Suns @ Warriors 3-9-14

[Phrazbit]

Lee scores nice and goes after boards but by many statistical measures he is one of the worst defensive players in the league.

Len and Plumlee may get better... but unfortunately in the present they've been playing like garbage. Len has not really shown a pulse this year but Plumlee has been bumming me out, he was a totally different player early in the year.

 

[Catlover]

Lee scores nice and goes after boards but by many statistical measures he is one of the worst defensive players in the league.

Len and Plumlee may get better... but unfortunately in the present they've been playing like garbage. Len has not really shown a pulse this year but Plumlee has been bumming me out, he was a totally different player early in the year.

So was Frye. Bledsoe makes it easier for our big guys to play the game, we need him back and soon.

 

[AfroSuns]

So was Frye. Bledsoe makes it easier for our big guys to play the game, we need him back and soon.

Bledsoes return would help everyone. i cant see how it will especially favor Plumlee's offense. I think the shooters are going to be the one benefiting mostly from his return; having to deal with both Dragic and Bledsoes.
If it indeed does help Plumlee, then i would worry about his future more than when i am only feeling he is just going through a funk like Frye.

 

[Catlover]

Bledsoes return would help everyone. i cant see how it will especially favor Plumlee's offense. I think the shooters are going to be the one benefiting mostly from his return; having to deal with both Dragic and Bledsoes.
If it indeed does help Plumlee, then i would worry about his future more than when i am only feeling he is just going through a funk like Frye.

Well, for one thing, defending throughout the shot clock is more exhausting than just having to guard your man for 10 or 12 seconds. That extra work has to wear on a guy who only played 55 minutes total last year. Also, an additional offensive threat on the court makes it easier to get to and establish your position and then score against single coverage or take advantage of your man leaving to provide help elsewhere. Bledsoe's return won't turn Plumlee into a star but every little bit helps.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Bledsoes return would help everyone. i cant see how it will especially favor Plumlee's offense. I think the shooters are going to be the one benefiting mostly from his return; having to deal with both Dragic and Bledsoes.
If it indeed does help Plumlee, then i would worry about his future more than when i am only feeling he is just going through a funk like Frye.

Bledsoe's ability to drive, penetrate and get to the rim should be a benefit to Plumlee when/if Bledsoe has to dish and/or he misses a shot and Plumlee can be there to clean things up...

 

[AfroSuns]

Bledsoe's ability to drive, penetrate and get to the rim should be a benefit to Plumlee when/if Bledsoe has to dish and/or he misses a shot and Plumlee can be there to clean things up...

How many of those has Plumlee cleaned up in the past? I am yet to miss a single game this season and from recollection without looking at stats, Tucker is probably better at mixing it up on the offensive rebound.
Plumlee had good footworks at the beginning of the season, confidence was high and he was very active on the defensive end. if Bledsoe's going down shrunk his cojones instead of stepping up like his other teammates, then that is a problem.

 

[sunsfan88]

I think we should tamper our expectations about Bledsoe coming back and fixing all our problems. The last time he tore his meniscus with the Clippers, his per 36 season averages after returning from surgery was 10 pts, 5 rebounds. 5 assists, 2 steals and a block on a paltry 38% shooting from the field and awful 20% shooting from 3.

Its not easy coming back from surgery. Even with our training staff being so much better than other teams and everything. We can't expect him to go back to playing at the level he was playing pre injury. If he does play at that level or greater, then great, but I don't think we should count on him to be savior.

 

[AfroSuns]

I think we should tamper our expectations about Bledsoe coming back and fixing all our problems. The last time he tore his meniscus with the Clippers, his per 36 season averages after returning from surgery was 10 pts, 5 rebounds. 5 assists, 2 steals and a block on a paltry 38% shooting from the field and awful 20% shooting from 3.

Its not easy coming back from surgery. Even with our training staff being so much better than other teams and everything. We can't expect him to go back to playing at the level he was playing pre injury. If he does play at that level or greater, then great, but I don't think we should count on him to be savior.

I doubt anyone is expecting him to come back and immediately play at the level he was playing before he went down. Still, his return is one more headache for the opponents defense, not to mention additional pts from the bench with Green.

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

I think that Phx should run more screens for shooters (i.e., Green). You see what GSW did with Thompson all game. So when he was hot, their offense was allowed to ride him. Way too much isolation for Phx. No one wants Green trying to take his man off of the dribble, as we all know. But when Green gets warm like he was in the first half, he still only took 10 shots because the offense rolls away from him, with no screening for anyone unless it is a pick for Dragic.

