Phx-Suns.Net

To say Bender is much better this year is a total stretch and false hope.

The only thing he’s significantly improved is his 3P %. He’s still shooting 37.8% from the field overall. His points and rebounds per 36 minutes are worse if not the same, and us blocks per 36 are down. He’s slightly improved in assists per 36 minutes, and that’s probably a factor of just touching the ball more this year out of necessity. I saw zero growth out of him except with his 3 point shot.

His rebound rate didn’t improve much throughout this season at all either. His assist rate did improve from the first month of the season to March. However, Until he grows a pair of balls, he will be a marginal player and a net negative on the court IMO.

ShelC wrote:Bender was better for sure but the bar was so low already it's kind of hard to really get excited. It's not like he had an extended stretch of doing anything particularly well, be it scoring, rebounding, hitting 3s, or passing.

That's a fair take.

Bender only played half a season his rookie year. Of course he improved.

Superbone wrote:Bender only played half a season his rookie year. Of course he improved.

But his per-minute stats didn’t improve, except 3P%, FT%, and assists. Everything else is either essentially the same or down from his rookie year.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/pl ... edr01.html

Cap wrote:

Superbone wrote:Bender only played half a season his rookie year. Of course he improved.

But his per-minute stats didn’t improve, except 3P%, FT%, and assists. Everything else is either essentially the same or down from his rookie year.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/pl ... edr01.html

I have watched every game that he has played. He has improved. "How's that for data?!" Not a ton but I'm not ready to give up on him at his age.

Cap wrote:

Superbone wrote:Bender only played half a season his rookie year. Of course he improved.

But his per-minute stats didn’t improve, except 3P%, FT%, and assists. Everything else is either essentially the same or down from his rookie year.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/pl ... edr01.html

His fouls are way down.

I don't know that anyone's saying we should give up on him. But he hasn't looked anywhere close to being a nightly contributor on a successful team, much less a starter or the answer to our PF spot.

Bender has shown VERY little measurable improvement, other than a bump in TS% to 51.7% (which is still really bad). His PER has increased only fractionally 5.32 to 6.87). His Real Plus Minus (RPM) remained about the same (-3.88 to -4.17). He had the worst RPM among PFs last year, and second worst this year.

At the rate he's "improving", he'll be a replacement level player in his 8th season.

I won’t be disappointed if he’s still on the team next season, but if he doesn’t significantly improve and is still a part of our rotation next year then the offseason was a failure by the organization. I am expecting a total roster overhaul where a player of Benders production gets no PT.

I am expecting g Chriss to be gone. No room on the bench for his attitude

He is 20.

Marty [Mori Chu] wrote:He is 20.

I love thinking back to saucey's posts when he was 20. Such maturity!

Indy wrote:

Marty [Mori Chu] wrote:He is 20.

I love thinking back to saucey's posts when he was 20. Such maturity!

True, but his PER (Poster Efficiency Rating) and his defensiveness per 36 posts have gone way up since then.

I think Bender will get better, it's just a question of how much better. He's got to change his offensive game to incorporate more shots near the basket. He also needs to rebound better obviously.

But as noted, he is 20. Last year he was the youngest player in the league. I think he was still in the 10 youngest at the start of this season.

Chriss I'm not so optimistic about. I hope he proves me wrong.

https://twitter.com/AZSports/status/983417429362528263

What's everyone's thoughts on Knight at PG next year?

I would prefer to move him, but we probably can't. Here's hoping he has a change of heart like Penny Hardaway, and adjusts his style of play.

Split T wrote:

https://twitter.com/AZSports/status/983417429362528263

What's everyone's thoughts on Knight at PG next year?

If he's “the PG,” that probably means a lot of bad hero ball from him, and we've all seen enough of that. On the other hand, if he's just one of multiple playmakers on the floor and knows to give it up when he doesn’t have an advantage, he may be able to contribute to the offense. Defensively, he's never going to be good.

Split T wrote:

https://twitter.com/AZSports/status/983417429362528263

What's everyone's thoughts on Knight at PG next year?

Who is the PF and C? That will go a very long way to how I'd feel about Knight at PG next year.

We have to pay Knight anyway and he's untradable right now, so they might as well see what they can do with him.

I'm hoping Knight has some redemption. I think he's still a good player and he seems to have his head in the right place. He could be very helpful next year if he really has figured out his place on the team.