Tracking the development of Alex Len

[JCSunsfan]

You can see the confidence building. He is surprising himself.

 

[95pro]

Wow

 

[sunsfan88]

Len putting it on the floor quite well against Marc Gasol

http://streamable.com/daf

Len showing great awareness

http://streamable.com/83c

Not gonna lie, I've watched way less games this season than I have in a long time. But him and Dragic are honestly the only reason I even bother to watch the ones I do stream.

 

[ProdigalSun]

Thanks for posting these vids SF88. Work schedule has been brutal for me this year so I haven't been able to catch many games. Tracking Len's development is probably the most exciting development this season thus far

 

[95pro]

Len putting it on the floor quite well against Marc Gasol

http://streamable.com/daf

Len showing great awareness

http://streamable.com/83c

Not gonna lie, I've watched way less games this season than I have in a long time. But him and Dragic are honestly the only reason I even bother to watch the ones I do stream.

gasol is a tough guy to take it to the rim against. very good stuff to see.

 

[Errntknght]

Watching the game, I jumped out of my chair when the ref called the foul on Len on that steal, late call to boot. The guy was laying on the floor so there was no way he fouled Len. I had to replay it twice to see the guy did reach up and touch Len's leg... pretty silly call, but it least it was in our favor.

 

[95pro]

she probably thought he went to grab his shorts

 

[Ronin]

Well I'm here to admit that I was wrong on the Len pick. I wanted Ben Mclemore instead of Alex Len. I'm glad to have Alex Len on the Phoenix Suns.

 

[Mainstreet]

Well I'm here to admit that I was wrong on the Len pick. I wanted Ben Mclemore instead of Alex Len. I'm glad to have Alex Len on the Phoenix Suns.

I wanted the Suns to draft a big man in that draft but I thought it would be Bennett that would fall to the Suns. How happy I am that Bennett was drafted #1. I thought Len was too good not to draft based on upside.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Three double digit rebounding games in a row for Len. If he can be a consistent double double player by the end of the year, it will be fantastic.

He also logged 37 minutes last night. The most of his career (I believe). The fact that he was able to stay on the floor that long was surprising. (+19 on the +/-). This team is better with him on the floor.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Three double digit rebounding games in a row for Len. If he can be a consistent double double player by the end of the year, it will be fantastic.

He also logged 37 minutes last night. The most of his career (I believe). The fact that he was able to stay on the floor that long was surprising. (+19 on the +/-). This team is better with him on the floor.

There is so much about his game that gets me excited... and honestly, very little if anything that concerns me.
One thing that really stuck out to me last night was his passing. He made 2 in particular that were incredible. I believe they were both to Bledsoe - two bullet passes when Bledsoe was under the basket. Len's basketball IQ is incredibly high.
The put-back he had as he jumped/reached over a Cavs defender was impressive, partly because he actually got to the rim in the first place, and partly because he somehow didn't foul the Cavs player who had inside position on him. Amazing play...

His upside continues to stretch higher and higher with each passing game and as this point, I am confident in saying that the Suns have FINALLY found their franchise big man!

 

[Errntknght]

The second of Len's assist passes was to Markieff right at the basket, not Bled.

He's becoming more and more aware of what's happening on the floor on both ends... in fact virtually every facet of his game is improving game by game. Watching young guys blossom is the most exciting thing about this game... especially our young guys! We have Goodwin, Warren and Ennis in the wings, too.

 

[Ronin]

I wanted the Suns to draft a big man in that draft but I thought it would be Bennett that would fall to the Suns. How happy I am that Bennett was drafted #1. I thought Len was too good not to draft based on upside.

Extremely happy?

 

[JS22]

This was fun to watch.

That pass to Bledsoe was perfect. And it's great to see the Suns finally have some interior defense. (2:35)

 

[sunsfan88]

My favorite play from yesterday was when JR Smith drove to the rim and looked like he was gonna throw down a monster dunk but Len got in the way and JR ended up throwing up some weird 360 airball layup.

Its feels so good knowing that there isn't an open invitation out there for teams to drive on us all day anymore.

 

[JCSunsfan]

This was fun to watch.

That pass to Bledsoe was perfect. And it's great to see the Suns finally have some interior defense. (2:35)

The passing is something I did not expect. If he just continues to do what he is doing now, consistently, he will be a great center. And he is just scratching the surface.

He has good hands. He is smart. He is agreessive. He is willing to use good fundamentals, like blocking out for rebounds. He is also fearless.

 

[95pro]

I was so pissed the last time Mosgov played us while he was on the nuggets and Plumlee was the starter. I said Len should be out there.

 

[Mainstreet]

Extremely happy?

Yes, extremely happy. However, I had Len gone before the 5th pick and would have chosen him over Bennett if he were available as he was.

 

[sunsfan88]

I never wanted Bennett, I said before the draft (and AzSteve knows this because me and had debated over this a lot during that time) that Bennett is a tweener and would end up just like Thomas Robinson, Derrick Williams etc.

 

[sunsfan88]

The Rising Stars Challenge featuring NBA rookies and second-year players will have a change in format this year.

Players from the United States will play against players that were born Internationally.

Andrew Wiggins, Dante Exum, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Steven Adams, Rudy Gobert, Nikola Mirotic and Jusuf Nurkic figure to be a few of the players on the International team.

The international front court is gonna be completely loaded compared to the US front court.

SF Giannis/Wiggins
PF Mirotic/Olynyk
C Adams/Nurkic/Gobert/Len/Dieng

 

[sunsfan88]

Len, 22, added significant bulk since last season to help endure the grind. This experience is immeasurable, especially going against the likes of Gasol.

"I told him he's got to teach me how to flop," Len said. "He gets that call every time. I'm not doing anything to snap his head back and he's getting every call. He's like, 'I gotcha.' "

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2015/02/04/phoenix-suns-alex-len-feeling-grind-first-full-season/22885961/" target="_blank

I hope Gasol taught him well

 

[Mainstreet]

I hope Gasol taught him well

I'm sure it would cause a furor with the NBA front office, but I think teams could benefit by giving their players acting lessons. Sad but true.

 

[sunsfan88]

He's rebounded and defended at a very high level lately. Everything that we could ask for.

 

[devilalum]

He's rebounded and defended at a very high level lately. Everything that we could ask for.

His effect on the game goes far beyond his numbers. Usually for every block an elite defensive center gets he changes 3 more shots. He would have been even more impressive under the old rules.

Not saying he's elite YET.

 

[sunsfan88]

His effect on the game goes far beyond his numbers. Usually for every block an elite defensive center gets he changes 3 more shots. He would have been even more impressive under the old rules.

Not saying he's elite YET.

Agreed. And also

One major bright spot has been the impressive play of Alex Len, who seems to improve with each game.

“He continues to grow every single day,” Hornacek said about Len. “That’s why we’re so high on him for the future – a 21-year-old kid, the things he’s doing already. He’s going to get bigger, stronger and a better post-up game as these years go on. You’re going to look 3-4 years down the road – I don’t want to put any pressure on him, but [he has a chance] to be an All-Star.”

http://www.nba.com/suns/hornacek-talks-team-defense-alex-len-arizona-sports

He just needs to work on going up stronger so plays like the one vs Denver don't happen but other than skill set wise, he's already so advanced for his age.