Suns Offseason Thread V: I Am My Brother's Kieffer

[Cutter]

Also unlike other stretch 4s (except Ibaka and D.Green) Len has a really good defense which is a very big advantage to have when you are playing with stretch 4. So Len being stretch would be very beneficial.

Can Len defend the pick and roll and pick up the ball handler before switching back? His wingspan helps because he can also play the passing lane and cut off the angle, but is he laterally quick enough?

If not he will get burned many times and probably foul the ball handler in the pick and roll 15 times a game


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Great point DRK. It would need to be determined if Len could follow a small ball 4 all over the defensive end of the court without getting worn out. I think he has good lateral quickness to guard smaller 4's, and has the size to guard larger 4's. Also is he quick enough to get to the perimeter for to guard the stretch 4's? I get so jazzed just thinking about the possibilities!

[lilfishi22]

Also unlike other stretch 4s (except Ibaka and D.Green) Len has a really good defense which is a very big advantage to have when you are playing with stretch 4. So Len being stretch would be very beneficial.

Can Len defend the pick and roll and pick up the ball handler before switching back? His wingspan helps because he can also play the passing lane and cut off the angle, but is he laterally quick enough?

If not he will get burned many times and probably foul the ball handler in the pick and roll 15 times a game


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Yep this is my issue with Len as a stretch 4. Ibaka, Green and even Frye had great lateral quickness. Frye was an adequate defender despite regularly having a strength disadvantage because he's got very quick feet for a 6'11 guy allowing him to react and put himself in a more favourable defensive position when his man makes a move. His PnR defense was good because he can switch out and can recover fairly well when he gets taken off the dribble.

Len on the other hand is a just HUGE. He doesn't have very quick feet but he's so big, strong and long that he can play great post players like Z-Bo straight up. But put him in the PnR and I don't think he can defend it regularly.

[NTB]

Well, Tyson Chandler has a really good lateral quickness. That can work out. I mean Len can guard centers and Tyson guards fours.

[DRK]

With the way the league is going, the 4 man will have to guard players like Melo, LeBron, Paul George and KeVin Durant for stretches on a nightly basis.

That is why I dont think having PJ at the 4 for some stretches really is a bad idea. We can play 4 out and 1 in on offence, and on defence, we will be able to hold our own.

Having Len or Chandler guard those players in asking to be put on the NBA Daily Top 10 or Sportscenter

[Jdiddy701]

Jason Richardson announced retirement. Made me think, 2009-2010 Phoenix Suns team was very good!!! If Channing Frye could have hit some shots vs the Lakers, we'd been in the finals. I think that's my favorite Nash Era team.

Nash Jrich GHill Amare Frye was perfect

2nd unit - Dragic Barbosa Dudley Lou Lopez

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[Cutter]

I can't f'ng wait for the seasons to start. Cmon lets get this sh** started already!

[Stix]

Jason Richardson announced retirement. Made me think, 2009-2010 Phoenix Suns team was very good!!! If Channing Frye could have hit some shots vs the Lakers, we'd been in the finals. I think that's my favorite Nash Era team.

Nash Jrich GHill Amare Frye was perfect

2nd unit - Dragic Barbosa Dudley Lou Lopez

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Yeah those were good times. Anyone remember this gem? ...

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfYry1jLLgQ[/youtube]

Hill to JRich for the game tie oop with .4 on the clock, he also had 38 pts that night.

[Revived]

Markieff is spitting all over the Suns organization. Bad mouths the organization in the media. Refuses to show up to play with his teammates and is working out at GCU with Dan Majerle instead. The saddest part is that the Suns have taken it. They keep saying we want him back so much and he will get over it. It is embarrassing. The organization looks like a laughingstock right now. I bet Markieff could say whatever he wants and they will still welcome him with open arms. It is like they have no backbone. I will lose all the respect I ever had for Sarver, McDonough, and Hornacek if they do not get Markieff off the team. Talk about being weak. This is the most pathetic situation in the history of the Suns.

Good grief. They have to respond like children to a player that is acting like at child in order to not be a laughingstock? Wht are they supposed to do? Go Gambo on him and rip him up publicly or trade him away for peanuts?

Didn't they do that to Dragic? And for the record, Dragic said WAAAAAAAAAY less than these Morris idiots have said about this team.

For the record, I think the Suns are handling this situation fine but I just found the bolded interesting because you made it seem as if the Suns have never done that or something.

[carey]

I think they are handling this perfectly. They are keeping the big picture in mind. The best possible situation is for Keef to come back, play well, and let things settle. THEN they can trade him if they want to.

They are taking the high road AND the smart road.

Idk about perfectly. I'd like them to at least comment on it. The most we've gotten so far is from Hornacek and that was some b.s. about teammates playing for each other. McDonough & Sarver have been very quiet and as a fan I'd like them to come out and say Markieff's behavior is unacceptable and it isn't what being a Phoenix Sun is all about.

