Suns at Blazers

[82CardsGrad]

I just can't explain this. Frye had a horrible game. Dragic gets hot and goes down. Markieff is under the weather and still we had every chance to win this on the road against a pretty decent team.

Steve

Great effort on the defensive end... They are relentless!


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[Hoop Head]

3rd Thought: Channing Frye is the weak link. I have no doubt that Hornacek is aware of it. [/I]

I think this to be true but it's out of his hands for a couple reasons right now. He has been needed with Markieff sick at the moment and Len's health making his availability questionable. I believe McD has been shopping him since he found out he would be coming back because he is the one player on the team that stand outs as not being a piece of what is being built in any way. In order to shop a player who missed all of last season you need to give him minutes. He has played a significant amount of minutes consistently so far, more than his playing has warranted. I doubt any team would take him right now unless we took on a contract that is more/worse than his. Prior to the season Hornacek seemed doubtful he would play much, I remember an article before the opener where he said he wouldn't start in place of Markieff due to the suspension because he wasn't healthy and good enough yet. The way Hornacek spoke seemed like Fry wouldn't see many minutes early in the year due to him being rusty and out of game shape. Right now he is averaging 25 minutes through 8 games, that seems to be a lot more than I expected based off what was said just before the opener.

 

[Absolute Zero]

Great effort on the defensive end... They are relentless!


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Except on that high pick and roll that allowed Lillard into to a wide open lane for the game winner. It looked like Bledsoe got picked and Frye just stood there and watched rather than sliding over. Then, no one came over to help at the rim. That was horrible D.

But then we still get 3 good chances to win it and nothing goes in.

 

[sunsfan88]

1st thought: We got Bledsoe for, with all due respect, Jared Dudley? To put this in perspective, the Clippers may have traded their second best player for Jared Dudley:

PER through 8 games:
Bledsoe: 24.9
Griffin: 22.27

You are forgetting JJ Reddick. The Suns ability to take on Butler's contract and give up a 2nd round pick is what gave them the ability to acquire Reddick.

 

[JS22]

Who cares, we need to lose more games like this.

Winning 40 games does us no good right now, adding Andrew Wiggins or Jabari Parker to our new would be huge.
Randle is good too but plays too much below the rim for my taste, he does not look like he will be a big factor defensively ever.

Because constantly losing in heartbreaking fashion and on a bogus non-call is GREAT for their confidence.

 

[Suns_fan69]

Because constantly losing in heartbreaking fashion and on a bogus non-call is GREAT for their confidence.

Not that I support the tanking calls but I think they should be pretty happy with the effort last night.

They were on the road, against a really good team and (last play notwithstanding) played great defense all game long to put them in a position to win the game. It's not like they got shellacked by Utah - knock on wood.

 

[Superbone]

If Tiger Woods can be penalized by bimbos sitting at home why can't we get the victory because of an obvious non call on goal tending at the end of the game? Why weren't the refs summoned to review instant replay?

I hope the Suns at least try to get this verdict changed through the league office. We deserved the victory in this game.

We really dominated most of the play. The step back three pointer by Mathews was plain out of his butt. He also mugged Bledsoe on the next play on the other end with another non call.

OH well.

We are fun to watch and we all can give a crap again.

Yep, refs conveniently ignored the goal tend at the end which would have won us the game. No way the league office reverses it though. There's no precedent for it.

 

[Superbone]

Except on that high pick and roll that allowed Lillard into to a wide open lane for the game winner. It looked like Bledsoe got picked and Frye just stood there and watched rather than sliding over. Then, no one came over to help at the rim. That was horrible D.

But then we still get 3 good chances to win it and nothing goes in.

Yep, smothering defense throughout except unfortunately on the most important play of the game. The defense broke down everywhere on that play. The worst offenders were the last lines of defense, Frye and Mc Morris who both ran away from Lillard. Oh well, hopefully it was a learning experience.

 

[devilalum]

Two things.

If Dragic doesn't get hurt the Suns win by 8-10.
If Frye doesn't play the Suns win by 8-10. He just doesn't belong on this team! Even if he was playing at his pre-heart condition level he still doesn't belong. He never played defense well enough to deserve a spot in this lineup.

 

[Griffin]

Who cares, we need to lose more games like this.

Winning 40 games does us no good right now, adding Andrew Wiggins or Jabari Parker to our new would be huge.

Right now, this team doesn't look like a team capable of losing enough games to compete for one of the top draft picks. The roster is simply not bad enough. For starters, they would have to significantly worsen their defense and Bledsoe would definitely have to step down his game a notch or two. So barring any trade that would net the Suns a truly untalented, immobile role player in the twilight of his career, I just don't see it happening this season.

If Dragic doesn't get hurt the Suns win by 8-10.

That's now three in-game injuries that caused him to leave the game, two of which resulted from collisions.

But the Suns had plenty of chances to win this one even without Dragic. That tip-in by Morris was as good a chance you'll get at winning a game at the buzzer as any.

Well, the more it starts to appear that the Suns won't come anywhere near top 5 in the draft, the more these types of losses are going to sting.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Right now, this team doesn't look like a team capable of losing enough games to compete for one of the top draft picks. The roster is simply not bad enough. For starters, they would have to significantly worsen their defense and Bledsoe would definitely have to step down his game a notch or two. So barring any trade that would net the Suns a truly untalented, immobile role player in the twilight of his career, I just don't see it happening this season.




That's now three in-game injuries that caused him to leave the game, two of which resulted from collisions.

