Game Day: Suns (28-22) @ Blazers (33-16), Thurs 2/5/15

[Mori Chu]

It's baffling how much you undervalue Dragic.

Hey, you're the one who wants to "reboot." Don't know how you do that while your centerpiece is a $15 mil per 29-year-old combo guard who isn't usually even a fringe All-Star.

I'm looking at Goran's stats for this year. Here's a comparison vs last season, in which he played so well and was 3rd team All-NBA:

PPG: 20.3 -> 16.3
APG: 5.9 -> 4.0
RPG: 3.2 -> 3.6
FG%: .505 -> .499
3PT%: .408 -> .346

Complete stats: http://espn.go.com/nba/player/stats/_/i ... ran-dragic

Honestly to me it's a mini miracle that his stats aren't down more than they are. I feel like he's not being put in a position to succeed this year. The fact that he somehow scrapes out 16 PPG and 4 assists a game is pretty impressive to me. His 3-point shooting has really fallen off, though. I wonder if that's because he's not as good at catch-and-shoot as he is at dribbling into his shot?

I'd love to see more advanced stats on Dragic this year vs. last year, like "usage rate" and all that, but I don't know how to acquire them.

[INFORMER]

Dragic is a particularly inventive offensive talent. As I've mentioned before, he reminds me more than a little of Paul Westphal. He's the type of guy who will prolong his career because of his court sense.

EXACTLY.

What really pisses me off is how many freaking times does Dragic have to prove himself? He allowed Nash for the very first time to actually sit 4th quarters of non-blowout games. He led the bench mob. He was EPIC against San Antonio. So what do we do? He struggles for half a season so we ship him off AND A 1ST ROUNDER for Aaron freakin' Brooks!

We bring him back (thank you Sarver) and his play down the stretch of the tumultuous Blanks-Beasley-Hunter vomit-fest was the on bright spot of the season. So what do we do? Move him out of his natural position.

McDonough's man-crush goes down with his second major knee injury in four years, Dragic resumes his lead role and puts on a freakin' spectacle. So what do we do? Give a big fat contract to a player that's only played 40 games for us AND bring in another starting point guard.

But hey, at least they brought over his brother to hang out with him. Yay. Move over Philly, Phoenix is now the city of brotherly love.

Rant over.

[Indy]

Rant over.

I know there is more in there. You are speaking Truth, so keep it up.

[Shabazz]

I'm a Hornacek fan, but it's funny to think about how D'Antoni got (and still gets) blasted for not playing DJ Strawberry and Jumaine Jones while we were contending for a championship while Hornacek gets a pass for not finding a sliver of playing time for the first round picks (four if you count Bullock) and one foreign import we have sitting on the bench while contending for the 8th seed.

I really don't feel the two situations are comparable.

I know. Just making a point.

[INFORMER]

Got it.

[wpmiller42]

Dragic is a particularly inventive offensive talent. As I've mentioned before, he reminds me more than a little of Paul Westphal. He's the type of guy who will prolong his career because of his court sense.

EXACTLY.

What really pisses me off is how many freaking times does Dragic have to prove himself? He allowed Nash for the very first time to actually sit 4th quarters of non-blowout games. He led the bench mob. He was EPIC against San Antonio. So what do we do? He struggles for half a season so we ship him off AND A 1ST ROUNDER for Aaron freakin' Brooks!

We bring him back (thank you Sarver) and his play down the stretch of the tumultuous Blanks-Beasley-Hunter vomit-fest was the on bright spot of the season. So what do we do? Move him out of his natural position.

McDonough's man-crush goes down with his second major knee injury in four years, Dragic resumes his lead role and puts on a freakin' spectacle. So what do we do? Give a big fat contract to a player that's only played 40 games for us AND bring in another starting point guard.

But hey, at least they brought over his brother to hang out with him. Yay. Move over Philly, Phoenix is now the city of brotherly love.

Rant over.

Can we print this out like a million times and send it to Suns management? I really think we could solve some problems by just moving Dragic to the point, and Bledsoe to the shooting guard spot. Why we didn't start the season off like that is beyond me.

[Cap]

Dragic isn't a super star but he is someone to carry us through the rebuilding years. He is a guy that will carry our team while young guys get playing time.

