Pick Watch 2018

[pokerface]

I like the 3 matchups with Golden State. That helps us out because even if they're missing one of their big 4, they're still better than we are. Those 3 can almost be pencilled in as losses already. Wish we could fast forward to the end of the season though because i don't want to see them get embarrassed against the Warriors.

If we can't catch Memphis that's ok but we can't let anyone else overtake us if we can't catch Memphis. So long as we finish in the bottom 3 we should be fine come the lottery. That would mean the farthest we could possibly fall would be to #6. If we fell that far I think we could get someone ahead of us to bit eon a trade using the Miami pick, Milwaukee pick, Chriss, and/or the future Miami pick to move up into the top 3, although it may just be to #3. I've been watching Bagley highlights on Youtube and am liking the idea of taking him now. Of course that would displace Chriss and Bender if they're retained but that's their own fault. If a rookie PF can take the starting job from them while they're entering their 3rd year they have no one to blame but themselves.

That is how I'm viewing the draft also...trying to get high enough to absorb a fall if it happens. Yeah if we were to get sixth pick as worst case scenario that would be survivable. To trade up from that the picks would be expendable as we have so many. To get to #3 or #4 would be fine with me. I don't think Chriss in trade has much value...but at least he doesn't have negative value being young and on a rookie contract. Some team might think they can turn him around.

Yeah sign me up for Bagley. Adding him could turn this franchise around in a major way...quick.

 

[leclerc]

Ayton is as close to a sure fire all-star as can be found in the draft. It is hard to find the superlatives to describe him. Bilas is on the verge of calling him the love child of shaq and Robinson. No freshman big has ever put up these kind of stats, and with such skill. He's a monster, he is going number one unless some terrible gm outthinks themselves and gets really cute.

Frack it, I'm going to allow myself to dream about getting #1 and picking Ayton. At least for a couple of weeks. We always get screwed in the lottery so I'll switch back to pessimist mode by the start of May.

 

[pokerface]

Frack it, I'm going to allow myself to dream about getting #1 and picking Ayton. At least for a couple of weeks. We always get screwed in the lottery so I'll switch back to pessimist mode by the start of May.

I'm dreaming about Bamba and working my way up

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

I'll just leave this right here...

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2018/3/15/17125932/milwaukee-bucks-giannis-antetokounmpo-struggles

 

[Mainstreet]

I'll just leave this right here...

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2018/3/15/17125932/milwaukee-bucks-giannis-antetokounmpo-struggles

It's an interesting read.

 

[Hoop Head]

I'll just leave this right here...

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2018/3/15/17125932/milwaukee-bucks-giannis-antetokounmpo-struggles

I didn't expect Milwaukee to be so bad that we'd get their pick this year. I'm a little surprised that they're already questioning Bledsoe's fit next to Giannis also. That doesn't bode well for his hopes of getting a max extension any time soon. I'd be surprised if they do extend him this summer considering how disappointing they've been.

 

[SirStefan32]

I didn't expect Milwaukee to be so bad that we'd get their pick this year. I'm a little surprised that they're already questioning Bledsoe's fit next to Giannis also. That doesn't bode well for his hopes of getting a max extension any time soon. I'd be surprised if they do extend him this summer considering how disappointing they've been.

We could have told them that months ago.

 

[Mainstreet]

Bulls beat Grizzlies and 76ers beat Knicks.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

Bulls beat Grizzlies and 76ers beat Knicks.

Grizzlies were so close!

 

[Mainstreet]

Grizzlies were so close!

And so were the Knicks... for awhile.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

And so were the Knicks... for awhile.

I was rooting for the 76ers. I don't think it's likely at all we catch the Knicks, but the Heat and Bucks could easily catch the 76ers.

 

[Mainstreet]

I was rooting for the 76ers. I don't think it's likely at all we catch the Knicks, but the Heat and Bucks could easily catch the 76ers.

Same here. I was rooting for the 76ers but the Knicks are doing their best imitation of them.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

The Knicks and Bulls each have five more wins than the Suns, meaning that even if they both lost out (which can't even happen because they play each other next week), the Suns would have to finish 5-7 in the last 12 games just to tie them. I don't see that happening, so it looks like bottom 7 record is virtually locked up.

 

[Hoop Head]

The Knicks and Bulls each have five more wins than the Suns, meaning that even if they both lost out (which can't even happen because they play each other next week), the Suns would have to finish 5-7 in the last 12 games just to tie them. I don't see that happening, so it looks like bottom 7 record is virtually locked up.

