Suns News: The Offseason
Re: Suns News: The Offseason
Dragan Bender played 15:41 today and put up 7 points/5 rebounds/2 assists on 3/6 shooting. He was a +9 in the lineup.
He had to foul a couple times to stop a transition score, and fouled out again in only 15 minutes. I hate that rule where it becomes good strategy to foul someone to stop a transition score. I think that slows the game down and does a disservice to the speed and fan enjoyment.
He had to foul a couple times to stop a transition score, and fouled out again in only 15 minutes. I hate that rule where it becomes good strategy to foul someone to stop a transition score. I think that slows the game down and does a disservice to the speed and fan enjoyment.
"There are 3 rules I live by: never get less than 12 hours sleep, never play cards with a guy with the same first name as a city & never get involved with a woman with a tattoo of a dagger on her body. Everything else is cream cheese."
Re: Suns News: The Offseason
I'm so up and down on Bender. One day I'm excited about his future not wanting to trade him, and then the next day I'm in the dumps and hoping that Cleveland pulls the trigger on taking him in a Irving trade. Then I'm back on his bandwagon and I'm sure I'll be back off it soon enough.
"There are 3 rules I live by: never get less than 12 hours sleep, never play cards with a guy with the same first name as a city & never get involved with a woman with a tattoo of a dagger on her body. Everything else is cream cheese."
- Aztec Sunsfan
- Posts: 1881
- Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 9:56 pm
Re: Suns News: The Offseason
He was at full extent selected as a project, even more than Len. It's both on the player and team's shoulders to make it work. I put some blame on Bender for a lack of agression, but also on Watson and his "players arriving on a schedule, Chriss first please" BS.
Euros usually comes from sports academies, where you follow instructions and trust on your coach to know what's better for you, you even get to respect the elder players and let seniority to dictate starting spots. Under that context, Watson could have singlehandly ruined the project. At 19, on a foreign land, you are really vulnerable to mind games, specially from those you trust your developing.
I don't know what to expect from the kid, the safest call is to scream Bust! from the beginning and look "smart & savy", BUT basketball is the one thing I try to enjoy for the little things and stay optimistic, so in the inmortal words of Redd, I just will say I HOPE.
Euros usually comes from sports academies, where you follow instructions and trust on your coach to know what's better for you, you even get to respect the elder players and let seniority to dictate starting spots. Under that context, Watson could have singlehandly ruined the project. At 19, on a foreign land, you are really vulnerable to mind games, specially from those you trust your developing.
I don't know what to expect from the kid, the safest call is to scream Bust! from the beginning and look "smart & savy", BUT basketball is the one thing I try to enjoy for the little things and stay optimistic, so in the inmortal words of Redd, I just will say I HOPE.
Re: Suns News: The Offseason
Never wanted Bender or Chriss, hated both picks. Still try to sell myself on them as prospects and players from time to time, but to no avail. Meh.
Love, Hurts.
- The Bobster
- Posts: 7436
- Joined: Fri Mar 14, 2014 1:04 pm
- Location: Phoenix, AZ
Re: Suns News: The Offseason
Ahh, summertime.
Author of The Basketball Draft Fact Book: A History of Professional Basketball's College Drafts
Available from Scarecrow Press at - https://rowman.com/ISBN/9780810890695
Available from Scarecrow Press at - https://rowman.com/ISBN/9780810890695
Re: Suns News: The Offseason
Just curious, who did you want?TheOriginalOriginal wrote:Never wanted Bender or Chriss, hated both picks. Still try to sell myself on them as prospects and players from time to time, but to no avail. Meh.
Re: Suns News: The Offseason
Hield/Murray/Sabonis were my top choices.Split T wrote:Just curious, who did you want?TheOriginalOriginal wrote:Never wanted Bender or Chriss, hated both picks. Still try to sell myself on them as prospects and players from time to time, but to no avail. Meh.
Love, Hurts.
Re: Suns News: The Offseason
we've got what, 2 more months before NBA starts again?The Bobster wrote:Ahh, summertime.

