Hello Alex Len!

[82CardsGrad]

The kid is growing up right before our eyes! Several impressive athletic plays this far against merge Spurs! He is the key to their huge 15 point comeback!! Great to see!!


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[devilalum]

Merge Spurs?

He's been awesome, love the block of Floppy's shot.

 

[Joe Mama]

I didn't get a chance to check Alex Len's numbers after the Lakers game, but he had some really good defensive sequences in that one as well. If he's just running around with his arms straight up in the air he is a better defender than Plumlee.

Now just please don't break any bones!

Joe

 

[AzStevenCal]

I didn't get a chance to check Alex Len's numbers after the Lakers game, but he had some really good defensive sequences in that one as well. If he's just running around with his arms straight up in the air he is a better defender than Plumlee.

Now just please don't break any (of your own) bones!

Joe

FTFY.

Steve

 

[Lefty]

I liked his wrap-around pass under the basketball late in the 4th quarter.

 

[JCSunsfan]

With Len, at some point it is just going to click and the game will slow down for him. It might be starting now.

 

[AzStevenCal]

With Len, at some point it is just going to click and the game will slow down for him. It might be starting now.

I loved the way he played last night and it has understandably raised expectations. I suspect he's going to still disappoint at times but AFAIC, his play proved his potential. Now we just have to wait for him to grow into that potential. There will be bumps though.

Steve

 

[Suns_fan69]

I liked his wrap-around pass under the basketball late in the 4th quarter.

I did not expect that out of him. Good awareness!

 

[BC867]

I loved the way he played last night and it has understandably raised expectations. I suspect he's going to still disappoint at times but AFAIC, his play proved his potential. Now we just have to wait for him to grow into that potential. There will be bumps though.

Steve

Yes, we were waiting for a sign and it came vs. the World Champs.

As long as Len can get (and play) starter's minutes and close close games (hmmm, the same word is a verb and adjective, with different pronunciations -- crazy English language ) it will be fun to watch his learning curve and progress.

It will give the Suns something they sorely need. A presence at Center.

I hope the coaching staff works with Len and Kieff (and whoever else plays C and PF) on quick outlet passes after defensive rebounds instead of looking for a Point Guard and tossing it to him to dribble up the floor.

If not, why emphasize speed with our Guards and Wings or flood the floor with Point Guards?

 

[WuRaider]

Lensanity!!!

He is just scratching the surface of his potential. Not only does he have the rim protecting instincts to make multiple contests on the same possession, he's got the feet to switch out on the perimeter in a pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop.

On the game's final play, Len switched out on Danny Green beyond the three point line to contest a potential game-tying shot. Len played Green so tight the Diaw never inbounded the ball and the Spurs were called for a turnover (5-second rule).

http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2...alex-len-just-scratching-surface-of-potential

 

[Chaz]

From the BSOS link:

In 42 games last year, his high was 21:59. In that game, a win against Milwaukee, Len scored 7 points and pulled down 10 rebounds.

No coincidence that his highest minute total game of his career he had career highs in points and rebounds.

 

[sunsfan88]

Hornacek has to begin starting him over Plumlee imo. Its not coincidence that we start slow and then Plumlee gets in foul trouble, leaves, Len comes in and we start to play much better.

 

[FutureSuperstar]

Even as a Len fan, I think people need to slow down w/ the praise/expectations a bit. Plumlee should start at least 15-20 games more, even if Len is outplaying him. There is no reason to change things up so early in the season (It's not like if Len starts, Plumlee won't play at all). It's more important who finishes anyway and Len will finish plenty of games probably (just like Plumlee will).

It'll be interesting how much Len plays tonight - He's probably exhausted playing 32 minutes last night, + Utah is a tough place to play because of the altitude. I expect him to play 15-20 minutes at most tonight. It would say a lot about his conditioning if he is able to play more though (or even if he just plays effectively in any minutes he gets) ...

 

[Chaz]

No reason to change the starting lineup at this point. If he didn't earn the starting spot in camp there is no reason to change the lineup in the 3rd game.

With Len nothing has changed except some fans perception of him.

 

[sunsfan88]

Me saying that Len should start is more of a telling about how much Plumlee has sucked as opposed to how good Len has been.

IMO Len should start and Shavik Randolph (guy who can rebound and shoot 3s) should compete with Plumlee for the backup C spot.

 

[BC867]

IMO Len should start and Shavik Randolph (guy who can rebound and shoot 3s) should compete with Plumlee for the backup C spot.

If Len can play 36 minutes (except perhaps on a back-to-back) and finish games, I'm OK with that until time proves that it will work (I am rooting for it) and that his bones can handle it.