 

[Bert]

This is starting to look like the same old Phoenix Suns formula.

Small team, shoot 3's, score fast, mediocre defense. I mean we're not 7 seconds or less anymore but we're not anywhere close to being playoff ready when it comes to a slow-down game against other playoff teams.

When the half-court game starts, this team still looks lost. We're too small and even where we are "big" we are still small. Channing Frye is still Channing Frye and cant block anyone out, cant get a rebound.

Plumlee and Bled coming back will help but the suns still need a scoring threat down low in the block, as has been the problem for 20 years or so?

Still a fun young team that is FUN to watch and surprisingly good, but not playoff ready, yet.

 

[Mainstreet]

This is starting to look like the same old Phoenix Suns formula.

Small team, shoot 3's, score fast, mediocre defense. I mean we're not 7 seconds or less anymore but we're not anywhere close to being playoff ready when it comes to a slow-down game against other playoff teams.

When the half-court game starts, this team still looks lost. We're too small and even where we are "big" we are still small. Channing Frye is still Channing Frye and cant block anyone out, cant get a rebound.

Plumlee and Bled coming back will help but the suns still need a scoring threat down low in the block, as has been the problem for 20 years or so?

Still a fun young team that is FUN to watch and surprisingly good, but not playoff ready, yet.

This is the first season of the Suns rebuild. I never expected more. The Suns have exceeded my expectations. Now if the Suns do not fortify their front line, when they get a chance, this will be another matter.

 

[Catlover]

This is starting to look like the same old Phoenix Suns formula.

Small team, shoot 3's, score fast, mediocre defense. I mean we're not 7 seconds or less anymore but we're not anywhere close to being playoff ready when it comes to a slow-down game against other playoff teams.

When the half-court game starts, this team still looks lost. We're too small and even where we are "big" we are still small. Channing Frye is still Channing Frye and cant block anyone out, cant get a rebound.

Plumlee and Bled coming back will help but the suns still need a scoring threat down low in the block, as has been the problem for 20 years or so?

Still a fun young team that is FUN to watch and surprisingly good, but not playoff ready, yet.

You have that right but it's less an issue of how we play the game then who we have playing the game. We were horrendous last year and we traded and released most of that group. We started over from scratch with little of value and in a very short time we've accumulated draft picks and tradable assets plus we're playing at a level that has us in the running for a playoff spot. Our record might be mostly a mirage but it's the only way we could have fielded a competitive team. There are still several pieces that need to be acquired before we are truly a contending team. We're still in the beginning of this process.

The biggest part of your post that I would disagree with though is your claim that our problem for the last 20 years or so has been lack of a scoring threat down low. It would be nice to have someone that could score regularly down there but IMO our biggest weakness has been the lack of a defensive stalwart on the blocks.

 

[JS22]

This is starting to look like the same old Phoenix Suns formula.

Small team, shoot 3's, score fast, mediocre defense. I mean we're not 7 seconds or less anymore but we're not anywhere close to being playoff ready when it comes to a slow-down game against other playoff teams.

When the half-court game starts, this team still looks lost. We're too small and even where we are "big" we are still small. Channing Frye is still Channing Frye and cant block anyone out, cant get a rebound.

Plumlee and Bled coming back will help but the suns still need a scoring threat down low in the block, as has been the problem for 20 years or so?

Still a fun young team that is FUN to watch and surprisingly good, but not playoff ready, yet.

Hornacek is coaching to fit the roster he has. I'm sure he'd love to have a low post option. And he has the shooters to be able to surround a low post option.

I wonder if Greg Monroe is going to be available. If so, I think that'd be an intriguing option.

 

[Stop Whining]

The Suns just need a competent center - period! Len is a big waste of skin. He has no business being on the floor when the Suns are competing for a playoff spot. Huge defensive liability along with zero offensive skill set. Frye, he's lost as usual on D. Cant wait for him to be gone. But Plumlee?, I understand he probably hit the rookie wall after playing only 55 min last season and might have nagging injuries but the guy has done a complete disappearing act. Big Plum fan at start of season, not so much now. Big Disappointment.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Suns just need a competent center - period! Len is a big waste of skin. He has no business being on the floor when the Suns are competing for a playoff spot. Huge defensive liability along with zero offensive skill set. Frye, he's lost as usual on D. Cant wait for him to be gone. But Plumlee?, I understand he probably hit the rookie wall after playing only 55 min last season and might have nagging injuries but the guy has done a complete disappearing act. Big Plum fan at start of season, not so much now. Big Disappointment.

So do you think Len has matured at age 20?

