Dragan Bender News, Discussion and Highlights

Hesh · Post #221 » by **Hesh** » Thu Dec 8, 2016 5:14 pm

yeah rather than bring him along slowly so that he can get comfortable how about we give him all the minutes in the world so he can work on his game, hey it worked for booker, right?

Btw, first time using green text, I don't know if I'm doing it right

MathiasPW · Post #222 » by **MathiasPW** » Tue Dec 13, 2016 11:50 am

I came to the conclusion that Bender needs to add a lot of weight and play exclusively as a 5.

I'm ok with him losing some agility and perimeter defense. As long as he can still cover enough ground to contest driving PGs, that's enough mobility for me.

I'd rather have a center who can shoot 3s like Frye, distribute like Gasol, block shots and rebound in the paint. We could play 5-out with Chriss as a stretch 4 who rebounds and that would be as deadly as it gets.

Post #223 » by **bwgood77** » Sat Dec 24, 2016 9:20 pm

Read on Twitter

Unacceptable on one of worst teams in league.

Frank Lee · Post #224 » by **Frank Lee** » Sun Dec 25, 2016 1:11 am

You poor tankers.... the kid is 19.... he has a whopping 30 games In the league The DNPs are not stunting his growth. Where is this rebuild patience that was preached earlier?

Post #225 » by **Qwigglez** » Sun Dec 25, 2016 1:44 am

Frank Lee wrote:You poor tankers.... the kid is 19.... he has a whopping 30 games In the league The DNPs are not stunting his growth. Where is this rebuild patience that was preached earlier?

You don't think it affects his confidence or mental game in some way?

Frank Lee · Post #226 » by **Frank Lee** » Sun Dec 25, 2016 2:00 am

Not at this point. We don't run any plays for him anyway. The whole scheme seems like a mess and fertile ground for bad habits

OGBAH · Post #227 » by **OGBAH** » Sun Dec 25, 2016 6:19 am

Chriss almost fouls out by half time and Bender gets a DNP CD
I can't trust our process

Lukeem · Post #228 » by **Lukeem** » Tue Dec 27, 2016 4:50 am

Hey, raptors fan here... I would have killed to have bender fall to us in the draft last summer. But still a fan of his potential

I didn't get to see his game on boxing day vs Houston but love the line he put up. I know he hasn't had the opportunity yet but how is he looking? I'd be pissed if I was a suns fan now and not be able to watch him get more opportunities

I know it would never happen too but what would it take for the him to be traded

Also I saw someone post that he should bulk up and only play centre if anyone tries to do that to him I will kidnap him in the night, don't ruin what he can be!

4 years from now he will be strong enough to play centre without bulking up, just growing up naturally on professional sports team. Why rush that side and take away his ability to dominate in so many other ways

Lukeem · Post #229 » by **Lukeem** » Tue Dec 27, 2016 4:51 am

Also I like Chris's too but has he really earned so many more opportunities than bender

nevetsov · Post #230 » by **nevetsov** » Tue Dec 27, 2016 4:59 am

There's no obvious explanation for Bender not getting more playing time. We all know how good he can be but the FO continues to play other less talented/ upside/ IQ guys ahead of him.

It's very frustrating.

Post #231 » by **bwgood77** » Tue Dec 27, 2016 5:00 am

Lukeem wrote:Hey, raptors fan here... I would have killed to have bender fall to us in the draft last summer. But still a fan of his potential

I didn't get to see his game on boxing day vs Houston but love the line he put up. I know he hasn't had the opportunity yet but how is he looking? I'd be pissed if I was a suns fan now and not be able to watch him get more opportunities

I know it would never happen too but what would it take for the him to be traded

Also I saw someone post that he should bulk up and only play centre if anyone tries to do that to him I will kidnap him in the night, don't ruin what he can be!

4 years from now he will be strong enough to play centre without bulking up, just growing up naturally on professional sports team. Why rush that side and take away his ability to dominate in so many other ways

He looked great tonight after barely playing up until now. I wouldn't trade him. Yes, I don't think he should bulk up too much. He is effective and quick and I don't want to take that away. He could bulk up a bit, but I love his versatility.

Villalobos · Post #232 » by **Villalobos** » Tue Dec 27, 2016 6:05 am

Watch on YouTube

PackSuns · Post #233 » by **PackSuns** » Tue Dec 27, 2016 8:03 am

Bender should be getting more minutes from here on out. I don't care if he makes a ton of mistakes. I learned a lot more from getting my a** kicked then I ever did winning anything. Not sure why he doesn't play more. Either the FO is inept or they don't want him to get demoralized. I will never understand that angle. Let him take some lumps on the court. His timing when he jumps for boards and blocks is very good. He will fill out over the next few years. Whatever happened to stashing players in Europe for a couple years?

