Suns at Trail Blazers 3-30-15

[Mainstreet]

The Suns play at Portland tonight with eight games to go. Six of the games are on the road and only two games are at home. The only game that appears winnable is against the Jazz at home on April 3rd. Of course teams will soon start resting their rosters so weird results can happen. It doesn't look like a winning record is in the cards from my perspective.

See more from the Paul Coro article at azcentral dated 3-30-15.

SUNS (38-36) at TRAIL BLAZERS (47-25)

Tip-off: 7 p.m. (Phoenix time)TV: FSAZ

C: Alex Len … Robin Lopez

PF: Markieff Morris … LaMarcus Aldridge

SF: Marcus Morris … Nicolas Batum

SG: P.J. Tucker … Arron Afflalo

PG: Eric Bledsoe … Damian Lillard

Key Trail Blazers reserves: C.J. McCollum, Steve Blake, Dorell Wright, Chris Kaman,Allen Crabbe.

Key Trail Blazers injuries: Wesley Matthews (left Achilles' tendon) is out.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...ew-suns-trail-blazers-orange-slices/70686018/

 

[Mainstreet]

I found the comment below amusing in a sad sort of way.

* The last word goes to Hornacek on Sunday's second half against Oklahoma City: "They (the Thunder) seemed, I don't know, I wouldn't say fresher but they were moving a lot faster than we were."

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sport...ices/70686018/

 

[Mainstreet]

I have company visiting from out of town tonight so I might miss much of the game. I hope the Suns play Goodwin and Warren significant minutes. Maybe even play Reggie Bullock.

Brandon Knight is out for tonight's game.

 

[Mainstreet]

Timeout with Suns leading 17-16 in the first quarter. So far it looks like summer league.

 

[Mainstreet]

Goodwin in the game at the 4:58 mark of the 1st quarter.

Still no company.

 

[SirStefan32]

It is amazing how different this team becomes when Len goes out of the game.

 

[AfroSuns]

I would rather see Green instead of Price on the court

 

[AfroSuns]

Beldsoe = Useless

 

[SirStefan32]

Beldsoe = Useless

Don't say that around here. The local folk will show up with pitchforks and torches.
Trust me, I speak from experience.

 

[Mainstreet]

Just rejoined the game. The Suns are losing by 29. I will be surprised if there is not a coaching change after the season. Goodwin and Warren are not getting many minutes.

 

[Mainstreet]

Don't say that around here. The local folk will show up with pitchforks and torches.
Trust me, I speak from experience.

It's alright. You can love on Goran all you want but he plays for the Heat. Goran was the one who wanted out but you know this.

 

[Suns_fan69]

It baffles me that AJ Price is seeing any action. Sure, sign him as insurance and as a practice body, but there is zero reason he should be getting any minutes at the expense of Goodwin and Bullock.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Beldsoe = Useless

Oh man is Slin gonna come after you!! [emoji1]

 

[SirStefan32]

It's alright. You can love on Goran all you want but he plays for the Heat. Goran was the one who wanted out but you know this.

Who the hell said anything about Goran? Good Lord!

 

[Mainstreet]

Bullock and Warren are in the game. I'd rather play Goodwin over Price but I'm not the coach. The Suns are not winning anything.

 

[Mainstreet]

Who the hell said anything about Goran? Good Lord!

Don't tell me you aren't a Goran man. It's alright, I wanted to keep Goran before he wanted out.

 

[SirStefan32]

Don't tell me you aren't a Goran man. It's alright, I wanted to keep Goran before he wanted out.

Sure, I am a Goran fan, especially when compared to Bledsoe. I am an Italian Food man compared to Chinese, but that doesn't mean my criticism of a Chinese place down the road is not valid because I prefer Italian food.
Bledsoe sucks as a play-maker/ first option, and Dragic is irrelevant to that.

 

[Mainstreet]

Sure, I am a Goran fan, especially when compared to Bledsoe. I am an Italian Food man compared to Chinese, but that doesn't mean my criticism of a Chinese place down the road is not valid because I prefer Italian food.
Bledsoe sucks as a play-maker/ first option, and Dragic is irrelevant to that.

