Suns at Dallas 12/5/14

[SirStefan32]

One example does not define a ball hog. It has to be a persistent behavior - and reported objectively. Find something like that and we might listen to you.

He does it several times every game. Pick a game, and just watch Bledsoe. Some games it's worse than others, but he does it regularly. It usually gets really bad in the 4th quarter.

I don't particularly care if you listen to me or not any more than I care if someone listens to me when I tell them to drive carefully because it's snowing. I am stating my observations. What you choose to do with that is entirely up to you.

 

[elindholm]

The problem is that the Suns fans on this board overvalue their players, and someone pointing out that someone is not as good as everyone thinks is seen as an attack on that player. I've been attacked many times for pointing out that Bledsoe is grossly overrated since he can't quite run an offense and can't shoot well enough to be a good shooting guard. Somehow, from that people started the "You hate Bledsoe" narrative.

True, but I have to admit ... I am starting to hate Bledsoe.

Not hate him as a person, of course; I assume he's a fine person, and I wish him well. But I hate him on the Suns. He makes at least a few incredibly stupid plays per game. It's fashionable to post videos of players like Stoudemire or Harden doing something completely clueless on the defensive end and giving up an easy bucket. But Bledsoe is just as damaging on the offensive end. I dread seeing the ball in his hands, because I know that there's a high probability of disaster coming. I don't want to see him try to finish on a fast break, because at least half the time he gets out of control, tries to bail himself out by drawing contact, and ends up throwing up garbage. I don't want him on the floor during crunch time or at the ends of quarters, because his decision-making is terrible.

Furthermore, I think Hornacek's commitment to a running game is a poor fit for Bledsoe. Bledsoe's best quality, by far, is his half-court defense. By that, I don't mean that his half-court defense is exceptional -- it's just that he's borderline atrocious on offense. So if Bledsoe is in the game without Dragic, the Suns should be trying to slow it down and grind out something low-scoring. Play Bledsoe with Tucker and Len, primarily, and see if they can be the core of a really strong defensive unit. Then put Dragic back in and go back to running.

 

[SirStefan32]

True, but I have to admit ... I am starting to hate Bledsoe.

Not hate him as a person, of course; I assume he's a fine person, and I wish him well. But I hate him on the Suns. He makes at least a few incredibly stupid plays per game. It's fashionable to post videos of players like Stoudemire or Harden doing something completely clueless on the defensive end and giving up an easy bucket. But Bledsoe is just as damaging on the offensive end. I dread seeing the ball in his hands, because I know that there's a high probability of disaster coming. I don't want to see him try to finish on a fast break, because at least half the time he gets out of control, tries to bail himself out by drawing contact, and ends up throwing up garbage. I don't want him on the floor during crunch time or at the ends of quarters, because his decision-making is terrible.

Furthermore, I think Hornacek's commitment to a running game is a poor fit for Bledsoe. Bledsoe's best quality, by far, is his half-court defense. By that, I don't mean that his half-court defense is exceptional -- it's just that he's borderline atrocious on offense. So if Bledsoe is in the game without Dragic, the Suns should be trying to slow it down and grind out something low-scoring. Play Bledsoe with Tucker and Len, primarily, and see if they can be the core of a really strong defensive unit. Then put Dragic back in and go back to running.

I am not there just yet, but I like him less and less after every single game.
Your analysis is spot on, but I am still struggling when it comes to figuring out who is at fault. Bledsoe is just a young kid with a huge ego and a variation of a Napoleon complex. We knew this, so I have a hard time believing McD/ Babby/ Sarver/ Hornacek didn't.
They paid him a lot of money, and there are no consequences for playing the way he does. Is it Bledsoe's fault, or is it the Suns Leadership's fault? It's probably a little bit of both, but as someone who manages people for a living, I really have a hard time giving the management a pass.

 

[Chaplin]

LOL at this board "overvaluing" players. The ONLY time that occurs here is in Fantasy Trade threads. Otherwise, this board is notorious for undervaluing players and especially coaching. Hell, sunsfan88 thinks he's a better coach than Hornacek without actually saying it!

Honestly, though, this board and most of its posters are far more guilty at undervaluing players than overvaluing.

