Suns News: The Offseason (2016)

[Indy]

I'm guessing Bledsoe-AASE-Warren-Dudley-Chandler for the starting lineup, with Booker and Len as the first players off the bench. And yes, we'll see a lot of the three-guard lineup if Bender and Chriss aren't ready.

I can't see Booker not starting after becoming the face of the franchise.

[O_Gardino]

I'm guessing Bledsoe-AASE-Warren-Dudley-Chandler for the starting lineup, with Booker and Len as the first players off the bench. And yes, we'll see a lot of the three-guard lineup if Bender and Chriss aren't ready.

I can't see Booker not starting after becoming the face of the franchise.

I agree. With the work he has put in, I expect him to take the next step and definitively outplay the other guards.

On the other hand, I do understand those who make more cautious predictions. We've seen this franchise do some crazy stuff with the guard rotation over the past 5 years.

[In2ition]

I'm guessing Bledsoe-AASE-Warren-Dudley-Chandler for the starting lineup, with Booker and Len as the first players off the bench. And yes, we'll see a lot of the three-guard lineup if Bender and Chriss aren't ready.

I can't see Booker not starting after becoming the face of the franchise.

I agree. With the work he has put in, I expect him to take the next step and definitively outplay the other guards.

On the other hand, I do understand those who make more cautious predictions. We've seen this franchise do some crazy stuff with the guard rotation over the past 5 years.

The summer league and USA select team was essentially the halfway point of the offseason for Booker. We saw how hard he worked up to that point and how improved he was. It also worked as a testing stage for him, to see how his hard work was working and with the Team USA stuff, he got to find out what else he needs to work on for the second half of his offseason work. I expect him to be even better to start training camp and solidify himself as the Alpha dog ahead of Knight, no matter what Knight thinks.

[Superbone]

I'm guessing Bledsoe-AASE-Warren-Dudley-Chandler for the starting lineup, with Booker and Len as the first players off the bench. And yes, we'll see a lot of the three-guard lineup if Bender and Chriss aren't ready.

I can't see Booker not starting after becoming the face of the franchise.

I agree. With the work he has put in, I expect him to take the next step and definitively outplay the other guards.

On the other hand, I do understand those who make more cautious predictions. We've seen this franchise do some crazy stuff with the guard rotation over the past 5 years.

The summer league and USA select team was essentially the halfway point of the offseason for Booker. We saw how hard he worked up to that point and how improved he was. It also worked as a testing stage for him, to see how his hard work was working and with the Team USA stuff, he got to find out what else he needs to work on for the second half of his offseason work. I expect him to be even better to start training camp and solidify himself as the Alpha dog ahead of Knight, no matter what Knight thinks.

I like your thinking!

[JCSunsfan]

I'm guessing Bledsoe-AASE-Warren-Dudley-Chandler for the starting lineup, with Booker and Len as the first players off the bench. And yes, we'll see a lot of the three-guard lineup if Bender and Chriss aren't ready.

I can't see Booker not starting after becoming the face of the franchise.

I would have disagreed with this at the end of the season last year. Now, I think you are right. Booker has become the face of the franchise and it seems the idea of BK as sixth man has been floated all summer. The PJ injury may allow both of them to start for a while.

[O_Gardino]

I've had the same surgery. It's not THAT serious. If it fixes the symptoms, then the 6 week timetable is pretty reasonable. The problem is, once your disk herniates it has a high risk of recurring.

This just sank in for me. At this point, 6 weeks takes him to the end of October. If things go perfectly for him, he might not miss any games. More likely, it takes more than the perfect 6 week recovery, and then it takes him a few weeks to get into basketball shape and into the flow of the team. At most he misses 10ish games.

[Ring_Wanted]

Perfect opportunity for some kid to step up. And hoping a good recovery.

[O_Gardino]

This is old, but I just saw it. Heck, it's mid September, so everything is old. Have a Suns video.

[youtube][/youtube]

Coach Daniel breaks down a lot of the plays we used early last season. What I found interesting is the part about how we used Warren and Booker when they were on the floor together. He also blasts Knights passing, praises Knights defense, talks about early offense with Chandler, and a bunch of other stuff.

It's dated from Christmas, so it's really pre-Booker and pre-injuries. But I found it interesting, esppecially as we talk about what Booker + Warren will look like.

