Around the NBA - 23-24 Other playoff series

[sunsbg]

Clippers better without Kawhi as Suns would have done better against Mavs in '22 without CP3 after Gm2.

[sunsbg]

Kyrie is the perfect 2nd option. Takes over when the team needs him the most.

[sunsbg]

Mavs almost pulled a win after being down 31 in first half. That series is living up to the expectations.

[SunsRback4Good]

Mavs almost pulled a win after being down 31 in first half. That series is living up to the expectations.

Mavs are a well run organization. I wish Cuban was our owner. Besides getting rid of Nash & Brunson he has not made many mistakes as being their owner. I salute him he’s my hero.

[Qwigglez]

Pelicans got swept, and Lakers are out after Jamal Murray hits another game winner. Makes me feel slightly better.

[sunskerr]

Pelicans got swept, and Lakers are out after Jamal Murray hits another game winner. Makes me feel slightly better.

Still trying to get the Canada back court...one Jamal Murray please I have the assets.

[Revived]

At least Lakers losing makes this week lot better.

[SunsRback4Good]

Has Jamal Murray cemented himself as top 3 playoff closer of all time behind MJ and Kobe? What he’s doing is unprecedented every shot in crunch time feels like it’s going in. What an amazing human being. I’m glad to be alive to witness greatness since MJ and Kobe retired, but handed their baton to Jamal Murray.

[BurningHeart]

God it must be amazing to have intelligent players on your team. Thanks Denver.

**** the Lakers.

[garrick]

Maxey putting on a clinic.

If only JJ weren't such an idiot to pass on two star point guards in the draft....

[SunsRback4Good]

Knicks had a 6 point lead with under a minute remaining and couldn’t hold on. Looks like they are headed to a game 6. This has been a great series so far.

[Revived]

Tyrese Maxey was drafted 21st in the 2020 NBA draft….same draft where James Jones selected Jalen Smith over Tyrese Haliburton also.

[Revived]

Read on Twitter

[LV-Suns]

Tyrese Maxey was drafted 21st in the 2020 NBA draft….same draft where James Jones selected Jalen Smith over Tyrese Haliburton also.

Remember all the news about how we have a bear skeleton scout team out there. Makes sense with all the draft picks that James Jones has selected. One of many Sarvers cost cutting.

[garrick]

Is first-round pick Jalen Smith best suited to play for Phoenix Suns?
Duane Rankin
Arizona Republic


Drafting Jalen Smith wasn't on a whim for the Phoenix Suns.

"We don't go into it just drafting their talent, we go into it drafting what we believe fits what we do," Suns coach Monty Williams said.

Bleacher Report seems to think it wasn't the right pick for Smith, though.

Jonathan Wasserman wrote the Maryland big man is one of five first-round picks with the wrong team with the other four being Kentucky's Immanuel Quickley (25th overall, New York Knicks), Auburn's Isaac Okoro (5th overall, Cleveland Cavaliers), Florida State's Patrick Williams (4th overall, Chicago Bulls) and Kansas' Udoka Azubuike (27th overall, Utah Jazz).


"What's the plan for Jalen Smith in Phoenix?," Wasserman wrote. "The Suns must believe he's suited to play the 4 next to Deandre Ayton. Or they were fine drafting a backup center at No. 10 overall."

Smith doesn't see sharing the court with Ayton or Dario Saric being a problem.

Maryland forward Jalen Smith (25) stands on the court during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Michigan, Sunday, March 8, 2020, in College Park, Md. Maryland won 83-70. (AP Photo/Nick Wass).
"I feel as though I'll fit well," Smith said Saturday after Phoenix's first full practice. "I've always played with a dominant big next to me at every level and I was able to adjust accordingly. Be able to just feed off of that."

As a freshman at Maryland, Smith played with Bruno Fernando, who is entering his second NBA season with the Atlanta Hawks. He acknowledged the challenge of now playing in the NBA with all new teammates and coaches, but sounds up for it.