+1000

This was my philosophy and still is, and I wish the Suns had adopted it. Draft well, draft aggressively, feature Dragic, look for short-term bargains, and don't make substantial commitments to players that aren't significant pieces with which to contend. Don't be in a hurry, be methodical, and maintain flexibility. Play for the long game and don't get enamored with short-term or instant gratification.

Other than Bledsoe's questionable contract, I'd say the FO is following that approach pretty well.

[INFORMER]

Other than Bledsoe's questionable contract, I'd say the FO is following that approach pretty well.

Well first, Bledsoe is a substantial issue to just set aside. Secondly, I'll beg to differ on following that approach pretty well.

[Cap]

Other than Bledsoe's questionable contract, I'd say the FO is following that approach pretty well.

Well first, Bledsoe is a substantial issue to just set aside. Secondly, I'll beg to differ on following that approach pretty well.

The only other long term commitments we have are IT and the Morrii, which are reasonable contracts.

[INFORMER]

And all those are questionable at best when you look at the big picture.

[Superbone]

Dragic is a particularly inventive offensive talent. As I've mentioned before, he reminds me more than a little of Paul Westphal. He's the type of guy who will prolong his career because of his court sense.

EXACTLY.

What really pisses me off is how many freaking times does Dragic have to prove himself? He allowed Nash for the very first time to actually sit 4th quarters of non-blowout games. He led the bench mob. He was EPIC against San Antonio. So what do we do? He struggles for half a season so we ship him off AND A 1ST ROUNDER for Aaron freakin' Brooks!

We bring him back (thank you Sarver) and his play down the stretch of the tumultuous Blanks-Beasley-Hunter vomit-fest was the on bright spot of the season. So what do we do? Move him out of his natural position.

McDonough's man-crush goes down with his second major knee injury in four years, Dragic resumes his lead role and puts on a freakin' spectacle. So what do we do? Give a big fat contract to a player that's only played 40 games for us AND bring in another starting point guard.

But hey, at least they brought over his brother to hang out with him. Yay. Move over Philly, Phoenix is now the city of brotherly love.

Rant over.

Right on, brother. Preach it!

[Superbone]

Dragic is a particularly inventive offensive talent. As I've mentioned before, he reminds me more than a little of Paul Westphal. He's the type of guy who will prolong his career because of his court sense.

EXACTLY.

What really pisses me off is how many freaking times does Dragic have to prove himself? He allowed Nash for the very first time to actually sit 4th quarters of non-blowout games. He led the bench mob. He was EPIC against San Antonio. So what do we do? He struggles for half a season so we ship him off AND A 1ST ROUNDER for Aaron freakin' Brooks!

We bring him back (thank you Sarver) and his play down the stretch of the tumultuous Blanks-Beasley-Hunter vomit-fest was the on bright spot of the season. So what do we do? Move him out of his natural position.

McDonough's man-crush goes down with his second major knee injury in four years, Dragic resumes his lead role and puts on a freakin' spectacle. So what do we do? Give a big fat contract to a player that's only played 40 games for us AND bring in another starting point guard.

But hey, at least they brought over his brother to hang out with him. Yay. Move over Philly, Phoenix is now the city of brotherly love.

Rant over.

Can we print this out like a million times and send it to Suns management? I really think we could solve some problems by just moving Dragic to the point, and Bledsoe to the shooting guard spot. Why we didn't start the season off like that is beyond me.

I'm afraid management backed the wrong horse.

[Indy]

Other than Bledsoe's questionable contract, I'd say the FO is following that approach pretty well.

Well first, Bledsoe is a substantial issue to just set aside. Secondly, I'll beg to differ on following that approach pretty well.

The only other long term commitments we have are IT and the Morrii, which are reasonable contracts.

So besides those 4 long-term contracts (two of which are at the only position for which we had an all-nba level talent) and the 6 first round picks under contracts (of which only 1 plays), there isn't much left. Assuming we pick up the team options on the rookies (which almost always happens), we have 10 guys under contract for two more years after this one.

[Indy]

Dragic is a particularly inventive offensive talent. As I've mentioned before, he reminds me more than a little of Paul Westphal. He's the type of guy who will prolong his career because of his court sense.

EXACTLY.

What really pisses me off is how many freaking times does Dragic have to prove himself? He allowed Nash for the very first time to actually sit 4th quarters of non-blowout games. He led the bench mob. He was EPIC against San Antonio. So what do we do? He struggles for half a season so we ship him off AND A 1ST ROUNDER for Aaron freakin' Brooks!

