Phoenix Suns @ LAL 12-28-14

[Sci Fi]

Hold on a second now- nobody has called him the worst point guard in the league. Let's not make things up as we go. Sci-Fi may be on the level of Andrew and TheRealHardaway, but he does have a valid point (exaggerated as it may be) in that Bledsoe is really not a good point guard when it comes to actually running a team. He makes poor decisions, takes bad shots/ forces shots instead of passing.

To me, best-case scenario or ceiling, if you will, for Bledsoe is Stephon Marbury. May be a 20 and 8 player one day, but very inefficient, turnover-prone, makes bad decisions and forces things way too much.

You guys make him out to be the second coming of LeBron, and God help anyone who dares criticize him.

I almost always have valid points.

That's why I'm so good at predictions.

Nobody is better.

And with that, I'm done.

 

[sunsfan88]

They'll figure it out sooner or later. We'll see how Pop does it next time we play San Antonio.

On defense, you need a shot blocker as two out of the three aren't gonna pass the ball in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter. The rest of the game, force all of them to beat you from the three point line. Neither of the three is a great shooter, Bledsoe is the worst shooter, and IT and Bledsoe have never met a shot they didn't like. Pack the paint and make them beat you from the outside. Tucker is a good shooter, but he is a low-volume shooter, Dragic is not a bad shooter, but he is not great, so you really only need to chase Marcus Morris off of the three-point line (MAYBE Dragic occasionally, too.)

The real key to beating the Suns is on offense. I think you just post them up on the other end every single time and have a big or two crash the boards, especially when they are going small.

^This.

No HC in the NBA loves small ball more than Hornacek. He loves small ball as much as the King of Small Ball D'Antoni did.

Teams will realize that all you have to do is drive to the rim against the Suns 3 small guard lineups with no rim protector.

This won't work against better teams who have good big men like SAS, Hou, etc.

Hornacek needs to end his love for small ball and realize that Len needs to get at least 35 mins every game to make up for the deficiency of guarding the rim for the rest of the team.

They said during the game today that statistically, no NBA team has given up more points at the rim than the Phoenix Suns this season. Most of that is due to Plumlee but a lot of it has to do with Hornacek's affection for small ball.

 

[marios13]

Its good to see there is more harmony lately with Suns than this board

Anyway nice to see a 6 game winning streak ...

 

[Phrazbit]

Bledsoe, right now, is better than Marbury ever was in his career. IMO, Marbury was one of the most overrated players in NBA history. The Suns right now are a top 5 offense with Bledsoe as the PG, Marbury's teams never put up that kind of efficiency because he truly was an empty stat ball hog. He walked the ball up the court, never pushed the pace, the majority of his assists came because he had dribbled away so much of the clock that the guy he was passing to had no choice but to shoot and he was also pure garbage as a defender.

 

[Phrazbit]

Its good to see there is more harmony lately with Suns than this board

Anyway nice to see a 6 game winning streak ...

Yeah, I have only been posting on this particular site for about 3 years but this is as venomous as I've seen it between the fans.

Its too bad too, because its a quality team loaded with young players, in most seasons they'd be a lock for the playoffs but the West is absurd. But reading some posters on this board one would assume they're among the worst teams in the NBA, all the players despise each other and our coach and GM are morons.

Most of all, the flak Bledsoe gets is astounding. I think outside observers would be baffled at the way half the fan base views him.

 

[sunsfan88]

Hold on a second now- nobody has called him the worst point guard in the league. Let's not make things up as we go. Sci-Fi may be on the level of Andrew and TheRealHardaway, but he does have a valid point (exaggerated as it may be) in that Bledsoe is really not a good point guard when it comes to actually running a team. He makes poor decisions, takes bad shots/ forces shots instead of passing.

To me, best-case scenario or ceiling, if you will, for Bledsoe is Stephon Marbury. May be a 20 and 8 player one day, but very inefficient, turnover-prone, makes bad decisions and forces things way too much.

You guys make him out to be the second coming of LeBron, and God help anyone who dares criticize him.

Thing with Bledsoe is just consistency and desire. He's shown that he has the ability to dominate a game in all phases and he's also shown that he can often look disinterested and out of synch completely.

That's ok for a young player like Goodwin or Len because their developing guys on cheap rookie contracts. Its not OK for a freaking 25 year old Bledsoe.

James Harden and Blake Griffin are the same age as Bledsoe even though it doesn't feel that way.

Bledsoe needs to stop fooling around and needs to quit turning the ball over and just become more consistent, that's it. He's a terrible 3pt shooter and that doesn't look it will change so I'd suggest less 3s also. He's shooting under 30% from 3 and still taking 3 threes per game.

Bledsoe averaging 16 pts, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 turnovers on 43% shooting including 29% from 3pt land.

I don't think even the biggest Bledsoe fanboys can defend those stats.

Its funny cause Dragic is having a "bad year" and yet he's still shooting 50% from the field and 36% fom 3. All while averaging more points also. Not to mention he doesn't have any chronic knee injuries either.

