How to watch the 2016 Summer League

[Chaplin]

We hated it about the Morris twins and Booker is talking much more than they did.

I want the whole package. I want the great leader, the unstoppable shooting guard, the role model on and off the court. This kind of trash talking detracts from what he can be.

The difference there is that nobody really liked the Morris twins, regardless of what they said. I didn't think Marcus could back it up and I never liked Kieff's game.

 

[AzStevenCal]

The difference there is that nobody really liked the Morris twins, regardless of what they said. I didn't think Marcus could back it up and I never liked Kieff's game.

And Booker has far more potential than either of those guys. But it's going to create problems with us and the last thing we need is another player that irritates the refs. And mouthing off like he does is going to irritate the refs.

Again, I'm not talking about the in-your-ear stuff, I'm talking about his showing up an entire team. Stop it now before his reputation is in cement and before it's too ingrained to change. We'd have been a lot better if someone on the Suns team had gotten into Amare's face the first time he yelled "and one".

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Eh I'm not seeing this hurt him with the refs. He's smiling the whole time. And he's got a rep as a good kid. If you can walk the walk you can talk.

 

[StreetTruckinTitan]

Its way to soon to judge these kids based on two SL games. And maybe thats good thing because Im biting my tongue on what Im seeing especially from Bender. But Ill defer judgement until I see more (god help me). Chriss seems like johnny on the spot with his activity around the hoop with offensive put backs. He cant seem to create his own shot yet but i like his hustle. Ulis is a player. Out of the three he might contribute from the get go.
Im a little concerned with Bookers mouth. I hope his early success hasnt gone to his head. Theirs a fine line between being confident and arrogant. I want him to play like Curry, but not act like Curry.

 

[JCSunsfan]

It's also the 2nd summer league game. Just remember that. I don't see how you can really definitively say anything about any of our draft picks after 2 summer league games.

Not definitively saying anything, just commenting on what I am observing so far. Listen, I am as positive as anyone. We cannot get to the point where you can only observe good things early, while not observing negative (or perceived to be negative) things at all.

Chriss doesn't seem to have control of his own body lots of times. That is just a fact in two games. Trying too hard, just getting adjusted, jitters, or who he actually is--whatever--time will tell.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Eh I'm not seeing this hurt him with the refs. He's smiling the whole time. And he's got a rep as a good kid. If you can walk the walk you can talk.

I shrugged it off when the first opponent went public about his mouth but when Jimmy Butler also made an issue out of it in a post-game conference I started paying closer attention. He goes too far too often. Refs are clearly aware of it and they are clearly watching him. That isn't good. Maybe some time with the Select Team will help or maybe he'll just grow out of it. But I thought the same thing with Amare at one time.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

Jimmy Butler was on Bill Simmon's podcast last month and singled out Booker by name when asked to name a young player he sees as having a big future. So he apparently didn't mind the trash-talking too much.

I think it's okay to be chippy on the court, so long as you stay respectful off of it. I've been at Summer League this week and players from other teams seem to like and respect Booker. Towns showed up in support for the Celtics game. Cliff Alexander was joking with Booker from the Blazers bench right after the skirmish. Ben Simmons sought him out and embraced him. Plus, he says all the right things in interviews.

I wouldn't be too worried about it.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Jimmy Butler was on Bill Simmon's podcast last month and singled out Booker by name when asked to name a young player he sees as having a big future. So he apparently didn't mind the trash-talking too much.

I think it's okay to be chippy on the court, so long as you stay respectful off of it. I've been at Summer League this week and players from other teams seem to like and respect Booker. Towns showed up in support for the Celtics game. Cliff Alexander was joking with Booker from the Blazers bench right after the skirmish. Ben Simmons sought him out and embraced him. Plus, he says all the right things in interviews.

I wouldn't be too worried about it.

Yes, I heard that interview and he was very positive about Booker and about Devin's future but it doesn't change the other things he'd said about him. He basically said the kid should shut up and let his game do his talking. And I also watched Portland and Boston get fed up with it and start delivering hard fouls on us. How you guys can just say "all is well" when that's happening is beyond me. I'll shut up about this but mark my words, he'll either change or we WILL have a problem in the future because of it.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

For a team that has always been pushed around and looked at as finesse, I'm happy that Booker has a little dog in him. His teammates don't seem to mind either:

"It could be the final Summer League performance for Booker, whose swagger has been as entertaining as his performance with his verbal sparring.

“Cuz he’s got me right there and he’s got the boys behind him,” Williams said. “Nobody messes with the family.”

