Suns updates and discussion for the 2023-24 season

[Yuma]

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.

Well I remember one of those games we were getting beat so bad, we pulled most of the starters in that game so the stats were skewed for at least that elimination game.

 

[Town Drunk]

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[Chaplin]

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COACHING

 

[Cheesebeef]

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Players starting to chirp to the media ain’t good for Vogel.

 

[Yuma]

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WTF? He passes the ball every time we give it to him now. He only shoots when the clock is winding down. Not driving the ball like he did at the beginning of the season.

 

[Yuma]

From AZ Sports:

"Azubuike, a giant 6-foot-11 center with a 7-foot-7 wingspan, is a tremendous finisher due to his strength and quick bounce around the rim. The 24-year-old former first-round pick still has lots of room to grow with picking up the cadences of the game on both ends but Phoenix found him by the basket to use his best skill and he played hard through his physicality. Azubuike finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds and deserves to get another look on Christmas, even if Nurkic is back.

Phoenix has now lost eight of its last 11 games."

The good and bad of last game.

 

[Ronin]

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[nashman]

WTF? He passes the ball every time we give it to him now. He only shoots when the clock is winding down. Not driving the ball like he did at the beginning of the season.

got one look at a 3 last night in 25 minutes… it’s ridiculous that we are running some plays to get all these shooters looks. We again made only 5 3s shooting a season worst 20% from 3 that’s a recipe for disaster in today NBA!

 

[Yuma]

got one look at a 3 last night in 25 minutes… it’s ridiculous that we are running some plays to get all these shooters looks. We again made only 5 3s shooting a season worst 20% from 3 that’s a recipe for disaster in today NBA!

So the thinking was with Booker, Beal, and KD, the other three guys would be WIDE open for threes. THIS is NOT happening. Not sure what we changed, but at the beginning of the season, it was happening, except a lot of games guys were not hitting the three. Now we changed the offense, or teams figured out how to play us, because no one is getting open looks anymore.

 

[Hoop Head]

WTF? He passes the ball every time we give it to him now. He only shoots when the clock is winding down. Not driving the ball like he did at the beginning of the season.

He doesn't call the plays. He's a vet and a pro, he's doing what he's told. What he's told appears to be the same thing everyone else is, defer to Booker and KD.

 

[Covert Rain]

So the thinking was with Booker, Beal, and KD, the other three guys would be WIDE open for threes. THIS is NOT happening. Not sure what we changed, but at the beginning of the season, it was happening, except a lot of games guys were not hitting the three. Now we changed the offense, or teams figured out how to play us, because no one is getting open looks anymore.

This offense is so predictable. ISO with Book, ISO with Durant...rinse and repeat. I think guys are so tuned into that you see guys just run to the corners, let those two guys do their thing and stand around waiting to see what happens. It's abysmal to watch. It reminds me when Pringles kept forcing the high pick and roll with Nash and Amare even after teams figured it out and would shut it down. It was so forced.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

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Seriously? No self awareness.

 

[Covert Rain]

Seriously? No self awareness.

I think this is code for starting? Either way this is where it begins. When players start complaining about their roles a locker room problem is brewing.

 

[Phrazbit]

I think this is code for starting? Either way this is where it begins. When players start complaining about their roles a locker room problem is brewing.

He's started 17 games, he's taking the 3rd most shots on the team, and he has been ass basically every other game the last month.

From the coaches on down to the players, there is a real lack of leadership on this team.

 

[Chaplin]

To be fair that meme lacks any context whatsoever. When fans are filling in the blanks, it will almost ALWAYS be negative.

 

[Cheesebeef]

He's started 17 games, he's taking the 3rd most shots on the team, and he has been ass basically every other game the last month.

From the coaches on down to the players, there is a real lack of leadership on this team.

