Trail Blazers at Suns 10-5-18 (preason)

[Mainstreet]

The game should be on radio 98.7 FM Arizona's Sports Station.

http://arizonasports.com/

 

[1Sun]

Play the best available playmaker at this position even if it is not a point guard.

And risk stunting Devin Booker's development and diminishing his production and effectiveness at his natural shooting guard position, not to mention wearing him down, by playing him out of position at the point?

 

[Mainstreet]

And risk stunting Devin Booker's development and diminishing his production and effectiveness at his natural shooting guard position, not to mention wearing him down, by playing him out of position at the point?

Devin Booker may not even be ready to play. Josh Jackson might be able to play some point guard if the need arises.

 

[1Sun]

Devin Booker may not even be ready to play. Josh Jackson might be able to play some point guard if the need arises.

We saw the other night that he's really not capable of that. He becomes a turnover machine and causes the offense to break down when he is asked to be a facilitator.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

We saw the other night that he's really not capable of that. He becomes a turnover machine and causes the offense to break down when he is asked to be a facilitator.

What about the game against the Kings? He looked to do quite well as a distributor in that game. The biggest issue I felt like the team had was the zone defense that the Breakers were using. These guys are just not a cohesive enough unit to consistently break down a zone defense.

 

[Errntknght]

I'd like to see Harrison with a DNP--CD tonight. I don't want to see him on the floor again until he has the pedal-to-the-metal on defense. Kokoskov likes defense and I'm sure he's well aware that Shaq has dropped way off so he needs to be reprimanded. No way he should be in the running for the starters slot, IMO. Okobo has the poise - and is a better shooter. Canaan deserves a shot at the roster but I'd start Okobo until it's clear that's a mistake - which I don't expect to happen.

Book and JJ will get ample opportunities to showcase their playmaking skills in Igor offense but I don't see them being good enough to defend opponents PGs so there'd be no value in switching them to that position.

 

[1Sun]

What about the game against the Kings? He looked to do quite well as a distributor in that game. The biggest issue I felt like the team had was the zone defense that the Breakers were using. These guys are just not a cohesive enough unit to consistently break down a zone defense.

I still think it's too risky to make Jackson the primary facilitator. His problems and regressions have largely come when he has forced things too much, which has happened when he has been asked to play a larger role in the offense. His development depends on him learning to let the game come to him. Making him the primary facilitator is antithetical to that, and in my opinion he is too important of a part of the team's future to disrupt his development like that.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

I still think it's too risky to make Jackson the primary facilitator. His problems and regressions have largely come when he has forced things too much, which has happened when he has been asked to play a larger role in the offense. His development depends on him learning to let the game come to him. Making him the primary facilitator is antithetical to that, and in my opinion he is too important of a part of the team's future to disrupt his development like that.

I'm not advocating for him to be the primary playmaker. I just think that he can fill in at times in that role, as will Booker. We just can't have Booker playing point all game long and as long as he isn't doing that than he won't break down physically, but both guys will spend time bringing the ball up the court and initiation the offense. Nothing is going to change that unless a trade happens or one of the PGs on the roster steps up by a lot.

 

[Mainstreet]

We saw the other night that he's really not capable of that. He becomes a turnover machine and causes the offense to break down when he is asked to be a facilitator.

Whatever is suggested, you will criticize.

Perhaps you should start offering realistic options rather than keep banging the drum that the Suns do not have a starting point guard. Anyone can criticize. I'd like to hear specifics.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Whatever is suggested, you will criticize.

Perhaps you should start offering realistic options rather than keep banging the drum that the Suns do not have a starting point guard. Anyone can criticize. I'd like to hear specifics.

Trade Bender and 2 second round picks for a young PG that can score from all 3 levels, defend, pass, initiate the offense for others while protecting the ball. You know, someone with a Basketball Jones that does everything except sell popcorn. There, I've done my part, now go make the deal.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Blocked bliss!

 

[Mainstreet]

Trade Bender and 2 second round picks for a young PG that can score from all 3 levels, defend, pass, initiate the offense for others while protecting the ball. You know, someone with a Basketball Jones that does everything except sell popcorn. There, I've done my part, now go make the deal.

Set me a pick at the popcorn machine.

 

[1Sun]

Whatever is suggested, you will criticize.

