Josh Jackson

[elindholm]

We sometimes forget that Pippen was a beta to Jordan's alpha.

We do? Who forgets that?

 

[AzStevenCal]

Hey guys, to me with Jackson it's all about limiting the turnovers and hitting his jump shots with at least decent consistency.. He doesn't need to be a great shooter necessarily although that wwouldn't hurt. This team needs all the help it can get.

I love the fact that he makes a lot of things happen. They're not all good but I expect Koko will find a way to swing the balance to the positive side. Or he'll sit him until he does.

 

[Mainstreet]

If Jackson develops the Suns are going to be so good with the trio of Ayton, Jackson and Booker.

It beginning to bother me some I never hear anything about Bridges.

 

[AzStevenCal]

If Jackson develops the Suns are going to be so good with the trio of Ayton, Jackson and Booker.

It beginning to bother me some I never hear anything about Bridges.

I really don't know much about him but it's my understanding that his college career followed a very unusual trajectory. Perhaps he's just a particularly methodical (slow) learner and is going through a similar development as a pro?

 

[Mainstreet]

I really don't know much about him but it's my understanding that his college career followed a very unusual trajectory. Perhaps he's just a particularly methodical (slow) learner and is going through a similar development as a pro?

I'm trying to be optimistic about Bridges but something says Reed to me. He has to be good I would hope for the Suns to trade two first round draft picks for him.

However, another part of me thinks about the 2016 draft.

 

[1tinsoldier]

What we desperately need is a Pippen who will find all the holes left by the top dog(s) and fill them. That is EXACTLY what I want from JJ. And he is genetically engineered to do just that. (The funny thing about JJ is that he's got a little Rodman to him as well. Again, EXACTLY what we need.)

He is part distributor, part defender, part slasher, part rebounder, part goon, part Energizer bunny, part agitator. He is, as the prior poster reiterated, the Jack of All Trades. More fittingly, the Josh of All Trades.

Marion greatest asset was he did that very thing with Nash and Amare. He excelled at taking the scraps off of the table, and the scraps were plentiful. Nash would always look for him to keep him happy. (One of Nash's least discussed greatest attribute). Shawn's greatest problem was his delusion of what his role should be. He was a horrible alpha.

excellent post, especially the alpha/beta analysis. the other key word is "role playing." JJ's upside is that he's got potential in so many areas that if he perfects any one of them he can be a valuable asset on a contending team.

we had another JJ who got ahead of himself -- Joe Johnson. Joe was a star but not a leader. same with Amare. both, if they had stayed one more year, could have earned a championship ring -- playing behind another leader.

at best, i see JJ having a better career than Marion but not near Pippin. but so far, the thing he has most in common with Marion is that when either launched their funky shot from outside i had to peek through my hands to watch the outcome

improving his slashing and D is JJ's ticket to ride as a starter

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'm trying to be optimistic about Bridges but something says Reed to me. He has to be good I would hope for the Suns to trade two first round draft picks for him.

However, another part of me thinks about the 2016 draft.

Yeah, I don't see it. Bender was a ghost and Chriss was a loser but Bridges was a winner. Mikal needs to add some muscle and learn the NBA game, his pedigree suggests he will become a good player. Maybe not great and maybe it won't happen overnight, but I still expect good things from him. Like I said, his college career started off very slowly also.

 

[Mainstreet]

Yeah, I don't see it. Bender was a ghost and Chriss was a loser but Bridges was a winner. Mikal needs to add some muscle and learn the NBA game, his pedigree suggests he will become a good player. Maybe not great and maybe it won't happen overnight, but I still expect good things from him. Like I said, his college career started off very slowly also.

I hope you are right about Bridges. I'm still waiting for him to show me a flash of something good. Players who cannot create their own shot worry me some.

If Bridges and Jackson develop, the Suns are loaded.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I hope you are right about Bridges. I'm still waiting for him to show me a flash of something good. Players who cannot create their own shot worry me some.

If Bridges and Jackson develop, the Suns are loaded.

Me too. And I've seen nothing from him either. But there is a place for a good 3 and D guy, hopefully that's his future with the Suns.

 

[Carolinacacti]

Players who cannot create their own shot worry me some.

When Ayton has the ball down low Bridges will be wide open for the three.

 

[Mainstreet]

Me too. And I've seen nothing from him either. But there is a place for a good 3 and D guy, hopefully that's his future with the Suns.

When Ayton has the ball down low Bridges will be wide open for the three.

Hopefully Bridges gets a chance to play in Denver with Daniels out.

 

[1tinsoldier]

i'll be watching to see whether Bridges pans out better than Michael Porter Jr, who we could have gambled on before he was taken at 14

 

[AzStevenCal]

i'll be watching to see whether Bridges pans out better than Michael Porter Jr, who we could have gambled on before he was taken at 14

Had he done so, I would have fired Ryan twice for that move alone if it were up to me. I'm not saying you're doing this but I am so tired of the "let's bring in the injured guy, we have great medical people" reasoning. I say stay away from seriously injured players, far away. Let Bledsoe be the last stupid decision we make when it comes to players with real injury risks.

 

[1tinsoldier]

i supported the Bridges move, but that too was a significant gamble

 

[Raze]

I hope you are right about Bridges. I'm still waiting for him to show me a flash of something good. Players who cannot create their own shot worry me some.

If Bridges and Jackson develop, the Suns are loaded.

Bridges lack of PT can be attributed to "McD strikes again". With Ariza, Warren, Anderson and JJ there's just not enough minutes left for him at SF.

