KD to the Suns

[thamadkant]

I think that is a jab at the head coach. He said that after game 3 too, that the coach is the leader. Vogel was just a bad hire.

1. What do you see happening with Bud? Let KD play LeBron like and handle the ball from half court and go isolation most possessions?
Or maybe MJ like where he gets the ball at the elbow or down base line and clear space so he has 3-way attack option? Or use him like a Klay Thompson prime and get him open looks off screens and spotting up?

The right answer is somewhere in the middle of all those plays. But what does KD want?

Sounds to me he wants to be first option every time and he delegates by his choosing to either Booker or Beal or whomever is open.

Ayton literally got taken out of the offense picture when KD came, down from 13fga to 7fga with KD.

2. What can Bud do that Vogler couldn't with 3, and I mean 3, mid range jump shooters who tend to get in each other's way and hence one or two have to succumb to corner spots to enable each other.

3. I think the Suns still have a huge fit problem. They really need a star that prefers slashing or attacking the rim next to Booker and KD.
Bud is just going to be escape goated in year 2 of his contract.

We all know it's likely to happen. Suns stars are just poor fit.

[lilfishi22]

I think that is a jab at the head coach. He said that after game 3 too, that the coach is the leader. Vogel was just a bad hire.

1. What do you see happening with Bud? Let KD play LeBron like and handle the ball from half court and go isolation most possessions?
Or maybe MJ like where he gets the ball at the elbow or down base line and clear space so he has 3-way attack option? Or use him like a Klay Thompson prime and get him open looks off screens and spotting up?

The right answer is somewhere in the middle of all those plays. But what does KD want?

Sounds to me he wants to be first option every time and he delegates by his choosing to either Booker or Beal or whomever is open.

Ayton literally got taken out of the offense picture when KD came, down from 13fga to 7fga with KD.

2. What can Bud do that Vogler couldn't with 3, and I mean 3, mid range jump shooters who tend to get in each other's way and hence one or two have to succumb to corner spots to enable each other.

3. I think the Suns still have a huge fit problem. They really need a star that prefers slashing or attacking the rim next to Booker and KD.
Bud is just going to be escape goated in year 2 of his contract.

We all know it's likely to happen. Suns stars are just poor fit.

1. KD has never come off as a guy who wants all the shots, wants the entire offense on his back like the guys you've mentioned. He's also not a single touch guy either like Klay, running around screens for 38mpg to only spot up. As you said, he's somewhere in the middle.

Ayton's pre-KD shot attempts were 13.8FGA and since KD came to the team, it levelled out at 11FGA. Those 3 game sample where you got that 7FGA is disingenuous as you're bringing into the fold one of the best scorers of all time, there's obviously going to be a feeling out period for the entire team. Pre-trade, KD was averaging 18.8FGA and in those 3 games you sampled, he was down to 14FGA and levelled out at 16FGA. Let's not paint DA as some sort of "victim"

2. What system were we even running with Vogel? Defensively, I think he did very well given the roster but offensively? And why does 2 of the big 3 have to be parked in the corner? Why do you consider them to be exclusively midrange shooters? Last season we didn't have any semblance of a PG and it was clear whatever system we were running wasn't working without a PG out there. With Bud it'll be a different offense that isn't reliant on a CP3 level. And more importantly, Bud is an offensive coach first and with a roster constructed the way it has been with KD, Beal and Book, we should've always gone with an offense first guy in the first place. This is a good read

https://arizonasports.com/story/3547456/mike-budenholzers-history-of-offensive-success-lacks-natural-pgs/

There are many elements of Mike Budenholzer’s past that make him a match for the Phoenix Suns head-coaching job, an opening he officially filled on Saturday.

One of them is how he has created good-to-elite offenses without a “floor general,” a natural point guard of an old-school ilk that commands the offense through direction and playmaking. Much has been made of Phoenix missing this type of piece or someone who plays the position at all and many link it to the Suns’ demise this past season.

But the bottom line is Budenholzer will have to make it work with a backcourt of Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. He has a history that suggests that won’t be an issue.

3. I don't know why you specifically need a star to cut. Last season, without any high level cutters to my knowledge, we were basically middle of the league in cuts per game at 7.6 with GSW at #1 with 11.9. Boston and Dallas were both bottom 5 at 6.3 and 6.1 respectively. We have a star in Beal who's one of the best in the league at attacking the rim. Everyone plays differently and to their strengths.

[thamadkant]

I think that is a jab at the head coach. He said that after game 3 too, that the coach is the leader. Vogel was just a bad hire.

