Game 81: Memphis @ Phoenix

[SunsFanSSOL]

The guy smiles for like two seconds because someone clearly cracked a line trying to cheer him up and you guys jump on him and act like he does not care?

I do not get the projecting people do on Bledsoe. I really like Dragic but if Dragic were given the same scrutiny that Bledsoe gets here then there would be a riot.

Dragic is part of the reason I believe Bledsoe gets the scrutiny that he does around here. I would guess that people are so attached to Dragic and feel that Dragic is a more relatable guy and one of the last remnants of the Nash era that they see Bledsoe, the new guy in town, the touted up-and-coming superstar as a threat to Dragic. Let's be honest, McD probably did bring Bledsoe in here to replace Dragic but the plan changed with Dragic's emergence, but nevertheless, due to his age and potential, Bledsoe still poses a threat to Dragic's future with the team which is probably concerning to some of the mega Dragic fanboys.

[BurningHeart]

The guy smiles for like two seconds because someone clearly cracked a line trying to cheer him up and you guys jump on him and act like he does not care?

I do not get the projecting people do on Bledsoe. I really like Dragic but if Dragic were given the same scrutiny that Bledsoe gets here then there would be a riot.

Dragic is part of the reason I believe Bledsoe gets the scrutiny that he does around here. I would guess that people are so attached to Dragic and feel that Dragic is a more relatable guy and one of the last remnants of the Nash era that they see Bledsoe, the new guy in town, the touted up-and-coming superstar as a threat to Dragic. Let's be honest, McD probably did bring Bledsoe in here to replace Dragic but the plan changed with Dragic's emergence, but nevertheless, due to his age and potential, Bledsoe still poses a threat to Dragic's future with the team which is probably concerning to some of the mega Dragic fanboys.

Where do you get this garbage? From the start it was said that Bledsoe and Dragic were intended to be together.

[SunsFanSSOL]

The guy smiles for like two seconds because someone clearly cracked a line trying to cheer him up and you guys jump on him and act like he does not care?

I do not get the projecting people do on Bledsoe. I really like Dragic but if Dragic were given the same scrutiny that Bledsoe gets here then there would be a riot.

Dragic is part of the reason I believe Bledsoe gets the scrutiny that he does around here. I would guess that people are so attached to Dragic and feel that Dragic is a more relatable guy and one of the last remnants of the Nash era that they see Bledsoe, the new guy in town, the touted up-and-coming superstar as a threat to Dragic. Let's be honest, McD probably did bring Bledsoe in here to replace Dragic but the plan changed with Dragic's emergence, but nevertheless, due to his age and potential, Bledsoe still poses a threat to Dragic's future with the team which is probably concerning to some of the mega Dragic fanboys.

Where do you get this garbage? From the start it was said that Bledsoe and Dragic were intended to be together.

If I recall correctly, McDonough also said he wasn't looking to get rid of Gortat: http://www.arizonasports.com/41/1648004 ... cin-Gortat
Of course that's what he's going to say about Dragic and Bledsoe. Dragic averaged 14 and 7 on a 25 win team, that's a very replaceable guy. You don't say you're making a guy available, that's more likely to drive down his trade stock. I'm going off media reports early in the year saying that Dragic was likely the next guy to go after Gortat.

[lilfishi22]

No Green?

Yeah, that was weird.

Is Kieff our go to player now for 3pt shots?

That's two games in a row that Kieff took a designed 3pt shot with the game on the line.

I think Dragic, Green and Frye are all better shooters in a catch and shoot situation personally.

I think it is something Coach Horny get better at over time. Good coaches get the ball to their top 3PT shooters not their 7th "best".

[grumpysaddle]

Because sports media and their "multiple sources" are SUPER CREDIBLE.

[lilfishi22]

Dragic is part of the reason I believe Bledsoe gets the scrutiny that he does around here. I would guess that people are so attached to Dragic and feel that Dragic is a more relatable guy and one of the last remnants of the Nash era that they see Bledsoe, the new guy in town, the touted up-and-coming superstar as a threat to Dragic. Let's be honest, McD probably did bring Bledsoe in here to replace Dragic but the plan changed with Dragic's emergence, but nevertheless, due to his age and potential, Bledsoe still poses a threat to Dragic's future with the team which is probably concerning to some of the mega Dragic fanboys.

Where do you get this garbage? From the start it was said that Bledsoe and Dragic were intended to be together.

If I recall correctly, McDonough also said he wasn't looking to get rid of Gortat: http://www.arizonasports.com/41/1648004 ... cin-Gortat
Of course that's what he's going to say about Dragic and Bledsoe. Dragic averaged 14 and 7 on a 25 win team, that's a very replaceable guy. You don't say you're making a guy available, that's more likely to drive down his trade stock. I'm going off media reports early in the year saying that Dragic was likely the next guy to go after Gortat.

