Bear Down Wildcats

What a night by Brandon - no pun intended. Bledsoe's been playing well too.

Time to blow it all up (again)?

JMarkJohns - interested in your takes:

Suns, Markieff Morris throw in towel in loss to Nuggets

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/n ... /77850822/

Towelgate, the sequel, became a dramatic alternative to the usual holiday fare, just as the Suns’ play contrasts the season’s spirit.

In one of their more advantageous scenarios of the season, the Suns posted another dreadful loss with play so frightful and no signs of stopping. The bow on Wednesday night’s stocking of coal came when Markieff Morris added to a season of distraction by harkening back memories of Robert Horry’s towel toss at Danny Ainge by tossing a towel toward coach Jeff Hornacek in Wednesday’s fourth quarter.

The Suns lost 104-96 at Talking Stick Resort Arena to a Denver team playing a night after losing at home to the last-place Los Angeles Lakers and was missing five players (two starters) with no backup point guard available.

I'll get to my opinion on things in a few days. I want to see how management reacts.

Short take, it's not good.

They never fully committed to a rebuild. They had a plan in place and Dragic fucked it up. Ever since they've been chasing two season's ago.

They need to cut bait and play their youth. They have a player in Goodwin who nobody knows what to make of. Booker and Warren need more time. Len needs more time.

Tucker and Chandler need less time, and the former never should have been resigned.

There's talent with a future on this roster, but Markieff and Tucker have to go.

meh. I hope some day to be able to care about and follow the suns as much as I did in the early 90s.

Suns are in a bad position right now. Maybe good enough to make the playoffs, but definitely not good enough to win a series. Have picks in the pipeline, but already have a ton of young guys who need PT. Have a piece in Chandler, but need him on the floor to make the playoffs. Have two good guards, but dealt the "most productive" one away to Boston.

IMO, they have to find a way to make a trade with some of those picks, Morris, Len, ect to add another impact player.

I don't want to trade Len. He's better than Chandler now and has upside.

I'd like to see them go young and small with Warren at PF and Booker at SF with Goodwin backing up both guard spots for about 20+ minutes a night, and Leuer as backup PF and Chandler as backup C.

Commit to something, if even just figuring out what you have and showcasing some young pieces.

Get rid of Markieff and Tucker now.

13/14 gave them false hope. Commit to the blowup and trade the backcourt.

MM suspended 2 games. What a POS

The process can't be trusted. It's full of mirages, broken possibilities, and unfulfilled potential.

I honestly believe they had a plan entering that first full season of McD and Hornacek. They drafted two raw, but ideally athletic/framed prospects, acquired a bunch of unknown in Bledsoe, Plumlee, traded all veterans, acquired a bunch of 1sts. Then they had perfect chemistry and outperformed expectations and the idea was that all the main pieces were in place, that if Bledsoe doesn't miss 30+, Dragic doesn't miss 30+, Len plays a whole season, and the Morrii develop, that a piece here or there and they could be a 55+ win team. And it was reasonable as the Suns had a near .700 win percentage in the roughly 35 games Bledsoe and Dragic started in the backcourt. They had three of the top-5 most improved players in the League, and they were adding a young, athletic 7-footer who was rumored to be going #1 overall until Cleveland fucked it all up.

So they added a "backup" PG in Thomas to a value deal, allowed Frye to walk, resigned hustle-bum/fan-favorite/Good Storyline Tucker, and drafted a high upside scorer at SF.

They then proceeded to beat the reigning Champ Spurs on Halloween and then quickly crashes and burned. The clock struck midnight on pumpkins Plumlee, Green, and Thomas proceeded to get his and burned bridges. His agent then created a fuss over starting, and then that tidal wave caught Dragic and his agent.

Before long the team was a shadow of its former upside, and with improbably more questions to answer.

So rather than fold, McDonough doubled down and traded for both now and future assets, acquiring Wright and Knight and lots of future 1sts.

Then he went all in, trading the lesser Morrii, setting the table to trade the better Morrii, committed major bucks to Chandler in hopes of luring Aldridge, which seemed to work until fucking Pat Riley, and then watched as it all imploded. Had it not...

