Shooting Guard

[JCSunsfan]

Quietly, amidst all of the Penny vs. JJ talk, works Casey Jacobsen.

He has a starters mentality but has toiled in obscurity without complaint. But the numbers he is putting up in limited minutes are impressive.

52% overall, 50% from behind the arc.

While his minutes and shots have been limited, that is still very good.

If Casey could improve his defense some (he played well on D tonight) is it reasonable to think that he might deserve a shot in the starting lineup?

If he could maintain similar shooting numbers with say, 25-30 mins a game and reasonable defense, well, he might be our answer at the 2. In fact, he would remind me alot of Jeff Hornacek.

It is worth talking about.

 

[Mainstreet]

I believe Casey will only get better the more he plays much like Jeff Hornacek as you mentioned. He's smart and wants to get better.

 

[Krangodnzr]

My opinion of Casey Jacobsen has really skyrocketed.

He needs more minutes.

 

[matt_whitlock]

Casey's been playing well, but I wouldn't want to put him in the starting lineup. He's too one-dimensional. If he can keep his shot going well, he's exactly what you want coming off the bench - a guy who can hit open 3's, give you some energy for however many minutes he plays, and help extend the lead with his point-a-minute type attitude while the starters are out.

You can't start everybody, but that doesn't mean everybody can't contribute. Keep Penny in the starting lineup for now, and see how it works out. Hopefully Casey will help Penny, JJ, Stephon, Marion, Amare, and everybody else on this team get itself out of the funk its been in.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Originally posted by matt_whitlock
Casey's been playing well, but I wouldn't want to put him in the starting lineup. He's too one-dimensional. If he can keep his shot going well, he's exactly what you want coming off the bench - a guy who can hit open 3's, give you some energy for however many minutes he plays, and help extend the lead with his point-a-minute type attitude while the starters are out.

Why would I do that? Casey plays better offense than Penny, he plays better defense than Penny, and he's young enough to be part of our future.

Penny Hardaway will never, ever, be part of a Suns championship team. He is very simply not part of our future. Its a future we need to start building now.

 

[scotsman13]

the real problem i have with giving casey more minutes is that i think that barbosa is better for the team and and can play on the floor with marbury. and yes i do like what casey has been doing this year.

 

[Chaplin]

I think it's funny that less than a week ago, many were calling for Casey to be permanently benched.

 

[Joe Mama]

Originally posted by Chaplin
I think it's funny that less than a week ago, many were calling for Casey to be permanently benched.

That's very true, but to be fair it was probably more like 10-14 days ago. Besides basketball inspires temperamental fans because guys in the NBA are so streaky.

I'm not sure Casey Jacobsen's man-to-man defense has improved any. It's his team defense and energy that look good. He was excellent last night in the trapping defense.

I don't think Casey Jacobsen should start, but I do like in getting minutes with the starting offense. It is more likely to get open shots with them on the floor, and he is the team's best long-range shooter so far.

Joe Mama

 

[devilalum]

He'll defenitely get more minutes as long as Amare's out.

If he plays well he may get more when Amare comes back.

 

[Dr. Dumas]

If the Suns are going to have to almost be forced to go with small ball with A.S. out, I would love to see Barbosa get more playing time. When he is out on the floor, he seems to cause havoc with the trapping defense that I love.

 

[George O'Brien]

Who Should Start

The JJ solution is to play him at power forward, where he has the quickness to get open.

I am beginning to lean toward Casey at #2 to find out if he can keep teams from running the zone right from the start.

If the Suns go to the press a lot, then Barbosa should get a lot of minutes. I doubt he is really going to be a great man defender and team defender until he has more experience. BUT, he is already the best press defender the Suns have.

Penny will get a lot of minutes if the team presses because no one can press for 40 minutes effectively.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Re: Who Should Start

Originally posted by George O'Brien
The JJ solution is to play him at power forward, where he has the quickness to get open.

I am beginning to lean toward Casey at #2 to find out if he can keep teams from running the zone right from the start.

If the Suns go to the press a lot, then Barbosa should get a lot of minutes. I doubt he is really going to be a great man defender and team defender until he has more experience. BUT, he is already the best press defender the Suns have.

Penny will get a lot of minutes if the team presses because no one can press for 40 minutes effectively.

Yep on JJ. Its a better matchup than Shawn against K-Mart.

The Suns should press whenever Kidd sits.

 

[Joe Mama]

Tom Gugliotta gets the start on Kenyon Martin, and so far early in the game he looks just fine.

Joe Mama

 

[JCSunsfan]

JJ, sheesh.
0-4, 0-2 (3pt), 4 rbs, 4 to's, 4 pfs, 0 pts, in 17 minutes. Ouch.

Casey
0-4, 0-2, 6 rbs, 0 to's, 1 pf, 1 pt, 31 minutes. Not much better.

Penny
4-12, 0-2, 1rb, 3 to, 1 pf, 8 pts. 32 mins. Better--but still poor.

Barbosa
4-7, 1-4 (3 pt), 1 rbs, 1 to, 0 pfs, 9 pts. 7 mins. Um, hum.

 

[jbeecham]

Yeah and Barbosa didn't get time in the 2nd half. Good Job Frank!

 

[Phill11]

Originally posted by Mainstreet
I believe Casey will only get better the more he plays much like Jeff Hornacek as you mentioned. He's smart and wants to get better.

You forgot one thing. The guy can play. I mean he is no LeBron James, don't get me wrong, but he can shoot and he is a great ballplayer.

 

[Joe Mama]

Originally posted by Phill11
You forgot one thing. The guy can play. I mean he is no LeBron James, don't get me wrong, but he can shoot and he is a great ballplayer.

Believe it or not the strength of Casey Jacobsen over the last several games has been his defense and rebounding. It helps that with the exception of last night's game he has been shooting well. One thing he needs to improve on it is getting open more often. He moves without the ball more than most of the Phoenix Suns perimeter players, but he needs to be doing more.

Joe Mama

 

[zett]

The thing I have been most impressed with is, his Rebounding. He has been getting alot of boards that you usually see go over the interior rebounders and bounce out for loose balls, Similar to shawn he has been getting high and pulling balls that are bye him, and hasn't been turning the ball over at all that I noticed, he has been making smart plays on the court. And I like how he catches the ball at the 3 point line and takes it strong inside, he usually either dishes inside shoots a lay up or he kicks back out to an open man!

 

[George O'Brien]

Changing the offense for Casey

At various times I have said that Casey reminds me a big of Chris Mullen when he first came up. The key to Mullen's success was that the Warriors ran picks and screens to get him open -- and looked for him early in offense.

Starting Casey might help in getting FJ and Stephon to change the offense to make better use of Casey's shooting.
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I think the Suns should give serious consideration to making JJ their permanent backup PF. Googs may be a little taller and heavier, but Googs never takes the ball to basket and doesn't jump.

If they do this, then there will be more guard minutes for Barbosa and Casey, while still using Penny 20+ a game.