Perhaps you should start offering realistic options rather than keep banging the drum that the Suns do not have a starting point guard. Anyone can criticize. I'd like to hear specifics.

Depending on whether you think we will actually be able to sign someone in 2019 with our cap space:

Warren, Chandler, Harrison and the Milwaukee pick or a lottery protected Suns first round pick (would be willing to remove the lottery protection if Walker agrees to extend here) to Charlotte for Kemba Walker and Charlotte's choice of Marvin Williams, Cody Zeller or Bismack Biyombo for cap relief.

Daniels and a second round pick to Toronto for Delon Wright.

Arthur, Harrison and the Milwaukee pick to Indiana for Cory Joseph.

Arthur, Harrison and the Milwaukee pick or a lottery protected Suns first round pick to Brooklyn for D'Angelo Russell.

Harrison, Reed and a second round pick to Brooklyn for Spencer Dinwiddie.

Harrison, Daniels, Chandler and a second round pick (likely doesn't need to be a first rounder, due to the cap relief we are giving them) to Minnesota for Tyus Jones and Gorgui Dieng.

Daniels, Harrison and the Milwaukee pick to Chicago for Kris Dunn.

Just a few ideas.

 

[Chaplin]

And risk stunting Devin Booker's development and diminishing his production and effectiveness at his natural shooting guard position, not to mention wearing him down, by playing him out of position at the point?

Geez, just stop. We have a ROOKIE that is playing pretty darn well despite he corpses we put out at PG. and now you think Booker going to buck the trend and actually REGRESS this season?

I have a feeling you are a new fan and didn’t even watch the team last year.

 

[Chaplin]

Depending on whether you think we will actually be able to sign someone in 2019 with our cap space:

Warren, Chandler, Harrison and the Milwaukee pick or a lottery protected Suns first round pick to Charlotte for Kemba Walker and Charlotte's choice of Marvin Williams, Cody Zeller or Bismack Biyombi for cap relief.

Daniels and a second round pick to Toronto for Delon Wright.

Arthur, Harrison and the Milwaukee pick to Indiana for Cory Joseph.

Arthur, Harrison and the Milwaukee pick or a lottery protected Suns first round pick to Brooklyn for D'Angelo Russell.

Harrison, Reed and a second round pick to Brooklyn for Spencer Dinwiddie.

Harrison, Daniels, Chandler and a second round pick (likely doesn't need to be a first rounder, due to the cap relief we are giving them) to Minnesota for Tyus Jones and Gorgui Dieng.

Just a few ideas.

Which according to you hasn’t been discussed at all in the current front office. Why aren’t you the GM??

 

[1Sun]

Geez, just stop. We have a ROOKIE that is playing pretty darn well despite he corpses we put out at PG. and now you think Booker going to buck the trend and actually REGRESS this season?

I have a feeling you are a new fan and didn’t even watch the team last year.

I did watch the team last year. That is why I made the post. Booker struggled and did in fact regress when he was called upon to play the point last year. He struggled with poor shooting efficiency and turnovers, wore down late in games and saw what improvements he had made defensively go by the wayside.

 

[1Sun]

Which according to you hasn’t been discussed at all in the current front office. Why aren’t you the GM??

I'm pretty sure the front office is not willing to entertain taking on a bad contract to get their point guard now, instead putting all of their eggs into the 2019 basket. As I have noted previously, I believe that is a grave mistake for two reasons:

1. It perpetuates the culture from last year and will stunt the development of our players; and

2. Especially if we have another season like last year, there is not a point guard worth signing that will come here in free agency next summer.

With that in mind, we might as well use the cap space we would otherwise have next summer to swing a trade for a decent point guard now, who in turn can grow with our young core, finally move past the losing culture of last year and give Igor Kokoskov an actual chance to succeed.

 

[Chaplin]

I'm pretty sure the front office is not willing to entertain taking on a bad contract to get their point guard now, instead putting all of their eggs into the 2019 basket. As I have noted previously, I believe that is a grave mistake for two reasons:

1. It perpetuates the culture from last year and will stunt the development of our players; and

2. Especially if we have another season like last year, there is not a point guard worth signing that will come here in free agency next summer.

With that in mind, we might as well use the cap space we would otherwise have next summer to swing a trade for a decent point guard now, who in turn can grow with our young core, finally move past the losing culture of last year and give Igor Kokoskov an actual chance to succeed.

