Suns News: Week 20 2/27-3/4

[carey]

With a loss to the Pelicans last night we are 3 games short of tying a team record for straight losses at 13.

Last Week's Games

vs. L.A. Clippers LOSS 128-117
vs. Portland LOSS 106-104
@ New Orleans LOSS 125-116

This Week's Games

Wednesday, February 28th @ Memphis 8:00 PM EST
Friday, March 2nd vs. Oklahoma City 9:00 PM EST
Sunday, March 4th @ Atlanta 3:30 PM EST

Suns Stories

Suns try to figure out what's wrong with Ulis: https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/ ... 374762002/

10 things to know about Suns' Payton: https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/ ... 370417002/

NBA mock draft, would Suns take Ayton #1? https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/ ... 372655002/

Booker shines but Davis devours Suns in loss: https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/ ... 374270002/

Suns fans are turning off the television in staggering numbers: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2018 ... tv-ratings

[O_Gardino]

Suns try to figure out what's wrong with Ulis: https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/ ... 374762002/

He's short, skinny, can't shoot, and he's sad that his bball IQ and heart aren't enough a this level.

[The Bobster]

He's going to have to learn how to shoot a lot better if he's going to be a contributor in the league.

I like Ulis, but you have to acknowledge his limitations both defensively and offensively.

[Indy]

With a loss to the Pelicans last night we are 3 games short of tying a team record for straight losses at 13.

Last Week's Games

vs. L.A. Clippers LOSS 128-117
vs. Portland LOSS 106-104
@ New Orleans LOSS 125-116

This Week's Games

Wednesday, February 28th @ Memphis 8:00 PM EST
Friday, March 2nd vs. Oklahoma City 9:00 PM EST
Sunday, March 4th @ Atlanta 3:30 PM EST

Suns Stories

Suns try to figure out what's wrong with Ulis: https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/ ... 374762002/

10 things to know about Suns' Payton: https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/ ... 370417002/

NBA mock draft, would Suns take Ayton #1? https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/ ... 372655002/

Booker shines but Davis devours Suns in loss: https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/ ... 374270002/

Suns fans are turning off the television in staggering numbers: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2018 ... tv-ratings

But that same season we had a 10 game win streak...

[Cap]

With a loss to the Pelicans last night we are 3 games short of tying a team record for straight losses at 13.

Last Week's Games

vs. L.A. Clippers LOSS 128-117
vs. Portland LOSS 106-104
@ New Orleans LOSS 125-116

This Week's Games

Wednesday, February 28th @ Memphis 8:00 PM EST
Friday, March 2nd vs. Oklahoma City 9:00 PM EST
Sunday, March 4th @ Atlanta 3:30 PM EST

Suns Stories

Suns try to figure out what's wrong with Ulis: https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/ ... 374762002/

10 things to know about Suns' Payton: https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/ ... 370417002/

NBA mock draft, would Suns take Ayton #1? https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/ ... 372655002/

Booker shines but Davis devours Suns in loss: https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/ ... 374270002/

Suns fans are turning off the television in staggering numbers: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2018 ... tv-ratings

But that same season we had a 10 game win streak...

We also made a major in-season trade between the losing streak and winning streak.

[ShelC]

We did it to ourselves with Ulis and put him in an impossible position. He was coming off ankle surgery and couldn't work out in the offseason. Then we blew things up, made him start games and play minutes he shouldn't have been playing, then criticize him for it.

He's a change of pace backup PG who needs scorers around him to take the pressure off him. He has his limitations but we definitely expected too much from him this year. He's worth keeping around IMO if we get this roster in a better place.

[Ring_Wanted]

We did it to ourselves with Ulis and put him in an impossible position. He was coming off ankle surgery and couldn't work out in the offseason. Then we blew things up, made him start games and play minutes he shouldn't have been playing, then criticize him for it.

He's a change of pace backup PG who needs scorers around him to take the pressure off him. He has his limitations but we definitely expected too much from him this year. He's worth keeping around IMO if we get this roster in a better place.

Well said.

[Mori Chu]

We did it to ourselves with Ulis and put him in an impossible position. He was coming off ankle surgery and couldn't work out in the offseason. Then we blew things up, made him start games and play minutes he shouldn't have been playing, then criticize him for it.

He's a change of pace backup PG who needs scorers around him to take the pressure off him. He has his limitations but we definitely expected too much from him this year. He's worth keeping around IMO if we get this roster in a better place.

I 100% agree. I think Ulis is a cut above the 10-day G-league fodder we have been otherwise signing to man the PG spot. I do think we should keep him around in a backup PG role behind (hopefully) Payton.

[specialsauce]

He’s a cheap backup I’d give him a full offseason healthy to try and figure it out. If he sucks next year then get rid of him

[Superbone]

What sucks is that he's best friends with Booker. Once again, player relations could hurt us.

[O_Gardino]

I don't mind keeping him on the end of the bench even if he struggles. I want BBall IQ and competitiveness on the bench, and he does have those things. Let's just try not to start him anymore.

[Cap]

We did it to ourselves with Ulis and put him in an impossible position. He was coming off ankle surgery and couldn't work out in the offseason. Then we blew things up, made him start games and play minutes he shouldn't have been playing, then criticize him for it.

