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The grass isn't greener. He's not good enough to "lead his own team" to much. Again, a 2nd tier PG. I'm a fan of his game and loved what he did for us last season, but we were a barely better than .500 when he ran the show on his own, even with his offensive BFF Frye.

Shabazz wrote:The grass isn't greener. He's not good enough to "lead his own team" to much. Again, a 2nd tier PG. I'm a fan of his game and loved what he did for us last season, but we were a barely better than .500 when he ran the show on his own, even with his offensive BFF Frye.

You really think last years squad could have hoped for much more than they did? I don't. Add some size and rebounding and then lets talk.

Shabazz wrote: but we were a barely better than .500 when he ran the show on his own

Come on 'bazz. He should have done better with Gerald Green and Markieff Morris as the 2nd and 3rd best players?! Please. Goran's not saying he doesn't need talent around him; he's saying let him play his natural position for crying out loud. Let's not overcomplicate this.

Superbone wrote:

Shabazz wrote:The grass isn't greener. He's not good enough to "lead his own team" to much. Again, a 2nd tier PG. I'm a fan of his game and loved what he did for us last season, but we were a barely better than .500 when he ran the show on his own, even with his offensive BFF Frye.

You really think last years squad could have hoped for much more than they did? I don't. Add some size and rebounding and then lets talk.

Thank you. The team was better when Bledsoe was on the court because that put more talent on the court. Take Bledsoe, away, and don't replace the talent, and you end up with a less talented team ergo a team that won't win as much.

INFORMER wrote:

Shabazz wrote: but we were a barely better than .500 when he ran the show on his own

Come on 'bazz. He should have done better with Gerald Green and Markieff Morris as the 2nd and 3rd best players?! Please. Goran's not saying he doesn't need talent around him; he's saying let him play his natural position for crying out loud. Let's not overcomplicate this.

No. But playing next to Bledsoe that exact same roster had a significantly better record.

Play Dragic next to (compatible) talent and he'll look good. Play him next to Luis Scola and Michael Beasley and he won't.

My point is Dragic running his own show will only take you so far. He's not good enough to build a system around, meaning the types of players you need to surround him with to succeed are going to marginalize him to some effect. If he's the offensive focal point, your team will not be all that great.

Shabazz wrote: My point is Dragic running his own show will only take you so far. He's not good enough to build a system around, meaning the types of players you need to surround him with to succeed are going to marginalize him to some effect. If he's the offensive focal point, your team will not be all that great.

He doesn't have to be the offensive focal point, he just has to be on the ball. He doesn't require a system, nor a special type of player(s) around him. Just let him be a point guard. Again, it's not that complicated.

INFORMER wrote:

Shabazz wrote: My point is Dragic running his own show will only take you so far. He's not good enough to build a system around, meaning the types of players you need to surround him with to succeed are going to marginalize him to some effect. If he's the offensive focal point, your team will not be all that great.

He doesn't have to be the offensive focal point, he just has to be on the ball. He doesn't require a system, nor a special type of player(s) around him. Just let him be a point guard. Again, it's not that complicated.

Wrong. Dragic needs lots of open space to operate. He does not run the pick and roll very well, but he is very, very good with open space and shooters on the perimeter. Which means that he really does need a "system" that is built around him.

But as the centerpiece of such a system...he would be very, very good. My worst nightmare is of Dragic going to LAL and turning them into a 50-win team.

virtual9mm wrote: Wrong. Dragic needs lots of open space to operate.

Hi, welcome to the NBA circa 2015. That's not a system. That's how essentially every team not named the Memphis Grizzlies plays.

INFORMER wrote:

virtual9mm wrote: Wrong. Dragic needs lots of open space to operate.

Hi, welcome to the NBA circa 2015. That's not a system. That's how essentially every team not named the Memphis Grizzlies plays.

There's more to it than just the space. He needs to be the one initiating. Kind of like Linsanity, just better.

INFORMER wrote:

Shabazz wrote: My point is Dragic running his own show will only take you so far. He's not good enough to build a system around, meaning the types of players you need to surround him with to succeed are going to marginalize him to some effect. If he's the offensive focal point, your team will not be all that great.

He doesn't have to be the offensive focal point, he just has to be on the ball. He doesn't require a system, nor a special type of player(s) around him. Just let him be a point guard. Again, it's not that complicated.

What? Dragic thrives with a system that features space, shooters and ball movement. And specifically, a pick and pop big man. You know, to take advantage of his ability to get to the rim.

INFORMER wrote:

virtual9mm wrote: Wrong. Dragic needs lots of open space to operate.

