Suns @ Trail Blazers 4-4-14

[Cheesewater]

Let me say something about Hornacek here. Reaching down his bench, putting in a player like Shavlik Randolph at that point in the game...pure Popovich.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Suns need to beef up the PF and center positions in the offseason. Len is not ready to play and Frye... what can I say.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm not pushing signing Spencer Hawes in free agency but he would upgrade the Suns frontcourt. The production from the Suns frontline is pitiful.

 

[elindholm]

Our bunch of smalls getting the job done...you make do with what you got.

That sums it up right there. It's too late now to change the roster for what's left of this season.

 

[Bert]

That 4th quarter by the Suns was a beautiful thing. Where was that fire against the Clippers and the Lakers? One huge hurdle down but Memphis and Dallas both won as well so we just gotta keep plugging away. GO SUNS!

 

[sunsfan88]

I'm not pushing signing Spencer Hawes in free agency but he would upgrade the Suns frontcourt. The production from the Suns frontline is pitiful.

Suns have the worst front court in the West.

 

[Superbone]

I am glad to see Randolph getting some time. I would like to see him in the rotation as backup Center while we are still playing to win.

He put in yeoman's work tonight. Good to see Jeff make good use of him. Great win!

 

[ASUCHRIS]

such a shame we couldn't hold on to the Clippers game.

Seriously, would be feeling much better about our chances.

Draft spot be damned, it would be a shame if this team doesn't make the playoffs. At the very least, they've been a pleasure to watch all year, and by far the most enjoyable Suns team to watch since 2010.

 

[JCSunsfan]

The Suns need to beef up the PF and center positions in the offseason. Len is not ready to play and Frye... what can I say.

Anyone notice that Plumlee had 16 boards?

 

[Mainstreet]

Anyone notice that Plumlee had 16 boards?

That did not go unnoticed by me. The Suns benefited because Portland did not play much defense and it was a wide open game. I like Plumlee and the potential of Len but the Suns need more production at the center/ PF positions. However, in a half court game, Plumlee has problems.

 

[JS22]

Anyone notice that Plumlee had 16 boards?

That's great and all but he needs to stop letting other centers put up 25/10 against him.

 

[Catlover]

That's great and all but he needs to stop letting other centers put up 25/10 against him.

Did you see some of those shots Robin was making? I'm sure Jeff was thrilled on several of them despite the result. Also, in Plumlee's defense, Lopez logged a lot of time opposite other players than Miles. You're right though, Miles needs to improve his defense but he's not as far off as last night's box score might suggest.

A lot of our problems go away if our stretch players at the three and especially at the four start making their outside shots. Make the defenders cover some court and they're legs will suffer. Right now, they are getting almost a free ride because Frye isn't dangerous from anywhere and Tucker is only dangerous from the baseline three and only mildly dangerous at that. We need December Frye to show up, March Frye is killing us.

 

[sunsfan88]

We haven't seen Goran miss shots like this since last year. Wonder if he is burned out or hurt.

I say burned out. He's played more mins than anyone else on the team I think and he's asked to do more during those minutes than anyone else.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

I say burned out. He's played more mins than anyone else on the team I think and he's asked to do more during those minutes than anyone else.

Really hope he doesn't play for the Slovenian National team this summer, with his style of play, it's only a matter of time before he burns out.

 

[marios13]

Being from Slovenia that is like saying I really hope Suns don't make the playoffs so he can play rested in the summer for our National team

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Being from Slovenia that is like saying I really hope Suns don't make the playoffs so he can play rested in the summer for our National team

Ha, as much as I love the Slovenian national team, we clearly have separate agendas.

 

[Catlover]

Being from Slovenia that is like saying I really hope Suns don't make the playoffs so he can play rested in the summer for our National team

I can understand but each year it gets harder on a player doing both. Especially a player like Goran who expends so much energy when he plays. I think he's at that point where he needs to pick his battles, even if that means walking away from the NBA. If you look around you'll see that most similar style players have had to make this same decision. It will become even more important for him to limit his offseason basketball once we start making the playoffs regularly.

