Suns @ Grizzlies 2-28-17

[Mainstreet]

If Matt Barnes can be an enforcer, Chriss can. You do not have to have a massive body, just the will to respond aggressively.

Chriss is too young to be an enforcer although he does have the mentality. I do not want to see Chriss, Booker or another youngster hurt.

In two recent games opponents rolled into Chriss' legs out of bounds. Then Booker gets the blatant elbow from Carter. I don't want some bench player hurt one of our rising stars. Sadly, Tucker was probably the only Suns enforcer next to Chandler.

How old is Matt Barnes, 36. He is near the end of his career.

 

[Phrazbit]

Yeah, not a fan of Watson's comments. I suspect part of the reason our young guys are getting shoved around is because they're a bit too uppity, too disrespectful, too young, ect ect. If anything our guys need to do a better job of chilling out. The opposition gets under their skin way too easily.

 

[sunsfan88]

Do the Suns need an enforcer?

It seems more and more teams are roughing up Suns players. Here is an excerpt from updated article written by Doug Haller dated 2-28-17.







http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...his-grizzlies-too-much-phoenix-suns/98557844/

Isn't this what Tucker's role was? And Morris as well?

 

[sdscard4]

Yeah Watson let's make picking up an enforcer priority. Can't stand this coach.

 

[pokerface]

What does an "enforcer" on a team do? I don't get the concept...Do they have rights other players don't have? Do they get away with knocking players around? Or do they have the biggest mouths or are just big and scary looking?

 

[SirStefan32]

Remember when someone would touch Isaiah Thomas and then Mahorn and Laimbeer would intentionally punish that player? Run them over, elbow them, knock them to the floor, etc. Barkley did some of it when someone would touch KJ. Somebody touches your star or your point guard, they pay for it immediately and they don't even think about doing it again.

 

[leclerc]

^ We should have a guy (or two) like this. Not a dirty player but definitely someone in the rotation that will look after Booker & co.

More importantly Booker and Chriss must check their attitudes like Phrazbit points out.

 

[Mainstreet]

Isn't this what Tucker's role was? And Morris as well?

I think Tucker served as an enforcer with the Suns but (IMO) Markieff not so much although he had a quick fuse. I can't remember Markieff intimidating anyone although he liked to complain to the referees a lot.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I think Tucker served as an enforcer with the Suns but (IMO) Markieff not so much although he had a quick fuse. I can't remember Markieff intimidating anyone although he liked to complain to the referees a lot.

I don't know about intimidating anyone but Markieff was always quick to support his teammates, more than any Sun I can think of in a couple of decades. I guess the same is true of Marcus but he wasn't out there near as much. If anything, Markieff was too quick to support the guys although it was a trait I appreciated nonetheless. He was quick to react but I never really thought he had a quick anger, not like Chriss or Robin Lopez anyway.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Remember when someone would touch Isaiah Thomas and then Mahorn and Laimbeer would intentionally punish that player? Run them over, elbow them, knock them to the floor, etc. Barkley did some of it when someone would touch KJ. Somebody touches your star or your point guard, they pay for it immediately and they don't even think about doing it again.

It's a different league though, this kind of behavior has been bred out of the league following the Ben Wallace/Ron Artest incident. It's okay to stick up for each other but the "went to see basketball and a hockey game ensued" kind of thing no longer exists. Apparently, Watson didn't get the memo.

And zipping up a few mouths would go a long way towards resolving these flare-ups. It's embarrassing the way this team is viewed throughout the league and I'm not talking about the losing. We've quickly become one of the least respected, most hated teams out there. Being feared is one thing, being scorned and ridiculed is another and that's on Watson IMO.

 

[pokerface]

I'd understand the whole enforcer thing more if the refs weren't doing their jobs and were allowing stuff to happen. I just dont get the need for extra retaliation.

I guess this is what we get for having a team full of guys close to teenager age.

