Suns News: Week 5 11/24-11/30

[Aztec Sunsfan]

BSOTS has an article on the subject

http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2014/ ... -yet-feels

[virtual9mm]

I have to admit that I am not convinced by Goran's answers after reading that article. Time to quietly ask Goran for an unofficial but firm commitment if the management agrees to trade Isaiah. He should have substantial trade value.

[carey]

Just so everyone knows, I'm not cool with Dragic being the one to go. If I have to watch a backcourt of Bledsoe and IT all year I'll probably watch fewer games.

[Mori Chu]

If Dragic leaves, I will be very bummed out.

[Nodack]

I have to admit, I'm not happy the way the "experiment" is affecting Dragic. Just not enough ball and playing time available to keep all three happy. And then to top it off Thomas is already complaining. Something's going to have to give.

I think it is a work in progress, but the benefits of having three real good point guards might pay off over an 82 game season. Somebody always twists an ankle or something during a year. Them playing less minutes during the season is going to make them that much fresher in the end imo. Injuries forced us to get the Brazilian blur back last season only to get injured himself. Too much of a good thing is better than not enough of a good thing.

The Suns definitely have some holes going on in their system right now. Say pick and roll and you think Suns over the years, but right now it's a lot of 1 on 1 and little pick and roll. Our assists are down. We are winning with spectacular 1 on 1 plays and defense, but they will need more. Like most Suns teams in their history the Suns have great point guards, but are weak at center. Alex Len is key to our future and he is starting to get it together and even had a wide open dunk off a pick and roll last game which brought a huge smile to my face. He's starting to make a difference. Almost time to make the switch. Sorry Plum dog.

[Phoenix219]

The problem is that Dragic is our ONLY PnR guard, and he's not the ball handler. Its not even possible to start getting chemistry on the PnR with anyone. Dragic should be playing with Len. Bledsoe needs to be the combo guard. Its not 2 point guards, its Dragic playing off the ball. This isn't the system we were promised.

[Shabazz]

Bledsoe and Plumlee had very nice pick and roll chemistry last year.

[Ring_Wanted]

Bledsoe and Plumlee had very nice pick and roll chemistry last year.

Yes, Bledsoe also is a capable pick and roll player (supposedly IT3 too, but is in full microwave mode). But everything good regarding Plumlee is so scarce this year...

Anyway, most times the guards are focused on using the screens just to score themselves. How many times have you seen Len run towards the poing guard after setting the pick? And we know Kieff is a one on one animal on his own.

[Ring_Wanted]

I think it is a work in progress, but the benefits of having three real good point guards might pay off over an 82 game season. Somebody always twists an ankle or something during a year. Them playing less minutes during the season is going to make them that much fresher in the end imo.

The theory is cool, logical and makes sense, but in practice two of these three specific players are having a hard time adapting to the new statu quo, above all Dragic. The third guy is doing his thing just fine (and then some, often enough) but seems to be asking for more. And let's remember that there is yet another poing guard rotting on the roster.

The point ( ) was supposedly avoiding marginal players like Ish at our key position, which indeed was a necessity, but it seems the law of the diminishing returns is hitting us, and it's doing so where it hurts the most.

I'd also like to point that part of Goran's struggles can't be blamed on IT3, at least directly. This year Dragic is getting to the rim with frequency, but once there he dumps the ball much more than last season, where he seemed to finish above everyone and anyone, and that lack of agression is easily constatable looking at his FT ratio. I'm sure space, or lack thereof, plays a big role here, but if he is capable of getting under the basket, he can be more agressive and draw more contact, for instance (although it's also true that the refs don't respect him the way they should especially compared to other names). I know it's hard to mentally abstract yourself from a dropoff, but like Bledsoe, he needs to keep his head cool and do his thing like it's nothing, exactly the way IT3 is doing.

But like 'bone said, something's gotta give, because this is not looking like a sustainable 'system'.

[Superbone]

"A lot of things have changed," Dragic said. "As you can see we have three play-makers, I'm playing mostly off the ball, I'm not that involved on the pick and roll which is my game. But this is part of sports, the team is playing well, so you have to make some sacrifices for the team. As long as it's working."

This is the difference between Dragic and IT3. Dragic is willing to make sacrifices for the betterment of the team while Thomas just wants to play more. I'll take the team guy every time. We don't need prima donnas.

[Dan H]

I think Dragic is nigh-untradeable. Isn't he essentially the face of the team? Not sure how they're being marketed locally.

If Cleveland continues to be mediocre I could see them shaking things up for Bledsoe as soon as he's trade-able. Thompson and Varajeo for Bledsoe? Obviously we'd have to clear out some front court room as well.

[ShelC]

Unless LeBron pushes Kyrie out, they'll get rid of Blatt first. Coaches are more replaceable. And if LeBron pushes Kyrie out, he'd probably want Cle to make a play for Bledsoe instead of Dragic, which I'd even be OK with but I wouldn't want Irving. So maybe it's a 3 way with Bledsoe going to Cleveland, Irving to Orlando and some pieces coming here, like Fournier, Harkless and one of their bigs (O'Quinn, Nicholson). Salaries would have to work out tho and we'd have to move some other pieces.

