Suns News: Week 9 2/15-2/21

[Danimal]

Just one stix highlight from his 2nd game. How did he go?

[O_Gardino]

Hmmmm

4th this season, although I think the twin Cams can surpass him.

[Shabazz]

wE sHoUlDn'T hAvE tRaDeD fOr ChRiS pAuL.

(did I do that meme right?)

[Split T]

Just one stix highlight from his 2nd game. How did he go?

[INFORMER]

wE sHoUlDn'T hAvE tRaDeD fOr ChRiS pAuL.

(did I do that meme right?)

[Indy]

wE sHoUlDn'T hAvE tRaDeD fOr ChRiS pAuL.

(did I do that meme right?)

I am riding high on the wave right now. I was highly critical of it when it happened (not because I didn't think he was amazing last year, but because I thought we could plug more of our holes with a MUCH cheaper PG). But he has been outstanding for us after the slow start. He is our best player, and I didn't think that was possible coming into the season.

[Mori Chu]

I am riding high on the wave right now. I was highly critical of it when it happened (not because I didn't think he was amazing last year, but because I thought we could plug more of our holes with a MUCH cheaper PG). But he has been outstanding for us after the slow start. He is our best player, and I didn't think that was possible coming into the season.

I would still put Book ahead of Paul, but if you really looked at win shares and impact, Paul might actually be ahead. The ranking is something like:

1 - Devin Booker
2 - Chris Paul
3 - Mikal Bridges
4 - DeAndre Ayton
5 - Dario Saric
6 - Jae Crowder
7 - Cam Johnson
8 - Cam Payne
9 - Frank Kaminski
10 - Langston Galloway
11 - E'Twaun Moore
12 - Abdul Nader
13 - Jevon Carter
the rest - Jones, Smith, Alexander, ...

I could be persuaded to put Ayton ahead of Bridges, but that's a tough one.

[Cap]

I am riding high on the wave right now. I was highly critical of it when it happened (not because I didn't think he was amazing last year, but because I thought we could plug more of our holes with a MUCH cheaper PG). But he has been outstanding for us after the slow start. He is our best player, and I didn't think that was possible coming into the season.

I would still put Book ahead of Paul, but if you really looked at win shares and impact, Paul might actually be ahead. The ranking is something like:

1 - Devin Booker
2 - Chris Paul
3 - Mikal Bridges
4 - DeAndre Ayton
5 - Dario Saric
6 - Jae Crowder
7 - Cam Johnson
8 - Cam Payne
9 - Frank Kaminski
10 - Langston Galloway
11 - E'Twaun Moore
12 - Abdul Nader
13 - Jevon Carter
the rest - Jones, Smith, Alexander, ...

I could be persuaded to put Ayton ahead of Bridges, but that's a tough one.

MVFrank at #9? Blasphemy! Misspelled? Sacrilege!

[Mori Chu]

I debated putting Frank the Tank up at #7 ahead of Cam Payne, just in terms of 2021 season performance. Kaminski is a flawed player, but he's had some really strong games. Payne is probably the better overall NBA player, but he's struggled a bit this season.

[The Bobster]

1. Paul
2. Booker
3. Ayton
4. Bridges
5. Saric

[Split T]

My top 4 would go:
1. Paul
2. Booker
3. Bridges
4. Ayton

5-7 is pretty interchangeable to me...I’d probably put Saric 7th so far, just because he’s missed so much time. So I’d probably go:
5. Crowder
6. Johnson
7. Saric
8. Payne

That seems like our playoff rotation..then we go:
9. Kaminsky
10. Galloway
11. Nader
12. Moore
13. Carter
14. Smith
15. Jones
16. Alexander

[pickle]

Still wish we got creative and figured out a way to get Wood instead of Crowder.

[pickle]

Also I was hoping to see more growth out of Carter...

[Split T]

Also I was hoping to see more growth out of Carter...

I was just hoping to see Bubble Carter. With Payne on board he didn’t need to play pg, he just defended like crazy and made 3s. You know the defense and hustle will be there, but the shot disappeared.

[pickle]

Yeah... he seems like a mature player... I didn't think he was going to make close to 50% of his 3s, but the little bit I've seen of him this year has been mostly tentative and indecisive on offense, if anything. I still root for him.

[Mori Chu]

I don't know how Carter would have played under other circumstances. But it can't have helped him that we signed 2 other guys (Galloway, Moore) who basically play his same position and want his minutes. Would Carter have figured things out if we had just thrown him out there and given him those minutes? Maybe. I do like Moore and Galloway better, but it's hard to say.

[Indy]

I love that we have a log-jam of end-of-the-bench roll players in the back court behind Paul/Booker and they all bring something different.

Although I would prefer if we would have added a big instead of having 4 backup 1/2s.

[Aztec Sunsfan]

I love that we have a log-jam of end-of-the-bench roll players in the back court behind Paul/Booker and they all bring something different.

Although I would prefer if we would have added a big instead of having 4 backup 1/2s.

Agreed, they did an overkill on anchoring the back court bench almost for every need, and then proceed to left the front court depth on Smith and Jones hands. The team got lucky that Frank fell on our lap at the right moment and also has been playing well above his usual self, otherwise we would be on deep trouble. (Or depth troubles, both ways work)

Hopefully we ship some backcourt talent for aggresion, size and athleticism in the form of a 4/5 backup (hopefully on One single player), because if we want to make real noise deep on the playoffs, Frank and Ayton are not going to cut it as our “size”. Bring Bamba and pit him against Ayton on practice, he could not be worse that Smith/Jones.

[carey]

I debated putting Frank the Tank up at #7 ahead of Cam Payne, just in terms of 2021 season performance. Kaminski is a flawed player, but he's had some really strong games. Payne is probably the better overall NBA player, but he's struggled a bit this season.

Would you be surprised to see that Payne is shooting 45% from 3 and 49% from the field? I think the injury has messed with his mojo a little though.

[bajanguy008]