Suns News: Week 21 3/14-3/20

[Shabazz]

Picking nits, but Cory Jefferson is a lot better.

[TOO]

Picking nits, but Cory Jefferson is a lot better.

Yeah, but he's not from the state of Arizona.

[Cap]

Tyson Chandler says he wants no part of rebuilding

[TOO]

Tyson Chandler says he wants no part of rebuilding

Darn, looks like we'll have to move all that veteran leadership.

[Mori Chu]

Does this mean we can stop playing that horrid Len-Chandler front line?

[The Bobster]

Tyson Chandler is not part of rebuilding.

[OE32]

Willing to bet that there will be buyers for Tyson Chandler this summer. Just you wait for these ridiculous contracts to get handed out.

[Mori Chu]

^ I agree with that. I think this summer will be a good summer for teams wanting to sell on veteran FAs on "reasonable" contracts because of how much the cap and contracts will jump up.

[ShelC]

Let's see how the FO handles this potential situation.

[Ring_Wanted]

If Chandler is not cool with the way things are going here, he has the right to want out as much as anybody, but he'll have to wait and be a pro about it. Anyway, I don't think the FO would have too much trouble dumping him if they take back close to nothing. After the big FAs dust settles, there will remain teams with money to spend as well.

Call Charlotte and take Hawes and their 2ndR in 2018. Or call Miami and take McBob and their 2018 second.


Btw Shel, who is that real coach want so much over Watson?

[carey]

If Chandler is not cool with the way things are going here, he has the right to want out as much as anybody, but he'll have to wait and be a pro about it. Anyway, I don't think the FO would have too much trouble dumping him if they take back close to nothing. After the big FAs dust settles, there will remain teams with money to spend as well.

No one that has wanted out under the current front office has been "a pro about it." Why would anyone start now?

[Nodack]

Does this mean we can stop playing that horrid Len-Chandler front line?

Maybe but, I think that horrid front line has been the only thing making the Suns games competitive at all. We have owned the boards and slowed teams way down with that combo IMO. Maybe that's not what we want for the future but, I have enjoyed watching the Suns dominate at something and not see every team score 135 against us.

[Shabazz]

Does this mean we can stop playing that horrid Len-Chandler front line?

Maybe but, I think that horrid front line has been the only thing making the Suns games competitive at all. We have owned the boards and slowed teams way down with that combo IMO. Maybe that's not what we want for the future but, I have enjoyed watching the Suns dominate at something and not see every team score 135 against us.

Um...so just 120 points?

It's not a good lineup. They've had a few nice moments, but statistically it's just not good.

[Indy]

Does this mean we can stop playing that horrid Len-Chandler front line?

Maybe but, I think that horrid front line has been the only thing making the Suns games competitive at all. We have owned the boards and slowed teams way down with that combo IMO. Maybe that's not what we want for the future but, I have enjoyed watching the Suns dominate at something and not see every team score 135 against us.

Um...so just 120 points?

It's not a good lineup. They've had a few nice moments, but statistically it's just not good.

Any idea on our rebounding differential with those two in the lineup? Or fg defense?

[Shabazz]

It actually has our best EFG% against of any 2 man combination with more than 200 minutes. 16th best in points against/100 - though with a pretty bad 107.4.

The problem is offensively, where the duo scores an atrocious (and last on the team) 92.4Pts/100 possessions. Net rating of -15.2/100 poss. That's horrible for a starting duo.

Net total rebound % - that duo is 2nd best on the team at +8%. Best is Chandler/Teletovic at +10.2%. Third best is Len/Leuer at +5.7%. Worst on the team is Leuer/Tele at -11.9%.

Interestingly enough - in looking all this up (props to basketball-reference.com), the Len/Leuer combo looks quite good together.

[pickle]

Why do we care... We are losing and giving Alex Len some burn while showcasing Chandler, in case there's league-wide interest in him in the summer after all these presumably outrageous contracts get handed out to make his 13 mil per look reasonable.

If we don't end up moving Chandler this summer, well, it's not like he'll get more productive sitting on the bench. Let them play. I am not all that upset at losing anymore.

[Ring_Wanted]

It actually has our best EFG% against of any 2 man combination with more than 200 minutes. 16th best in points against/100 - though with a pretty bad 107.4.

The problem is offensively, where the duo scores an atrocious (and last on the team) 92.4Pts/100 possessions. Net rating of -15.2/100 poss. That's horrible for a starting duo.

Net total rebound % - that duo is 2nd best on the team at +8%. Best is Chandler/Teletovic at +10.2%. Third best is Len/Leuer at +5.7%. Worst on the team is Leuer/Tele at -11.9%.

Interestingly enough - in looking all this up (props to basketball-reference.com), the Len/Leuer combo looks quite good together.

The lack of offense from Len-Chandler doesn't really worry me, and it's not surprising either. Our scorers are all perimeter guys, and some of them are injuried. Plus, they depend on the handler to get them buckets. To me, as long as the twin towers defend and rebound, I can call it a qualified success in the middle of a lost season.

Leuer is a keeper.

[Shabazz]

I don't know that we're doing Len's offensive development (and confidence) many favors by pairing him with Chandler (and Tucker and Price). That's the issue.

[Ring_Wanted]

I think it serves him well. Len has not sniffed the ball during his first two seasons as pro. Right now he is missing a lot, but if he is not going to be a back to the basket center, his shot needs to get the reps. Once he has better teammates around him (hopefully), this experience should pay off.

[ShelC]

Btw Shel, who is that real coach want so much over Watson?

If we're serious about getting back on track, my top two choices are Scott Brooks or Lionel Hollins. Brooks would maybe be more player friendly, help with the development of Booker and Len, and maybe get more offensive flow going on the perimeter.

If we wanted to win in the short term, I think Hollins would be the guy. But we'd still be limited in how good we'd actually be. I think we'd play ugly, hard nosed basketball which might actually be better suited for guys like Bledsoe, Tucker, Chandler but not as helpful for a guy like Len.

Either way, both would bring some much needed experience and proven track records for winning. We'd at least have some credibility on the sidelines.

The issue is where we're going with the roster. Are we keeping one or both PGs? Is Chandler gone in the offseason? Who's our SF? PF?