What happen to Dragic???

[Vacard]

I'm late into this situation, haven't been following my team this season, he was supposed to be the solution to the backup PG, but isn't playing??

WHat happened??

 

[Mainstreet]

He's been sick the past couple of games and did not go on the road trip with the Suns.

 

[Vacard]

So is he still the answer, or what?

Is he any good?

(and why can't I edit any avatars or sigs?)

 

[Roca Dolla]

So is he still the answer, or what?

Is he any good?

(and why can't I edit any avatars or sigs?)

u need like 100 posts then u can edit

 

[LV-Suns]

Dude sucks

 

[SirStefan32]

He just might be THE WORST player in the NBA.

 

[BC867]

Dude sucks

Most rookies do until they get the opportunity to play consistently and build chemistry with the various combinations of players on the floor, crucial for a Point Guard who has to be thinking about five guys at a time, rather than just one.

Superstars are called that for a reason. There have been very few instant stars at Point Guard in NBA history.

I have confidence in Terry Porter's ability to develop a Point Guard and the additional influence of Steve Nash. It will take awhile.

 

[LavaLamp2]

Dragic had a game where he had 5 assists as a backup PG. There were also games where he took it strong to the basket and made a layup. And once in a while, you see his shooting touch. I think that given time he will develop into a good backup PG.

 

[Mainstreet]

I expected more from Dragic as I did for Lopez. I was hoping at least one of the two players might become a regular rotation player by mid-season. I'll give both players another season before I start to worry.

Tucker is looking like he must be a total bust.

 

[AceP]

Dragic is from Slovenia, central Europe. Unlike those from west Europe, he has to adjust to a whole different life style. I hope he walk through this period soon.

 

[dodie53]

He just might be THE WORST player in the NBA.

what about JJ Redick?

 

[Irish]

I expected more from Dragic as I did for Lopez.

Why? Dragic was considered an "eventual" sucessor to Nash when they drafted him. He has a huge transition from Adriadic League to the NBA.

Lopez is another big who needs a few years to learn how to play at a championship level. It's hard for a rookie to get into the rotation when every game counts so much.

I was hoping at least one of the two players might become a regular rotation player by mid-season. I'll give both players another season before I start to worry.

How many playoff teams are getting rotation minutes for their picks?

Tucker is looking like he must be a total bust.

You are basing this on what? He has a great summer league and was doing well in camp and then got injured. Is it your conclusion that he had a career ending injury?

 

[leclerc]

PG and center are probably the hardest positions in the NBA to learn so I for one am not writing them off just yet. I was hoping Dragic would contribute more at this stage but I'm pretty satisfied with Lopez. He's been doing okay in the games he's started for O'Neal. Maybe a stint or two in the D-League will help for Dragic' confidence. He needs to work hard in the summer and put on weight and keep working on ball handling and shooting no doubt, but he's obviously talented and I think he'll be a rotation player next year.

 

[95pro]

lopez needs to muscle up.

i think then he'll be a better finisher and a better rebounder.

oden and howard come to mind as guys who bulked up, but is it fair to compair a 15th pick to two #1 picks.lol

 

[Budden]

He just might be THE WORST player in the NBA.

He really might be. He is really bad. He's not quick, he's not a good shooter, he can't even get the ball within 5 feet of the 3pt line so that he might pass the ball to somebody else on the team and get out of the way (which is what point guards that are just bad call "starting the offense").

I remember watching Trevor Ariza completely dominate him defensively by just swiping at the ball randomly and kind of "juking" at him as if he was going to try to steal the ball. But anybody who knows anything about Ariza knows that the guy gambles more than Charles Barkley at a Las Vegas bachelor party. Every time Ariza lunged at the ball to steal, a half-decent point guard would cross over, take a couple hard dribbles, and take the ball to a place where he could just start the offense. You can't start the offense from half court. And that's all Dragic can do.

 

[SunsTzu]

Why? Dragic was considered an "eventual" sucessor to Nash when they drafted him. He has a huge transition from Adriadic League to the NBA.

Then why did the Suns give him the back up PG and not sign a vet since it's been obvious for years back up PG is a major need.

Lopez is another big who needs a few years to learn how to play at a championship level. It's hard for a rookie to get into the rotation when every game counts so much.

It's hard for a top 15 pick to beat out a guy like Admundson who hasn't done anything in the NBA? In the past couple games Dudely has even taken minutes that should be going to Lopez when there was no PF/C on the floor.

How many playoff teams are getting rotation minutes for their picks?

How many playoff teams picked in the top 15? The guy Detroit picked at 15 in '07 looks pretty good. Even worse the Suns drafted 2 guys they felt worthy of the 15 pick and had rated higher than some of the players picked sooner.

You are basing this on what? He has a great summer league and was doing well in camp and then got injured. Is it your conclusion that he had a career ending injury?

Basing it off what he's shown in the NBA, which is nothing. He lit up summer league and NBDL his rookie season too, but it didn't translate to real games where the players were bigger, stronger and more skilled than he could handle.

I'm not saying these guys can't or won't develop(I won't be holding my breath though) but I am extremely worried the Suns were sold on these guys being able to step right in and contribute.

 

[Mainstreet]

Why? Dragic was considered an "eventual" sucessor to Nash when they drafted him. He has a huge transition from Adriadic League to the NBA.

