Game 49: Phoenix(27-21) @ Houston( 25-21)

[JohnVancouver]

If he (Clark) thinks he'll just get 6 minutes and only if we blow someone out, will someone with a questionable work ethic really try 100% in practice? I just think as a rookie we have to keep him warm and expose him to playing time, and a stint in the D-League could do wonders there.

The story form Kerr is that Clark earned his increased minutes by going hard in practice, so his lackadaisical effort seems to be a non-issue. Keep him up here in the real game, and keep giving him minutes that count. We're not going to be compromising a title run if we give him more time in the 2nd half of the season.

[JohnVancouver]

From what I've heard, he's getting playing time now because he's earned it in practice. You send him to the D-League, and he's not practicing with the Suns. I think it's way more valuable to practice every day/every other day, whatever, with your NBA team, which is playing against NBA caliber players, than to practice and play with guys that just aren't cut out for NBA play. You learn from those that are better than you, very little can be learned from those that you easily dominate. Clark just needs to be reminded that the harder he tries in practice, the more playing time he'll see come game day. The D-League is for people like Griffin. He'll never be an NBA caliber player.

+1 - though I think the DLeague is great for some guys. Grumpy, didn't see that you'd already posted about Clark's improved effort -

[JohnVancouver]

I'm all for starting Duds at the 2 with Sideshow, Stat and ...?

Need Lou to come in and give us a boost, Frye doesn't fit - how about EC?

[grumpysaddle]

i think the D-League is great for guys that didn't get drafted, second round picks, or guys who were never in a draft in the first place to be able to showcase their skills. sometimes players jump up in talent seemingly overnight, so you could find a real gem if one of them gets on a D-League team. Sending first round draft picks down to the D-League any other time besides the very, very beginning of the season isn't going to benefit them in any formidable way.

[Miklo]

If he (Clark) thinks he'll just get 6 minutes and only if we blow someone out, will someone with a questionable work ethic really try 100% in practice? I just think as a rookie we have to keep him warm and expose him to playing time, and a stint in the D-League could do wonders there.

The story form Kerr is that Clark earned his increased minutes by going hard in practice, so his lackadaisical effort seems to be a non-issue. Keep him up here in the real game, and keep giving him minutes that count. We're not going to be compromising a title run if we give him more time in the 2nd half of the season.

Well put. You got me there, especially with those words coming from Kerr/mgmt. He knows he needs to earn the time, so let's let him at it.

[arizonatribe]

Awesome puppy picture! But is it pee-ing from the side of it's body? And does it pee blue?

Actually I believe they're Mardi Gras beads around his neck. I'm not sure why the dog was wearing them, but the fact that they're playing in the Big Easy tonight just seemed appropriate.