Suns @ Nets 3-17-14

[Catlover]

Your arguments have merit. However, as I view it, the Suns front line would have been exposed as the weak leak sooner or later. Opponents go right at the Suns interior defense with abandon. As you point out, Bledsoe covered up a lot of the blemishes. The question for me, is how many wins could the Suns have accumulated before they were exposed.

Maybe the Suns could have achieved a place in the playoffs and a higher seed if Bledsoe had stayed healthy. However, I think the Suns would have been quickly exposed as the season wore down and the playoffs began as a team weak upfront. The Suns early season success, if it was not an illusion, it was a mirage in terms of long term success.

Probably. I do think that Plumlee, Frye and Dragic have all worn down and maybe with Bledsoe they wouldn't have had to do so much and might have held up a little better. Still, our playoff future was one and down unless something really strange happened like a last minute major injury to a star or Portland lining up across from us.

I get a little frustrated though because it feels like a lot of Suns fans are taking shots at these guys now for not being good when we all knew they weren't. These players shouldn't be demonized for overachieving, instead their efforts should be applauded. We've gotten far more out of Green, Plumlee, Ish and even Frye than we had any reason to expect. Plumlee for example, came into this season more like a rookie than a veteran and he gave us one great month followed by one decent month. None of us thought he had a good night in him let alone a good month. And I still have hopes for his future.

 

[sunsfan88]

I think one thing's clear...if we don't get that Minny pick now, we will never get it. It will turn into two seconds.

The West is gonna be even better next year while I doubt Minnesota can improve that much over the summer to solidify themselves as a playoff team.

 

[Catlover]

I think one thing's clear...if we don't get that Minny pick now, we will never get it. It will turn into two seconds.

The West is gonna be even better next year while I doubt Minnesota can improve that much over the summer to solidify themselves as a playoff team.

Any guess is as good as another but I could see the West get a little easier next year. If I were a Free Agent I'd be looking hard for an Eastern team especially if I had All Star or playoff hopes. I don't see any of the teams rising from the ashes (notably the Lakers) so it should still be pretty much the same teams. IIRC, the Minny pick is only top 12 protected next year so that could also enter into the picture. If I had to bet, I'd say we end up with the 2's like you said but I don't think it's a lock just yet.

 

[Errntknght]

I think one thing's clear...if we don't get that Minny pick now, we will never get it. It will turn into two seconds.

The West is gonna be even better next year while I doubt Minnesota can improve that much over the summer to solidify themselves as a playoff team.

Minny could have been better this year if they'd gotten Dieng into the rotation. He finally got a start because Pekovic was injured (again) and responded with a double double and 5 blocks. He's not going to take Pekovic's job away from him but he defintely could have averted some of their many close losses with his interior defense. They could use a good shooter, too - or at least have fewer guys hoisting threes. They had a bundle of guys that were shooting them a third to a half of their shots and converting at a 30% clip. Barea, Brewer, Budinger, Hummel, Price & Shved. Thats just dumb basketball.

 

[sunsfan88]

Yea but Love could also very well leave this summer. Plus I see the Pelicans and Kings improving big time next year.

 

[Catlover]

Yea but Love could also very well leave this summer. Plus I see the Pelicans and Kings improving big time next year.

People have been "seeing" the Kings improve every year. It will probably happen eventually and maybe even next season but you could get rich betting against them for several years now. I'm not saying Minnesota will be improved, it's just far too early to declare their demise. If they can add someone like Hayward that might be all it will take to keep Kevin happy.

 

[sunsfan88]

People have been "seeing" the Kings improve every year. It will probably happen eventually and maybe even next season but you could get rich betting against them for several years now. I'm not saying Minnesota will be improved, it's just far too early to declare their demise. If they can add someone like Hayward that might be all it will take to keep Kevin happy.

I don't think they have the cap space to give Hayward what he's looking for with Love's max, Pekovic and Martin's big contracts still on the books.

As for the Kings, I'm a huge believer in Mike Malone so I think SAC will turn into a good team with in the next 2-3 years.

 

[sunsfan88]

Man I can't wait to hear the update on Kieff's wrist. He's one of the most important players on this team. If he's out even for a week, its over if it already isn't.

 

[Mainstreet]

Man I can't wait to hear the update on Kieff's wrist. He's one of the most important players on this team. If he's out even for a week, its over if it already isn't.

Did I miss something?