Phx-Suns.Net

ShelC wrote:At best he's a sparkplug backup off the bench. He won't be a full time starter.

I tend to agree. I guess it's not outside the realm of possibility that he is the next IT but his offense would have to grow by leaps & bounds. He's officially listed as taller than IT but I don't think that's true at all. Ulis is small.

carey wrote:

ShelC wrote:At best he's a sparkplug backup off the bench. He won't be a full time starter.

I tend to agree. I guess it's not outside the realm of possibility that he is the next IT but his offense would have to grow by leaps & bounds. He's officially listed as taller than IT but I don't think that's true at all. Ulis is small.

Ulis averaged 17ppg his sophomore season on college to IT's 15. Ulis shot 43% to Thomas's 41% with 3pt% being just as similar. Ulis already has decent range and a nice floater. I guess I just feel like Ulis is much closer than I thought to mirroring IT's development timeline. I understand the weight thing is a huge issue but in terms of offense Ulis is technically ahead of where IT was.

I never go by measurements, more the eye test. To me, Ulis is 5-8 and slight (150). IT is 5-10 and solid (180). It may not seem like much, but there's a big difference. Ulis is a pass first PG which is probably why his offense has stagnated over the years. IT is a natural scorer.

IT measured 5'8.75 at the combine without shoes with a 6'1.75 wingspan. He weighed 186 lbs.
Ulis was also 5'8.75 at the combine without shoes with a 6'2 wingspan. He was measured at 5'8 flat the year before without shoes. He weighed 149 lbs

Did Ulis actually grow 3/4 of an inch during his sophomore year of college, or is his measurement slightly off. Regardless, he's about the same height as IT, but 35 lbs lighter than IT was coming into the NBA.

I'm not going to say that Ulis size will keep him from being an NBA starter, it might, but I don't think it has to. I think his game is less predicated on size than IT's. Ulis is never going to be the scorer that IT is, he just needs to be able to keep the defense honest. Is he really going to struggle defensively anymore than guys like IT, Tony Parker, or Steve Nash? I don't think so. He's got better defensive instincts and ability than any of them ever had already.

Forgot to mention, we get outrebounded pretty well the last two games. Seems like normal for the Suns, but this season we have been rebounding very well. We miss Chandler / Len on the boards. Williams can't do it all himself, and Chriss / Warren / Booker are bad rebounders.

"Williams can't do it all himself, and Chriss / Warren / Booker are bad rebounders."

FYI, TJ has been averaging 8.4 boards during March (7 games). Doesn't make him Dennis Rodman, but he has picked it up.

Size matters.

LazarusLong wrote:"Williams can't do it all himself, and Chriss / Warren / Booker are bad rebounders."

FYI, TJ has been averaging 8.4 boards during March (7 games). Doesn't make him Dennis Rodman, but he has picked it up.

Thats a good number for a SF.

Good point, Laz.

ShelC wrote:At best he's a sparkplug backup off the bench. He won't be a full time starter.

I am not certain that his ceiling is to be a bench guard. But I'd be delighted to have him in kind of a "Socks" Perry role for a few years while he learns the pro game.

Marty [Mori Chu] wrote:

ShelC wrote:At best he's a sparkplug backup off the bench. He won't be a full time starter.

I am not certain that his ceiling is to be a bench guard. But I'd be delighted to have him in kind of a "Socks" Perry role for a few years while he learns the pro game.

I don't see him as a starter, and agree with a career backup.

In2ition wrote:

Marty [Mori Chu] wrote:

ShelC wrote:At best he's a sparkplug backup off the bench. He won't be a full time starter.

I am not certain that his ceiling is to be a bench guard. But I'd be delighted to have him in kind of a "Socks" Perry role for a few years while he learns the pro game.

I don't see him as a starter, and agree with a career backup.

I realize we are an awful team this year, but he keeps delivering for us. I can see him as a good starter in this league, but not elite. Basically where we are with Bledsoe, but completely different type.