While I don't read much into speculation, I had a feeling that with Bledsoe coming in, it made Dragic more tradeable. I think it opened McD up to more option but I highly doubt he was making Dragic readily available.

[SunsFanSSOL]

Because sports media and their "multiple sources" are SUPER CREDIBLE.

And McD and Babby are? Babby, the guy who said Nash was " the sun, the moon and the stars", who said they'd do anything to bring back Lopez. McD would said they weren't looking to move Gortat. Everyone lies in this business.

[SunsFanSSOL]

Where do you get this garbage? From the start it was said that Bledsoe and Dragic were intended to be together.

If I recall correctly, McDonough also said he wasn't looking to get rid of Gortat: http://www.arizonasports.com/41/1648004 ... cin-Gortat
Of course that's what he's going to say about Dragic and Bledsoe. Dragic averaged 14 and 7 on a 25 win team, that's a very replaceable guy. You don't say you're making a guy available, that's more likely to drive down his trade stock. I'm going off media reports early in the year saying that Dragic was likely the next guy to go after Gortat.

While I don't read much into speculation, I had a feeling that with Bledsoe coming in, it made Dragic more tradeable. I think it opened McD up to more option but I highly doubt he was making Dragic readily available.

Agreed, that's all I'm trying to say here. Maybe he wasn't dangling Dragic to every team, but the trade for Bledsoe definitely signaled a move in a new direction and the huge possibility Dragic would be traded.

[Blackification]

Hornacek will never let him trade goran and he would be stupid to do so. This backcourt works we just need a proper big game. The biggest concern was perimeter defense and we are second in the league in 3pt defense percentage. We need a rebounding big that is a presence on both ends of the floor. Pretty much what we have been missing for a long time

[SunsFanSSOL]

Hornacek will never let him trade goran and he would be stupid to do so. This backcourt works we just need a proper big game. The biggest concern was perimeter defense and we are second in the league in 3pt defense percentage. We need a rebounding big that is a presence on both ends of the floor. Pretty much what we have been missing for a long time

Trading Dragic wasn't even what was being discussed, but it's what this conversation topic has gone off into. The original discussion was about the large amount of scrutiny that Bledsoe gets on here vs. the virtually zero amount that Dragic receives. I simple offered up the notion that it was due to Suns fans attachment to Dragic and the potential threat Bledsoe poses to Dragic's future with the Suns. It's kinda sad, it feels like in a sense people don't want to see Bledsoe reach his full potential because that would probably mean the end of Dragic's reign in Phoenix by making him more expendable.

This of course based off the fact people having been offering up trade proposals about Bledsoe nearly a month after the season started, and criticize every small imperfection in his game, even criticize him for laughing during a game. Yeah he's turning the ball over recently, but no one mentions his wrist injury. Meanwhile Dragic turns the ball over or plays poorly and everyone will come to his defense and attribute it to his ankle injury.

Give the guy a break, he's 24, it's his first time starting and leading a team. Dragic was terrible at age 24 and didn't even look like he belonged in the league. Give him some time instead of mentioning how replaceable he is and how he can be used as trade bait.

[Revived]

What are our options for PF? If we give Bledsoe a max and PJ a contract, I don't think we will have enough for another max or potential contract right?

Max for Bledsoe?

Good one.

[Revived]

Who's everyone's playoff teams?

West- Warriors
East - Raptors

Wizards (gortat)
Blazers (lopez)

I hope the Wizards actually get swept right away because the further they go in the playoffs, the worse their draft pick (which belongs to us) will be.

[letsgosuns]

I am pretty shocked some of you guys are blaming Goran Dragic. He was clearly hurt. He looked nothing like his usual self these last two games. It was very unfortunate that he got hurt when he did because they needed him. He was the best player on the team all season and if not for his injury, he would have been the best player on a team that could have won fifty games, largely in part to his play.

I did think Bledsoe smiling before the game was over was a little weird, but not to the point where I say this guy does not care. Bledsoe played his really hard. This was the first year he played big minutes and he looked great most of the time. I would imagine the Suns are going to bring him back and match any contract offer he gets. I expect him to be on the team next year.

