Hawks @ Suns 3-2-14

[BC867]

Down to a 6-point game. Atlanta's bench is no match for ours. We should open it up when their bench comes in, as we did in the 1st half.

 

[BC867]

Leandro blew a layup on a fast break. He is just not helping the team.

 

[Mainstreet]

Leandro blew a layup on a fast break. He is just not helping the team.

Hmm.

 

[AfroSuns]

Hmm.

i see what you did there

 

[Mainstreet]

I think I'm going to like Randolph.

 

[sunsfan88]

Our defense is so poor.

 

[AfroSuns]

I think I'm going to like Randolph.

I like that he is very active

 

[Mainstreet]

Our defense is so poor.

Are you insinuating the Suns have one.

 

[Mainstreet]

I like that he is very active

Hornacek puts him on the floor after only one practice and expects him to produce. I think he will play much better than tonight.

 

[Suns_fan69]

Green with a quiet 31 pts... if that's possible. In rhythm, not forcing it. He's probably given back just as many with his defense though, it's been bad today.

 

[sunsfan88]

Are you insinuating the Suns have one.

I wish they had one.

 

[SactownSunsFan]

Dragic's gotta improve from the line.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Bag on the D all you want, but any win without Bledsoe
At this point of the season is a good win
As far as I'm concerned.

 

[sunsfan88]

Hornacek: "this is 5 games in a row that we haven't played great defense. It's a little concerning." #SunsVsHawks

https://mobile.twitter.com/TheMattPetersen/status/440330367590215680

Hope they work on D all tomorrow. A lot of it is simply losing focus defensively.

 

[Mainstreet]

Hope they work on D all tomorrow. A lot of it is simply losing focus defensively.

The Suns starting front court seems to be the major problem especially since Plumlee has regressed from his energetic play at the beginning of the season. Opposing teams are attacking the Suns inside with impunity. If it weren't for messing with the Suns chemistry, starting the two Morris twins at the forward positions would be an upgrade.

 

[sunsfan88]

The Suns starting front court seems to be the major problem especially since Plumlee has regressed from his energetic play at the beginning of the season. Opposing teams are attacking the Suns inside with impunity. If it weren't for messing with the Suns chemistry, starting the two Morris twins at the forward positions would be an upgrade.

Only reason I wouldn't start the Morris twins is because we would have the worst bench in the league if that happened.

I think a lot of it is just desire. Bledsoe coming back should improve it some but if we continue to protect the rim so poorly, then we will continue to give up 50%+ shooting every game.

 

[Suns_fan69]

Only reason I wouldn't start the Morris twins is because we would have the worst bench in the league if that happened.

I think a lot of it is just desire. Bledsoe coming back should improve it some but if we continue to protect the rim so poorly, then we will continue to give up 50%+ shooting every game.

That's a good point. I wonder how much of it is guys are just getting more tired toward this late-middle part of the season. The majority of the Suns are not lock down defenders, but they seemed (from my recollection anyways) to put forth a lot more effort into this end earlier in the year. We only see the swarming defense for a few possessions each game now as opposed to earlier.

 

[BC867]

The Suns starting front court seems to be the major problem especially since Plumlee has regressed from his energetic play at the beginning of the season. Opposing teams are attacking the Suns inside with impunity. If it weren't for messing with the Suns chemistry, starting the two Morris twins at the forward positions would be an upgrade.

With Jeff giving the minutes to whoever is making the greater contribution, who starts hasn't been that important.

Especially when Bledsoe comes back and we will have a starting calibre Point Guard on the floor for 48 minutes. It has almost been there now with the development of Ish at the Point.

The front court problem is at Center with the disappointment of Plumlee, Frye and Len to take pressure off our Forwards.

 

[sunsfan88]

That's a good point. I wonder how much of it is guys are just getting more tired toward this late-middle part of the season. The majority of the Suns are not lock down defenders, but they seemed (from my recollection anyways) to put forth a lot more effort into this end earlier in the year. We only see the swarming defense for a few possessions each game now as opposed to earlier.

I think their worn down but they have to realize that this is the grind of an NBA season.

Plumlee doesn't even play that many minutes anymore so I don't understand why he doesn't go all out and play with 110% energy in the limited minutes that he does get.

We give up a lot of OPEN layups and easy shots and layups. Its one thing to give up contested shots and a whole another to just leave em open.

 

[Catlover]

I think their worn down but they have to realize that this is the grind of an NBA season.

Plumlee doesn't even play that many minutes anymore so I don't understand why he doesn't go all out and play with 110% energy in the limited minutes that he does get.

We give up a lot of OPEN layups and easy shots and layups. Its one thing to give up contested shots and a whole another to just leave em open.

He's already played 1500 minutes this season. The past 5 seasons combined he played a little over 2000 minutes. You can't be in game shape if you aren't playing the game regularly. It's why rookies always hit the wall but it's even more pronounced when you have a player that rarely played more than 20 minutes a game even in college.

