Suns @ Grizzlies 1-10-14

[AzStevenCal]

I don't think Tucker feels comfortable passing the ball whether it be on a fastbreak or grabbing an offensive rebound when he can put the shot up. Sometimes smaller bigs just do not see the court well especially when there is a crowd underneath the basket when fighting for an offensive rebound.

I don't think that's it because the same thing happens when he has full view of the players. He plays hard but I think it's ego or money that's driving that kind of decision. He's playing too much for the stat IMO. Re-watch the Minnesota game where we get a tip-in around a crowded basket. Instead of hustling back down court he raises his arm and jumps up and down a couple of times to insure that the scorer knows he's claiming the points. Maybe I'd feel the same way if I were an often marginalized ballplayer looking for a payday but I found it worrisome and revealing. I guess it's possible it's only revealing because it supports what I've believed about him all along.

Steve

 

[Superbone]

Do you also hear how Tucker let's a loud grunt every time he's battling under the hoop? I think it's to get the refs attention about possible fouls.

 

[SirStefan32]

Yes, Tucker should just stop playing D and going for offensive rebounds. He should just stand at the 3 point line and shoot every time he touches the ball. Tucker is what's wrong with this team. If only he were more like Green, Frye, and the Morris twins!

 

[Mainstreet]

I don't think that's it because the same thing happens when he has full view of the players. He plays hard but I think it's ego or money that's driving that kind of decision. He's playing too much for the stat IMO. Re-watch the Minnesota game where we get a tip-in around a crowded basket. Instead of hustling back down court he raises his arm and jumps up and down a couple of times to insure that the scorer knows he's claiming the points. Maybe I'd feel the same way if I were an often marginalized ballplayer looking for a payday but I found it worrisome and revealing. I guess it's possible it's only revealing because it supports what I've believed about him all along.

Steve

A man sees what he wants to see and disregards the rest.

I don't view Tucker as selfish or plays for money. IMO, he is a player that has made it by hard work and he views playing even harder, not necessarily smarter, as the way to get better. That doesn't mean he is right, but he is a marginal NBA player that has made it on mostly sheer effort and sees that as the way to remain relevant.

 

[95pro]

Tucker could pass it back out more often when he gets them offensive rebounds. I see the same thing, he gets blocked a lot. He puts in a lot of effort but he just doesn't have the athleticism to finish down low, he's got a wide body but is short compared to the bigs down there. I don't mind him attacking of there's a weak forward, but attacking a crowded area with two forwards and a center is not a good idea. He just needs to be more selective in those situations.

 

[AzStevenCal]

A man sees what he wants to see and disregards the rest.

I don't view Tucker as selfish or plays for money. IMO, he is a player that has made it by hard work and he views playing even harder, not necessarily smarter, as the way to get better. That doesn't mean he is right, but he is a marginal NBA player that has made it on mostly sheer effort and sees that as the way to remain relevant.

He's by far the best defensive player we've ever had IMO. Far better than Raja Bell for example. I just don't think he's perfect. He works extremely hard and most nights he makes us a better team. I just don't think that working hard excuses this kind of mistake and he makes it far too often. And when you start adding up the little details it's easy to see (or easy to assume) that it's not just one hard-working player being stupid. He wouldn't have reached this point if he weren't smart enough to know the consequences of his basketball decisions.

He's an enigma to me. I can't ever remember a player being such a hard worker, such a dirt worker that wasn't also the ultimate team player. I don't think he's willing to sacrifice stats for the good of the team and I've never seen that in an effort player. Granted, the Suns haven't had all that many effort players and the majority of my basketball viewings have involved the Suns so maybe it's not as rare as I'm making it out to be. I expect dumb from Green, I don't expect it from someone like Tucker.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

Yes, Tucker should just stop playing D and going for offensive rebounds. He should just stand at the 3 point line and shoot every time he touches the ball. Tucker is what's wrong with this team. If only he were more like Green, Frye, and the Morris twins!

