How many Suns games have you really watched this season?

[AzStevenCal]

Less that half... I did watch two games carefully recently - trying to see what it was about Scola's defense that someone (AzStevenCal?) found so terrible. Whoever it is they have lambasted him since then so I haven't had a good chance to post my comments.

Well, it was definitely me but he has stopped doing what I was ripping him for. In fact, he's been probably our best all around player the past 4 games. He still drifts now and then but it's not like it was earlier in the season. Back then, he'd just wander away from his man without reason. He wasn't hedging, he wasn't double-teaming the ball or a threat on the strong side, he would just switch to someone else and force whichever Sun was covering that guy to race across the key to try and pick up the man that Luis had just left. All too often, this resulted in an easy score. Like I said, I haven't seen much of this the past few games. I hope it was just a case of him not really understanding what Gentry wanted from him.

Steve

 

[Errntknght]

Thanks Az, now I have my excuse to post my comments. I don't remember what games I monitored... one of them was probably in the last four but the other was not.

He does some things that I think are not good and he has no elevation so once a player gets the ball above his shoulders he's pretty much got his shot. One thing I don't like is him not getting back on routine plays - he tries to make sure he gets back with his own man but meanwhile the defense cannot set up properly. Thats half on the coach - kick his butt and insist that he not screw around hoping to get steal against a careless player regardless of what his man is doing. (He's often guarding the big who throws the ball inbounds after a Suns make, and you see his tardiness getting back most plainly then.)
Another thing that we've seen is that he cannot guard a big who likes to shoot threes - he lays off too far and he's not quick enough to recover. He'll also switch off him given any pretext. On the other hand he's protective of the painted area and helps quite well - he'll also bump almost everyone who crosses into it (a good thing). Rather than try to get him to play such a guy tight - and thereby set himself up to be backdoored - just don't give him those defensive assignments. Let him defend near the paint where he's not half bad - pretty good, actually, considering his lack of athleticism.
Like many bigs with no hops he blocks out on rebounds regularly and quite well. He doesn't get that many rebounds because he's slow afoot as well as being earthbound but his man doesn't get them. He has another failing on rebounds - he's not aware of his teammates efforts to grab the ball and tends to tip the ball away from them as if they were opponents. He's improving in that regard - probably he's beginning to recognize his teammates better in his peripheral field of view.
Overall I think he plays hard - no high revving motor, though. Within his limits he does well - I value being protective of the paint very highly. If he had better technique bodying up to his man on 1-1 D, he'd be a lot like Kurt Thomas. He's crafty at times.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Thanks Az, now I have my excuse to post my comments. I don't remember what games I monitored... one of them was probably in the last four but the other was not.

He does some things that I think are not good and he has no elevation so once a player gets the ball above his shoulders he's pretty much got his shot. One thing I don't like is him not getting back on routine plays - he tries to make sure he gets back with his own man but meanwhile the defense cannot set up properly. Thats half on the coach - kick his butt and insist that he not screw around hoping to get steal against a careless player regardless of what his man is doing. (He's often guarding the big who throws the ball inbounds after a Suns make, and you see his tardiness getting back most plainly then.)
Another thing that we've seen is that he cannot guard a big who likes to shoot threes - he lays off too far and he's not quick enough to recover. He'll also switch off him given any pretext. On the other hand he's protective of the painted area and helps quite well - he'll also bump almost everyone who crosses into it (a good thing). Rather than try to get him to play such a guy tight - and thereby set himself up to be backdoored - just don't give him those defensive assignments. Let him defend near the paint where he's not half bad - pretty good, actually, considering his lack of athleticism.
Like many bigs with no hops he blocks out on rebounds regularly and quite well. He doesn't get that many rebounds because he's slow afoot as well as being earthbound but his man doesn't get them. He has another failing on rebounds - he's not aware of his teammates efforts to grab the ball and tends to tip the ball away from them as if they were opponents. He's improving in that regard - probably he's beginning to recognize his teammates better in his peripheral field of view.
Overall I think he plays hard - no high revving motor, though. Within his limits he does well - I value being protective of the paint very highly. If he had better technique bodying up to his man on 1-1 D, he'd be a lot like Kurt Thomas. He's crafty at times.