I'm more concerned with locking a spot in the bottom 3. That ensures they won't fall past 6 in the lottery. The Suns have had no luck in past lotteries which seems to make outsiders think they're due for a break but as a Suns fan I know that won't come this year because the top talent is too good for that to happen.

The basketball gods like tempting Suns fans by having Ayton play down in Tucson and Bagley grow up in Tempe, which means that's as close to the Suns will get to them. At best they'll end picking #3 when those 2 are off the board. They'll take the Euro guard which will cause most fans to revolt because the last Euro the Suns selected high in the draft is afraid to shoot when he's closer than 10 feet from the hoop. Our previous history with Euro guards isn't great either, with the last one to play here asking out only to become an All-Star for his next team and the previous one was a player who became a running joke about how we had his rights to use in a trade because he never intended on coming to the NBA.

 

[pokerface]

I'm more concerned with locking a spot in the bottom 3. That ensures they won't fall past 6 in the lottery. The Suns have had no luck in past lotteries which seems to make outsiders think they're due for a break but as a Suns fan I know that won't come this year because the top talent is too good for that to happen.

The basketball gods like tempting Suns fans by having Ayton play down in Tucson and Bagley grow up in Tempe, which means that's as close to the Suns will get to them. At best they'll end picking #3 when those 2 are off the board. They'll take the Euro guard which will cause most fans to revolt because the last Euro the Suns selected high in the draft is afraid to shoot when he's closer than 10 feet from the hoop. Our previous history with Euro guards isn't great either, with the last one to play here asking out only to become an All-Star for his next team and the previous one was a player who became a running joke about how we had his rights to use in a trade because he never intended on coming to the NBA.

I don't know man... sounds crazy but I feel lucky right now. The suns have the second worse record with a dozen games left. This draft seems loaded with the kind of talent we need. Besides, after Len, Bender, and Chriss any upgrade we get in the frontcourt is going to feel like Ayton.

 

[Hoop Head]

Maybe the Suns finally get lucky, it'd be nice. I think Arizona losing so early in the tournament might actually help their chances of drafting Ayton even if they don't get the #1 pick. Perhaps he's not a lock at #1 overall since he couldn't help Arizona get out of the first round. A 21 point loss to Buffalo where he only went 6-13 from the field and scoring just 14 points isn't that great for what was supposed to be the best big in college basketball. He did grab 13 rebounds but only had 1 block also. Missing the tournament entirely might have been better for his stock than losing as a 4 seed to a 13 seed.

There is virtually no chance he stays at Arizona for another year though, which is a good thing. With everything going on with the FBI/NCAA probe and Sean Miller's future at UofA in doubt I can't see him sticking around. I don't think there was any doubt of that but until a player declares himself for the draft you can't be certain.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Maybe the Suns finally get lucky, it'd be nice. I think Arizona losing so early in the tournament might actually help their chances of drafting Ayton even if they don't get the #1 pick. Perhaps he's not a lock at #1 overall since he couldn't help Arizona get out of the first round. A 21 point loss to Buffalo where he only went 6-13 from the field and scoring just 14 points isn't that great for what was supposed to be the best big in college basketball. He did grab 13 rebounds but only had 1 block also. Missing the tournament entirely might have been better for his stock than losing as a 4 seed to a 13 seed.

There is virtually no chance he stays at Arizona for another year though, which is a good thing. With everything going on with the FBI/NCAA probe and Sean Miller's future at UofA in doubt I can't see him sticking around. I don't think there was any doubt of that but until a player declares himself for the draft you can't be certain.

He already declared.

And will be the first pick. I’d bet literally ANYTHING on it. The Cats were a massive disappointment all year and bloom is finally off the Rose with Miller’s underachieving cheating ass.

I will literally leave the board forever if he doesn’t go number 1. That’s how sure I am he’s the first pick.

 

[pokerface]

Maybe the Suns finally get lucky, it'd be nice. I think Arizona losing so early in the tournament might actually help their chances of drafting Ayton even if they don't get the #1 pick. Perhaps he's not a lock at #1 overall since he couldn't help Arizona get out of the first round. A 21 point loss to Buffalo where he only went 6-13 from the field and scoring just 14 points isn't that great for what was supposed to be the best big in college basketball. He did grab 13 rebounds but only had 1 block also. Missing the tournament entirely might have been better for his stock than losing as a 4 seed to a 13 seed.

