Game Day: Pacers (10-11) @ Suns (6-15), Wed 12/7/16

[Indy]

I'll say this about Earl: He's not the arrogant SOB Byron Scott is and doesn't carry himself like the 2nd coming of Red Auerbach. He is just a cheerleader tho.

And yea, the players like him because he's young, player friendly, has their backs, and is easy on them. Players always opt for a guy like that, but it wears out when they're losing consistently. IF our guys keep getting blown by 30 every night and embarrassed, all the yoga and spin sessions in the world won't save his ass.

"Out. You forgot to say 'out.'"
Michael Bluth*

*Yes, I know that is not the exact quote, but it is close enough.

[ShelC]

Ha! Fixed that.

[In2ition]

I'm going to give Watson a little leeway this season. Missing Warren isn't helping, and it feels like there are some outside influences guiding his minute distribution right now. I'm with Shel, I let the season play out, hopefully get a top pick and then reevaluate from there. Sometimes, it takes new coaches years to get their stride going. I'm not saying I want to wait years for him, but this year at least.

[ShelC]

There's no reason to fire him mid-year unless he clearly loses the lockerroom. But there should also be clear progress being seen, which I'm not sure we've seen 20 games in. Are we playing sound defense? Are we executing some form of offense? Are the young guys - Booker, Bender, Chriss, Len - getting better? I'm not sure we've seen any of that yet. At the very least, we have guys who can defend and any good coach will get his team to defend and get stops initially, and let the offense come later. None of that is happening.

[specialsauce]

I'll say this about Earl: He's not the arrogant SOB Byron Scott is and doesn't carry himself like the 2nd coming of Red Auerbach. He is just a cheerleader tho.

And yea, the players like him because he's young, player friendly, has their backs, and is easy on them. Players always opt for a guy like that, but it wears out when they're losing consistently. IF our guys keep getting blown by 30 every night and embarrassed, all the yoga and spin sessions in the world won't save his ass.

"Out. You forgot to say 'out.'"
Michael Bluth*

*Yes, I know that is not the exact quote, but it is close enough.

[Superbone]

I'm going to give Watson a little leeway this season. Missing Warren isn't helping, and it feels like there are some outside influences guiding his minute distribution right now. I'm with Shel, I let the season play out, hopefully get a top pick and then reevaluate from there. Sometimes, it takes new coaches years to get their stride going. I'm not saying I want to wait years for him, but this year at least.

Yeah, it's easy to jump on the "he sucks" bandwaggon but I'm willing to give him at least a year. And how do some of you know he's easy on the players? There's love and there is tough love. He says he does both. I admit that the offense hasn't looked very good so far. Let's see if he can make some adjustments or get some players that will. So far, Walton is looking like the better coach but I think it's way too early to bail on Watson.

[Superbone]

The offense is ineffective so far. Lot's of passing around the top of the three point line and then one-on-one play at the end of the shot clock. We get very few easy baskets. Not many pick and rolls or screens for open shots. This team has a long way to go to play team ball. We are the worst in the league at assisting on baskets. That has to change.

[Shabazz]

Someone else here mentioned it earlier, but it bears repeating - it would be hard for anyone to run a functional offense when our starting 3, 4 and 5 can't create any offense.

[specialsauce]

Someone else here mentioned it earlier, but it bears repeating - it would be hard for anyone to run a functional offense when our starting 3, 4 and 5 can't create any offense.

Don't tell PJ Tucker he can't create any offense, he seems to think he is Steve Nash the way he drives the lane and does his stupid slow as hell cross overs. Which again bears repeating - Why is PJ Tucker getting minutes on an NBA team!!!! Why does he EVER see the floor at the same time as Len and Chandler!

[Superbone]

Someone else here mentioned it earlier, but it bears repeating - it would be hard for anyone to run a functional offense when our starting 3, 4 and 5 can't create any offense.