 

[sunsfan88]

He's already played 1500 minutes this season. The past 5 seasons combined he played a little over 2000 minutes. You can't be in game shape if you aren't playing the game regularly. It's why rookies always hit the wall but it's even more pronounced when you have a player that rarely played more than 20 minutes a game even in college.

Plumlee is averaging just 24 mins in 2014.

Its not like we rely on him to score and pass etc..all we need him to do is just rebound and protect the rim.

And you can be in game shape even if you don't play regularly. You do running outside of basketball, practices etc. NBA is the highest level of basketball, when these guys pick up their million dollar checks, their agreeing to stay in amazing shape for their entire basketball career til they retire.

That's why even in the off season you hearabout guys like LeBron and Durant etc always training in the gym, not using the off season time to kick back and just watch TV on the couch. NBA, NFL and just athletes in general don't have time to coast til they retire..that's why they get paid so much money.

 

[Catlover]

Plumlee is averaging just 24 mins in 2014.

Its not like we rely on him to score and pass etc..all we need him to do is just rebound and protect the rim.

And you can be in game shape even if you don't play regularly. You do running outside of basketball, practices etc. NBA is the highest level of basketball, when these guys pick up their million dollar checks, their agreeing to stay in amazing shape for their entire basketball career til they retire.

That's why even in the off season you hearabout guys like LeBron and Durant etc always training in the gym, not using the off season time to kick back and just watch TV on the couch. NBA, NFL and just athletes in general don't have time to coast til they retire..that's why they get paid so much money.

What you have just said flies in the face of everything ever said on this subject. Maybe you're right and the rest of the world is wrong but for every breath you've taken in your life, at least a thousand times the words "you have to play the game to get in game shape" have been uttered.

He's not used to playing this many minutes. When you're in college you play bastketball at a different pace, you play less than half as many games and the games are shorter. This happens every time a player tries to adjust from college to the pros. It's even worse for Miles because after his limited minutes in college he then sat on the bench for his first NBA season.

 

[sunsfan88]

What you have just said flies in the face of everything ever said on this subject. Maybe you're right and the rest of the world is wrong but for every breath you've taken in your life, at least a thousand times the words "you have to play the game to get in game shape" have been uttered.

He's not used to playing this many minutes. When you're in college you play bastketball at a different pace, you play less than half as many games and the games are shorter. This happens every time a player tries to adjust from college to the pros. It's even worse for Miles because after his limited minutes in college he then sat on the bench for his first NBA season.

This is the NBA, the excuse that players are out of shape isn't justifiable regardless of whether your a rookie, a sophomore or a benchwarmer in college. The minute you sign that contract you better get into shape to play 48 mins a night for 82 games if needed.

A reporter asked Hornacek if the reason the team is struggling is cause the minutes are too much and even he laughed and said that the minutes are controlled pretty well so that's not a problem.

If you aren't ready to play 24 mins a game then what are you doing in the NBA?

I think Plumlee is in fine shape and I think he's a kid that works hard in the off season to be in the best shape possible. I don't think his lackluster play has everything to do with being in shape.

 

[Catlover]

This is the NBA, the excuse that players are out of shape isn't justifiable regardless of whether your a rookie, a sophomore or a benchwarmer in college. The minute you sign that contract you better get into shape to play 48 mins a night for 82 games if needed.

A reporter asked Hornacek if the reason the team is struggling is cause the minutes are too much and even he laughed and said that the minutes are controlled pretty well so that's not a problem.

If you aren't ready to play 24 mins a game then what are you doing in the NBA?

I think Plumlee is in fine shape and I think he's a kid that works hard in the off season to be in the best shape possible. I don't think his lackluster play has everything to do with being in shape.

You keep missing the point. There is a difference between being in shape and being in game shape. You can't simulate the adrenaline rush and such that you get during the heat of action by lifting weights or running sprints. You can get into great shape but there is something else going on when you step onto the court. But this is really going in a different direction than I intended (my fault, I brought up game shape).

Ask yourself why they always talk about "hitting the wall". They talk about it for freshman making the adjustment from high school and they talk about it from college to the pros too. Your body and your mind wear down under that grind until you become accustomed to it. It's probably worse for Miles because he sat on the bench for a full season. Some players can play through that wall but almost all hit it at some point during their first real season of NBA action. Miles has always had a reputation for inconsistent play so being worn down might not be his only issue but I believe it's a contributing factor.

 

[Phrazbit]

This is the NBA, the excuse that players are out of shape isn't justifiable regardless of whether your a rookie, a sophomore or a benchwarmer in college. The minute you sign that contract you better get into shape to play 48 mins a night for 82 games if needed.

This is like saying a pitcher should be able to pitch every day, 9 innings and if he isnt then its a sign that he isnt strong enough. The NBA has a looong season, probably too long. Plumlee has never in his life gone through a grind like this. By the end of the season he will probably have logged nearly as many minutes this year as his rookie season and his entire college career combined. To say thats no big deal simply because his name is on a contract is absurd.

Whats happening with Plumlee has been witnessed countless times across every sport.