Phx-Suns.Net

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ahh, summertime.

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.

Just curious, who did you want?

Split T wrote:

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.

Just curious, who did you want?

Hield/Murray/Sabonis were my top choices.

The Bobster wrote:Ahh, summertime.

we've got what, 2 more months before NBA starts again?

TheOriginalOriginal wrote:

The Bobster wrote:Ahh, summertime.

we've got what, 2 more months before NBA starts again?

https://twitter.com/InsideHoops/status/897201430095908868

https://twitter.com/InsideHoops/status/897189951242219521

What is "director of performance"?

Superbone wrote:https://twitter.com/InsideHoops/status/897189951242219521

Cap wrote:What is "director of performance"?

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"?

He makes sure the kids eat their veggies... He's watching you Marquese.

TheOriginalOriginal wrote:

Split T wrote:

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.

Just curious, who did you want?

Hield/Murray/Sabonis were my top choices.

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.

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.

Split T wrote:

TheOriginalOriginal wrote:

Split T wrote:

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.

Just curious, who did you want?

Hield/Murray/Sabonis were my top choices.

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.

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.

Ulis was far and away my favorite thing about that whole draft. Never thought he'd even be available in the 2nd.

It was absolutely suck if McD whiffed on two top 10 picks in the same draft. That's unforgivable IMO.

TheOriginalOriginal wrote:

Split T wrote:

TheOriginalOriginal wrote:

Split T wrote:

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.

Just curious, who did you want?

Hield/Murray/Sabonis were my top choices.

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.

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.

Ulis was far and away my favorite thing about that whole draft. Never thought he'd even be available in the 2nd.

Yep, I loved Ulis too.

Here we Go

http://www.espn.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/phx

ShelC wrote:It was absolutely suck if McD whiffed on two top 10 picks in the same draft. That's unforgivable IMO.

He "whiffed" by passing on Hield and Sabonis? That's unforgivable?

It's not his fault it was such a crappy draft.