Lakers @ Suns 3-23-16

[Proteus]

Ugh. Can't this team even tank right?

 

[JCSunsfan]

I think if you can unload Bledsoe and that contract you do it . you jump at the chance. The guy has proven he flat out can't stay healthy. Not in LA not here.



I don't mind him at all but he pretty much misses half a season every other year so far in his career

And replace him with what? You have to spend money on players, you aren't going to get better than Bledsoe for that money.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

And replace him with what? You have to spend money on players, you aren't going to get better than Bledsoe for that money.

A kind of important point that many miss.

 

[mjb21aztd]

Sigh not good at all for lottery so I am suns are pretty much out of the simmons race

Oh well will probably get another type len player

Rebuild process sucks...

 

[Evil Ash]

Sigh not good at all for lottery so I am suns are pretty much out of the simmons race

Oh well will probably get another type len player

Rebuild process sucks...

Yup its almost impossible for the team out of the top 3 to get the top pick. I mean the Cavs couldn't have done it exactly 2 years ago to get a player like Andrew Wiggins. Nope. Never happened.

If you really and truly believe that this a one player draft then the chances of you getting him were downright bad anyways. The team with the worst record has a 75% chance to NOT get the top player in the draft.

 

[Errntknght]

And replace him with what? You have to spend money on players, you aren't going to get better than Bledsoe for that money.

I like having Bledsoe as long as he's coming off the bench: 1) with fewer minutes he has less chance of injury and 2) he could go all out on defense when he is on the floor, instead conserving energy on D as he does now.

Had McD had his head screwed on right he'd have kept IT when Goran demanded a trade. Or he could have kept Tyler Ennis and the LA pick, passing on Knight. I thought Ennis was good at running the offense but maybe he wouldn't have worked out - we really didn't get to see much of him. Even if not we'd still be ahead of the game without having BK.

At the current juncture we could probably get Ennis for little, heck Phil Pressey was worth a longer look I thought. I think the problem is that McD is still set on the course of Bled and Knight being our starting backcourt - you'd think Booker would have changed his mind about that but he's really not acting like it.

 

[leclerc]

Woff

Price, #23 and Budinger before Goodwin. Can't understand why we extended him. Hopefully useful as a trading chip.

 

[leclerc]

And replace him with what? You have to spend money on players, you aren't going to get better than Bledsoe for that money.

Do you think we can contend for a title with an injury prone sub par point guard, or is it enough that the contracts are good value for money and the team makes the playoffs when he's healthy? I'm exaggerating. Off course we all want to win. If we can get a difference maker then I hope they sacrifice Bledsoe. If not then give him a season and see how he works with Len and Booker. I don't believe he's a long term answer as point guard but Rome wasn't built in a day.

Pop and good coaches know when to rest players. Take it as a meaningless preseason game to try out players and sets. And get the ping pongs, I mean come on.

 

[JS22]

I like having Bledsoe as long as he's coming off the bench: 1) with fewer minutes he has less chance of injury and 2) he could go all out on defense when he is on the floor, instead conserving energy on D as he does now.

Had McD had his head screwed on right he'd have kept IT when Goran demanded a trade. Or he could have kept Tyler Ennis and the LA pick, passing on Knight. I thought Ennis was good at running the offense but maybe he wouldn't have worked out - we really didn't get to see much of him. Even if not we'd still be ahead of the game without having BK.

At the current juncture we could probably get Ennis for little, heck Phil Pressey was worth a longer look I thought. I think the problem is that McD is still set on the course of Bled and Knight being our starting backcourt - you'd think Booker would have changed his mind about that but he's really not acting like it.

I'm not sure about that. He seemed pretty hesitant to stand by the 2PG system on Burns and Gambo yesterday. I kind of get the sense that that was a Hornacek thing.

Knight really isn't a PG anyway. More of an undersized 2 which is a different problem altogether. I do remember him being really, REALLY good when Bledsoe was more in control of the offense early on in the season.

I think he'll stick around for most of next season and cut into Booker's minutes a little. That sucks, but hopefully he can play like he did the first month of the season and bump up his trade value. But if I'm McD and I get a decent offer for Knight in the offseason I swallow my pride and take it. Otherwise you are just stunting Booker who is most likely the better choice long term.

 

[Chaplin]

Yesss Suns pick up another win!!

I'm honestly wondering if Ryan McDonough is trying to do favors for Danny Ainge (who gets the Nets pick which is now top 3).

McD always gets ripped off by Ainge hence the IT deal and the Wright deal (gave up two high 2nd rd picks for 2 month rental of a scrub big man Wright).

I wonder if McD is pressuring Watson to make sure we still win as many as we can for remainder of the season so that the Nets pick improves for his old boss Ainge.

It can be like a "thank you" type thing for Ainge who obviously hired McD the first time and gave him his opportunity as assistant GM in Boston which led to him getting the GM job here.

This could 99% be my frustration with this dumb idiotic team that's talking but yea.

There's no team I hate more than the Lakers but it honestly could be because I envy and respect them so much as well. They know how to win and bring championships home and when they suck, they know how to lose and bring tier 1 prospects home.

Settle down. It's one thing to whine that we're not deliberately losing games, yet another to say we are actively trying to help another team get a higher pick. Ludicrous, and you should be ashamed for thinking so.

 

[JCSunsfan]

So Al McCoy in radio interview just a few minutes ago said he respected Kobe as a competitor and a player but did not like him as a person.

I understand it and even agree with it but it seems an odd thing for a teams play by play guy to say on air. Am I just getting too politically correct?

 

[Cheesebeef]

So Al McCoy in radio interview just a few minutes ago said he respected Kobe as a competitor and a player but did not like him as a person.