Those are many of the things I've noted and mentioned about him. His defense was really killing us early in the season when he was paired with Gortat but when they put him next to O'Neal, Jermaine seemed to anticipate what Luis was going to do and that worked out much better. Since moving back into the starting lineup, Scola has drifted away much less. I don't know that he'll ever be able to defend like Kurt Thomas but Paul Silas made a career with many of the same limitations so who knows.

In addition to his improved defense though I really like the changes he's made on offense as far as the shots he takes and the ones he doesn't. He was always our best passer, it's just too bad we don't have players that can take full advantage of what he can do for them. It's been quite a few years since we've had a big that could pass and screen as well as Luis does.

Steve

 

[BC867]

Despite Scola's limitations, he has shown that he is the closest thing we have to a go-to-scorer on a team where no one else has produced in that role, except for Dragic from time to time.

A Point Guard with that capability is a plus, but (whether Dragic, Nash or Kevin Johnson) a strong offense needs other position players, playing off the Point Guard, to fulfill that role.

Michael, Kobe and LeBron handle(d) the ball a lot, but they are not Point Guards and most teams don't have players of their caliber on the roster.

Scola is filling a need -- a specialist. One who can also assist and rebound.

 

[Mainstreet]

Another reason I like Scola, he is a banger at the PF position, something otherwise the Suns lack.

 

[KloD]

I've watched part of 4 or 5 games to date this season. First year I have not ordered the NBA package. This team sucks and is far from entertaining. Just can't sit there through a full game.

Plus I made a stupid bet they'd be better than the Warriors. What the heck was I thinking???

 

[Errntknght]

In retrospect almost every bet seems stupid to someone...

 

[Lefty]

Can't watch more than five minutes a game. This team is pathetic and I hope they are busy at the trading deadline. Gortat is the first guy that needs to go.

 

[JS22]

Tonight may have been it. Pretty pathetic game. Watched about 10 minutes of the first quarter and turned it off.

 

[Mainstreet]

I watched enough of tonight's Suns/ Grizzlies game that if there is any reason to watch the Suns this season it primarily rests with the development of Tucker and Johnson. I do not believe this will equate to victories but it may be a reason to watch the Suns now and then. Also it may provide some hope for the future. The time given to Beasley would probably have been better given to Johnson.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I still enjoy watching them although it's hard to say why. It isn't a very likable team but they are still the Phoenix Suns and I am still a Phoenix Suns fan. If I had any sense, I'd adopt another team but unfortunately it doesn't work that way, for me anyway.

Steve

 

[Superbone]

I still enjoy watching them although it's hard to say why. It isn't a very likable team but they are still the Phoenix Suns and I am still a Phoenix Suns fan. If I had any sense, I'd adopt another team but unfortunately it doesn't work that way, for me anyway.

Steve

I'm with you Stevie.

 

[Dr. Jones]

this is where I'm at pretty much word for word.

wake me when Sarver sells the team. No reason to watch until that point as far as I'm concerned.

This. Maybe 4 to 5 minutes of the two national games I found.

I voted none.

 

[Phrazbit]

Its embarrassing to look at what the front office thought of this team before the year.

http://valleyofthesuns.com/2012/10/27/moving-forward-bright-sunny-day-phoenix/#ixzz2H4NWIi9Z

I know PR is part of their job but I dont think they were trying to give lip service with how glowing those quotes are, instead they were just totally clueless.

This team looked dull on paper, unathletic, older... bad, and they're even more painful to watch than I thought they'd be.

If someone knows Sarver's email address... please, forward him that article with some of the more choice quotes highlighted. Babby and especially Blanks need to be fired immediately before they dig the hole deeper. The team needs to be blown up (it never should have been assembled)... but our front office thought we would be "in love with it" so I question how long they will fight their delusions.

 

[slinslin]

I am ready for draft night and summer league. I am already more excited for those events than the season ever since the last draft night.

