Re: 2018 Suns Offseason News
Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2018 8:26 pm
Josh Jackson at the 2 sounds gross.
Can't say I am. Ariza at PF is still an experiment to a degree and because of his defensive deficiencies Anderson shouldn't play more than 15-18 mins (and only at PF, obviously).
Well I don't think we're talking about playing Jackson more than 15 minutes at the 2. Say we start (Insert PG here), Jackson, Ariza, Anderson, Ayton. At the 6 minute mark, you shuffle the lineup, moving Jackson either to the bench or to the 3. He can just play the 2 when Anderson plays.Ring_Wanted wrote: ↑Wed Sep 12, 2018 9:03 amCan't say I am. Ariza at PF is still an experiment to a degree and because of his defensive deficiencies Anderson shouldn't play more than 15-18 mins (and only at PF, obviously).
We'll see what Kokoskov does, because Jackson is intense but gives up too much size to play PF and Bender is too transparent. In reality, there is no ideal candidate to play at the four, unless Bender really steps up.
Honestly, besides Bender the most interesting proposition at PF to me is TJ Warren.
At least now we don't have to put up with Knight and Chriss' dumb game.
IC, Bridges, Ariza, Anderson, DASplit T wrote: ↑Wed Sep 12, 2018 10:59 amWell I don't think we're talking about playing Jackson more than 15 minutes at the 2. Say we start (Insert PG here), Jackson, Ariza, Anderson, Ayton. At the 6 minute mark, you shuffle the lineup, moving Jackson either to the bench or to the 3. He can just play the 2 when Anderson plays.Ring_Wanted wrote: ↑Wed Sep 12, 2018 9:03 amCan't say I am. Ariza at PF is still an experiment to a degree and because of his defensive deficiencies Anderson shouldn't play more than 15-18 mins (and only at PF, obviously).
We'll see what Kokoskov does, because Jackson is intense but gives up too much size to play PF and Bender is too transparent. In reality, there is no ideal candidate to play at the four, unless Bender really steps up.
Honestly, besides Bender the most interesting proposition at PF to me is TJ Warren.
At least now we don't have to put up with Knight and Chriss' dumb game.
Without Booker, who would you start at the 2? Or better yet, assuming no other changes and no Booker to start the season, what's your starting lineup?
He does handle the ball, but I would say he isn't very good at it. Despite playing the 3rd most minutes on the team last year, he was 13th in AST% and 15th in Ast/100 possessions. Even though he played 3x as many minutes as Mike James (who most considered a bit of a chucker), they had the same number of total assists. All this with the 4th highest usage on the team.Split T wrote: ↑Wed Sep 12, 2018 12:50 pmVery low on creators though. Canaan is the only ball handler in that lineup. Jackson is obviously not the shooter Bridges is, but he can handle the ball and create some offense.
Also, who are we expecting to get cut? We've got 17 players under contract and can only have 15. Darrell Arthur is the obvious one that we've said we have no plans to keep on the roster. Still, we've got 1 more cut to go. Canaan and Harrison have non guaranteed contracts, but both play at our weakest position.
A trade may still be coming to sort that out, but I'm not so sure that's really in our plans. I think I'd just cut Troy Daniels or see if anyone wants him for a protected 2nd.
Canaan, Harrison, Okobo
Booker, Bridges, Melton
Ariza, Jackson, Reed
Anderson, Warren, Bender
Ayton, Holmes, Chandler
With King and Peters on 2 way deals.
I'd probably have Melton and Okobo take turns on the G league team unless one surprises us by being ready to play now. I also think Reed and Bender could benefit from consistent minutes on the g league team if they don't crack the rotation.
How much can Bender play in the g-league? Is there a maximum for a 3rd year first round pick?Split T wrote: ↑Wed Sep 12, 2018 12:50 pmVery low on creators though. Canaan is the only ball handler in that lineup. Jackson is obviously not the shooter Bridges is, but he can handle the ball and create some offense.
Also, who are we expecting to get cut? We've got 17 players under contract and can only have 15. Darrell Arthur is the obvious one that we've said we have no plans to keep on the roster. Still, we've got 1 more cut to go. Canaan and Harrison have non guaranteed contracts, but both play at our weakest position.
A trade may still be coming to sort that out, but I'm not so sure that's really in our plans. I think I'd just cut Troy Daniels or see if anyone wants him for a protected 2nd.
Canaan, Harrison, Okobo
Booker, Bridges, Melton
Ariza, Jackson, Reed
Anderson, Warren, Bender
Ayton, Holmes, Chandler
With King and Peters on 2 way deals.
I'd probably have Melton and Okobo take turns on the G league team unless one surprises us by being ready to play now. I also think Reed and Bender could benefit from consistent minutes on the g league team if they don't crack the rotation.
I won't disagree, but Jackson is capable of getting into the paint off the dribble. That can't be said of Bridges, Ariza, or Anderson. Jackson has a lot of work to do once he gets into the paint, but he can get there and that's the first step.Indy wrote: ↑Wed Sep 12, 2018 12:58 pmHe does handle the ball, but I would say he isn't very good at it. Despite playing the 3rd most minutes on the team last year, he was 13th in AST% and 15th in Ast/100 possessions. Even though he played 3x as many minutes as Mike James (who most considered a bit of a chucker), they had the same number of total assists. All this with the 4th highest usage on the team.Split T wrote: ↑Wed Sep 12, 2018 12:50 pmVery low on creators though. Canaan is the only ball handler in that lineup. Jackson is obviously not the shooter Bridges is, but he can handle the ball and create some offense.
