Suns Training Camp, October 1st through 4th, 2024

[Proximo]

Bud is saying we're going to shoot more 3s and he's saying Grayson will be coming off the bench - and it all makes sense to me

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You mean he will play power forward for us? You are probably correct, after all he is now one of the biggest guys on our team of guards.

 

[Chaplin]

They are slightly better, which is an accomplishment considering how limited we are by the 2nd apron. But this team is far from good enough to compete with the elite teams if we play remotely similar to last season.

Please, what is your definition of "slightly"? The very fact that they are point guards is one up on Gordon, and talent wise, they are loads better than Eric Gordon, whose stats for us were fools gold.

I get you want to be negative about the team, but come on, how come you can't give credit where credit is due?

 

[SirStefan32]

They are slightly better, which is an accomplishment considering how limited we are by the 2nd apron. But this team is far from good enough to compete with the elite teams if we play remotely similar to last season.

If replacing a has-been shooting guard with a legitimate starting point guard and a solid backup point guard is "slight" improvement, I'd love to hear what you would consider "significant" improvement would be. Jru Holiday? 28 year-old Chris Paul? They went from absolute zero to a solid PG rotation that will allow Booker, Beal and Durant to do what they do best instead of having to pretend to be point guards.

 

[SirStefan32]

Kind of presumptuous to say he is back when he is just one of 3 guys competing for one roster spot.

Sounds to me like knows something we don't.

 

[Yuma]

If replacing a has-been shooting guard with a legitimate starting point guard and a solid backup point guard is "slight" improvement, I'd love to hear what you would consider "significant" improvement would be. Jru Holiday? 28 year-old Chris Paul? They went from absolute zero to a solid PG rotation that will allow Booker, Beal and Durant to do what they do best instead of having to pretend to be point guards.

Plus, I am reading little tidbits here and there about what a wreck our back up center position was. Plus you look at the numbers, which were horrible. No wonder they went with a pros pro in Plumlee this time. They went for the safe bet. Plus he plays similar to the starter. That position alone is seeing a major upgrade. Let alone two super low turn over PGs of whom neither position was even on the roster last year!

 

[Hoop Head]

Plus, I am reading little tidbits here and there about what a wreck our back up center position was. Plus you look at the numbers, which were horrible. No wonder they went with a pros pro in Plumlee this time. They went for the safe bet. Plus he plays similar to the starter. That position alone is seeing a major upgrade. Let alone two super low turn over PGs of whom neither position was even on the roster last year!

Plumlee and Nurk are vastly different. Plumlee would have been solid in Vogel's schemes because he's an athletic big that plays within 10 feet of the basket. He's like a poor man's JaVale McGee. That isn't Nurk, never has been. While I like Plumlee as a backup here he's an odd fit for Coach Bud's offense. Nurk is a poor man's Jokic, can pass and play the post while being a beast on the boards but that's about it.

Frank is more of a Bud style Center and does play more like Nurk on offense but he's a bad screen setter and afraid of hard contact and getting physical. That's not Nurk or Plumlee.

The 3 Centers we have are quite different though so really don't understand how you are getting the idea we brought in backups who play the same as Nurk.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

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Holy crap that’s a lot of muscle.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

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Hope it doesn’t impact his shot. He can play pf for us now.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Gerald Bourguet
@GeraldBourguet
·
6m

Josh Okogie said when the season was over, he took some time to think about things, but he loved everything about Phoenix and wanted to return. Said apparently the feeling was mutual and he's happy to be back with the Suns

I wish he would’ve took some time to work on his three point shot.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Gerald Bourguet
@GeraldBourguet
·
46s

Damion Lee on his recovery from injury: "It's been a journey. Oct. 10 will be a year out of surgery, and like I explained before, I initially went in for a regular meniscus injury. Come to find out it was a root tear, then come to find out both roots were off."

Kinda makes sense now.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

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If bol bol can just hit the three and not get lost on defense he would bring a lot to the table in a big lineup of bol-nurkic-Durant. We all know bud likes size up front.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

if you are hoping for any real improvement he better be, because in terms of players who will actually get playing time all we have done is replace Gordon with Tyus and Eubanks with Plumlee.

Both upgrades at positions of big need.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

They are slightly better, which is an accomplishment considering how limited we are by the 2nd apron. But this team is far from good enough to compete with the elite teams if we play remotely similar to last season.

I guess the whole reason to get two low turnover competent pgs and a new coach is so they . . . won’t.

 

[Proximo]

Please, what is your definition of "slightly"? The very fact that they are point guards is one up on Gordon, and talent wise, they are loads better than Eric Gordon, whose stats for us were fools gold.

I get you want to be negative about the team, but come on, how come you can't give credit where credit is due?