 

[Catlover]

Ha, as much as I love the Slovenian national team, we clearly have separate agendas.

lol

 

[BC867]

Anyone notice that Plumlee had 16 boards?

There is one important trait right behind skill (offense and/or defense) that determines the worth of a professional ballplayer. Consistency!

No player is perfect. But the valuable ones are consistent most of the time.

With all due respect, pointing out 16 boards from Plumlee (or a good 3-point shooting night from Frye) is meaningless.

The Suns have one consistent player -- Dragic. Green and Markieff seem to be next. Even Bledsoe is consistent on defense, but comes and goes on offense.

The rest come to life sporadically. That being said, the Suns success this season has been the result of two players having a very good game along with Dragic. Or, in rare instances, in place of Dragic

In those cases, we have won important games like we did vs. the Blazers. When it doesn't happen, we are a lottery team.

'Seems to make it obvious that we need to add one other player (preferably at one of the power positions, rather than at a Wing).

Jeff Hornacek's leadership has whetted our appetite for proud, successful basketball. Adding a consistent big man (mainly to rebound and play defense) could make all the difference. Other teams have done it. It should be do-able.

 

[JS22]

^

Plumlee has been a pretty consistent rebounder all season. Unfortunately his post defense has been pretty awful and he has lost a lot of his touch around the basket.

 

[WuRaider]

We need December Frye to show up, March Frye is killing us.

He was doing better in December because he mixed his shot selection up. Now, he's hurrying and bricking all of his threes. Let's hope he gets hot during the games against OKC and the Spurs. His 3-4 or 4-6 shooting stretches from the three has won us games in the past.

 

[Catlover]

He was doing better in December because he mixed his shot selection up. Now, he's hurrying and bricking all of his threes. Let's hope he gets hot during the games against OKC and the Spurs. His 3-4 or 4-6 shooting stretches from the three has won us games in the past.

I don't think that's it. His defense has also taken a hit. He's still trying but his immediate reaction and first step seem to be noticeably slower than they were. He had a year and a half off and I just don't think his legs are holding up to the minutes. Almost every player on this team is well beyond their customary court time. It's just as obvious with Tucker too. He doesn't have the bounce he had a few months ago, at least not most of the time. Against the Lakers, for example, he played like he was carrying an extra person on his back. Jeff has done a great job managing these guys' minutes but very few of them came into the season expecting anything like the roles they've filled.

 

[BC867]

^

Plumlee has been a pretty consistent rebounder all season. Unfortunately his post defense has been pretty awful and he has lost a lot of his touch around the basket.

Lately, our leading and most "consistent" rebounder has been P.J.

That is why I didn't include Plumlee on my short list of consistent Suns players. Y'know, the ones you can count on just about every game, no matter what time of the season.

For whatever reason, Plum didn't reach that plateau.

 

[Phrazbit]

I know I said this a few weeks ago, but early in the season Plumlee was one of the better interior defenders in the league. Opposing shooting percentages at the rim while he was in the game were some of the lowest in the league and there was the constant talk about how he learned to go straight up to challenge shots by working with Hibbert.

What happened to that guy? His confidence and awareness on D has completely vanished. He gets caught out of position, is frequently late on challenging shots, slow on help D. I just don't get how his level of play could have slipped so much.

 

[Catlover]

I know I said this a few weeks ago, but early in the season Plumlee was one of the better interior defenders in the league. Opposing shooting percentages at the rim while he was in the game were some of the lowest in the league and there was the constant talk about how he learned to go straight up to challenge shots by working with Hibbert.

What happened to that guy? His confidence and awareness on D has completely vanished. He gets caught out of position, is frequently late on challenging shots, slow on help D. I just don't get how his level of play could have slipped so much.

For quite awhile there he was playing injured and tired. Now he's mostly just playing tired but he has his a little bit of his quickness and lift back and his defense seems to be back on the upswing to me. He does get caught out of position but he's still basically a rookie.