Philadelphia 76ers @ Phoenix Suns 1-2-15

[Ronin]

76ERS (4-26) AT SUNS (18-16)
Tip-off: 7 p.m. (Phoenix time)TV: FSAZ
C: Henry Sims … Alex Len
PF: Nerlens Noel … Markieff Morris
SF: Luc Richard Mbah a Moute … P.J. Tucker
SG: JaKarr Sampson or Robert Covington … Goran Dragic
PG: Michael Carter-Williams … Eric Bledsoe
Key 76ers reserves: Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Tony Wroten, K.J. McDaniels, Jerami Grant, Furkan Aldemir, Malcolm Thomas.
Key 76ers injuries: Hollis Thompson (upper respiratory infection), Joel Embiid (right foot) and Jason Richardson (left knee) are out.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...e-preview-sixers-suns-orange-slices/21199961/

 

[Ronin]

Styles

Only five teams in the league play faster than the Suns. The Sixers are one of them.
That’s not to say they do it better. Despite similar speeds, their efficiency could not be further apart. Phoenix sports a 107.0 offensive rating (points per 100 possessions), while the Sixers are dead last at 90.7.
Expect an uptempo attack from both teams, but don’t be surprised if only one succeeds.

http://www.nba.com/suns/gallery/sunsvs76ers-5-things-watch

 

[Ronin]

I've got a bad feeling about the Suns losing this game, but I'm going to say the Suns pull this one out
Suns 114
Sixers 111.
I hate trap games.

 

[devilalum]

Suns need to show up and just blow these guys out of the building.
If they play as hard as they did against OKC they should beat the 6ers by 20.

If they'd blow out a few of these stinkers at home crappy teams would quit coming in here thinking they have a chance.

 

[Ronin]

Coach says " When Alex Len is in the game, we're not looking for him to score a lot of points."http://www.nba.com/suns/video/2015/01/02/AnnexusPracticeReport1215avi-3480499

The greedy part me wants Alex to score like 20 points every time he plays. I guess I have to temper my expectations....

 

[BC867]

Expect an uptempo attack from both teams, but don’t be surprised if only one succeeds.

In the end, NBA.com, only one will.

 

[sunsfan88]

Coach says " When Alex Len is in the game, we're not looking for him to score a lot of points."http://www.nba.com/suns/video/2015/01/02/AnnexusPracticeReport1215avi-3480499

The greedy part me wants Alex to score like 20 points every time he plays. I guess I have to temper my expectations....

Hornacek hates the idea of centers scoring points. It has to be 3s or fast break points. He must hate when Kieff scores on post ups.

 

[SirStefan32]

What an ugly game. Dragic is stinking it up with the best of them tonight.

 

[Mainstreet]

What an ugly game. Dragic is stinking it up with the best of them tonight.

Also the Suns are making players like Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and Tony Wroten look like stars.

 

[Mainstreet]

Hornacek hates the idea of centers scoring points. It has to be 3s or fast break points. He must hate when Kieff scores on post ups.

This thought has some merit and it is starting to worry me. It's either drive the ball to the basket or shoot the 3. The Suns need an inside game.

 

[Hoop Head]

I know the Sixers have a bad team full of D-Leaguers but Tucker needs to be sat on the bench if he tries anymore ISO ball like he's Lebron or Durant.

 

[Mainstreet]

I know the Sixers have a bad team full of D-Leaguers but Tucker needs to be sat on the bench if he tries anymore ISO ball like he's Lebron or Durant.

Bledsoe could be put in this category as well.

 

[Hoop Head]

I don't know who started the "Hero Ball" term but it describes the Suns perfectly in their halfcourt offense.

 

[Hoop Head]

Dragic is the only player on the Suns who can have the ball in his hands and other players cut around the floor. Except when Dragic is on one of the corners behind the 3 pt line, then he'll force that shot. Whenever anyone else has it everyone else stands around and waits for that player to take a shot. Occasionally Len or Plumlee will come out and set a pick but that's it for their contribution.

 

[Mainstreet]

Zoran scores his first NBA points with an assist from his brother on the fastbreak.

 

[SirStefan32]

Zoran scores his first NBA points with an assist from his brother on the fastbreak.

And two possessions before that, Zoran had a nice assist to Goran. Most passing I've seen the Suns do all game.

 

[BC867]

And two possessions before that, Zoran had a nice assist to Goran. Most passing I've seen the Suns do all game.

In all, Zoran had 3 points, 1 assist and 1 rebound -- his first triple-single.

This is one time Goran didn't mind being on the floor during garbage time.

Briefly, the Suns became the first team in history to have two sets of brothers on the court at one time. Against the team from the City of Brotherly Love, as Albert of course pointed out.

