Suns Reported Looking At Rush

[PhxGametime]

Rush is another safe Pick and yet another SG but def. an upgrade defensively over Budinger...


I'm watching the National Championship game and he looked a lot better there than the other 3 games I watched lol (although I was scouting Darrell Arthur on all 4 games, first time around).


Could easily replace Bell in a few years; I'd just like to see his Draft Combine results until get excited (Rush and Douglas-Roberts are closer to my 20-25 range).


Darrell Arthur appears to be unlikely on Draftboard at #15; so a wing Defender with length and 3PT shooting ability works for ME.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Personally I think we should give DJ and Tucker a legit season before we draft another wing. C and PG should be our priorities.

 

[Andrew]

I don't follow college ball, how is Rush as a player?

 

[mojorizen7]

First things first, the Suns need to find a damned coach. I'm sort of assuming/hoping that they've got an under the table deal worked out w/ Terry Porter right now and just can't announce it yet due to league rules/the Pistons still playing. Before they can seriously consider anyone, they need a coach, to know what sort of system he'll run, and then they can start realistically narrowing down picks.

As far as Koufous goes, I think Ive only seen about 2 games of his, so I certainly pretend to be an authority. I'm not sure he'd be a good fit for the Suns, he likes to play in the high post and out of the elbows, which is where Amare (and Diaw) often are anyway. He may be clogging up the floor on this team. DraftExpress.com knocks him for being a poor passer, if thats true, its probably best to pass on him. I think what the Suns need out of a 5 is basically a Kurt Thomas clone. A good defender, decent passer, can hit an open shot, but keeps out of the way of Amare on offense.

I agree wholeheartedly. I have no idea what kind of team the FO is planning to throw out next season. I hope they do.

 

[Irish]

I don't follow college ball, how is Rush as a player?

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Brandon-Rush-78/

One key itme with Rush is that he had ACL surgery and was not 100% last season. Until draft express mentioned it, I was not aware he was recovering from an injury that kept him out of last year's draft and limited him somewhat this season.

In any case, it seem clear he'll be available at #15 and should be a solid player. There will be a lot angst if the Suns pass on some the bigs that are likely to be available, but most are a couple of years away from contributing.

 

[mojorizen7]

There will be a lot angst if the Suns pass on some the bigs that are likely to be available, but most are a couple of years away from contributing.

So are the SUNS as a team i'm afraid.

 

[Joe Mama]

I like Brandon Rush, and I actually think he's a perfect fit for this team. it would be nice if he was better at creating his own shot, but this team already has many players who are at their best with the ball in their hands creating opportunities for themselves and others. What the Suns need most at the wing is shooting, size, and defense (on and off the ball). Those are Rush's strengths.

The only thing that scares me about Rush is that ACL. It would be just our luck to draft this guy, have him perform at a high level, and then he blows his knee out again. I'm a little leery of drafting someone with a history of injuries, especially knee injuries.

If I have to choose between a high risk/high reward player and a good, safe pick I think I would take the latter at this point. I just don't think this team can afford to draft a cost at this point.

Last thing is that I think it's far too early in the draft process to talk about whether someone is really worth the #15. I imagine we'll see all sorts of movement in the mock drafts, and we all know that those aren't really the best predictors of where players will/should go.

Joe

 

[jandaman]

If I was Kerr, I would draft a "forecast" player.

We should all expect O'Neal to miss 15 games and save himself for the playoffs (assuming the Suns are locked in). If not he will miss around 10 games. With maybe some games he will not be able to play many minutes. In which case, if the Suns do not resign Skinner... I would make a move to draft one of the bigs projected top 15.

I like the prospect of Rush, "Eddie Jones - High projection" or a Azuibeke as a low projection.

But I think Tucker should be given a chance, Tucker might be a surprise player given the minutes as a backup to Bell.

D'Antoni didnt really use Tucker due to him not being a 3 point threath, but I think he can contribute as an energy guy and a solid defender somehow.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Joe Johnson could handle the ball very well coming into the league. Confidence and experience was all he lacked, which he got later by going to Hawks.

He had it as a Sun. He got it after the Marbury trade.

 

[Yuma]

Rush??? Are you kidding me? Aren't the Suns old enough already? Rush is great but they haven't put out a really good record since Grace Under Pressure.

Saw them in concert recently, and they had some cool songs on the new album!

 

[cly2tw]

He had it as a Sun. He got it after the Marbury trade.

That was brief for half season. Then he became, in his own words, Nash's decoy in the corner and didn't have chance to develop the whole package. Only in Atlanta did he really blossom in his own right.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

That was brief for half season. Then he became, in his own words, Nash's decoy in the corner and didn't have chance to develop the whole package. Only in Atlanta did he really blossom in his own right.

He had confidence then, but was not satisfied in his role. Hell, that new found confidence is part of the reason he felt that he could go to Atlanta and be the man. He had confidence before going to Atlanta. This I am 100% convinced.

 

[Mainstreet]

First things first, the Suns need to find a damned coach. I'm sort of assuming/hoping that they've got an under the table deal worked out w/ Terry Porter right now and just can't announce it yet due to league rules/the Pistons still playing. Before they can seriously consider anyone, they need a coach, to know what sort of system he'll run, and then they can start realistically narrowing down picks.

The General Election will likely be over before the Suns select a coach.

But never fear I'm sure Griffin is on top of it. Maybe he can find another Marcus Banks somewhere.

 

[cly2tw]

He had confidence then, but was not satisfied in his role. Hell, that new found confidence is part of the reason he felt that he could go to Atlanta and be the man. He had confidence before going to Atlanta. This I am 100% convinced.