[Ring_Wanted]

Did you know Bledsoe is the most prolific driver in the league? Of course, not the most effective (although comparable to the likes of Lowry or Wall) but the skill is there. Watson needs to build something where it doesn't get wasted. In that regard, Bledsoe and Knight are compatible, but Booker is a storm and like Indy said, the new face of the frachise.

[Mori Chu]

From Valley of the Suns: 5 reasons why Marquese Chriss should start on day 1. (Not that I agree, just reposting.)

http://valleyofthesuns.com/2016/09/17/m ... enix-suns/

[Superbone]

Nice little article on new associate head coach Jay Triano:

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/n ... /90522442/

[Cap]

Seems like a fun guy.

[youtube][/youtube]

[Ring_Wanted]

Seems like a fun guy.

[youtube][/youtube]

Hahha monster baller right there.

[Ring_Wanted]

Would a lineup of Bledsoe-Booker-Bender-Chriss-Chandler fly?

[Superbone]

Would a lineup of Bledsoe-Booker-Bender-Chriss-Chandler fly?

I'm liking my NBA2K17 lineup of Bledsoe-Booker-Warren-Dudley-Chandler with Knight the first off the bench. I'm really thinking that should be our opening night lineup. Let Bender and Chriss get acclimated with time. I wouldn't throw them to the wolves immediately.

[Ring_Wanted]

Would a lineup of Bledsoe-Booker-Bender-Chriss-Chandler fly?

I'm liking my NBA2K17 lineup of Bledsoe-Booker-Warren-Dudley-Chandler with Knight the first off the bench. I'm really thinking that should be our opening night lineup. Let Bender and Chriss get acclimated with time. I wouldn't throw them to the wolves immediately.

I'm ok with that, but at some point I want to try out all the athleticism we can gather as well.

[O_Gardino]

Would a lineup of Bledsoe-Booker-Bender-Chriss-Chandler fly?

I don't think Bender will really be able to play the 3. Everybody else is going small, so Bender's quickness just means he can keep up with all the small 4s out there.

It is just very very rare for someone to successfully play at a smaller position than his height would warrant. At 7'1", Bender is sized to play center. If he has the foot speed to keep power forwards in front of him, I'll be thrilled and I will love the height advantage that brings us.

[Mori Chu]

I'm liking my NBA2K17 lineup of Bledsoe-Booker-Warren-Dudley-Chandler with Knight the first off the bench. I'm really thinking that should be our opening night lineup. Let Bender and Chriss get acclimated with time. I wouldn't throw them to the wolves immediately.

I think that's the right starting lineup for us. Long-term I think it will probably be good to stagger the minutes of Chriss and Bender because they're both going to be raw and awkward at times. I think having both of the rookie forwards out there together will be rough. So I can imagine that by the end of the season (or start of next season) maybe one of Chriss/Bender is starting at PF in place of Dudley. But I totally agree with you on that day-one starting lineup. Then bring in a bench of Ulis, Knight, Chriss, Bender, Len, and Tucker when he's healthy. Pretty good second unit with good passing and lots of athleticism.

[ShelC]

I'm kind of split on Bender. I love the idea of him swinging between the 3 and 4, especially because it does look like he can keep up on the perimeter. But I also wouldn't want him being asked to do too much too early and maybe hurting his confidence by only playing the 3 or grooming him as such. I think a lot will come down to matchups. Do I expect him to stay in front of a Jimmy Butler? No. Do I think he could hang defensively (with some experience) against a guy like Melo and use his length? Sure.

But I do think he's a prototype 4 who can evolve into a 5 down the road. Chriss is more of a PF who I feel less confident about as a 3, and I don't think he can evolve into a 5 either.

[Superbone]

I'm kind of split on Bender. I love the idea of him swinging between the 3 and 4, especially because it does look like he can keep up on the perimeter. But I also wouldn't want him being asked to do too much too early and maybe hurting his confidence by only playing the 3 or grooming him as such. I think a lot will come down to matchups. Do I expect him to stay in front of a Jimmy Butler? No. Do I think he could hang defensively (with some experience) against a guy like Melo and use his length? Sure.

But I do think he's a prototype 4 who can evolve into a 5 down the road. Chriss is more of a PF who I feel less confident about as a 3, and I don't think he can evolve into a 5 either.

Yeah, I agree that Bender is much more versatile and Chriss is pretty much only a PF.