"Pretty much just going onto the court, it's not playing that position, but just doing what your team needs you to do to get that win," Smith added.

Wasserman believes Smith being drafted as a "stretch 5" by Washington (9th overall pick), San Antonio (11th overall pick) or Sacramento (12th overall pick) could've led to an eventual starting role.


With Phoenix, Wasserman says Smith will play out of position or "have a limited bench role."

This is the latest of bad draft evaluations for the Suns as USA TODAY gave Phoenix an F grade. It's the only failing grade USA TODAY gave to an NBA team.


"What were the Suns doing in this draft?" wrote Scott Gleeson. "After making a big move to acquire Chris Paul, there were plenty of roster voids. The frontcourt wasn’t necessarily one of those holes, however, so drafting forward Jalen Smith at No. 10 —when there were several more talented pieces out there — makes little sense."

FILE - In this march 3, 2020, file photo, Maryland's Jalen Smith (25) dunks as Rutgers' Myles Johnson (15) watches during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Piscataway, N.J. Jalen Smith was selected to the Associated Press All-Big Ten team selected Tuesday, March 10, 2020. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File).
This was before Phoenix added perimeter free agents Jae Crowder, E'Twaun Moore, Langston Galloway and re-signed guard Jevon Carter, but Wasserman, like Gleeson, isn't buying the drafting of Smith.

Smith is in his first full week of practicing in Phoenix as the Suns had their first full practice Saturday after having individual workouts earlier in the week.


"It was exciting," Smith said. "Coming into it, calming yourself down for your first practice. That's probably the first time I've played with so many people in months, but overall, it was good. I got to get some run in. Got to learn some things from the guys. Pretty much, it was just a learning day."

He's certainly in a learning and adjustment phase right now.

Smith hasn't played in a format like that since March when the 2019-20 college basketball season abruptly ended with the COVID-19 pandemic.

He's not using that extended time gap as an excuse.

"I'm a competitive person," Smith said. "I take pride in my effort and my intensity and pretty much, it was getting right back to it. It didn't take a while to adjust. I got the hang of everything and I got the flow of everything. I was just moving from there."

MORE:Disciplined, driven Jalen Smith ready to make impact for Phoenix Suns

Feb 18, 2020; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins forward Jalen Smith (25) dribbles as Northwestern Wildcats center Ryan Young (15) defends during the second half at XFINITY Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Wasserman contends Smith "makes more sense at the 5 than power forward," especially if playing alongside Ayton. He said neither Ayton or Smith make plays off the bounce, noting that Smith totaled 54 assists in 64 career games in college.

Ayton is averaging 1.8 assists in his two NBA seasons. That number will likely drop with the addition of All-Star veteran point guard Chris Paul. Suns General Manager James Jones has said he wants to see Ayton and Smith on the floor together "for stints."

So expect Ayton and Smith to do that at some point. The re-signing of Dario Saric gives Phoenix flexibility there. Saric showed in Phoenix's 8-0 bubble run he can play the five.

Then Cam Johnson started at the four in the bubble. The Suns have options, but Wasserman can't see playing Smith and Ayton playing inside at the same time in pat because Ayton is "one of the most-used post players in the NBA."

The Suns are looking at Smith's ability to play pick-and-pop and knock down the 3. Smith hit 36.8% of his 3s last season.

Feb 18, 2020; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins forward Jalen Smith (25) celebrates with Maryland Terrapins guard Anthony Cowan Jr. (1) aftertastes making a three point shot during the first half against the Northwestern Wildcats at XFINITY Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Smith hasn't shown the ability to create plays off the dribble, but with Paul and Devin Booker, he won't have to do that and can simply set a screen and step back for a 3.

Ayton spoke so confidently Thursday about the additions and changes he's made to his game, it makes one wonder how the Suns will utilize him. He started shooting the 3 in the bubble. So that's going to continue, but how Ayton plays will help determine where Smith will fit.

