Phoenix Suns 2014-2015 Season Expectations

[Xylus]

Goran, Bledsoe, the Morris Twins, and Zoran aren't getting moved.

You really expect all of those guys to be here two years from now?

Zoran will probably play out his contract and then go back to Europe. But all those other guys will be here.

No love for Zoran, eh? I think he may surprise many of you. He's going to bring some toughness especially on the defensive end.

That wasn't meant as a knock against. I don't have any expectations or feelings for or against Dragic.

I was just looking ahead and estimating what may become of Zoran. I don't see him having a long and productive NBA career. I would mainly think he would leave after completing his contract because he'll have better offers (money wise) and more of an opportunity to play in Europe.

I agree with this.

The Suns aren't going to treat Goran and Zoran like they treat the Morris Twins. Goran doesn't need his brother to succeed, and will likely remain loyal to the team regardless of what happens with his brother.

I like the Zoran signing, but my expectations for him are very, very low.

[Superbone]

Really depends on the health and play of our front court. We have an absurd amount of wings.

According to some of the media reports I'm reading today, Len has improved "significantly." If there's one guy on the team I'd like to see play all 82, it's him.

Ain't gonna happen. Taking a quote from carey, I'd wager my house on that bet. He can't even make it through a complete Summer League season.

It's wishful thinking, no doubt. I don't know if I'd use his summer league injury as proof that he's fragile, though. Seemed like a freak accident.

It's way too early to deem Len as fragile. We'll know a lot more after this season about that aspect. iLL has been reading a few too many Robot articles.

[iLLmatic]

Really depends on the health and play of our front court. We have an absurd amount of wings.

According to some of the media reports I'm reading today, Len has improved "significantly." If there's one guy on the team I'd like to see play all 82, it's him.

Ain't gonna happen. Taking a quote from carey, I'd wager my house on that bet. He can't even make it through a complete Summer League season.

It's wishful thinking, no doubt. I don't know if I'd use his summer league injury as proof that he's fragile, though. Seemed like a freak accident.

It's way too early to deem Len as fragile. We'll know a lot more after this season about that aspect. iLL has been reading a few too many Robot articles.

No, I subscribe to the House of INF

[Sunsfan4life]

PF: Kieff,Toliver,Marcus

$5 million per year for a third-string power forward?

The depth chart was put in my Sig before the extensions, Although its hard to figure where the suns value Marcus if they really just gave them both a round figure and said "split it up".

[da_suns_fan]

PF: Kieff,Toliver,Marcus

$5 million per year for a third-string power forward?

The depth chart was put in my Sig before the extensions, Although its hard to figure where the suns value Marcus if they really just gave them both a round figure and said "split it up".

Your sig really points out the log-jam at 1-2-3. IT2 needs/deserves 20-25 minutes a game. For that to happen Bledsoe will have to play some minutes at the 2. That means Bledsoe, Dragic, Dragic2, Green and Goodwin are all expecting minutes at the 2.

Lets say both Green and Dragic2 can expect to see time at the 3. Then theres really no room for Warren.

My advice: Send Archie and Warren to D-League.

[Indy]

I don't see Archie making it without a huge leap forward from last year. I really hope he makes it.

[Sunsfan4life]

Yea I don't see Zoran playing unless their are injuries. I really like Warren and think he'll make Tucker tradable by mid-season. He's NBA Ready IMO.

They're 96mins to go around Between the 1-2. If Dragic and Bledsoe eat up about 64 of those and IT2 25 then Gerald Probabaly eats up the remaining mins at the 2.

Then there are 48mins at the 3 which will be where Gerald and P.J. Start the year at gobbling up all the mins, but I bet by the All-star break T.J. Warren is getting alot of mins there.

[TOO]

55 wins and WCF.

Wow.

[ Image ]

We're due.

[INFORMER]

I really don't know how or why the Suns would be "due." This isn't the lottery.

[TOO]

I really don't how or why the Suns would be "due." This isn't the lottery.

Its not?! Well damn, I better take that into consideration next time.

[JCSunsfan]

PF: Kieff,Toliver,Marcus

$5 million per year for a third-string power forward?

The depth chart was put in my Sig before the extensions, Although its hard to figure where the suns value Marcus if they really just gave them both a round figure and said "split it up".

Your sig really points out the log-jam at 1-2-3. IT2 needs/deserves 20-25 minutes a game. For that to happen Bledsoe will have to play some minutes at the 2. That means Bledsoe, Dragic, Dragic2, Green and Goodwin are all expecting minutes at the 2.

Lets say both Green and Dragic2 can expect to see time at the 3. Then theres really no room for Warren.

My advice: Send Archie and Warren to D-League.

I don't think Warren needs d league. He is pushing pj in practice alreDy.

[Superbone]

I really don't how or why the Suns would be "due." This isn't the lottery.

Its not?! Well damn, I better take that into consideration next time.

[Danimal]

We can hope that some team with a good established player badly under performs and decides to go into early rebuilding. And then perhaps we could trade a package of draft picks/rooks/sophmores. Main issue is the used car analogy some folks have been making on this thread.

I keep waiting for Memphis to bottom out but it hasn't fully happened yet. Any early thoughts which team may go down that path?