I think having a 6 foot guy, instead of another 6'5 guy in the lineup probably cancels out the improvement in turnovers we will get from Jones. The team was already undersized, now it is really undersized.

Also I don't see how Grayson is going to get more than 25 minutes a game which also is not a good thing.

Yes, Bud could help us by getting us to shoot more 3's and increase pace - but that alone is not going to be enough to compensate for our lack of defense, rebounding, and lack of size. I mean it might mean we win 55 regular season games instead of 49 - but come the playoffs I don't see how the results are any different than last year because the team has the same flaws.

I don't want to be negative. I want to have hope - I just don't see why I should.

 

[95pro]

This team is going to be scrappy as h...

 

[Ronin]

Bradley Beal admits he was 'lost' with Suns in 2023-24

Bradley Beal is focused on having fun again after his debut season with the Phoenix Suns admittedly left him lacking joy and feeling lost.

arizonasports.com

 

[Hoop Head]

I think having a 6 foot guy, instead of another 6'5 guy in the lineup probably cancels out the improvement in turnovers we will get from Jones. The team was already undersized, now it is really undersized.

Also I don't see how Grayson is going to get more than 25 minutes a game which also is not a good thing.

Yes, Bud could help us by getting us to shoot more 3's and increase pace - but that alone is not going to be enough to compensate for our lack of defense, rebounding, and lack of size. I mean it might mean we win 55 regular season games instead of 49 - but come the playoffs I don't see how the results are any different than last year because the team has the same flaws.

I don't want to be negative. I want to have hope - I just don't see why I should.

I can see what you're saying. The team will be much more enjoyable to watch throughout the season but I'd be surprised by anything more than a second round exit. It can't get much worse than being swept in round 1 because even a single playoff win will be an improvement. I hope we can pull off some miracle trade around the deadline to make this team more resemble a contender but I don't expect it.

 

[Mainstreet]

I can see what you're saying. The team will be much more enjoyable to watch throughout the season but I'd be surprised by anything more than a second round exit. It can't get much worse than being swept in round 1 because even a single playoff win will be an improvement. I hope we can pull off some miracle trade around the deadline to make this team more resemble a contender but I don't expect it.

The Suns offense has the tools to play a version of SSOL with Bud adding some defensive touches.

I'm curious if Bud goes this direction and let the threes fly.

They are smallish and quick except at center and have good shooters.

 

[JCSunsfan]

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I like Grayson on my team, but boy that "smirk" makes you just want to punch him.

 

[Mainstreet]

Bradley Beal likes the idea of shooting more threes. The Suns seemingly don't have a choice in the new NBA.

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[Hoop Head]

The Suns offense has the tools to play a version of SSOL with Bud adding some defensive touches.

I'm curious if Bud goes this direction and let the threes fly.

They are smallish and quick except at center and have good shooters.

I expect them to look like the Kurt Thomas/Diaw SSOL team. Nurk can be a trailer on offense, the last guy to come over and set up at the top of the key. That would be how I'd coach this team, at least. It's also how I think they'd work best chucking lots of 3's.

 

[Mainstreet]

I expect them to look like the Kurt Thomas/Diaw SSOL team. Nurk can be a trailer on offense, the last guy to come over and set up at the top of the key. That would be how I'd coach this team, at least. It's also how I think they'd work best chucking lots of 3's.

This seems to be the best direction for the Suns to go on offense. Even Durant could play some center in this scheme.

One has to wonder if this how the Suns attracted Tyus Jones and Monte Morris.

 

[Hoop Head]

This seems to be the best direction for the Suns to go on offense. Even Durant could play some center in this scheme.

One has to wonder if this how the Suns attracted Tyus Jones and Monte Morris.

I wish I watched more Bucks and Hawks games when Bud was their coach. The Hawks may not be a great example although they did win a lot, even securing a player of the month award for their starting 5 as a unit. We should see less hero ball under Bud. We don't have a Giannis who can barrel his way to the basket for a guaranteed 2 points so I suspect the offense will be spread around. It'll be interesting.

Tyus Jones could have a breakout year setting the table. I think Nurk could as well given his playmaking ability. Those 2 are the X factors.

 

[Proximo]

I guess the whole reason to get two low turnover competent pgs and a new coach is so they . . . won’t.

True that is the goal - here is the thing, bottom line the ball is still going to be in the hands of one of the big 3 80% of the time, so how much effect can that other 20% really have.

Really I have unfortunately come to the conclusion the Beal acquisition is screwing us. He does not fit on this team, and us trying to make him fit makes us worse. If we could flip him for a real 3 and D small forward I would be so much more optimistic about this teams chances.

 

[Proximo]

Holy crap that’s a lot of muscle.

In this interview Grayson clearly says he played at 220 last year. He only put on 5-10 pounds in his own words. 24 minute mark.

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