Hey guys, the circus is in town.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm still wanting the Suns to somehow get Mason Plumlee so the Suns can have three sets of brothers.

Now if I can only figure a way to get all six of them on the court at one time... perhaps during a substitution.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'm still wanting the Suns to somehow get Mason Plumlee so the Suns can have three sets of brothers.

Now if I can only figure a way to get all six of them on the court at one time... perhaps during a substitution.

We already have 3 sets of brother according to Tom Leander. Jeff Hornacek and Aaron Gordon are Brothers (in-law). Close enough for me. We probably don't want all 6 of these guys on the court at the same time though, it means something's gone very wrong.

Steve

 

[FutureSuperstar]

I don't know who started the "Hero Ball" term but it describes the Suns perfectly in their halfcourt offense.

The Suns really need to swing the ball more. The last 2 games, Len has barely gotten the ball too (Have only shot twice in 36 minutes). There's been several extremely selfish plays by the Suns guards, where they take an outside shot despite Len being wide open in the paint or having a mismatch (2 plays stand out: Against OKC, Green took a fallaway 3' over a double team instead of passing to a wide open Len under the basket ... And last night, Bledsoe decided to take a 3' over Noel instead of passing to Len underneath the hoop against a guard).

Hopefully Len and/or the coaching staff are getting on the guards behind closed doors for selfish (or dumb ... either/or) plays like that.

 

[BC867]

Hopefully Len and/or the coaching staff are getting on the guards behind closed doors for selfish (or dumb ... either/or) plays like that.

Unfortunately, the problem is bigger than players' dumb plays. This is the by-product of a team pitting 3 lead Point Guards against each other for being in charge of the offense and continuity on the court.

How could the Suns Front Office not anticipate that when they added Thomas to Dragic and Bledsoe? Along with Green.

Goran Dragic seems to try to make it work, but he has been demoted to 3rd Point Guard and hardly sets the tone.

It is sad to see Len be a victim of it and Hornacek not trying to fulfill his potential more steadily.

Are we going to have to start calling Jeff Pringles II? "It is not my job to develop young players."

 

[Mainstreet]

Unfortunately, the problem is bigger than players' dumb plays. This is the by-product of a team pitting 3 lead Point Guards against each other for being in charge of the offense and continuity on the court.

How could the Suns Front Office not anticipate that when they added Thomas to Dragic and Bledsoe? Along with Green.

Goran Dragic seems to try to make it work, but he has been demoted to 3rd Point Guard and hardly sets the tone.

It is sad to see Len be a victim of it and Hornacek not trying to fulfill his potential more steadily.

Are we going to have to start calling Jeff Pringles II? "It is not my job to develop young players."

We are not near that point but that is why I have recently written about DA and SSOL. DA would have a ball with these players offensively.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Unfortunately, the problem is bigger than players' dumb plays. This is the by-product of a team pitting 3 lead Point Guards against each other for being in charge of the offense and continuity on the court.

How could the Suns Front Office not anticipate that when they added Thomas to Dragic and Bledsoe? Along with Green.

Goran Dragic seems to try to make it work, but he has been demoted to 3rd Point Guard and hardly sets the tone.

It is sad to see Len be a victim of it and Hornacek not trying to fulfill his potential more steadily.

Are we going to have to start calling Jeff Pringles II? "It is not my job to develop young players."

Horny is developing Len very well right now. They waited to play him big minutes until making sure his foot issues had fully healed. They did not push him with the finger issues. They have been giving him more and more minutes as he develops and his fouling will allow. They are forcing him to concentrate on rebounding and rim protection while allowing the offense to come in time.

 

[Chaz]

Unfortunately, the problem is bigger than players' dumb plays. This is the by-product of a team pitting 3 lead Point Guards against each other for being in charge of the offense and continuity on the court.

How could the Suns Front Office not anticipate that when they added Thomas to Dragic and Bledsoe? Along with Green.

Goran Dragic seems to try to make it work, but he has been demoted to 3rd Point Guard and hardly sets the tone.

None of this is remotely true.

 

[overseascardfan]

I'm still wanting the Suns to somehow get Mason Plumlee so the Suns can have three sets of brothers.

Now if I can only figure a way to get all six of them on the court at one time... perhaps during a substitution.

Mason is really starting to look like a legit player since being inserted into the starting lineup. I've read BKN would rather deal either Garnett or Lopez (duh, their making $12M & $15M respectively) in order to continue developing Mason Plumlee.

We already have 3 sets of brother according to Tom Leander. Jeff Hornacek and Aaron Gordon are Brothers (in-law). Close enough for me. We probably don't want all 6 of these guys on the court at the same time though, it means something's gone very wrong.

Steve

Former UA star Aaron Gordon? Isn't he like 19?