Looking at the future
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slinslin
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BC867
Long time Phoenician!
Joe Mama said:
Up until three games ago, Joe Mama's post had merit. Especially with Markieff playing Power Forward 23 feet from the basket.
I am not saying the fault was all theirs. It took Jeff Hornacek to put them on the right track.
Of course, that is more likely than looking back in a few years and saying "Remember what Scola did in 2013-14?!"
slinslin
Welcome to Amareca
No it had not, Markieff as well as Marcus are still on rookie deals. Talk about exagerated expectations.
Suns fans can't seem to grasp that players take time to develop into something.
Not every rookie turns into an allstar player while on a rookie contract. Markieff has always looked well on the way to being a very solid role player in the NBA.
Much how many touted Dragic as the "good-enough" point guard, the Morri can be our good-enough backup forwards. They might sign cheap long-term deals so that they can stay together and you need decent role players in this day and age of teams with 2-3 superstars.
Since the Suns already have so many future picks, I would opt to keep the Morri as cheap, stable veterans (like lesser Haslems) so that we don't have the always disastrous all 20-year-old team.
Since the Suns already have so many future picks, I would opt to keep the Morri as cheap, stable veterans (like lesser Haslems) so that we don't have the always disastrous all 20-year-old team.
JCSunsfan
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Goran was a similar scape-goat a few years ago. Many could not WAIT to ship him off to Houston. There are just so many things that shape a player's game and you just have to give young players a little time, especially big men.
If anything, we are learning just how badly the previous coaching regime was at developing talent and dealing with rookies.
There were the true busts that were bad draft choices and should have been let go: Robin Lopez, Kendall Marshall
There were the players that really needed to be "coached up" but weren't: Markieff Morris (and maybe Marcus, but not sure), Earl Clark.
One of our big problems is how much we have been in love with the 3 point shot as a team. We wanted EVERYONE to shoot, even power players. Horny has really moved away from the three pointer except when it is wide open. It has made for a better team.
Also, defensive players were not really appreciated previously. Part of what really makes this team good is the defensive presence of Bledsoe, Tucker, Plumlee, Kieff, and even Goran.
I feel like I can breathe. THIS is what it is supposed to be like to watch an NBA team.
Chaplin
Better off silent
3 games and Markieff Morris is a superstar! Yeah!
3 games does not a great player make. Put up number comparable for a week or longer CONSISTENTLY and then we'll talk.
What happens when Markieff is moved back into the starting lineup? We've seen it before--from Channing and Grant Hill most recently, even Vince Carter and Jason Richardson. A guy might play great from the bench and suck it up as a starter. Jury is still out on Markieff and will continue to be for some time yet. But he has an opportunity to prove his worth, and he's off to a good start, but hasn't done it by a long shot yet.
3 games does not a great player make. Put up number comparable for a week or longer CONSISTENTLY and then we'll talk.
What happens when Markieff is moved back into the starting lineup? We've seen it before--from Channing and Grant Hill most recently, even Vince Carter and Jason Richardson. A guy might play great from the bench and suck it up as a starter. Jury is still out on Markieff and will continue to be for some time yet. But he has an opportunity to prove his worth, and he's off to a good start, but hasn't done it by a long shot yet.
elindholm
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Wow, do you really rate Earl Clark above Robin Lopez?
JCSunsfan
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Um. Yes. Lopez has had every opportunity and has been miserable on the court. I really thought he had potential at the beginning. Clark really began to produce last year for the Lakers, not sure how he is doing now in his new digs. I do know this, Lopez got minutes that Clark did not.
I am sure I am in the minority on this.
JCSunsfan
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We are only 6 games into the season. The same could be said for Bledsoe and Plumlee too. In fact, there is much more history to show that Markieff has the potential to produce than Plumlee.
So, yes, I agree with you, but let us kool-aid drinking fans enjoy our moment please!
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Don't move Morris into the starting lineup. Morris is playing well right now because he's able to play backup C and post up inside. He won't have the spacing playing with Plumlee.
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I'm with you as well. Clark is a much better prospect than Lopez.
elindholm
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He's mediocre, but a clear cut above "miserable."
Would knowing how he's doing this year potentially change your opinion? The Lakers thought so highly of him that they let him walk to Cleveland, where he's playing 17 minutes per game and shooting 30%.
That's okay, stick to your guns. It's a weak man who allows his mind to be changed by mere facts.
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I don't blame the coaches for Clark. His play and his practice earned him his bench minutes. And just because he had a couple of good games while being hidden in Dantoni's flawed system doesn't mean he's turned it around. He finished very poorly for LA and they let him walk for small bucks to Cleveland where he mostly sits. Keep in mind he had some great games initially when we traded him too. He has a great body and decent skills but he has never understood the difference between a good shot and a horrible shot. Time on the clock, score, defense, distance from the hoop - none of those things enter his little mind when he's on the court. Lopez was a disappointment but he was and still is heads and shoulders above Earl Clark.
Steve
Steve
JCSunsfan
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It's kind of like arguing the merits of horse poop over dog poop. I sort of have an opinion, but I don't really want to talk about it much.
Chaplin
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Plumlee is not as much a gamble as Markieff is. He makes a lot less, so anything we get from him is a huge bonus. Also, think expectations. Kieff *should* be playing at or near this level due to his draft position, salary, role, etc. Plumlee was considered a "throwin" by pundits on a trade for Luis Scola.
Bledsoe is putting up numbers as a starter consistently so far, but he was pretty good as a backup too. Kieff has been woefully inconsistent his whole career.
elindholm
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Actually Markieff is, so far this season, outperforming his draft position fairly dramatically. It's unlikely to last, but he's having a terrific run.
Phrazbit
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Clark had a brief good run last year that pulled the wool over people's eyes, and by brief I mean a few good weeks, overall he still had a bad year. And this year in Cleveland he is back to his old tricks. Unless he doubles his current production he will be back in the "DNP coaches decision" train shortly.
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Fair enough. That's all mine was, an opinion, despite the fact I forgot to include an "IMO".
Steve
Chaplin
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3 games isn't a good enough sample size. But that's just me.
SirStefan32
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I agree. I've seen Morris have a good game here in there, and then disappear for a long time. In all fairness, I've never seen him have more than one good game in a month, and he's had three in a row, but that's still not nearly enough for me to proclaim him to be a good rotation player in the league.
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You're right, it isn't and not by a long shot. But judging Markieff on his brief 2 year NBA career isn't a good enough sample size either. It's unusual to bail on a big guy this quickly especially since he's frequently shown signs of being more than just a wasted pick but a lot of fans on this and other Suns forums would have been glad to jettison him before the start of this season. He's shown the ability to be at least a decent backup player IMO and his recent play is intriguing to say the least. I don't expect him to continue his torrid pace but it's nice to know it's something he's capable of every now and then.
Steve
elindholm
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What part of "It's unlikely to last" did I need to put in bold?
Chaplin
Better off silent
You said 3 games is a "terrific run". I disagree--I think it's a few games of good play. Stretch that out and we can talk.
Why must you be so condescending in your responses? I didn't attack you, even indirectly like you just did.
