Game Day: Blazers (1-0) @ Suns (0-1), Fri 10/30/15

[iLLmatic]

This should be a clear sign to Hornacek that TJ needs to be starting ffs.

[carey]

Knight hit a big 3. Needed that one.

[EDC]

TJ and Len working well together. That was nice.

[carey]

20-point lead. Lets hold it together for 5 more minutes.

[OE32]

The Blazers have played like ass. Tons of turnovers. Big difference from Wednesday. Don't think we had much to do with it.

[carey]

We needed a 20-point win.

[Gladiator]

We're trying to run and pass. We're just not any good at it yet.

Spot on. I didn't see much of the first game, but I thought we didn't look anything like cohesive today, despite winning by 20.

[Gladiator]

This should be a clear sign to Hornacek that TJ needs to be starting ffs.

I don't mind TJ coming off the bench for now, but he should be playing about as many minutes. Tonight's split between PJ and TJ wasn't bad imo

[Superbone]

Now that was more like it! We showed defensive intensity from start to finish. Ronnie Price was huge at the end of the first half after the Blazers had closed it to one point.

Great RoH ceremony. Props to the Phoenix broadcast for showing the whole thing uninterrupted. I wore my orange Nash #13 shirt today and it was a memorable night.

Lots of steals for the Suns in this one. It's going to take a little time for this team to come together but they showed some flashes. Hard to believe this Portland team beat NO. Suns need to keep up the intensity tomorrow night and beat them again. I liked how Price got under Lillard's skin.

[Mori Chu]

Really wanted to live-post during the game, but my dear wife wanted to go to dinner and asked me to pause the game, so I watched it about an hour behind.

Much better effort tonight than Wednesday. I still think most of our veterans can be left. Tyson Chandler played well, though, and Price really impressed me. Bledsoe and Knight had solid outings, though both need to be better passers than they are. Bledsoe was listed with 3 turnovers but it felt like he had about 7.

I really like Jon Leuer. Somehow he only got 1 point, but 8 big rebounds, 2 assists, and was just generally a pest out there. He might be the new Amundson.

I cannot BELIEVE they gave Booker only 2 garbage minutes at the end of the game, on his birthday and everything, after a great 14-point debut on Wednesday. We have 17 minutes for Weems (who????) but 2 for Booker? Hornacek is stone cold. Didn't mind seeing Teletovic's minutes cut to 2, though, after the chucking display he gave us on Wednesday.

Really liked what I saw from Len. I think this is a great arrangement with Chandler starting and providing a veteran big man presence, while Len comes in and gets to dominate against the other team's bench. Really like the mentorship and the reduction in pressure that this gives to Alex.

PJ Tucker is not right. He needs to move to the bench. He's a glaring hole in our starting lineup. His defense is okay, but his shooting is horrendous, and he looks a little thick in the midsection.

Markieff Morris made me mad about a half dozen times tonight. He was just chucking up shots and not looking for his teammates. I just don't think he cares about the team at this point. The sooner we trade him the better IMO. Could we get, say, a Gallo from Denver for him? A Taj Gibson from the Bulls? Please, take him off our hands, anyone.

Last but not least, the Nash ROH ceremony. Love that guy. It was great seeing Mike D, Sir Charles, Al McCoy, Thunder Dan, and so many others. Nash's speech was a little rambling (write some note cards, MVSteve!) but it was a heartwarming ceremony and got me a little misty-eyed. It'll probably be a long time before we fans are blessed enough to see a player like that on our Suns again.

[ShelC]

I'd almost keep Leuer or Teletovic as the 4. Taj is a nice player, but a bit redundant with Chandler and we need someone to play at the 3pt line. Leuer is a lot more agile and athletic than he looks and can play off the dribble or midrange. Deceptive player.

[pickle]

i didn't mind that game so much, though it's clear our pg play was rather selfish, and everyone was just going for his. not a great deal of actual passing being done. chandler is good at rolling to the basket though. hope len could pick up that aspect of the game from him.

felt like knight played better than bledsoe. i'm not hating on the man or the contract, but i'm with everyone in thinking that this so called 2 pg set isn't working out right now. neither looks to initiate the offense... both are just trying to score.

i think gallo is far above markieff's value at this point.

i really liked leuer as well. if he's our first big off the bench i wouldn't mind it, but if he were starting... i'd need to see his defense a bit more to comment on that possibility. intensity is definitely there for him.

[Ring_Wanted]

I'd almost keep Leuer or Teletovic as the 4. Taj is a nice player, but a bit redundant with Chandler and we need someone to play at the 3pt line. Leuer is a lot more agile and athletic than he looks and can play off the dribble or midrange. Deceptive player.

Teletovic and Tucker/Weems are early trading block candidates to me. Whatever is needed to make room for Booker. It is outrageous that this kid was used two ridiculous minutes in garbage time.

[OE32]

I absolutely loathe this aspect of Hornacek's coaching. Young players can't really earn more minutes by their play, and vets can't really lose minutes by their play. The vets play, simple as that. Hate it. Hate it, hate it, HATE IT!

[AmareIsGod]

I absolutely loathe this aspect of Hornacek's coaching. Young players can't really earn more minutes by their play, and vets can't really lose minutes by their play. The vets play, simple as that. Hate it. Hate it, hate it, HATE IT!