As opposed to the Morri or our other fugazi players, DB has the talent to back it up, and appears savvy enough to pull it off.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Yes, I heard that interview and he was very positive about Booker and about Devin's future but it doesn't change the other things he'd said about him. He basically said the kid should shut up and let his game do his talking. And I also watched Portland and Boston get fed up with it and start delivering hard fouls on us. How you guys can just say "all is well" when that's happening is beyond me. I'll shut up about this but mark my words, he'll either change or we WILL have a problem in the future because of it.

Maybe it was all my time out on the courts growing up, but to me talking some smack during a game is a pretty normal thing. Especially if you are familiar with the guys you are playing against. Count me as someone that isn't too worried about it, but maybe you are right and he is taking it too far, but I doubt it.

 

[SirStefan32]

I am not "worried" about it, but I do wish he'd prove a little more on the court before he starts talking smack. Give me a full season where you score 20 points per game on 50/40/90 shooting, along with 4-5 assists and rebounds, and then talk smack.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I shrugged it off when the first opponent went public about his mouth but when Jimmy Butler also made an issue out of it in a post-game conference I started paying closer attention. He goes too far too often. Refs are clearly aware of it and they are clearly watching him. That isn't good. Maybe some time with the Select Team will help or maybe he'll just grow out of it. But I thought the same thing with Amare at one time.

I'm curious, what evidence have you seen that "refs are clearly aware of it and they are clearly watching him"???

I don't see him getting T'd up a lot or not getting calls. So I'm a bit baffled at how you can say they "clearly" anything?

 

[Carolinacacti]

If we only had a crystal ball. I would prefer players that let their play do the talking. But carry a big stick.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

If we only had a crystal ball. I would prefer players that let their play do the talking. But carry a big stick.

It could be something that helps keep him engaged in the game and gives him an extra edge as well. Maybe it just gives him some extra motivation knowing that he has to back up his words. Also it could be possible that he is just having fun out there and talking is fun to him? If guys start picking fights with him on the court than it might be going too far, but I haven't been seeing that yet.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

I'll just leave this here..

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[JCSunsfan]

Jimmy Butler was on Bill Simmon's podcast last month and singled out Booker by name when asked to name a young player he sees as having a big future. So he apparently didn't mind the trash-talking too much.

I think it's okay to be chippy on the court, so long as you stay respectful off of it. I've been at Summer League this week and players from other teams seem to like and respect Booker. Towns showed up in support for the Celtics game. Cliff Alexander was joking with Booker from the Blazers bench right after the skirmish. Ben Simmons sought him out and embraced him. Plus, he says all the right things in interviews.

I wouldn't be too worried about it.

Booker's trash talking seems to be competitive and good natured. Some vets are a little taken aback. He seems to be quite popular with other players. The Morris brothers, on the other hand, had a really surly aspect to their trash talking. They had a "chip on the shoulder" insecurity about them. Booker seems to have fun with it.

 

[devilalum]

Booker is actually better at throwing ally-oops than both Bledsoe and Knight.

Bledsoe may be the worst passing PG the Suns have had since I can remember. He does a lot of other things well but he is not a good passing PG.

sent from a fone

 

[JCSunsfan]

Bledsoe may be the worst passing PG the Suns have had since I can remember. He does a lot of other things well but he is not a good passing PG.

sent from a fone

The best passing guard the Suns have is Ulis. And that is clear after two summer league games. I do not think it is even that close.

 

[devilalum]

The best passing guard the Suns have is Ulis. And that is clear after two summer league games. I do not think it is even that close.

Only 2 games but hard to argue.

sent from a fone

 

[slinslin]

Bledsoe may be the worst passing PG the Suns have had since I can remember. He does a lot of other things well but he is not a good passing PG.

sent from a fone

Laughable. Bledsoe is actually good at throwing alley-oops.

Not sure what makes you call out Bledsoe here, Knight is a much worse passer than Bledsoe.

He is top 20 in both AST% and APG.

To say that Bledsoe may be the worst passing PG the Suns have had is a joke.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Laughable. Bledsoe is actually good at throwing alley-oops.

Not sure what makes you call out Bledsoe here, Knight is a much worse passer than Bledsoe.

He is top 20 in both AST% and APG.

To say that Bledsoe may be the worst passing PG the Suns have had is a joke.

I think he means regular starting pg. Going backward in history it would be:

Bledsoe
Dragic
Nash
Marbury
Kidd
KJ

Curious to see how you would rank that bunch in terms of pure passing. I think Bledsoe and Dragic would tie for last.

 

[sunsfan88]

Bledsoe may be the worst passing PG the Suns have had since I can remember. He does a lot of other things well but he is not a good passing PG.

sent from a fone

That I think everyone (except slin of course) can agree on.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Ulis just won a jump with a player a foot taller.

 

[StreetTruckinTitan]

Man. Bender is a fouling turnover machine.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Boy, Chriss has a hard time holding on to the ball. Bender looking a little overwhelmed. Would love for both of them to get into a groove.