Hi, welcome to the NBA circa 2015. That's not a system. That's how essentially every team not named the Memphis Grizzlies plays.

'Space' is not a system. 'Space' is the result of a system, the combination of moves from players that makes it possible to have a shooter open. It's certainly not as simple as putting shooters on the floor and watching the guard operate. You need a starting move, usually a pick and roll/pop setup, then cuts, screens, etc.

Ring_Wanted wrote:What? Dragic thrives with a system that features space, shooters and ball movement.

Again, that's basketball. There are tons of teams that don't have Goran Dragic that play like that. So let's not act like you have to bend over backwards and conjure up a specialized system for Goran.

INFORMER wrote:

Ring_Wanted wrote:What? Dragic thrives with a system that features space, shooters and ball movement.

Again, that's basketball.

One type of basketball. Yes, the one the modern NBA is leaning more and more towards because teams are realizing the benefits of the 3pt, but it's far from the only style teams use. Triangle offense, Princeton offense, high post offense, the Memphis attack, etc. A certain player doesn't perform the same on every system.

There are tons of teams that don't have Goran Dragic that play like that.

So what. Nobody has said Goran Dragic is the only player that allows you to implement a scheme based on space.

So let's not act like you have to bend over backwards and conjure up a specialized system for Goran.

You don't need to do black magic. Just find the right players to put alongside him and get them to execute the kind of motions that maximize his ability to penetrate and creativity. A system, they call it. As for its specialization, I'd think NBA coaches actually adapt general schemes and concepts to the players they specifically have. How many times have you seen Dragic-Frye start the offense? Would they be doing it if they weren't such a productive pair? Specialization (adaptation) is key to advanced coaching.

Some of you guys are acting like Dragic is the second coming or something. Dragic is definitely better player than Bledsoe but he is not leaps and bounds better than Bledsoe and Bledsoe is also 4 years younger than Dragic too. While losing Dragic really sucks, it is not the end of the world and this franchise has survived a lot worse. This whole situation sucks ass though. Oh well, time to get some sleep and hope to feel better in the morning.

Wally_West wrote:Some of you guys are acting like Dragic is the second coming or something. Dragic is definitely better player than Bledsoe but he is not leaps and bounds better than Bledsoe and Bledsoe is also 4 years younger than Dragic too. While losing Dragic really sucks, it is not the end of the world and this franchise has survived a lot worse. This whole situation sucks ass though. Oh well, time to get some sleep and hope to feel better in the morning.

I agree to a certain point. It's not the end of the world. It's just that many of us are invested emotionally in Goran. He was around quite a bit in the "golden era" of 7 seconds or less. He is the last link to that Team. So in understand some People are upset. From a Basketball Point of view it's not the end of the world, but it's unfortunate, because he would have been the perfect Point guard for the modern open court, 3pt spacing the floor european style system we are trying, and by trying i mean trying, to play. The reason being, that different than other Players on this Team he is willing to give up the ball and is unselfish.

Reggie Jackson has requested a trade as well.
https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/568115182590951424

@SportsWhispers: #Lakers offered a trade for Dragic last week. #Suns countered by saying they'd do that specific deal for Isiah Thomas, not Dragic

virtual9mm wrote:

INFORMER wrote:

Shabazz wrote: My point is Dragic running his own show will only take you so far. He's not good enough to build a system around, meaning the types of players you need to surround him with to succeed are going to marginalize him to some effect. If he's the offensive focal point, your team will not be all that great.

He doesn't have to be the offensive focal point, he just has to be on the ball. He doesn't require a system, nor a special type of player(s) around him. Just let him be a point guard. Again, it's not that complicated.

Wrong. Dragic needs lots of open space to operate. He does not run the pick and roll very well, but he is very, very good with open space and shooters on the perimeter. Which means that he really does need a "system" that is built around him.

But as the centerpiece of such a system...he would be very, very good. My worst nightmare is of Dragic going to LAL and turning them into a 50-win team.

I think it is in the Suns best interest to keep him away from the Lakers, at all cost, unless a deal for Dragic includes dropping the restrictions on the pick this year. The potential for the Laker's bouncing back and the Suns ending up with a mid-first rounder would be too great. It would be like trading away a pick.

The situation with Reggie Jackson is a bad one for OKC. He's having a down year statistically but clearly wants a bigger role and more money. What team would really break the bank for that guy? He seemed to expose himself as a bit of a chucker this year who isn't good enough to really run his own team. I feel bad for the team that throws a big contract at him.

Amen, Mori.

Reggie Jackson needs to STFU !

He's not a star (as of now) and is not worth a big contract.