Game Day: Heat (9-11) @ Suns (12-10), Tuesday 12/09/2014

[Cap]

What jumps out at me:

Heat shot 28-33 in the paint, the Suns 11-19.

[OE32]

two things jump out at me - 22 turnovers and 35 3-point attempts vs. 9 free throw attempts.

you want a recipe for struggling offensively, that's a good start.

"Analytics."

[djy2j]

The substitutions were an absolute joke. We have young fresh legs on the bench and yet we trot the same line up out there that clearly didnt have any energy on defense. 22 turnovers from an unfocused mentally tired team.

Poor coaching. We have no business losing to the Heat.

[OE32]

The substitutions were an absolute joke. We have young fresh legs on the bench and yet we trot the same line up out there that clearly didnt have any energy on defense. 22 turnovers from an unfocused mentally tired team.

Poor coaching. We have no business losing to the Heat.

Sometimes I think it's intentional. Like we're gearing up for a purge.

[Superbone]

The Suns do not look like a top eight team in the West, I must say.

I agree, Grimley.

[Mori Chu]

I kind of expected to lose this one given how we had OT the night before. I chalk this one up as a schedule loss. Coach could have managed minutes a bit better, but oh well. I liked seeing Ennis out there. He had a couple of nice plays. Kid seems like he's ready to get a few minutes. I also like seeing signs of life from Tolliver. Tolliver looks like he's just needed a month to find his shot, but now he's starting to have more confidence and looks like he will actually contribute. That could be HUGE for us. Len continues to improve. Green had another hot game.

I don't know; call me crazy, but I actually kind of like what I see out there lately, now that IT is not in the rotation. I know we're losing a lot of games lately, but I see more ball movement, more swagger, more camaraderie. I think it takes time to build a cohesive team, and we have several new pieces and young players. I actually don't mind kind of riding it out with what we have.

Having said that, I think I wouldn't mind if Thomas were traded on 12/15. He's a very talented basketball player but it's interesting that the Kings are better without him, and that our own roster looks like a breath of fresh air without him. I think having him here messes up the fragile chemistry between Dragic and Bledsoe, and having Ennis right there on the bench makes me think we just don't need Thomas on this team, even if his contract is somewhat of a bargain. I think he's fool's gold.

Outside of a potential IT trade, I don't think we need to make any radical moves just to make a move. Sure, if Horford becomes available or something, pull the trigger. But I don't think there are a lot of great deals out there to be had besides that.

[virtual9mm]

I smell a trade coming up. The roster was never balanced to begin with. I could see IT and some other vets being traded for assets (i.e. draft picks).

[LazarusLong]

Team defense is terrible. Opponents drive the lane with impunity. Last night, Bosh and Deng were like Visigoths pillaging a helpless village. I don't give a shit if it's the second of a back-to-back; this is a young team.

[jkalldaway]

OE32, that's not "analytics." Analytics points to taking 3's and layups and eliminating mid-range shots. In-the-paint shots are where the foul calls would come.

[jkalldaway]

I think IT is on the way out sometime soon. He's been out how long? December 15 is right around the corner.

[SwingMan]

I kind of expected to lose this one given how we had OT the night before. I chalk this one up as a schedule loss. Coach could have managed minutes a bit better, but oh well. I liked seeing Ennis out there. He had a couple of nice plays. Kid seems like he's ready to get a few minutes. I also like seeing signs of life from Tolliver. Tolliver looks like he's just needed a month to find his shot, but now he's starting to have more confidence and looks like he will actually contribute. That could be HUGE for us. Len continues to improve. Green had another hot game.

I don't know; call me crazy, but I actually kind of like what I see out there lately, now that IT is not in the rotation. I know we're losing a lot of games lately, but I see more ball movement, more swagger, more camaraderie. I think it takes time to build a cohesive team, and we have several new pieces and young players. I actually don't mind kind of riding it out with what we have.

Having said that, I think I wouldn't mind if Thomas were traded on 12/15. He's a very talented basketball player but it's interesting that the Kings are better without him, and that our own roster looks like a breath of fresh air without him. I think having him here messes up the fragile chemistry between Dragic and Bledsoe, and having Ennis right there on the bench makes me think we just don't need Thomas on this team, even if his contract is somewhat of a bargain. I think he's fool's gold.

