Suns News: 2026 Playoffs

[Superbone]

[Superbone]

New Grayson Allen action figure unveiled:

[Superbone]

[Superbone]

This is where I'm at:

[Mori Chu]

This made me laugh:

[Superbone]

Let's talk about Ott's seeming reluctance to play Maluach and Fleming in the playoffs. I know there's been a lot of talk in the game threads about it. I too wonder if it's his own decision or if it is coming from above, like Clifford or Brian Gregory. I've seen other playoff teams play rookies.

Here's what I'm thinking. That this is coming from above. More likely from the GM, Gregory, in consultation with Ishbia. That they know this season's team isn't getting out of the first round no matter what we do so they want to concentrate on seeing what our veterans are lacking and where we need to improve the roster for next season. I'm pretty sure they know what we have in Maluach and Fleming and that they are a big part of our future. Maybe they're trying to figure out what changes we need to make to put around them. Also, who can stay and who can go of our veterans.

Obviously, we need a power forward presence and more size up front. Both of which Maluach and Fleming bring. But they're going to need more help too. Fleming is currently the only thing resembling a PF on the roster. We need a minimum of another. Probably should be our area of concentration for next season. Trade in our guard glut for some more size. I wouldn't mind bringing in a solid veteran PF for Fleming to learn from. I just don't know who that would be right now.

We've got an interesting mix of youth and veterans at the moment but the team construction has a lot to be desired. It will be a very interesting offseason for sure. But I do think we'll see a lot more Maluach and Fleming next season just as we saw a lot more of Ighodaro and Dunn (less so) this season.

Of course, Ighodaro is a concern all on his own. He does some things really well (decent rebounder, great screener, great decision maker with the ball) and some things really badly (can shoot outside of 8 feet, horrible FT shooter, lacking size compared to most NBA starting centers). Not sure what we'll do there but he should be a back up, not a starting center, and I think most of us can agree with that.

[Shabazz]

Dunn has been a zero out there both games. Looks like a deer in headlights. I don't know why you wouldn't at least try to play Sheer in his spot.

[Wally_West]

[JJ Slim]

I said something similar several weeks ago that we knew we weren't going far in the playoffs so we should use the chance to give the rookies experience and also to flesh out who was going to return next year and expose what we lacked. So far experience for the rooks has been limited unfortunately. Beyond that we can definitely see who is stepping up, who still has potential, who is choking and what we need to look at in the off season.

[ShelC]

As long as Royce gets 30+ minutes I'm happy.

[Superbone]

[Superbone]

[Superbone]

LOL and I beat Wally to it:

[Wally_West]

Is this real??

[Split T]

It’s just kinda funny to say they found nothing wrong and then rescind an inappropriately assessed technical foul in the same communication.

[JJ Slim]

Is this real??

No, but it's hilarious!

[Mori Chu]

LMAO at that AI video, but, it's scary how good the fake videos are getting. We're getting to the point where you just won't be able to trust any video you see online any more. Especially stuff about touchy topics like news or politics.

[pickle]

Let's talk about Ott's seeming reluctance to play Maluach and Fleming in the playoffs. I know there's been a lot of talk in the game threads about it. I too wonder if it's his own decision or if it is coming from above, like Clifford or Brian Gregory. I've seen other playoff teams play rookies.

Here's what I'm thinking. That this is coming from above. More likely from the GM, Gregory, in consultation with Ishbia. That they know this season's team isn't getting out of the first round no matter what we do so they want to concentrate on seeing what our veterans are lacking and where we need to improve the roster for next season. I'm pretty sure they know what we have in Maluach and Fleming and that they are a big part of our future. Maybe they're trying to figure out what changes we need to make to put around them. Also, who can stay and who can go of our veterans.

Obviously, we need a power forward presence and more size up front. Both of which Maluach and Fleming bring. But they're going to need more help too. Fleming is currently the only thing resembling a PF on the roster. We need a minimum of another. Probably should be our area of concentration for next season. Trade in our guard glut for some more size. I wouldn't mind bringing in a solid veteran PF for Fleming to learn from. I just don't know who that would be right now.

We've got an interesting mix of youth and veterans at the moment but the team construction has a lot to be desired. It will be a very interesting offseason for sure. But I do think we'll see a lot more Maluach and Fleming next season just as we saw a lot more of Ighodaro and Dunn (less so) this season.

Of course, Ighodaro is a concern all on his own. He does some things really well (decent rebounder, great screener, great decision maker with the ball) and some things really badly (can shoot outside of 8 feet, horrible FT shooter, lacking size compared to most NBA starting centers). Not sure what we'll do there but he should be a back up, not a starting center, and I think most of us can agree with that.

Tobias Harris?

[Aztec Sunsfan]

Is this real??

Hopefully, somewhere on the multiverse it is!

[MightyMoog]

I think he can eventually be a Gobert that can shoot. We really need to be patient with him and Fleming. They really both have shown some otherworldly potential.