Game 19: Phoenix Suns (8-10) @ Detroit Pistons (9-9)

[RaisingArizona]

And the Ma Mo. and Tucker comparisons are fair considering we had both last year. As we saw last night, Marcus is the better player. Both have unwanted baggage.

It depends on what you need them for. Defense? PJ may not score but he never goes 3-13 either which hurts a team on offense a lot more than going 1-3.

The overall better player. It's not even close really.

[Matt1979]

PLEASE tell me he's been sacked!!!

I've been so angry all day. That game finished at 3:30am here in England so I had 4 hours sleep and been shattered at a conference with work all day.

I don't mind being tired at work when we win.... However that game last night was a travesty and if Sarver/McD have ANYTHING about them they'll already have a replacement lined up as Jeff clearly isn't the way forward!! Ever!!

[Steve Nashidis]

Ι cant believe Hornacek is still our coach. So many tough looses at the end????
he is too old to remember that this was happening the last year AGAIN and AGAIN and AGAIN !

[Matt1979]

Tucker has the THIRD most minutes per game so far this season. (1, Knight. 2, Bledsoe)

As much as I appreciate his work ethic this is clearly one of the reasons we have a losing record.

Even scarier is Markieff is fourth!!!!!!!!!

[bwgood77]

And the Ma Mo. and Tucker comparisons are fair considering we had both last year. As we saw last night, Marcus is the better player. Both have unwanted baggage.

It depends on what you need them for. Defense? PJ may not score but he never goes 3-13 either which hurts a team on offense a lot more than going 1-3.

The overall better player. It's not even close really.

See, I'd prefer to have players that perform certain roles, unless you have a superstar. I've always disliked iso players like Kobe, Melo, etc, especially poor man's versions of those guys, and ESPECIALLY thugs who are are the poor version's of those guys.

[Saberestar]

Just thinking about the next game...
"Marcin Gortat (personal) will miss at least the Wizards' next two games while dealing with a family emergency."

[RaisingArizona]

Los Soles, or alike stat geek, what's our record in close games in Jeff's tenure? My guess is it's horrendous.

[lilfishi22]

And the Ma Mo. and Tucker comparisons are fair considering we had both last year. As we saw last night, Marcus is the better player. Both have unwanted baggage.

It depends on what you need them for. Defense? PJ may not score but he never goes 3-13 either which hurts a team on offense a lot more than going 1-3.

The overall better player. It's not even close really.

The ONLY comparisons is that you think they are both unwanted baggage and they were both on our team last season.

[bwgood77]

Los Soles, or alike stat geek, what's our record in close games in Jeff's tenure? My guess is it's horrendous.

That means a lot less than you think. It's better to win in blowouts and lose close ones than the other way around. If you do any advanced reading on the subject, you'd see that mostly results in close games are random. If Bledsoe's shot goes in somehow at the buzzer it doesn't mean we are that much better than if it barely misses.

Players have to excecute but when shooting 3 ptrs is a 40% probability for a good 3 pt shooter and say, 50% for a good midrange shooter, then there is just as much chance you miss and make. But the fans overreact in crazy ways either way.

Last night was heart crushing, but there were also some great things to see (of course, mainly our bench, even if they just beat up on scrubs or other rookies). I would have liked to see more of them too, but we have been seeing more of them. We are actually seeing a lot more of Booker than I expected, and that's a good thing.

[bwgood77]

Just thinking about the next game...
"Marcin Gortat (personal) will miss at least the Wizards' next two games while dealing with a family emergency."

No, you have it backwards. Gortat and Dudley will go a combined 45 and 20.

[Gorilla Warfare]

trade Kieff + whatever for Oubre, trade PJ, and tank for Ben Simmons

Oubre is better than Markieff...and better looking. They won't get of his baby face.

Even a pouty, no-trying Keef is better than Oubre right now. He's a super raw prospect.

The Wiz are desperate. They just lost to the Lakers, which is almost as embarrassing as what the Suns just did.

I'll put money down that Oubre puts up big numbers against us.

[Grots]

Oubre is better than Markieff...and better looking. They won't get of his baby face.

Even a pouty, no-trying Keef is better than Oubre right now. He's a super raw prospect.

The Wiz are desperate. They just lost to the Lakers, which is almost as embarrassing as what the Suns just did.