Wow. I want the old SirStefan back. The one that could disagree and still discuss.

Steve

 

[BC867]

A man sees what he wants to see and disregards the rest.

Ah, a Paul Simon tribute.

Then I'm laying out my winter clothes
And wishing I was gone
Going home
Where the New York City winters aren't bleeding me
Bleeding me, going home ...

It's why I left New Jersey for Phoenix thirty-six years ago.

Thanks for the memory.

We now return to PJ Tucker.

 

[Mainstreet]

Ah, a Paul Simon tribute.

Then I'm laying out my winter clothes
And wishing I was gone
Going home
Where the New York City winters aren't bleeding me
Bleeding me, going home ...

It's why I left New Jersey for Phoenix thirty-six years ago.

Thanks for the memory.

We now return to PJ Tucker.

I love me some Simon And Garfunkel music. The song "The Boxer" was one of my favorites.

 

[elindholm]

I was disappointing in the number of shots the Suns missed within 3 feet of the basket.
I'm to lazy to look at a shot chart but they must have missed 20 of them.

Exactly. Forcing the ball inside is a good strategy only if you can convert or get to the line. If you're too physically overmatched to get off a good shot in the paint, you might as well bomb away from the outside. Trying to win an inside battle against Memphis is playing to the opponent's strength. I guarantee that when planning for a matchup with the Suns, the Grizzlies coaching staff is not thinking, "Uh oh, what if they try to make it a muscle-fest?"

 

[Mainstreet]

Wow. I want the old SirStefan back. The one that could disagree and still discuss.

Steve

I have to admit SirStefan managed to be sarcastic and funny at the same time.

I just think he was going for a knockout on that post and he did pretty good.

Now the old SirStefan can come back.

 

[Errntknght]

I have to admit I, too, enjoyed SirStephan's ripost and I didn't see any ill will in it. Maybe because I agreed with the content, which hasn't been true much of late...

 

[Errntknght]

I was disappointing in the number of shots the Suns missed within 3 feet of the basket.
I'm to lazy to look at a shot chart but they must have missed 20 of them.

Pretty close... the shot chart says 16. Memphis missed 16 of them, too.

 

[sunsfan88]

I wish Green had Tucker's mentality....crash the boards and get the putbacks. Green is actually tall and athletic enough to put those in.

 

[sunsfan88]

Yes, Tucker should just stop playing D and going for offensive rebounds. He should just stand at the 3 point line and shoot every time he touches the ball. Tucker is what's wrong with this team. If only he were more like Green, Frye, and the Morris twins!

Made me laugh

Here's what's kinda funny. We have our small, undersized, non athletic player crashing boards and trying for putbacks where as we have our big or athletic players standing in the corner and chucking up 3s.

 

[SirStefan32]

Sorry. I really wasn't trying to be a douche. Defending Frye, Green, and the Morris twins while calling Tucker selfish just pissed me off, and the douche bag in me came out.
I apologize.

 

[BC867]

Sorry. I really wasn't trying to be a douche. Defending Frye, Green, and the Morris twins while calling Tucker selfish just pissed me off, and the douche bag in me came out.
I apologize.

I don't like sarcasm, but yours was classic. Especially because it was directed at Suns big men who play 23 feet from the basket rather than primarily at another poster.

You made a good point about part of the team's philosophy. I don't think you were being a douche.

 

[Superbone]

I do like sarcasm and that was a top notch example of it but it still doesn't excuse Tucker from throwing up junk at the hoop from under the tall timber.

 

[devilalum]

I've been saying that since early last season. His offensive rebounds are wasted thanks to his unwillingness to kick the ball back out. He grabs the board and then either gets blocked or puts up a wild shot. He made a nice one down low against Minnesota but that's one of the very few I can remember. I don't even think he's shooting 10% on offensive board put-backs.

Steve

Put backs are best but dribbling or passing the ball back out with a fresh 24 second clock to set up a play can be very demoralizing to your opponent as well.