

[AzStevenCal]

So you know Reggie Jackson will be a FA next summer right? How would you feel about the Suns signing him if they get him on a bargain deal like IT? He may be BPA after the other free agents sign with their respective teams or whatever.

I can totally see McD and Hornacek's reasoning:

"Well, we wanted 2 fresh PGs on the floor at the same time and we figured we can have Goran and Eric rest while those two guys come in so everyone will be fresh".

I'm not joking, I can seriously see the Suns resigning Dragic and STILL pursuing Reggie Jackson to have a core PG group of Dragic/Bledsoe/IT/Jackson.

Sad part is that they will get some fans to buy into that crap too.

I think I've heard more than a few times that OKC probably won't be able to keep him because his agent is looking for max or near max money. I don't think we're getting him on an IT type deal.

Steve

 

[sunsfan88]

I think I've heard more than a few times that OKC probably won't be able to keep him because his agent is looking for max or near max money. I don't think we're getting him on an IT type deal.

Steve

If for some reason we could though, I bet the Suns would definitely do it.

 

[SirStefan32]

If for some reason we could though, I bet the Suns would definitely do it.

And the masses would cheer.

 

[Mainstreet]

If for some reason we could though, I bet the Suns would definitely do it.

If the Suns can get him for IT type money, yes I would do it providing the Suns could trade IT for a first round pick. Then I would start looking for another taker for one of the Suns PGs. Buy low, sell high.

 

[sunsfan88]

If the Suns can get him for IT type money, yes I would do it providing the Suns could trade IT for a first round pick. Then I would start looking for another taker for one of the Suns PGs. Buy low, sell high.

Unfortunately due to PG being the strongest position in the NBA, there isn't a huge demand for PGs out there.

 

[hcsilla]

If the Suns can get him for IT type money, yes I would do it providing the Suns could trade IT for a first round pick. Then I would start looking for another taker for one of the Suns PGs. Buy low, sell high.

I think that is precisely what McD does. The 3PG thing is just the necessary bull**** until they will find someone who puts a "can't refuse" type of offer for one of the PG's preferably IT.

 

[Ronin]

off topic but here are some stats from Suns.com. I liked this stat....

8-2

The Suns are now 8-2 (.800) in the 10 games they have used the starting lineup of Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragic, P.J. Tucker, Markieff Morris and Alex Len.

http://www.nba.com/suns/gallery/9-more-crazy-stats-about-2014-15-phoenix-suns

 

[Covert Rain]

Better yes, bigger though, I don't really care about.

Anyway, I think there's two things to consider. We're not locked into this group of players, Mcdonough has made that clear. I don't see the problem with doing whatever it takes in the short run. Secondly, with Keef and Len we're not too far away from being able to run a traditional offense. Replace Dragic, Bledsoe and Tucker with Ennis, Gordon Hayward and a 2 guard such as Butler and we'd be a completely different team in style from what we're running now. I doubt it will be those specific players but I do believe we'll move in that direction.

Steve

This. Do what you have to do now but anybody that thinks this is nothing more than a gimmick to draw attention to these players talents for possible future moves is kidding themselves. This team can't go anywhere with a 3 point guard system.

The team seems to be buying it's time, entertaining, developing some guys and prepping for future trades. Nobody in that front office really thinks this team can do anything as built.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Neh, balance is what silly teams like San Antonio do. Suns know better!

Actually it has more to do with where the Suns currently are with building their team. They are still in the acquiring talent stage and that is why they went out and got IT even though he would create a bit of a log jam at the position. Dealing with injuries last year is also part of the reason they went after him as well. There is no way for us to know for sure at this point what the Suns future plan is with the PG position. Maybe they truly want the 3 PG lineup to be a thing from now on or they are just running with what they currently have put together.

Also I wish people would stop comparing what the Suns are doing to teams like the Spurs. The Spurs currently have 2-3 future hall of fame players on their team and we may never match that no matter what we do. It's kind of like when people point to the Spurs resting players as something we should do. We don't currently have a good enough team to do that.