1. What do you see happening with Bud? Let KD play LeBron like and handle the ball from half court and go isolation most possessions?
Or maybe MJ like where he gets the ball at the elbow or down base line and clear space so he has 3-way attack option? Or use him like a Klay Thompson prime and get him open looks off screens and spotting up?

The right answer is somewhere in the middle of all those plays. But what does KD want?

Sounds to me he wants to be first option every time and he delegates by his choosing to either Booker or Beal or whomever is open.

Ayton literally got taken out of the offense picture when KD came, down from 13fga to 7fga with KD.

2. What can Bud do that Vogler couldn't with 3, and I mean 3, mid range jump shooters who tend to get in each other's way and hence one or two have to succumb to corner spots to enable each other.

3. I think the Suns still have a huge fit problem. They really need a star that prefers slashing or attacking the rim next to Booker and KD.
Bud is just going to be escape goated in year 2 of his contract.

We all know it's likely to happen. Suns stars are just poor fit.

1. KD has never come off as a guy who wants all the shots, wants the entire offense on his back like the guys you've mentioned. He's also not a single touch guy either like Klay, running around screens for 38mpg to only spot up. As you said, he's somewhere in the middle.

Ayton's pre-KD shot attempts were 13.8FGA and since KD came to the team, it levelled out at 11FGA. Those 3 game sample where you got that 7FGA is disingenuous as you're bringing into the fold one of the best scorers of all time, there's obviously going to be a feeling out period for the entire team. Pre-trade, KD was averaging 18.8FGA and in those 3 games you sampled, he was down to 14FGA and levelled out at 16FGA. Let's not paint DA as some sort of "victim"

2. What system were we even running with Vogel? Defensively, I think he did very well given the roster but offensively? And why does 2 of the big 3 have to be parked in the corner? Why do you consider them to be exclusively midrange shooters? Last season we didn't have any semblance of a PG and it was clear whatever system we were running wasn't working without a PG out there. With Bud it'll be a different offense that isn't reliant on a CP3 level. And more importantly, Bud is an offensive coach first and with a roster constructed the way it has been with KD, Beal and Book, we should've always gone with an offense first guy in the first place. This is a good read

https://arizonasports.com/story/3547456/mike-budenholzers-history-of-offensive-success-lacks-natural-pgs/

There are many elements of Mike Budenholzer’s past that make him a match for the Phoenix Suns head-coaching job, an opening he officially filled on Saturday.

One of them is how he has created good-to-elite offenses without a “floor general,” a natural point guard of an old-school ilk that commands the offense through direction and playmaking. Much has been made of Phoenix missing this type of piece or someone who plays the position at all and many link it to the Suns’ demise this past season.

But the bottom line is Budenholzer will have to make it work with a backcourt of Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. He has a history that suggests that won’t be an issue.

3. I don't know why you specifically need a star to cut. Last season, without any high level cutters to my knowledge, we were basically middle of the league in cuts per game at 7.6 with GSW at #1 with 11.9. Boston and Dallas were both bottom 5 at 6.3 and 6.1 respectively. We have a star in Beal who's one of the best in the league at attacking the rim. Everyone plays differently and to their strengths.

KD has left Warriors for Nets then left Nets for Suns. There's a pattern. He's a great player but he's not known to be loyal and wants out when things don't to his plans.
Ayton's FGA when KD played with him is literally 7 FGA, which brought his average from 13FGA to 11FGA as you pointed out but the 20 something games they played together Ayton's averages were ridiculously below his career averages. My point was that KD and Booker pretty much carried the team's offense with CP3 taking the left overs, shots and plays wise.


And about having a star that doesn't operate at the mid range is a HUGE plus for fit next to KD and Booker so whether it's slasher or a lob finisher or a Klay Thompson catch and shoot star so be it.

And you couldn't convince me with any stats on how Suns were last season. The product that we witnessed on the floor was pathetic for a supposedly star studded team and it severely lacked consistency. It was ugly in short.

Bud is TBC. We don't know.

I can tell you though, same Suns fans will say "give him 20 games then we will see" or the "it's not his fault, it's the GMs fault". I can tell you now I will be on that second lot.

The team has a lot to prove and first thing that will show whether they can improve from last season is their defense. And I just don't see the personnel to get it done in that end.

[lilfishi22]

1. What do you see happening with Bud? Let KD play LeBron like and handle the ball from half court and go isolation most possessions?
Or maybe MJ like where he gets the ball at the elbow or down base line and clear space so he has 3-way attack option? Or use him like a Klay Thompson prime and get him open looks off screens and spotting up?

