Trade: Chris Paul to Suns for Ricky Rubio and Kelly Oubre Jr.

[Wally_West]

ROFL.

[Superbone]

Wait a second. That really is Carlton from FPoBA?! I never realized that! I thought people were joking about their similarities!

[Indy]

Wait a second. That really is Carlton from FPoBA?! I never realized that! I thought people were joking about their similarities!

No, that is TNCP3.

[bajanguy008]

I really wanted to watch everything first, do you guys a solid y'all know exactly what mins are the Suns content but I have to head out now. Exams....
anyways first minute already had a super interesting comment that "It is strange because this the first time he going to a team where he never played with any of the guys, not even pickup"
that is crazy for someone like CP3 who been in the league forever so I can see how this is literally the first time

well I watched the first few minutes with a big grin on my face so I'm sure someone will have a look by the time I get back on here

[Superbone]

Thanks, bj. That's a great interview!

[Split T]

I really wanted to watch everything first, do you guys a solid y'all know exactly what mins are the Suns content but I have to head out now. Exams....
anyways first minute already had a super interesting comment that "It is strange because this the first time he going to a team where he never played with any of the guys, not even pickup"
that is crazy for someone like CP3 who been in the league forever so I can see how this is literally the first time

well I watched the first few minutes with a big grin on my face so I'm sure someone will have a look by the time I get back on here

For those who thought we might rest CP3 a bunch this year, he throws that out the window in this interview. Said OKC brought that idea up to him and he said no way he’s sitting if he’s not hurt.

[Nodack]

That is one long interview. I will have to do it in shifts.

[Split T]

Another interesting thing from the interview(not suns related) but they talked about why Houston played the way they did. Meaning heavy iso ball and switch everything defensively. It was 100% to beat GS. GS switched everything, so 80% of the stuff they’d normally run didn’t work against a switching defense, so you run through your plays, nothings happening, so someone ISO’s with 5 seconds on the shot clock. So you create a heavy iso offense that attacks all the mismatches created from switching and you get the 18-19 Rockets.

Similarly, playing that style of defense also threw off other teams. CP3 talked about facing Minny in the playoffs and laughing to himself at how frustrated they were getting that they couldn’t run their offense in the playoffs. Most offenses just aren’t built to attack a switching defense.

Bringing it back to the suns and to some other comments from the pod, the suns have the guys to play multiple defensive styles. Ayton made major strides at playing defense in a drop coverage last year and we know he’s very capable to slide on the perimeter and switch. Couple that with some very switchable wings and we’re pretty set. Great to have some strong point of attack defenders as well in CP3 and Carter.

I think a top 10 defense is possible, and if our shooting is as strong as I think, a top 5 offense isn’t out of the question. I’m excited, this season should be fun.

[Nodack]

And it starts in a few days.

[O_Gardino]

I'm hyped!

[Indy]

Another interesting thing from the interview(not suns related) but they talked about why Houston played the way they did. Meaning heavy iso ball and switch everything defensively. It was 100% to beat GS. GS switched everything, so 80% of the stuff they’d normally run didn’t work against a switching defense, so you run through your plays, nothings happening, so someone ISO’s with 5 seconds on the shot clock. So you create a heavy iso offense that attacks all the mismatches created from switching and you get the 18-19 Rockets.

Similarly, playing that style of defense also threw off other teams. CP3 talked about facing Minny in the playoffs and laughing to himself at how frustrated they were getting that they couldn’t run their offense in the playoffs. Most offenses just aren’t built to attack a switching defense.

Bringing it back to the suns and to some other comments from the pod, the suns have the guys to play multiple defensive styles. Ayton made major strides at playing defense in a drop coverage last year and we know he’s very capable to slide on the perimeter and switch. Couple that with some very switchable wings and we’re pretty set. Great to have some strong point of attack defenders as well in CP3 and Carter.

I think a top 10 defense is possible, and if our shooting is as strong as I think, a top 5 offense isn’t out of the question. I’m excited, this season should be fun.

If you are talking about points per possession (instead of just overall points or FG% or whatever) then I would agree. Actually, I think it is needed if we are to make a top 5 seed in the West. You can't make the moves you did (and did not do!) this offseason to be a middle of the pack team. I mean, top 10 defense just means you are a little better than average. We need to be elite in both.

