Around the League: Week 9 (12/18 - 12/24)

[ShelC]

Nationally televised games this week
Tuesday, December 19th
Memphis @ New Orleans at 7:30 PM EST on TNT
Boston @ Golden State at 10:00pm EST on TNT

Friday, December 22nd
Washington @ Golden State at 10:00pm EST on ESPN

NBA News
NBA Starting 5, Dec. 19: Clippers win 8th straight; Inside Curry’s streak
https://www.nba.com/news/nba-starting-5-dec-19-2023

North Carolina basketball star Eric Montross dies at age 52
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-baske ... ies-age-52

Sources: Hornets' Miles Bridges denied access to Canada
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/391 ... ess-canada

Former NBA star DeMarcus Cousins signs with team in Taiwan
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/391 ... eam-taiwan

[Mori Chu]

Sources: Hornets' Miles Bridges denied access to Canada
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/391 ... ess-canada

This is pretty interesting. He can't play games @ the Raptors now, since he's barred for his violent crime felony conviction.

[Split T]

I approve…he shouldn’t be in the nba

[Mori Chu]

I found this post on reddit r/nba interesting. It points to a YouTube video claiming that NBA teams have "figured out" how to optimize for winning, which is basically to shoot lots of 3s and take advantage of foul-prone defenders. And it argues that the Suns haven't taken advantage of these same optimizations. That does match the eye test when I watch our team. We don't take enough 3s IMO or get enough "easy" shots, and we turn the ball over too much.

[Split T]

We are 23rd in 3pt attempts a game…we could definitely shoot more. We are 4th in fta per game though which is a huge jump from previous seasons. We do a good job getting to the line.

[Mori Chu]

My theory about our offense is, when you have guys like Book and KD who are really good at mid-range shots, that is a powerful weapon to have, IF they are shooting those shots as a last resort. Like, you try to run a play, try to get a layup or open 3, but if oops you weren't able to get a clean look and oops the shot clock is now about to expire, it's really good to have a guy or 2 who you can just throw the ball to and ask them to try to create a mid-range shot. It basically makes your offense so that in the best case, you get a really efficient shot (a 3 or layup), and in the worst case, where other teams would be forced into a horrible shot, you instead have a guy taking a semi-decent midrange shot instead. But in our case, we've turned the last resort midranger into our entire offense, into the goal of the offense, without really trying to get the easy shot first. If you start out looking for the midrange jumper, you'll never win in 2023/24's NBA.

[Carno]

I found this post on reddit r/nba interesting. It points to a YouTube video claiming that NBA teams have "figured out" how to optimize for winning, which is basically to shoot lots of 3s and take advantage of foul-prone defenders. And it argues that the Suns haven't taken advantage of these same optimizations. That does match the eye test when I watch our team. We don't take enough 3s IMO or get enough "easy" shots, and we turn the ball over too much.

I'll sum up my thoughts by just saying that basketball is constantly evolving and changing. There are a thousand different ways to win. Ten years from now, the league will be favoring some other style.

[Mori Chu]

It seems like the next style the league is evolving into is "big" / "long". Teams like OKC, Minny, etc. are rolling out 4-5 guys who are very tall and long-limbed for their position, making it really hard to get open shots over them. They also get more steals and rebounds. If you can put 5 guys on the floor who are big/tall, AND can hit 3s / have good athleticism, that's tough to beat.

[Wally_West]

*sigh*

[In2ition]

That's a tough lineup.

[Wally_West]

I mentioned him in the trade thread about someone we should keep an eye out for. Probably be rental because not sure if we would to pay him either but if we can get out shit together he’d be a good pickup.

[Wally_West]

Book-Beal-KD-Bey-Nurk

Goodwin-Gordon-Allen-Little-Eubanks

[Split T]

I’d take him…he’s a good player so he helps, but he doesn’t help our biggest need imo. But he helps cover for KBD and Yuta just not being that good.

[Drewsprocket]

I’d take him…he’s a good player so he helps, but he doesn’t help our biggest need imo. But he helps cover for KBD and Yuta just not being that good.

What’s the biggest need?

[Kryptonic]

I’d take him…he’s a good player so he helps, but he doesn’t help our biggest need imo. But he helps cover for KBD and Yuta just not being that good.

What’s the biggest need?

Defensive big I'm assuming.

[Furlanfufi]

I don't think our problem is our players. The 2nd unit are entering games completely lost. There's no defined roles for them, and they should be perfoming better than last year's bench.

[Superbone]

We are 23rd in 3pt attempts a game…we could definitely shoot more. We are 4th in fta per game though which is a huge jump from previous seasons. We do a good job getting to the line.

Our three point defense seems atrocious to me. Feels like every team shoots a high percentage against us.

[Superbone]

*sigh*

It's crazy how they went from losing every game to winning every game. Gives me hope for us.

[Split T]

I’d take him…he’s a good player so he helps, but he doesn’t help our biggest need imo. But he helps cover for KBD and Yuta just not being that good.

What’s the biggest need?

I would say a 4/5 combo big…right now I don’t trust anyone when Nurkic is on the bench and I’d love to have an option to go small and big…Metu could fill that role, but I want to see more of it. I would also prioritize a defensive player that has some offensive skill. Bey is really mostly an offensive player.

[Split T]

We are 23rd in 3pt attempts a game…we could definitely shoot more. We are 4th in fta per game though which is a huge jump from previous seasons. We do a good job getting to the line.

Our three point defense seems atrocious to me. Feels like every team shoots a high percentage against us.

We’re actually 8th in defensive 3pt %, so we’ve faired quite well in that department…probably just some outlier games throwing off your perception. Like Brunson making every single 3.