Holy cow. Are we even allowed to invoke that name on this board anymore? I thought it was like that name that shall not be mentioned thing in Harry Potter.
Vujanic. Voldemort. Whatever.
See ya Pat Burke
- Thread starter Chris_Sanders
- Start date
Holy cow. Are we even allowed to invoke that name on this board anymore? I thought it was like that name that shall not be mentioned thing in Harry Potter.
Vujanic. Voldemort. Whatever.
We do still have the rights to Vujanic.
There was an article the other day about him. It said after his two surgeries he has started playing again this year and is looking very good.
I would really doubt he ever comes over because he always made more money where he is than he could here, and of course the injuries.
Actually I wouldn't say he's looking very good.
He signed with Panathinaikos in Greece, an european elite team, after virtually two years without playing.
He did an honorable season as a second string Pg, but he's a slow shadow of his former self and his offensive repertoire is now limited to his 3 pts jumper. Worse, he slowly made his way out of the playoffs rotation.
We can still bring him in as camp fodder but he's toasted, imo.
He signed with Panathinaikos in Greece, an european elite team, after virtually two years without playing.
He did an honorable season as a second string Pg, but he's a slow shadow of his former self and his offensive repertoire is now limited to his 3 pts jumper. Worse, he slowly made his way out of the playoffs rotation.
We can still bring him in as camp fodder but he's toasted, imo.
Lars the Red
aka Thor, God of Thunder
You guys just amaze me. Mike D's failure to utilize the players he has to their fullest is going to be his downfall every year. What's really absurd about it, is Mike was a pretty marginal player. He wasn't terribly gifted. He filled needs with things he could do. There isn't a guy on the bench that isn't worthy of 5 to 10 minutes a game. All could come out and contribute to some degree.
Acting like these guys are F Troop is so shortsighted and tells me a great deal about your ability to understand the game of basketball.
Acting like these guys are F Troop is so shortsighted and tells me a great deal about your ability to understand the game of basketball.
Please educate us, Lars, how you would implement the bench.
OP
OP
I kneed an edumacation on basquetball. Pleeze halp me Lars.
Lars the Red
aka Thor, God of Thunder
By your accounts, gents, the Suns are really only able to put 7 players on the court:
Bell
Nash
Amare
Thomas
Barbosa
Marion
and possibly Diaw
Now I can't really understand why a grand coach like Mike D, can't seem to find a way to utilize a player like:
-Jumaine Jones-Career numbers like 4 seasons averaging 25 minutes a game. He plays in only 18 games this season, but average 65 games a year the previous 7. But he couldn't have given us 5 to 10 a game when healthy?
-James Jones-4 minutes in game 5 in SA. Has a 5 minute a game reduction in playing time from this season to last.
-Jalen Rose-Averages 30 minutes a game during a 12 year career, with only a slight reduction the last couple of years, but can't manage more than 8.5 during the season, and 9 total in the playoffs? Naw, his leadership couldn't have helped take pressure off.
-Eric Piatkowski-18.8 minutes for the career, and shoots almost 40% from 3 pts, yet he can only manage 6.6 for the season, and 3 total minutes in the playoffs. Naw, having a 3 pt shooter on the floor isn't going to help.
-Marcus Banks-Now call me cynical, but it really seems odd that a guy who we faced several times in the past and did pretty well against us, while averaging over 25 minutes a game the last 2 seasons, suddenly doesn't remember how to play basketball and can only see the court 11 minutes a game and 7 whole minutes in the playoffs. Could that be something that started at the top?
-Pat Burke-Goes from 12.5, to about 7. Plays a position we are always in need of toughness and depth in. 'ya, Lars, but he cast up 3 pointers and upset Mike'. Big woop. Get past it. Tell the guy what you need and expect, and show him some respect by putting him in when something matters.
It's an enormously long season. To not accept the fact that it may cost you a game or two early to have a deeper, fresher team at the end of the season which lets you win games you might be losing because of fatigue, is basic coaching 101. Mike has a huge ego and feels he can make this system work, but it never has. Teams don't win without depth and decent bench play.
Now, tell me how all these guys suck and can barely tie their shoes. Never mind that anyone of them would absolutely destroy any pickup game you've ever played in. Never mind that many have years of NBA experience on several other top quality teams. Never mind that they were brought in because people felt they would fit the system, so either your scouting sucks, or you didn't give them a chance and support. And completely ignore that they all pull down paychecks that all of us dream of. Nope, they all suck. They all look like refugees from the Make a Wish Foundation with snot running down their noses.
Over the years we've seen some pretty interesting coaching efforts in getting the maximum out of players who probably weren't top player material. As much as I hate the guy, Phil Jackson comes to mind. Pat Riley has done some amazing things with role players. Greg Popovich too. Some have said that Mike has done the same with guys like Diaw and JJ, but I'm starting to think these guys may have been successful by overcoming Mike D.
I see too many situations that we could have improved our team and Mike didn't take them. My contention that many of you don't understand basketball is because I would expect guys who are pretty savvy to notice those, instead of making the absurd excuse that we don't have a bench. We may not have had a playoff ready bench, but that doesn't mean we couldn't have or shouldn't have, and that falls into D'A's lap.
