Re: Game Day: Thunder (9-5) @ Suns (3-11), Sat 11/17/18
Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2018 1:54 pm
Warren, Jackson, and Bridges all need to improve. I think Melton and Okobo both have the ability to be good rebounders at their position.Indy wrote: ↑Mon Nov 19, 2018 1:35 pmI have been one of the most critical of Booker's play this year... but it is hard to ask him to be a top scorer in the league (top 20), main guy in usage for us (top 10 in NBA), main assist guy for us (7th in the NBA), play a ton (3rd in MPG in NBA), and then say he isn't getting enough boards. He gets about the same TRB% as guys like Jrue and Klay. I would like it to be better, but I would take better awareness on off-ball defense than anything around his rebounding. We are asking him to do everything for us, and it looks like it is catching up to him.O_Gardino wrote: ↑Mon Nov 19, 2018 12:45 pmWe're getting good rebounding from the centers, so I don't know how much they would help.Superbone wrote: ↑Mon Nov 19, 2018 12:30 pmYou know who could help with rebounding? A Tyson Chandler or Alan Williams.O_Gardino wrote: ↑Mon Nov 19, 2018 12:13 pmDraft aside, we are really hurting on the boards all season long. Warren and Booker aren't any better rebounders than they've ever been, Jackson is worse, and Ariza and Anderson are literally our best rebounders who aren't centers.In2ition wrote: ↑Mon Nov 19, 2018 11:55 amAfter seeing the Thunder kill the Suns on the offensive boards, where Deandre was really concentrating on putting a body on Adams that other Thunder players were able to get the rebound, it seems even more necessary for the Suns to get an active rebounder at the PF position.
Suns needs:
1. A real pg that can distribute at a high level and pass to Ayton, can play defense and also hit open shots, while creating for themselves and others.
2. Need an energy player that brings up the energy of the starters.
3. Need a PF that can spread the floor, play defense, rebound as an alternative or secondary rebounder to Ayton, and a weakside shot blocker and backup shot blocker to Ayton.
4. Quality bench depth at each position, although the Suns have a lot of wings and a decent backup center.
This is another reason why Zion would fill the #2 and #3 needs, and possibly helps #4 and could help recruiting for #1 in the form of a FA.
We don't have great rebounders anywhere else on the roster, so everybody has to go out and get a couple more. Last year we had Payton, Harrison, House, Bender, Chriss, and Reed all rebounding better in their limited time than Booker/Warren. This season it's just Ariza and Anderson in that range between our scorers and centers. Bender is there too, but his sample size is tiny.
TJ on the other hand does need to up his TRB% if he is going to keep playing 4 for us. And with Mikal looking so good, I would assume we need to keep TJ at 4 (unless we just want to start Book at PG and stop pretending we are using Canaan as anything but a spot up shooter).
Of course, Ayton has room for improvement, too. His numbers are good, but he shouldn't be satisfied with them.