Suns News: Week 6 11/30-12/6

[pickle]

Just to add to that last post a little bit, I don't think we should on the one hand lobby for a trade and on the other hand start lamenting that we'll be raped by some other team coz Markieff will blow up. In my mind, there is absolutely no doubt whatsoever that Markieff will play better once he is moved. I have no trouble seeing him going back to the 15/6 he averaged last year, if given consistent minutes and role. Might not happen next to Harden who is such a ball-dominant guy that works better with spot up shooters, but the talent is there. I'm also convinced by this point that Markieff will never realize that potential here in Phoenix, given everything that has transpired. So yeah, let's move him. I like Terrence Jones because I have seen his game a little more than Motiejunas, and he plays solid defense so if injuries are no issue, I prefer taking him back. I think he's a better option for the Suns than a guy like Ryan Anderson, whom we kind of have already in Teletovic.

[OE32]

My Rox trade:

Rox get: Kieff, Tucker
Wizards get: Jones
Suns get: Dudley, [expiring contract to match Lawson], Wizards 1st, [2nd from Lawson deal]
Brooklyn/Indiana/New York/Sacramento: Lawson

I would also be interested in dealing Chandler to, say, Sacramento for Koufos and McLemore, if we can move McLemore for a first rounder. I think Alex needs a back-up, not a spot on the bench. I'd prefer to commit to a youth movement.

Bledsoe/Goodwin
Knight/Booker
Warren/Dudley
Leuer/Teletovic
Len/Koufos

[Indy]

I know we might regret his contract in a couple years, but I would prefer to keep Tyson and use him as a mentor. I think he has done a great job in that role, and maybe this injury is a good reason to have Alex start and Tyson be the backup. I want Alex going against the other team's best center.

[Ring_Wanted]

Chandler will be the backup soon enough, and I believe he'll be fine with it. He is not here to eat Len's launch.

[OE32]

I know we might regret his contract in a couple years, but I would prefer to keep Tyson and use him as a mentor. I think he has done a great job in that role, and maybe this injury is a good reason to have Alex start and Tyson be the backup. I want Alex going against the other team's best center.

Word. If he'd be amenable to that, I don't have a problem keeping him around. At this point in their careers, I'm not convinced Tyson is better than Len, and Len's ceiling on offense is high enough to justify continuing giving him opportunities on offense. The way coach prefers to roll with Leuer and Telly at the 4 and 5 makes me worry that whomever we have as our backup center will get shafted in terms of minutes on a regular basis - and under no circumstances do I think it makes sense to have Alex glued to the bench.

[Ring_Wanted]

From Houston, I really want to stay away from Jones and his impending new contract, but I'd consider opening the wallet for Motiejunas if he was sent here for Kieff. And if he isn't, I'd make him a target next summer if the draft doesn't deliver a PF.

[Indy]

I would to see Booker and Len continue to work on that 2-man game. It only happened once or twice last night, but it was great to see.

And as much as I have been bagging on Keef, he was the first guy to jump up and celebrate his teammates making big shots and closing out that game. He seems to be a good teammate during games. And the guys seem to get along fine with him. I get the impression his dedication off the court (training, practicing, drills) is where he is mailing it in, and that translates to live games.

Hilarious side note--During the pre-game show, they have a segment where they go into the training room and show some exercises/weight programs the guys do to stay in shape. I can't remember the guys name (not Aaron Nelson, the younger one that likes to wear bow ties to the games) has had a few awesome one-liners.
A) You see Tucker on the ground doing weighted sit ups. Mr. Bow Tie says: "Yes, PJ does ab work, it just doesn't show."
B) You see Keef demonstrating a lift and Mr. Bow Tie introduces him as "He is #11 on the roster, but #1 in your hearts..." with obvious sarcasm, and Keef just scoffs like, "I can't believe you just said that" (but not in a dick way).

I should make a point to watch these segments more, but I have only seen 3 of them, and came away with those two gems.

[da_suns_fan]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--p ... 54709.html

Pelicans want Kieff? Give u s Ryan ANderson!!

[Shabazz]

Some interesting observations when I was looking at Suns stats:

1) Booker is 7th in the league in True Shooting %
2) Archie leads the team in Points per Shot
3) Tucker is atrocious

[Indy]

Some interesting observations when I was looking at Suns stats:

1) Booker is 7th in the league in True Shooting %
2) Archie leads the team in Points per Shot
3) Tucker is atrocious

Ha.

