Denver@Phoenix Game 2

[JohnVancouver]

Just going by y'alls reporte:

What the hell is with Josh? We know he can ball - he looked like a bright spot when he finally got minutes last year. Let's hope this is juts one of those things and it goes away ...

Hak looking good? That's wonderful news - good for him if he really worked on his game this offseason.

Didn't hear much about Lopez - what's the verdict?

Duds?

Keef can ball - anyone who watched kansas last year would know it. The fouls are not a worry, really. Rookies are trying to get used to the physicality of the NBA game and over-compensate. Plus they're not used to big, strong players like these and they get called until they ramp their own game up. It'll come. But if he can score, rebound and block shots like he is, he'll be fine.



So - let's start: Nash - Brown - Hak (3) - Gortat- Keef

bench - Price - Duds - Hill - Frye - Lopez

not ideal in lots of ways - better to have Frye at 5 in the second unit, really. Not enough three point shooting in the 1st string.

From what I read - we have four centers: Gortat, Lopez, Frye, Siler. Siler isn't worth much but he's a good 3rd string. One of the others needs to be moved. I hate to say it but If Robin really is better, Gortat is the one who would bring the most back.

We still have a logjam at the 3 - esp, if Hak plays there. Price,Telfair is one too many when we have Grant who can fill in as emergency PG. No way to trade Bassy - ehhhhhhh.

My head hurts - I bet Alvin's does too>


how about we look at it like this:


Who do we keep? Why?

Thoughts?

[rsavaj]

I didn't watch or listen but I've been reading the recaps(azcentral, valleyofthesuns, brightside) and it sounds like Markieff, Lopez and Dudley were our bright spots, and eeeeeeeverybody else sucked.

[MarJJMar]

Childress was worse than that.

[Years90Suns]

This foro is no different from otherw when the team loses. Three times more visits and opinions than the tean wins. I wonder how the Hornets, Bobcats, Lakers and Raptors, for example, shoudl feel.

I do not believe we are that bad. Let's wait a little bit and see what team we see, what starters Gentry decides to use, how do we do with Gortat.

Even if we are this bad, I think it is normal we cannot be fighting for Western Finals or Semifinals every season. Sometimes a reconstruction is needed. A different thing, and that is scary, is whether we have a reconstruction project or not.

Next year's draft is really good. May be we should trade Nash and Hill during the season, may be it is better to let their contracts expire and just use that money in other players.
It seems like Morris is better than expected. Warrick can be a good 3 from the bench. Gortat and López is a decent couple inside. We JUST be needing a pair of stars who can carry the load of the team.

[Wannabe MEP]

What the hell is with Josh? We know he can ball - he looked like a bright spot when he finally got minutes last year. Let's hope this is juts one of those things and it goes away ...

Yeah, I'm not sure what's up with him. Confidence?

Hak looking good? That's wonderful news - good for him if he really worked on his game this offseason.

He did look better. Better enough?? I'm not convinced yet.

Didn't hear much about Lopez - what's the verdict?

Jury's still out. I would say he may very well be back to 2009-2010 level...which isn't exactly amazing. But he'll do fine for us in the right environment.

Duds?

Keef can ball - anyone who watched kansas last year would know it. The fouls are not a worry, really. Rookies are trying to get used to the physicality of the NBA game and over-compensate. Plus they're not used to big, strong players like these and they get called until they ramp their own game up. It'll come. But if he can score, rebound and block shots like he is, he'll be fine.

Duds and Keef were very, very good. Keef is going to be a very valuable contributor. I would start him so that Frye can be first big off the bench.

not ideal in lots of ways - better to have Frye at 5 in the second unit, really. Not enough three point shooting in the 1st string.

From what I read - we have four centers: Gortat, Lopez, Frye, Siler. Siler isn't worth much but he's a good 3rd string. One of the others needs to be moved. I hate to say it but If Robin really is better, Gortat is the one who would bring the most back.

I really think we need to figure out what we can get for either Lopez or Gortat so that Frye can move back to center, and so that we can land an athletic PF who plays defense. I'd certainly rather keep Gortat, but you've got to factor in trade value. It really depends on the market. There are a lot more decent PFs than centers in this league, so if Lopez is seriously improved, we have real leverage. We don't have anything else at all to trade, but I gotta think we can find something that fits both teams.

[Nando88]

Hakim has been VERY consistent this preseason. he's seemed to calm down on offense and is patient, haven't seen him try to do his flailing dunk from the freethrow line. it also looks like he's developing a 3 point shot. if he keeps it up i can see him overtaking chilldress for the back up 3 spot

[grumpysaddle]

It's like all the good posters stopped posting, and all the ridiculous posters started filling in that hole. I'm tired of reading all the same things over and over and over. IT'S PRESEASON... who cares. I really doubt that the Suns starters that have been in the league for a long time cared about the outcome. It's good that Morris got some time to show what he could do.

There's only a few posters left here that say anything with any sort of substantiated data. Everything else is just emotional doom and gloom garbage.

[nevetsov]

Hak being consistent all preseason? There have been TWO games!

I'm glad he's bolted out of he gate but don't forget he started last season in similar fashion.. I think he even had a 20+ point game in there. I hope I'm wrong but I history is anything to go by he'll come back to earth shortly.

[thamadkant]

(1) Robin Lopez, if he keeps this up, as in be active, aggressive and highly energetic. His value will increase.

Now, Suns can do TWO things.
(a) KEEP HIM, develop him and make him a legit rotation big man. He is young and still a decent 20 minute a game centre. But franchise centre or Joakim Noah v.2 he isn't.

If he becomes nice enough to be a 30 minute centre, then The Gortat becomes "touchable".


(b) As the rules go, you trade a PLAYER when his value is high. SELL HIGH, BUY LOW.
If a team like Rockets, Warriors offer a FIRST ROUNDER unprotected pick.... YOU THINK HARD BUT SHORT. Thats a pick LIKELY between 15 and 20.... BEST case, since both teams especially Rockets didn't improve too much, the pick can get as high as 10.

[Frank Lee]

Ugh.... Come on, the G-man stays unless a ridiculous offer comes forward, and a mid round pick is not one. LOWpez is the preferred trade chip here. But he does have a whole season that he needs to make the league forget about. We should see 18-20 minutes per night of him. Essentially he'll be playing his way off this team and into a new contract. I hope the Comic-book Kid realizes the importance of that.

The next 3 weeks will show us what LOWpez is worth.