 

[Catlover]

So do you think Len has matured at age 20?

I say if a big man can't take up the game of basketball in his mid-teens, sit out several months with a significant injury and then waltz into the NBA as a 20 year old superstar, it's time to dump the guy and pick another player from that Tree that keeps producing quality big men.

I'm still not sold on Len. I don't know how anyone could be. But I also don't know how anyone could expect very much out of him at this point in his career. He looks like he's a few years, maybe several years, from being a positive factor on the court.

 

[Stop Whining]

So do you think Len has matured at age 20?

I not saying he has or hasn't. My problem is playing the guy when your trying to get a playoff spot. Practice time is to get better, work on his game, not during live game time being a huge liability to the team. Might as well play with four players on the floor. Other than the occasional tip ball he cant rebound thats about all he can do. If the Suns weren't in a playoff race then I'd say play the kid all he wants. We would surely get a better lottery pick.

 

[elindholm]

Hornacek is coaching to fit the roster he has.

Not really. The Suns' defense was much better at the start of the season, and I don't think that Bledsoe can take full credit. Hornacek is still doing a solid job, but the bloom is off the over-achieving rose. It's true that this roster isn't built to play half-court defense or get quality shots when the game slows down -- but earlier in the season, they were getting it done in spite of the roster limitations, and that was what was so remarkable. Now they look like pretty much what you'd expect from an undersized team with a bunch of undisciplined shooter-athletes.

 

[SirStefan32]

This is the first season of the Suns rebuild. I never expected more. The Suns have exceeded my expectations. Now if the Suns do not fortify their front line, when they get a chance, this will be another matter.

Well said! Suns were supposed to be the worst team in the league this year. Almost making playoffs and a winning record is far more than I expected.
Dragic has become an All Star-level player, Green appears to be a serviceable SG/SF, Plumlee and Len are showing some promise, Morris twins are improved.

that's a successful season in my book.

 

[Chaplin]

Not really. The Suns' defense was much better at the start of the season, and I don't think that Bledsoe can take full credit. Hornacek is still doing a solid job, but the bloom is off the over-achieving rose. It's true that this roster isn't built to play half-court defense or get quality shots when the game slows down -- but earlier in the season, they were getting it done in spite of the roster limitations, and that was what was so remarkable. Now they look like pretty much what you'd expect from an undersized team with a bunch of undisciplined shooter-athletes.

And yet, they are still mathematically in the playoffs.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Well said! Suns were supposed to be the worst team in the league this year. Almost making playoffs and a winning record is far more than I expected.
Dragic has become an All Star-level player, Green appears to be a serviceable SG/SF, Plumlee and Len are showing some promise, Morris twins are improved.

that's a successful season in my book.

Agreed. Still, I kind of wish we would have given up the Indiana pick for Gasol. With how Plumlee has been playing of late, we're getting killed inside. Not saying he'd be the difference in winning multiple playoff series, but our bigs are getting destroyed.

 

[Mainstreet]

I not saying he has or hasn't. My problem is playing the guy when your trying to get a playoff spot. Practice time is to get better, work on his game, not during live game time being a huge liability to the team. Might as well play with four players on the floor. Other than the occasional tip ball he cant rebound thats about all he can do. If the Suns weren't in a playoff race then I'd say play the kid all he wants. We would surely get a better lottery pick.

I think we look at the current Suns differently. IMO, the Suns should not even be in the playoff race based on their talent. Yet here they are. I will root for them to make the playoffs but IMO developing the talent they have on their roster should be their primary focus. Actually I thought the Suns played better when the playoffs were not their focal point. They played more loose playing their whole roster, like Archie Goodwin getting minutes. I think you are looking at the now, which is great, but I hope the Suns have their sights on the horizon.

 

[Catlover]

Agreed. Still, I kind of wish we would have given up the Indiana pick for Gasol. With how Plumlee has been playing of late, we're getting killed inside. Not saying he'd be the difference in winning multiple playoff series, but our bigs are getting destroyed.

I don't think that was ever the deal, from the Lakers side anyway.

 

[sunsfan88]

Agreed. Still, I kind of wish we would have given up the Indiana pick for Gasol. With how Plumlee has been playing of late, we're getting killed inside. Not saying he'd be the difference in winning multiple playoff series, but our bigs are getting destroyed.

Gasol's worse than Plumlee defensively so I'm not sure I understand what you are saying.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Gasol's worse than Plumlee defensively so I'm not sure I understand what you are saying.

He's also putting up 20/10's with regularity, so even if his defense isn't great, we wouldn't be forced to run Len out there, and a 60% Plumlee.