Suns at Celtics 1-15-16

[Mainstreet]

The Suns play at the Celtics with a 5:30 p.m. Arizona start time.

I'm expecting another former Suns player, Isaiah Thomas, planning to torch the Suns.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...-sent-isaiah-thomas-celtics-stardom/78849516/

 

[Absolute Zero]

I suspect you are right, especially with all the injuries in the backcourt.

Good stuff in the article about why Thomas was signed and why things fell apart:

“When we recruited him, we pitched the sixth-man role to him and to be one of the top scorers in the league,” Suns General Manager Ryan McDonough said. “That was with (Eric) Bledsoe and (Goran) Dragic on the roster. We signed Isaiah before we ended up getting Bledsoe’s contract resolved. It’s one of those things that seemed better to him in July than it did maybe during the season.”
***

Even when Dragic also wanted out of Phoenix before the February deadline because of his role, Thomas was moved to Boston for Cleveland’s 2016 first-round pick and Marcus Thornton. That draft pick currently projects to be at No. 28 in June.

“It was a case where Isaiah was going to be a starter, wants to be a starter and we had Eric Bledsoe,” Suns coach Jeff Hornacek said. “It’s probably pretty difficult to start a 5-7 and a 6-foot guy in the backcourt.”

McDonough said the Suns were in a bind where they had to pick one point guard. It was Bledsoe, whom they had re-signed in the 2014 offseason to a five-year, $70 million contract.

Thomas averaged 15.2 points and 3.7 assists for the Suns in 25.7 minutes per game, nine fewer minutes than he played in Sacramento. Thomas said he was competing for a starting job from the start of 2014 Suns training camp and commented during the season that the Suns situation was not what he expected. After the trade, he said playing time was his only issue in Phoenix, where he made 39 percent of his 3-pointers.

Sounds like someone is lying, or communications were very very bad or both.

 

[elindholm]

McDonough said the Suns were in a bind where they had to pick one point guard.

Which they then promptly re-established by acquiring a second one.

 

[95pro]

i swear we never do well on what could be a 2 for 1 situation. i mean we had the ball with about 50 seconds.

 

[95pro]

Knight should have taken that last second shot as he was dribbling in rhythm. Tele is probably the only guy who could have got that shot off though.

 

[95pro]

i'm not sure what weems brings to the table with our roster and why he's playing over some of the other guys right now.

 

[elindholm]

This might be the worst Suns team in franchise history. Ten years from now, we'll be saying, "Good lord, I can't believe we had people like P. J. Tucker in the starting lineup."

 

[Bert]

Wow, just wow. That last part of the second quarter was the laziest transition defense I have ever, ever seen this team play. Tucker and Morris on the court just suck the life out of this squad. If the goal is to tank just simply leave those two on the floor together


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[elindholm]

Yea. As bad as it sounds I actually think the Dragic/Beasley/Brown/Gortat Suns team could probably beat this current Suns squad.

Four on five, you mean? Yes, probably.

 

[devilalum]

I'm sick of players that can get to the rim but cant finish.

sent from a fone

 

[Catlover]

Just 5 or 6 weeks ago (in response to a slinslin post) I suggested it was insane to think we could finish with the 6th worst record, now it looks insane to think we could finish better than 6th worst.

We started the season 7 - 5. If we get a suprise win at Minnesota Sunday, we'll have followed up our 12 game start with a 7 - 23 performance. I've said it a few times now, we may not win 20 games this season.

 

[Mainstreet]

Wow, just wow. That last part of the second quarter was the laziest transition defense I have ever, ever seen this team play. Tucker and Morris on the court just suck the life out of this squad. If the goal is to tank just simply leave those two on the floor together


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The Suns do not play defense and not much organized offense. It's hard to win no matter who is on the court. You are right about Tucker and Morris but the Suns problems are so deep they do not have to think about tanking.

 

[Bert]

The Suns do not play defense and not much organized offense. It's hard to win no matter who is on the court. You are right about Tucker and Morris but the Suns problems are so deep they do not have to think about tanking.

I just feel like there is no point of either of them being on the floor. Like ever. I mean, what is Markieff going to do at this point to increase his trade stock?