My hope is that the Suns get a new small forward or power forward, or both. I think they are set at the guards and center positions, but in these past three games, you could see how badly Tucker struggled. 3 points against SA, 6 points against DAL, and 5 points against MEM. And obviously I am not a fan of Frye as most people on this board know. I would love to see the Suns get a real power forward that plays defense and rebounds. 9 of Frye's 12 shots tonight were three pointers and he only made two of them. Zach Randolph showed Frye what a real power forward is supposed to do tonight as he lived inside. That is what you want from your power forward. Besides the Miami Heat's unorthodox lineup, every single top team in the league has a power forward that has the ability to rebound and play inside. Tim Duncan, Blake Griffin, Dirk Nowitzki, Zach Randolph, David West, Lamarcus Aldridge, David Lee, even Serge Ibaka and Terrence Jones. Frye is nowhere near top power forward level and I would love to see him either gone or sent to the bench. Other than that, I think the development of Plumlee, Len, and Archie Goodwin, as well as whoever they get in the draft bodes very well for the Suns future. I am excited to see what McDonough will do. Let's hope he can get a star player to add to this team. Preferably one that can play defense and rebound. It should be a fun offseason.

[sunsdragic]

Injuries killed our hopes

[Illmatic12]

Who's everyone's playoff teams?

West- Warriors
East - Raptors

Wizards (gortat)
Blazers (lopez)

I hope the Wizards actually get swept right away because the further they go in the playoffs, the worse their draft pick (which belongs to us) will be.

That's not how it works, after the lottery seeding is decided by win-loss record. I believe the pick as of now is #16 (still two days of games left)

[Revived]

Wizards (gortat)
Blazers (lopez)

I hope the Wizards actually get swept right away because the further they go in the playoffs, the worse their draft pick (which belongs to us) will be.

That's not how it works, after the lottery seeding is decided by win-loss record. I believe the pick as of now is #16 (still two days of games left)

My bad, for some reason I thought it worked the same way as the NFL draft..

[SunsRback4Good]

I am pretty shocked some of you guys are blaming Goran Dragic. He was clearly hurt. He looked nothing like his usual self these last two games. It was very unfortunate that he got hurt when he did because they needed him. He was the best player on the team all season and if not for his injury, he would have been the best player on a team that could have won fifty games, largely in part to his play.

I did think Bledsoe smiling before the game was over was a little weird, but not to the point where I say this guy does not care. Bledsoe played his really hard. This was the first year he played big minutes and he looked great most of the time. I would imagine the Suns are going to bring him back and match any contract offer he gets. I expect him to be on the team next year.

My hope is that the Suns get a new small forward or power forward, or both. I think they are set at the guards and center positions, but in these past three games, you could see how badly Tucker struggled. 3 points against SA, 6 points against DAL, and 5 points against MEM. And obviously I am not a fan of Frye as most people on this board know. I would love to see the Suns get a real power forward that plays defense and rebounds. 9 of Frye's 12 shots tonight were three pointers and he only made two of them. Zach Randolph showed Frye what a real power forward is supposed to do tonight as he lived inside. That is what you want from your power forward. Besides the Miami Heat's unorthodox lineup, every single top team in the league has a power forward that has the ability to rebound and play inside. Tim Duncan, Blake Griffin, Dirk Nowitzki, Zach Randolph, David West, Lamarcus Aldridge, David Lee, even Serge Ibaka and Terrence Jones. Frye is nowhere near top power forward level and I would love to see him either gone or sent to the bench. Other than that, I think the development of Plumlee, Len, and Archie Goodwin, as well as whoever they get in the draft bodes very well for the Suns future. I am excited to see what McDonough will do. Let's hope he can get a star player to add to this team. Preferably one that can play defense and rebound. It should be a fun offseason.

+1, great post couldn't agree more with you.

[thamadkant]

Injuries killed our hopes

Injuries happens and a lot of teams have them...

What killed the Suns hopes.... and I said it back then... was losing to the darn lakers a week ago.
Should still be in the running...


In the west, if you are one of the teams fighting for scrap, you have to go all out. Suns had some lapses leading to the last 2 weeks of the season.... cost them dearly.



Anyways, grizzlies and mavs won critical games, kudos to them.... quiet simply the conferences arent fair... Suns are in the 12 best teams in the entire league... yet 4-5 east teams will be playing playoffs instead of them.

[thamadkant]

Bring quality PF and thats it.

Isnt Markief Morris a quality PF??

For a 6th man PF... yes.. quality.

But elite teams cant have him starting PF.


He needs to be a better rebounder, have better inside game... reliable to grab and score double figures most nights... if not, then be a shut down defender.... he is none of those (yet).

But as a backup, sixth man PF.... yeah quality for sure... since he can score 20 every now and then and even grab some boards every now and then.

[phrazbit]

What are our options for PF? If we give Bledsoe a max and PJ a contract, I don't think we will have enough for another max or potential contract right?

Max for Bledsoe?

Good one.

I think its pretty dang funny that the dude who was absolutely in love with the idea of a max contract for lowly Eric Gordon thinks that it would be a joke to give Eric Bledsoe a max deal, while he is a player significantly better than Gordon at everything but 3pt shooting.