With two Great Players (even though young) Why aren't the Suns better?

[cardsunsfan]

I'm a little surprised that the Suns could still be considered the worst team in the league... I feel like this league is more and more about a couple really good players, and I'm not sure if I wouldn't pick Ayton and Booker out of everyone in those drafts... If we happen to get the best player in the next draft it really wouldn't add up to me. I guess the main problem is really good defence, something that doesn't show up in the stat sheet. I see a lot of people mentioning the need for a good point guard, but frankly I have seen a lot of teams do very well without a good one. When I state this, I mean I feel like the Suns should at least be slightly below average, (maybe winning 40% of our games) the clip that we are losing right now just seems crazy.

 

[AzStevenCal]

We should be a little better than we are IMO but not much. It's not like we weren't the worst team in the NBA and probably the worst team overall for the past 3 seasons running. Certainly not enough better to take us out of the worst team discussion. Horrible point guard situation, horrible power forward rotation, bad bench, youth, 8 new players consisting of 4 rookies and 4 mostly useless veterans. We brought in a new coach with a new system but we still have no defense and on the face of it we appear to be running the wrong offense for the talent on this roster.

 

[SirStefan32]

We should be a little better than we are IMO but not much. It's not like we weren't the worst team in the NBA and probably the worst team overall for the past 3 seasons running. Certainly not enough better to take us out of the worst team discussion. Horrible point guard situation, horrible power forward rotation, bad bench, youth, 8 new players consisting of 4 rookies and 4 mostly useless veterans. We brought in a new coach with a new system but we still have no defense and on the face of it we appear to be running the wrong offense for the talent on this roster.

I'd also add that they seem to be improving. They have had multiple games in a row now that they haven't really been blown out like they were early in the season. It's possible I blocked out a game from my mind, but I don't remember a blowout loss since the Nets game.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

And they are leading in most games...just can't close it out in the 4th.

I'd also add that they seem to be improving. They have had multiple games in a row now that they haven't really been blown out like they were early in the season. It's possible I blocked out a game from my mind, but I don't remember a blowout loss since the Nets game.

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[Mainstreet]

The Suns have some talent in Booker, Ayton, Bridges and Warren. Unfortunately two of those players are rookies.

They are a product of years of bad drafting, their inability to attract top free agents and not enough productive role players.

Whatever is going on with the coaching, it's not working. Their porous defense does not give much hope for them to win many games.

The Suns answer is not just the next draft. It's much deeper. Since Sarver cannot be replaced the Suns need a GM that knows what they are doing. This is looking like a long shot as well.

 

[overseascardfan]

I think this team is a good, motivated PG is the key to turning it all around along with better team defense. The year they got Bledsoe they shocked everyone winning almost 50 games and just missing the playoffs.

 

[SirStefan32]

I think this team is a good, motivated PG is the key to turning it all around along with better team defense. The year they got Bledsoe they shocked everyone winning almost 50 games and just missing the playoffs.

They need a point guard version of Bridges.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I think this team is a good, motivated PG is the key to turning it all around along with better team defense. The year they got Bledsoe they shocked everyone winning almost 50 games and just missing the playoffs.

They didn't have a roster with two 20 year olds, three 21 year olds, two 22 year olds and zero quality players in the prime 26 to 32 range.

 

[Suns_fan69]

They need a point guard version of Bridges.

I agree, I just don't think there's anyone available that fits that mold. A in the prime George Hill would be a good fit, but he's well past that.

Pat Beverly? I don't know if I can stomach him on the team though I guess he's an option given the glut of PGs LAC has.
Dinwiddie is close I guess, and available, but likely will need to overpay to get him here next summer.

Anyone else?

 

[overseascardfan]

They didn't have a roster with two 20 year olds, three 21 year olds, two 22 year olds and zero quality players in the prime 26 to 32 range.

This roster is much more talent than the 48 win team. Plus at that time their key veterans other than Dragic were Frye, Barbosa and Green. Make no mistake, Bledsoe & Dragic carried that team and a bunch of journeymen had career years, notably Plumlee. That team was 8th in offensive efficiency and 15th in defensive efficiency. Right now this team does not have an established defensive stopper, Bridges and Jackson were billed as such but haven't solidified those skills yet and Ayton needs to better use of his tools defensively.

 

[1Sun]

And they are leading in most games...just can't close it out in the 4th.

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Doesn't help that the head coach keeps putting in the worst possible line-ups in critical minutes in the 4th.

 

[SirStefan32]

I agree, I just don't think there's anyone available that fits that mold. A in the prime George Hill would be a good fit, but he's well past that.

Pat Beverly? I don't know if I can stomach him on the team though I guess he's an option given the glut of PGs LAC has.
Dinwiddie is close I guess, and available, but likely will need to overpay to get him here next summer.

Anyone else?

Yep, and that's the problem. There just isn't one available. Spencer Dinwiddie is probably the one youngster I'd like to see on the roster.

