Suns News: The Offseason (2015)

[Cap]

Yeah, but the problem is, he hasn't even developed his regular game yet. He hasn't nailed his mid-range jumper. His footwork isn't all there. He doesn't have post moves. He hasn't mastered positioning, boxing out, rebounding, finishing, put-backs.

If he were pretty good at the above, then fine, add a 3-point shot rather than stagnating your game. But he doesn't even have the basics of a center's game down yet. Like anybody, he has limited practice time and attention span to work on anything. Why squander any of that precious time on a stupid shot that he won't use in the games to any positive effect?

Working on that shot is a relatively low-stress, low-resource workout. If you have a shooting coach / rebounder, all you have to do is stand there in the corner and shoot. You can't spend all day every day working on your inside game because it's harder on your body and requires more help.

[EDC]

I think this was posted before.

[Phoeknicks]

Love the video ED. I have a theory that AL is growing a goatee so he could be his own evil twin.



Worked on Knight Rider. What would he be called?

[TOO]

Love the video ED. I have a theory that AL is growing a goatee so he could be his own evil twin.

[ Image ]

Worked on Knight Rider. What would he be called?

Randy.

[ShelC]

Garth Len.

[Ring_Wanted]

Yeah, but the problem is, he hasn't even developed his regular game yet. He hasn't nailed his mid-range jumper. His footwork isn't all there. He doesn't have post moves. He hasn't mastered positioning, boxing out, rebounding, finishing, put-backs.

If he were pretty good at the above, then fine, add a 3-point shot rather than stagnating your game. But he doesn't even have the basics of a center's game down yet. Like anybody, he has limited practice time and attention span to work on anything. Why squander any of that precious time on a stupid shot that he won't use in the games to any positive effect?

Working on that shot is a relatively low-stress, low-resource workout. If you have a shooting coach / rebounder, all you have to do is stand there in the corner and shoot. You can't spend all day every day working on your inside game because it's harder on your body and requires more help.

My two cents on Len's development:

Maybe it would be wise to focus your efforts in making him one of the rare bigs who can hit jumpshots (threes, if possible) while being a true factor on D+R (that's what they are doing with Ibaka, for instance). I think learning real post offense is almost as hard as improving your bball IQ. We are not turning him into Jahill Okafor or even Valanciunas.

I get that you don't need to achieve that level per se, but if we are talking about the defining aspects of a prospect's role (especially someone as tantalizing as Len), I think you should try to just let him be. So you want to face the basket at 7'1''? So be it. As long as you are a wall on D and the team grabs rebounds.

He could acquire say a decent hook from one elbow, as many stiffs have over the years, but despite his size I can't buy the idea that one day you will be able to make him a relevant part of a system as a low post scorer. Just play to his strengths. Doesn't even need to slid to the PF (although I am really interested in watching him alongside Chandler), just pair him with someone who fits well, like one of the way less scarce PF or SF/PF that actually can play inside.

Given what we have seen from him in two(ish) seasons, having him craft a reliable midrange or even 3pt shot seems way easier than learning footwork and fakes. He has already a decent form, and is agile even to launch fadeaways in kind of catch and shoot situations. And since he is so mobile, he should help a ton when charging for offensive rebounds.

tl;dr Let him be. Stretch center ftw.

[virtual9mm]

An awful lot of so-called low-post centers were actually mid-range jump shooters. Olajuwon played like a 7-foot tall small forward. Ewing's main weapon was the free-throw line jumper. In that sense, a mid-range jumper is a strong complement to low-post scoring skills.

[Dan H]

Smits 2.0?

[JCSunsfan]

Yeah, but the problem is, he hasn't even developed his regular game yet. He hasn't nailed his mid-range jumper. His footwork isn't all there. He doesn't have post moves. He hasn't mastered positioning, boxing out, rebounding, finishing, put-backs.

If he were pretty good at the above, then fine, add a 3-point shot rather than stagnating your game. But he doesn't even have the basics of a center's game down yet. Like anybody, he has limited practice time and attention span to work on anything. Why squander any of that precious time on a stupid shot that he won't use in the games to any positive effect?

Working on that shot is a relatively low-stress, low-resource workout. If you have a shooting coach / rebounder, all you have to do is stand there in the corner and shoot. You can't spend all day every day working on your inside game because it's harder on your body and requires more help.

