Phx-Suns.Net

Time: 7:30 pm AZ (7:30 pm PT / 10:30 pm ET)
Place: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
TV: FSAZ/NBALP

You think we've got it bad? This will be the Kings 11th straight season without making the playoffs. We should see lots of Bender in this one. Just for Pickle, this is THE END of the season for our Suns. I'm already looking forward to the draft and next season. The young guys have been a lot of fun to watch.

Go Suns!!!

Dis • cuss

Let give Bender a start! Ulis-Booker-Jones Jr.-Bender-Chriss. Let's take a look at our future.

This one will be a tank off tonight, with both teams having draft position at stake.

What is at stake for the Kings as far as draft position? Are they on the bubble between a couple spots?

In2ition wrote:What is at stake for the Kings as far as draft position? Are they on the bubble between a couple spots?

They are tied with Minny and one game "behind" the Knicks.

Winning could potentially move them up to the 9th pick, and losing could potentially drop them down to the 7th, assuming other teams lose and win etc etc.

I'm sure that will be on the mind of every Kings' player.

It looks like Booker may not even play tonight. And, it's possible that Bender starts. If they go with Ulis, Jones Jr., Bender, Warren, Chriss starting lineup, where does that fall in the 'Youngest Ever' category?

Serious question...

Why doesn't A. Williams get more burn? By every statistical measure he is the best PF, on the team. He's also arguably as good a center as Tyson Chandler, and way better than Len.

He was getting quite a bit of minutes right after the all star break because he was outplaying Len. He has continued to outplay Len, but I think suns management knows what they have in him and want to get a better look at Len to see if he will show us something. And you can't play Williams with Len on offense, they should both be strictly 5's

In2ition wrote:It looks like Booker may not even play tonight. And, it's possible that Bender starts. If they go with Ulis, Jones Jr., Bender, Warren, Chriss starting lineup, where does that fall in the 'Youngest Ever' category?

As #1 by far.

It was already the youngest in history when it had Len and Booker in place of Bender and Jones.

Wormwood wrote:Serious question...

Why doesn't A. Williams get more burn? By every statistical measure he is the best PF, on the team. He's also arguably as good a center as Tyson Chandler, and way better than Len.

Slight quibble. He's a center ... somewhat short, but he's a banger that belongs on the low block.

He's a rebounding demon with a great work rate.
On the minus side, his range is limited, he's foul prone, and he's not the rim protector that Len is.

He's a great asset off the bench. And a nice local story.

I love me some Big Sauce. Bringing him back is a must. This team needs his motor and chemistry, and of course his rebounding and strength (he even has a nice touch for layups). I am ready to move on from Len. Too bad this draft is not center/PF heavy.

In2ition wrote:It looks like Booker may not even play tonight.

Where are you seeing that?

Superbone wrote:

In2ition wrote:It looks like Booker may not even play tonight.

Where are you seeing that?

It was what Watson said, about wanting Booker to not risk injury going into the offseason instead of tanking tonight.

Sitting Booker is the sensible thing to do. Imagine if he messed up his ankle trying to win this stupid game. Give the minutes to JJr.

In2ition wrote:

Superbone wrote:

In2ition wrote:It looks like Booker may not even play tonight.

Where are you seeing that?

It was what Watson said, about wanting Booker to not risk injury going into the offseason instead of tanking tonight.

LOL. I assume Watson didn't actually say tanking, but it was obvious enouch.

Ring_Wanted wrote:I love me some Big Sauce. Bringing him back is a must. This team needs his motor and chemistry, and of course his rebounding and strength (he even has a nice touch for layups). I am ready to move on from Len. Too bad this draft is not center/PF heavy.

My problem with moving on from Len, is that we then have no rim protection from the 5 spot. Chriss can get some, for sure, but it is when he is rotating down low from the perimeter. He isn't going to stand in the lane and deter shots. Len does a very good job of that, even if he doesn't log a lot of blocks.

We'll have to search another starting caliber center, but I am ok with that as probably we are not winning anything next season either. Len is not cutting it and unless he resigns at a bargain price, I am not comfortable investing in him. He gets on my nerves too much on offense. Plays so small despite his size, and it's been four years now. Also had the chance to expand his shooting but didn't make the leap there either. He should be someone's backup, not our starter (if he is to be paid like one by the Suns). History repeats itself as this is a case similar to RoLo (and I see him doing ok elsewhere too), but precissely, these players are not that hard to come by. Just keep shuffling until you find something truly worthy of your money.

If we were winning, or cap strangled, I could be singing a different tune, but as it is, the franchise has no need to tie itself to average performers with what can be considered, at his point, limited upside.