There is virtually no chance he stays at Arizona for another year though, which is a good thing. With everything going on with the FBI/NCAA probe and Sean Miller's future at UofA in doubt I can't see him sticking around. I don't think there was any doubt of that but until a player declares himself for the draft you can't be certain.

We really can't think Ayton too much because even if we had the worst record it's only 25% chance. At least we have a fallback position with other bigs. Even if we added Porter or Jaren Jackson to this team we would be in much better shape...and that's like a worst case scenario.

 

[Hoop Head]

We really can't think Ayton too much because even if we had the worst record it's only 25% chance. At least we have a fallback position with other bigs. Even if we added Porter or Jaren Jackson to this team we would be in much better shape...and that's like a worst case scenario.

Somebody has to get the #1 pick and the team with the worst record has the best odds of getting it. It may only be 25% but the team with the 2nd worst record only has a 19.9% chance of getting the #1 pick. The team with the worst records has higher odds than that of landing the #2 pick, 21.5%.

Of course finishing last would be ideal but unlikely with Memphis having lost their last 19 with no end in sight for their losing streak.

 

[pokerface]

Somebody has to get the #1 pick and the team with the worst record has the best odds of getting it. It may only be 25% but the team with the 2nd worst record only has a 19.9% chance of getting the #1 pick. The team with the worst records has higher odds than that of landing the #2 pick, 21.5%.

Of course finishing last would be ideal but unlikely with Memphis having lost their last 19 with no end in sight for their losing streak.

Are you same guy that scolded me earlier in the season for wanting to tank early on? I already saw this coming that's why I wanted to shed Chandler and Dudley because I knew every game would count. Now we are in the situation we are so we get what we get.

 

[Hoop Head]

Are you same guy that scolded me earlier in the season for wanting to tank early on? I already saw this coming that's why I wanted to shed Chandler and Dudley because I knew every game would count. Now we are in the situation we are so we get what we get.

I wouldn't say I scolded anyone. I wanted to see the team grow and players progress. I didn't think there should be a fire sale of all veterans in effort to lose more games early on. Chandler can barely move under the rim on defense at this point, he's not winning games for the Suns. Honestly, how many games do you think Chandler and Dudley have caused the Suns to win this year? Who is to say that young replacements wouldn't have gotten the same results they did.

 

[pokerface]

I wouldn't say I scolded anyone. I wanted to see the team grow and players progress. I didn't think there should be a fire sale of all veterans in effort to lose more games early on. Chandler can barely move under the rim on defense at this point, he's not winning games for the Suns. Honestly, how many games do you think Chandler and Dudley have caused the Suns to win this year? Who is to say that young replacements wouldn't have gotten the same results they did.

Well we know one game for a fact Chandler won with that last second dunk. Len and his brick hands wouldn't have caught and dunked like that.

Bottomline you and others wanted "vets" and "mentors" now there is no talk about that. Now it's just about the tank and "expectations" about getting Ayton or Bagley or whomever else we are "owed". Just saying, it's a bit late in the season to strategize unless we want to sit Booker like true tankers. I say we should especially since we have an excuse of his sprained finger and a recent bad game because of it.

 

[Errntknght]

Playing Book with a bad hand is probably dumb but it didn't appear to hurt the tank, with him shooting 3/15 or whatever it was.

 

[pokerface]

Playing Book with a bad hand is probably dumb but it didn't appear to hurt the tank, with him shooting 3/15 or whatever it was.

I still think we can blow this draft so before Booker heats up again the suns should put the brakes on. His finger sprain is a legit issue anyways. I dare Silver to say a thing about it.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I wouldn't say I scolded anyone. I wanted to see the team grow and players progress. I didn't think there should be a fire sale of all veterans in effort to lose more games early on. Chandler can barely move under the rim on defense at this point, he's not winning games for the Suns. Honestly, how many games do you think Chandler and Dudley have caused the Suns to win this year? Who is to say that young replacements wouldn't have gotten the same results they did.

Gotta take issue with that first sentence. You and many others here consistently excoriated fans who had the foresight to realize a tank was Necessary because of how talentless this team was.

I believe it was @Mainstreet who accused the tankers of “abhorrent behavior”(that one stuck for some reason)... others told the tankers to get a new team... most continually accused them of wanting to tank every year no matter, repeatedly misconstruing their arguments because it was easier to make them the whipping boys rather than the team they loved which was constantly embarrassing.

Pretending otherwise at this point is pretty disengenuous, IMO.