My two cents on Len's development:

Maybe it would be wise to focus your efforts in making him one of the rare bigs who can hit jumpshots (threes, if possible) while being a true factor on D+R (that's what they are doing with Ibaka, for instance). I think learning real post offense is almost as hard as improving your bball IQ. We are not turning him into Jahill Okafor or even Valanciunas.

I get that you don't need to achieve that level per se, but if we are talking about the defining aspects of a prospect's role (especially someone as tantalizing as Len), I think you should try to just let him be. So you want to face the basket at 7'1''? So be it. As long as you are a wall on D and the team grabs rebounds.

He could acquire say a decent hook from one elbow, as many stiffs have over the years, but despite his size I can't buy the idea that one day you will be able to make him a relevant part of a system as a low post scorer. Just play to his strengths. Doesn't even need to slid to the PF (although I am really interested in watching him alongside Chandler), just pair him with someone who fits well, like one of the way less scarce PF or SF/PF that actually can play inside.

Given what we have seen from him in two(ish) seasons, having him craft a reliable midrange or even 3pt shot seems way easier than learning footwork and fakes. He has already a decent form, and is agile even to launch fadeaways in kind of catch and shoot situations. And since he is so mobile, he should help a ton when charging for offensive rebounds.

tl;dr Let him be. Stretch center ftw.

I don't think a low post game is as hard to learn as you say. I see junior high kids learning those moves, as long as there is someone competent teaching them. Almost any player with superior size and decent athleticism can "get it" Its primarily about foot work. Players come into the NBA and struggle because they no longer have the size advantage they did at lower levels and they cannot get their shot off cleanly, or their vision is blocked.

Len is taller and longer than almost everyone he faces. He should have that game so that he can take advantage of mismatches when teams go small, especially.

[carey]

https://twitter.com/TheMattPetersen/status/618862476428349440 https://twitter.com/TheMattPetersen/status/618861378741235712 https://twitter.com/paulcoro/status/618864435386535936

[OE32]

Thanks for these updates, Carey. You da real MVP.

If those tweets reflect what we'll see in games this season, we'll be tough to beat. Chemistry is the key to our making the playoffs. I think we can do it.

I also wouldn't be surprised if there were one last move to make - say, bringing in a rotation 2/3 to replace Tucker with better shooting. We're well positioned, IMO.

[carey]

See FA thread OE, breaking news!

[iLLmatic]

Gambo is saying no Ryan Anderson or Amar'e.

[Ring_Wanted]

I don't think a low post game is as hard to learn as you say. I see junior high kids learning those moves, as long as there is someone competent teaching them. Almost any player with superior size and decent athleticism can "get it" Its primarily about foot work. Players come into the NBA and struggle because they no longer have the size advantage they did at lower levels and they cannot get their shot off cleanly, or their vision is blocked.

Len is taller and longer than almost everyone he faces. He should have that game so that he can take advantage of mismatches when teams go small, especially.

Footwork is precisely the hardest part to add past a certain age. NBA pros try to learn straight from Hakeem himself but they barely get any results.

What I think is that a guy like Len can learn just enough to take advantage of a clear mismatch. Under those situations, he would need just a couple of basic movements, a reliable hook and the diffence in size and length makes the rest, but that's entirely different from making the post your bread and butter.

I like Len as a prospect for many reasons, but potential to man the paint on offense is not one of them.

[In2ition]

Pete Newell was the best big man coach and always got the best results in the shortest time when teaching post moves for big men, RIP.

[ShelC]

Gerald Greens signing with Miami.

Feel like they're pretty heavy on swingmen.

[In2ition]

That's a good signing by the Heat. With as injury prone that both Wade and Deng are, he and Winslow will get a lot of playing time.

[Ring_Wanted]

Gerald Greens signing with Miami.

Feel like they're pretty heavy on swingmen.

They lacked shooters though. And Deng is expiring and a good trading chip since they stole Winslow (Riley must have had a good laugh when he saw he fell). If Bosh is healthy I think they are #2 A or B in the East, depending on how you rate the Bulls.

[Shabazz]

We have a serious shooting problem as well. Other than Booker, and to some extent Knight, do we have anyone who is a true threat from 3 point range? I feel like we have to get a Teletovic type at this point.

[JCSunsfan]

We have a serious shooting problem as well. Other than Booker, and to some extent Knight, do we have anyone who is a true threat from 3 point range? I feel like we have to get a Teletovic type at this point.

Alex Len is shooting 70 of 100 in practice.