I get we're in tank mode, but any minutes those two get are minutes that could be spent developing our young guys.

Watching Markieff and Tucker loaf around the court does absolutely nothing for me right now.

I also get that he is making millions so he cant complain, but honestly, what must Chandler be thinking right now? "Man what have I gotten myself into???"

 

[sunsfan88]

Four on five, you mean? Yes, probably.

No I mean the 2012-2013 team.

 

[Absolute Zero]

I think Hornacek/McD are trying to give Kieff more minutes against teams the Suns may be trying to trade Kief to. But the -26 +/- tonight, 2-10 shooting seems to have backfired.

 

[Catlover]

I think Hornacek/McD are trying to give Kieff more minutes against teams the Suns may be trying to trade Kief to. But the -26 +/- tonight, 2-10 shooting seems to have backfired.

It's backfired almost every time he's been out there. Part of the problem is he's not getting any easy chances. We have too many players that just aren't a threat offensively and he ends up playing alongside a couple of them usually. And the same is true for them, stuck next to a player like Markieff that is struggling so much on offense that they aren't getting easy looks either when he's out there.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Everyone in the league knows the type of play that Kieff is capable of. There is no need to showcase. He gets lots of minutes every once in a while just because he is there.

 

[Hoop Head]

Everyone in the league knows the type of play that Kieff is capable of. There is no need to showcase. He gets lots of minutes every once in a while just because he is there.

Which goes back to Hornacek not knowing how to use an NBA roster properly. Most teams have a regular rotation of players, 8-9-10 players, who are used every game. Markieff has shown he has enough talent to be a rotation player in the NBA but his attitude here towards the Suns is what got him removed from the rotation. The playoffs aren't happening and the young guys need to see more minutes to help their development. Markieff shouldn't be playing but Jeff can't figure out what he's doing on the sidelines. I doubt Morris getting sporadic minutes is an order from McD or Sarver. Surely they know playing him every couple of games isn't going to raise his trade value.

They need to cut him loose so long as it's not as a loss. They're not going to get value for a starting PF though, like I suspect they believe he should get. I'm not sure he'd start for any other team in the league, he could still be the first forward off of the bench for a lot of teams though. Unloading his contract without taking back anything more than an expiring deal is the best they can hope for. The longer they keep him the less likely they'll be able to get that.

 

[Catlover]

I don't think Markieff helps us out there at all but we do have a pressing need at power forward and there is no young player waiting in the wings at his position.

And yes, teams have a basic idea what Markieff can do but he has more value being basketball ready than he would atrophying on the bench. Plus there's still the idea floating around out there that Markieff can't play unless his brother is with him. So there is some possible value in getting him back to form IMO.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Which goes back to Hornacek not knowing how to use an NBA roster properly. Most teams have a regular rotation of players, 8-9-10 players, who are used every game. Markieff has shown he has enough talent to be a rotation player in the NBA but his attitude here towards the Suns is what got him removed from the rotation. The playoffs aren't happening and the young guys need to see more minutes to help their development. Markieff shouldn't be playing but Jeff can't figure out what he's doing on the sidelines. I doubt Morris getting sporadic minutes is an order from McD or Sarver. Surely they know playing him every couple of games isn't going to raise his trade value.

They need to cut him loose so long as it's not as a loss. They're not going to get value for a starting PF though, like I suspect they believe he should get. I'm not sure he'd start for any other team in the league, he could still be the first forward off of the bench for a lot of teams though. Unloading his contract without taking back anything more than an expiring deal is the best they can hope for. The longer they keep him the less likely they'll be able to get that.

Not true. We are in tank mode. That means that rotations are going to be out of sync. You have to play your vets once in a while, even Kieff. Kieff is fairly well liked by his teammates and if you treat him really badly, that word spreads throught the team and around the league.

You also have to sit your young players because they get fatigued and banged up in a gruelling 82 game schedule--something they have never experienced before. And because they have to sit for bad habits etc.

I love how guys who at best played a little high school ball (and have no behind the scenes knowledge of what is happening on the team) suddenly expertly know how to handle rotations on a tanking team better than the guy who is a coach's son, high school and college star, nba vet and all-star, and apprenticed for years under one of the best coach's ever. Its really comical.

