Memphis Grizzles @ Phoenix Suns 2-2-2015

[sunsfan88]

Why the hell was Len out of the game for so long?

 

[Brian]

Why in the hell wasn't Len in the game late? With 2 minutes left I don't think the Suns got another rebound.

 

[AfroSuns]

I think more than the Suns not having a finisher is wtf is Hornacek thinking. I will take Len or Wright in the last few minutes than Marcus. Theses are guys that can run with the guards and with length. Heck, i will go with both with our guards for rebounding.
Loss is on Hornacek!!

 

[sunsfan88]

Hornacek's obsession with small ball is scary. I think D'Antoni cared more about rebounds and defense than him.

 

[Mainstreet]

A battle of wills down the stretch. The Suns stay small and the Grizzlies go big. Which style will win?

When I wrote the above, I thought the Suns would lose.

 

[sunsfan88]

When I wrote the above, I thought the Suns would lose.

You ended up being right.

 

[Mainstreet]

You ended up being right.

I don't care about being right. I want the Suns to quit making the same mistakes. The loss was sadly predictable when Gasol and Randolph re-entered the game and the Suns did not substitute at least one interior defender.

 

[sunsfan88]

I don't care about being right. I want the Suns to quit making the same mistakes. The loss was sadly predictable when Gasol and Randolph re-entered the game and the Suns did not substitute at least one interior defender.

This thread wasn't very active but yea we were all saying the same thing on realgm.

Its sad and pathetic that fans who aren't qualified in any type of way can see things so clearly and yet HCs who are paid millions can't.

 

[sunsfan88]

Markieff Morris with a huge game rebounding wise, good for him.

 

[elindholm]

I want the Suns to quit making the same mistakes.

Good luck with that one.

The loss was sadly predictable when Gasol and Randolph re-entered the game and the Suns did not substitute at least one interior defender.

And when the offense continued to consist of out-of-control penetration followed by searching for a bail-out.

It's nearly impossible to like this team. I paid for League Pass so that I could watch them, but I rarely turn them on even when I'm free, and when I do, I usually regret it. Even their wins are depressing.

 

[Suns_fan69]

It's nearly impossible to like this team. I paid for League Pass so that I could watch them, but I rarely turn them on even when I'm free, and when I do, I usually regret it. Even their wins are depressing.

I'm curious if you felt this way with last year's team as well because I fully agree. I can't quite explain it but the team irks me in a way that last years team didn't.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Haven't checked the final stats, but I believe our free throw shooting was pathetic - at one point I think we were 0 for 7! Hard to win close games with that type of performance at the line...

 

[SirStefan32]

I'm curious if you felt this way with last year's team as well because I fully agree. I can't quite explain it but the team irks me in a way that last years team didn't.

I am with you and Eric. I usually have the game on, but most nights I lose interest before the first half is over. Last year's team just didn't seem as selfish as this team is.

 

[elindholm]

I'm curious if you felt this way with last year's team as well because I fully agree. I can't quite explain it but the team irks me in a way that last years team didn't.

I didn't feel it as much about last year's team. This 3-PG set to close games is suicide, and it's depressing watching the same mistake over and over. Bledsoe is playing better, but his decision-making down the stretch is still godawful, and it's enraging. MkMorris is the team's best inside player, but he's softer than Frye -- no, really, he is, he's softer than Frye, it's amazing. I still believe in Hornacek, but his default expression has gone from "That's interesting, how am I going to solve this puzzle" to "Yeah, well, we sure do make that mistake a lot." Dragic has regressed because the direction of the team is gradually disempowering him. The only tiny glimmer of hope among the rotation players belongs to Len, but it's too faint right now to get excited about. It's just a dismal, go-nowhere roster that's developing terrible habits and has poor chemistry.

 

[Mainstreet]

Good luck with that one.

And when the offense continued to consist of out-of-control penetration followed by searching for a bail-out.

It's nearly impossible to like this team. I paid for League Pass so that I could watch them, but I rarely turn them on even when I'm free, and when I do, I usually regret it. Even their wins are depressing.

I've tried to stay away from criticizing Jeff Hornacek but in the end he is running or should be running the offense. If I close my eyes, I see Bledsoe or IT dribbling the ball at the top of the key preparing to drive the ball to the basket, whether there is a lane or not. It's hard to blame the players for this style of offense when this is obviously what Jeff wants. Then there his reluctance to put at least one big man such as Len to bolster the team defense and grab key rebounds at the end of games. The Suns defense is bad enough without some interior presence. I'm really disappointed with the Suns this season. What's the point of making the playoffs if they can't compete. I'd rather see a dose of players such as Len, Goodwin and Bullock to keep me entertained.

 

[slinslin]

I didn't feel it as much about last year's team. This 3-PG set to close games is suicide, and it's depressing watching the same mistake over and over. Bledsoe is playing better, but his decision-making down the stretch is still godawful, and it's enraging. MkMorris is the team's best inside player, but he's softer than Frye -- no, really, he is, he's softer than Frye, it's amazing. I still believe in Hornacek, but his default expression has gone from "That's interesting, how am I going to solve this puzzle" to "Yeah, well, we sure do make that mistake a lot." Dragic has regressed because the direction of the team is gradually disempowering him. The only tiny glimmer of hope among the rotation players belongs to Len, but it's too faint right now to get excited about. It's just a dismal, go-nowhere roster that's developing terrible habits and has poor chemistry.

