Suns News: Week 6 11/28-12/4

[carey]

Well, we don't run plays for Chriss, so there's no telling what he could do. But my perception is that he plays basketball like he's playing football.

Every once in a while, Chriss executes a play on offense or defense very very well, and I think WOW. But overall, he doesn't transition between plays quickly. After each play, he stands up straight and looks around to think about what is going to happen next. It's like he is still expecting a team huddle after every shot attempt. So he gets caught off guard and reacting too late very often.

Good observation. I think he is as raw as they come and I'm honestly not sure why he is starting ahead of Bender who is better defensively and whose shooting is sorely needed in the starting line-up.

[JCSunsfan]

Well, we don't run plays for Chriss, so there's no telling what he could do. But my perception is that he plays basketball like he's playing football.

Every once in a while, Chriss executes a play on offense or defense very very well, and I think WOW. But overall, he doesn't transition between plays quickly. After each play, he stands up straight and looks around to think about what is going to happen next. It's like he is still expecting a team huddle after every shot attempt. So he gets caught off guard and reacting too late very often.

Good observation. I think he is as raw as they come and I'm honestly not sure why he is starting ahead of Bender who is better defensively and whose shooting is sorely needed in the starting line-up.

I agree. I think Bender is probably the better player at the moment. I am not sure why Chriss is starting. Chriss does work hard on D against bigger players. He did an admirable job against KAT the other night.

[carey]

I really want Okafor on this team. His back to the basket / post game is sorely needed imho. It would be so nice to give it to a guy on the block in crunch time instead of having Bledsoe pound the ball until there's 5 seconds on the clock and make a wild drive & shot at the hoop. I'd consider moving Bledsoe for him if they weren't interested in Knight. Then I'd move Chandler for an expiring. That would mean starting Knight who absolutely has to be moved, however, he's the perfect tank commander for the rest of the year and we can move him in the Summer after we draft Fultz / Ball.

[Shabazz]

I'm not really interested in Okafor. I don't think you can be a successful team with a defensive albatross like him as your starting center.

[carey]

I'm not really interested in Okafor. I don't think you can be a successful team with a defensive albatross like him as your starting center.

I don't think he's a finished product on that side of the ball by any means.

Defense seems to be a hard stat to track. I'd ask if you could win with KAT? Well he's last on this list of DRPM and seems to be significantly worse than Okafor: http://www.espn.com/nba/statistics/rpm/ ... position/9

[Mori Chu]

Chriss has great athleticism and gets into certain plays, making the occasional impressive block or dunk. But I don't think he has figured out what kind of NBA player he should be yet. He doesn't really get the ball inside, and he can't shoot it from outside. He'd probably look a lot better if he had a Nash-type PG who could feed him the ball on the break for layups and dunks and such.

[Hermen]

He'd probably look a lot better if he had a Nash-type PG who could feed him the ball on the break for layups and dunks and such.

Going out on a limb much?

[Shabazz]

https://twitter.com/nbadleague/status/805480790674898944

[TOO]

I think I'm gonna start watching the DLeague...

[SDC]

which team would trade for bledsoe do you think?

[Superbone]

https://twitter.com/paulcoro/status/805873756291768320

[Ring_Wanted]

I really want Okafor on this team. His back to the basket / post game is sorely needed imho. It would be so nice to give it to a guy on the block in crunch time instead of having Bledsoe pound the ball until there's 5 seconds on the clock and make a wild drive & shot at the hoop. I'd consider moving Bledsoe for him if they weren't interested in Knight. Then I'd move Chandler for an expiring. That would mean starting Knight who absolutely has to be moved, however, he's the perfect tank commander for the rest of the year and we can move him in the Summer after we draft Fultz / Ball.

I've been calling for a serious look at Okafor for some time. Used to dream of Knight for Okafor. Hopeless, given the curret state of things.