Love, Hurts.
Re: Suns News: The Offseason
https://twitter.com/InsideHoops/status/897201430095908868TheOriginalOriginal wrote:we've got what, 2 more months before NBA starts again?The Bobster wrote:Ahh, summertime.
Synchronicity and all that jazz, man.
"Cool is getting us blown out!"
-Shaheen Holloway
"Cool is getting us blown out!"
-Shaheen Holloway
Re: Suns News: The Offseason
https://twitter.com/InsideHoops/status/897189951242219521
Synchronicity and all that jazz, man.
"Cool is getting us blown out!"
-Shaheen Holloway
"Cool is getting us blown out!"
-Shaheen Holloway
Re: Suns News: The Offseason
What is "director of performance"?
“Are you crazy?! You think I’m going to go for seven years and try to get there? You enjoy the 2030 draft picks that we have holding? I want to try to see the game today.” — Ish 3/13/25
Re: Suns News: The Offseason
Superbone wrote:https://twitter.com/InsideHoops/status/897189951242219521

Love, Hurts.
Re: Suns News: The Offseason
Same question here. If I ever heard a job title that screamed "scapegoat" that's it. Of course, it probably is a real thing in physical training.Cap wrote:What is "director of performance"?
The league needs heroes, villains... and clowns. -- Aztec Sunsfan
Re: Suns News: The Offseason
He makes sure the kids eat their veggies... He's watching you Marquese.Cap wrote:What is "director of performance"?
Love, Hurts.
Re: Suns News: The Offseason
Hield was my top guy, but he hasn't been as good as I thought. We'll see how he does this year. He did play better once he got to Sacramento.TheOriginalOriginal wrote:Hield/Murray/Sabonis were my top choices.Split T wrote:Just curious, who did you want?TheOriginalOriginal wrote:Never wanted Bender or Chriss, hated both picks. Still try to sell myself on them as prospects and players from time to time, but to no avail. Meh.
I was never very high on Murray. I still don't think he's a great prospect.
I was slightly interested in Sabonis, but he was pretty bad last year.
Truth is, the whole draft was pretty bad last year and in hindsight, I don't know that I'd do anything different. Maybe take hield or Murray over Bender. Or maybe take hield/Murray at 4 don't trade up to 8, take Hernangomez at 13, take skal at 28 and take Ulis at 34.
Even still, that's not much better than what we ended up with.
Re: Suns News: The Offseason
Ulis was far and away my favorite thing about that whole draft. Never thought he'd even be available in the 2nd.Split T wrote:Hield was my top guy, but he hasn't been as good as I thought. We'll see how he does this year. He did play better once he got to Sacramento.TheOriginalOriginal wrote:Hield/Murray/Sabonis were my top choices.Split T wrote:Just curious, who did you want?TheOriginalOriginal wrote:Never wanted Bender or Chriss, hated both picks. Still try to sell myself on them as prospects and players from time to time, but to no avail. Meh.
I was never very high on Murray. I still don't think he's a great prospect.
I was slightly interested in Sabonis, but he was pretty bad last year.
Truth is, the whole draft was pretty bad last year and in hindsight, I don't know that I'd do anything different. Maybe take hield or Murray over Bender. Or maybe take hield/Murray at 4 don't trade up to 8, take Hernangomez at 13, take skal at 28 and take Ulis at 34.
Even still, that's not much better than what we ended up with.
Love, Hurts.
Re: Suns News: The Offseason
It was absolutely suck if McD whiffed on two top 10 picks in the same draft. That's unforgivable IMO.
Re: Suns News: The Offseason
Yep, I loved Ulis too.TheOriginalOriginal wrote:Ulis was far and away my favorite thing about that whole draft. Never thought he'd even be available in the 2nd.Split T wrote:Hield was my top guy, but he hasn't been as good as I thought. We'll see how he does this year. He did play better once he got to Sacramento.TheOriginalOriginal wrote:Hield/Murray/Sabonis were my top choices.Split T wrote:Just curious, who did you want?TheOriginalOriginal wrote:Never wanted Bender or Chriss, hated both picks. Still try to sell myself on them as prospects and players from time to time, but to no avail. Meh.
I was never very high on Murray. I still don't think he's a great prospect.
I was slightly interested in Sabonis, but he was pretty bad last year.
Truth is, the whole draft was pretty bad last year and in hindsight, I don't know that I'd do anything different. Maybe take hield or Murray over Bender. Or maybe take hield/Murray at 4 don't trade up to 8, take Hernangomez at 13, take skal at 28 and take Ulis at 34.
Even still, that's not much better than what we ended up with.
- bajanguy008
- Posts: 7442
- Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2016 7:28 pm
- Location: Barbados, Caribbean
Re: Suns News: The Offseason
SUNS Fan from the Land of Sun, Sea and Sand 

Re: Suns News: The Offseason
He "whiffed" by passing on Hield and Sabonis? That's unforgivable?ShelC wrote:It was absolutely suck if McD whiffed on two top 10 picks in the same draft. That's unforgivable IMO.
It's not his fault it was such a crappy draft.
“Are you crazy?! You think I’m going to go for seven years and try to get there? You enjoy the 2030 draft picks that we have holding? I want to try to see the game today.” — Ish 3/13/25