Suns 2024-2025 Season Discussions

[Mainstreet]

People think I’m a JJ defender which I’m not. I just think this failed creation is all Ishbia. However JJ has been here for the all the drama:

Crowder/Monty in 22-23’, Monty/Ayton. same year, KD/Vogel in 23-24’ and Nurkic/Beal/Bud this year. That’s a lot of poor chemistry/nonsense on his watch. I think KD brings uncomfortable vibes wherever he goes and we know Book hasn’t been the same since he got here. Ishbia needs to break up the roster and smoke out his GM because this isn’t going anywhere or ending well.

I figure I must have missed some interviews with James Jones, but I'm not sure. Has anyone heard from him recently?

The last I can remember is Media Day.

 

[GatorAZ]

I figure I must have missed some interviews with James Jones, but I'm not sure. Has anyone heard from him recently?

The last I can remember is Media Day.

.
He’s pretty much a puppet GM but he’s still gotta go. I’m sure Ishbia would just elevate the Bartelstein son while taking Isiah’s advice as the gospel.

 

[BirdGangThing]

pretty - pretty - pretty - good

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[Hoop Head]

You know one thing I have been contemplating lately is why is this years team worse than last years when the roster is clearly superior.

The biggest difference appears to be our defense has gotten much worse this season, the offense though it appeared to be a little different for the first 10 games or so seems to have morphed back to mostly what it was last year.

What this all seems to suggest to me is our coaching is actually worse this year and or the players are tuning them out.

I don't know if the coaching is worse but the system requires everyone buy in. KD goes rogue 90% of the time and can't pass gas without needing to change his shorts. Last night we looked good offensively when Booker and Tyus sort of swapped roles, for example. Booker's shot wasn't falling but he took the playmaking duties over and found Tyus where he usually was. I think that's a testament to the offense Bud wants and also resembles his teams in Milwaukee and Atlanta. We're stuck though because KD won't commit to being a shooter or even playing in a .5 type offense where he doesn't drain the clock for a shot.

Defense is worse but I expected that to happen. It involves less switching and seemed to take everyone a while to develop chemistry and consistency. It has improved some over the last month but not a lot. Still leave too many lanes open and guys in corners.

 

[Yuma]

I figure I must have missed some interviews with James Jones, but I'm not sure. Has anyone heard from him recently?

The last I can remember is Media Day.

I think he is in witness protection.

 

[Yuma]

pretty - pretty - pretty - good

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Watching past Suns squads for 50+ years, it always seemed to me, at minimum we just need a guy that can play solid defense, get ten boards a game, and 2-3 blocks, and if they score that's gravy. Like @BirdGangThing says about Richards' stats "pretty - pretty - pretty - good"

 

[Hoop Head]

I think he is in witness protection.

He got locked in a bathroom stall at the Waffle House.

 

[Mainstreet]

.
He’s pretty much a puppet GM but he’s still gotta go. I’m sure Ishbia would just elevate the Bartelstein son while taking Isiah’s advice as the gospel.

The best way to move James Jones may be to promote him. There might be a lot of skeletons in the closet.

Yeah, I don't know who is running the team besides Mat Ishbia and Josh Bartelstein.

 

[Yuma]

The best way to move James Jones may be to promote him. There might be a lot of skeletons in the closet.

Yeah, I don't know who is running the team besides Mat Ishbia and Josh Bartelstein.

President of community relations?

 

[Mainstreet]

President of community relations?

Except that would likely require public appearances.

 

[Hoop Head]

The best way to move James Jones may be to promote him. There might be a lot of skeletons in the closet.

Yeah, I don't know who is running the team besides Mat Ishbia and Josh Bartelstein.

Promote him into the mortgage business. Get him away from the Suns. Make him the managing partner of the Mercury or Valley Suns. Send him home with a 1% ownership stake.

 

[Hoop Head]

Last night we looked good offensively when Booker and Tyus sort of swapped roles, for example. Booker's shot wasn't falling but he took the playmaking duties over and found Tyus where he usually was. I think that's a testament to the offense Bud wants and also resembles his teams in Milwaukee and Atlanta.

Wanted to expand on this. The offense Bud ran elsewhere would set in the halfcourt, 5 out, and they'd almost take turns taking possessions as there were 5 components that were interchangeable to a certain extent. That requires players to sacrifice and know what role they play at whatever position on the floor they're on. We saw that early here and in preseason as the default. You can set screens and slip and alternate spots on the floor off ball but we have 1 guy who doesn't like doing that and also can't pass so it leads to a lot of bad iso's.

It's fine to go iso for a change of pace and test defenses or exploit mismatches but this team falls into isolation offense more than a system of any sort. The 5 out would be the default or starting point but Bud's main offensive philosophy was "Play Random" and that involves change but it requires all 5 to buy in, which we haven't seen for extended stretches. Improvising effectively is rarely done here but was on display by Book and Tyus last night. I hope they build on that.

If nothing materializes after 14-16 seconds then let someone iso for the final shot. That's better than bad deep shots before everyone has crossed half court. Too many guys throw up heat check like shots early in the clock and that might be random by definition but shouldn't be encouraged.

 

[Yuma]

Wanted to expand on this. The offense Bud ran elsewhere would set in the halfcourt, 5 out, and they'd almost take turns taking possessions as there were 5 components that were interchangeable to a certain extent. That requires players to sacrifice and know what role they play at whatever position on the floor they're on. We saw that early here and in preseason as the default. You can set screens and slip and alternate spots on the floor off ball but we have 1 guy who doesn't like doing that and also can't pass so it leads to a lot of bad iso's.

It's fine to go iso for a change of pace and test defenses or exploit mismatches but this team falls into isolation offense more than a system of any sort. The 5 out would be the default or starting point but Bud's main offensive philosophy was "Play Random" and that involves change but it requires all 5 to buy in, which we haven't seen for extended stretches. Improvising effectively is rarely done here but was on display by Book and Tyus last night. I hope they build on that.

If nothing materializes after 14-16 seconds then let someone iso for the final shot. That's better than bad deep shots before everyone has crossed half court. Too many guys throw up heat check like shots early in the clock and that might be random by definition but shouldn't be encouraged.

I saw early in the season one of the reporters noted Bud actually liked taking a three early if it netted a high percentage make. At the time I noted, the silver lining is that it was a shot instead of a turn over. I am not saying I disagree with you, just noting the early transition threes may actually be a Coach Bud idea.

 

[Hoop Head]

I saw early in the season one of the reporters noted Bud actually liked taking a three early if it netted a high percentage make. At the time I noted, the silver lining is that it was a shot instead of a turn over. I am not saying I disagree with you, just noting the early transition threes may actually be a Coach Bud idea.

Sometimes, sure. I don't think he was talking about the contested looks though that we see regularly. Some like how Royce passed up a clear 2 for an open 3 that missed yesterday was likely what he was referencing. I've learned to live with those, that's today's NBA. The contested looks is what I'm mentioning, which are lower percentage shots even if taken from the same spot. There's data now you can view to see how players shoot with defenders being within a certain distance.