Phx-Suns.Net

OK, the first week of the season is upon us and so I am forced to create this thread! I will let somebody else make "around the league".

This Week's Games

Wednesday, Oct. 23rd @ Clippers ESPN 10:00 PM EST
Friday, Oct. 25th @ Lakers ESPN 10:00 PM EST
Saturday, Oct. 26th vs. Mavericks 3TV 10:00 PM EST (Home Opener!)

Suns Stories

Western Conference Predictions: Suns Take Step Forward
https://www.si.com/nba/suns/news/wester ... ep-forward

Power Rankings

#6: https://www.nba.com/news/power-rankings-2024-25-week-1

Thanks Bone! Woohoo, week 1! Later today I can make a thread for us to schedule out the creation of these threads for the rest of the season.

Mori Chu wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 21, 2024 2:09 pm

Thanks Bone! Woohoo, week 1! Later today I can make a thread for us to schedule out the creation of these threads for the rest of the season.

I don't know if it's possible, but I would suggest splitting up the "Suns News" and "Around the League" threads. I would sign up more frequently if I only had to do one of the threads versus having to do them both.

His jumper looks so much better than Mikal Bridges does now. That's hilarious.

ShelC wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 21, 2024 3:42 pm

This sorta stuff is basically catnip for me.

Post practice interviews with Grayson, KD and Bud. Maybe I'm reading too much into it but it feels like Bud is dancing a bit around Beal. He's putting it on himself and the staff to make it work with Brad but also saying Brad needs to make it work within the offense.

Season set up for Brad to be the scapegoat it seems

I don't think it's scapegoat so much as ill fit. He just doesn't keep the same aggression he had before he joined the Suns. Playing like he's not trying to step on toes, which is a bummer because KD and Book just showed in the Olympics that they just wanna win no matter who shoots it.

ShelC wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 21, 2024 3:42 pm

He’s doing great. He made a lot of shots from varying passes. I didn’t see any shot go in from a high pass though. Those messed him up.

TOO wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 21, 2024 9:35 pm

I don't think it's scapegoat so much as ill fit. He just doesn't keep the same aggression he had before he joined the Suns. Playing like he's not trying to step on toes, which is a bummer because KD and Book just showed in the Olympics that they just wanna win no matter who shoots it.

It is a weird fit…and I think more than anyone we will ask Beal to be someone he isn’t. He’s going to struggle to find his role and stay impactful in it. Add in the big contract and if we struggle, Beal is gonna get blamed for a lot of our problems.

I hope Bud, Beal, and the team can figure it out.

If Beal does struggle and just simply doesn't fit the roster, I wonder if he just asks for a trade and will be amenable to waiving his NTC to help facilitate a deal.

Split T wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 22, 2024 6:24 am

TOO wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 21, 2024 9:35 pm

I don't think it's scapegoat so much as ill fit. He just doesn't keep the same aggression he had before he joined the Suns. Playing like he's not trying to step on toes, which is a bummer because KD and Book just showed in the Olympics that they just wanna win no matter who shoots it.

It is a weird fit…and I think more than anyone we will ask Beal to be someone he isn’t. He’s going to struggle to find his role and stay impactful in it. Add in the big contract and if we struggle, Beal is gonna get blamed for a lot of our problems.

I hope Bud, Beal, and the team can figure it out.

I can't understand what they'd ask him to be that would be so hard for him to do. Just shoot open shots with the starters and probably lead the 2nd unit with Morris and Allen. Pretty good gig.

Beal doesn't seem worried about his own performance in the pre-season and seems confident that it won't transfer over into the season. I hope he's correct.

TOO wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 22, 2024 8:01 am

Split T wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 22, 2024 6:24 am

TOO wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 21, 2024 9:35 pm

I don't think it's scapegoat so much as ill fit. He just doesn't keep the same aggression he had before he joined the Suns. Playing like he's not trying to step on toes, which is a bummer because KD and Book just showed in the Olympics that they just wanna win no matter who shoots it.

It is a weird fit…and I think more than anyone we will ask Beal to be someone he isn’t. He’s going to struggle to find his role and stay impactful in it. Add in the big contract and if we struggle, Beal is gonna get blamed for a lot of our problems.

I hope Bud, Beal, and the team can figure it out.

I can't understand what they'd ask him to be that would be so hard for him to do. Just shoot open shots with the starters and probably lead the 2nd unit with Morris and Allen. Pretty good gig.

Yep, just be aggressive and be himself. Even with Book and KD. Don't defer.

Someone has to defer…even moreso that we have a PG on the roster. You can’t run actions for 3 players at once. There is something to be said for staggering Beal and Booker as much as possible so Beal can be featured as an off-ball scorer, but when all 3 are out there with a pg, Beal will need to be ok standing in the corner spacing and just attacking close outs if the ball swings to him.

I’m less concerned about the offensive fit though and more about what else he does. We have Grayson Allen who can do 80% of his role on offense. There was a moment last season where Beal was playing fairly high level defense. We need him to not be a liability on that end of the floor and to be a positive.

I also just look at what he did for us last year and think we forget he easily sacrificed the most of the big 3 and he shot 51/43/81 and had a career high .607 TS%. He was often asked to be our primary defensive stopper too. Yet we still see a lot of people questioning him. It is a weird fit, but no question he really tried to adjust his game and for the most part he did. That absolutely awful game 4 vs Minny is also playing into it I believe.

Everytime you put 3 stars together, someone sacrifices touches and stats…look at the difference between Bosh’s Heat numbers and his Raptors numbers…he sacrificed a ton so that would work and I don’t think he always gets credit for that.

What it all comes down to is I think Beal might average like 16/4/4 this year, but that’s completely ok if he’s shooting efficiently and being on positive on the defensive end. We also need to make sure we give him enough touches to keep him in rhythm. Stagger the minutes with Booker and make sure Beal is ready to take a bigger role if need be.

If Dunn’s shot can prove real for the season, that would be a huge boost for the team.

I wouldn’t worry about Beal, he’ll be fine. It’s just a matter of (once again) the team getting used to a new starting five and new coach. It could take a little bit of time for everyone to gel and excel in their roles. Hopefully Bud can be more effective (and quicker) at bringing it all together than Vogel was.

I am overjoyed with Dunn so far. But I think we're likely to have a few bumps in the road with him. He'll probably have some games where he gets tight and shoots poorly, and I hope he doesn't get discouraged. I have a bit of a fear that he will be able to hit the 3s when the pressure is low but that it'll be a while before you can leave him in at the end of a close game and count on him to be a good spot-up shooter. And that's okay! But we will have to give him time.

Split T wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 22, 2024 10:38 am

<a bunch of good stuff>
What it all comes down to is I think Beal might average like 16/4/4 this year, but that’s completely ok if he’s shooting efficiently and being on positive on the defensive end. We also need to make sure we give him enough touches to keep him in rhythm. Stagger the minutes with Booker and make sure Beal is ready to take a bigger role if need be.

I agree, and I think there will actually be less pressure on Beal than last season. The offense is going to be better in general this year, which will leave less room for griping. This is the first season since the KD trade that I've felt comfortable with our stars combining for less than 90 points.