Bell
Nash
Amare
Thomas
Barbosa
Marion
and possibly Diaw
Now I can't really understand why a grand coach like Mike D, can't seem to find a way to utilize a player like:
-Jumaine Jones-Career numbers like 4 seasons averaging 25 minutes a game. He plays in only 18 games this season, but average 65 games a year the previous 7. But he couldn't have given us 5 to 10 a game when healthy?
-James Jones-4 minutes in game 5 in SA. Has a 5 minute a game reduction in playing time from this season to last.
-Jalen Rose-Averages 30 minutes a game during a 12 year career, with only a slight reduction the last couple of years, but can't manage more than 8.5 during the season, and 9 total in the playoffs? Naw, his leadership couldn't have helped take pressure off.
-Eric Piatkowski-18.8 minutes for the career, and shoots almost 40% from 3 pts, yet he can only manage 6.6 for the season, and 3 total minutes in the playoffs. Naw, having a 3 pt shooter on the floor isn't going to help.
-Marcus Banks-Now call me cynical, but it really seems odd that a guy who we faced several times in the past and did pretty well against us, while averaging over 25 minutes a game the last 2 seasons, suddenly doesn't remember how to play basketball and can only see the court 11 minutes a game and 7 whole minutes in the playoffs. Could that be something that started at the top?
-Pat Burke-Goes from 12.5, to about 7. Plays a position we are always in need of toughness and depth in. 'ya, Lars, but he cast up 3 pointers and upset Mike'. Big woop. Get past it. Tell the guy what you need and expect, and show him some respect by putting him in when something matters.
It's an enormously long season. To not accept the fact that it may cost you a game or two early to have a deeper, fresher team at the end of the season which lets you win games you might be losing because of fatigue, is basic coaching 101. Mike has a huge ego and feels he can make this system work, but it never has. Teams don't win without depth and decent bench play.
Now, tell me how all these guys suck and can barely tie their shoes. Never mind that anyone of them would absolutely destroy any pickup game you've ever played in. Never mind that many have years of NBA experience on several other top quality teams. Never mind that they were brought in because people felt they would fit the system, so either your scouting sucks, or you didn't give them a chance and support. And completely ignore that they all pull down paychecks that all of us dream of. Nope, they all suck. They all look like refugees from the Make a Wish Foundation with snot running down their noses.
Over the years we've seen some pretty interesting coaching efforts in getting the maximum out of players who probably weren't top player material. As much as I hate the guy, Phil Jackson comes to mind. Pat Riley has done some amazing things with role players. Greg Popovich too. Some have said that Mike has done the same with guys like Diaw and JJ, but I'm starting to think these guys may have been successful by overcoming Mike D.
I see too many situations that we could have improved our team and Mike didn't take them. My contention that many of you don't understand basketball is because I would expect guys who are pretty savvy to notice those, instead of making the absurd excuse that we don't have a bench. We may not have had a playoff ready bench, but that doesn't mean we couldn't have or shouldn't have, and that falls into D'A's lap.
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JS22
Say Vandelay!
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This is a great post, and I agree 100%, but unfortunately most everyone here will essentially shoot you down for your "negative" opinion.
Louis
DJ Roomba
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Lars...
Jumaine Jones tore tendons in his ankle during the preseason and looked stiff and awful during the time he was given.
Pat Burke became a circus show. 3/14 from 3 point land in his 2 previous seasons in the NBA over the course of 104 games and 1,130 minutes. This season he shot 6/22 from 3 point land playing in just 23 games and average 8 minutes per.
Jalen Rose has two bad knees and was out of shape. He did nothing but stand in a corner when he was on offense. There were possessions where he wasn't on camera because he was standing so far away from the action.
Polish Rifle was awful. Last season he had the worst shooting percentages of his career. He was picked up because he was cheap and wouldn't raise a stink for having to sit on the bench.
Marcus Banks is not made to run an offense as delicate as the Suns. He's not a PG that can get the ball moving or run an offense in the style of the Suns. He was on thin ice from the get go and his poor play overall ruined it for him.
James Jones was horrid this season. If he didn't hustle he would've been given the Banks treatment. Fortunately he's cheap.
Jumaine Jones tore tendons in his ankle during the preseason and looked stiff and awful during the time he was given.
Pat Burke became a circus show. 3/14 from 3 point land in his 2 previous seasons in the NBA over the course of 104 games and 1,130 minutes. This season he shot 6/22 from 3 point land playing in just 23 games and average 8 minutes per.
Jalen Rose has two bad knees and was out of shape. He did nothing but stand in a corner when he was on offense. There were possessions where he wasn't on camera because he was standing so far away from the action.
Polish Rifle was awful. Last season he had the worst shooting percentages of his career. He was picked up because he was cheap and wouldn't raise a stink for having to sit on the bench.
Marcus Banks is not made to run an offense as delicate as the Suns. He's not a PG that can get the ball moving or run an offense in the style of the Suns. He was on thin ice from the get go and his poor play overall ruined it for him.
James Jones was horrid this season. If he didn't hustle he would've been given the Banks treatment. Fortunately he's cheap.
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