Phx-Suns.Net

The Suns go 1-3 on the week to move us to 3-4 on the young season. Sadly, we start the week off on Thursday with a game against the Clippers who have had our number recently. We have to be the worst team in the league on scoring defense, right? We've given up over 100 in each of our seven games and over 110 in 4 of them. Only 2 games this week, both of which are nationally televised with one airing on TnT and the other on NBATv.

Last Week's Games

@. Los Angeles Clippers LOSS 102-96
vs. Sacramento Kings WIN 118-97
vs. Detroit Pistons LOSS 100-92
@ Oklahoma City Thunder LOSS 124-103

This Week's Games

Thursday, November 12th vs. Los Angeles Clippers 10:30PM EST TNT
Saturday, November 14th vs. Denver 9:00PM EST NBATV

Suns Stories

Knight ties career high in turnovers. Still adjusting? LINK
Suns turnover ball, game to Thunder: LINK

For the "Where Are They Now" File...

http://hoopshype.com/2015/11/08/whateve ... cabarkapa/

Brandon Knight has been mostly horrid to start the season. Really bummed about this, especially since THE PICK! was used to get the guy. Never forget.

I never saw what McDonough sees in Knight. Can someone please explain why I am so wrong about Knight, his talent and his projected future?

Cap can.

He was almost an All-Star in the East!

Cap wrote:He was almost an All-Star in the East!

honestly I like Knight better than Bledsoe still. Bledsoe is an idiot IMO, but more talented, Knight has game, but not the drive but at least he's not a r/tard

classy

There's been lots of discussion about the efficacy of our starting unit and the disadvantages of playing offensively limited Chandler with offensively limited Tucker while Morris struggles. Here's something that suggest otherwise: LINK

The Suns’ starting unit ranks 3rd in combined points per game (39.9), 4th in free throws made (7.4), 4th in rebounds (17.0), 5th in field goals made per game (14.6) and 5th in steals per game (3.6).

Those same five players average about 17.2 minutes played together per game (4th-most in the NBA), so not only are they playing together often, they are successful when doing so.

Defensively, they force an average of 5.9 turnovers (5th in the league), and hold opponents to 43.8-percent and 38.7-percent from the field and three point line respectively.

The starting five of Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight, Markieff Morris, P.J. Tucker and Tyson Chandler is tied for 1st in the NBA with a +/- of +4.9 along with the Thunder’s lineup of Steven Adams, Kevin Durant, Serge Ibaka, Andre Roberson and Russell Westbrook (minimum of seven games played together).

And all this with a half assed Markieff...

Isn't 38.7% on threes a whole lot? 43.8 overall sounds cool though as does the +/- thing.

Good to know our starters can beat up on the Kings and Blazers. Let's see if it lasts.

I would say those statistics are based on a skewed sample inflated by two wins over a defensively challenged Portland team and a win over Boogie-less Sacramento. Let's see what the stats say after about 20 games and the Suns have played some of the better teams in the league and have had an extended road swing.

I just want to see some team basketball. Is that too much to ask? Even Warren disappointed me on a fast break last game where he wouldn't give up the ball and he forced taking the ball to the hoop and missed. He could have given it up for a layup.

Superbone wrote:I just want to see some team basketball. Is that too much to ask? Even Warren disappointed me on a fast break last game where he wouldn't give up the ball and he forced taking the ball to the hoop and missed. He could have given it up for a layup.

I remember that play distinctly, too. I thought to myself, "Uh oh, the bad habits are spreading." There was another play where Leuer got a steal and he had Goodwin out ahead him, 2-on-0 break. He could and should have given it to Archie, but instead he awkwardly dribbled it all the way to the hoop and laid it in. Bad habits. Everybody trying to "get theirs."

As for our starting unit being so highly ranked, I think it is almost 100% because of Bledsoe's huge stats thus far this season. Chandler has also had some gaudy rebound numbers and has scored pretty well. I would guess that outside of those two, the numbers are not all that impressive.

It's not so much that we naysayers want the whole starting lineup flushed down the toilet. We just want the bad parts swapped out. I'd love a starting lineup of something like:

Bledsoe-Booker-Warren-Morris-Chandler

(with the understanding that Morris is to be traded ASAP.)

and a bench unit of:

Price-Knight-Tucker-Leuer-Len

the following guys getting only occasional / blowout / spot minutes:

Goodwin / Teletubby / Weems / Jefferson

I could live with Goodwin getting Price's minutes, not because he's better or even as good, just because he's young and more likely to have anything to do with the future of our franchise.

The way we are playing is about what I expected. We all knew we weren't going to be very good before the season started. It is what it is. Optimistically we almost make the playoffs. We are a young rebuilding team with no All Stars. Banther Fodder.

I'm actually OK with how we're bringing Booker along. He's not as ready as some on the board think he is, IMO. But he should be getting a few minutes every game.

Shabazz wrote:I'm actually OK with how we're bringing Booker along. He's not as ready as some on the board think he is, IMO. But he should be getting a few minutes every game.

Agreed, to a point. He has been blowing basic assignments on both ends of the floor. I am a fan, and want to see him play, but you have to have some discipline for him. People here complain when coach doesn't hold a vet accountable, and then complain when he does hold a rookie accountable. I get the frustration on the first one, but not the 2nd. Start them off right.