He's a change of pace backup PG who needs scorers around him to take the pressure off him. He has his limitations but we definitely expected too much from him this year. He's worth keeping around IMO if we get this roster in a better place.

I 100% agree. I think Ulis is a cut above the 10-day G-league fodder we have been otherwise signing to man the PG spot. I do think we should keep him around in a backup PG role behind (hopefully) Payton.

Knight isn't likely going anywhere, and he's probably going to be playing.

[Aztec Sunsfan]

We did it to ourselves with Ulis and put him in an impossible position. He was coming off ankle surgery and couldn't work out in the offseason. Then we blew things up, made him start games and play minutes he shouldn't have been playing, then criticize him for it.

He's a change of pace backup PG who needs scorers around him to take the pressure off him. He has his limitations but we definitely expected too much from him this year. He's worth keeping around IMO if we get this roster in a better place.

I 100% agree. I think Ulis is a cut above the 10-day G-league fodder we have been otherwise signing to man the PG spot. I do think we should keep him around in a backup PG role behind (hopefully) Payton.

Knight isn't likely going anywhere, and he's probably going to be playing.

Looking Bender, Alex and even Booker (although he already was on the right direction) making strides on different degrees after their Watson’s detox (specially Bender) I’m kind of intrigued on how much Knight could rehabilitate his playing either to became part of the team going forward, or at least reach some “tradeable” level that our stomach can digest.

I was a strong supporter of Bender from the beginning, but at some point last year, he looked increasingly as a wasted pick. This year he looks like a rookie showing flashes and having ups and downs, and even has lookedlike a legit top lottery pick, displaying the versatility many hoped for. I think he has already surpassed Chriss as the PF project we should keep, and it all started with taking Watson off his back. Hopefully Knight also suffers from Watsonitis, he was already declining before Earl’s arrival, but considering that almost the entire team was in turmoil, I hope he can bounce back.

After this year’s awful deprivation of quality on PG play, one can only hope, right?

[Superbone]

This was before Booker scored 40 against the Pelicans:

https://twitter.com/NBA/status/968279534247272448

[Mori Chu]

Carey, you always bring the goods with your weekly threads. Love the two-color "Portland" in your OP above.

Here's an article from BSOTS on Payton and his impact since arriving on the Suns:

https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2018 ... -tj-warren

[carey]

Bickley: Suns need to hire Dan Majerle as their next head coach

https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/ ... ea28c3c082

Hmm, how about no?

[O_Gardino]

Carey, you always bring the goods with your weekly threads. Love the two-color "Portland" in your OP above.

Here's an article from BSOTS on Payton and his impact since arriving on the Suns:

https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2018 ... -tj-warren

That's CRAZY talk.

You might want to laugh at the Chandler reference, but the fact is that the Suns are a whopping 13-17 on the season with Chandler, Booker and T.J. Warren all in the same starting lineup this season — no matter who the PG or PF are — compared to 5-27 with any of them out.

[EDC]

https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/ ... 382498002/

Triano said Chriss’ anger and frustration was so obvious that both he and McDonough felt it was necessary to have one-on-one conversations with the second-year forward over the All-Star break. Triano wouldn’t reveal specifics of his conversation with Chriss other than to say: “I kind of told him what I thought and aired it all out. I went after him pretty good.”

Chriss said Triano and McDonough, while being candid, expressed their support for him.

Watson probably ruined him for us. I just don't see him snapping out of it all of a sudden. Will probably take a trade to wake him up. Even then he may go the route of Archie.

[Superbone]

https://amp.azcentral.com/amp/382498002

Triano said Chriss’ anger and frustration was so obvious that both he and McDonough felt it was necessary to have one-on-one conversations with the second-year forward over the All-Star break. Triano wouldn’t reveal specifics of his conversation with Chriss other than to say: “I kind of told him what I thought and aired it all out. I went after him pretty good.”

Chriss said Triano and McDonough, while being candid, expressed their support for him.

Watson probably ruined him for us. I just don't see him snapping out of it all of a sudden. Will probably take a trade to wake him up. Even then he may go the route of Archie.

If Watson "ruined" him then he was too fragile to begin with. People need to take responsibility for themselves. Even Millenials.

[Indy]

https://amp.azcentral.com/amp/382498002

Triano said Chriss’ anger and frustration was so obvious that both he and McDonough felt it was necessary to have one-on-one conversations with the second-year forward over the All-Star break. Triano wouldn’t reveal specifics of his conversation with Chriss other than to say: “I kind of told him what I thought and aired it all out. I went after him pretty good.”

Chriss said Triano and McDonough, while being candid, expressed their support for him.

Watson probably ruined him for us. I just don't see him snapping out of it all of a sudden. Will probably take a trade to wake him up. Even then he may go the route of Archie.

If Watson "ruined" him then he was too fragile to begin with. People need to take responsibility for themselves. Even Millenials.

It doesn't have anything to do with the year of his birth. When you are handed things on a silver platter way to prematurely, and then have that platter (rightfully) yanked away, it messes with your head.