Don't tell PJ Tucker he can't create any offense, he seems to think he is Steve Nash the way he drives the lane and does his stupid slow as hell cross overs. Which again bears repeating - Why is PJ Tucker getting minutes on an NBA team!!!! Why does he EVER see the floor at the same time as Len and Chandler!

Do you really want an answer? One word: hustle.

[specialsauce]

Someone else here mentioned it earlier, but it bears repeating - it would be hard for anyone to run a functional offense when our starting 3, 4 and 5 can't create any offense.

Don't tell PJ Tucker he can't create any offense, he seems to think he is Steve Nash the way he drives the lane and does his stupid slow as hell cross overs. Which again bears repeating - Why is PJ Tucker getting minutes on an NBA team!!!! Why does he EVER see the floor at the same time as Len and Chandler!

Do you really want an answer? One word: hustle.

I need a vomit emoji

[Superbone]

Someone else here mentioned it earlier, but it bears repeating - it would be hard for anyone to run a functional offense when our starting 3, 4 and 5 can't create any offense.

Don't tell PJ Tucker he can't create any offense, he seems to think he is Steve Nash the way he drives the lane and does his stupid slow as hell cross overs. Which again bears repeating - Why is PJ Tucker getting minutes on an NBA team!!!! Why does he EVER see the floor at the same time as Len and Chandler!

Do you really want an answer? One word: hustle.

I need a vomit emoji

I'm just saying it's the reason. Not that it's a good one. Although you seem to hate him more than most.

[Shabazz]

Here are my Suns "hey _____, here's the ball. Go create 2 points" rankings:

1. Booker
2. Warren
3. Bledose
4. Barbosa
5. Dudley
6. Ulis
7. Knight
8. Len
9. Bender
10. Jenkins
11. Chandler
12. Chriss
13. Tucker
14. Williams

#11, 12 and 13 start for us.

[Cap]

And the #1 guy on the list is shooting .424. Yippee.

[Superbone]

Booker has struggled this year so far. I think he's banged up. He also seems to have hit the sophomore slump. He still shows flashes though.

[UglyTruth]

Someone else here mentioned it earlier, but it bears repeating - it would be hard for anyone to run a functional offense when our starting 3, 4 and 5 can't create any offense.

Eh Portland is in the same boat and yet their offense doesn't seem nearly as awful.

[ShelC]

Thank you. You don't need 5 starters all creating offense. It'd be nice to have a frontcourt player who can post and create for others, but Chandler is a terrific defensive player and anchor. Tucker should not be starting and really, neither should Chriss. I'd almost rather go with Bledsoe, Barbosa, Booker, Bender and Chandler. That way you get another shooter/transition guy at SG, an all around offensive player at the 3, and Bender who can play D and still be an offensive threat.

[O_Gardino]

Regardless of whether we think Watson can grow into a good coach with this lineup, there are a couple of things I think should be clear to Suns management, but apparently aren't.

One of the youngest GM's in history should not hire one of the youngest and least experienced coaches in history to coach one of the youngest teams in history.
Sarver needs to stop meddling with the team. He doesn't know basketball, but he should know how to hire and evaluate managers. How can you evaluate McD if you tell him to do dumb stuff all the time?
It's time to stop building around pretty good players. Let's shoot for some HOF dudes, please.

[Superbone]

One of the youngest GM's in history should not hire one of the youngest and least experienced coaches in history to coach one of the youngest teams in history.
Sarver needs to stop meddling with the team. He doesn't know basketball, but he should know how to hire and evaluate managers. How can you evaluate McD if you tell him to do dumb stuff all the time?

How else are you going to get the most control possible?

[ShelC]

One of the youngest GM's in history should not hire one of the youngest and least experienced coaches in history to coach one of the youngest teams in history.

It's a savvy move to protect himself. He doesn't need a veteran coach with a winning record to try and bully him on the roster or pull a power play with the owner. And McD also buys himself maybe another year or two (or more) since Watson and the young guys will need time to grow and develop.