Where's the Portland Game Thread?

[FArting]

I was waiting for Mainstreet to start the thread. I started the game thread against the Kings and we lost.

 

[BC867]

I agree it doesn't make much sense. Anyway, it seems most everyone is in agreement.

It's amazing how those videos disappear. At least I could not find the video from the Babby and McDonough press conference about Dragic. I believe there was another regarding the Dragic trade made by McDonough later on. I'm sure they must be out there somewhere on video or radio. It would be interesting to play them again.

I just spent awhile looking for the Press Conference where he said it as well.

'Couldn't find it online. I think I read it in the Az Republic, too, and anything in the Republic would appear on AzCentral.com. The entire Press Conference is evidently not available.

 

[Mainstreet]

I just spent awhile looking for the Press Conference where he said it as well.

'Couldn't find it online. I think I read it in the Az Republic, too, and anything in the Republic would appear on AzCentral.com. The entire Press Conference is evidently not available.

I did a fairly thorough search and even found the play arrow on the videos but it switched to something else.

Sort of convenient, don't you think?

However, nothing hides on internet. There should be a back door in out there somewhere.

 

[Sunshooter]

rank 5th in scoring but 25th in assists per game.

they have good street-ball skills but lack of cooperation.

 

[Phrazbit]

I believe the line was they want two guards capable of bringing the ball up and pressing the attack, they didn't strictly say "point guards".

 

[SirStefan32]

I believe the line was they want two guards capable of bringing the ball up and pressing the attack, they didn't strictly say "point guards".

Which makes it even worse, in my opinion. The only thing worse than two point guards is two combo guards that can neither play PG or SG effectively.

 

[Mainstreet]

I was waiting for Mainstreet to start the thread. I started the game thread against the Kings and we lost.

I think the Suns problems are bigger than us.

 

[Mainstreet]

I believe the line was they want two guards capable of bringing the ball up and pressing the attack, they didn't strictly say "point guards".

To me this makes a difference. For years the Suns wanted a younger John Salmons to help serve this role. As I view it, ball handlers are not necessarily PGs. It was sort of like the Suns wanted another ball handler to ease the continual pressure off Steve Nash bringing the ball up the court.

 

[SirStefan32]

To me this makes a difference. For years the Suns wanted a younger John Salmons to help serve this role. As I view it, ball handlers are not necessarily PGs. It was sort of like the Suns wanted another ball handler to ease the continual pressure off Steve Nash bringing the ball up the court.

Sure, it's good to have additional ball handlers, but you still need an actual point guard who can facilitate offense. Playing next to Nash is different than playing next to Bledsoe, Knight, IT, or even Dragic. Those four "point guards" the Suns have displayed in the past two years (add Barbosa and Smith if you want too) are all the exact same player (Barbosa being old and Smith being less talented than the other ones). Not one of them is a point guard, not one of them is a shooting guard. Yes, KJ/ Hornacek pairing worked because both of them were actual point guards and Hornacek had the size and the shooting touch to play SG.

With minor differences (Dragic probably being the best facilitator, IT being the best pure scorer, Bledsoe being the best defender), all these guards the Suns have used in the past two years are the SAME player- undersized combo guards with limited play-making skills and shooting ability.

 

[Cheesebeef]

:safe:

Sure, it's good to have additional ball handlers, but you still need an actual point guard who can facilitate offense. Playing next to Nash is different than playing next to Bledsoe, Knight, IT, or even Dragic. Those four "point guards" the Suns have displayed in the past two years (add Barbosa and Smith if you want too) are all the exact same player (Barbosa being old and Smith being less talented than the other ones). Not one of them is a point guard, not one of them is a shooting guard. Yes, KJ/ Hornacek pairing worked because both of them were actual point guards and Hornacek had the size and the shooting touch to play SG.

With minor differences (Dragic probably being the best facilitator, IT being the best pure scorer, Bledsoe being the best defender), all these guards the Suns have used in the past two years are the SAME player- undersized combo guards with limited play-making skills and shooting ability.

Yup.

 

[Phrazbit]

Except that the guard play has not been a problem. The short comings have been elsewhere. Some of you might not like the style of offense but over the last 2 seasons the Suns have been one of the top scoring teams in the NBA.

This is all a bunch of hand wringing over nothing.

 

[Mainstreet]

Sure, it's good to have additional ball handlers, but you still need an actual point guard who can facilitate offense. Playing next to Nash is different than playing next to Bledsoe, Knight, IT, or even Dragic. Those four "point guards" the Suns have displayed in the past two years (add Barbosa and Smith if you want too) are all the exact same player (Barbosa being old and Smith being less talented than the other ones). Not one of them is a point guard, not one of them is a shooting guard. Yes, KJ/ Hornacek pairing worked because both of them were actual point guards and Hornacek had the size and the shooting touch to play SG.

With minor differences (Dragic probably being the best facilitator, IT being the best pure scorer, Bledsoe being the best defender), all these guards the Suns have used in the past two years are the SAME player- undersized combo guards with limited play-making skills and shooting ability.

