So, how good is this team going to be?

[BC867]

Barbosa is about as good as any SG the Suns have on their roster. IMO, he could get minutes and help the Suns in a 82 game schedule.

I believe that his value to a team would be as "instant offense". Spot minutes, but not part of a regular rotation.

He's a tweener. Too small to guard Shooting Guards, but without Point Guard skills. I guess if he guarded Point Guards, Dragic could guard "2" Guards. But, on a regular basis, switching every trip up and down the floor, could cause as much chaos as any benefits of putting him in the rotation.

 

[95pro]

I believe that his value to a team would be as "instant offense". Spot minutes, but not part of a regular rotation.

He's a tweener. Too small to guard Shooting Guards, but without Point Guard skills. I guess if he guarded Point Guards, Dragic could guard "2" Guards. But, on a regular basis, switching every trip up and down the floor, could cause as much chaos as any benefits of putting him in the rotation.

cross matching with the guards would be a bit of tough assignment to handle. its not uncommon though for the forwards and wings though.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Michael Redd was damaged goods. I mean, REALLY damaged goods and our training staff worked a miracle and made him a serviceable player. LB statistically might not be better, but the circumstances are completely different.

I explained before, the comparison I was making was about team impact. Signing LB would be fairly INSIGNIFICANT, just like signing Redd was fairly INSIGNIFICANT.

If you would like to point out that its not the same at all because they wear different brand of shoes, or one is righty and the other is lefty, that's not the point.

If you disagree and believe that the signing of LB would be much more significant than the signing of Redd was, then there would be something to actually argue about.

 

[Mainstreet]

More in regard to Barbosa. Paul Coro on twitter reports the Suns are not pursuing him as per tweet dated 9-13-12.

Paul Coro ‏@paulcoro

Free agent Leandro Barbosa told @balanacesta that he talked to the #Suns. It must've been a one-way talk. Suns aren't pursuing him.

http://twitter.com/PaulCoro

 

[Broseph]

Just good enough to ensure we'll be outside of franchise player territory in the draft.

LOL sooooo freaking true....

 

[mojorizen7]

Barbosa is probably better than any SG currently on the Suns' roster, so sure, bring him in.

True,but if you want to change the culture then you pass on that.

 

[HooverDam]

Stoudemire's "fatigue" was from trying to force the issue without ever developing proper footwork, convincing up-fakes, or any other standard low-post skills.

If you haven't learned by now that BC has it made up in his mind that smaller players playing 'up' in position is a crime against humanity, you're never gonna get it. No logic, facts, reason or anything else will ever convince him that ever playing smaller, quicker, lighter is acceptable.

Until the Suns have a 'true' 300 pound plodding Center, he'll be unhappy.

A good example, the Suns may be one of the top 5 worst teams in the NBA this year, but he's happy because they're going to be more conventional:

There is a Santa Claus!!

screw all that winning 55+ games, going to the WCF and nearly being a NBA finals team if not for horrific bad luck. Those teams were no fun because they were little!

If only the Suns could use magic and put together and all time big lineup of Oliver Miller-Joe Barry Carroll -Boris Diaw - Eddie Johnson - Penny Hardaway, they'd win it all for sure!

 

[BC867]

If you haven't learned by now that BC has it made up in his mind that smaller players playing 'up' in position is a crime against humanity, you're never gonna get it. No logic, facts, reason or anything else will ever convince him that ever playing smaller, quicker, lighter is acceptable.

Aw, Hoover, in 4+ decades, the Suns have never been a post-season favorite. Or achiever. The "luck" that you mentioned is no substitute for strength in the NBA.

 

[Chaplin]

Aw, Hoover, in 4+ decades, the Suns have never been a post-season favorite. Or achiever. The "luck" that you mentioned is no substitute for strength in the NBA.

Not true, but I don't blame you for selective memory.

 

[BC867]

Not true, but I don't blame you for selective memory.

OK, what year were the Suns favored to win the NBA championship?

And, in the more important category of results, what year did they achieve it?

A team philosophy of playing small in the frontcourt has resulted in 0-2 in the finals in our history, most of which I have been a Suns fan. There is no selective memory there.

 

[Phrazbit]

The 94 Suns were title favorites. The 93 team was probably given the best odds of any team that faced Jordan's Bulls.