Outside of a potential IT trade, I don't think we need to make any radical moves just to make a move. Sure, if Horford becomes available or something, pull the trigger. But I don't think there are a lot of great deals out there to be had besides that.

Agreed on all roster points (would rather not discuss the pile of shit that was last night's game).

I love Isaiah's game & feistiness, plus he seems like a right enough guy and because of those things I dread saying this, but, along with his passive jabs pushing for minutes and role increase despite harm to the team overall, he just hasn't proven to be a very good fit. Seeing as how we're heavy at one spot (1) and light at another (4 - though, again, Tolliver seems to be finding a comfort zone of late), a deal to help balance the team.

What kind of cap space do we have at present - $3-$4 million? If so or even a little less, we could definitely swing a Thomas/Tolliver/picks (no 1st rounders unless they're future and protected - keep the Lakers pick at all costs) deal for Al Horford. Guy's been bitching (with good reason) almost from day 1 that he's been forced to play out of position at 5 - get him in his natural 4 spot, slash his minutes/load and I'd bet you'd also see him healthier and more efficient, to boot. Speaking on the latter, sending Markieff back to anchor the bench with his brother does nothing but help chemistry and ease his load to move freely and more familiar.

Also can't agree more concerning getting Ennis run - kid's got poise to burn and never seems out of control. Only issue I've seen is lack of game experience with teammates. Thomas, through sheer numbers, is suffocating the kid.

[Shabazz]

we could definitely swing a Thomas/Tolliver/picks (no 1st rounders unless they're future and protected - keep the Lakers pick at all costs) deal for Al Horford.

Why would Atlanta even consider this?

[Indy]

To make us better, Bazz.

[SwingMan]

we could definitely swing a Thomas/Tolliver/picks (no 1st rounders unless they're future and protected - keep the Lakers pick at all costs) deal for Al Horford.

Why would Atlanta even consider this?

Not saying they would - but a hell of a lot more seemingly impossible trades have happened.

Besides - they still owe us for JJ.

[In2ition]

Alex Len was +15 tonight and got pulled when it mattered most.

Gerald Green was +7 and got benched in favor of bringing Bledose back into the game, who clearly didn't have it tonight.

Coach lost this game.

I was at the game and Len was the biggest reason that they were in the game, and it was obvious that they played better with him in there. +15 in 20 minutes of play is pretty good. He wasn't perfect and there were a couple of things that he will learn, like to go strong to the basket, when he got blocked by ??Wade??. Also, when Bosh drove on him, made the shot, and fell to the ground, he should have been booking it back up the court as fast as he could to take advantage of the numbers and a missing big.

I didn't understand Hornacek's substitution patterns. Sometimes, it feels like we are the subtle Sixers, tanking in a passive aggressive way. Why is Hornacek so adverse to giving the young guys minutes. We did get an Ennis sighting last night though.

[Shabazz]

I would do Plumlee and the Minny pick (most likely 2 second rounders) for Monroe. Detroit has to move Monroe because he's going to bolt in the summer, no question. Monroe gives up his bird rights, but there are many teams out will have max cap room and I think he'll get a Max offer somewhere. For us, we're getting a rental for the purposes of making the playoffs so we can't give up a ton, but I think Miles' contract has a lot of value for a quality second string center on a near-minimum deal.

[Ring_Wanted]

I would do Plumlee and the Minny pick (most likely 2 second rounders) for Monroe.

Plumlee would have to be enough unless somebody ups this offer. As you point, you are providing long term control in exchange for a gone player.

Some weeks ago I posted PJ-IT-Tolliver for Monroe-KCP-Jerebko, I believe. How does it sound now?

[Ring_Wanted]

By the way, Dragic has shot 1 free throw over the last two games.

This has to change. I know the refs are not respecting him at all but his explosion is seriously lacking this year. At least his shot seems mostly back, but we need sorely his scoring at the rim at half court, not just fast breaks.

[Uncle_Gene]

I knew the Suns would lose this one. I just figured dead legs would kick in and they'd lose it down the stretch.