[Saberestar]

I am sure there will be lots of teams interested in Bennett, if he becomes a free agent. That’s logical given that he’s only 22 years old and has a relative-to-the-times dirt-cheap contract with no long-term obligations and may or may not eventually become a contributing rotation player on a good team. But that list can include Phoenix or Philly or a handful of other teams that have nothing really to prove this season. It cannot include Toronto, despite the unabashed enthusiasm of fans and fanboys who won’t take a step back to have a realistic look at the situation.

http://t.thestar.com/#/article/sports/doug_smiths_sports_blog/2015/09/one-move-the-raptors-shouldn-t-even-contemplate.html

[NTB]

Nothing really to prove? Phoenix or Philly? Wow.

[carey]

Nothing really to prove? Phoenix or Philly? Wow.

Not sure how exactly they meant that. We have everything to prove. Namely that we aren't total dog **** on the court.

[wordsenuff]

I am sure there will be lots of teams interested in Bennett, if he becomes a free agent. That’s logical given that he’s only 22 years old and has a relative-to-the-times dirt-cheap contract with no long-term obligations and may or may not eventually become a contributing rotation player on a good team. But that list can include Phoenix or Philly or a handful of other teams that have nothing really to prove this season. It cannot include Toronto, despite the unabashed enthusiasm of fans and fanboys who won’t take a step back to have a realistic look at the situation.

http://t.thestar.com/#/article/sports/doug_smiths_sports_blog/2015/09/one-move-the-raptors-shouldn-t-even-contemplate.html

how the **** did we get lumped up in the same category as philly?????

[Scutt]

Nothing to prove? The Suns have been trying to prove they can make the 8th seed with a bunch of role players, while lacking any type of franchise player or even an all-star, since 2011. That has been the one consistent goal they seem to have. Too bad they are not focused on player development and sustainability. I am so happy to have the privilege of watching Chandler, Tucker, and Weems, take minutes away from Len, warren, Goodwin, and Booker this year. Gotta fight for that 8th seed though.

[kennydorglas]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/paulcoro/status/647256327228526592[/tweet]

I'm glad he's gone. Seriously.
Look at those hot takes after he was dump by us.

[batsmasher]

He's probably not wrong. The starting lineup badly needed PJ's defense though.

The Morrii run their own enterprise and they're still convinced that people care about them. That is the problem.

[Jdiddy701]

I wonder how PJ Tucker will take that. They are very very close friends. I actually think he should have been starting over Tucker too, but don't agree the players think that. Well idk... The players loved Mook and Keef. I wouldn't say he's lying. Idk!

Marcus is gonna have a great season in Detroit. I like his game. Don't like his attitude and IQ.

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[Jarlaxle0204]

Marcus Morris is piece of garbage. Been awhile since I've actively hated a player as much as him. Maybe Bowen.

[Puff]

I wonder how PJ Tucker will take that. They are very very close friends. I actually think he should have been starting over Tucker too, but don't agree the players think that. Well idk... The players loved Mook and Keef. I wouldn't say he's lying. Idk!

Marcus is gonna have a great season in Detroit. I like his game. Don't like his attitude and IQ.

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I also liked Marcus's game, in the past tense. I think he should have started rather than Tucker as well. With his off court issues I am glad he is gone but wish we still had his game on the roster.

I have been openly critical of Hornacek's handling of basically the entire roster last year. IMO he has a lot to prove and is at the heart of our problems. McDonough was forced to move a lot of pieces from last years mostly due to being classified as bad fits for us going forward. Our best player, Goran, wanted out of dodge due to the way he was being COACHED. Marcus, Green and IT had issues as to how they were being used. Now that all of the bad fits are gone we will see how it all works out, I have my doubts.

I expect Goran, IT, Green and Morris will have fine seasons in their new destinations and will not be considered bad fits. That is a lot of offensive firepower to give up, just because. All those guys, with the exception of IT, were part of the heart and soul of that 48 win team. IT's addition last off season was made to make out bench lethal while providing an insurance policy if Bledsoe could not be signed or if we incurred any injuries during the season. Goran was becoming a Phoenix Sun legend. Green was a human highlight real and Marcus was a steadying force for his brother. Most everyone was excited about last years roster and expected the playoffs to be a given. What in the hell happened?

McDonough reloaded with several interesting pieces. It will be interesting to see how it all works out. It certainly is encouraging to see a lot of players working together far in advance of training camp. I am hopeful for an exciting season, we will see.

Go Suns

[letsgosuns]

Marcus Morris does not know when to shut up. It is like he cannot get over the trade. It seems like he badmouths the Suns every time he is interviewed.