Suns News: Week 4 11/17-11/23

[carey]

Edit: Accidentally deleted OP when copying code for Week 5. Woops.

[INFORMER]

"It's still a lot of getting used to for those guys because they're all point guards who have handled the ball a lot," coach Jeff Hornacek said. "So now they all have to handle it a lot less for all three of them to have a chance at it. They're still working on how to be off the ball and still be involved.

"Really, we want to do the same thing we did last year. Just get the ball side to side where they are all touching it each play and they feel like they're involved."

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/n ... /19191241/

I still don't get it. This seems so inefficient, counterproductive, and unnecessary. What happened to just letting players do what they do best?

[Indy]

What happened to just letting players do what they do best?

You can't do that if 3 of your players (that typically share a lot of court time) all need the ball a lot to do what they do best, right? There is still only one ball.

[Shabazz]

https://twitter.com/ZachLowe_NBA/status/534712457340915712

[SwingMan]

https://twitter.com/ZachLowe_NBA/status/534712457340915712

I like Markieff a lot, but the above is pure euphoria of seeing him notch a career game on the road.....

[Indy]

I think I asked this before, but am too lazy to look it up. Who, on a non-rookie deal, is producing similarly or better per dollar than him? I am sure there are some, I am just too disconnected from the rest of the NBA to know.

[Ring_Wanted]

I did, Indy. I found no other PF. Maybe Taj Gibson once you factor in his defense and improved jumper. Maybe Paul Millsap but he is expiring.

[Mori Chu]

If Kieff keeps up his current performance, he'll absolutely be worth his current contract. The real question to me is, is he worth also keeping Marcus on the roster and playing him big minutes / starting him? Marcus has been improved this season, but I don't think he's the best person to have as our starting SF.

[Mori Chu]

A related question: Would you rather have Markieff Morris or Kenneth Faried? Faried was the other guy available at that pick when we took Kieff, and many clamored for Faried instead of Markieff.

[Shabazz]

it's worth noting that the Morrii are still on their rookie contracts. The extensions kick in after this season.

[Indy]

it's worth noting that the Morrii are still on their rookie contracts. The extensions kick in after this season.

Really good point. I forgot about that. So right now each is working for $3 this season, with Kieff going to an average of 8 and Marcus 5. Again, I don't have a problem with either number. The problem I have is whether or not they need each other to be worth that amount. If so, it isn't a good deal for us.

[Superbone]

If Kieff keeps up his current performance, he'll absolutely be worth his current contract. The real question to me is, is he worth also keeping Marcus on the roster and playing him big minutes / starting him? Marcus has been improved this season, but I don't think he's the best person to have as our starting SF.

We had better not start him just because of the money. Best player needs to start and that will soon be TJ. The only reason TJ's not starting now is because he's a rookie. I didn't want them to take him out last night he was playing so well. I'd be very surprised if he's not starting by the end of the year. If nothing else, he'll be a major part of the rotation.

[Superbone]

A related question: Would you rather have Markieff Morris or Kenneth Faried? Faried was the other guy available at that pick when we took Kieff, and many clamored for Faried instead of Markieff.

I would have told you Faried for the first two years. No question in mind it's Markieff now. He's so much more versatile.

[ShelC]

Consistency is my biggest thing with the Morris Bros. At least with Faried, you know you're getting energy, hustle, rebounding. Is he overpaid? I think so. He's a great hustle, role player. As skilled as the Morris Bros? No. But his energy can change a game and if you have him next to the right center, he looks that much better.

[INFORMER]

Honestly, I'd rather have neither. If I had to keep one, it would be Markieff. But if I could have one to trade, it would be Faried; I think the NBA community values him more than Markieff.

[carey]

Paul Flannery wrote about the Suns & how they are learning to deal with expectations for SB Nation: LINK

But it's important to remember that even with the heightened expectations, they are still in a bit of a rebuilding phase. McDonough has all of his draft picks and protected picks from the Lakers (top five) and Minnesota (top 12) potentially on the way either this year or next. There's also more talent waiting in the wings with second-year guard Archie Goodwin and rookies Tyler Ennis and T.J. Warren, who flashed some of his scoring ability with seven points in 12 minutes against Boston. What they are now and what they may be in the future are two different things.

But if there's one lesson to remember from last year's surprising success, it's that there's a big difference between proving something and sustaining it.

"Our guys realize that we're not going to sneak up on anybody," Hornacek said. "We didn't really sneak up on anybody after the first 30 games last year anyway. Our guys have to realize that we got to that level last year by scratching and clawing and playing with a little chip on our shoulder that nobody believed that we could be any good. We got to get that back.

[Mori Chu]

McDonough has all of his draft picks and protected picks from the Lakers (top five) and Minnesota (top 12) potentially on the way either this year or next.

It looks unlikely that we will get either of those picks next year.

[SwingMan]

McDonough has all of his draft picks and protected picks from the Lakers (top five) and Minnesota (top 12) potentially on the way either this year or next.

It looks unlikely that we will get either of those picks next year.

No way the Lakers make the playoffs this year, but if Bryant keeps his tear up all season, I think we might eek that pick out when all's said & done - probably #7-9.

[Beetlejuice]

For suns news I have bookmarked this sportspyder thingy:

http://sportspyder.com/teams/phoenix-suns/news/all

[JCSunsfan]

Goran drops the bomb. He will now have an "open free agency" and there is already big speculation ab out where he will go. He expresses frustration at the 3 pg system.

http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2 ... iah-thomas