PG: Bledsoe, Price
SG: Knight, Booker, Goodwin
SF: Warren, Tucker
PF: Aldridge, Leuer
C: Len, Chandler

With a MAX contract to offer in 2016 offseason
Rights to Bogdanovic
Two 1sts in 2016
Six 1sts from 2017-2020

That's not a bad team or plan. That team holds immediate and long-term potential. It relegates vets to ideal roles, and offers hope for youngsters. It has depth, skill, versatility, and can really score.

But the process failed. Failed badly. They saw their shot, took it, and missed, twice.

Problem isn't in the failing, it's in the wallowing in the failing.

This team will not win with Markieff on the roster.

But he's toxic now. And no return will bring his upside or contract value in return.

And they still have a MAX contract combined twixt Chandler and Tucker for a while.

So, the whole situation sucks.

Just lost to the Sixers.

Someone needs to be fired, traded, etc immediately. By immediately I mean like tomorrow

Main Event wrote:Just lost to the Sixers.

Someone needs to be fired, traded, etc immediately. By immediately I mean like tomorrow

This isn't even rock bottom. This is the start of the downhill momentum.

This will get ugly. Real ugly. I'm honest to God not sure anyone now afixed with the team survives he taint. For all their upside, players like Len, Warren, Booker... I doubt they achieve without changing - be it a change in mentality, a change in attitude, or a change in team.

And the wind whispered . . . . . Walton

Chicat wrote:

And the wind whispered . . . . . Walton

If Luke is smart, he only need ask Kerr what it's like working under Sarver.

And he needs to listen.

And he needs to say No to the Suns.

It's toxic.

It's suicide.

Phoenix Suns fire assistant coaches Longabardi, Sichting

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nb ... /77962864/" target="_blank

Jeff Hornacek is the last Suns coach standing from last season.

Hornacek's four assistant coaches from last season are all gone after his top two aides, Jerry Sichting and Mike Longabardi, were fired Saturday after the Suns' 15th loss in 20 games came to 2-30 Philadelphia at home Friday.

The other two assistant coaches from Hornacek's first two Suns coaching seasons were moved off the bench in the off season when Mark West returned to a front office role as vice president of player relations and Kenny Gattison was fired.

Gave up a cool 142 to the Kings...in regulation. The thing that really sucks is our luck is horrible and we'll wind up with the 3rd pick in a draft that's maybe 2 deep.

I think it's official-the Suns are the worst team in the NBA. 22 points in the first half against the Lakers.

Blow. It. Up.

Devin Booker is looking pretty good. 3rd youngest player ever (LeBron, Durant) to score 30 points in a game.

wooha wrote:Devin Booker is looking pretty good. 3rd youngest player ever (LeBron, Durant) to score 30 points in a game.

I said it at draft time, outside of the top-5, I thought Booker had highest upside.

I think his floor is Klay Thompson. His agility is better, he's younger, and it seems like he'll develop into a comparable defender. If he can develop and handle and slashing game, he's a 7-10 time All-Star type player.

No joke.

I was so freaking happy when Bird passed on him.

So is Goodwin/Booker a better backcourt than Bledsoe/Knight? Maybe the Suns should just continue to build through the draft already.

I was never big on Bledsoe. Assuming they don't land the 1st pick, I hope we take Kris Dunn.

Main Event wrote:I was never big on Bledsoe. Assuming they don't land the 1st pick, I hope we take Kris Dunn.

I was less big on Brandon Knight. Can we blow up the whole Kentucky guard only strategy? Booker and Goodwin can stay, but let's get rid of the big money guys who aren't worth the money they're paid.

Love seeing Goodwin playing well.

They need to get Warren more PT. He's shined at times. Same with Len.

Goodwin/Booker/Warren/Len and one of Bledsoe or Knight, then trade off everyone else...

Bring in Bogdanovic, draft well (they typically do), re-sign Leuer, and have lots of CAP in a few years.

It's what has to be done.

How did it get so bad? Did the losing itself lead Hornacek to lose his team? I don't know anything about the situation, I only see the Suns when they play the Warriors and Sixers and Pacers.

Ugggh. He was one of the guys who should have gotten all the playing time he could handle down the close of this shit season.

Longhorned wrote:How did it get so bad? Did the losing itself lead Hornacek to lose his team? I don't know anything about the situation, I only see the Suns when they play the Warriors and Sixers and Pacers.

