Suns @ Lakers Friday game thread, October 25th, 2024

[Chaplin]

Lol

We’re definitely on brand after game 2.

 

[Mainstreet]

Yeah, but that wasn't my question. I am interested in getting only a starting-quality center, so whose spot in the starting lineup would the power forward take? No room. Impossible to trade Beal. Stupid to trade Booker. Durant writes his own ticket. Who would want Nurkic?

Too much focus is placed on position labels. The Suns need an interior big man that can defend and keep defenses honest offensively. IMO, the most likely player to be traded is Allen unless the Suns attach draft picks. The Suns need more size, not less.

 

[Covert Rain]

Too much focus is placed on position labels. The Suns need an interior big man that can defend and keep defenses honest offensively. IMO, the most likely player to be traded is Allen unless the Suns attach draft picks. The Suns need more size, not less.

I totally agree with you on the size issue I just don't know if we can afford to trade Allen. At least not yet.

 

[Mainstreet]

I totally agree with you on the size issue I just don't know if we can afford to trade Allen. At least not yet.

We will see how the team evolves. I'm not ready to panic yet, but it's obvious the interior defense is a weakness.

 

[Yuma]

Yeah, but that wasn't my question. I am interested in getting only a starting-quality center, so whose spot in the starting lineup would the power forward take? No room. Impossible to trade Beal. Stupid to trade Booker. Durant writes his own ticket. Who would want Nurkic?

You could trade Allen.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Getting a PF might help, but it ain’t gonna fix what’s the team’s biggest weakness… lack of leadership/floor general.

 

[nashman]

Hey @nashman you just going to disagree with everything or can you tell us what's so encouraging about this squad?

It’s game 2 way too early to be making broad goofy assessments. The whole team hasn’t even played yet… lol

 

[Yuma]

I trust Gillespie's three shooting so far.

 

[Yuma]

Lively will push you in the back if you hustle and get the inside position on a rebound. He keeps doing it.

 

[Hoop Head]

I could try, sure; but can I expect a starting-quality power forward for a bench guard? Well, maybe. If Allen keeps shooting the lights out.

But it won't solve the problem of whose spot this power forward will take. I think the team is stuck.

I wish we could aggregate salaries so we could trade Allen and Nurkic for a strong PF/C like an Evan Mobley or Anthony Davis. I'm not saying those guys are available specifically or that they'd be options but that sort of player who can play PF or C on both sides of the ball.

Trading Grayson is likely the best way to upgrade the roster.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I agree the best long term play is pulling the plug but Ishbia would rather live in a state Tom Gulgliotta era purgatory than to blow it up.

Possible

 

[AzStevenCal]

I could try, sure; but can I expect a starting-quality power forward for a bench guard? Well, maybe. If Allen keeps shooting the lights out.

But it won't solve the problem of whose spot this power forward will take. I think the team is stuck.

I don't see a problem having KD and a good power forward on the court at the same time as Durant can easily play up or down one position depending on the opponent. I'm just not sure we have enough assets to acquire a power forward that would help us all that much. Teams tend to hang onto them.

 

[Superbone]

I don't see a problem having KD and a good power forward on the court at the same time as Durant can easily play up or down one position depending on the opponent. I'm just not sure we have enough assets to acquire a power forward that would help us all that much. Teams tend to hang onto them.

Online I saw a call for a Randle/Booker swap with Minny and I just laughed.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Online I saw a call for a Randle/Booker swap with Minny and I just laughed.

Yeah, none of us would be laughing if we made that deal, that's for sure.

 

[CardNots]

I do. It's not a problem for me but it could, hypothetically, be a problem. This power forward can't start unless someone goes to the bench. I'd be happy for that to be Beal, but the team obviously does not want to bench him.

So don't start this forward, one says? If he's a starting-quality forward who provides the desired rebounding and interior defense, why wouldn't I want him to start?

the team obviously doesn’t want him to be a bench player

Bench him implies poor play when on the court, just saying

 

[AzStevenCal]

Okay, but that's exactly what I just said--the team obviously doesn't want to bench him ("bench him" = "want him to be a bench player").

And you're one hundred percent wrong that benching implies poor play. It's only a possible explanation. Was Manu Ginobili playing poorly when Pop decided, at times during the Spurs dynasty, to bring Ginobili off the bench? For the Suns, in 1994-95, were Dan Majerle and Danny Manning playing poorly when Coach Paul Westphal decided to bring them off the bench? There is a known phenomenon of coaches wanting their most reliable veterans to be bench leaders.

There is a negative connotation to actually "benching" someone. Moving someone into a bench role doesn't always carry that same meaning. John Havlicek, an all time great, accepted that bench role but I doubt it would have worked as well if Red had told him he was benching him.

 

[Mainstreet]

There is a negative connotation to actually "benching" someone. Moving someone into a bench role doesn't always carry that same meaning. John Havlicek, an all time great, accepted that bench role but I doubt it would have worked as well if Red had told him he was benching him.

When I used to watch the Celtics, I lived to watch John Havlicek come off the bench.

He kicked the team into another gear.

 

[Yuma]

When I used to watch the Celtics, I lived to watch John Havlicek come off the bench.

He kicked the team into another gear.

Vinny the Microwave Johnson, Downtown Freddie Brown, Manu Ginobli, John Havlicek, etc. The sixth man can be very lethal!

 

[AzStevenCal]

Vinny the Microwave Johnson, Downtown Freddie Brown, Manu Ginobli, John Havlicek, etc. The sixth man can be very lethal!

Eddie Johnson said you missed somebody.

 

[GatorAZ]

Vinny the Microwave Johnson, Downtown Freddie Brown, Manu Ginobli, John Havlicek, etc. The sixth man can be very lethal!

Not a guard but Lamar Odom off the bench once they got Pau was a load to deal with.