Game Day: Timberwolves (14-48) @ Suns (33-32), Wed 3/11/15

[specialsauce]

Unless the front office comes out and says "winning isn't as important as developing the young players" the coach is going to play the guys he thinks give the team the best chance of winning. That's just the way it is when you're the coach or players - you go out there to win the game.

Now we can argue that Warren should play over Marcus, but I don't think at this point Archie gives the team a better chance to win than Thornton. And Hornacek may just be one of those coaches that prefers going with the veterans (he gave Green a long leash).

Personally, I would throw in the towel this season and play the kids - but unless you have the stamp of approval of the front office, priority #1 is winning games.

Sorry bud, I think you're way off. I think we will win more games with Warren and Archie. I don't call playing them throwing in the towel. It's a matter of the veterans not getting it done and going with players that will run the system. It's principle. He has no command of the locker room AND the results are poor.

[Superbone]

Wiggins goes for 40?

Not quite.

[Superbone]

Hornacek just put Thornton in.


Fuck you Jeff. I hope you're not back next year.

I don't want him gone but damn does he need to wise up. There is nothing to gain by playing Thornton. Nothing.

Thornton played well tonight.

[Superbone]

Fire Hornacek, tonight.

You be trippin', dude.

[Superbone]

Great game from Warren! So nice to see. I think he'll continue to get more playing time as we finish out the season. More career highs to come.

[djy2j]

Ugly win. Way too many turnovers and Minny got everything they wanted in the paint.

Glad Thornton could get his one good game out of the way. I just assume every shot he takes is a miss. I assume the same for Marcus Morris. Basically, anyone named Marcus probably isnt making shots consistently.

Markieff scored 24 points but was abused by Justin Hamilton and was out reabounded by Marcus Thornton. Don't worry Markieff. Im just vomiting from cheering too hard...

Eric Bledsoe has too much of a scorers mentality to be an effective point guard. He looks so uncomfortable running an offense.

PJ Tucker please stop dribbling my god. Youre sick dude.

TJ Warren played awesome! Dude just has a nose for the ball. Definitely encouraging.

[Shabazz]

Justin Hamilton looked like a nice player. We could have kept him in that Miami trade. I guess Earl "the Pearl Necklace" Barron was a better bet for our team.

[Shabazz]

Markieff scored 24 points but was abused by Justin Hamilton and was out reabounded by Marcus Thornton. Don't worry Markieff. Im just vomiting from cheering too hard...

I don't want to be too negative after a win, but Markieff's defense was atrocious tonight. Payne went around him with ease as well.

[Shabazz]

The good things:

TJ, obviously. It would be nice if Hornacek could get him into the game a little earlier than the 6 minute mark of the second.

I thought Archie's PG instincts were pretty good in this game. Made the right plays when he was running the show.

Markieff's offense was much better than it had been (he was +25 for the game).

Bledsoe's passing was on point for the most part and his shot looked pretty good. Under 6 turnovers today. yay.

[OE32]

It seems like Hornacek is actively trying to keep TJ off the floor. TJ must earn every minute of time. The vets get it by default, and they can't seem to play their way to the bench. I guess this is Hornacek's way of teaching. I hate it. It's just bias.

[carey]

What do you guys think of Rubio? Is this who he is at this point? He's only 24 but 4 years in the league and he's still putting up the same numbers, about 10 points and 10 assists. Has never even shot over 40% for the year once. We probably shouldn't mention his 3pt %. How do you not improve even a little? I know he's been injured a lot but still.... I can see him going back to Europe.

[Indy]

If only we had a good passing PG to consistently take advantage of a guy who gets himself in a good position.

Exactly. Len and Warren would get a lot more opportunities to score if we had a guard who could run plays and set up players for easy shots.

I know I shouldn't say this, but can you imagine the looks Len, Wright, and TJ would get with Nash from 4-5 years ago running point? I swear TJ would be one of those guys on the border of all-stardom.

[Indy]

Markieff scored 24 points but was abused by Justin Hamilton and was out reabounded by Marcus Thornton. Don't worry Markieff. Im just vomiting from cheering too hard...

I don't want to be too negative after a win, but Markieff's defense was atrocious tonight. Payne went around him with ease as well.

Over and over and over again. And Keef didn't seem to care. It is embarrassing... well, it probably isn't, but it should be.

[Indy]

Under 6 turnovers today. yay.

Small victories, right Bazz?

[Indy]

Unless the front office comes out and says "winning isn't as important as developing the young players" the coach is going to play the guys he thinks give the team the best chance of winning. That's just the way it is when you're the coach or players - you go out there to win the game.

Now we can argue that Warren should play over Marcus, but I don't think at this point Archie gives the team a better chance to win than Thornton. And Hornacek may just be one of those coaches that prefers going with the veterans (he gave Green a long leash).

Personally, I would throw in the towel this season and play the kids - but unless you have the stamp of approval of the front office, priority #1 is winning games.

Sorry bud, I think you're way off. I think we will win more games with Warren and Archie. I don't call playing them throwing in the towel. It's a matter of the veterans not getting it done and going with players that will run the system. It's principle. He has no command of the locker room AND the results are poor.