How did it get so bad? Your boy Sarver, that's how. Interesting how many threads you guys have here deep throating all these past UA players , yet there is little mention of another UA grad in Robert Sarver, who is currently the cause of the downfall of the Valleys most storied franchise.

Scummy Dick Douglas wrote:

Longhorned wrote:How did it get so bad? Did the losing itself lead Hornacek to lose his team? I don't know anything about the situation, I only see the Suns when they play the Warriors and Sixers and Pacers.

How did it get so bad? Your boy Sarver, that's how. Interesting how many threads you guys have here deep throating all these past UA players , yet there is little mention of another UA grad in Robert Sarver, who is currently the cause of the downfall of the Valleys most storied franchise.

Lol. This post reeks of jealously in thr fact Asu has no one of note to "deep throat".

Seriously, Kerr, Walton, Iggy and the other dozen people in the league are making you boil with rage aren't they?

Just another Wednesday in Phoenix

Main Event wrote:

Just another Wednesday in Phoenix

What happens when a quitting asshole (Morris) attempts to assume a leadership role on a team he quit and assholed on. They know what he is.

Goodwin needs coaching, not correcting.

Kief aint a coach.

Im glad someone called Archie out. Its like he didnt want to play last night. Anyone but Morris though. PJ was yelling at Archie during the first couple minutes of play as well

As bad as it's been it looks like Booker was a good pick.
( and they'll have another high draft pick this year. )

SI.com: Suns’ Devin Booker goes 5th in 2015 NBA re-draft

http://arizonasports.com/story/551738/n ... uns-magic/

Wasn't big on Booker when we drafted him but he's absolutely won me over. Sucks he got stuck with being in such a dumpster fire enviornment

UAEebs86 wrote:As bad as it's been it looks like Booker was a good pick.
( and they'll have another high draft pick this year. )

SI.com: Suns’ Devin Booker goes 5th in 2015 NBA re-draft

http://arizonasports.com/story/551738/n ... uns-magic/

My opinion back in June:

JMarkJohns wrote:Booker at 13 has a chance to be a top-5 player in the class. He's really good, still young, maybe growing, and he's quick and agile. If he can grow to 6-8 he's the perfect modern wing.

Honestly, he may be top-3 in a stacked class.

Towns
Kristaps
Booker/Turner

Those are the rookies that show the highest long-term upside, while making early contributions now.

Booker makes finals of 3 point shooting contest with Klay and Steph-not too shabby.

I love that Booker is a Sun.

I mean, I feel bad for him, but it gives me a genuine reason to like them, to root for them.

Love that Booker basically walked off vs JJ to advance. Hahaha...

Contest was nuts. Incredible skills among the NBAs elite. Amazing to think how far perimeter shooting as advanced from even a decade ago.

Peace out

I heard that 1st round pick is top-9 protected for 2016, so looks like three 1st rounders is likely this year.

I'm a bit shocked they were even able to get that after everything that's happened.

Booker has a chance to be really special.


Wish Goodwin's role was better defined. I don't get the inconsistent usage of him.

Len is Len. Still more potential than promise, but a good player.

But Booker is the first draft pick I think can be a legitimate superstar since Amare, and the first wing since Finley. I loved Marion, but he was a statistical superstar, but was a finisher, not a creator.

Booker is legitimately on the cusp of stardom at age 19.

He's averaging 25 points and 5 assists in March and on the season, per-36 minutes he's at 17-3.

Three 30-point games in last four played.

Ehh

He had horrible rotations, ran vets into the ground over playing youth, and his offense was largely inefficient. Not thrilled.

Never know how much to believe from Windhorst but.....

Coop Cat wrote:Never know how much to believe from Windhorst but.....

Have a hard time believing Goodwin lent support, considering he went from a promising 15-5-4 in 30 minutes to DNP-CD most games under Watson.

Len/Chandler frontcourt was a disaster, and saying he played them as a pair so often out of necessity is garbage. Mirtza, Leuer, and Tucker all could handle PF, and that would have opened SF minutes for Booker and minutes for Goodwin at SG and PG. But Price got a ton of meaningless minutes at Goodwin's expense.