Game Day: Magic (6-12) @ Suns (10-7), Sun 11/30/14

[Superbone]

I'd really like to see Bledsoe take over here.

Woulda been nice.

[Superbone]

Thats a walk and a half

That obvious missed call hurt badly.

[Gladiator]

I think McD's got more hits than misses, but his misses could end up being quite costly.
IMO, the team generally looks to be suffering under the weight of increased expectation, as well as the obvious unbalanced nature of the roster.

[Danimal]

Perhaps this is better placed for another thread, but what are people's ideas for a short term fix?

- Len in starting line up?
- Tucker in starting line up?
- Is running Len and Plumee together at all worth a shot?
- See if a 2nd rounder can get us a more serviceable PF/C than Randolph to fix the roster imbalance?

I always assumed McD created the roster imbalance because he was still in acquiring assets mode for trades down the line. Just want to see if/how/when he intends to fix it. For that reason I put more pressure on coach right at the moment than McD.

[Ring_Wanted]

Len is usually just much impactful than Plumlee. Starting him would be my first step as well.

PJ instead of Marcus I don't know. I am liking his 3pt much more than his perimeter defense. Actually I was thinking about putting PJ at PF for stretches. We need rebounding as much as defense, if not more.

Len-plumlee together is something I wanted to try during the summer league but Len's finger didn't allow enough time to draw conclusions. The problem is that we need more intensity and Plumlee just looks so dead so often. I'm all for giving it a look anyway.

[Ring_Wanted]

- See if a 2nd rounder can get us a more serviceable PF/C than Randolph to fix the roster imbalance?

Patrick Young just waived by the Pelis. Just an athlete and all, but we need motor and toughness and he can't be worse than Tolliver or Shavlik, right?

As for small trades, the Nuggets have a logjam at PF/C. Darrell Arthur makes just 3.5M (we are around 5M under the cap) is expiring and decent defensively and from midrange.

They'd probably rather move JJ Hickson but he makes 5.6M in 15-16 and doesn't defend, altough he scores in the paint and rebounds and can be used at both PF and C.

I wish the Hawks and Hornets made Payne or Vonleh available, but probably not happening. Chalotte makes sense as trade partner anyway.

If Ainge still is interested in IT3 what about a three way involving Isaiah and Plumlee to Boston, Jeff Green and PJ to the Hornets and Vonleh and Henderson to Phoenix. The Celtics would have to add something, maybe one of their many protected 1stRs, or Bass and a second rounder for Marvin Williams.

[iLLmatic]

Dude the team just does not get back on D. Its pathetic. I've watched Bledsoe on 3 different occasions either miss a shot or turn it over and just jog back and his guy either score or set someone up.

Is that what you get for 70 million dollars these days?

14 million

[iLLmatic]

I think McD's got more hits than misses, but his misses could end up being quite costly.
IMO, the team generally looks to be suffering under the weight of increased expectation, as well as the obvious unbalanced nature of the roster.

If I ever come across a huge stack of cash and Sarver is looking to sell the team, the first person I'm hiring is INF as my General Manager. No doubt INF could whip this team into shape, Ryan fell in love with Bledsoe and gave him that huge stack of cash for God knows what reason. This season has been pretty disappointing so far, our record does not indicate how bad we really are.

[iLLmatic]

Perhaps this is better placed for another thread, but what are people's ideas for a short term fix?

- Len in starting line up?
- Tucker in starting line up?
- Is running Len and Plumee together at all worth a shot?
- See if a 2nd rounder can get us a more serviceable PF/C than Randolph to fix the roster imbalance?

Those two changes would be the first things I'd adjust if I were Hornacek. The starting lineup needs to be shaken up, it's clear to me that this team really lacks any sort of chemistry and once IT3 gets back it will get worse. Len is well deserved of the starting role as he has contributed to our wins more than Miles, and I think Tucker's tenacity and overall aggression is needed from the beginning of the game to set the tone.

[OE32]

One thing I will say about Alex - the turnaround J shouldn't be his first move in the post. He should try a hook, and then counter the hook. At his height, he'll get a lot of people jumping. With his frame, it may be hard to create the space needed for the J, plus it takes him away from the basket. The set shot is fine, but the turnaround at this point is not optimal. Hope they're in his ear about that.

[carey]

OK

So did we OVER exaggerate Horny and McD or no ? I'm not being sarcastic, I am asking.

- R

I really don't think the team is executing coach's gameplan. Not by a long shot. McD was in asset accumulation mode. That phase is pretty much over so we'll see what, if anything, he'll be able to do with them.

[OE32]

At some point, given his performance and his value around the league, you have to think trading Bledsoe is a possibility. He's been a bonehead for the most part, a turnover machine. Maybe a more structured offense on a team with a defensive focus would suit him well. I could see Chicago, Cleveland, Houston, Milwaukee, New York, and Sacramento as suitors. Maybe we put out feelers and try to get the best package.

I don't think IT and Dragic are an ideal back court, but I'd rather have Thomas shooting too much than Bledsoe bouncing the ball off his hands every other possession. But really, whichever of the three PG's will get us assets we can use going forward is the one we should deal.

I'll say it again - I'd really like to see Ennis and Warren in the rotation.

[carey]

I'll say it again - I'd really like to see Ennis and Warren in the rotation.

I think that is most of us. I definitely want to see Warren & with IT hurt was hoping for more of Ennis.

[OE32]

I'll say it again - I'd really like to see Ennis and Warren in the rotation.

I think that is most of us. I definitely want to see Warren & with IT hurt was hoping for more of Ennis.

Importantly, given our current performance, Ennis has shown the ability to run an offense and limit turnovers. I also think he's probably the second-best defensive guard we have - a dubious honor. I think he actually deserves the time.

Hornacek will run with these vets until McD trades them, it appears.

[carey]

Green's dunk last night is actually trending on Facebook right now: http://www.nba.com/suns/video/games/sun ... -play3.nba

I saw his name on the side and did a double-take.

[Ring_Wanted]

Horrible couple of TOs by Bledsoe. The exact way we've discusses with innecessary dribbles in traffic.

Horrible scoreless stretches when Dragic was running things.

Horrible ref no calling that absurdly obvious travelling by Vucevic. Suspension worthy.

Horrible defensive schemes by the coach down the stretch (and stupid tech). Dipo can't be defended by Green when you have Bledsoe, especially if there is no rim protection (C was Kieff). Put Gerald on Payton to contest his length and let Bledsoe fight against Oladipo.

[OE32]

The only good thing from last night was watching Hornacek swearing up a storm on the bench the whole game. He's as pissed as we are. Which is a start.

[Superbone]

The only good thing from last night was watching Hornacek swearing up a storm on the bench the whole game. He's as pissed as we are. Which is a start.

I don't know if you listened to the Suns' broadcast but apparently in one of the timeouts, Coach stepped into the huddle and didn't say a word while everybody was waiting for instructions and then walked off.

[Dan H]

Heck, Amare has a higher PER than anyone on our team other than IT3.

How about Bledsoe and PJ for Amare. He's even on an expiring deal so it's not like it would hurt us going forgward.

[carey]

Heck, Amare has a higher PER than anyone on our team other than IT3.

How about Bledsoe and PJ for Amare. He's even on an expiring deal so it's not like it would hurt us going forgward.

Uh... the Bledsoe backlash is in full already huh?