Gortat & Dudley to start?!

[sunsfan88]

Paul Coro on twitter:

"Gortat had his nose reset last night (w/o pain-killer) but expects to play Sunday. Gentry hinted that he could start him."

"Gortat after having nose reset today: "I should play (Sunday). I don't see any reason why I shouldn't play." No mask. He'll tape it."

"Carter practiced today. Pietrus did not. Gentry lauded Dudley's play & said, "We'll see what we want to do there." Starting Dudley & Gortat?"

http://twitter.com/paulcoro

Of course these are just mostly assumptions by Coro but he's usually right in these kind of things. I think Babby finally had a talk with Gentry and said "start Gortat or get fired."

 

[desertdawg]

I honestly wouldn't know whether to cheer or cry...right after we basically are eliminated from the playoffs? This should have been done a while back.

But if it does happen, at least we will see what happens when we start my favorite line up.

Nash, Hill, Frye, Studley, and Gortat... that's some quality B-ball right there.

Bench will be fine, (best in the league ) Brooks has gotten the green light to be Brooks and he is responding. Carter better play well coming off the bench, or his value will go down the toilet. (even more so) Lopez can concentrate on defense and rebounding, hopefully getting some points of the glass.

Did you see Gortat's tweet?

MGortat 3/25 will be a special day in my life! Dwight Howard for 3,5 y-Shaq-Big ben and other big boys never broke my nose.WHO DID IT??? STEVE NASH! about 14 hours ago via web Retweeted by paulcoro and 24 others

 

[BC867]

There is a Santa Claus! Of course, Christmas was in December, not March.

I wonder why Gentry has to "hint", rather than say it with conviction.

'Great news that Marcin won't miss any time. With Nash's physical problems, I hope he is held to about 24 minutes per game.

 

[Mainstreet]

Paul Coro is about as reliable as you can get. It sounds like Gentry is pulling out all the stops to get meaningless wins to save his job. There is no longer the pretense that Lopez and Carter are starters. I wish Sarver and Babby would tell Gentry that his job is not at stake over the last remaining games. I want Nash, Gortat and Frye healthy for next season... not just collecting garbage wins. Many opposing playoff teams are resting their starters as much as possible during this time of the season.

 

[elindholm]

Paul Coro is about as reliable as you can get. It sounds like Gentry is pulling out all the stops to get meaningless wins to save his job.

I don't interpret it that way. Carter is gone next season and Lopez may be as well, so why not start looking forward right away and get some games in with the players who will be part of the future?

I want Nash, Gortat and Frye healthy for next season...

Do you have any evidence that for any of those three to play will affect their health next season? Besides, Gortat's minutes aren't going to change.

 

[sunsfan88]

I honestly wouldn't know whether to cheer or cry...right after we basically are eliminated from the playoffs? This should have been done a while back.

But if it does happen, at least we will see what happens when we start my favorite line up.

Nash, Hill, Frye, Studley, and Gortat... that's some quality B-ball right there.

Bench will be fine, (best in the league ) Brooks has gotten the green light to be Brooks and he is responding. Carter better play well coming off the bench, or his value will go down the toilet. (even more so) Lopez can concentrate on defense and rebounding, hopefully getting some points of the glass.

Hey man don't be so selfish.

You mean mine, yours, BC's, and Darren G's favorite lineup.

 

[Griffin]

Methinks this is a bit too late now. It would take a monumental collapse from one of the teams we are chasing for us to get into the playoffs now. And they keep winning with all the injuries already.

 

[desertdawg]

Hey man don't be so selfish.

You mean mine, yours, BC's, and Darren G's favorite lineup.

It's mine all mine I tell ya! ( I think our numbers are growing )

 

[Chaplin]

Paul Coro is about as reliable as you can get. It sounds like Gentry is pulling out all the stops to get meaningless wins to save his job. There is no longer the pretense that Lopez and Carter are starters. I wish Sarver and Babby would tell Gentry that his job is not at stake over the last remaining games. I want Nash, Gortat and Frye healthy for next season... not just collecting garbage wins. Many opposing playoff teams are resting their starters as much as possible during this time of the season.

I think all the chicken littles calling for Gentry's head has altered the reality of the situation here. Gentry isn't going anywhere. And his job isn't in danger either.

 

[sunsfan88]

With Nash's physical problems, I hope he is held to about 2-4 minutes per game.

Corrected.

I wanna see if Brooks can be our future PG. If he can get a better grasp of the pick & roll, I think its him. But that's why he needs to play about 25-30 minutes per game for the rest of the season.

No need to risk Nash getting injured and decreasing his trade value in the summer.

Did you see Gortat's tweet?

MGortat 3/25 will be a special day in my life! Dwight Howard for 3,5 y-Shaq-Big ben and other big boys never broke my nose.WHO DID IT??? STEVE NASH! about 14 hours ago via web Retweeted by paulcoro and 24 others

Hahahaha its funny cause he's really enjoyin this. Its the first time he's been injured since he became relevant in the NBA (trade to PHX) He loves how everyones worried about his injury etc.

Even though he said he hates the fact that we lost, I bet in his head he's thinking "Damn I am a big part of this team....they couldn't close out without me" If it gains him more confidence, I'm all for it.

