Note to Gentry: Carter's Minutes to Pietrus Please

[Absolute Zero]

Carter 7-23 killed us last night. That is too much to overcome. Why is he our go to guy, he's way too inconsistent? His minutes need to be cut back to increase the quality of his minutes.

Give his minutes to Pietrus, a strong intimidating defender who makes things happen. And he seems more consistent with his 3.

 

[elindholm]

Pietrus shoots the ball the instant he touches it, so if he's an improvement, it's not by much. I think it's time to start looking at Childress. He doesn't have the range, but at least he won't shoot the Suns out of games. They are better when play is chaotic and they can be opportunistic anyway.

 

[jagu]

Note to Suns fans: Nothing's changing.

 

[AfroSuns]

I would like to see Childress instead of Pietrius too. Pietrius defense is not making up for his senseless chucking.

 

[jagu]

Ideal starting lineup for tanking the rest and getting the lottery pick.

Siler
Lopez
Pietrus
Carter
Dowdell

 

[AzStevenCal]

Ideal starting lineup for tanking the rest and getting the lottery pick.

Siler
Lopez
Pietrus
Carter
Dowdell

Shouldn't Gortat start?

Steve

 

[SirStefan32]

Pietrus shoots the ball the instant he touches it, so if he's an improvement, it's not by much. I think it's time to start looking at Childress. He doesn't have the range, but at least he won't shoot the Suns out of games. They are better when play is chaotic and they can be opportunistic anyway.

I agree. I LOVE Pietrus as a defender, but his shot selection is just atrocious.
I think Dudley should start at 2, backed up by VC.
Chilli could back up Hill on SF.

 

[Mainstreet]

Carter can be productive in the first quarter when he starts, however after that, move Dudley to SG. Pietrus is a streaky shooter and should be pulled with a short string according. I can't help but think that Childress should get more minutes after the first quarter at SF or even SG. The good thing about Childress, he knows his limitations as a shooter.

 

[jagu]

I think Carter should be allowed to take a nap during the early second quarter of games.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

It mystifies me that Carter is still on the team. He has no future here, and for every good game he throws up 5 stinkers. Would love to see more of Childress/Pietrus.

 

[Absolute Zero]

Imagine if Carter would have managed to just hit two more of those 23 shots he took last night. If he would have went 9-23, we win.

 

[Folster]

Ideal starting lineup for tanking the rest and getting the lottery pick.

Siler
Lopez
Pietrus
Carter
Dowdell

If you look at the standings the Suns will finish with a better record than all of the Eastern Conference non-playoff teams (7), and likely have a better record than at least 4 Western Conference teams. Excluding improbable lottery luck, the Suns will draft no better than 12.

 

[BC867]

I agree. I LOVE Pietrus as a defender, but his shot selection is just atrocious.
I think Dudley should start at 2, backed up by VC.
Chilli could back up Hill on SF.

As I read this thread, I was wondering if anyone would suggest Dudley as our starting 2-Guard.

He can score 20, defends well, swoops in for offensive rebounds and just has a knack of being in the right place at the right time and making good things happen.

At worst, start with Carter and see how he does. Slide in The Junkyard Dog in the latter part of the 1st quarter and treat him as the starter for the rest of the game, with Carter or Pietrus spelling him after a reasonable amount of minutes.

Some of you may ask how I can support giving starter minutes to a sub at the Shooting Guard position but not at Center, but there are big differences.

Carter is an aging veteran who can no longer be what he was on a consistent basis. Lopez is young and immature and simply doesn't have a knack for the fine points of the game.

Dudley would have either Pietrus or Carter to back him up for needed rest. Once Gortat comes in, there is no one in place to back him up.

Ideally, for his short spurts of success every few games, I would put Carter in the DNP-Coach's Decision category now.

 

[dodie53]

why not bring VC off the bench so he can play ISO against the other team's SG off the bench?

 

[chickenhead]

It's sort of amazing how little value Carter has for a player with his name recognition right now. Despite a few big shots, overall numbers aren't great. Because of CBA issues and the general FA market, contract expiration is not as desirable as it might have been in years past. Does not strike me as a veteran team leader. Alongside Nash and even Frye and Gortat, he is not a ticket draw for the casual fan.

