Phx-Suns.Net

Time: 7:00 pm AZ (6:00 pm PT/9:00 pm ET)
Place: Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, AZ
TV: FSAZ, NBALP

The shorthanded Suns play the Hawks in Phoenix Saturday night. I hope to see Booker continue to impress.

Go Suns!!!

Dis • cuss

I'm hoping to see TJ finally break out. I agree with the coaching staff that we need to see at least two of (a) defense, (b) rebounding, or (c) AGGRESSION on offense. For all his talent, these elements have been lacking.

At least Booker has been playing really well lately.

OE32 wrote:I'm hoping to see TJ finally break out. I agree with the coaching staff that we need to see at least two of (a) defense, (b) rebounding, or (c) AGGRESSION on offense. For all his talent, these elements have been lacking.

As much as I like Hornacek, this is when I think you really just have to cut ties with the guy. Clearly, Bledsoe, Markieff, Tucker, and others were not being held accountable on many of these fronts, and were not pulled from the game. Then, all of a sudden, you want to call out a young guy on the team for not hustling? You can't do those swings.

Just to be clear, I think it's right to pull a player for not hustling. I don't think it's right to do it for some players one way at the start of the season, and then change your mind and start doing it for other players mid-season.

wpmiller42 wrote:

OE32 wrote:I'm hoping to see TJ finally break out. I agree with the coaching staff that we need to see at least two of (a) defense, (b) rebounding, or (c) AGGRESSION on offense. For all his talent, these elements have been lacking.

As much as I like Hornacek, this is when I think you really just have to cut ties with the guy. Clearly, Bledsoe, Markieff, Tucker, and others were not being held accountable on many of these fronts, and were not pulled from the game. Then, all of a sudden, you want to call out a young guy on the team for not hustling? You can't do those swings.

Just to be clear, I think it's right to pull a player for not hustling. I don't think it's right to do it for some players one way at the start of the season, and then change your mind and start doing it for other players mid-season.

I get your point. But at some point it is clear those veterans aren't going to change. For the rookies/sophomores, you teach them right from the beginning. I'm not saying coach handled the veterans correctly, just that I'm ok with him doing it to the young guys.

And you just know we have been working to trade those guys all year. So you have to keep playing them.

I think playing someone that hurts your team just so you can trade him is a very bad idea. I've read several times how the team is showcasing someone (Tucker, Morris, ... ) but I'm not really conviced this helps the trade value of a player, when the team plays worse because of him. And it surely doesn't help the players you intend to keep.

Hermen wrote:I think playing someone that hurts your team just so you can trade him is a very bad idea. I've read several times how the team is showcasing someone (Tucker, Morris, ... ) but I'm not really conviced this helps the trade value of a player, when the team plays worse because of him. And it surely doesn't help the players you intend to keep.

I don't disagree, completely. But a lot of times a player's worth is based on what-have-you-done-for-me-lately, and I-can-only-get-limited-minutes-on-the-worst-team-in-the-league<<<I-play-a-lot-on-a-bad-team-and-put-up-good-stats.

Indy wrote:I don't disagree, completely. But a lot of times a player's worth is based on what-have-you-done-for-me-lately, and I-can-only-get-limited-minutes-on-the-worst-team-in-the-league<<<I-play-a-lot-on-a-bad-team-and-put-up-good-stats.

I guess you're right about that. There's definitely balance to be found. But I don't think you can fool anyone with Tucker or Morris anymore.

Hermen wrote:

Indy wrote:I don't disagree, completely. But a lot of times a player's worth is based on what-have-you-done-for-me-lately, and I-can-only-get-limited-minutes-on-the-worst-team-in-the-league<<<I-play-a-lot-on-a-bad-team-and-put-up-good-stats.

I guess you're right about that. There's definitely balance to be found. But I don't think you can fool anyone with Tucker or Morris anymore.

Agreed. I truly think both can be very helpful to another team. They just don't fit here. So I don't think it is fooling anyone to showcase them. It just hurts our current team chemistry (which sucks anyway).

Yeah, I'm torn in this debate re TJ. I've taken Hermen's position for most of the year, but I can at least see the rationale of pulling TJ, even if it hurts my enjoyment of the game.

One thing that caught my attention in the TNT broadcast the other night - Reggie noted that TJ was a guy who needed his offense to get him started on the defensive end. Coach might think that's just a bad habit, but not all players are the same - some are legitimately offense-first players. And if you're good enough on that end, you should still play most of the game. As much as I like Booker, I don't know if he'll be as great at creating his own shot as TJ can be. Both of them will be fabulous targets for a pass-first point guard, however. Shame that we have two PGs, neither of whom could be even remotely considered "pass first."

As much as I like Booker, I don't know if he'll be as great at creating his own shot as TJ can be.

I don't see TJ creating his own shots, but he is wonderful at getting open and making himself a great target. He gets open, but creating his own shots is something you do with the ball in your hands (at least that is how I think of it).

Anyone out there?

Good start for the young guys.

Booker looking great. 10 points already.

Yeah, this game is actually watchable!

Need to bring Booker back in the offense is looking rough.

Were those cheers for KJ? Kinda surprised if that was the case. I guess casual fans probably aren't aware.

All it took for Coach to not try to out small the other team was 3 of our guards being injured.

Watching Goodwin I can't help to think what he would be like now if he actually learned to shoot the ball over the last 3 years. It is a real shame.

EDC wrote:Watching Goodwin I can't help to think what he would be like now if he actually learned to shoot the ball over the last 3 years. It is a real shame.

Or got consistent time.