We bring him back (thank you Sarver) and his play down the stretch of the tumultuous Blanks-Beasley-Hunter vomit-fest was the on bright spot of the season. So what do we do? Move him out of his natural position.

McDonough's man-crush goes down with his second major knee injury in four years, Dragic resumes his lead role and puts on a freakin' spectacle. So what do we do? Give a big fat contract to a player that's only played 40 games for us AND bring in another starting point guard.

But hey, at least they brought over his brother to hang out with him. Yay. Move over Philly, Phoenix is now the city of brotherly love.

Rant over.

Can we print this out like a million times and send it to Suns management? I really think we could solve some problems by just moving Dragic to the point, and Bledsoe to the shooting guard spot. Why we didn't start the season off like that is beyond me.

I'm afraid management backed the wrong horse.

I begrudgingly agree. Last year was very crazy for me, and I didn't get to watch my usual 75-82 games a year. It was more like 15. And they were almost all early in the year. I was pretty happy with Bledsoe. The more I watch, the less impressed I am. Don't get me wrong, I think his athleticism is first rate. And he is built like a tank (in a good way). And he can get the hole at ease. And he is by far, the most aggressive rebounder we have. And he is a very good defender (when he wants to defend). But he doesn't make his teammates better. And that is his primary job.

[Mori Chu]

I'll never understand why, in the 2-PG experiment, Dragic is considered to be the "shooting guard". Dragic is way better at passing and facilitating than Bledsoe! Maybe it's because Dragic is also better at shooting, therefore more likely to be adequate as a SG? And in that case, for Pete's sake, if he is better at both shooting and passing than Bledsoe, why the heck isn't he our starting PG? I'd rather have Bledsoe try to figure out how to score off the ball and learn to improve his shooting, than sit here watching Dragic stand still waiting for the ball and not getting it because Bledsoe is charging into the defense and turning it over again.

[Superbone]

I'll never understand why, in the 2-PG experiment, Dragic is considered to be the "shooting guard". Dragic is way better at passing and facilitating than Bledsoe! Maybe it's because Dragic is also better at shooting, therefore more likely to be adequate as a SG? And in that case, for Pete's sake, if he is better at both shooting and passing than Bledsoe, why the heck isn't he our starting PG? I'd rather have Bledsoe try to figure out how to score off the ball and learn to improve his shooting, than sit here watching Dragic stand still waiting for the ball and not getting it because Bledsoe is charging into the defense and turning it over again.

YES!

[Cap]

Other than Bledsoe's questionable contract, I'd say the FO is following that approach pretty well.

Well first, Bledsoe is a substantial issue to just set aside. Secondly, I'll beg to differ on following that approach pretty well.

The only other long term commitments we have are IT and the Morrii, which are reasonable contracts.

So besides those 4 long-term contracts (two of which are at the only position for which we had an all-nba level talent) and the 6 first round picks under contracts (of which only 1 plays), there isn't much left. Assuming we pick up the team options on the rookies (which almost always happens), we have 10 guys under contract for two more years after this one.

What we have is short-term competitiveness and long-term flexibility. You seem simultaneously disappointed with the direction of the team and with the fact that we haven't locked ourselves into that direction.

[Indy]

Other than Bledsoe's questionable contract, I'd say the FO is following that approach pretty well.

Well first, Bledsoe is a substantial issue to just set aside. Secondly, I'll beg to differ on following that approach pretty well.

The only other long term commitments we have are IT and the Morrii, which are reasonable contracts.

So besides those 4 long-term contracts (two of which are at the only position for which we had an all-nba level talent) and the 6 first round picks under contracts (of which only 1 plays), there isn't much left. Assuming we pick up the team options on the rookies (which almost always happens), we have 10 guys under contract for two more years after this one.

What we have is short-term competitiveness and long-term flexibility. You seem simultaneously disappointed with the direction of the team and with the fact that we haven't locked ourselves into that direction.

Maybe we have different definitions of long-term when it comes to the team. I'm not ok watching basically this same nucleus (and without Dragic) for the next 3 years.

[Indy]

And this is much better discussed over a beer. Or better yet some good bourbon. When is our February get together?

[Cap]

Hmm. Well, the All-Star break is this month. How about the 21st, when we play Chicago?