Season Opener: Blazers @ Suns 10-30-13

elindholm

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Amazing performance from Plumlee, who scored more points tonight than he did all of last season (really). We'll see if anything like this lasts, but even this one game is far more than I expected.
 

ASUCHRIS

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So much more entertaining than last year, hope is a good thing. We finally have some.
 

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I had to take a gander at the minutes distribution:

Dragic: 41
Plumlee: 40
Tucker: 39
Bledsoe: 39
Morris: 26
Frye: 22
Green: 17
Len: 8
Goodwin: 8

So, you know, that's not going to last. Also, most stunning line in that box was Marcus Morris'. All I remember are the 4 (FOUR, COUNT THEM, FOUR ... AHAHAHAHAHA) stupid three point shots. Somehow he ended up with ...

7 DRBs
1 ASTs
3 STLs

finishing at +9

 
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Errntknght

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The fastbreak improved a lot since the Clips game... 31-19 advantage and Portland isn't a sluggish team. The defense wasn't so great but they certainly poured a lot of energy into it. It should improve as they get more disciplined. Eight steals was good and they got them without giving up easy buckets. I think I'd put PJ on Aldridge, he'd probably foul out but I bet he'd get under his skin good before he did.

Thanks to Plumlee the rebounding was great - Bledso, Dragic and PJ combined for 18 boards, too. If they can keep that up other teams will indeed hate playing the Suns.
 

slinslin

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Plumlee was so good I'd like for us to get our hands on Mason Plumlee from the Nets who is younger and supposedly more athletic and talented.

Plumlee looks like he will excel in a fast paced offense opposed to the slow halfcourt sets the Pacers tried to put him in.
 

slinslin

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Defensively, pretty weak on the perimeter. That surprised me. I thought that might be decent.

Dragic was one of the worst defenders for his position last season so I don't think it is a surprise especially with Bledsoe in now and running two PGs not making it easier.
 

JCSunsfan

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So, is Plumlee for real or was it just that his first start happened to be against Robin Lopez.
 

sunsfan88

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His hustle and energy was for real. I doubt he keeps giving us 18 and 15 a night but if we should be very happy if we can get at least like 14 & 10 out of the guy.
 

Suns_fan69

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Agreed, Plumlee was a nice diamond in the rough. His activity and defensive rebounding will be sorely needed, the offense is a nice cherry on top. Obviously 1 game isn't a huge sample size (against Lopez no less) but I'm (dare I say) excited to see how he does the rest of the year.
 

JS22

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His hustle and energy was for real. I doubt he keeps giving us 18 and 15 a night but if we should be very happy if we can get at least like 14 & 10 out of the guy.

14/10 puts him at a near all-star level. I'm not sure if he'll get there once teams decide to start scouting him more.

That said, it looks like he's definitely got enough athleticism and talent to be a pretty solid player.
 

JCSunsfan

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His hustle and energy was for real. I doubt he keeps giving us 18 and 15 a night but if we should be very happy if we can get at least like 14 & 10 out of the guy.

14 and 10 is WAAAAY above any expectations, even at this point.
 

JCSunsfan

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14/10 puts him at a near all-star level. I'm not sure if he'll get there once teams decide to start scouting him more.

That said, it looks like he's definitely got enough athleticism and talent to be a pretty solid player.

Just the fact that teams have to scout him, and that he commands some attention makes life easier for everyone else.

Honestly, the production from Bledsoe and Dragic along with Plumlee is a nice balance. Sometimes the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Last year, the team could not get balanced. There was a lot of one-on-one moves from the outside as the ball stopped in the hands of Beasley, Brown, or even Gortat and Scola.

The unsaid thing so far about this game is that the coaching seems to be sound.
 
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14 and 10 is WAAAAY above any expectations, even at this point.

I agree. If Plumlee can play defense, grab some rebounds, score on the fastbreak, I'll be happy. It's good to know he has some nice offensive moves, that shows he is capable of scoring... a player that teams can't ignore. IMO, it is expecting too much for him to score with consistency on a regular basis.
 

KloD

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I agree. If Plumlee can play defense, grab some rebounds, score on the fastbreak, I'll be happy. It's good to know he has some nice offensive moves, that shows he is capable of scoring... a player that teams can't ignore. IMO, it is expecting too much for him to score with consistency on a regular basis.

Exactly! Anything Plumlee contributes is above my previous expectations for him. If he ends up a solid backup center on this team I will be thrilled. It's clear Len is a project and it may be a few seasons until they know what if anything he brings, but having Plumlee jumping into service in the meantime is a heck of a bonus. Glad I got the NBA broadband package, this should be a fun season to watch these kids grow up on the court.
 

sunsfan88

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14/10 puts him at a near all-star level. I'm not sure if he'll get there once teams decide to start scouting him more.

That said, it looks like he's definitely got enough athleticism and talent to be a pretty solid player.

14 and 10 is WAAAAY above any expectations, even at this point.

Hmm true ok then, 12 and 10.

He's capable of getting 6-8 pts off just running the floor, putbacks and making hustle plays alone and he can get the rest with his post game which showed a lot of potential.
 

JCSunsfan

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Hmm true ok then, 12 and 10.

He's capable of getting 6-8 pts off just running the floor, putbacks and making hustle plays alone and he can get the rest with his post game which showed a lot of potential.

10 and 8 would be a success.
 

AzStevenCal

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I think it's too early to know what we have in Plumlee. I do like the fact that he is capable of having a strong outing at least occasionally, it makes the Scola deal look even better.

Steve
 

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Very impressive opening game. At least for one night the Backcourt 2013 seemed to have been a success. Btw, I think the Suns have until end of day today to agree with Bledsoe on an extension, but I doubt this game changed anything as far as the negotiations go.

As for Plumlee, a completely unexpected excellent performance. Yes, getting him in the Scola deal was a steal, but let's also give credit to last year's management for picking up Scola to begin with. Many didn't like that move at the time, ignoring his potential future trade value.
 

JCSunsfan

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Very impressive opening game. At least for one night the Backcourt 2013 seemed to have been a success. Btw, I think the Suns have until end of day today to agree with Bledsoe on an extension, but I doubt this game changed anything as far as the negotiations go.

As for Plumlee, a completely unexpected excellent performance. Yes, getting him in the Scola deal was a steal, but let's also give credit to last year's management for picking up Scola to begin with. Many didn't like that move at the time, ignoring his potential future trade value.

That is fair. The Scola signing has turned out very well.

We turned a FA signing into a good prospect, a potentially serviceable player (Green), and a 1st round pick in an excellent draft.
 
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