Well, confidence as a role player and confidence as the star go-to player are two completely different animals. The way Barbosa has been pampered all his career under DA, the slightest change in the structure can completely ruin the little confidence he has as a role player in run-n-gun style. Confidence is never the same.

 

[nowagimp]

Well, confidence as a role player and confidence as the star go-to player are two completely different animals. The way Barbosa has been pampered all his career under DA, the slightest change in the structure can completely ruin the little confidence he has as a role player in run-n-gun style. Confidence is never the same.

What, confidence as a role player? Are you kidding? A guy like JJ has confidence from taking on and beating good defenders in a game, and he did it in crunch time for the suns as a player. JJ knew that he could take almost anyone off the dribble, and he learned when the double was coming, when to shoot or pass. Once a player reaches that level, he has a level of confidence that will take him to the star level. JJ also learned about winning on the suns, and winning and contributing brings confidence. I expect JJ's first year as a hawk, when they were one of the worst teams in the NBA, I'll bet it wasnt much of a confidence builder.

Funny thing is that JJ probably could have had 2 championships already and been the #2 option(to amare) on this suns team. Maybe JJ will get his championship someday soon, or maybe its not in the cards at all, maybe he blew his chance.

 

[Mainstreet]

Funny thing is that JJ probably could have had 2 championships already and been the #2 option(to amare) on this suns team. Maybe JJ will get his championship someday soon, or maybe its not in the cards at all, maybe he blew his chance.

Too bad he probably took the Suns chances with him.

 

[nashman]

He blew his chance because the Hawks aren't sniffing a championship in JJ's lifetime or career!!

 

[Irish]

JJ did not look like an all-star when he first came to Phoenix. In his rookie season (2001-02) he played 29 games and shot 42% for 9.6 ppg; 33.3% for three.

2002-03 he averaged 9.8 ppg on 39.7% shooting and 36.6% for three

2003-04 he was shooting below 39% until Marbury and Hardaway were traded and finished the season shooting 43% and just 30.5% for three but averaged 16.7 ppg. What was more disturbing was that his productivity dropped substantially once Amare and Dice rejoined the team.

It was widely reported that Penny did everything he could to undercut JJ's confidence. JJ did not really start playing well until he could escape Hardaway's head games and Marbury being Margury.

The element that no one understood was that in the summer of 2004, JJ spent much of his time working on his three point shooting. From that point on, he became a major star

 

[Yuma]

The General Election will likely be over before the Suns select a coach.

But never fear I'm sure Griffin is on top of it. Maybe he can find another Marcus Banks somewhere.

That sounds like a Barkley bet! Hillary could make that interesting!

 

[WildBB]

I don't understand why, if the Suns NEED more D, they keep drafting offensive minded players. Now they say that he can play some perimiter D, but I think that they have that better right now in Strawberry.

They need more length and athletisism at the SF spot, or an heir to O'Neill at C. I like the kid from Syracuse Donte Green. He has better length, can rebound and block some serious shots. He also averaged more steals than Rush. If your talking a different mind set (more D) then they have to deliver that and not give it lip service.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

I don't understand why, if the Suns NEED more D, they keep drafting offensive minded players. Now they say that he can play some perimiter D, but I think that they have that better right now in Strawberry.

They need more length and athletisism at the SF spot, or an heir to O'Neill at C. I like the kid from Syracuse Donte Green. He has better length, can rebound and block some serious shots. He also averaged more steals than Rush. If your talking a different mind set (more D) then they have to deliver that and not give it lip service.

They are not taking a different mind set though, I think it's been pretty clear the Suns are going to remain an offensive team first and try to play team defense better, so emphasize D more, yes, become defensive minded, not gonna happen. It's not like Sarver is going to allow some lumbering defensive minded Pistons clone. If that happens the Suns will lose several thousand season ticket holders in a matter of 2 years and I don't think the investors want that to happen.

55 wins and high offensive out put = 19K sell outs

55 wins with defensive minded teams = 14K

 

[WildBB]

They are not taking a different mind set though, I think it's been pretty clear the Suns are going to remain an offensive team first and try to play team defense better, so emphasize D more, yes, become defensive minded, not gonna happen. It's not like Sarver is going to allow some lumbering defensive minded Pistons clone. If that happens the Suns will lose several thousand season ticket holders in a matter of 2 years and I don't think the investors want that to happen.

55 wins and high offensive out put = 19K sell outs

55 wins with defensive minded teams = 14K

You forgot, and no championships.

 

[Irish]

NBA basketball is odd. In every other sport great defense can shut down great offense. Baseball goes to the best pitcher, the NY Giants showed what you can with an overpowering defensive line, and hockey has always been dominated by great defense.

But in basketball, there are guys who are all but unstoppable. The only hope the defense has is to make the guy work and hope to limit the guy's teammates and do a better job on the other end. Throwing five super defensive players at teams doesn't work if they can't score.

The challenge is to figure out whether it is easier to teach great offensive players to play defense or teach great defensive players offensive skills. There is no RIGHT answer because both approaches have their limits and tradeoffs. The Lakers of the 80's were terrible on defense while the Shaq/Kobe Lakers were pretty good. But if you want to win, you have to be able to do both.

 

[HooverDam]

55 wins and high offensive out put = 19K sell outs

55 wins with defensive minded teams = 14K

I disagree. A 55 win team thats perceived to have a good shot at the title or at least the conference finals will sell out its games.

 

[Proteus]

The Suns are gonna lose a bunch of season ticket holders when the necessary rebuilding/blowing up of the team eventually comes.