As far as evaluating who should be the backup at Center, let's not base it on 3-point shooting. Isn't it enough to get it out of the 1-2-3 and, if you insist, even the 4?

Is that really a criteria for a Center? Why the obsession with all five players on the court having to be adept at playing 23 feet out?

 

[sunsfan88]

If Len can play 36 minutes (except perhaps on a back-to-back) and finish games, I'm OK with that until time proves that it will work (I am rooting for it) and that his bones can handle it.

As far as evaluating who should be the backup at Center, let's not base it on 3-point shooting. Isn't it enough to get it out of the 1-2-3 and, if you insist, even the 4?

Is that really a criteria for a Center? Why the obsession with all five players on the court having to be adept at playing 23 feet out?

I don't have that obsession, certain fans and I think even Hornacek do.

 

[Errntknght]

I tend to agree with those suggesting we continue to start Plumlee but when it becomes well established that Len is doing the better of the two then give Len starting slot. Someone suggested that Plumlee is doing so poorly because he fears Len is going to take his starting spot - I think that could be the case and that he may well play better as the substitute, since what he's been fearing has come to pass already.

As far as Randolph is concerned I think we'd be better off playing him at PF - Tolliver is just too inept at everything but shooting 3's and we need all the rebounding we can get. Marcus is defending very well at the 3 but I don't believe he can handle PFs, so we shouldn't be pushing him to do that, even with PJ back. But then I'm of the opinion that we should play Tucker some at SG to give us better backcourt defense... I'd like to see Bled, PJ and Marcus together putting defensive pressure on opponents backcourts and wings.

 

[BC867]

Bringing this thread to the present . . .

It is now December 5th, Alex Len appears healthy, he was showing good signs recently and now he is regressing with irregular playing time.

His potential as a solid Center is clearly better than that of Plumlee.

Instead of pussyfooting around, the Suns coaching staff should grow a pair and give Len an opportunity to grow into the role of starting Center.

If he shows progress, great. If not, it will be time to make a trade.

But, for cripes sake, make a decision, work with it, then evaluate it.

This indecision of Who's On First at the "1", "2", "3" and "5" isn't going to get the Suns anywhere.

 

[AzStevenCal]

It is now December 5th, Alex Len appears healthy, he was showing good signs recently and now he is regressing with irregular playing time.

His potential as a solid Center is clearly better than that of Plumlee.

Instead of pussyfooting around, the Suns coaching staff should grow a pair and give Len an opportunity to grow into the role of starting Center.

If he shows progress, great. If not, it will be time to make a trade.

But, for cripes sake, make a decision, work with it, then evaluate it.

This indecision of Who's On First at the "1", "2", "3" and "5" isn't going to get the Suns anywhere.

He picks up cheap fouls so quickly that we haven't been able to go with him as much as we'd like. I'd just as soon let him play through that and if he fouls out, big deal, but for some reason coaches never do that.

Steve

 

[BC867]

He picks up cheap fouls so quickly that we haven't been able to go with him as much as we'd like. I'd just as soon let him play through that and if he fouls out, big deal, but for some reason coaches never do that.

Steve

Yes, but so has Plumlee and he has had a chance to work through it. And hasn't.

I don't think I can accept the premise that coaches never give the younger player with more potential a chance if the starter hasn't grown into the role.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Yes, but so has Plumlee and he has had a chance to work through it. And hasn't.

I don't think I can accept the premise that coaches never give the younger player with more potential a chance if the starter hasn't grown into the role.

In case it didn't come through, I'd play Len too. I understand the fear that Len will get in foul trouble and moving Plumlee might damage his already shaky confidence but I'd do it anyway. But I don't think it's a move without risk. I worry about Len's trouble hanging on to the ball too, can't help but wonder if his finger is still an issue and if playing him more might make it worse.

Steve

 

[SirStefan32]

If Plumlee was playing well, I'd understand this. Suns desperately want to make an appearance in the post-season, so I can understand taking it slow with the youngsters.
Plumlee has not played well, so it would make sense to give len a chance. Let the kid play and work through and learn from his mistakes.

 

[sunsfan88]

Yea I don't understand why it's so bad if Len picks up fouls, we have guys behind him so even if he fouls, whatever.

Let him learn.

Now if they really don't want to start Len, then why not Shavik Randolph?

Can it really be lot worse than Plumlee?

 

[Mainstreet]

Yea I don't understand why it's so bad if Len picks up fouls, we have guys behind him so even if he fouls, whatever.

Let him learn.

Now if they really don't want to start Len, then why not Shavik Randolph?

Can it really be lot worse than Plumlee?

My observation is the Suns primarily want to play two centers, Plumlee and Len. The Suns do not want to use the fouls up on each player early because Hornacek like to rotate the players to give them rest.