I am with Bob. I don't think it is clear based on this entire season that playing Archie or TJ (despite a great game last night) means we win more games this year. And the front office keeps saying we are in a playoff race. And keep in mind that right now is prime season for renewing next season's tickets. They aren't going to say, "Well, we had a shot but decided to prepare for next season and beyond." They just aren't going to get the majority of the fair weather fans in Phoenix to pony up money to see that.

I know, I know. They aren't getting people to pony up money to this what is currently happening either. But you get my point. That's why I think we are not going to go the whole rebuild route, and keep mediocre players around like Keef/Marcus until 2020. Bleh.

[carey]

Unless the front office comes out and says "winning isn't as important as developing the young players" the coach is going to play the guys he thinks give the team the best chance of winning. That's just the way it is when you're the coach or players - you go out there to win the game.

Now we can argue that Warren should play over Marcus, but I don't think at this point Archie gives the team a better chance to win than Thornton. And Hornacek may just be one of those coaches that prefers going with the veterans (he gave Green a long leash).

Personally, I would throw in the towel this season and play the kids - but unless you have the stamp of approval of the front office, priority #1 is winning games.

Sorry bud, I think you're way off. I think we will win more games with Warren and Archie. I don't call playing them throwing in the towel. It's a matter of the veterans not getting it done and going with players that will run the system. It's principle. He has no command of the locker room AND the results are poor.

I am with Bob. I don't think it is clear based on this entire season that playing Archie or TJ (despite a great game last night) means we win more games this year. And the front office keeps saying we are in a playoff race. And keep in mind that right now is prime season for renewing next season's tickets. They aren't going to say, "Well, we had a shot but decided to prepare for next season and beyond." They just aren't going to get the majority of the fair weather fans in Phoenix to pony up money to see that.

I know, I know. They aren't getting people to pony up money to this what is currently happening either. But you get my point. That's why I think we are not going to go the whole rebuild route, and keep mediocre players around like Keef/Marcus until 2020. Bleh.

Doug & Wolf made a compelling case for trading the Morris twins today. That the lack of public shaming or suspensions for their antics was to prevent a black mark going on their record so they can be moved. They didn't mention the assault but it's likely why the team buried it as well.

They think McDonough's remark to Gambo yesterday that significant tweaks to the roster are coming in the off season means a current starter will be traded & it won't be Knight. They said Bledsoe or the twins with the twins being most likely.

[LazarusLong]

The twins make the most sense to move. On paper, one might be tempted to keep Kieff and get rid of Marcus. But given the personal dynamics, Kieff would probably pout and be a drag in the locker room if that happened.

Last night illustrated the problem with the current make up. One helps the other play well, but defense suffers when both are in the lineup. Marcus at 3 slows down the pace, and, unless he's hot shooting, that helps kill the offense.

[Indy]

Unless the front office comes out and says "winning isn't as important as developing the young players" the coach is going to play the guys he thinks give the team the best chance of winning. That's just the way it is when you're the coach or players - you go out there to win the game.

Now we can argue that Warren should play over Marcus, but I don't think at this point Archie gives the team a better chance to win than Thornton. And Hornacek may just be one of those coaches that prefers going with the veterans (he gave Green a long leash).

Personally, I would throw in the towel this season and play the kids - but unless you have the stamp of approval of the front office, priority #1 is winning games.

Sorry bud, I think you're way off. I think we will win more games with Warren and Archie. I don't call playing them throwing in the towel. It's a matter of the veterans not getting it done and going with players that will run the system. It's principle. He has no command of the locker room AND the results are poor.

I am with Bob. I don't think it is clear based on this entire season that playing Archie or TJ (despite a great game last night) means we win more games this year. And the front office keeps saying we are in a playoff race. And keep in mind that right now is prime season for renewing next season's tickets. They aren't going to say, "Well, we had a shot but decided to prepare for next season and beyond." They just aren't going to get the majority of the fair weather fans in Phoenix to pony up money to see that.

I know, I know. They aren't getting people to pony up money to this what is currently happening either. But you get my point. That's why I think we are not going to go the whole rebuild route, and keep mediocre players around like Keef/Marcus until 2020. Bleh.

Doug & Wolf made a compelling case for trading the Morris twins today. That the lack of public shaming or suspensions for their antics was to prevent a black mark going on their record so they can be moved. They didn't mention the assault but it's likely why the team buried it as well.

They think McDonough's remark to Gambo yesterday that significant tweaks to the roster are coming in the off season means a current starter will be traded & it won't be Knight. They said Bledsoe or the twins with the twins being most likely.

I don't think either of those guys has any legitimate inside info on the Suns.

[OE32]

McD talked about our core being Bled, Knight, Warren, the Morris twins, Archie, and Len. Not that none of those guys could be moved, but it didn't sound like he was looking to get rid of any of them. I guess it could be Tucker pushed out the door, which I'm fine with. One of Tucker and Marcus simply has to go.

[carey]

I don't think either of those guys has any legitimate inside info on the Suns.

I know mate. If you read what I wrote though you see that they are reacting to the McDonough interview & speculating based on the FO's recent actions.