Wasserman still has doubts.

"If the Suns plan to use both bigs together, Smith will operate almost exclusively as a catch-and-shoot player, but one who won't be a big threat to make plays attacking closeouts," he wrote. "He recorded one field goal all season off a drive from spot-up position, per Synergy Sports."

Wasserman questions how Smith and Ayton will defend "smaller, faster lineups" considering Smith is more a shot blocked than a perimeter defender. Smith averaged 2.4 blocks last season, but if any of the two would guard a perimeter player, it's Ayton.

Jan 26, 2020; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (22) guards Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) during the first half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
The Suns starting center has shown early in his career the ability to stay in front of guards on switches. Ayton also averaged 1.5 blocks last season.

So Ayton can protect the rim, but it'd be interesting to see him guarding a smaller, quicker player for more than just a play or two in the half court or keep up with one in transition.

While small ball will remain in the league, Jones sees how the Los Angeles Lakers played two bigs together with Anthony Davis at the four and Dwight Howard or JaVale McGee at the 5 and won the 2020 NBA title in the bubble.

Having LeBron James plays a major role in that functioning, but having two big men sharing the court, especially if one is as skilled and versatile as Davis, can work.

Phoenix may see Smith and Ayton bringing that same dynamic.

Enough people have questioned the selection of Smith to make one believe Phoenix may have better off selecting someone else.

The draft isn't an exact science, but if Smith's approach of doing whatever the team needs him to do to win holds true, he has the mental approach and physical talents to make it work.

It was a real head scratcher at the time what JJ was thinking taking Jalen at #10, worse is how we didn't even attempt to keep him but traded him for scraps without seeing how we could try to develop him.

Jalen isn't some amazing talent but he's a double digit scorer and showed some promise in his second season.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Tyrese Maxey was drafted 21st in the 2020 NBA draft….same draft where James Jones selected Jalen Smith over Tyrese Haliburton also.

As was Desmond Bane too at 30. There we're many discussions that he could've easily traded down even aside from missing on Haliburton and Vassell. And he could've still quite easily Gotten BOTH Maxey and Smith or Bane and Smith, or even Pritchard and Smith. Paul Reed was also available and fit the Jerami Grant (early stages) long, lanky, explosive multi positional defensive specialist.

You see with Jones, it's not that he just whiffed on all of those prospects as many other teams did to in some peoples' hit or miss "crapshoot" argument. But also in 2019 when he drafted Cam Johnson who was/is solid, he still missed on Coby White in the trade back, then he also passed on .................................................... PJ Washington,Tyler Herro, Matisse Thybulle, Brandon Clarke, Grant Williams, Nik Claxton. And I get it happens for a lot of GMs each year, BUT in Jones full tenure here, He's identified what, maybe 1-2 solid picks? and hasn't really kept any of them either. The reason that I take issue with these whiffs is because he openly admitted to not valuing the draft or much less being willing to invest in it. Just imagine how much better our depth or talent pool of assets could've een if was only willing to put the work/time in and do the research.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Maxey putting on a clinic.

If only JJ weren't such an idiot to pass on two star point guards in the draft....

Remember, he himself said he doesn't value the draft and would've passed on Booker because the draft is basically a gamble that you might miss on! Well guess what!! ....................................... You miss out on 100%n of the opportunities that you don't pursue. Surrendering that value to others who actually cared or at least tried somewhat. One of the many reasons he has to go! And it's egregious how he coasts by doing the absolute minimum and getting pass after pass from some fans (to our detriment) while getting to keep staying on.

[garrick]

Maxey putting on a clinic.

If only JJ weren't such an idiot to pass on two star point guards in the draft....

Remember, he himself said he doesn't value the draft and would've passed on Booker because the draft is basically a gamble that you might miss on! Well guess what!! ....................................... You miss out on 100%n of the opportunities that you don't pursue. Surrendering that value to others who actually cared or at least tried somewhat. One of the many reasons he has to go! And it's egregious how he coasts by doing the absolute minimum and getting pass after pass from some fans (to our detriment) while getting to keep staying on.