 

[Yuma]

He knows the game and he tries to do the right thing, he's just not able to do it more often than not.

Sounds like my bball game! Mind is fast, but body is S-L-O-W!

 

[BC867]

I'd take Leander and Ann Meyers Drysdale.

Steve Albert has improved since his arrival. He went from an "F" to a "D".

For a number of reasons, Sarver's Suns are proving themselves to be a very shallow team. They hired an announcer for his Albert family name, even though they were getting the runt of the litter. A New York comedian who has no relevance in Arizona.

I, too, would like to see Annie as our full-time TV analyst but, unfortunately, that won't happen. Her title is Vice President with both the Suns and the Mercury. Those responsibilities would not allow her to be our full-time TV analyst. And even though Tom Leander has the aura of an adolescent (too light for the TV voice of the Suns), I would take him over Steve Albert in a heartbeat. But better, someone else.

I was at the Talking Stick Resort Arena last night to see the Bon Jovi concert and sat in a seat I wouldn't for a ballgame. The next to last row in the lower level behind what would have been a basket (with a stage behind what would have been behind the other).

It gave me a vantage point of something I don't get to face. The three Mercury league championship banners on one side. And the two (in 49 years) Suns Western banners on the other. The contrast was underwhelming. Different owners, different GM's, different coaches, different players. But always the same mediocrity. As a Suns fan since 1970, it left me feeling sad.

 

[Mainstreet]

Steve Albert has improved since his arrival. He went from an "F" to a "D".

For a number of reasons, Sarver's Suns are proving themselves to be a very shallow team. They hired an announcer for his Albert family name, even though they were getting the runt of the litter. A New York comedian who has no relevance in Arizona.

I'm not a fan of Steve Albert. I'm not sure if he has improved or I have gotten better at tuning him out.

I think it is the latter.

I, too, would like to see Annie as our full-time TV analyst but, unfortunately, that won't happen. Her title is Vice President with both the Suns and the Mercury. Those responsibilities would not allow her to be our full-time TV analyst. And even though Tom Leander has the aura of an adolescent (too light for the TV voice of the Suns), I would take him over Steve Albert in a heartbeat. But better, someone else.

I'd prefer Ann Meyers Drysdale and Tom Leander as well.

I was at the Talking Stick Resort Arena last night to see the Bon Jovi concert and sat in a seat I wouldn't for a ballgame. The next to last row in the lower level behind what would have been a basket (with a stage behind what would have been behind the other).

It gave me a vantage point of something I don't get to face. The three Mercury league championship banners on one side. And the two (in 49 years) Suns Western banners on the other. The contrast was underwhelming. Different owners, different GM's, different coaches, different players. But always the same mediocrity. As a Suns fan since 1970, it left me feeling sad.

I'm not sure about your point as both the Suns and Mercury are owned by Robert Sarver.

I know you want the Suns to have a championship banner hanging up there. So do I. However, I have resolved myself towards looking to the future. It doesn't do much good looking back.

 

[BC867]

I'd prefer Ann Meyers Drysdale and Tom Leander as well. I'm not sure about your point as both the Suns and Mercury are owned by Robert Sarver.

Annie's main job has been VP of the Mercury. With the strength of personality and experience she has, I believe that Sarver gave her the autonomy to run the Mercury, without his ego getting in the way. I don't believe she would have accepted anything less.

I know you want the Suns to have a championship banner hanging up there. So do I. However, I have resolved myself towards looking to the future. It doesn't do much good looking back.

And until Sarver hires a strong and experienced VP/GM for the Suns and tells them, "You run the basketball operations and I'll count the money.", it doesn't do much good looking forward either.

Check out my age to the left. Although they tell me that I don't look or act it, my future is not anywhere as long as yours. That is why I want to see a skilled Front Office and coaching staff running the basketball operation. Remember when Hornacek said that he met with the Owner and GM on all on-court pre-planning. None of our GM's or Head Coaches have the strength of one Ann Meyers-Drysdale.