Phx-Suns.Net

JeremyG wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 28, 2025 9:51 am

What I don’t understand is how this team can have a losing record this season. Yeah the team was poorly constructed and has no chance at being a contender, but there’s so much talent to where you think they could at least be .500 or above just by showing up to play each game, even without cohesion or good coaching or heart.

It makes total sense to me. The league is more flush with talent than it maybe has ever been. Even bad teams aren't playing total scrubs the way it used to be back in the day. You can't just show up against any team and give less than your best and expect a win.

A perception that lots of folks still seem to have is that the secret to a winning team is to assemble a "super team" or a "big 3" or whatever, and that this should consist of guys who like to score 30 ppg every night. Having scorers is great, but the league has really changed. You can win a ton of games if you can just play with discipline on both ends of the floor and get good shots (3s and layups) almost every possession. The usefulness of having a Jordan / Kobe-esque guy who can hit a tough fadeaway mid-range shot down the stretch is still greater than 0, but it has dropped a lot over the past decade or so.

It is much more important to build a team defense that prevents the other team from getting good shots, along with an offense that moves the ball into position to get yourself those good shots. We built our team almost completely against what has become winning NBA basketball in 2025: we tripled down on max-contract ball stopping finishers and we didn't invest anything in offensive facilitators nor in developing an excellent team defense. And with 3 guys on max-sized deals, and most of our picks already out the door, we just don't have any way to round out the roster and fix what's wrong.

TL;DR - We suck.

I don’t know if this is a hot take after the Chris Haynes report but I genuinely believe Bud is coaching for his job tonight.

Last game of the season is Sunday April 13. I feel Bud will be gone by that Friday.
Edit: If he makes it to April...

Wally_West wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 28, 2025 10:49 am

I don’t know if this is a hot take after the Chris Haynes report but I genuinely believe Bud is coaching for his job tonight.

One game isn't going to allow him to keep his job. He dumb...er, done. (Sorry, my Severance brain got in the way for a sec.)

Superbone wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 28, 2025 10:53 am

Wally_West wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 28, 2025 10:49 am

I don’t know if this is a hot take after the Chris Haynes report but I genuinely believe Bud is coaching for his job tonight.

One game isn't going to allow him to keep his job. He dumb...er, done. (Sorry, my Severance brain got in the way for a sec.)

Yeah, I agree. He’s not back next season. I think it’s a matter of when he gets fired at this point, losing back to back to one of the worst teams in the league after losing to raps, another terrible team, is a fireable offense tho. I don’t think he makes it to the end of the season.

I think it's apparent that the biggest problem is roster contruction. Mainly lack of size, defense, athleticism and leadership.

So I would have to put the long-term solutions in this order -

1 - Ownership stepping back and letting the front office handle personnel decisions
2 - A major change in player personnel. Every veteran with value should be traded for prospects and draft choices.
3 - A short leash for James de Jones and the decision makers in the front office. We need to see that they have the ability to build something sustainable.
4 - Evaluation of the coaching situation. Was Budenholzer hired into a "no-win situation"? For that matter, was Frank Vogel? If you can't furnish the coaches with talent that fits together and you have unreasonable expectations, you're going to churn through a lot of coaches in a short period of time. Between 1973 and 1996 the Suns had four coaches (and one interim coach) over 23 seasons. Since Jeff Hornacek left in 2016 the Suns have had five coaches (one interim coach) in 9 years.

The Suns' lack of coaching and roster continuity since making the Finals in 2021 is the product of not having a sustainable long-term plan.

Pels got scared that playing us will ruin their tanking position

Split T wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 28, 2025 2:13 pm

Pels got scared that playing us will ruin their tanking position

Trey Murphy going for 50

Apparently I'm a glutton for punishment.

LazarusLong wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 28, 2025 10:20 am

► Show Spoiler

The Big Easy by 10

If nobody has the guts or brains to stay in front of Zion, expect a repeat performance.

When it comes to staying in front of Zion, guts and brains are not on the same side of the argument.

I haven’t seen any of the game but just checked the box score late in the first. It is clear this is Bol Bol’s team now and we are going as far as he can take us this season.

They've scored 2 pts in 6 minutes of the 2nd Q

Split T wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 27, 2025 10:54 pm

I’m gonna start guessing the leading scorer…Bol Bol with a 40 piece…suns win by 27

My prediction looking kinda good

You guys are missing the Bol Bol game

BOL BOL BALLIN

Bud leaving Bol on the bench is ruining my prediction