Suns updates and discussion for the 2023-24 season

taz02

All Star
Joined
May 8, 2007
Posts
933
Reaction score
458
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.
I’m not really trying to take a shot at Booker. His passion, skill and drive are not in question. He has performed poorly in some huge games, but that can change in an instant.

Booker shouldn’t be relied on to do everything. He has never had the help he needs. He needs to be playing with a capable point guard and an inside beast that can take over games when he is off, (the guy we thought Ayton would be). Booker cannot carry a team the way LeBron, Kobe and Jordan did. He needs that second guy.

Poor drafting is and has been the team’s biggest problem. It’s the reason they are in this spot. Whoever is responsible for that should be replaced if they haven’t been replaced already.

Booker has suffered through years of poor drafting, with little help and poor coaching. Now they have completely rebuilt the entire organization around Booker. The guys they brought in likely don’t have 2 or 3 seasons to figure it out and it appears the coach may not be up to the task.

Even so, the current team, thrown together out of desperation, should be playing better than it is even with Beal out.

I find it hard to have too much sympathy for a guy with a couple hundred million bucks, but I do feel bad for Booker, he wants to win, there is no question.
 

Ouchie-Z-Clown

I'm better than Mulli!
Joined
Sep 16, 2002
Posts
63,152
Reaction score
57,186
Location
SoCal
I think right now Book is trying to be too cerebral instead of letting the game come to him. Right now he's forcing things on all accounts.

I think this point Book is taking a toll on him mentally, especially coming off cp3 and trying to be your own pg. He's on the fly learning(forcing) guys to get their shots, while at the same time figuring out when to get his.
This. He’s a circle peg in an oval hole at pg. looks like he fits. You can force it. But it’s awkward and not seemless.
 

CardsSunsDbacks

Not So Skeptical
Joined
Aug 26, 2012
Posts
10,069
Reaction score
6,441
This. He’s a circle peg in an oval hole at pg. looks like he fits. You can force it. But it’s awkward and not seemless.
Which is what makes seeing what we have with him and Beal together interesting. They will each take on some responsibilities of a PG, but neither will need to do it all.

How well will they mesh once they get some court time together? That is the question. That and whether or not some of these role players will find some consistency around them.
 

CardsSunsDbacks

Not So Skeptical
Joined
Aug 26, 2012
Posts
10,069
Reaction score
6,441
xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media
Not necessarily something I want to be hearing about a veteran team. We should be mentally locked in every night and the nights where we aren't should be the outlier..
 

elindholm

edited for content
Joined
Sep 14, 2002
Posts
27,317
Reaction score
9,319
Location
L.A. area
Not necessarily something I want to be hearing about a veteran team. We should be mentally locked in every night and the nights where we aren't should be the outlier..

Well it's obviously a problem, so would you rather have them deny it than acknowledge it?
 

Chaplin

Better off silent
Joined
May 13, 2002
Posts
46,226
Reaction score
16,638
Location
Round Rock, TX
Not necessarily something I want to be hearing about a veteran team. We should be mentally locked in every night and the nights where we aren't should be the outlier..
We came out like that against the Blazers. Our problem is that we cannot sustain any kind of momentum for more than a few minutes. That’s bad in game adjusting IMO.
 

CardsSunsDbacks

Not So Skeptical
Joined
Aug 26, 2012
Posts
10,069
Reaction score
6,441
Well it's obviously a problem, so would you rather have them deny it than acknowledge it?
I think you missed my point. My issue isn't that he's admitting it, but that it's a problem to begin with. It's concerning that a team with this amount of talent and experience is struggling to stay motivated and focused..
 

elindholm

edited for content
Joined
Sep 14, 2002
Posts
27,317
Reaction score
9,319
Location
L.A. area
I think you missed my point. My issue isn't that he's admitting it, but that it's a problem to begin with. It's concerning that a team with this amount of talent and experience is struggling to stay motivated and focused..
Right, but we know it's an issue regardless of whether Metu articulates it. Anyway, we're basically in agreement.
 

Yuma

Suns are my Kryptonite!
Joined
Jan 3, 2003
Posts
22,416
Reaction score
12,231
Location
Laveen, AZ
Right, but we know it's an issue regardless of whether Metu articulates it. Anyway, we're basically in agreement.
Yeah, and I kinda like the players saying they see the same things we do. At least we know they KNOW it's a problem.
 

Finito

ASFN Icon
Joined
Oct 23, 2005
Posts
21,044
Reaction score
13,797
Yeah there's no one else to blame it on, I'm just not convinced it's because he's a "quitter".

Idk if he’s a “quitter” but it’s pretty clear to me now he’s not HIM.

what’s this his 8th/9th year?

His numbers in elimination games are pathetic. That’s not what number 1 options do. It’s just not.
 

Phrazbit

ASFN Icon
Joined
Oct 10, 2011
Posts
20,237
Reaction score
11,295
Idk if he’s a “quitter” but it’s pretty clear to me now he’s not HIM.

what’s this his 8th/9th year?

His numbers in elimination games are pathetic. That’s not what number 1 options do. It’s just not.

Kobe Bryant quit in elimination games several times, literally quit, in the very sense of the word. His numbers overall in elimination games were really bad. I think a lot of this stuff is deceiving.

I think Booker's problem is that he starts to depart the "system" when things get bad and force things, and things get even uglier. I've certainly never doubted his effort when watching him in the playoffs.
 

Finito

ASFN Icon
Joined
Oct 23, 2005
Posts
21,044
Reaction score
13,797
Kobe Bryant quit in elimination games several times, literally quit, in the very sense of the word. His numbers overall in elimination games were really bad. I think a lot of this stuff is deceiving.

I think Booker's problem is that he starts to depart the "system" when things get bad and force things, and things get even uglier. I've certainly never doubted his effort when watching him in the playoffs.

Didn’t I just say Idk if he’s a quitter? I just said that, right?

Kobe also had rings by that point and had proven himself to be a guy who could be a legit 1.

You are pretty much saying what I’m saying. When the going gets tough Booker kind of goes left. He’s not a kid anymore this is who he is.
 

Staff online

Forum statistics

Threads
551,530
Posts
5,387,951
Members
6,310
Latest member
sundevils78
Top