[da_suns_fan]

I still like Tucker. If he's struggling offensively he's still rebounding like a monster.

[Shabazz]

I still like Tucker. If he's struggling offensively he's still rebounding like a monster.

He's 16th in rebound rate among small forwards. Decent, but hardly earth shattering.

On the flipside, he's 52nd our of 59 small forwards in Estimated Wins added (-.6). TJ is 12th (1.7).
He's 50th in PER among SFs.
He's 55th among Sfs in Turnover Rate (17.0). This means he turns the ball over on 17% of the possessions he "uses." TJ is 14th (7.7 TO rate).

So the decent rebounding he gives us comes at an untenable cost.

[LazarusLong]

Nobody questions Tucker's heart, but his court IQ and decision-making are not stellar.
And he's starting to lose a step or two, and he didn't have the quickness to lose.
He's a rapidly depreciating asset and it's time to sell.

[Indy]

Nobody questions Tucker's heart, but his court IQ and decision-making are not stellar.
And he's starting to lose a step or two, and he didn't have the quickness to lose.
He's a rapidly depreciating asset and it's time to sell.

Exactly. The ideal time would have been this summer. He is clearly not performing on either end close to what he did last year.

[Mori Chu]

I don't hate PJ. I just no longer think he should start over TJ Warren, a very promising young player who is probably part of the long-term future of this franchise, unlike PJ. I think PJ should come off the bench and provide hustle and defense and rebounding in the secondary lineup.

[Indy]

I still like Tucker. If he's struggling offensively he's still rebounding like a monster.

He's 16th in rebound rate among small forwards. Decent, but hardly earth shattering.

On the flipside, he's 52nd our of 59 small forwards in Estimated Wins added (-.6). TJ is 12th (1.7).
He's 50th in PER among SFs.
He's 55th among Sfs in Turnover Rate (17.0). This means he turns the ball over on 17% of the possessions he "uses." TJ is 14th (7.7 TO rate).

So the decent rebounding he gives us comes at an untenable cost.

Right. He grabs 10.4% of the rebounds available while he is on the floor, but turns the ball over 19.7% of the time he is involved in a play. That is crazy. (These come from basketball-reference.com, so they might be slightly different from where 'bazz pulled TO Rate and rebounding rate.)

[Cap]

Suns' 3P%: .390
Knight's 3P%: .388
Bledsoe's 3P%: .387

Pick it up, slackers, you're below the team average!

[specialsauce]

I don't hate PJ. I just no longer think he should start over TJ Warren, a very promising young player who is probably part of the long-term future of this franchise, unlike PJ. I think PJ should come off the bench and provide hustle and defense and rebounding in the secondary lineup.

I think he is a solid 16th man.

[pickle]

From Houston, I really want to stay away from Jones and his impending new contract, but I'd consider opening the wallet for Motiejunas if he was sent here for Kieff. And if he isn't, I'd make him a target next summer if the draft doesn't deliver a PF.

What's the scouting report on Motiejunas? I haven't had the opportunity to watch him play at all.

I like Ryan Anderson, sweet shot and has been in the spotlight longer than our current two stretch 4s, but I still feel like he offers no real change of pace from Teletovic. And he also has to get paid this summer.

On Chandler, I agree that he's not going to be terribly productive on the court for us and his contract is pretty rich, but from a team building perspective, unless we move him to a situation he wants to go to, I hesitate to pull the trigger given the potential negativity that might generate in terms of future FA signings. I'd be happy for him to mentor Len, as long as Len gets consistent minutes. I don't mind as much if Len has to come off the bench... 25 mpg in continuous spurts, none of that 2 min here 3 min there stuff.

For TJ, yes he's a better player than PJ already, but I really want him to earn the starting spot by playing tougher D. I've read that he has gotten better on that end, and if that is the case, so be it. But I don't want to ruin the learning curve for these young players and allow them to think that it's ok to play only one end of the court, that as long as you score well you can take a break on defense. Booker has shown some quick hands and decent tenacity on D so I'm okay with him starting.

[Ring_Wanted]

DMo is a late bloomer (during his first two seasons it seemed like two 2ndRs for him was overpaying) but has turned out a pretty good allaround offensive player.

Advanced post game (lethal hook) and awareness, good passer, decent shooter (including 3pt range). Real seven footer, not too bulky but deceptively athletic and fast. Poor rebounder but not a liability on defense.

Injured his back last April.