Also, who are we expecting to get cut? We've got 17 players under contract and can only have 15. Darrell Arthur is the obvious one that we've said we have no plans to keep on the roster. Still, we've got 1 more cut to go. Canaan and Harrison have non guaranteed contracts, but both play at our weakest position.
A trade may still be coming to sort that out, but I'm not so sure that's really in our plans. I think I'd just cut Troy Daniels or see if anyone wants him for a protected 2nd.
Canaan, Harrison, Okobo
Booker, Bridges, Melton
Ariza, Jackson, Reed
Anderson, Warren, Bender
Ayton, Holmes, Chandler
With King and Peters on 2 way deals.
I'd probably have Melton and Okobo take turns on the G league team unless one surprises us by being ready to play now. I also think Reed and Bender could benefit from consistent minutes on the g league team if they don't crack the rotation.
I am hoping to see him grow in this area because he does have good handles, but his awful shot selection means people don't have to back off him to guard his pass, and that hurts his creation for others.
You think Okobo will be ready enough to cut Canaan loose?
That I'm not sure. For the record, I don't expect him to play there. Most likely he sits on the bench and gets garbage minutes.Indy wrote: ↑Wed Sep 12, 2018 12:59 pmHow much can Bender play in the g-league? Is there a maximum for a 3rd year first round pick?Split T wrote: ↑Wed Sep 12, 2018 12:50 pmVery low on creators though. Canaan is the only ball handler in that lineup. Jackson is obviously not the shooter Bridges is, but he can handle the ball and create some offense.
Also, who are we expecting to get cut? We've got 17 players under contract and can only have 15. Darrell Arthur is the obvious one that we've said we have no plans to keep on the roster. Still, we've got 1 more cut to go. Canaan and Harrison have non guaranteed contracts, but both play at our weakest position.
A trade may still be coming to sort that out, but I'm not so sure that's really in our plans. I think I'd just cut Troy Daniels or see if anyone wants him for a protected 2nd.
Canaan, Harrison, Okobo
Booker, Bridges, Melton
Ariza, Jackson, Reed
Anderson, Warren, Bender
Ayton, Holmes, Chandler
With King and Peters on 2 way deals.
I'd probably have Melton and Okobo take turns on the G league team unless one surprises us by being ready to play now. I also think Reed and Bender could benefit from consistent minutes on the g league team if they don't crack the rotation.
Agreed, and that is why I said it is not like this would be a team better than average. But we suck, and it seemed like the best lineup to start a game without Booker. I think we could let JJ and Warren be the primary options for the 2nd unit, and I think they both would be effective there.Split T wrote: ↑Wed Sep 12, 2018 1:15 pmI won't disagree, but Jackson is capable of getting into the paint off the dribble. That can't be said of Bridges, Ariza, or Anderson. Jackson has a lot of work to do once he gets into the paint, but he can get there and that's the first step.Indy wrote: ↑Wed Sep 12, 2018 12:58 pmHe does handle the ball, but I would say he isn't very good at it. Despite playing the 3rd most minutes on the team last year, he was 13th in AST% and 15th in Ast/100 possessions. Even though he played 3x as many minutes as Mike James (who most considered a bit of a chucker), they had the same number of total assists. All this with the 4th highest usage on the team.Split T wrote: ↑Wed Sep 12, 2018 12:50 pmVery low on creators though. Canaan is the only ball handler in that lineup. Jackson is obviously not the shooter Bridges is, but he can handle the ball and create some offense.
Also, who are we expecting to get cut? We've got 17 players under contract and can only have 15. Darrell Arthur is the obvious one that we've said we have no plans to keep on the roster. Still, we've got 1 more cut to go. Canaan and Harrison have non guaranteed contracts, but both play at our weakest position.
A trade may still be coming to sort that out, but I'm not so sure that's really in our plans. I think I'd just cut Troy Daniels or see if anyone wants him for a protected 2nd.
Canaan, Harrison, Okobo
Booker, Bridges, Melton
Ariza, Jackson, Reed
Anderson, Warren, Bender
Ayton, Holmes, Chandler
With King and Peters on 2 way deals.
I'd probably have Melton and Okobo take turns on the G league team unless one surprises us by being ready to play now. I also think Reed and Bender could benefit from consistent minutes on the g league team if they don't crack the rotation.
I am hoping to see him grow in this area because he does have good handles, but his awful shot selection means people don't have to back off him to guard his pass, and that hurts his creation for others.
I think a Canaan/Bridges/Ariza/Anderson/Ayton lineup would be almost strictly 3 shooters around a 1/5 pick n roll. It could work, but fairly predictable. And Canaan/Ayton aren't Nash/Amare.
I guess we could use this lineup to feature Ayton in the post with lots of off ball action for all the shooters. That's putting a lot on Ayton as a rookie. Hopefully Booker is back soon.