 

[desertdawg]

I think all the chicken littles calling for Gentry's head has altered the reality of the situation here. Gentry isn't going anywhere. And his job isn't in danger either.

Remember you said starting Lopez wasn't the problem, we will see. Also, this is Gentry trying to keep his job.

 

[Chaplin]

Remember you said starting Lopez wasn't the problem, we will see.

It isn't and you still haven't proven with any satisfaction that it is. I'm not sure why you continually ignore the biggest problem we have, which is the SG position. For all your complaining about Lopez and the coach, you ignore that--and it is EASILY our biggest issue. There's really no argument.

 

[BC867]

It's mine all mine I tell ya! ( I think our numbers are growing )

Was that around the time that you discovered penicillin?

I wish we knew why he waited so long. And I wish the FO had given him a more balanced roster to work with right from the start of the season.

Now I wish that we prepare properly for next season, while I -- we -- enjoy the final few games.

 

[desertdawg]

It isn't and you still haven't proven with any satisfaction that it is. I'm not sure why you continually ignore the biggest problem we have, which is the SG position. For all your complaining about Lopez and the coach, you ignore that--and it is EASILY our biggest issue. There's really no argument.

We will see, I say we start off better, and finish the games better with Lopez not starting. That will be your proof. But you will argue something else then, so your right, there's really no argument.

 

[elindholm]

Has everyone already forgotten that the Suns started Gortat and Dudley in the third quarter last night, and the result was terrible? The halftime lead evaporated instantly and the Hornets got all the confidence they needed to fight to the finish.

 

[Mainstreet]

I don't interpret it that way. Carter is gone next season and Lopez may be as well, so why not start looking forward right away and get some games in with the players who will be part of the future?

Do you have any evidence that for any of those three to play will affect their health next season? Besides, Gortat's minutes aren't going to change.

No I don't have any evidence to support the health issue but I do hope for a better lottery pick if the Suns do not play the walking wounded. However, why take a chance? The Suns already know that Nash, Frye and Gortat are legit.

 

[desertdawg]

Has everyone already forgotten that the Suns started Gortat and Dudley in the third quarter last night, and the result was terrible? The halftime lead evaporated instantly and the Hornets got all the confidence they needed to fight to the finish.

We will see. Proof will be in the pudding and all up on the score board. I am on cloud 9 right now. I too will really enjoy watching the true starters being started.

 

[Mainstreet]

I think all the chicken littles calling for Gentry's head has altered the reality of the situation here. Gentry isn't going anywhere. And his job isn't in danger either.

I am not one of your "chicken littles" calling for Gentry's head. Sarver isn't going to pay big money for a new HC anyway. The Suns chances of hiring a better HC on the cheap are slim to none.

 

[BC867]

Has everyone already forgotten that the Suns started Gortat and Dudley in the third quarter last night, and the result was terrible? The halftime lead evaporated instantly and the Hornets got all the confidence they needed to fight to the finish.

Are you really discounting the concept based on the first time (or perhaps one of the rare times) that Gortat and Dudley started anything together, let alone the game.

Starters' routines and bench players' routines are not the same. Daily practices are aligned by starters vs. subs. (Correct me if that is wrong.)

This will be the first chance for both Gortat and Dudley to be in their teams' starting unit.

Despite this time of instant gratification, give it some time to gel. A new team chemistry take time, even if it should have been implemented months ago.

That includes a more prominent role by Aaron Brooks at Point Guard.

 

[desertdawg]

I think I might have to throw a party if Gortat starts. Any body know where I can buy some Polish beer?

 

[Chaplin]

I am not one of your "chicken littles" calling for Gentry's head. Sarver isn't going to pay big money for a new HC anyway. The Suns chances of hiring a better HC on the cheap are slim to none.

I know you're not, I'm just saying that there is no need for him to go to drastic measures to save his job, because frankly his job doesn't need saving.

 

[Mainstreet]

I think I might have to throw a party if Gortat starts. Any body know where I can buy some Polish beer?

Poland.

 

[Chaplin]

We will see, I say we start off better, and finish the games better with Lopez not starting. That will be your proof. But you will argue something else then, so your right, there's really no argument.

So you're saying that not starting Lopez allows us to finish games better? What? Lopez never finishes games anyway, so what exactly are you saying? Starting Gortat means a more tired Gortat at the end of the game, so I don't think your argument holds any water. If you have some statistics or reasons why it DOES make sense, please, share them.

 

[Mainstreet]

I know you're not, I'm just saying that there is no need for him to go to drastic measures to save his job, because frankly his job doesn't need saving.

We agree but has Sarver/ Babby told Gentry?

 

[elindholm]

No I don't have any evidence to support the health issue but I do hope for a better lottery pick if the Suns do not play the walking wounded. However, why take a chance?

Because it's insulting to the hard-working players on the team and the fans.

The Suns can't improve their lottery position by more than a spot or two in any case: the "best" two lottery teams in the East, Milwaukee and Charlotte, are 29-42, thus quite unlikely to finish with more than the 36 wins the Suns already have. The Suns could "catch" Utah, but that's probably it. The possible advantage of tanking is too tiny to merit consideration. The Suns should do their best with the games they have left, and gain as much information as they can about what their plan should be this summer.