Suns updates and discussion for the 2023-24 season

[taz02]

Booker definitely is not a quitter.

 

[Hoop Head]

An erratic offense leads to turnovers, which frequently turns into easy fast break points going the other way. This is part of the Suns defensive woes.

They are not a good passing team. Too much one-on-one stuff. The idea of two combo guards running the offense has not worked with Beal out.

And I don't see it working with Beal back. Beal and Gordon are similar players in terms of skill set. At Gordon's best, back when we tried to get him as a RFA a decade ago, he was a lot like Beal is now. Maybe not as good of a volume scorer but definitely 90% of Beal. As a 3rd option in 2023 though Beal isn't going to be much more than Gordon at his best now. I thought having Gordon would allow us to keep up if/when either Beal or Booker was out. So long as we had 2 of those 3, we'd be fine. We haven't seen that. Booker and Gordon are the 2 best combo guards we've had most of this season and our offense isn't much better than if only 1 of them plays.

 

[Proximo]

And I don't see it working with Beal back. Beal and Gordon are similar players in terms of skill set. At Gordon's best, back when we tried to get him as a RFA a decade ago, he was a lot like Beal is now. Maybe not as good of a volume scorer but definitely 90% of Beal. As a 3rd option in 2023 though Beal isn't going to be much more than Gordon at his best now. I thought having Gordon would allow us to keep up if/when either Beal or Booker was out. So long as we had 2 of those 3, we'd be fine. We haven't seen that. Booker and Gordon are the 2 best combo guards we've had most of this season and our offense isn't much better than if only 1 of them plays.

Beal's ball handling is significantly better than Gordon's.

I do think that part of the problem may be solved if both Booker and Beal are available, however how likely is that to be a regular occurrence?

 

[95pro]

And I don't see it working with Beal back. Beal and Gordon are similar players in terms of skill set. At Gordon's best, back when we tried to get him as a RFA a decade ago, he was a lot like Beal is now. Maybe not as good of a volume scorer but definitely 90% of Beal. As a 3rd option in 2023 though Beal isn't going to be much more than Gordon at his best now. I thought having Gordon would allow us to keep up if/when either Beal or Booker was out. So long as we had 2 of those 3, we'd be fine. We haven't seen that. Booker and Gordon are the 2 best combo guards we've had most of this season and our offense isn't much better than if only 1 of them plays.

Beal's ball handling is significantly better than Gordon's.

I do think that part of the problem may be solved if both Booker and Beal are available, however how likely is that to be a regular occurrence?

Relying on all three to be healthy at the right time is a recipe for disaster. I'm really down on Beal's back, backs - like hammies, can reoccur almost at random.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Relying on all three to be healthy at the right time is a recipe for disaster. I'm really down on Beal's back, backs - like hammies, can reoccur almost at random.

It is a recipe for disaster but it's all we have to cook with. Last year's playoff roster clearly wasn't going to be be enough to win it all. Right now, our offseason trades seem like a failed experiment but riding with it is about our only option until we're ready to sell off all our assets and start anew.

 

[Hoop Head]

Beal's ball handling is significantly better than Gordon's.

I do think that part of the problem may be solved if both Booker and Beal are available, however how likely is that to be a regular occurrence?

As a secondary playmaker/ball handler, possibly and probably third behind Durant, will the slight increase in Beal's ball handling to Gordon's be what makes this offense hum? I don't think so.

Beal will be guarded as the third option about the same as Gordon is now behind the 3pt line and teams will send help a little more when he attacks the rim. That's the primary difference, as far as I'd imagine. Our offense is a mess much higher up the chain than changing our 3rd option will fix.

 

[GatorAZ]

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[95pro]

As a secondary playmaker/ball handler, possibly and probably third behind Durant, will the slight increase in Beal's ball handling to Gordon's be what makes this offense hum? I don't think so.

Beal will be guarded as the third option about the same as Gordon is now behind the 3pt line and teams will send help a little more when he attacks the rim. That's the primary difference, as far as I'd imagine. Our offense is a mess much higher up the chain than changing our 3rd option will fix.

Agreed, Beal is more dynamic but if the offensive schemes dont change with pluggin in Beal, then other team's defensive schemes won't change either.