 

[SirStefan32]

This roster is much more talent than the 48 win team. Plus at that time their key veterans other than Dragic were Frye, Barbosa and Green. Make no mistake, Bledsoe & Dragic carried that team and a bunch of journeymen had career years, notably Plumlee. That team was 8th in offensive efficiency and 15th in defensive efficiency. Right now this team does not have an established defensive stopper, Bridges and Jackson were billed as such but haven't solidified those skills yet and Ayton needs to better use of his tools defensively.

While I agree, I would point out that Bridges is working on establishing himself as just that.

 

[1Sun]

They need a point guard version of Bridges.

Why...so Kokoskov can glue him to the bench as well? The players won't matter as long as Kokoskov remains at the helm.

 

[StreetTruckinTitan]

What they need is a PG who knows how to run Kokos system. Its obvious nobody knows what or where to be. They will learn it but it will take some time for it to be second nature. Thats why Im always harping on bringing back Goran. I could care less if he's 102 and will cost the team a zillion dollars thats what this team needs for the next few years. Nobody else they bring in would run it like GD. Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[DWKB]

Just an outsider perspective:

PHX sucks because their owner sucks and that trickles down to their GM and their coach.

You can draft talent, but if it’s not the right talent to coalesce into a successful team then it’s not worth much. Unless you get a unicorn and even then it’s not a guarantee. Look at NO and Davis.

PHX, IMO needs a gutting from the top down. Talent, itself, won’t solve the problems.

 

[Mainstreet]

What is driving me crazy right now the Suns do not seem to have a plan. I'm not sure who is leading the Suns.

Just an outsider perspective:

PHX sucks because their owner sucks and that trickles down to their GM and their coach.

You can draft talent, but if it’s not the right talent to coalesce into a successful team then it’s not worth much. Unless you get a unicorn and even then it’s not a guarantee. Look at NO and Davis.

PHX, IMO needs a gutting from the top down. Talent, itself, won’t solve the problems.

It's the owner. All Suns fans can hope for a better arrangement of deck chairs on the Titanic.

 

[Covert Rain]

What is driving me crazy right now the Suns do not seem to have a plan. I'm not sure who is leading the Suns.

It's the owner. All Suns fans can hope for a better arrangement of deck chairs on the Titanic.

This. At least a coherent one. I wish the team would be sold. However, I don't hold out hope for that so at the very least, this front office needs to be gutted from front to back. We need to go after a coach that actually has a pedigree and offer him whatever the hell he wants to get him here.

 

[Mainstreet]

This. At least a coherent one. I wish the team would be sold. However, I don't hold out hope for that so at the very least, this front office needs to be gutted from front to back. We need to go after a coach that actually has a pedigree and offer him whatever the hell he wants to get him here.

The Suns might have had a chance to get Michael Budenholzer if they did that.

I'm not optimistic about the Suns because it starts with the front office not to mention the owner as you mention.

It's hard to imagine the Suns spending the money they need to acquire a top coach and GM. If so, whoever they hire would probably want to have both titles so they can hopefully run the franchise as they see fit.

 

[1Sun]

The Suns might have had a chance to get Michael Budenholzer if they did that.

I'm not optimistic about the Suns because it starts with the front office not to mention the owner as you mention.

It's hard to imagine the Suns spending the money they need to acquire a top coach and GM. If so, whoever they hire would probably want to have both titles so they can hopefully run the franchise as they see fit.

Since Sarver isn't going anywhere as the managing general partner of the owner as long as this team remains in Phoenix, this is our only hope. It's the reason I floated the idea of Rick Pitino and why I introduced the idea of Charles Barkley for discussion.

 

[Finito]

Since Sarver isn't going anywhere as the managing general partner of the owner as long as this team remains in Phoenix, this is our only hope. It's the reason I floated the idea of Rick Pitino and why I introduced the idea of Charles Barkley for discussion.

Pitino? Barkley?

Wow

 

[1Sun]

Pitino? Barkley?

Wow

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Pitino at least has a track record of being competitive in the NBA. There is no legitimate GM/head coach candidate that would touch this toxic situation with a 10-foot pole, so our only hope even to get to any measure of respectability (as opposed to historic futility) is to roll the dice. Once we get to mediocrity/respectability, hopefully someone with a pedigree and better track will be available to help us take the following step. For now, we need to get out of the extraordinarily hopeless culture of losing in which we are mired now (and have been for the last 5 years).

 

[AzStevenCal]

Pitino? Barkley?

Wow

Ha. Of the three, I'd go for GM Wow whoever he is.

 

[Covert Rain]

The Suns might have had a chance to get Michael Budenholzer if they did that.

I'm not optimistic about the Suns because it starts with the front office not to mention the owner as you mention.

It's hard to imagine the Suns spending the money they need to acquire a top coach and GM. If so, whoever they hire would probably want to have both titles so they can hopefully run the franchise as they see fit.

One could ask Santa!?!

 

[Mainstreet]

One could ask Santa!?!

Yea for Santa.