The right answer is somewhere in the middle of all those plays. But what does KD want?

Sounds to me he wants to be first option every time and he delegates by his choosing to either Booker or Beal or whomever is open.

Ayton literally got taken out of the offense picture when KD came, down from 13fga to 7fga with KD.

2. What can Bud do that Vogler couldn't with 3, and I mean 3, mid range jump shooters who tend to get in each other's way and hence one or two have to succumb to corner spots to enable each other.

3. I think the Suns still have a huge fit problem. They really need a star that prefers slashing or attacking the rim next to Booker and KD.
Bud is just going to be escape goated in year 2 of his contract.

We all know it's likely to happen. Suns stars are just poor fit.

1. KD has never come off as a guy who wants all the shots, wants the entire offense on his back like the guys you've mentioned. He's also not a single touch guy either like Klay, running around screens for 38mpg to only spot up. As you said, he's somewhere in the middle.

Ayton's pre-KD shot attempts were 13.8FGA and since KD came to the team, it levelled out at 11FGA. Those 3 game sample where you got that 7FGA is disingenuous as you're bringing into the fold one of the best scorers of all time, there's obviously going to be a feeling out period for the entire team. Pre-trade, KD was averaging 18.8FGA and in those 3 games you sampled, he was down to 14FGA and levelled out at 16FGA. Let's not paint DA as some sort of "victim"

2. What system were we even running with Vogel? Defensively, I think he did very well given the roster but offensively? And why does 2 of the big 3 have to be parked in the corner? Why do you consider them to be exclusively midrange shooters? Last season we didn't have any semblance of a PG and it was clear whatever system we were running wasn't working without a PG out there. With Bud it'll be a different offense that isn't reliant on a CP3 level. And more importantly, Bud is an offensive coach first and with a roster constructed the way it has been with KD, Beal and Book, we should've always gone with an offense first guy in the first place. This is a good read

https://arizonasports.com/story/3547456/mike-budenholzers-history-of-offensive-success-lacks-natural-pgs/

There are many elements of Mike Budenholzer’s past that make him a match for the Phoenix Suns head-coaching job, an opening he officially filled on Saturday.

One of them is how he has created good-to-elite offenses without a “floor general,” a natural point guard of an old-school ilk that commands the offense through direction and playmaking. Much has been made of Phoenix missing this type of piece or someone who plays the position at all and many link it to the Suns’ demise this past season.

But the bottom line is Budenholzer will have to make it work with a backcourt of Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. He has a history that suggests that won’t be an issue.

3. I don't know why you specifically need a star to cut. Last season, without any high level cutters to my knowledge, we were basically middle of the league in cuts per game at 7.6 with GSW at #1 with 11.9. Boston and Dallas were both bottom 5 at 6.3 and 6.1 respectively. We have a star in Beal who's one of the best in the league at attacking the rim. Everyone plays differently and to their strengths.

KD has left Warriors for Nets then left Nets for Suns. There's a pattern. He's a great player but he's not known to be loyal and wants out when things don't to his plans.
Ayton's FGA when KD played with him is literally 7 FGA, which brought his average from 13FGA to 11FGA as you pointed out but the 20 something games they played together Ayton's averages were ridiculously below his career averages. My point was that KD and Booker pretty much carried the team's offense with CP3 taking the left overs, shots and plays wise.


And about having a star that doesn't operate at the mid range is a HUGE plus for fit next to KD and Booker so whether it's slasher or a lob finisher or a Klay Thompson catch and shoot star so be it.

And you couldn't convince me with any stats on how Suns were last season. The product that we witnessed on the floor was pathetic for a supposedly star studded team and it severely lacked consistency. It was ugly in short.

Bud is TBC. We don't know.

I can tell you though, same Suns fans will say "give him 20 games then we will see" or the "it's not his fault, it's the GMs fault". I can tell you now I will be on that second lot.

The team has a lot to prove and first thing that will show whether they can improve from last season is their defense. And I just don't see the personnel to get it done in that end.

What's the pattern? Superstar leaves Team A for Team B?

Like Lebron? Like PG? Like Harden? Like Jimmy? Like Kyrie? Like Melo? Like Wade?