And I'll probably not watch another full game until they start playing and try to develop young guys. I just do not see the point in a hopelessly lost season to play Scola over Morris/Beasley, Telfair over Marshall, Tucker over Johnson/Beasley. Scola and Telfair have no long-term future on this team. Telfair is a FA and will be gone for sure. Tucker plays hard which is nice but that is about all, he is a long term journey man who has never been talented enough for the NBA until the Suns decided he should be a starter for them and play huge minutes.

Trade Gortat for future assets.

Go small

C- Morris
PF- Beasley
SF - Dudley/Johnson
SG - Dragic
PG - Marshall

Well a Marshall/Dragic backcourt might be too atrocious so put Johnson at the 2 and Dragic at PG and give Marshall 6th man minutes.

Tank ahoy. We might suck even harder, likely, but i'd probably watch some games out of curiosity at least.

 

[Phrazbit]

I am ready for draft night and summer league. I am already more excited for those events than the season ever since the last draft night.

And I'll probably not watch another full game until they start playing and try to develop young guys. I just do not see the point in a hopelessly lost season to play Scola over Morris/Beasley, Telfair over Marshall, Tucker over Johnson/Beasley. Scola and Telfair have no long-term future on this team. Telfair is a FA and will be gone for sure. Tucker plays hard which is nice but that is about all, he is a long term journey man who has never been talented enough for the NBA until the Suns decided he should be a starter for them and play huge minutes.

Trade Gortat for future assets.

Go small

Morris
Beasley
Dudley/Johnson
Dragic
Marshall

Tank ahoy. We might suck even harder, likely, but i'd probably watch some games out of curiosity at least.

They should showcase tradeable players right now. Johnson and Beasley are crap stains that no team is going to touch.

 

[jagu]

9

 

[SunsTzu]

They should showcase tradeable players right now. Johnson and Beasley are crap stains that no team is going to touch.

Johnson is an expiring contract, he has value for that reason alone.

 

[Mainstreet]

Omri Casspi has reportedly asked to be traded. IMO, he is a solid SF and is only age 25. I don't know why he has fallen in disfavor with the Cavaliers but his minutes have shrunk every season. Perhaps if the Suns could trade a player to get him, it might be worth considering.

 

[slinslin]

Omri Casspi has reportedly asked to be traded. IMO, he is a solid SF and is only age 25. I don't know why he has fallen in disfavor with the Cavaliers but his minutes have shrunk every season. Perhaps if the Suns could trade a player to get him, it might be worth considering.

He is not solid , he is a backup SF.

He is a decent 3pt shooter when open and nothing else. He shoots 44% from 3 but only 39% from the field and 52% from the line.

 

[hcsilla]

I still enjoy watching them although it's hard to say why. It isn't a very likable team but they are still the Phoenix Suns and I am still a Phoenix Suns fan. If I had any sense, I'd adopt another team but unfortunately it doesn't work that way, for me anyway.

Steve

Same for me.

 

[Phrazbit]

I've watched more than half the games but its been like watching a car accident... where someone was driving the wrong way on a one way road. You know its coming, you know its going to be ugly, but you cant turn away.

Next year when they switch to orange and black uniforms it wont even feel like the Suns anymore... This is my favorite sports franchise but there really isnt much to root for about this team. Bad team, mostly unlikable players, Dudley is the only guy I have much attachment to. Really depressing.

 

[Mainstreet]

He is not solid , he is a backup SF.

He is a decent 3pt shooter when open and nothing else. He shoots 44% from 3 but only 39% from the field and 52% from the line.

I've always liked Casspi's energy since he was drafted by Sacramento. His stats seems to have declined as his playing minutes have declined over the years. His rookie season was his best when he shot .446 FG%, .369 3pt%, .672 FT%, 4.5 RPG and averaged 10.3 PPG. See link below.

My opinion he is a good player looking for a home. His salary is quite reasonable for next season.

http://www.nba.com/playerfile/omri_casspi/career_stats.html

 

[slinslin]

he can't really crack the rotation on a terrible Cavs team.

Basically he is Wesley Johnson with worse defense and an exotic name.

 

[Mainstreet]

he can't really crack the rotation on a terrible Cavs team.

Basically he is Wesley Johnson with worse defense and an exotic name.

I still think he is worth a test drive.