Lopez is another big who needs a few years to learn how to play at a championship level. It's hard for a rookie to get into the rotation when every game counts so much.

The Suns invested significant money in Dragic to be the backup for Steve Nash now. LB was not slotted to be the backup PG. So essentially they gave the money to Dragic instead of a player like Pargo. The Suns needed a solid backup PG this season.

I thought Lopez might be able to give some solid if unspectacular minutes as a backup center. I believe Kerr said he thought Robin might be better than his brother Brook. So he should be able to give Shaq more rest.

How many playoff teams are getting rotation minutes for their picks?

Brook Lopez and probably many more but I don't feel like doing your research.

You are basing this on what? He has a great summer league and was doing well in camp and then got injured. Is it your conclusion that he had a career ending injury?

Tucker has been in the NBA for two seasons and there is nothing to show for it nor is there a hint that he anything special.

 

[cly2tw]

Why so harsh on Robin? Perkins and Al Jefferson in their rookie seasons with Celtics weren't pretty to watch. I bet Amundson would have outhustle both of them too. But Amundson would never be a starter anywhere in the NBA. Also, on a contender with real super bigmen like Shaq/Amare, rookies like Robin or his twin bro Brook won't get minutes to prove their worth anyway.

In the limited minutes, Robin's defensive awareness was good. I'm not worried.

 

[SunsTzu]

In the limited minutes, Robin's defensive awareness was good. I'm not worried.

While his activity is admirable his awareness isn't even average imo. I've seen him screen off his own teammate on rotations and switches multiple times. He seems to want to be a good defender/rebounder which is nice, but he's got a long way to go.

 

[Errntknght]

IMO, you guys are a little hard on Goran... I agree he's not at the point that the Suns wanted us to believe but he's not bad at running the offense. To me, his major failing is that he's playing scared - particularly when he's shooting. He looks quite frail but he isn't afraid of contact - thats a whole lot better than a guy who's built like a tank but shies away from contact. I think the D league is a great idea for him and I won't be surprised if he blossoms yet this year - though, I wouldn't bet bundles on it...

With a grand total of 233 minutes in the NBA, stats aren't very meaningful but, at least, they look decent - apart from FGs. Assists at 4.8 per 40 min is well ahead of anyone on the team other than Nash. He has the best rebounding numbers among all the guards - 5.4 per 40. Steals are middling at 1.5. He's shooting FTs at .812, a pretty good indication that he actually can shoot the ball. Once he finds a comfort zone in real games, I'll bet he'll be deadly from midrange and will start attacking the rim.

 

[Mainstreet]

IMO, you guys are a little hard on Goran... I agree he's not at the point that the Suns wanted us to believe but he's not bad at running the offense. To me, his major failing is that he's playing scared - particularly when he's shooting. He looks quite frail but he isn't afraid of contact - thats a whole lot better than a guy who's built like a tank but shies away from contact. I think the D league is a great idea for him and I won't be surprised if he blossoms yet this year - though, I wouldn't bet bundles on it...

I think Tucker has the DL slot all locked up. Unless Tucker really improves, I don't see Goran going there.

Alando Tucker is still away on his D-League stint with Iowa, where his stat lines were unimpressive thus far. He went 5 for 14 from the field in his debut Sunday, when he tallied 13 points, six rebounds and three assists and missed both his 3-point tries.

Tucker, seeing his first action since November knee surgery, went 1 for 3 in another game Wednesday, talling three points, three rebounds and three assists in 29 minutes. Former Suns training camp swingman Trey Johnson scored 32 in that game for Bakersfield.

From Paul Coro article dated 1-1-09.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2009/01/01/20090101nash-CR.html

 

[Errntknght]

Must be wishful thinking on my part that Dragic was heading to the D league...

 

[dbUNIT16]

Both Dragic and Lopez have been disappointing. Amundson has been nice, and I like what I've seen out of Dee Brown and Jared Dudley this far.

I agree too though that consistent minutes are the only way any of these guys will improve. I don't care if it's 5 min/game. Just so long as they have a chance to play and improve. If they don't improve with consistent minutes, only then would I give up on them.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

let's face it . . . dragic and lopez suck. i key on them whenever they get on the court. dragic looks like a deer in the headlights. as someone pointed out earlier, the suns threw larger dollars at him and failed to secure a real veteran backup pg, a longtime need, b/c they LOVED him and thought he was ready to contribute NOW. wrong.

and other than the occasional block, lopez is an awful position defender and often muddies up the defensive rotations. i hated the pick when it was made, and i think my position has only been bolstered. at the time of the pick many lauded it b/c they thought he'd be a big who was ready to play today, to be a contributor, but now those same people here seem to be arguing that he needs time to develop. lame. dude sucked in college, and he'll suck at this level too. shocking.

 

[arwillan]

How many playoff teams are getting rotation minutes for their picks?

Off the top of my head, i know these playoff teams have rookies seeing minutes. keep in mind that these teams are in the playoffs as of the time of this post, but that can change by tomorrow even.


Miami (Beasley)
New Jersey (Lopez)
San Antonio (Hill)
Portland (Batum, Fernandez, Oden)
Orlando (Lee)
Milwaukee (Mbah a Moute,Alexander)