Don't know what you want from the guy. He's here, he's a Sun until he's not....just like every other Suns other than those who have only been with the Suns. If you want a guy who never leaves, well we won't have KD in the first place. We won't have any trades if "loyalty" is so highly prized

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Ayton's FGA were definitely not 7FGA lol. For those cherrypicked 3 games (GM 61-63), yes they were. But no, they weren't when looking at the totality of the games they played together. Across 17 games together, playoffs included, he averaged 10.1FGA. His career average is about 12.5FGA....giving up less than 3 shots for Kevin friggin Durant

Yes we all know we need more shooters. That's not a new revelation. Outside of maybe Celtics who are the most well rounded team I've watched in probably a decade, every team has holes they need to plug. If you expect all the holes to be plugged with vet mins this offseason, you were always going to be setting yourself up for disappointment. Not sure what else to tell you

As the boys from the Timeline Podcast mentioned, and I'm completely onboard with this, if you don't believe in the Big 3 to begin with (that's your right), no move we make will make you believe in this team

[Qwigglez]

I'm actually not too worried. The Suns had a down year with a bunch of new players, and Beal being in and out of the lineup the first few months. Going into the season with the same starting five, plus Royce O'Neal, Bol Bol, and even Damion Lee is going to be beneficial team chemistry wise. Got two rookies who hopefully are able to provide some relief occasionally. Plumlee is much better than Eubanks, and then the Suns added Monte Morris. Injuries will obviously be key just like every team, but I think the Suns did a much better job at getting some rotational players this time around.

I think Bud will also force the big 3 to take more 3s. Beal took 4.4 3s per game, Kd took 5.4, and Booker took 6.1. I think each of them will be taking closer to 7 3's a game, and I'd add Grayson Allen to that too. Maybe 6.5 a game on average. Suns were a bottom 7 team in 3's taken, meanwhile the Celtics took 42.5. I imagine Suns will be a top 5 team in 3's taken, which means they'll have to take at least 38 a game, but maybe even 40 a game. Royce, Morris, Lee, Bol I imagine take a handful a game too.

[Saberestar]

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LOL

[Saberestar]

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[Saberestar]

“The most important thing is Kevin loves being here and we love having Kevin here,” Bartelstein said in an interview Wednesday with The Arizona Republic.

“He’s focused on the Olympics, but we’re always having dialogue. The relationship is what matters the most. The relationship is in a great spot. I talk to (Durant’s agent) Rich Kleiman, who works with Kevin, all the time. Conversations are great not just on extension stuff, but on all things that have been going on.”

Durant’s current four-year contract for $194 million ends in 2025-26 and he will become an unrestricted free agent. When asked if the Suns had offered the extension, Bartelstein declined to get into “that level of specifics.”

Durant became eligible to sign the extension on July 12. He would have until Oct. 21 to sign.

“We talk all the time,” Bartelstein said about the constant dialogue he and Suns president of basketball operations and general manager, James Jones, have constant dialogue with Durant and Kleiman.

https://eu.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2024/08/01/phoenix-suns-ceo-says-relationship-with-kevin-durant-great-in-addressing-extension/74631622007/

[Saberestar]

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[Saberestar]

“KD is one of the all-time greats,” LeBron James said.

“If you look at his silhouette, look at his skill, he is one of the best players we have ever seen play the game of basketball. No matter your opinion about him or whether you like him, if you really just look at basketball and say basketball player talent, he is out of this world.”

There is another potential hurdle for any American with the ability to challenge Durant’s scoring record: Durant, 35, hasn’t ruled out playing in the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

“As far as ’28, who knows? We’ll see,” Durant said.

https://andscape.com/features/kevin-durant-now-the-gold-standard-for-usa-mens-basketball/

[sunsbg]

KD's problem is health. Otherwise his game should age even better than LeBron's.

[Saberestar]

Watch on YouTube

[Saberestar]

Hardest worker in the gym. ATG.

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[Saberestar]

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[Saberestar]

Gambo said yesterday that for what he is hearing he doesn't expect an extension for KD before 21th October but he can't rule out completely.

It seems that is more possible for him to sign a 2-year extension after 2024-25 (with only one year left in his current contract) for $124M.

That way he would play 4 more seasons on the Suns and he wants to play (at least) four more years.

https://pds.cdnstream1.com/p/bonneville/the-burns-gambo-show/hour-4-will-kevin-durant-d19cd6/audio.mp3

[Saberestar]

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[Saberestar]

[Boujack]

He is washed.

[Mr Puddles]

He is washed.

Glad to hear that. It's important to take a shower after the game to prevent the onset of jock itch.

[Saberestar]

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In the first 4 games of the season (3W-1L) Easy Money Sniper at 36 averages:

29 points
7 rebounds
3 assists
1.8 blocks
1 steal

Shooting 53/46/81 (TS% .651).