And yet people wonder why some fans prefer Dragic over Bledsoe if one had to be chosen from the two.

 

[marios13]

... don't be so selective of his stats

he gets more rebounds usually than Suns centers
not to mention steals, blocks and assists ...

He is nowhere near perfect PG, but he is a great player.

 

[sunsfan88]

... don't be so selective of his stats

he gets more rebounds usually than Suns centers
not to mention steals, blocks and assists ...

He is nowhere near perfect PG, but he is a great player.

You must be a new Suns fan because that's not something to brag about, Suns have had bad centers throughout franchise history.

He's a great shot blocking guard agreed but getting more steals and assists than Suns centers isn't an achievement.

He's a starting point guard, I would hope that he gets more steals and assists than the Suns centers because that's his primary job. Centers don't usually try to get many steals or assists.

 

[marios13]

beating Centers at rebounding for a short PG is an achievement ...
there are no bad Centers in NBA ... the other ones are just better ...


If anyone wants a good website for watching and downloading NBA games ...
send me a private message ... stumbled on a good one recently ...

 

[Absolute Zero]

With all the Bledsoe criticism on this thread, I thought I better check out the boxscore to see how he stunk it up so bad this game and killed Dragic's game. Dragic finished w/ a team high 24 point. As for Bledsoe, sure enough, he shot 7/19 from the field and had 3 turnovers. Pretty bad. But check this out:

+14 on +/-. Best on the team, the next closest was +8
7/7 from the free throw line. Again, best on the team.
8 rebounds. Tied w/ Len for best on the team.
8 assists. Best on the team.
4 steals. Best on the team.

Does Bledsoe have areas where he needs to improve? Absolutely. Is he a traditional point guard? Of course not. Does he help the team in areas that traditional point guards usually don't? Absolutely.

Like Bledsoe or not, he is currently our MVP and we are riding a 6 game win streak.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I cannot believe all the complaining, even in winning game threads these days.

6 game streak. Good grief.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

I cannot believe all the complaining, even in winning game threads these days.

6 game streak. Good grief.

2 most criticized guys on the team right now seem to be Plum and for no other reason (than I can come up with) other than his $70m payday, Bledsoe. I understand it a little for Plum as he at times looks like he flat doesn't even know how to play the game of basketball, but even a lot of the hate he gets is unwarranted and has a lot to do with people having higher expectations.

Yes Bledsoe gets paid a lot and is the highest paid on the team, but there is no denying what he brings to this team and the fact that it isn't really efficient scoring shouldn't automatically make him a target. He doesn't shoot the ball all that well and is getting paid a lot, but he puts in work on the defensive end (more than most on the team except maybe Tucker) and he is a pretty unselfish player as well.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Hold on a second now- nobody has called him the worst point guard in the league. Let's not make things up as we go.

Jeez Stefan... read what Sci Fi WROTE before you start fying off the handle and accusing people of making things up:

His words... I quote (and I'll bold it for you so maybe you'll see it this time).

Worst starting PG in the league at runnng an offense.

That claim is beyond ridiculous. As is your claim that people are "making things up as we go."

Sci-Fi may be on the level of Andrew and TheRealHardaway, but he does have a valid point (exaggerated as it may be) in that Bledsoe is really not a good point guard when it comes to actually running a team. He makes poor decisions, takes bad shots/ forces shots instead of passing.

To me, best-case scenario or ceiling, if you will, for Bledsoe is Stephon Marbury. May be a 20 and 8 player one day, but very inefficient, turnover-prone, makes bad decisions and forces things way too much.

You guys make him out to be the second coming of LeBron, and God help anyone who dares criticize him.

good lord... NOW who's making stuff up as we go? Where have I or ANYONE else (not named Steve) made such ridiculous claims that he's the second coming of Lebron. Why don't you take a little of your own misguided advice and not make stuff up. Gotta love a post that starts by accusing people of making stuff up... and then ending by doing the exact same thing.

 

[AzStevenCal]

good lord... NOW who's making stuff up as we go? Where have I or ANYONE else (not named Steve) made such ridiculous claims that he's the second coming of Lebron. Why don't you take a little of your own misguided advice and not make stuff up. Gotta love a post that starts by accusing people of making stuff up... and then ending by doing the exact same thing.

Even named Steve. Last season I said I thought he had the potential to be a top 5/top 10 player but at no time did I say he'd made it there. IMO he's no closer to being that player than he was a year ago and in fact, he might be further away now given his horrible outside shooting. And I've made it pretty clear in multiple threads that I think he's played below expectations this season. I think he's slightly outplayed Goran but that's on the strength of his defense and it's not much of a claim as neither one of them have met expectations. They are both playing better, individually, and together, but they still aren't where we need them to be.

Steve

 

[marios13]

https://vine.co/v/Ou2A0nADAYr

 

[BC867]

...but they still aren't where we need them to be.