And center is a dying position in the NBA. If you have superior speed and team defense its better than having a true center.

 

[Chaplin]

The 94 Suns were title favorites. The 93 team was probably given the best odds of any team that faced Jordan's Bulls.

And center is a dying position in the NBA. If you have superior speed and team defense its better than having a true center.

We have a winner!

 

[elindholm]

If you haven't learned by now that BC has it made up in his mind that smaller players playing 'up' in position is a crime against humanity, you're never gonna get it. No logic, facts, reason or anything else will ever convince him that ever playing smaller, quicker, lighter is acceptable.

Yes, I know that. But I also know that other people are reading. Not everyone on the board is a lost cause.

But besides, I'm not debating (at the moment) that playing "smaller, quicker, lighter" is acceptable. I'm debating whether playing people out of position is worse than force-feeding minutes to no-talent stiffs who happen to be large. I think having unqualified players on the floor is worse; BC thinks having undersized players is worse. It's potentially a valid debate, except then he ruins it by invoking all sorts of non-information about how playing undersized creates injuries or has a worse playoff history than playing with no talent.

 

[Cheesebeef]

The 94 Suns were title favorites. The 93 team was probably given the best odds of any team that faced Jordan's Bulls.

this isn't what I remember. The Knicks were favored to beat the Bulls, but once the Bulls got past them, no one was picking us to beat Chicago.

And the 94 team? They were a 3 seed and both Houston and Seattle (who won 63 games) were favored to beat us.

In 1995, we were the favorite until Danny Manning blew out his ACL tho.

Otherwise, I don't think we were ever the favorite to win the title. Maybe the 2007 season, but even then, it was pretty split on whether or not we'd even beat the Spurs.

 

[Chaplin]

this isn't what I remember. The Knicks were favored to beat the Bulls, but once the Bulls got past them, no one was picking us to beat Chicago.

And the 94 team? They were a 3 seed and both Houston and Seattle (who won 63 games) were favored to beat us.

In 1995, we were the favorite until Danny Manning blew out his ACL tho.

Otherwise, I don't think we were ever the favorite to win the title. Maybe the 2007 season, but even then, it was pretty split on whether or not we'd even beat the Spurs.

Most of that season we were favorites. Maybe not going into the playoffs, but certainly throughout the first 3/4 of the season we were.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Most of that season we were favorites. Maybe not going into the playoffs, but certainly throughout the first 3/4 of the season we were.

which season? 93? we surely weren't in 1994, when the team was dealing with long term injuries to both KJ and Barkley. That was the season that Socks became like a local legend in Phoenix.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Most of that season we were favorites. Maybe not going into the playoffs, but certainly throughout the first 3/4 of the season we were.

well, it seems to me that if you're not the favorite going into the playoffs, seems to me your not really the favorite to win the title. I guess people will have different opinions of what the title favorite is, but I'd think a prerequisite would be that at least come the big time, you were favored to win it.

 

[BC867]

It is a pleasure reading diverse opinions on this board. Especially when they are not accompanied by insults.

Thanks, guys, for responding.

 

[crisper57]

Not as good as it was yesterday. Channing Frye sidelined indefinitely with an "enlarged heart".

http://www.nba.com/suns/channing-frye-out-indefinitely

 

[elindholm]

Wow, that sucks. Heart problems are scary. How do you correct such a thing?

 

[Dr. Jones]

I'll go with 32 wins, and I hope that someone brings this thread back in April to remind me.

Your wish.......

If they go 6-1 over the last 7 I will make my prediction.

Looks like they sucked as bad as most of us thought they would.

 

[Dr. Jones]

12-14 seed. The reason why I didn't include 15 seed was because that spot is reserved for the Sacramento Kings.

they are 5 games better than we are......

 

[elindholm]

Your wish.......

Yeah, I was insufficiently pessimistic. Pretty funny, since I'm considered one of the biggest naysayers on the board.

 

[Phrazbit]

This team has no strengths on their roster. The only above average starter isGortat. Its going to be a long year.

26 wins. On paper only Houston has a less talented roster in the Western Conference.

Pretty close... and this prediction was made prior to the Harden trade. Overestimated Gortat though.

 

[Griffin]

Most losses in franchise history:

66, 1968-69 (inaugural season)
54, 1987-88
53 with 6 games to go, this season

This will become the worst season in franchise history aside from their very first season.