Around the League: Week 20 2/27-3/4

[specialsauce]

[streamable][/streamable]

https://streamable.com/2jv7x

This last week was the final straw for me. He has absolutely no desire to score the basketball.

[Cap]

I'd like to see us play through him more.

I don't think that's his game. He's a mobile seven-footer who can spread the floor, hit threes at a decent clip, and post up if he has a mismatch. He's not a go-to guy. He's a guy who gives your go-to guys room to operate. And if you don't have those go-to guys, he looks kinda bad.

[specialsauce]

As long as he makes plays like above, he’s a complete offensive liability. You’re playing 4 on 5 on the offensive side of the court. And then he better be your center, or your center better be a scorer.

[Superbone]

Lol Reggie Bullock! Add him to the list of least memorable Suns

I was trying to remember if that was actually the guy who played on the Suns for a cup of coffee.

I am pretty sure he was paid more than that.

I'm talking time, silly.

"Cup of coffee" indeed is a time-honored baseball term, given the preponderance of minor leagues over the years and, ergo, brief callup situations.
Given the recent growth of development/minor leagues in pro basketball, one could now be justified in applying to the NBA.
'Way to go old school, Bone.

I'm glad you appreciated it, Laz! I figured only about 3 regulars would know where I was coming from. You, Bobster, and maybe JCSunsfan.

[Superbone]

I'd like to see us play through him more.

So he can pass it to the first available teammate because he’s scared of the ball?

He's been doing classic Boris Diaw passing lately. The worst offense was against the Clippers where he was literally all alone under the basket when he passed it back out to the 3 point line. Never even gave a glancing thought to actually scoring the basketball.

ETA: And there it is. Exactly what I was thinking about, SS.

[ShelC]

I think the play above was him running the play as it was drawn up/practiced and not taking what the defense gave him. It's a mistake young players will make where they have their minds made up about what they're doing next rather than just playing. That's how they ran it in practice, that's how he ran it in the game.

When I said play through him, I didn't mean we should be looking at him as a 1st or 2nd option for scoring. And I was going to compare him to Boris when he first came to PHX. We kind of didn't know what we had with him but then let him pass from the high or low post because he was a willing passer with a high bball IQ. His passing gave him more confidence and opened up his offense. Bender's had games with 4+ assists and even the other night had a 9-6-7 line.

[carey]

https://twitter.com/sam_amick/status/968733484184489984

[Ring_Wanted]

I think the play above was him running the play as it was drawn up/practiced and not taking what the defense gave him. It's a mistake young players will make where they have their minds made up about what they're doing next rather than just playing. That's how they ran it in practice, that's how he ran it in the game.

Looking at it this way makes it less punishing (probably true as well) . In Bender's case, I choose to believe.

When I said play through him, I didn't mean we should be looking at him as a 1st or 2nd option for scoring. And I was going to compare him to Boris when he first came to PHX. We kind of didn't know what we had with him but then let him pass from the high or low post because he was a willing passer with a high bball IQ. His passing gave him more confidence and opened up his offense. Bender's had games with 4+ assists and even the other night had a 9-6-7 line.

Bender was a PG for some time while he grew up, so a high post passer is not out of question. When he grabs a rebound he is also capable of looking ahead and making a pass for a fastbreak. Again, I choose to believe (that we can have a very nice role player, that's it).

[Indy]

I think the play above was him running the play as it was drawn up/practiced and not taking what the defense gave him. It's a mistake young players will make where they have their minds made up about what they're doing next rather than just playing. That's how they ran it in practice, that's how he ran it in the game.

Looking at it this way makes it less punishing (probably true as well) . In Bender's case, I choose to believe.

That is exactly what it was. You can see Chriss getting his feet set and arms out to catch the pass before Bender even has the ball. It was still a dumb thing because you have to break off plays when the defense gives you an opening, but you learn that with time on the court, film sessions, and coaches coaching you.

[The Bobster]

Boris had a very productive career despite having the same mindset and frustrating us all while he was here.

He is still one of the youngest players in the league, 7'1" and has obvious talents (shooting, passing, defending). I certainly wouldn't want to be the GM or coach to give up on him. Chriss is a different story however.

[O_Gardino]

Be patient with Bender. He's worlds better than he was last season. He still has a long way to go, but he'll continue to improve.

[O_Gardino]

The Bucks won last night, which is good for our pick.

Miami won, which is a bummer. This was one of their toughest matchups over the remainder of the season, and a close win might have gotten them back on track. Them missing the playoffs is a 3 or 4 draft position difference, I think.

The Clippers also won a close game a gains Denver in a battle for the 8th seed. Here comes that Blake Griffin hate. The Clips won .515 with Blake this season and .577 without him. I'm impressed with Doc Rivers' coaching this season.

[JCSunsfan]

I think the play above was him running the play as it was drawn up/practiced and not taking what the defense gave him. It's a mistake young players will make where they have their minds made up about what they're doing next rather than just playing. That's how they ran it in practice, that's how he ran it in the game.

Looking at it this way makes it less punishing (probably true as well) . In Bender's case, I choose to believe.

That is exactly what it was. You can see Chriss getting his feet set and arms out to catch the pass before Bender even has the ball. It was still a dumb thing because you have to break off plays when the defense gives you an opening, but you learn that with time on the court, film sessions, and coaches coaching you.

Yep. I bet they even talked about the play in a time-out. "Run x play, because Chriss is wide open in the corner. He's been open every time." This is a maturity thing.

[Indy]

Not to mention that Jordan was standing right there looking at him ready to stop him if he went up for a dunk. Hadn't he already been killing us in the paint up to that point?

[ShelC]

Granted the Clips were playing awful defense, but that's a pretty good play. The problem is that Chriss was in the corner taking the shot and not an actual shooter. But just going back to Bender, I'm sure he anticipated at least Jordan collapsing, if not the defender chasing along the baseline as well. So that the double team in the paint we're looking for to free up the corner 3. In theory he made the right pass.

[Cap]

Not to mention that Jordan was standing right there looking at him ready to stop him if he went up for a dunk. Hadn't he already been killing us in the paint up to that point?

From where Jordan was standing, on the far side of the paint, he could only have blocked a reverse layup/dunk. Was Bender too far under the basket to do it forwards?

[carey]

[streamable][/streamable]

https://streamable.com/2jv7x

This last week was the final straw for me. He has absolutely no desire to score the basketball.

I just realized the guy calling the game said Jackson instead of Chriss.

[Superbone]

This last week was the final straw for me. He has absolutely no desire to score the basketball.

I just realized the guy calling the game said Jackson instead of Chriss.

I think Ralph Lawler is losing it. Multiple times throughout that game he said wrong player names.

[Indy]

Not to mention that Jordan was standing right there looking at him ready to stop him if he went up for a dunk. Hadn't he already been killing us in the paint up to that point?

From where Jordan was standing, on the far side of the paint, he could only have blocked a reverse layup/dunk. Was Bender too far under the basket to do it forwards?

I think so. It looks like when he gathers the ball, he is directly in the middle of the "restricted area."

Either way, you force that contact. If he blocks it, he blocks it. But you may get a call, or even an And 1.

[Mori Chu]

Lawler's Law: The first commentator to get to (age) 100 loses. That's the law (tm)!