I'll put money down that Oubre puts up big numbers against us.

He'll have to do it quick. He only gets like 5 mins a game.

Spoiler:

though I'm almost inclined to agree. Seems like some random player always goes off on us.

[mattao313]

And the Ma Mo. and Tucker comparisons are fair considering we had both last year. As we saw last night, Marcus is the better player. Both have unwanted baggage.

It depends on what you need them for. Defense? PJ may not score but he never goes 3-13 either which hurts a team on offense a lot more than going 1-3.

Sorry I usually don't jump in other teams discussions, but Marcus has been really good on defense this year. Probably a big reason he is playing so many minutes.

[Saberestar]

Just thinking about the next game...
"Marcin Gortat (personal) will miss at least the Wizards' next two games while dealing with a family emergency."

No, you have it backwards. Gortat and Dudley will go a combined 45 and 20.

No please.
It is official, Gortat will not play the next two games with the Wizars. I was too lazy to quote that news.

[bwgood77]

Just thinking about the next game...
"Marcin Gortat (personal) will miss at least the Wizards' next two games while dealing with a family emergency."

No, you have it backwards. Gortat and Dudley will go a combined 45 and 20.

No please.
It is official, Gortat will not play the next two games with the Wizars. I was too lazy to quote that news.

Oh, my bad. I thought you were making some sort of joke.

[bwgood77]

And the Ma Mo. and Tucker comparisons are fair considering we had both last year. As we saw last night, Marcus is the better player. Both have unwanted baggage.

It depends on what you need them for. Defense? PJ may not score but he never goes 3-13 either which hurts a team on offense a lot more than going 1-3.

Sorry I usually don't jump in other teams discussions, but Marcus has been really good on defense this year. Probably a big reason he is playing so many minutes.

That's good. He can play D. He usually (at least with us) would be a lot more engaged on D when is offensive game was flowing though.

[Puff]

The group of:

Leurer
Teletovic
Warren
Booke
Price

played the best looking basketball that has been played by a Hornacek coached team. The ball moved and found the open man.

I am really tired of watching Bledsoe and Knight force the issue and generally take poor percentage shots. I have no idea why Hornacek puts up with it. Maybe it is because they make $14Mil per. If Booker is on the court with them it seems as though every play is on the opposite side of the court from where Booker is. The one time that I remember that Knight passed to him, a very good pass at that, Booker nailed a three. I see the same thing happening to Warren. If both of those guys became part of the offense I expect we would be a better team and much more friendly to the eye.

My hope is that Jeff takes a long look at the tape from last nights game and the above lineup gets rewarded with more playing time in the future. If Bledsoe and Knight continue to chuck up poor shots they need to be benched.

What would we really lose on the defensive end if Booker shared the minutes at the 3 with Warren and we benched Tucker?

Somehow, someway Booker and Warren must play more minutes. Winning coaches play their best players the most minutes. Booker and Warren are for sure 2 of our best players. Probably 2 of our best four.

[kennydorglas]

Los Soles, or alike stat geek, what's our record in close games in Jeff's tenure? My guess is it's horrendous.

Last 5min (ahead or behind for 5 pts)
this year -> 3-7
last year -> 22-25
13-14 -> 26-24

[bwgood77]

Los Soles, or alike stat geek, what's our record in close games in Jeff's tenure? My guess is it's horrendous.

Last 5min (ahead or behind for 5 pts)
this year -> 3-7
last year -> 22-25
13-14 -> 26-24

So 48-49 coming into this season. That article from BSoTS might explain why this year has started worse in that respect. I think the single biggest issue and difference this year (besides the influx of new players) is the Morris situation and figuring out optimal rotations.

It doesn't really explain why every player plays worse D in the 4th though. Of course they are tired, but that's not how it's been in the past. I think things will get better (they have to) once they play more together and Tyson is back.

Part of it is that we now have two 7 footers (FINALLY, FIRST TIME IN SUNS HISTORY TO HAVE TWO GOOD 7 FOOTERS) and teams are going small and playing SFs at C.

[Revived]

How we didn't ride the hot hands to finish the game is beyond stupid.

Welcome to the "Fire Jeff Club". Glad to have you.

I'm the president and founder of this club (est 2014).