Tracking the development of Alex Len

[JCSunsfan]

Actually, so good so far. He starter the year on the bench often getting very few minutes. He has moved into the starting role and seems to be getting more comfortable. It has helped him that Miles Plumlee has been horrible.

8, 8, and 4 yesterday was a good showing.

It seemed good to have a thread where we just talk about Len. His development has to be on of this team's top priorities this year./

 

[SirStefan32]

Great idea for a thread! I am really happy with how Len is progressing, and I am happy that Hornacek is giving him plenty of minutes considering he is, for all intents and purposes, a rookie.

 

[95pro]

For me it was obvious to start him a while back. Not sure why it took a while to recognize that by coach.

But he looks good. Better and better he gets, I know many were down on the pick but hopefull he developes more moves on the offensive end and earns some respect from the refs.

 

[Suns_fan69]

One of my favorite things about Len is he is one of the few guys on the team that actively boxes out instead of always going for a rebound.

 

[elindholm]

I've gone from thinking that Len is completely hopeless, and that anyone who sees any hope for him is delusional, to thinking that he's only probably hopeless, and that anyone who sees any hope for him is merely optimistic beyond reason. So that's awesome!

 

[AzStevenCal]

I've gone from thinking that Len is completely hopeless, and that anyone who sees any hope for him is delusional, to thinking that he's only probably hopeless, and that anyone who sees any hope for him is merely optimistic beyond reason. So that's awesome!

I've gone from having no clue about him (other than concern over his health) to being confident that if he stays healthy he'll be our best center ever in a few years. And it won't be close. But then I am typically optimistic, sometimes beyond reason, but always by choice.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

One of my favorite things about Len is he is one of the few guys on the team that actively boxes out instead of always going for a rebound.

I hadn't noticed that. I had noticed that we are particularly bad at boxing out so I'm glad to hear that Len might be an exception. The twins don't appear to have a clue about it.

Steve

 

[Superbone]

One of my favorite things about Len is he is one of the few guys on the team that actively boxes out instead of always going for a rebound.

I also like how he grabs them emphatically.

 

[Errntknght]

I also like how he grabs them emphatically.

Sometimes he does but he still bobbles quite a few. In a recent game they had an odd camera angle on an important rebound and I saw a Sun was going to grab it. I thought it was Len but then I saw it was Tucker and I relaxed knowing we had it.

I have noticed him boxing out but he's not consistent at it.

He does have to work on his out of bounds dive when a guy behind him touches his back - and the ball is not coming his way.

elindholm, "I've gone from thinking that Len is completely hopeless, and that anyone who sees any hope for him is delusional, to thinking that he's only probably hopeless, and that anyone who sees any hope for him is merely optimistic beyond reason. So that's awesome!"

>>> basking in the glow of Eric thinking I'm no longer delusional <<<

 

[JCSunsfan]

I've gone from thinking that Len is completely hopeless, and that anyone who sees any hope for him is delusional, to thinking that he's only probably hopeless, and that anyone who sees any hope for him is merely optimistic beyond reason. So that's awesome!

Coming from you I will take that post as sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows.

 

[sunsfan88]

For me it was obvious to start him a while back. Not sure why it took a while to recognize that by coach.

But he looks good. Better and better he gets, I know many were down on the pick but hopefull he developes more moves on the offensive end and earns some respect from the refs.

Been wondering that myself.

But yea Len has definitely shown that he belongs in the NBA and he's showing signs of why he deserved to be a top 5 pick.

Kid looks to have a bright future but is still pretty raw. He's developing each and every game.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Looks like 17 and 7 tonight before he fouled out. Are they just going to let him play through his 6 fouls on a regular basis?

 

[ProdigalSun]

Looks like 17 and 7 tonight before he fouled out. Are they just going to let him play through his 6 fouls on a regular basis?

They better

 

[AzStevenCal]

Looks like 17 and 7 tonight before he fouled out. Are they just going to let him play through his 6 fouls on a regular basis?

They sat him for a while but after a couple of quick slams by Tyson, Len came back in. But to answer your question, I've never understood leaving an NBA player on the bench because of foul troubles. It seems to me that more often than not you're better off just letting them get their money's worth. I'd take a player out if the situation is emotional but otherwise I'd just let him get as many minutes as he can. Especially when he's playing as well as Len was tonight.

Steve

 

[drk3351]

I dont think he'll ever be a star, but A quality starting center for years to come if he can stay healthy. Encouraging start to the season for sure.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I dont think he'll ever be a star, but A quality starting center for years to come if he can stay healthy. Encouraging start to the season for sure.

Sorry, I already have him pencilled in for stardom. I'll be very disappointed if he isn't at least a slightly better version of a healthy Brook Lopez and I think he has the potential to move well beyond that.

Steve

 

[Mainstreet]

They sat him for a while but after a couple of quick slams by Tyson, Len came back in. But to answer your question, I've never understood leaving an NBA player on the bench because of foul troubles. It seems to me that more often than not you're better off just letting them get their money's worth. I'd take a player out if the situation is emotional but otherwise I'd just let him get as many minutes as he can. Especially when he's playing as well as Len was tonight.

Steve

Often a player with foul trouble is taken out to make sure he can rest his replacement. However, this was not true of Len in the final minutes of tonight's game. I don't think he should have been taken out at the end either.

 

[sunsfan88]

Sorry, I already have him pencilled in for stardom. I'll be very disappointed if he isn't at least a slightly better version of a healthy Brook Lopez and I think he has the potential to move well beyond that.

Steve

Lol I don't know if your being serious or not, but I laughed anyway.

 

[Mainstreet]

For what it's worth, Eddie Johnson keeps saying he is waiting for the light to come on with Alex Len and he will explode because he has all the tools. I believe this as well.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Len is a star in the making and only health will keep him from becoming a perennial all-star. He has everything needed to reach that level. Physically, his gifts are obvious and why the Suns drafted him where they did. But I really like his mental/game IQ development, as well as a little nasty streak he seems to have!

 

[JCSunsfan]

It is basically his rookie year. He has no summer league experience to speak of and little training camp. He is actually developing faster than a lot of big men do.

 

[StreetTruckinTitan]

I dont think he'll ever be a star, but A quality starting center for years to come if he can stay healthy. Encouraging start to the season for sure.

Exactly. Now if he can put together consistent nightly effort and average a double double that would be something to get excited about. If healthy theirs no reason he cant, he just has to want & do.

 

[JS22]

Lol I don't know if your being serious or not, but I laughed anyway.

Why not? Maybe not a "star" in the Duncan, Davis, etc. But he's got the tools and size to be a top 10 center. It's just a matter of putting everything together. Big men sometimes take a loooong time to develop. This is essentially his rookie season and he's already showing that he's got some talent.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Lol I don't know if your being serious or not, but I laughed anyway.

Not kidding. The kid has incredible potential. Assuming good health, I really do believe his floor is a slightly better Brook Lopez (the 2012-2013 version). It might take another 2 or 3 years to approach that level but he shows glimpses of that future in almost every game.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

Why not? Maybe not a "star" in the Duncan, Davis, etc. But he's got the tools and size to be a top 10 center. It's just a matter of putting everything together. Big men sometimes take a loooong time to develop. This is essentially his rookie season and he's already showing that he's got some talent.

I don't think he has Duncan or Davis potential but I think he's got the tools and size to be a top 3 center.

Steve