Yet statistically the 3PG-lineup is performing very well, far from suicide.

And Bledsoe has been one of the top 10 players this season in crunchtime.

 

[sunsfan88]

I've tried to stay away from criticizing Jeff Hornacek but in the end he is running or should be running the offense. If I close my eyes, I see Bledsoe or IT dribbling the ball at the top of the key preparing to drive the ball to the basket, whether there is a lane or not. It's hard to blame the players for this style of offense when this is obviously what Jeff wants. Then there his reluctance to put at least one big man such as Len to bolster the team defense and grab key rebounds at the end of games. The Suns defense is bad enough without some interior presence. I'm really disappointed with the Suns this season. What's the point of making the playoffs if they can't compete. I'd rather see a dose of players such as Len, Goodwin and Bullock to keep me entertained.

Agreed.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I didn't feel it as much about last year's team. This 3-PG set to close games is suicide, and it's depressing watching the same mistake over and over. Bledsoe is playing better, but his decision-making down the stretch is still godawful, and it's enraging. MkMorris is the team's best inside player, but he's softer than Frye -- no, really, he is, he's softer than Frye, it's amazing. I still believe in Hornacek, but his default expression has gone from "That's interesting, how am I going to solve this puzzle" to "Yeah, well, we sure do make that mistake a lot." Dragic has regressed because the direction of the team is gradually disempowering him. The only tiny glimmer of hope among the rotation players belongs to Len, but it's too faint right now to get excited about. It's just a dismal, go-nowhere roster that's developing terrible habits and has poor chemistry.

Wow! Eric, you sound depressed. You ok?

 

[slinslin]

I'm curious if you felt this way with last year's team as well because I fully agree. I can't quite explain it but the team irks me in a way that last years team didn't.

Last year every sane person expected us to win 15-25 games.

We overachieved and we had 3 new athletic exciting players on the roster -> Plumlee, Green and Bledsoe.

This year we are performing at an expected level , Plumlee has regressed, Green is rarely exciting anymore, our young guys still don't play at all besides Len..

Personally, my own fan interest is never going to return unless they start actively developing Ennis, Goodwin, Warren and Bullock. I have just no interest watching a treadmill team full of journeyman players and at best lose in the first round.

When I know that Warren, Ennis or Goodwin are assigned to the D-League I check the Bakersfield games before Suns games even.

 

[elindholm]

Yet statistically the 3PG-lineup is performing very well, far from suicide.

You know better than that. You need to look at a breakdown in crunch time against good teams. Yes, microball can probably fare well against weak opposition or when officials are calling fouls more tightly. Move closer to playoff basketball, and microball gets killed.

And Bledsoe has been one of the top 10 players this season in crunchtime.

Your evidence for that before has been FG% only. How about turnover rate, clock management, or team offensive efficiency?

 

[Phrazbit]

I'm a pretty big Bledsoe supporter but I'd also disagree with the notion that he has been a top 10 player in crunch time. He has made more than his fair share of big big baskets and made fearless drives at the hoop... but he also has had some game killing turnovers and terrible sequences of possessions.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'm a pretty big Bledsoe supporter but I'd also disagree with the notion that he has been a top 10 player in crunch time. He has made more than his fair share of big big baskets and made fearless drives at the hoop... but he also has had some game killing turnovers and terrible sequences of possessions.

Agreed. He has no sense of clock and he approaches the possessions the same way he would with 10 minutes remaining. He's probably our second best clutch player (behind Keef) but that's more an indictment of the team than anything else. But the guy is just barely into his second year as a starter, I believe we'll continue to see improvement from him in the coming years.

But I don't know what to say to the people that can't stand watching this team. I don't have the desire or energy to try and change anyone's mind on these guys. They have moments that frustrate the heck out of me too but they also have very good stretches of play that have me excited for our future. When this team is playing 3 "point" guards and some combo of Keef, Len and Wright or 2 point guards, Tucker and some combo of those three big men, our defense is surprisingly effective. It's scary bad though through most of our other lineups.

Steve

 

[FArting]

Bledsoe takes blame for loss.

"It was my fault, I made two critical plays at the end and they couldn't happen," he said. "Two turnovers -- one with Isaiah and the other one they came down and got two easy looks at the basket, it's free throws, though. It was my fault."

http://arizonasports.com/41/1804450/MY-BAD

 

[elindholm]

Bledsoe takes blame for loss.

He should have dumped it off to Lynch.

But seriously, taking the blame is all fine and wonderful -- the question is, will he learn anything from it?

 

[Chaplin]

He should have dumped it off to Lynch.

But seriously, taking the blame is all fine and wonderful -- the question is, will he learn anything from it?

Maybe the better question is if this is the first time he's out-and-out taken the blame for a loss. Wouldn't that be a good first step to learning from his mistakes?