Suns News: Week 25 4/2-4/10
- specialsauce
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Re: Suns News: Week 25 4/2-4/10
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.
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.
Re: Suns News: Week 25 4/2-4/10
That's a fair take.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.
The league needs heroes, villains... and clowns. -- Aztec Sunsfan
Re: Suns News: Week 25 4/2-4/10
Bender only played half a season his rookie year. Of course he improved.
"Too little, too late, too unbothered."
- Phoenix Suns 2023-2024 season motto.
"Be Legendary."
- Phoenix Suns 2023-2024 season motto.
"Be Legendary."
Re: Suns News: Week 25 4/2-4/10
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.Superbone wrote:Bender only played half a season his rookie year. Of course he improved.
https://www.basketball-reference.com/pl ... edr01.html
Re: Suns News: Week 25 4/2-4/10
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: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.Superbone wrote:Bender only played half a season his rookie year. Of course he improved.
https://www.basketball-reference.com/pl ... edr01.html
"Too little, too late, too unbothered."
- Phoenix Suns 2023-2024 season motto.
"Be Legendary."
- Phoenix Suns 2023-2024 season motto.
"Be Legendary."
Re: Suns News: Week 25 4/2-4/10
His fouls are way down.Cap wrote: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.Superbone wrote:Bender only played half a season his rookie year. Of course he improved.
https://www.basketball-reference.com/pl ... edr01.html
The league needs heroes, villains... and clowns. -- Aztec Sunsfan
Re: Suns News: Week 25 4/2-4/10
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.
Re: Suns News: Week 25 4/2-4/10
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.
At the rate he's "improving", he'll be a replacement level player in his 8th season.
- specialsauce
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Re: Suns News: Week 25 4/2-4/10
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.
- specialsauce
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- Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2014 8:45 pm
Re: Suns News: Week 25 4/2-4/10
I am expecting g Chriss to be gone. No room on the bench for his attitude
Re: Suns News: Week 25 4/2-4/10
He is 20.
Re: Suns News: Week 25 4/2-4/10
I love thinking back to saucey's posts when he was 20. Such maturity!Marty [Mori Chu] wrote:He is 20.
Re: Suns News: Week 25 4/2-4/10
True, but his PER (Poster Efficiency Rating) and his defensiveness per 36 posts have gone way up since then.Indy wrote:I love thinking back to saucey's posts when he was 20. Such maturity!Marty [Mori Chu] wrote:He is 20.
- The Bobster
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Re: Suns News: Week 25 4/2-4/10
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.
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.
Author of The Basketball Draft Fact Book: A History of Professional Basketball's College Drafts
Available from Scarecrow Press at - https://rowman.com/ISBN/9780810890695
Available from Scarecrow Press at - https://rowman.com/ISBN/9780810890695
Online
Re: Suns News: Week 25 4/2-4/10
What's everyone's thoughts on Knight at PG next year?
Re: Suns News: Week 25 4/2-4/10
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.
The league needs heroes, villains... and clowns. -- Aztec Sunsfan
Re: Suns News: Week 25 4/2-4/10
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: What's everyone's thoughts on Knight at PG next year?
Re: Suns News: Week 25 4/2-4/10
Who is the PF and C? That will go a very long way to how I'd feel about Knight at PG next year.Split T wrote: What's everyone's thoughts on Knight at PG next year?
- The Bobster
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Re: Suns News: Week 25 4/2-4/10
We have to pay Knight anyway and he's untradable right now, so they might as well see what they can do with him.
Author of The Basketball Draft Fact Book: A History of Professional Basketball's College Drafts
Available from Scarecrow Press at - https://rowman.com/ISBN/9780810890695
Available from Scarecrow Press at - https://rowman.com/ISBN/9780810890695
Online
Re: Suns News: Week 25 4/2-4/10
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.