And with Dragic, he's a FA so the team trading for him would probably want assurances he'd re-sign. Or if there's a team with capspace (like LA) they can just wait til he hits free agency.

[OE32]

I think Dragic is nigh-untradeable. Isn't he essentially the face of the team? Not sure how they're being marketed locally.

If Cleveland continues to be mediocre I could see them shaking things up for Bledsoe as soon as he's trade-able. Thompson and Varajeo for Bledsoe? Obviously we'd have to clear out some front court room as well.

Huh! That's actually pretty interesting. Hadn't thought of trading Bledsoe to the Cavs for anyone other than Kyrie. Thompson is a 4/5, which I like, but he's not a stretch 4/5. Another player made for more of a half-court, defense-first style ball club. And I don't know how well that works for Goran. But then, ultimately, I think a half-court, defensive style, with Warren leading our new "one-man fast break" may be optimal.

I think IT can co-exist with either Goran or Bled - it's all 3 that makes it too much. We could trade any one of them. And there just have to be suitors. Houston's certainly one. They have Euros and the NO pick, but I don't want to strengthen that squad. Another possibility is Chicago, with all the issues surrounding D Rose - they certainly have players I'd like to add.

Also, I really like Gerald Green. Not as a closer, but as a weapon. I'd hate to have to give him up just to keep the hydra. I'd also prefer to keep Bledsoe, because defense wins championships.

[carey]

Unless LeBron pushes Kyrie out, they'll get rid of Blatt first. Coaches are more replaceable. And if LeBron pushes Kyrie out, he'd probably want Cle to make a play for Bledsoe instead of Dragic, which I'd even be OK with but I wouldn't want Irving. So maybe it's a 3 way with Bledsoe going to Cleveland, Irving to Orlando and some pieces coming here, like Fournier, Harkless and one of their bigs (O'Quinn, Nicholson). Salaries would have to work out tho and we'd have to move some other pieces.

Gordon or Oladipo would have to come back in any deal with Orlando. I don't see them acquiring Irving for their pieces & parts.

Btw, If we lose another beloved Sun to the Lakers next Summer.... well, I don't think I can handle that.

[ShelC]

Would Portland be interested in Goran? Play him in the backcourt with Lillard, pick and pop with Aldridge.

[Shabazz]

Last year, the Dragic/Bledsoe combo worked for a few reasons, but the way they were rotated was a big one. They started the game together, where they had a good dynamic taking turns running the offense based on matchups, opportunity etc. Approx. halfway through the 1st one of them would go to the bench and the other one would get a chance to run the offense like a true PG with Green on the wing. They would swap again early in the 2nd quarter and the other PG would have a chance to run the offense. Then they would finish the half together. Basically, a healthy combination of playing together and staggered minutes.

With IT in the mix, both Dragic and Bledsoe are losing those “show running” minutes, because they need to defer to IT when it’s his turn. It’s also not as effective to play IT/Dragic or IT/Bledsoe because of IT’s defense. None of this is IT’s fault and his contract is still a good value, I just question if this will ever fit. There’s also the whole issue of the pecking order – as in this team doesn’t have one.

I don’t know that we’d be any worse off if we had kept the Dragic-Bledsoe combo and used Ennis as an insurance PG.

[Mori Chu]

Would you guys trade Bledsoe for Rajon Rondo? Doesn't really solve our primary problems, but, at least he shares the ball and plays D. Might be better for chemistry.

[Ring_Wanted]

Would you guys trade Bledsoe for Rajon Rondo? Doesn't really solve our primary problems, but, at least he shares the ball and plays D. Might be better for chemistry.

I wouldn't, as long as cap space was not my main goal. Besides that, it wouldn't solve any problem, let alone chemistry.

[Ring_Wanted]

Last year, the Dragic/Bledsoe combo worked for a few reasons, but the way they were rotated was a big one. They started the game together, where they had a good dynamic taking turns running the offense based on matchups, opportunity etc. Approx. halfway through the 1st one of them would go to the bench and the other one would get a chance to run the offense like a true PG with Green on the wing. They would swap again early in the 2nd quarter and the other PG would have a chance to run the offense. Then they would finish the half together. Basically, a healthy combination of playing together and staggered minutes.

With IT in the mix, both Dragic and Bledsoe are losing those “show running” minutes, because they need to defer to IT when it’s his turn. It’s also not as effective to play IT/Dragic or IT/Bledsoe because of IT’s defense. None of this is IT’s fault and his contract is still a good value, I just question if this will ever fit. There’s also the whole issue of the pecking order – as in this team doesn’t have one.

I don’t know that we’d be any worse off if we had kept the Dragic-Bledsoe combo and used Ennis as an insurance PG.

Excellent take, I agree 100%.

[Ring_Wanted]

Also, I really like Gerald Green. Not as a closer, but as a weapon. I'd hate to have to give him up just to keep the hydra. I'd also prefer to keep Bledsoe, because defense wins championships.

I'd rather keep Bledsoe-Dragic plus Green than the Hydra.