Suns News: Week 12 1/12-1/18

[INFORMER]

Most of you would have taken Nerlens Noel in the draft. Y'all got no right to be calling for the man's head.

I don't remember Nerlens getting a ton of love on this board.

[Nodack]

I think the general consensus was we didn't deserve to even be in a place to win the game, much less survive into the 2nd overtime. We were outplayed for about 50 of those 58 minutes. That was what made it look like they were clearly better. The best team doesn't always win, they just usually win.

I agree, we were at the end of a road trip kind of sucking, chucking the ball, not making plays and going back to one on one basketball, ignoring Len in the post and didn't deserve to win the game, but we almost did anyway. We are the young inexperienced team with growing pains. It's frustrating to watch, but it beats having an old team in decline with the same results. We see all the stuff they aren't getting done and yet they were right in both games.

We have a lot of room to grow, but are already a good team with a winning record who has played the most road games of any team in the NBA. Now we start a big home game stretch. I bet the teams facing us aren't taking us lightly. I am way too positive, but I think I am being realistic.I see no Championship this year, but I can see them making the playoffs and gaining experience together. Maybe one or two tweaks during the off season and another year of maturity will raise our stock a little more.

[Indy]

I hope you are right. I personally can't see this team, with this core, being a top 4 team in the league.

[iLLmatic]

Most of you would have taken Nerlens Noel in the draft. Y'all got no right to be calling for the man's head.

I don't remember Nerlens getting a ton of love on this board.

I had no interest in Nerlens Noel. I wanted the Suns to draft Len that year, so I was really disappointed that he didn't play much of his rookie year at all.

[Shabazz]

Positive development - Alex Len's minutes over the last 5 games:

15
27
27
29
31

[carey]

I think the general consensus was we didn't deserve to even be in a place to win the game, much less survive into the 2nd overtime. We were outplayed for about 50 of those 58 minutes. That was what made it look like they were clearly better. The best team doesn't always win, they just usually win.

I agree, we were at the end of a road trip kind of sucking, chucking the ball, not making plays and going back to one on one basketball, ignoring Len in the post and didn't deserve to win the game, but we almost did anyway. We are the young inexperienced team with growing pains. It's frustrating to watch, but it beats having an old team in decline with the same results. We see all the stuff they aren't getting done and yet they were right in both games.

We have a lot of room to grow, but are already a good team with a winning record who has played the most road games of any team in the NBA. Now we start a big home game stretch. I bet the teams facing us aren't taking us lightly. I am way too positive, but I think I am being realistic.I see no Championship this year, but I can see them making the playoffs and gaining experience together. Maybe one or two tweaks during the off season and another year of maturity will raise our stock a little more.

Most of you would have taken Nerlens Noel in the draft. Y'all got no right to be calling for the man's head.

Ben McLemore for me. If the archives were available I'd be able to pull it up. He's having quite the 2nd year. Of course at the time I didn't know we would get Bledsoe then sign IT the next summer.

[LazarusLong]

I thought Len was going to be a wasted draft pick.

[Gladiator]

Pleased to say I wanted the Suns to pick Len. I make a lot of wrong predictions so I'm going to enjoy his good play of late!

[Superbone]

The thing I like about this team in the Spurs and Grizzlies losses is that they never gave up. Both games they had double digit deficits and yet they kept battling back. If this team can learn to start with that kind of intensity and learn to finish with some calm and cool, we might really have something.

[OE32]

Last three drafts, I wanted with our top pick: Alex Len, TJ Warren, and *I didn't know, but I thought Kendall Marshall would be the worst pick.* I remember liking Kieff essentially because INF did, though of course we all wanted Leonard.

How can I not love a guy who (rightly) picks the guys I would pick? Making the right draft picks might not be the only skill a GM needs, but I can't imagine a skill that is as obviously important.

[OE32]

The thing I like about this team in the Spurs and Grizzlies losses is that they never gave up. Both games they had double digit deficits and yet they kept battling back. If this team can learn to start with that kind of intensity and learn to finish with some calm and cool, we might really have something.

Does anyone have a theory as to why we start games playing as good as taint looks?

[JCSunsfan]

Most of you would have taken Nerlens Noel in the draft. Y'all got no right to be calling for the man's head.

I don't remember Nerlens getting a ton of love on this board.

I had no interest in Nerlens Noel. I wanted the Suns to draft Len that year, so I was really disappointed that he didn't play much of his rookie year at all.

I wanted Oladipo. After that, I just didnt know.

[OE32]

I liked Len, Dipo, Bennett and Zeller.

[INFORMER]

I think what we see is largely what we'll get for the next couple years

Yup.

[JCSunsfan]

I think what we see is largely what we'll get for the next couple years

Yup.

I don't. The potential for this team is significantly more than where they are now. They lack some chemistry and consistency that will make a huge difference. These things will allow them to improve.

1. Roster tweak. Addition by subtraction with the departure of IT or Green and a few additional minutes for Ennis.

2. Consistency and improvement from Len. If Len had been playing like he is now from the beginning of the year, the Suns would be flirting with home court in the first round.

3. Improved consistency from Bledsoe. That would make this team alot better. His effort varies from night to night. Not sure that will change, but if it does, the team will be better.

4. Incorporation of Wright. We already can see what he adds when we play the backups. Once players get comfortable with him, the team will improve.

5. Trade. Even a minor trade could really improve the chemistry.

[INFORMER]

Well Ryan will probably have to get rid of someone in order to make room for the Harrison Twins when he drafts them.

[JCSunsfan]

Positive development - Alex Len's minutes over the last 5 games:

15
27
27
29
31

37 last night.

[Indy]

If Len can stay (and is allowed to stay) on the court for +30 MPG, we are a different team.

[JCSunsfan]

If Len can stay (and is allowed to stay) on the court for +30 MPG, we are a different team.

Looks to me like that is the plan. Actually, Horny has handled Len pretty well. For a young big, he has moved into starter minutes fairly quickly, especially with the foul problems he was having. Its never enough for fans, but it has been a quick transition.

[Mori Chu]

I agree; and yet I don't think Len is getting totally over-exposed or put out there more than he deserves. He's getting quality minutes and he's making the most of them.