+2

[Sunsfan4life]

There was a telling play in the 3rd where Kieff threw a nice lob to chandler who got fouled Chandler pointed to Kief who then looked away...then went up to him to give a high five which Kieff seemed disinterested in only to be intercepted by I think Bledsoe who gave chandler his high five. I think they are playing this correctly with not just giving Kieff away, because he has value, but I think its pretty obvious he doesn't wanna be there and the suns told him if he shuts his mouth they'll move him.

I think when you're shopping Kieff you do it with Goodwin. Archie still has value and I think the two together are a valuable package to a team. I feel bad for Archie, because now only is he not getting mins, but he's not even the best player not getting minutes at his position.

Like others have said....Teletovic's shooting will be needed at some point but he his shot selection was miserable in the opener. When he isn't stretching the floor their isn't really a need for him. My 3 favorite players on our team are Knight/Booker/Chandler. Is that about where others are?

[Sunsfan4life]

I absolutely loathe this aspect of Hornacek's coaching. Young players can't really earn more minutes by their play, and vets can't really lose minutes by their play. The vets play, simple as that. Hate it. Hate it, hate it, HATE IT!

+2

I've been a Hornecek supporter, but the way he played 13 guys in 1 half in the opener pissed me off. That was the first time ever I saw 7 guards played in an opening half. My patience is starting to wear thin and it was probably just "the moment" but seeing D'Antoni again made me think "why not again?"....Thats a loaded question though...

[Mori Chu]

I've been a Hornecek supporter, but the way he played 13 guys in 1 half in the opener pissed me off. That was the first time ever I saw 7 guards played in an opening half. My patience is starting to wear thin and it was probably just "the moment" but seeing D'Antoni again made me think "why not again?"....Thats a loaded question though...

Mike D would just trade one set of problems for another. He'd play 7 guys the whole game. Booker, Len, Leuer, a lot of guys would never sniff the court.

[Mori Chu]

My 3 favorite players on our team are Knight/Booker/Chandler. Is that about where others are?

Warren and Len are in there somewhere for me, but, yeah, pretty much. My quick assessment of the players on the roster:

• Bledsoe: GTFO
  Booker: keeper; future of the team
  Chandler: good veteran presence; like him
  Goodwin: GTFO
  Cory Jefferson: no value
  Knight: Meh. Will never forgive them losing Laker pick
  Len: keeper; improving future starting center
  Leuer: Impressed. Works hard, unselfish, sneaky good. Majerle hustle award incoming.
  Morris: GTFO
  Price: Better than expected. Good backup PG
  Teletovic: Not a big fan so far. Seems to be a chucker. If so, GTFO
  Tucker: GTFO
  Warren: keeper; should start at SF
  Weems: not sure yet. probably good enough to stay as backup SG/SF

[OE32]

My 3 favorite players on our team are Knight/Booker/Chandler. Is that about where others are?

Warren and Len are in there somewhere for me, but, yeah, pretty much. My quick assessment of the players on the roster:

• Bledsoe: GTFO
  Booker: keeper; future of the team
  Chandler: good veteran presence; like him
  Goodwin: GTFO
  Cory Jefferson: no value
  Knight: Meh. Will never forgive them losing Laker pick
  Len: keeper; improving future starting center
  Leuer: Impressed. Works hard, unselfish, sneaky good. Majerle hustle award incoming.
  Morris: GTFO
  Price: Better than expected. Good backup PG
  Teletovic: Not a big fan so far. Seems to be a chucker. If so, GTFO
  Tucker: GTFO
  Warren: keeper; should start at SF
  Weems: not sure yet. probably good enough to stay as backup SG/SF

I wouldn't have any trouble with Bled if he just gave up the freaking ball. Stay aggressive on defense, be a backstop on offense. Price does a much better job running the offense, because he spreads the ball around. Bled isn't a score-first point guard, because he isn't a point guard. At least, we're not playing him like one. Let him give up the ball, and then when things break down, let Bledsoe try to get to the basket and make something happen. If we start our offense with Bled driving every play, we'll simply never be that good, because he's not that good an offensive player. Simple as that.

I really don't know what to think about a lot of this. Sometimes I think we're trying to stroke the egos of Bled and Keef by playing them more than they deserve and giving them more touches than they deserve. I thought we did this last year with Marcus, too. But then the question is, WHY?? It doesn't help us win! You'd think it would put us in a position to make a trade, but that strategy doesn't seem to be working, either!

I've liked that this front office continues to accumulate valuable pieces. I've disliked that the most valuable pieces of all - our draft picks - are glued to the bench while I have to watch our "assets" waste my time as a fan. And I haven't been sure whom to blame, but with Tucker continuing to get the nod over TJ, I think it's clear that the primary culprit is Hornacek. But then again, it's not like this GM has made any moves to clear time for the youngsters, which leads me to blame McD. But then again again, it's not like we're being allowed to grow organically with young players a la Milwaukee, which leads me to wonder about the degree to which Sarver's eagerness to get back to the playoffs has put us in a tough position.

I agree with Mori's list. Booker, TJ and Alex deserve not only to play, but to be featured in the offense. These are RYAN'S GUYS, so why don't they get the time and opportunity? Let's make a deal.