LacosteM · Post #234 » by **LacosteM** » Tue Dec 27, 2016 9:35 am

bwgood77 wrote:
Lukeem wrote:Hey, raptors fan here... I would have killed to have bender fall to us in the draft last summer. But still a fan of his potential

I didn't get to see his game on boxing day vs Houston but love the line he put up. I know he hasn't had the opportunity yet but how is he looking? I'd be pissed if I was a suns fan now and not be able to watch him get more opportunities

I know it would never happen too but what would it take for the him to be traded

Also I saw someone post that he should bulk up and only play centre if anyone tries to do that to him I will kidnap him in the night, don't ruin what he can be!

4 years from now he will be strong enough to play centre without bulking up, just growing up naturally on professional sports team. Why rush that side and take away his ability to dominate in so many other ways

He looked great tonight after barely playing up until now. I wouldn't trade him. Yes, I don't think he should bulk up too much. He is effective and quick and I don't want to take that away. He could bulk up a bit, but I love his versatility.

I agree. Garnett and AK47 were one of the most dominating defensive figures of the 00's and they remained slim for the most part of their carrer.

Sonne · Post #235 » by **Sonne** » Tue Dec 27, 2016 10:39 am

suns fans! dragan bender is the real deal just give him time he is only 18 his talent is amazing!

nevetsov · Post #236 » by **nevetsov** » Tue Dec 27, 2016 11:10 am

Just like Dbook last year, he'll need an injury to the established veteran starter to get an opportunity.

Oh, wait...

Hoyti Von Totiy · Post #237 » by **Hoyti Von Totiy** » Tue Dec 27, 2016 9:54 pm

Sonne wrote:suns fans! dragan bender is the real deal just give him time he is only 18 his talent is amazing!

Considering he barely played in Israel, his age and lack of strength he is doing great so far. A total suprise.

I understand why Chriss is playing more when i see how stronger he is, but long term i do not see how Suns can keep both him and Bender. One will eventually have to go.

Post #238 » by **bwgood77** » Tue Dec 27, 2016 10:14 pm

Hoyti Von Totiy wrote:
Sonne wrote:suns fans! dragan bender is the real deal just give him time he is only 18 his talent is amazing!

Considering he barely played in Israel, his age and lack of strength he is doing great so far. A total suprise.

I understand why Chriss is playing more when i see how stronger he is, but long term i do not see how Suns can keep both him and Bender. One will eventually have to go.

Their skills overlap very well, and particularly in the small ball era, they can both play 4/5 at times, and occasionally at the 3. Bender is a great ball handler, passer, perimeter defender, shot blocker while Chriss is a great finisher and shot blocker with elite athleticism and provides a little toughness. And oddly enough, their biggest weaknesses coming in were rebounding, but they have both done well in that dept as of late. I don't mind a frontcourt going forward of them two and Len just rotating. At least for now to see where it goes.

Phoenix-Sons · Post #239 » by **Phoenix-Sons** » Wed Dec 28, 2016 1:40 am

I heard on a Podcast with Dave King of BrightSide that one of the reasons Chriss was starting over Bender was the fact that Chriss has a fire to him that Bender doesn't. I was kind of dumbfounded that that's our coaches reasoning for that because every game when they both play Bender makes the better plays and is the better player overall. This is also someone that's very high on Chriss as well.

Post #240 » by **bwgood77** » Wed Dec 28, 2016 2:06 am

Phoenix-Sons wrote:I heard on a Podcast with Dave King of BrightSide that one of the reasons Chriss was starting over Bender was the fact that Chriss has a fire to him that Bender doesn't. I was kind of dumbfounded that that's our coaches reasoning for that because every game when they both play Bender makes the better plays and is the better player overall. This is also someone that's very high on Chriss as well.

Chriss has a mean streak and many they felt they needed some toughness. Bender still deserves to start though. Ultimately I don't mind who starts as long as Bender gets a lot of playing time. With the second unit, it's good to have another passer since both Bledsoe and Booker can pass when they want to among the starters. They should let Bender facilitate and hit Dudley, Knight and Barbosa for open 3s (assuming Tucker is gone) and then if Knight is gone, Ulis takes his place.

Would you bring back Bender?