Yeah. We both agree that KD ain’t no leader, but what disappoints me most about this season is Booker. This team is a rudderless ship and it’s HIS ship. And the warning signs have been there that he might not be the best leader in the world. We’re now coming off back to back horrific endings of seasons, two years ago ending after Booker talked a lot of smack to Luka only to see Luka historically punk his ass in Game 7, to another end of season humiliation last year, which he then doubled down on by him refusing to the talk to the media after. And now in his first real season as unquestioned leader of the team, we look this disinterested?

That sucks. We’ve got two GREAT players and neither of them are championship worthy leaders.

 

[Phrazbit]

Yeah. We both agree that KD ain’t no leader, but what disappoints me most about this season is Booker. This team is a rudderless ship and it’s HIS ship. And the warning signs have been there that he might not be the best leader in the world. We’re now coming off back to back horrific endings of seasons, two years ago ending after Booker talked a lot of smack to Luka only to see Luka historically punk his ass in Game 7, to another end of season humiliation last year, which he then doubled down on by him refusing to the talk to the media after. And now in his first real season as unquestioned leader of the team, we look this disinterested?

That sucks. We’ve got two GREAT players and neither of them are championship worthy leaders.

I don't think either Kobe or Shaq were good leaders... but they had Phil Jackson. They also had role players who took those roles upon themselves.

Vogel clearly doesn't have the sway in the locker room to get these guys locked in right now.

Crowder, Bridges and Paul were all pretty vocal out there, especially on defense, those guys are gone. There is a real void in communication out there.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Suns have few assets to trade, although I think there is still room to improve the team via trades and buyouts.

Hopefully the Suns can find at least one more rotation player at a position of need.

The Suns have already written their destiny for the foreseeable future with the trades they have made.

However, there is no way this team should be playing this badly.

I'm looking squarely at the coaching and GM to rectify this mess. If they can't, they should be gone. This team is too talented to be playing this badly.

 

[Yuma]

However, there is no way this team should be playing this badly.

I'm looking squarely at the coaching and GM to rectify this mess. If they can't, they should be gone. This team is too talented to be playing this badly. 100 Per Cent

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm really pleased with the play of Udoka Azubuike.

If he can play like this on a consistent basis, the Suns need to look at giving him a standard contract.

 

[CardNots]

Hopefully we had coaches attending?

 

[Hoop Head]

Hopefully we had coaches attending?

Darius Bazley was a Sun. We had the ability to bring him back this season on a qualifying offer. Not saying he was good here, he was not, but it's very Suns like we give up on someone who goes onto to look great elsewhere.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I don't think either Kobe or Shaq were good leaders... but they had Phil Jackson. They also had role players who took those roles upon themselves.

Sure, but both of those guys could lead with their own physical dominance. Booker will never be at their level there. So… you have a guy who can’t will a team almost singlehandedly in a series… and isn’t a good leader. That’s a bad combo out of your best player if you want to compete for titles year in, year out.

 

[Yuma]

Sure, but both of those guys could lead with their own physical dominance. Booker will never be at their level there. So… you have a guy who can’t will a team almost singlehandedly in a series… and isn’t a good leader. That’s a bad combo out of your best player if you want to compete for titles year in, year out.

Who says Booker isn't a leader. He takes ALL media questions. By accounts of his team mates, he tries to make them better. He is a valued member of the community here in Phoenix. He isn't in controversies all the time, or doing boneheaded things.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Who says Booker isn't a leader. He takes ALL media questions. By accounts of his team mates, he tries to make them better. He is a valued member of the community here in Phoenix. He isn't in controversies all the time, or doing boneheaded things.

Booker refused to talk to the press after the second consecutive humiliating home SHELLACKING to end the season on our home court. Then, doubled down on that no show of leadership by bailing on the post-season interviews for the entire week after also. That was INCREDIBLY lame crap. Especially because he’d played so horrifically in every single close out game in the past three years.

Booker also talks MAD trash for a guy who hasn’t accomplished jack yet. Luka all but pants’d him for the entire world to see after he clowned on Luka when we were up 2-0.