[Cap]

ESPN's RPMs for the Suns so far:

Code: Select all

Rank  Player               ORPM   DRPM   RPM
 53   Jared Dudley         0.74   0.77   1.51
 93   Tyson Chandler      -1.51   2.09   0.58
 96   Eric Bledsoe         1.28  -0.77   0.51
140   Alan Williams       -1.45   1.07  -0.38
160   TJ Warren           -0.38  -0.20  -0.58
170   PJ Tucker           -1.48   0.72  -0.76
234   Alex Len            -2.73   1.47  -1.26
244   Devin Booker         0.71  -2.07  -1.36
326   Dragan Bender       -1.74  -0.28  -2.02
329   Leandro Barbosa     -1.15  -0.90  -2.05
345   Derrick Jones, Jr.  -1.23  -0.98  -2.21
387   Tyler Ulis          -2.30  -0.57  -2.87
392   Marquese Chriss     -2.77  -0.26  -3.03
424   Brandon Knight      -1.25  -3.05  -4.30

[carey]

I think Dragan's will improve dramatically if we stop just giving him garbage minutes. Defensively, his % of contested shots both 2 and 3 pointers are in the top 2 and 3 on the team.

[Cap]

Well, the numbers say Dragan's real problems are on the offensive end. I don't think it's his fault. He can pass, dribble and shoot, and plays the right way, and would be a terrific role player on a team that plays the right way. This ain't that team, especially when BHS is in the game.

BTW, AASE ranks 424 out of 425. He should send a card to the player who's saving him from the cellar: Evan Turner, who, in addition to shooting .409 from the field and .297 from three, has managed to put up a +/- of -7.9 per game while playing for a winning team.

Evan Turner is Not the Worst Player in the NBA (McLayne Bertsch, Rip City, Nov 21)

[Mori Chu]

Well, the numbers say Dragan's real problems are on the offensive end. I don't think it's his fault. He can pass, dribble and shoot, and plays the right way, and would be a terrific role player on a team that plays the right way. This ain't that team, especially when BHS is in the game.

The Spurs would be slowly turning Bender into a monster, meanwhile somehow convincing him to sign for $8m per year on his next contract.

[Ring_Wanted]

Well, the numbers say Dragan's real problems are on the offensive end.

He is relegated to the corner so his impact is very reduced by definition, but whenever he tries something it's usually eye-pleasant. He has a nice flow to his game and his shot looks really good. On top of that he plays real defense. We are wasting time if he is not getting minutes over Chriss at the moment.

[djy2j]

which team would trade for bledsoe do you think?

Haha. I was trying to think of a team who needs a PG who can't run an offense, is a below average passer, and struggles to stay healthy for a season.

The Hornets would probably give you Evans and Holiday for your trouble.

So I guess I'd ask, without looking to see if it even works financially, Would you trade Bledsoe and Knight for Holiday and Evans straight up? I thought I knew my answer but now I'm not sure.

[O_Gardino]

which team would trade for bledsoe do you think?

Haha. I was trying to think of a team who needs a PG who can't run an offense, is a below average passer, and struggles to stay healthy for a season.

The Hornets would probably give you Evans and Holiday for your trouble.

So I guess I'd ask, without looking to see if it even works financially, Would you trade Bledsoe and Knight for Holiday and Evans straight up? I thought I knew my answer but now I'm not sure.

You mean the pelicans?

Tyreke Evans and Drew Holiday each make a bit less than our guys, and are on contract years. I'm not sure why NOP would do that, unless they really like Bled / Knight, and want to stick Hield on the bench. But I would do it, I guess.

[carey]

You mean the pelicans?

Tyreke Evans and Drew Holiday each make a bit less than our guys, and are on contract years. I'm not sure why NOP would do that, unless they really like Bled / Knight, and want to stick Hield on the bench. But I would do it, I guess.

You mean Jrue? Sorry, couldn't resist.

Anyway, Jrue isn't much different than Bledsoe. It would be a lateral move. We don't want anything to do with Tyreke. Trust me on that one.