 

[BC867]

I am not there just yet, but I like him less and less after every single game.
Your analysis is spot on, but I am still struggling when it comes to figuring out who is at fault. Bledsoe is just a young kid with a huge ego and a variation of a Napoleon complex. We knew this, so I have a hard time believing McD/ Babby/ Sarver/ Hornacek didn't.
They paid him a lot of money, and there are no consequences for playing the way he does. Is it Bledsoe's fault, or is it the Suns Leadership's fault? It's probably a little bit of both, but as someone who manages people for a living, I really have a hard time giving the management a pass.

What matters now is that management does the right thing "and" and "in" resolving this 3 lead Point Guard mess.

As I've posted, of course, I am with you and Eric. I think our best plan for the present and laying a foundation for the future is finding a taker for Bledsoe.

If IT can accept the role of backup Point Guard, with Dragic playing some "2", great! If not, move him as well and sign a career backup Point Guard while developing our young one.

In most cases, unhappy players don't make for a solid team, of course. Especially if they don't have a superstar.

Suns brass would not have to talk about it (success, failure, right, wrong). Just do it and enjoy the future.

I am suggesting, of course, that we abandon the 2- or 3- Point Guard experiment.

 

[JCSunsfan]

LOL at this board "overvaluing" players. The ONLY time that occurs here is in Fantasy Trade threads. Otherwise, this board is notorious for undervaluing players and especially coaching. Hell, sunsfan88 thinks he's a better coach than Hornacek without actually saying it!

Honestly, though, this board and most of its posters are far more guilty at undervaluing players than overvaluing.

This is absolutely true. Not only that, there is a habit of overvaluing players on other teams.

 

[JCSunsfan]

What matters now is that management does the right thing "and" and "in" resolving this 3 lead Point Guard mess.

As I've posted, of course, I am with you and Eric. I think our best plan for the present and laying a foundation for the future is finding a taker for Bledsoe.

If IT can accept the role of backup Point Guard, with Dragic playing some "2", great! If not, move him as well and sign a career backup Point Guard while developing our young one.

In most cases, unhappy players don't make for a solid team, of course. Especially if they don't have a superstar.

Suns brass would not have to talk about it (success, failure, right, wrong). Just do it and enjoy the future.

I am suggesting, of course, that we abandon the 2- or 3- Point Guard experiment.

I think the solution is making Dragic the point guard and Bledsoe the 2--primarily. It can switch up when necessary. Goran just moves the ball faster, but Eric's defense is extremely helpful.

 

[Suns_fan69]

I just wish both Goran and Eric would get more comfortable shooting spot up 3s. It feels like whenever either of them get the kickout their instinct is to drive again. Sometimes it's great, but soon defenses aren't going to close out as hard if they don't start taking and making those shots.

 

[Errntknght]

He does it several times every game. Pick a game, and just watch Bledsoe. Some games it's worse than others, but he does it regularly. It usually gets really bad in the 4th quarter.

I don't particularly care if you listen to me or not any more than I care if someone listens to me when I tell them to drive carefully because it's snowing. I am stating my observations. What you choose to do with that is entirely up to you.

I didn't object you stating your observations but to your characterization of Bled as a ball hog. I'm sorry but a guy that shoots an average amount - dead average among all PG's and SGs, in fact - just doesn't qualify as a ball hog. He shoots at an above average pctg, gets to the FT line and assists more than average as well so his shooting is not out line with the rest of his performance.

 

[SirStefan32]

I didn't object you stating your observations but to your characterization of Bled as a ball hog. I'm sorry but a guy that shoots an average amount - dead average among all PG's and SGs, in fact - just doesn't qualify as a ball hog. He shoots at an above average pctg, gets to the FT line and assists more than average as well so his shooting is not out line with the rest of his performance.

Watch the games. Just watch Bledsoe, especially in the fourth quarter. Count how many times he forces a bad shot or turns the ball over instead of making an easy pass.

 

[Superbone]

I actually think BOTH guys are very solid players. But I don't think either of them are true blue superstars.

Well, Bledsoe did go to Kentucky...

 

[sunsfan88]

LOL at this board "overvaluing" players. The ONLY time that occurs here is in Fantasy Trade threads. Otherwise, this board is notorious for undervaluing players and especially coaching. Hell, sunsfan88 thinks he's a better coach than Hornacek without actually saying it!

Honestly, though, this board and most of its posters are far more guilty at undervaluing players than overvaluing.

What? Why, because I think Len should start which is a sentiment shared by most Suns fans?