But the Suns had plenty of chances to win this one even without Dragic. That tip-in by Morris was as good a chance you'll get at winning a game at the buzzer as any.

Well, the more it starts to appear that the Suns won't come anywhere near top 5 in the draft, the more these types of losses are going to sting.

They sting at the moment but I'm still consoled by the fact this is a young team and it's on its way up, not down. We need to upgrade the 4 and probably the 3 spot too. In fact, it would be great if our starters pushed Green, Tucker, Kieff and Plumlee to the bench. To be a true contender that's probably would it would take. I love the combo of Bledsoe and Dragic although a pure 2 would complement either of them nicely. Eric though is proving he is one of the league's best players and I don't see that changing.

Steve

 

[BC867]

They sting at the moment but I'm still consoled by the fact this is a young team and it's on its way up, not down. We need to upgrade the 4 and probably the 3 spot too. In fact, it would be great if our starters pushed Green, Tucker, Kieff and Plumlee to the bench. To be a true contender that's probably would it would take. I love the combo of Bledsoe and Dragic although a pure 2 would complement either of them nicely. Eric though is proving he is one of the league's best players and I don't see that changing.

Steve

Plumlee appears to have one shortcoming. When he jumps Center or on a jump ball, he seems to be outjumped every time.

I wonder if Mark West, etc., will be working with him on that. He is too good on defense and rebounding to give away points on jump balls.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Plumlee appears to have one shortcoming. When he jumps Center or on a jump ball, he seems to be outjumped every time.

I wonder if Mark West, etc., will be working with him on that. He is too good on defense and rebounding to give away points on jump balls.

While there is more to jump balls than reach, he's outmatched there by just about every opponent. He is just under 7 foot (in shoes) with average length arms and he's usually jumping center against guys with several inches of reach on him.

Steve

 

[Errntknght]

I keep hoping he league will go to 'possession arrows' - jump balls are an anachronism I won't mind seeing the end of.

 

[Superbone]

They sting at the moment but I'm still consoled by the fact this is a young team and it's on its way up, not down. We need to upgrade the 4 and probably the 3 spot too. In fact, it would be great if our starters pushed Green, Tucker, Kieff and Plumlee to the bench. To be a true contender that's probably would it would take. I love the combo of Bledsoe and Dragic although a pure 2 would complement either of them nicely. Eric though is proving he is one of the league's best players and I don't see that changing.

Steve

It's funny. The loss really didn't bother me much at all. In past years, it would have stuck with me for a while. But with this team, I just enjoy watching them give it their all without any expectations. I felt worse for the team and especially Markieff who missed that game winning bunny. It killed him. I'm still not sure if that wouldn't have gone in if it weren't for the goal tend through the rim/net. That game ending was almost identical to a Minny loss the other day where Love put the ball on the rim at the buzzer and it fell off.

 

[JCSunsfan]

While there is more to jump balls than reach, he's outmatched there by just about every opponent. He is just under 7 foot (in shoes) with average length arms and he's usually jumping center against guys with several inches of reach on him.

Steve

He has a higher vertical jump than anyone he is going against. The problem is that jump balls are usually tipped on their way up. Its a technique thing.

 

[AzStevenCal]

He has a higher vertical jump than anyone he is going against. The problem is that jump balls are usually tipped on their way up. Its a technique thing.

It takes time to jump. Some jump quicker than others and that "quick jump" is far more important that how high you can jump. But I'd still say reach is the single most important factor. You have the quick jumping freaks like Amare and Marion but most of the rest of them are human and it takes a lot less time out there to reach high than it does to jump high. I'm not saying he can't improve his technique and timing, I just don't think we'll see much of a difference in the results. Refs won't let him steal too many tips either. That tipping on the way up gets called more often than not and after awhile you'll see the ref change his toss, in favor of the other guy (IMO).

Steve

 

[elindholm]

He has a higher vertical jump than anyone he is going against. The problem is that jump balls are usually tipped on their way up. Its a technique thing.

Officials are supposed to call that a violation.

 

[Phrazbit]

Marion had the quickest jump I've seen, he would tip the ball up on a rebound and then he'd get that 2nd jump off seemingly as the other dudes are still coming to the ground and haul it in. I know it defies physics to say he jumped higher but came down quicker than the other guys, but that sure how it felt watching him.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Marion had the quickest jump I've seen, he would tip the ball up on a rebound and then he'd get that 2nd jump off seemingly as the other dudes are still coming to the ground and haul it in. I know it defies physics to say he jumped higher but came down quicker than the other guys, but that sure how it felt watching him.

Pogo sticks for legs.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Marion had the quickest jump I've seen, he would tip the ball up on a rebound and then he'd get that 2nd jump off seemingly as the other dudes are still coming to the ground and haul it in. I know it defies physics to say he jumped higher but came down quicker than the other guys, but that sure how it felt watching him.

Marion and Amare both had really quick second (and third) jumps. But Shawn seemed to jump even quicker on his second than he did on his first. That was probably just an optical illusion due to the fact everyone else always slowed down so much more on their second jump.

Steve

 

[JCSunsfan]

Marion and Amare both had really quick second (and third) jumps. But Shawn seemed to jump even quicker on his second than he did on his first. That was probably just an optical illusion due to the fact everyone else always slowed down so much more on their second jump.

Steve

This old article has all the answers.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/magazine/05play_gift_014_.html?_r=0

 

[elindholm]

This old article has all the answers.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/magazine/05play_gift_014_.html?_r=0

That was a good read, until it ended with the exhaustingly hackneyed (and patently silly) cliché that rebounding is all about desire.