However, I'd be fine with him playing Anderson's minutes. I have no idea why he's out there. I mean, when he scores 2 points in a game, what's he out there for? Defense? I'll give him credit for crashing the boards for one night, but I'm not expecting that every night. It's not like PF is a real position anymore anyway, so why not play the 1 PG/3 OGs/1 C that they finished the game with. Bridges at the very least will play D and probably score about the same amount if not more as Anderson (9pts/game).

IF, and that's a strong IF, Igor feels the chemistry is better with the vet Anderson, I'm fine with it. But then trade Bridges while he still is at his peak value. One year of sitting will plummet his stock and he'll gain zero experience. (I think that's nuts, but that's no more nuts than having 4 starting SFs on your roster).

 

[AzStevenCal]

i supported the Bridges move, but that too was a significant gamble

I've only watched Bridges play a few times in his career and he seemed like a good player but he never really excited me. But the word on him suggests it wasn't really a gamble. A mistake maybe but I don't know. We were so incredibly young the last 2 seasons, I think Ryan just put a huge priority on maturity when he selected Mikal this season and Reed the year before.

 

[1tinsoldier]

Bridges lack of PT can be attributed to "McD strikes again". With Ariza, Warren, Anderson and JJ there's just not enough minutes left for him at SF.

that is indeed a conundrum. the second biggest conundrum after the pg issue. this would be a good year to develop Bridges. i was up for trading Warren before he wowed me on Wed. Anderson did not!

 

[WildBB]

that is indeed a conundrum. the second biggest conundrum after the pg issue. this would be a good year to develop Bridges. i was up for trading Warren before he wowed me on Wed. Anderson did not!

Think they just wanted to move on from Chris and Knight in the Anderson deal. Anderson gets first crack, but Bridges will be waiting for his shot. Should get an expanded role in the second half after JJ cracks the starting lineup.

 

[SirStefan32]

Bridges will get his shot. There is no rush. He is an outstanding defender and a great shooter. Those are two valuable NBA skills.

I think we got used to seeing the youngsters get an crazy number of minutes because we haven't been good enough to win in a couple of years. Suns want to try to win a bit this year. That, along with the logjam at SF will make it a little more difficult for him to get a lot of minutes quickly. He will get his minutes eventually, and he will be a solid player.

 

[Hoop Head]

Bridges will get his shot. There is no rush. He is an outstanding defender and a great shooter. Those are two valuable NBA skills.

I think we got used to seeing the youngsters get an crazy number of minutes because we haven't been good enough to win in a couple of years. Suns want to try to win a bit this year. That, along with the logjam at SF will make it a little more difficult for him to get a lot of minutes quickly. He will get his minutes eventually, and he will be a solid player.

I agree with that but I didn't like how Kokoskov put Bridges in for the final possession. The ESPN crew called him out for it also. Bridges sat all game and came in just to get Booker some recognition from the fans at the very end, which is fine, but why couldn't Daniels go in at that point or anyone else? Picking a guy who hadn't seen the court at all was a bit of a head scratcher. Bridges first NBA playing time was like 3 seconds of dribbling out the clock. That certainly didn't make anyone think Bridges will help us sooner than later.

 

[SirStefan32]

I agree with that but I didn't like how Kokoskov put Bridges in for the final possession. The ESPN crew called him out for it also. Bridges sat all game and came in just to get Booker some recognition from the fans at the very end, which is fine, but why couldn't Daniels go in at that point or anyone else? Picking a guy who hadn't seen the court at all was a bit of a head scratcher. Bridges first NBA playing time was like 3 seconds of dribbling out the clock. That certainly didn't make anyone think Bridges will help us sooner than later.

Eh, if that's the worst thing Igor does, we will be in great shape.

 

[sunsfan88]

I agree with that but I didn't like how Kokoskov put Bridges in for the final possession. The ESPN crew called him out for it also. Bridges sat all game and came in just to get Booker some recognition from the fans at the very end, which is fine, but why couldn't Daniels go in at that point or anyone else? Picking a guy who hadn't seen the court at all was a bit of a head scratcher. Bridges first NBA playing time was like 3 seconds of dribbling out the clock. That certainly didn't make anyone think Bridges will help us sooner than later.

The purpose was just to get Bridges feet wet and have him actually step on the court even if its for just one possession. Maybe they think it will help him calm the nerves when he's called upon next time at a time in a game with more meaning.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Eh, if that's the worst thing Igor does, we will be in great shape.

Yeah, Igor should have known better but it's a pretty minor gaffe. It would have made more sense to bring back someone that had already logged minutes unless he was trying to send a message to Bridges (doubtful).

I remember when San Antonio was having so much trouble controlling Dennis Rodman (and later on, Chicago too). I always thought the best way to discipline him would have been to start him and then yank him 1 minute into the game. He was such a stat watcher/padder by this stage of his career; watching his rebounds per game take a major hit and I think he'd become a lot more cooperative. Well, at least a sane Rodman would.

 

[Phrazbit]

The purpose was just to get Bridges feet wet and have him actually step on the court even if its for just one possession. Maybe they think it will help him calm the nerves when he's called upon next time at a time in a game with more meaning.

No... it wasn't, at all.

I'm fine with it, but it was clearly about getting Booker an ovation. He'd been waiting to check in for a while but unfortunately for Bridges, they went like a minute and a half without a stop in play, so he didn't even get to be in a possession.

 

[Yuma]

Better than Bridges getting a DNP