[Split T]

It’s pretty unusual to be top 10 in both offense and defense. That usually means you’re a title contender. Think you either need to be great on both sides of the ball(5th to 9th) or elite on one side(1-4) and at least average on the other(10-15).

I’m hoping we can be around 5th on offense and 9th on defense.

[ShelC]

I've been thinking about how good we can be on defense too, and I think at worst top 12 but probably top 10. I don't know if I'm overrating the roster because I'm excited but I just don't see a lot of weak spots besides Book. This isn't the 7SOL teams with MikeD blowing off defense and telling the team to run faster or Nash guarding opposing PGs or Amare protecting the rim. We have competent defenders at nearly every spot. Paul's still a top defender at PG, Mikal is close to being a lockdown perimeter defender, Cam has shown defensive chops and Ayton's proven solid in the middle. Throw in bench guys like Moore and Galloway plus Crowder, even Saric and we should be pretty good.

[Split T]

Ya we’ve got the pieces. We’ll see how it plays out on the court.

[JeremyG]

Two worlds are about to collide:

Chris Paul has not missed the playoffs since 2010.
The Suns have not made the playoffs since 2010.

One of these two streaks must end this season.

[Indy]

It’s pretty unusual to be top 10 in both offense and defense. That usually means you’re a title contender. Think you either need to be great on both sides of the ball(5th to 9th) or elite on one side(1-4) and at least average on the other(10-15).

I’m hoping we can be around 5th on offense and 9th on defense.

I guess that is what I am saying. If you cash in all your chips and go after CP3 (and his $40M), then sign the type of guys Jones did (solid, nothing above average or close to elite), you better believe you can complete with this group. Because you don't have flexibility to do much else. So if this team isn't a top tier team, you have failed in what you were trying to do.

And of course this is the pre-season Suns fan hype in me, but there is no reason why we can't be a top 10 defensive and offensive team.

[Superbone]

Two worlds are about to collide:

Chris Paul has not missed the playoffs since 2010.
The Suns have not made the playoffs since 2010.

One of these two streaks must end this season.

I know which one it is.

[specialsauce]

It’s pretty unusual to be top 10 in both offense and defense. That usually means you’re a title contender. Think you either need to be great on both sides of the ball(5th to 9th) or elite on one side(1-4) and at least average on the other(10-15).

I’m hoping we can be around 5th on offense and 9th on defense.

I guess that is what I am saying. If you cash in all your chips and go after CP3 (and his $40M), then sign the type of guys Jones did (solid, nothing above average or close to elite), you better believe you can complete with this group. Because you don't have flexibility to do much else. So if this team isn't a top tier team, you have failed in what you were trying to do.

And of course this is the pre-season Suns fan hype in me, but there is no reason why we can't be a top 10 defensive and offensive team.

I don’t think that’s necessarily true. I think both can happen simultaneously- field a competitive team that allows our young guys to grow into themselves and maintain flexibility for future additions as they enter their prime. I think we did a solid job of that. In three years we will be well positioned to retool and reevaluate Mikal Cam Smith and DA

[Indy]

It’s pretty unusual to be top 10 in both offense and defense. That usually means you’re a title contender. Think you either need to be great on both sides of the ball(5th to 9th) or elite on one side(1-4) and at least average on the other(10-15).

I’m hoping we can be around 5th on offense and 9th on defense.

I guess that is what I am saying. If you cash in all your chips and go after CP3 (and his $40M), then sign the type of guys Jones did (solid, nothing above average or close to elite), you better believe you can complete with this group. Because you don't have flexibility to do much else. So if this team isn't a top tier team, you have failed in what you were trying to do.

And of course this is the pre-season Suns fan hype in me, but there is no reason why we can't be a top 10 defensive and offensive team.

I don’t think that’s necessarily true. I think both can happen simultaneously- field a competitive team that allows our young guys to grow into themselves and maintain flexibility for future additions as they enter their prime. I think we did a solid job of that. In three years we will be well positioned to retool and reevaluate Mikal Cam Smith and DA

We don't have 3 years to do that. Both DA and Mikal enter their team option year after this current season. And we have already have more money committed next season than we do this season (even closer to the tax payer limit).

[Split T]

Ya I thing as long as your being smart and players want to come, you can find ways to make it happen. I think being bad and having tons of cap space is still harder to get new additions.

Miami has been a great example of this I think. Miami has also just done incredibly well drafting in the late lottery and later. New York an example of how not to do it.