 

[sunsfan88]

Watch the games. Just watch Bledsoe, especially in the fourth quarter. Count how many times he forces a bad shot or turns the ball over instead of making an easy pass.

I think one of the reasons for that is because he sees himself as the designated "closer". It may be because he feels that it's his responsibility due to him making way more money than anyone else on the team.

His "clutch time" numbers were actually pretty good last season, not sure how it's looking this year though.

 

[SirStefan32]

I think one of the reasons for that is because he sees himself as the designated "closer". It may be because he feels that it's his responsibility due to him making way more money than anyone else on the team.

His "clutch time" numbers were actually pretty good last season, not sure how it's looking this year though.

No, it is not because he makes the most money. He made less money last year, and his mindset was the same. He is an egocentric kid, with some serious self-entitlement issues. You can be a little selfish if you have the skill to back it up (Bird, Jordan, Kobe, LeBron) but the problem is that he doesn't have the skill that real stars have.

Now, he very well may be the best closer on the team, but you have to pass the ball to the open man and you can't force the issue just to stroke your own ego.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Good grief. The NBA is full of players who Are afraid to take the last shot. Thank goodness we have a plAyer with balls.

 

[BC867]

Good grief. The NBA is full of players who Are afraid to take the last shot. Thank goodness we have a plAyer with balls.

Kevin Johnson -- Point Guard Kevin Johnson -- with all of his talents used to do the same thing and the rest of the NBA caught on pretty quickly.

It is why Barkley nicknamed him, "Franchise, Jr." To remind him he's the Point Guard.

We don't have a player of Barkley's magnitude in the front court, but the result, over time, will be the same. Collapse on Bledsoe because he is not going to give up the ball. Or balls.

 

[SirStefan32]

Kevin Johnson -- Point Guard Kevin Johnson -- with all of his talents used to do the same thing and the rest of the NBA caught on pretty quickly.

It is why Barkley nicknamed him, "Franchise, Jr." To remind him he's the Point Guard.

We don't have a player of Barkley's magnitude in the front court, but the result, over time, will be the same. Collapse on Bledsoe because he is not going to give up the ball. Or balls.

Nailed it!

 

[SirStefan32]

Good grief. The NBA is full of players who Are afraid to take the last shot. Thank goodness we have a plAyer with balls.

In my own life and business experiences, I've learned that saying someone has balls is usually the same thing as saying someone has no brain. I've learned to lean on employees who have enough common sense to not wave their balls around the room, and to avoid leaning on the ones who wave them around the room.

 

[Phrazbit]

The only guy on offense that clearly is out there to stroke his own ego is Green. That guy is among the most selfish players I have ever seen. He does not give two craps if someone is open.

Bledsoe passes as much as anyone on this roster and is no more or less selfish than Dragic and far less selfish than Thomas. What Bledsoe needs to stop is his stupid jump passes, that is something opposing teams have clearly picked up on and when he leaves his feet guys are ready to pounce on the passing lanes.

 

[BC867]

In my own life and business experiences, I've learned that saying someone has balls is usually the same thing as saying someone has no brain.

Hence the saying, "He has balls for brains." about someone.

 

[JCSunsfan]

OK. Courage. I sure would have loved to see Bledsoe taking the last shot last night rather than Goran. Let the guy who is hot take it.

 

[elindholm]

OK. Courage. I sure would have loved to see Bledsoe taking the last shot last night rather than Goran. Let the guy who is hot take it.

But there's something to be said for not playing into the defense's expectations. Dragic got completely free and had a pretty easy shot. His miss may be attributable to having spent so much time in the second half on the bench, but it was still a better look than Bledsoe would likely have gotten with the defense keying on him. It's not only the player, but the situation you can get the player in. Remember when Michael Jordan famously deferred to Steve Kerr for a critical shot at the end of the 1997(?) Finals.

 

[Superbone]

But there's something to be said for not playing into the defense's expectations. Dragic got completely free and had a pretty easy shot. His miss may be attributable to having spent so much time in the second half on the bench, but it was still a better look than Bledsoe would likely have gotten with the defense keying on him. It's not only the player, but the situation you can get the player in. Remember when Michael Jordan famously deferred to Steve Kerr for a critical shot at the end of the 1997(?) Finals.

Goran nailed a similar shot near the end of the Dallas game.