You have no idea if that is true or not. The only thing that has been reported is that we tried to engage other teams on good point guards, which obviously didn’t pan out. But you don’t know how those discussions went down. I think it’s likely that any team we talk to will ask for the moon because we need a PG. I applaud the Suns for keeping calm and NOT bowing to having to give up more than they want, when most of the great PGs might be available as Free Agents in 2019 anyway.

Trading is a two-way street.

 

[SirStefan32]

I did watch the team last year. That is why I made the post. Booker struggled and did in fact regress when he was called upon to play the point last year. He struggled with poor shooting efficiency and turnovers, wore down late in games and saw what improvements he had made defensively go by the wayside.

Booker was the only offensive weapon the Suns had last year, outside of often-injured TJ Warren. Even when he played, when he would go to the bench, the teams could pressure, double, and overplay Booker. This year, there is Ayton in the low post, Ariza, and even Anderson behind the three point line, JJ is looking like he may be able to score. Tactics from last year are not going to work. Without looking it up, outside of Booker, nobody shot over 35% from the three except for Daniels and Bender.

 

[1Sun]

Booker was the only offensive weapon the Suns had last year, outside of often-injured TJ Warren. Even when he played, when he would go to the bench, the teams could pressure, double, and overplay Booker. This year, there is Ayton in the low post, Ariza, and even Anderson behind the three point line, JJ is looking like he may be able to score. Tactics from last year are not going to work. Without looking it up, outside of Booker, nobody shot over 35% from the three except for Daniels and Bender.

In case you haven't noticed, our three point shooting doesn't exactly look like it has improved...

 

[AzStevenCal]

I did watch the team last year. That is why I made the post. Booker struggled and did in fact regress when he was called upon to play the point last year. He struggled with poor shooting efficiency and turnovers, wore down late in games and saw what improvements he had made defensively go by the wayside.

I'm not sure that qualifies as "fact". He did not play the point as well as he did the two but to me that is playing out of position, not regressing. And he was injured before he started playing much point guard and that brought about the reduced shooting efficiency IMO. He really struggles with that mid to deep range jumper when his legs are anything less than 100%. JMO.

 

[Mainstreet]

Depending on whether you think we will actually be able to sign someone in 2019 with our cap space:

Warren, Chandler, Harrison and the Milwaukee pick or a lottery protected Suns first round pick (would be willing to remove the lottery protection if Walker agrees to extend here) to Charlotte for Kemba Walker and Charlotte's choice of Marvin Williams, Cody Zeller or Bismack Biyombo for cap relief.

Daniels and a second round pick to Toronto for Delon Wright.

Arthur, Harrison and the Milwaukee pick to Indiana for Cory Joseph.

Arthur, Harrison and the Milwaukee pick or a lottery protected Suns first round pick to Brooklyn for D'Angelo Russell.

Harrison, Reed and a second round pick to Brooklyn for Spencer Dinwiddie.

Harrison, Daniels, Chandler and a second round pick (likely doesn't need to be a first rounder, due to the cap relief we are giving them) to Minnesota for Tyus Jones and Gorgui Dieng.

Daniels, Harrison and the Milwaukee pick to Chicago for Kris Dunn.

Just a few ideas.

It's good to see hear some of your ideas.

My guess is the Suns will wait until free agency to go after Walker. Some of the other trades are possibilities. If the Clippers trade for Butler, this should make Beverley available.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

In case you haven't noticed, our three point shooting doesn't exactly look like it has improved...

You are seriously going to make a statement like that off of two pre-season games? Booker, Ariza and Anderson are all very good three point shooters and will all shoot 38+%. Then we have Bender and Daniels off the bench that will also shoot at or above that number as well. Three point shooting is not going to be a major issue for the Suns.

 

[SirStefan32]

In case you haven't noticed, our three point shooting doesn't exactly look like it has improved...

I don't even know what to say to that. Anderson is a 38% career shooter. His worst season was at 34%, still higher than any Sun last year except for Booker, Bender, Daniels, and Dudley. Ariza is a 35% career shooter, STILL better than any Sun last year outside of Booker and the three "barely NBA players" on the Suns roster last year. Bridges is a 40% three-point shooter, albeit in college.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

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Rooting for huge games from Bender and our point guards!