Tankathon Rankings

[devilalum]

The worst possible outcome for the Suns is not missing the playoffs. It is making the playoffs and dropping from 7th to 15th in the draft because you made the playoffs in a weak year. Then getting humiliated 4 times in a row by the Warriors.

sent from a fone

 

[JCSunsfan]

If you are going to be bad, be bad enough to get the pick. Thats where we are right now. I am OK with that. It was not an intentional tank like Philadelphia. Its just adjusting to the hand that has been dealt.

 

[bwgood77]

They are not a better team without Bledsoe. You can make an argument that they'd be better off with someone besides Knight out there alongside Bledsoe but they are by every measure available significantly worse without Bledsoe.

And what you envision as a "lead point guard" is something that does not really exist on most rosters. If you were to actually take a good look around the league I suspect you'd really really struggle to find more than a few guys who fit the imagined player you think the Suns should be able to slot in there easily.

Bledsoe is not and never has been part of the problem. During the last 3 seasons the Suns have consistently played their best basketball with him out there.

I pretty much agree. With Bledsoe, Booker, Warren, (Leuer or PJ or maybe Terrence Jones if we trade for him) and Len, I think we can be pretty good for the future.

 

[slinslin]

Now third

 

[Phrazbit]

About 3 weeks into the year the Suns were ranked in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency and were one of the best statistical rebounding teams in the league. To go from there to 3rd in the lotto race in less than 2 months is pretty astounding.

Hard to say which game truly broke them but I'd have to go with the 2nd Dallas game. The slump started prior to that but it had been a series of close loses and over the previous 4 games they'd actually played pretty well. Then in that Dallas game Hornacek took his biggest dose of 'crazy pills' he has all year in regards to the lineups. We had one group of guys with +7, +8, +12, for the night and a bunch of guys with -18 or worse, and for some reason kept riding the "cold hands" right off a cliff. Since that point Horny has been grasping at straws, mixing one crazy lineup after another with zero consistency from night to night.

 

[hcsilla]

Actually I had a feeling that Hornacek did put too much emphasis on +/- stats especially when the Suns started to struggle.

That would explain why he kept changing lineups and why he sticked to strange end-game lineups.

If you are paying so much attention to analytics (especially on small sample (like 10-15 games) this season), it can be quite misleading. The coach has to know which is his best line-up and he can and should make some modifiations and adjustments based on RPM but if you act in the opposite way, it can cause a mess.

 

[sunsfan88]

Even though we won the other night, so did Brooklyn last night if that's any consolation.

 

[WildBB]

They are not a better team without Bledsoe. You can make an argument that they'd be better off with someone besides Knight out there alongside Bledsoe but they are by every measure available significantly worse without Bledsoe.

And what you envision as a "lead point guard" is something that does not really exist on most rosters. If you were to actually take a good look around the league I suspect you'd really really struggle to find more than a few guys who fit the imagined player you think the Suns should be able to slot in there easily.

Bledsoe is not and never has been part of the problem. During the last 3 seasons the Suns have consistently played their best basketball with him out there.

While a better option than Knight. Bledsoe is way to much of a ball hog and a below average passer and ball handler for a PG. Does'nt get others involved into the game the way he should. If he can take over in close games he should, but has'nt shown he's anywhere near consistent in that.

 

[Phrazbit]

Bledsoe is not a ball hog, he makes sloppy passes but he isn't a ball hog.

 

[SirStefan32]

Bledsoe is not a ball hog, he makes sloppy passes but he isn't a ball hog.

You can call it whatever you want, but he is what he is. He is a ball-stopper, which is not a good thing for anyone, let alone a point guard. He is careless with the ball, whether he is driving to the hoop, or passing the ball. He also thinks he is better than he is, and in my opinion, that is the biggest problem with Bledsoe. Westbrook is a similar player, but he is good enough to get away with it. Bledsoe is not.

All that said, Bledsoe improved A LOT since last year. I'd still trade him the first chance I got, but he actually looked almost like a point guard before he screwed up his knee for the third time in his young career.

 

[slinslin]

Bledsoe was playing allstar caliber basketball and our record with Bledsoe healthy is pretty good based on the talent this team actually has/had.

Anyway, I bring good news.

Brooklyn played the toughest schedule so far.

The remaining schedule for the 76ers and Lakers also is marginally more easy than the Suns'.

 

[slinslin]

Minnesota and Brooklyn just keep losing very close games, sad.

I think Minnesota alone must have lost at least 5 games in the last minute recently.

 

[slinslin]

Minnesota@Lakers tonight

 

[GatorAZ]

I fear a weeklong boost of winning. Toronto is coming off a b2b tonight...

 

[Catlover]

I fear a weeklong boost of winning. Toronto is coming off a b2b tonight...

I am without fear! Well, maybe not, but I'm not at all afraid that this team will put together a winning streak in the near future. If they do, the opposing teams should consider setting their head coach free. Without Bledsoe, Knight, Warren and whoever else is missing we aren't just a bad team, we're one for the ages. And with this upcoming stretch against Toronto, Houston, Utah, OKC, Golden State, Houston, SA and LAC even a good team would struggle to win 3 or 4 in a row. I guess stranger things have happened but none come to mind right away.

 

[slinslin]

Minnesota finally held on and won a close game.

 

[leclerc]

So unfair if Philly, Hell A or Minny gets the top two picks. Now is our time.

 

[chickenhead]

I can only deal with the thought of tanking in bite-size chunks, but it's tough going. Seems tough to "gain" ground on LAL in particular. Philly and Brooklyn may win a game or two.

Suns next four games
Rockets
Jazz
Thunder
Warriors

Lakers next four games
@Pelicans
@Spurs
@Pacers
@Cavaliers

Sixers next four games
@Wizards
Nets
Clippers
Kings

Nets next four games
Kings
@Sixers
Nuggets
Grizzlies

 

[JCSunsfan]

I can only deal with the thought of tanking in bite-size chunks, but it's tough going. Seems tough to "gain" ground on LAL in particular. Philly and Brooklyn may win a game or two.

Suns next four games
Rockets
Jazz
Thunder
Warriors

Lakers next four games
@Pelicans
@Spurs
@Pacers
@Cavaliers

Sixers next four games
@Wizards
Nets
Clippers
Kings

Nets next four games
Kings
@Sixers
Nuggets
Grizzlies

Well, hopefully we can "catch" Brooklyn while being competitive, showcasing Markieff, and getting Book and Archie significant minutes. I can see us going 0-4, the Nets probably 1-3.

 

[Errntknght]

I'm such a pessimist... I'll be surprised if we don't win the next two games

 

[Iceman]

I'm such a pessimist... I'll be surprised if we don't win the next two games

I see a 1-3 record in the next 4. Suns will find a way to beat the Jazz

 

[slinslin]

Lakers winning, Anthony Davis blew a wide open fastbreak dunk.

 

[chickenhead]

Very, very weird to be pleased with a Lakers win and Suns loss...

 

[TJ]

Eyes on the prize.

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[JCSunsfan]

Brooklyn won a game!