I understand it and even agree with it but it seems an odd thing for a teams play by play guy to say on air. Am I just getting too politically correct?

ha! damn... that is an odd thing to say, but I love McCoy for saying it.

 

[sunsfan88]

So Al McCoy in radio interview just a few minutes ago said he respected Kobe as a competitor and a player but did not like him as a person.

I understand it and even agree with it but it seems an odd thing for a teams play by play guy to say on air. Am I just getting too politically correct?

No Al McCoy isn't Skip Bayless or Stephen A Smith just pouting nonsense for clicks. I think he's earned the right to say it.

 

[sunsfan88]

Sigh not good at all for lottery so I am suns are pretty much out of the simmons race

Oh well will probably get another type len player

Rebuild process sucks...

The cycle never ends. The Lakers are probably gonna win a championship before the Suns even win one playoff series again.

 

[GatorAZ]

The cycle never ends. The Lakers are probably gonna win a championship before the Suns even win one playoff series again.

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[Finito]

So Al McCoy in radio interview just a few minutes ago said he respected Kobe as a competitor and a player but did not like him as a person.

I understand it and even agree with it but it seems an odd thing for a teams play by play guy to say on air. Am I just getting too politically correct?

Al McCoy can say whatever he wants regarding basketball lol

Him and Cotton are the voices of my childhood

 

[Mainstreet]

Tom Chambers speaks his mind as well. He has some moments where he speaks candidly.

 

[JCSunsfan]

The unsung story of this game is that Kobe treated Book like a rising superstar.

Has he been doing that in other cities with other young players? It looks to me like the players in this league are recognizing something special in Book.

 

[BC867]

I think the problem is that McD is still set on the course of Bled and Knight being our starting backcourt - you'd think Booker would have changed his mind about that but he's really not acting like it.

That is a strong possibility, but I would expect that even the Suns Front Office would know better than to put Booker back into the second unit, considering they have already make him the face of the franchise in their advertising to sell tickets.

If McDonough is still set on a starting backcourt of Bledsoe and Knight (until one them, or both of them, get injured) he could always move Booker to starting Small Forward.

I am not advocating that, but that would be the way for the GM to continue his obsession and time will prove if it still is.

 

[Mainstreet]

That is a strong possibility, but I would expect that even the Suns Front Office would know better than to put Booker back into the second unit, considering they have already make him the face of the franchise in their advertising to sell tickets.

If McDonough is still set on a starting backcourt of Bledsoe and Knight (until one them, or both of them, get injured) he could always move Booker to starting Small Forward.

I am not advocating that, but that would be the way for the GM to continue his obsession and time will prove if it still is.

That would be some exciting small ball but the Suns would have to be solid at center and PF. It could be an occasional lineup the Suns use to spark the offense.

 

[sunsfan88]

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Do you doubt it?

 

[GatorAZ]

Do you doubt it?

Do I doubt that the Suns are gonna win a playoff series before the Lakers win a championship because they're gonna finish with 5 more losses this year? I mean I can't even believe this is a real conversation.

 

[JCSunsfan]

That is a strong possibility, but I would expect that even the Suns Front Office would know better than to put Booker back into the second unit, considering they have already make him the face of the franchise in their advertising to sell tickets.

If McDonough is still set on a starting backcourt of Bledsoe and Knight (until one them, or both of them, get injured) he could always move Booker to starting Small Forward.

I am not advocating that, but that would be the way for the GM to continue his obsession and time will prove if it still is.

I am shocked that you would make this suggestion. Booker is too small to be an effective SF, especially on defense. The chances of him being an effective starting pg are much greater than him being an effective SF.

The solution is for Knight to be traded or come off the bench. I think everyone knows that including Knight. The only chance that changes is if the Suns hire a new, old school (experienced) head coach that doesn't like young players.

I think its probably important to keep Watson for the next two years at least. There are too many young players to develop and he seems to be good at it. He might not be a championship caliber coach, but he is the right coach for this stage.

 

[SirStefan32]

I am shocked that you would make this suggestion. Booker is too small to be an effective SF, especially on defense. The chances of him being an effective starting pg are much greater than him being an effective SF.

The solution is for Knight to be traded or come off the bench. I think everyone knows that including Knight. The only chance that changes is if the Suns hire a new, old school (experienced) head coach that doesn't like young players.

I think its probably important to keep Watson for the next two years at least. There are too many young players to develop and he seems to be good at it. He might not be a championship caliber coach, but he is the right coach for this stage.

I don't think BC is suggesting turning Booker into a small forward, but simply pointing out he wouldn;t be surprised if McD directed Watson to do so.

I completely agree with everything you said in this post. I think Booker can play SF for a few minutes if the Suns need to go small, but I don't see him consistently playing that position. Keep in mind, we will likely have Warren starting at 3 next year. Knight has to go or accept the role of the first guard off the bench. Watson needs to stick around, for the reasons you stated. I am not sold on his being a great coach, but I am sold on him being a great coach for this particular team at this stage.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I don't think BC is suggesting turning Booker into a small forward, but simply pointing out he wouldn;t be surprised if McD directed Watson to do so.

I completely agree with everything you said in this post. I think Booker can play SF for a few minutes if the Suns need to go small, but I don't see him consistently playing that position. Keep in mind, we will likely have Warren starting at 3 next year. Knight has to go or accept the role of the first guard off the bench. Watson needs to stick around, for the reasons you stated. I am not sold on his being a great coach, but I am sold on him being a great coach for this particular team at this stage.

No, I didn't think he was suggesting sf full-time, its just to BC any idea of going small has always been completely unacceptible.