If you are looking for a pure PG they may be harder to find than a quality big man. I think the NBA has evolved from having pure position players. Hybrid guards may now rule the game. The above mentioned players have a role in the NBA. Maybe we should be looking for a guard than can run the Suns offense rather than a label.

 

[BC867]

Except that the guard play has not been a problem. The short comings have been elsewhere. Some of you might not like the style of offense but over the last 2 seasons the Suns have been one of the top scoring teams in the NBA.

This is all a bunch of hand wringing over nothing.

The multi-small Guard play is what caused the shortcomings elsewhere.

Bledsoe and Thomas pushing Dragic to Small Forward, pushing Marcus or PJ to Power Forward, pushing Markieff to Center, which forced a developing Len to the bench. Yes, I know his foul trouble did, too. But the Suns were content to not have a banger as backup.

Two or three tweeners in the backcourt is hardly "nothing". It is a philosophy that keeps the Suns out of the playoffs and with a very unbalanced roster. 'Way to much emphasis on the Guard positions and with players not well skilled at either.

 

[Phrazbit]

The multi-small Guard play is what caused the shortcomings elsewhere.

Bledsoe and Thomas pushing Dragic to Small Forward, pushing Marcus or PJ to Power Forward, pushing Markieff to Center, which forced a developing Len to the bench. Yes, I know his foul trouble did, too. But the Suns were content to not have a banger as backup.

Two or three tweeners in the backcourt is hardly "nothing". It is a philosophy that keeps the Suns out of the playoffs and with a very unbalanced roster. 'Way to much emphasis on the Guard positions and with players not well skilled at either.

uh huh, it's a nice argument but the stats paint the opposite to be true. The Suns guards are the only thing that has had them in the playoff hunt the last 2 years.

And Len's PT has been limited only by fouls and his ankles.

I'm not saying more balance would be a bad thing, but it's not like there is some stud big we've missed out on, and as has been pointed out repeatedly, the Suns have given big minutes to some really lousy big men.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Len has not been looking good lately, especially on offense. Hopefully he can develop more consistency over time. It is a bit frustrating because the potential is so plain to see.

 

[Phrazbit]

Len has not been looking good lately, especially on offense. Hopefully he can develop more consistency over time. It is a bit frustrating because the potential is so plain to see.

His hands have become pretty lousy of late. He is fumbling passes in the lane as often as he is hauling them in.

I suspect he is just worn out. He has played nearly as many minutes this year than his college career and previous NBA experience combined.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Len has not been looking good lately, especially on offense. Hopefully he can develop more consistency over time. It is a bit frustrating because the potential is so plain to see.

man, it's starting to look like passing on Noel is going to be a mistake. The guy is a human eraser out there since the All-Star break. Len looked like he was making such good progress mid-season, but he has definitely taken a step backward in the second half of the year. disappointed by his second half... still have hope he can be a solid every game player.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Len has not been looking good lately, especially on offense. Hopefully he can develop more consistency over time. It is a bit frustrating because the potential is so plain to see.

He's been hurt... He's still extremely young and raw (only 21 years old). And IMHO, he doesn't play with a bunch of guys who know how to lead him and where/when to get him the ball.
I still believe 100% in Len. I believe he will develop into a top-tier big man. He will develop a short-range shot and will improve his down-low game. And he'll continue to be a serious force on the defensive boards.

 

[BC867]

He's been hurt... He's still extremely young and raw (only 21 years old). And IMHO, he doesn't play with a bunch of guys who know how to lead him and where/when to get him the ball.
I still believe 100% in Len. I believe he will develop into a top-tier big man. He will develop a short-range shot and will improve his down-low game. And he'll continue to be a serious force on the defensive boards.

...There's the key.

 

[sunsfan88]

Sure, it's good to have additional ball handlers, but you still need an actual point guard who can facilitate offense. Playing next to Nash is different than playing next to Bledsoe, Knight, IT, or even Dragic. Those four "point guards" the Suns have displayed in the past two years (add Barbosa and Smith if you want too) are all the exact same player (Barbosa being old and Smith being less talented than the other ones). Not one of them is a point guard, not one of them is a shooting guard. Yes, KJ/ Hornacek pairing worked because both of them were actual point guards and Hornacek had the size and the shooting touch to play SG.

With minor differences (Dragic probably being the best facilitator, IT being the best pure scorer, Bledsoe being the best defender), all these guards the Suns have used in the past two years are the SAME player- undersized combo guards with limited play-making skills and shooting ability.

Great post.

The multi-small Guard play is what caused the shortcomings elsewhere.

Was going to say the same thing. I think people don't understand that while the undersized backcourt may score a ton, it's causing the problems in rebounding, defense and other players having to put in even more energy on other things.

Tucker and someone else said it when they said they preferred this current lineup over the undersized lineup because it's closer to an orthodox lineup and they don't have to overcommit to help and try and make it work.

Of course being undersized isn't such an issue if we have a guy like Charles Barkley (offensively) or present example of Draymond Green (defensively) but we don't.