Yikes. I really hope we can get some value for him.

The lottery still intrigues me in the teens, as does the off chance (as many have said) that the Suns might beat the odds and that department for the first time...

 

[Griffin]

Pietrus shoots the ball the instant he touches it, so if he's an improvement, it's not by much. I think it's time to start looking at Childress. He doesn't have the range, but at least he won't shoot the Suns out of games. They are better when play is chaotic and they can be opportunistic anyway.

Agreed. As I said in another thread, give Carter's minutes to Dudley and Childress. Pietrus' shot selection is worse than Carter's.

As I read this thread, I was wondering if anyone would suggest Dudley as our starting 2-Guard.

I think Dudley would fit in very well with the starters. He has had some big scoring games the few times he got to start and he plays smart. But the second unit would miss his leadership.

 

[SirStefan32]

I think Dudley would fit in very well with the starters. He has had some big scoring games the few times he got to start and he plays smart. But the second unit would miss his leadership.

Eh, when you promote a leader, another one emerges.

 

[Errntknght]

Pietrus is a pretty good on ball defender but his team defense is not all that great - I watch him occasionally and he misses a fair number of opportunities to provide good help. I'm not saying he's Warrickesque or anything but he's not as good as his reputation. For instance, I'd say Grant Hill is considerably better on ball and off.

 

[sunsfan88]

Both Pietrus & Carter are chuckers but at least Pietrus is a good defender.

 

[Absolute Zero]

Both Pietrus & Carter are chuckers but at least Pietrus is a good defender.

Exactly.

And another bad shooting night by Carter last night. Dude is killing us with his shooting.

 

[Covert Rain]

Carter is Part 2 of my problem with Gentry. He is the 2nd "starter" that has no business starting. Even if I bought the argument that starting one player on your roster that has no business starting doesn't hurt much.....doing this with 2 players (Carter being the 2nd) does.

Carter should not be starting. Period. He can't shoot most nights and we he does it's usually from 3 point range. His quickness is gone, he gets blocked almost every game and he is contributing to some of the bad starts (like last nights 2nd half) along with Fropez on most nights.

Seriously, WTF is Gentry doing? Carter can't contribute to horrible starts if he is not out there. That falls squarely on Gentry's shoulders. It's not like you need to be an NBA analyst to see where the shortcomings are in our starting lineup. Just about every freaking analyst has pointed it out since the trade.

Give me MP because he at least has the quickness to guard some guys on defense. Not to mention, I like how freaking feisty that guy gets on the court. If your gong to have a chucker on the court...at least use the one that can play some defense.

 

[jibikao]

Carter is Part 2 of my problem with Gentry. He is the 2nd "starter" that has no business starting. Even if I bought the argument that starting one player on your roster that has no business starting doesn't hurt much.....doing this with 2 players (Carter being the 2nd) does.

I think Suns is trying to showcase Carter so hopefully they can get rid of him soon.

Carter hasn't played like a starter for a long time. He is so inconsistent.

This team definitely has some major "mental problems". If you don't start Robin, his little fragile confidence is going to reach ZERO POINT ZERO and if you don't start Vince, he probably won't even care about going to practice. I am sure he'll fake some kind of injuries or something just to avoid the embarrassment of being a "bench player".

 

[BC867]

... if you don't start Vince, he probably won't even care about going to practice. I am sure he'll fake some kind of injuries or something just to avoid the embarrassment of being a "bench player".

'Sounds like a plan.

By now, the league's GM's know what the story is. If they need Carter, for either an expiring contract or for playing purposes, they need him. If not, they won't come-a-calling. The same with Lopez.

There is really no need to showcase them any more.

1) Start Dudley at starting Shooting Guard and make Carter the 11th man.

2) Give Siler the opportunity at backup Center for the rest of the season to see what he can do and make Lopez the 12th man.

If not now, certainly after we're eliminated from the playoffs.

Why not?

 

[Superbone]

Exactly.

And another bad shooting night by Carter last night. Dude is killing us with his shooting.

You user name is pretty much what Carter is giving us.

 

[elindholm]

You user name is pretty much what Carter is giving us.

I don't know, sometimes I feel like he's giving us your username instead.