Yeah he's pretty horrible but it looks like he has Ishbia's ear so his position is safe!

As bad as JJ has been I think pairing him with Ishbia is worse because it doesn't look like he counters any of Ishbia's bad ideas and he just doesn't care enough to quit when he sees the bad basketball decisions being made.

He's just happy to be cashing in a fat paycheck and continue to just mail it in year after year.

[SunsRback4Good]

Maxey putting on a clinic.

If only JJ weren't such an idiot to pass on two star point guards in the draft....

Remember, he himself said he doesn't value the draft and would've passed on Booker because the draft is basically a gamble that you might miss on! Well guess what!! ....................................... You miss out on 100%n of the opportunities that you don't pursue. Surrendering that value to others who actually cared or at least tried somewhat. One of the many reasons he has to go! And it's egregious how he coasts by doing the absolute minimum and getting pass after pass from some fans (to our detriment) while getting to keep staying on.

Yeah he's pretty horrible but it looks like he has Ishbia's ear so his position is safe!

As bad as JJ has been I think pairing him with Ishbia is worse because it doesn't look like he counters any of Ishbia's bad ideas and he just doesn't care enough to quit when he sees the bad basketball decisions being made.

He's just happy to be cashing in a fat paycheck and continue to just mail it in year after year.

I hope JJ breaks his legs I never liked the ball headed dude even when he played for the Suns. He’s a snake and needs to be dealt with.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Maxey putting on a clinic.

If only JJ weren't such an idiot to pass on two star point guards in the draft....

Remember, he himself said he doesn't value the draft and would've passed on Booker because the draft is basically a gamble that you might miss on! Well guess what!! ....................................... You miss out on 100%n of the opportunities that you don't pursue. Surrendering that value to others who actually cared or at least tried somewhat. One of the many reasons he has to go! And it's egregious how he coasts by doing the absolute minimum and getting pass after pass from some fans (to our detriment) while getting to keep staying on.

Yeah he's pretty horrible but it looks like he has Ishbia's ear so his position is safe!

As bad as JJ has been I think pairing him with Ishbia is worse because it doesn't look like he counters any of Ishbia's bad ideas and he just doesn't care enough to quit when he sees the bad basketball decisions being made.

He's just happy to be cashing in a fat paycheck and continue to just mail it in year after year.

The problem with JJ is he's an arrogant grifter/ con artist who has coasted of the reputation of winning championships by playing with Lebron. But the truth is, Jones honestly had very little to do with any of those. He rode the coattails of the Miami big three to a championship, and he's been living in the past in terms of championship perspective for a long time now. He's just a smooth talker that has benefited from two ignorant and inexperienced owners, the first that didn't really care about outcome as long as he turned a profit!! (Typical banker mentality). And Ishbia, who despite actually playing SOME basketball as a walk on bench guard for Michigan, really doesn't have an astute basketball mind either! Ishbia has an overtly excited, overtly impulsive ego driven, clout chasing try hard with no basketball acumen, BUT is eager to recieve praise. So Jones being the clever grifter that he is knows that really all he has to do is be a brown nosing yes man fluffing up Ishbias' fragile ego, and he'll be kept around without any real merit at all!

This is why we're a closet laughing stock in the NBA and always a legitimate tier below the actual contenders each and every year, and also why we've finished in historically embarassing fashion year after year aside from the 21' finals run in which Paul came here because of Booker. NOT at all because of anything to do with James Jones! And then the other grifter Monty Williams who's now being severely exposed in Detroit too was carried by Paul being the ultimate "on court" player/coach and accountability presence. That allowed Monty to just sit on the sidelines with a lost constipated look on his face while collecting a coach of the year award. And Jones collecting GM of the year also, BOTH very unmerited for their overall body of work.