McDonough made a mistake by giving Bledsoe the money. It's like we are all on the same train hoping Bledsoe learns how to steer it because there is no way to get off.

Now Alex Len with the broken nose.

 

[SirStefan32]

McDonough made a mistake by giving Bledsoe the money. It's like we are all on the same train hoping Bledsoe learns how to steer it because there is no way to get off.

Now Alex Len with the broken nose.

Eh, with the new CBA, the Suns might be able to find a finder for that contract. Some team will pay $15M for a sixth man, which is what Bledsoe is. Won't get much in return, but the will be able to dump him.

 

[Mainstreet]

Eh, with the new CBA, the Suns might be able to find a finder for that contract. Some team will pay $15M for a sixth man, which is what Bledsoe is. Won't get much in return, but the will be able to dump him.

The scary thing, is Knight that much better? He should be but I think the Suns will need to trade Bledsoe if they want to keep him. McDonough needs to realize the Suns need some bigs if they hope to compete. Len is not ready to play.

 

[Mainstreet]

I mean Portland has Aldridge, Lopez, Leonard, Kaman and Freeman for size. The latter four are centers. The Suns have Len, Wright and Barron at center. No comparison.

 

[Mainstreet]

Some Paul Coro tweets:

Paul Coro @paulcoro · 59m 59 minutes ago

Hornacek wanted to see how much pride his team showed in remaining games. Blazers start 3rd with a 17-4 run for a 72-53 lead. #SunsAtBlazers

Paul Coro @paulcoro · 1h 1 hour ago

Hornacek goes for scoring and a smaller lineup quickly with Green coming in for Len after 2:06 of play. #SunsAtBlazers

Paul Coro @paulcoro · 1h 1 hour ago

Eric Bledsoe follow his fifth turnover of the game (a carry) with his eighth technical foul of the season. POR 62-49 #SunsAtBlazers

https://twitter.com/paulcoro

 

[AfroSuns]

Don't say that around here. The local folk will show up with pitchforks and torches.
Trust me, I speak from experience.

Oh man is Slin gonna come after you!! [emoji1]

Man, who gives a F what the dude who thinks Earl Clark is the second coming James Worthy thinks.

Eh, with the new CBA, the Suns might be able to find a finder for that contract. Some team will pay $15M for a sixth man, which is what Bledsoe is. Won't get much in return, but the will be able to dump him.

This! I wasn't ever big on him as a team leader, but he sometimes shows flashes that he can start but now, his inconsistency is frustrating. This is probably is his healthiest season, so i would hold out hope for one more.....

 

[SirStefan32]

The scary thing, is Knight that much better? He should be but I think the Suns will need to trade Bledsoe if they want to keep him. McDonough needs to realize the Suns need some bigs if they hope to compete. Len is not ready to play.

I honestly don't know where Knight fits in. They gave up the Lakers pick for him, so he was definitely more expensive than Bledsoe. They could dump Bledsoe tomorrow and it wouldn't bother me- we gave up Dudley to get him.

I admit that I haven't seen enough of Knight to be 100% confident in my analysis, but he doesn't appear to be any more of a point guard than Bledsoe but he appears to have a nicer shot (though he was terrible in the couple of games I watched focusing closely on him.

If I had my way, I'd try to trade both of them, along with the twins and start rebuiding the right way- no shortcuts, no combo guards, no undersized players. Play Len, TJ, and Archie as much as they can handle in the meantime. Having said that, this is coming from a guy who wanted Tskitishivili over Amare and said Dragic and Mirotic would never crack a rotation in the NBA, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

 

[SirStefan32]

Man, who gives a F what the dude who thinks Earl Clark is the second coming James Worthy thinks.



This! I wasn't ever big on him as a team leader, but he sometimes shows flashes that he can start but now, his inconsistency is frustrating. This is probably is his healthiest season, so i would hold out hope for one more.....

If I were Bledsoe, I would work on my shooting all summer- 500 shots every day. He has got to start doing SOMETHING really well. I think it's easier for him to learn to shoot than to facilitate. If he can be paired up with a tall point guard, and become a GOOD shooter, maybe he can be a solid starter, but I don't think he will ever be a good point guard.