Steve

How can they ever be (whether one prefers Dragic or Bledsoe) when IT bumps both of them out of position with the game on the line and now even in the 1st quarter.

I wonder how many of us feel that the competition between Bledsoe, Dragic and Thomas helps the team and how many of us feel that it does more harm than good.

My vote would be that it does more harm than good.

 

[Chaplin]

How can they ever be (whether one prefers Dragic or Bledsoe) when IT bumps both of them out of position with the game on the line and now even in the 1st quarter.

I wonder how many of us feel that the competition between Bledsoe, Dragic and Thomas helps the team and how many of us feel that it does more harm than good.

My vote would be that it does more harm than good.

Except there have been two changes since the start of this 6 game winning streak: First, Alex Len getting starting minutes. But the second is Hornacek's first time putting all 3 point guards on the floor at the same time. This isn't a coincidence, no matter how much you tell yourself it is.

We're winning, partly because we play all 3 together, yet you continue to complain about it.

 

[hcsilla]

Bledsoe, right now, is better than Marbury ever was in his career. IMO, Marbury was one of the most overrated players in NBA history. The Suns right now are a top 5 offense with Bledsoe as the PG, Marbury's teams never put up that kind of efficiency because he truly was an empty stat ball hog. He walked the ball up the court, never pushed the pace, the majority of his assists came because he had dribbled away so much of the clock that the guy he was passing to had no choice but to shoot and he was also pure garbage as a defender.

Exactly.

Telling the truth I have to admit that I thought that Marbury is an excellent PG in halfcourt-offense when he was a Phoenix Suns and it took time until I recognized what kind and caliber of player he really was.

 

[BC867]

Except there have been two changes since the start of this 6 game winning streak: First, Alex Len getting starting minutes. But the second is Hornacek's first time putting all 3 point guards on the floor at the same time. This isn't a coincidence, no matter how much you tell yourself it is.

We're winning, partly because we play all 3 together, yet you continue to complain about it.

Largely because it is a novelty and the rest of the NBA (as has already been posted) is going to catch up with it.

Goran Dragic bumped from Point Guard to Shooting Guard to Small Forward? Does that even sound like taking the next step to become a factor in the playoffs?

 

[Chaplin]

Largely because it is a novelty and the rest of the NBA (as has already been posted) is going to catch up with it.

Goran Dragic bumped from Point Guard to Shooting Guard to Small Forward? Does that even sound like taking the next step to become a factor in the playoffs?

We're not going to be a factor in the playoffs regardless, but you have to give yourself the best opportunity to actually get into the playoffs. And it looks like putting Goran at the SF in a small lineup might actually work to get to the playoffs. You find out what works, and then you improve upon it. Will it win the title for us? No, it won't. But going traditional with this group won't win the title either. And if you can't get to the playoffs, what's the point?

 

[BC867]

We're not going to be a factor in the playoffs regardless, but you have to give yourself the best opportunity to actually get into the playoffs. And it looks like putting Goran at the SF in a small lineup might actually work to get to the playoffs. You find out what works, and then you improve upon it. Will it win the title for us? No, it won't. But going traditional with this group won't win the title either. And if you can't get to the playoffs, what's the point?

Because the next step after getting back into the playoffs is having a strong foundation to which you can add to move up.

I just can't believe that playing 3 lead Point Guards is a strong foundation for building playoff success.

Do you believe that it is a stepping stone vs. one baby step and then a brick wall? (different meaning than the way it is usually used. )

And, you're right. The key phrase is "with this roster". Correcting it is more important than the Front Office saving face.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Three pg's on the floor together is a different look that shakes things up. It's not like it's the staple of the offense. Nearly every team plays small ball for stretches.

 

[BC867]

Three pg's on the floor together is a different look that shakes things up. It's not like it's the staple of the offense. Nearly every team plays small ball for stretches.

Closing every game with it, and now using it as early as the 1st quarter, has made it the staple of our offense. Don't you agree that it is more than just using it for stretches? It has become our identity.

 

[Chaz]

Closing every game with it, and now using it as early as the 1st quarter, has made it the staple of our offense. Don't you agree that it is more than just using it for stretches? It has become our identity.

But it hasn't been every game.

It seems to me that many times teams are adjusting to the Suns to keep up.
The Suns need to be able to matchup with size in the long run but this team is still young and building.

They really need another PF of starter quality. Imagine the current team but both Morris brothers leading the second unit with Plumlee, IT, and Green.

The real point for now is you have to play your best players. I don't care what label you put on their position.

 

[Mainstreet]

But it hasn't been every game.

It seems to me that many times teams are adjusting to the Suns to keep up.
The Suns need to be able to matchup with size in the long run but this team is still young and building.

They really need another PF of starter quality. Imagine the current team but both Morris brothers leading the second unit with Plumlee, IT, and Green.

The real point for now is you have to play your best players. I don't care what label you put on their position.

It's as simple as that, especially if the Suns are winning with that combination. It has worked well thus far. I can see Len and Markieff being the other two players at the end of games depending upon match ups.