Scutt wrote:ChrisInAZ wrote:Scutt wrote: Dragic and Green are not old by any means, but they are what they are at this point. I don't see Dragic ever matching last years numbers again, unless we let him be the #1 guy and where will that get this team?
Dragic would and will match his play of last year (many times over) when McDonough gives him the keys, after the Bledsoe+ blockbuster trade that nets the Suns 1st rate frontline player. When that happens PHX will start heading upward again...that's where.
Right now, Goran can't be that Goran a lot of the time due to the backcourt clutter and inconsistent roles.
Again I ask, where is this team going to go if you "give the keys" to Goran Dragic and have him as your best player? For him to average 20 and 6, that's what has to be done. He has to be your #1 guy, handling the ball all the time, to put up those stats. If getting Dragic back to that means shipping out Bledsoe, who is younger and a much better defender, than this team is never going to sniff the playoffs. Bledsoe just turned 25 and is already outplaying Dragic this year. He is younger, and already locked up to a long term deal, I certainly don't want to trade him in favor of Dragic. I would much rather see Green, Thomas, or both moved. 20 and 6 from your best player wont cut it in this league, Goran is not taking his game to the next level, Bledsoe has that chance still.
Stop with the nonsense between Dragic and Bledsoe. It is not a competition between the two. By the way neither are outplaying the other at this point in the season.
Getting back to where we were last year is not going to happen because Frye is not here. He meant a lot more to this team than some of you gave him credit for.
What we need are 4 things: 1) less one-on-one play - better ball movement, 2) fewer line-up variations - let players get used to playing consistently with one another, 3) adjustment in the starting line-up by adding Len and putting Plumlee on the bench, and 4) getting our centers more offensive touches - it goes with #3.
#4 might be most important because it will keep the bigs more involved in the defense and on the boards if they have a few meaningful touches on the offensive end. Len has a nice mid range jumper and involving him in pick and roll/pick and pop from the top of the key or side will free him up for some good looks and will open up the congestion in the lane.
I move Len into the starting line-up because he has the offensive ability described above whereas Plumlee does not and with Tucker's limited offense now in the starting line-up, Len is better suited to start.
Movement - no standing around watching some one pound the ball into the court. There is way too much of this. There is also way too many possessions were one player dribbles the ball up court and forces up a shot without the ball ever being touched by another player.