 

[Hoop Head]

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Except the Suns can't sign anyone bought out who makes over the MLE, $11 million a year, because they're over the second tax apron.

Flex is a clown.

 

[Cheesebeef]

We've got a superstar front runner and it ain't Booker.

Nah. Our problem is we now have TWO Superstar front runners. Booker’s been the architect of back to back 2-0 leads, failing to show up at all in those closeout games and falling off a cliff once the team was punched back.

And he was flat out horrific in back to back 30 point home losses to end back to back seasons.

 

[Ronin]

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[Ronin]

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[Phrazbit]

Nah. Our problem is we now have TWO Superstar front runners. Booker’s been the architect of back to back 2-0 leads, failing to show up at all in those closeout games and falling off a cliff once the team was punched back.

And he was flat out horrific in back to back 30 point home losses to end back to back seasons.

He dropped 40 points twice in the finals after we were up 2-0.

He didn't play well in the elimination disasters in 22 and 23 but no one did, and he was playing out of his mind last year up until Jeff Green did him dirty.

If he were a true front runner he would have left ages ago, or twice bailed on his teams to join whoever had the best record the year before.

 

[Cheesebeef]

He dropped 40 points twice in the finals after we were up 2-0.

And was nowhere to be found in a close Game 6, playing easily his worst game.

He didn't play well in the elimination disasters in 22 and 23 but no one did, and he was playing out of his mind last year up until Jeff Green did him dirty.

No one else playing well is immaterial to the best player on the team totally no-showing. And to be honest, after all the trash he talked on and off the court about Doncic, then getting his ish pushed in for 4 of 5 games against a pathetically weak, one man band Mavs, en route to the most embarassing home Game 7 in NBA history.

If he were a true front runner he would have left ages ago, or twice bailed on his teams to join whoever had the best record the year before.

He can be a front runner and not be the level of front runner KD is. I’ve got no problem with labeling KD as such, but Booker has been atrocious and part of multiple playoff meltdowns, while favored and ultimately completely no showing in games to decide the season.

 

[95pro]

He dropped 40 points twice in the finals after we were up 2-0.

He didn't play well in the elimination disasters in 22 and 23 but no one did, and he was playing out of his mind last year up until Jeff Green did him dirty.

If he were a true front runner he would have left ages ago, or twice bailed on his teams to join whoever had the best record the year before.

In Books era we've been good since the 20-21 Finals season. This is year 4 of Book's good era. Pulling the carpet out from Book's legacy seems a bit premature. These next two years will determine whether prime Book is good enough to get us back to the finals or win it all.

 

[Phrazbit]

In Books era we've been good since the 20-21 Finals season. This is year 4 of Book's good era. Pulling the carpet out from Book's legacy seems a bit premature. These next two years will determine whether prime Book is good enough to get us back to the finals or win it all.

I suspect the Durant trade effectively knee capped any shot at contention for a while.

I hope Booker still has the allure to get high caliber players wanting to come here in 3 years when we (should) have cap space again.

 

[Mainstreet]

And I don't see it working with Beal back. Beal and Gordon are similar players in terms of skill set. At Gordon's best, back when we tried to get him as a RFA a decade ago, he was a lot like Beal is now. Maybe not as good of a volume scorer but definitely 90% of Beal. As a 3rd option in 2023 though Beal isn't going to be much more than Gordon at his best now. I thought having Gordon would allow us to keep up if/when either Beal or Booker was out. So long as we had 2 of those 3, we'd be fine. We haven't seen that. Booker and Gordon are the 2 best combo guards we've had most of this season and our offense isn't much better than if only 1 of them plays.

Yes, we can see the Suns are looking hard at the point guard position by having two players on TW contracts.

Unfortunately, there are not any available at the moment that are capable of being a starter or a rotation player.

 

[taz02]

Yeah, I don't know any way to take that comment other than as a shot at Booker. Different coach, completely different roster, Booker is the only real constant. I don't consider him a "quitter" but we've had some embarrassing collapses during his time here.

 

[Proximo]

The doctor I watched who talked about Beal's injury did not think it would be a recurring injury. I personally am not worried about that.

 

[Ronin]

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[Ronin]

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[Ronin]

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[Ronin]

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[Ronin]

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[Ronin]

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