Suns @ Rockets 3-15-19

[AzStevenCal]

Yeah me too, wanted nothing to do with Tatum. Cheered when we got Jackson.

Big mistake it appears.

His shot is getting better, but he still makes stupid decisions.

I wasn't happy at all when we drafted Josh although I grew to appreciate his potential following the draft. At draft time, I wanted Markkanen, Tatum, J Isaac, John Collins and Zack Collins in that order. Zach and Isaac haven't really impressed much at least we probably could have traded down and wasted a less valuable pick.

 

[Mainstreet]

I wasn't happy at all when we drafted Josh although I grew to appreciate his potential following the draft. At draft time, I wanted Markkanen, Tatum, J Isaac, John Collins and Zack Collins in that order. Zach and Isaac haven't really impressed much at least we probably could have traded down and wasted a less valuable pick.

Of course I wanted Fox until it became apparent the Suns were not going to draft him.

They had Bledsoe and all that goes with it.

 

[Proximo]

I wasn't happy at all when we drafted Josh although I grew to appreciate his potential following the draft. At draft time, I wanted Markkanen, Tatum, J Isaac, John Collins and Zack Collins in that order. Zach and Isaac haven't really impressed much at least we probably could have traded down and wasted a less valuable pick.

I had my rankings ball, Jackson, Fox. Not looking too good at this point.

 

[GatorAZ]

I still think there is a chance he becomes a special player but he just kills us out there most nights. Even with his "up-side", if we didn't take a huge hit in value by trading him, I'd move him as soon as possible. Unfortunately I don't think he has any real value right now.

His upside is an elite role player.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Yeah I thought Tatum had a low ceiling due to him being limited athletically. You go back and watch Jackson at Kansas and wow. I don’t know what happened to that guy.

Could you imagine Fox at point or Lauri playing PF instead of Bender.

The saving grace is it looks like Ayton and Bridges are going to be really good.

Bridges looks like he'll be great defensively. Offensively he's got a lot more to prove for me.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Of course I wanted Fox until it became apparent the Suns were not going to draft him.

They had Bledsoe and all that goes with it.

the Bledsoe of it all shouldn't have stopped them considering they were apparently into Ball and considering they knew they weren't going to give Bledsoe a new contract that off-season and he was going to be gone sooner rather than later.

They might have just completely blown the pick.

 

[Cheesebeef]

His upside is an elite role player.

sadly, I think that's Bridges' upside.

 

[Krangodnzr]

I hope Bridges is better than Bruce Bowen. If not that was a bad trade.

Bruce Bowen was a REALLY good role player.

If Booker, Ayton, and Oubre all continue to improve the team wont need Bridges to be a star.

 

[Bufalay]

The suns lost on purpose for two years so they could acquire Bender and Jackson.

 

[Mainstreet]

the Bledsoe of it all shouldn't have stopped them considering they were apparently into Ball and considering they knew they weren't going to give Bledsoe a new contract that off-season and he was going to be gone sooner rather than later.

They might have just completely blown the pick.

They couldn't understand Fox was a good option at point guard.

 

[Mainstreet]

Bruce Bowen was a REALLY good role player.

If Booker, Ayton, and Oubre all continue to improve the team wont need Bridges to be a star.

I have seen plenty of Bruce Bowen... too much. No way the Suns should have traded the 16th pick and the unprotected Miami pick for a role player.

Still I hope Bridges can be more.

 

[GatorAZ]

The suns lost on purpose for two years so they could acquire Bender and Jackson.

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[Hoop Head]

I have seen plenty of Bruce Bowen... too much. No way the Suns should have traded the 16th pick and the unprotected Miami pick for a role player.

Still I hope Bridges can be more.

I hope he's more but the 16th pick had little value and we don't know how the Heat pick will look in the long run. If Bridges can be a candidate for All-Defensive teams annually then that's a solid trade, IMO. A mid round 1st and a future 1st that is likely in the same area? Odds of drafting a player like that there are slim and for the Suns it would be low. I think the pick looks better the more I see of Bridges and I wasn't sold on it at the time.

 

[Mainstreet]

I hope he's more but the 16th pick had little value and we don't know how the Heat pick will look in the long run. If Bridges can be a candidate for All-Defensive teams annually then that's a solid trade, IMO. A mid round 1st and a future 1st that is likely in the same area? Odds of drafting a player like that there are slim and for the Suns it would be low. I think the pick looks better the more I see of Bridges and I wasn't sold on it at the time.