But its a message board. So feel free.

 

[BC867]

I love how guys who at best played a little high school ball (and have no behind the scenes knowledge of what is happening on the team) suddenly expertly know how to handle rotations on a tanking team better than the guy who is a coach's son, high school and college star, nba vet and all-star, and apprenticed for years under one of the best coach's ever. Its really comical.

But its a message board. So feel free.

Did you ever hear of the Peter Principle within management? In a hierarchy, employees tends to rise to their level of incompetence. He keeps getting promoted until he reaches the job beyond his skills. It is a legitimate phenomenon.

Jeff has been trying to please all of his roster with playing time. That is a shortcoming. Whether a playoff team or tanking team, a veteran team or a young team, chemistry builds with consistency.

You name your starting team, the rest of the rotation and strength in reserve. Sure you make changes as needed, but not from game to game all season long. Kirk Gibson did the same thing with the Diamondbacks and he was let go, before anyone knew that he had Parkinson's, which compounded it.

Unfortunately, Jeff has a timid personality and is trying to be all things to all people. That is not the sign of a leader. I especially don't respect how he has been whining to the Press for most of the season about how his players are not doing what he wants them to do.

By his own public admission, he has reached his level of incompetence. The sooner he is back with Utah as an Assistant, the better off everyone involved (including him) will be.

Regardless of who his father was and whom he played under and coached under. Personality is a large part of being the figurehead on the court and strength in the clubhouse. Sadly, Jeff just doesn't have it. There is nothing comical about it, even if you disagree.

And that is a lot more specific than saying "it's a message board so feel free".

 

[fatosber]

Just 5 or 6 weeks ago (in response to a slinslin post) I suggested it was insane to think we could finish with the 6th worst record, now it looks insane to think we could finish better than 6th worst.

We started the season 7 - 5. If we get a suprise win at Minnesota Sunday, we'll have followed up our 12 game start with a 7 - 23 performance. I've said it a few times now, we may not win 20 games this season.

I hope we don't win 20 games. I am sick and tired of never having a top 3 pick. It won't happen but Phoenix is due for their first top pick in almost 50 years. Cleveland has had like 23 or something

 

[leclerc]

Booker's first two shots looked weird. Flat. Why is Weems playing? Play Knight, Booker, Goodwin and the new guy. Also bad hands by Chandler. Oh well. Looking forward to the trading deadline. Hope they can justify trading Knight AND Bledsoe. Because of Booker.

 

[Mainstreet]

I hope we don't win 20 games. I am sick and tired of never having a top 3 pick. It won't happen but Phoenix is due for their first top pick in almost 50 years. Cleveland has had like 23 or something

I agree the Suns are long overdue for the first pick in the NBA draft. However, the Suns did draft Armon Gilliam with the two pick in the 1987 draft.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Did you ever hear of the Peter Principle within management? In a hierarchy, employees tends to rise to their level of incompetence. He keeps getting promoted until he reaches the job beyond his skills. It is a legitimate phenomenon.

Jeff has been trying to please all of his roster with playing time. That is a shortcoming. Whether a playoff team or tanking team, a veteran team or a young team, chemistry builds with consistency.

You name your starting team, the rest of the rotation and strength in reserve. Sure you make changes as needed, but not from game to game all season long. Kirk Gibson did the same thing with the Diamondbacks and he was let go, before anyone knew that he had Parkinson's, which compounded it.

Unfortunately, Jeff has a timid personality and is trying to be all things to all people. That is not the sign of a leader. I especially don't respect how he has been whining to the Press for most of the season about how his players are not doing what he wants them to do.

By his own public admission, he has reached his level of incompetence. The sooner he is back with Utah as an Assistant, the better off everyone involved (including him) will be.

Regardless of who his father was and whom he played under and coached under. Personality is a large part of being the figurehead on the court and strength in the clubhouse. Sadly, Jeff just doesn't have it. There is nothing comical about it, even if you disagree.

And that is a lot more specific than saying "it's a message board so feel free".

Yes. I have heard of the Peter principle. NO Jeff does not have a timid personality. You keep saying this, but it is not true. He is tanking. This is what you do when you tank.

Phil Jackson would not be winning with this team.