Last year I kept hoping for a Joe Johnson from Boston type trade where we moved people like Tucker and Green while they had high value for someone with high upside. Cant see that happening now.

It kinda feels a little like the Jason Kidd days where trade scenarios to get us a great pf were thrown around daily in the hope of getting us of the next level.

[Mori Chu]

I think we are slightly better. I think we will make the playoffs as a bottom seed. I think PJ Tucker is gone in mid season or sooner. Maybe Green too, sadly. I am okay with our wobbly front court because we have to see what Morris and Plumlee/Len can give us. If those guys mature and improve, we could be scary. If.

[virtual9mm]

I think if there's a trade to be made, it'll be something like 2 or 3 for 1, with Ennis, Green and Tolliver the most likely to go first - something's got to give in that backcourt and any trade will likely be for a 4, IMO. Who that 4 is, I have no idea.

I don't think Warren needs d league. He is pushing pj in practice alreDy.

I think that Tucker is trade bait after the extreme DUI, and has a pretty good amount of value. Green has value to a team (out East) looking for Tim Thomas the year he played in Phoenix. Ennis and Archie can sit in D-league until they can prove they belong. I think that this offseason has been a wake-up call for him -- rebuild that shot or you're out of the league.

I can see the Suns winning between 45 to 55 wins. The biggest factors are whether Markieff can handle being a starting PF (he's excelled playing against backups) and how Len comes along.

[ShelC]

I can see the Suns winning between 45 to 55 wins. The biggest factors are whether Markieff can handle being a starting PF (he's excelled playing against backups) and how Len comes along.

Agreed about Markieff and Len. I'm a big proponent of keeping a team together for chemistry and continuity. Already, Hornacek has said there's less teaching and repetition because the system is there and guys are familiar with it. Now you can hone in on certain things defensively and get that much better at what's already there. What drove me crazy about the Nash era was that we kept switching out pieces looking for the answer every offseason. So from that perspective, we should be able to get out to a fast start and know what we're doing right away.

What troubles me is the Western Conference in general. We won 48 games and missed the playoffs, and it's not like a bunch of teams have fallen off. Dallas got better on paper with Parson and Tyson Chandler, the Rockets replaced Parsons with Ariza. You know the Spurs, Clips, Thunder will be there. The Blazers have a year under their belts and didn't lose anyone of significance. The Grizz will be there as well and the Warriors should be at least as good, if not better, without that coaching distraction and inner turmoil. So that's 8 right there. Not sure if/where we slide in barring injuries or some random dropoff (I could see the Rockets sliding and firing McHale sooner than later).

As long as our guards stay healthy, I think we can run and gun to 52 or so wins. You can win in the regular season with firepower, we've proven that, and if Dragic, Thomas and Bledsoe are healthy we can really push teams for 48 minutes every night.

[Mori Chu]

What troubles me is the Western Conference in general. We won 48 games and missed the playoffs, and it's not like a bunch of teams have fallen off. Dallas got better on paper with Parson and Tyson Chandler, the Rockets replaced Parsons with Ariza. You know the Spurs, Clips, Thunder will be there. The Blazers have a year under their belts and didn't lose anyone of significance. The Grizz will be there as well and the Warriors should be at least as good, if not better, without that coaching distraction and inner turmoil. So that's 8 right there. Not sure if/where we slide in barring injuries or some random dropoff (I could see the Rockets sliding and firing McHale sooner than later).

I think Dallas will drop off. I know that the Mavs just got Chandler Parsons, but I don't believe in that signing at all. I think he's extremely overrated and that his new contract will be an albatross. I think Dirk has an off year, maybe health-wise, and that the team in general just doesn't come together. I think they miss the playoffs.

The other team I see ducking out of the playoffs will be Memphis. That team has really soldiered on for years, but look at their guards. They don't have any long-distance shooting, and their guys are all a year older. This team is so desperate that they have signed M****** B*****y, Vince Carter, and even Earl Clark. P.U. I think they'll still be a tough team but that they'll be the ones narrowly missing the postseason this year.

Who gets in, to replace the above teams? Gun to my head, I say Suns and Pelicans.

[SDC]

I think we are slightly better. I think we will make the playoffs as a bottom seed. I think PJ Tucker is gone in mid season or sooner. Maybe Green too, sadly. I am okay with our wobbly front court because we have to see what Morris and Plumlee/Len can give us. If those guys mature and improve, we could be scary. If.

tucker wont be gone. nobody wants his contract. suns overpaid for him and bleds. green might be traded to a contender though. (quick, which playoff team needs a shooting guard? chicago? dallas?)

[MightyMoog]

Not sure where the teams will end up, it's all about matchups now. But the only teams that scare me are the clippers, grizzlies and spurs. We demolished the blazers, warriors and thunder we were able to beat. Houston and Dallas beat us last year, but I thought they got lucky. My bold prediction is that the rockets fall out of the playoffs. There's just no cohesion with that team.

[Superbone]

http://espn.go.com/espn/chalk/story/_/i ... e-best-585

Vegas has our over/under for games won at 42.5. Seems like easy money to me. I'll take the over, please.