If the Suns had traded the 16th pick for a future first round pick, added it to the Bucks pick and the unprotected Miami pick they would be in better position today to move for a key piece.

 

[Suns_fan69]

JJ is beyond frustrating. He slows up on the freaking break... looks like he actually got blocked on the foul and then misses both FTs.

This and the oubre dunk cost them the game. That was frustrating to watch.

 

[Mainstreet]

Harden giving his respect to Oubre.

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[Hoop Head]

If the Suns had traded the 16th pick for a future first round pick, added it to the Bucks pick and the unprotected Miami pick they would be in better position today to move for a key piece.

Perhaps. That's a lot of what if scenarios though. If the offer had been out there for a future pick for our #16 then I could see your reasoning but there wasn't any talk like that and no one around our spot in the draft made a deal like that either. Had something like that been available I think the Bucks would have considered it since they owed us a pick and they were picking right there at #17 as well. That could have put them in a better position for the future since there wasn't anyone they were super high on either. They took Donte DiVincenzo with #17 but he's only played in 27 games for them, virtually all garbage time, and that would have given them a little more cap room to use this last summer. So while I can agree that idea is good in theory I don't think it was a possibility.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I have seen plenty of Bruce Bowen... too much. No way the Suns should have traded the 16th pick and the unprotected Miami pick for a role player.

Still I hope Bridges can be more.

I think Bridges will likely continue to be labelled a role player but I believe he was a steal at 16 plus the Miami pick. I've said it before and I still believe it; he will become a much better version of Bowen.

 

[Mainstreet]

Perhaps. That's a lot of what if scenarios though. If the offer had been out there for a future pick for our #16 then I could see your reasoning but there wasn't any talk like that and no one around our spot in the draft made a deal like that either. Had something like that been available I think the Bucks would have considered it since they owed us a pick and they were picking right there at #17 as well. That could have put them in a better position for the future since there wasn't anyone they were super high on either. They took Donte DiVincenzo with #17 but he's only played in 27 games for them, virtually all garbage time, and that would have given them a little more cap room to use this last summer. So while I can agree that idea is good in theory I don't think it was a possibility.

We know two thirds of this equation was possible. I don't think it is a reach the Suns could have traded #16 for a future first round pick.

 

[BC867]

Our two Centers each had double-doubles and 29 points/25 rebounds between them. Has a Suns Center tandem ever done better in a game?

That plus Booker's and Oubre's scoring and good defense by the team kept us in the game. And neither team playing with starting Point Guards.

We knew that Houston was going to open it up from a 2-point game just when they needed to at the end, but that is still an improvement for the Suns.

The next step, of course, would be to be competitive in every game. Not just better than worse. But good.

 

[BC867]

When Ayton has Harden deep in the post on a switch you have to throw him the ball.

We have to recognize mismatches

That is what a Point Guard would do.

 

[Mainstreet]

I think Bridges will likely continue to be labelled a role player but I believe he was a steal at 16 plus the Miami pick. I've said it before and I still believe it; he will become a much better version of Bowen.

This is different than what was being said. The comparison was to Bruce Bowen.

Here are Bruce Bowen's career stats. See link below.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bowenbr01.html

Bowen wasn't even drafted.

 

[AzStevenCal]

This is different than what was being said. The comparison was to Bruce Bowen.

Here are Bruce Bowen's career stats. See link below.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bowenbr01.html

Bowen wasn't even drafted.

I'm not sure we're connecting here. My point was that he will still likely be called a role player and he will do some of the things that Bowen did but he will be a much better player. IMO. I'm not saying he's anything like Draymond but Green is typically considered a role player also despite how valuable he has been.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm not sure we're connecting here. My point was that he will still likely be called a role player and he will do some of the things that Bowen did but he will be a much better player. IMO. I'm not saying he's anything like Draymond but Green is typically considered a role player also despite how valuable he has been.

I think we understand each other. You think Bridges will be better than Bowen. This would be my minimum expectation so no disagreement there.

Where we may disagree, I was disheartened when the Suns traded the future unprotected Miami pick and #16 for him.

Sometimes I feel I grade Bridges harder than others is because he didn't catch my eye in college.

 

[95pro]

Good game, frustrating ending. Nice to see Harden get the booker treatment where they doubled him at half court. House made a big shot. Can’t blame JJ on that one play but man that’s the first time I’ve see him not sprint to the rim and dunk it, to top it off he misses both free throws. I think they mailed it in after that as shown by not fouling.