Gentry says as many as 4 potential new starters

[rsavaj]

http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2012/ ... s-starters

Really, too much good stuff to excerpt so you guys should read the whole thing.

The author's suggested lineup changes: Dudley to the bench, Tucker starts at his spot. That way you avoid the nightmare duo of Brown/Beasley playing together, and you get an offense/defense balance thing going on between Tucker and Beasley, like Allen and Gay in Memphis. Duds and Beas don't seem to play well together so moving both of them to the bench would be pointless.

Also, Jermaine for Marcin, because Gortat has been pretty mediocre since getting trounced in the Utah game. Might wake him up.

Your new rotation

Dragic/Bassy
Tucker/Brown
Beasley/Dudley
Scola/Markieff
O'Neal/Gortat

[rsavaj]

Also, if there are still any Beasley believers out there...you gotta recognize just how much he's hurting this team:

Finally, it may have been unthinkable before the season started, but the Suns have been much better with P.J. Tucker on the floor than Michael Beasley. The Suns are plus 2.3 when Tucker plays and -12.3 when he doesn’t. By contrast, they are a whopping -13.3 when Beasley plays and plus 3.3 when he sits. Their defensive rating is 114.4 when Beas plays and 94.9 when he doesn’t although they are slightly better offensively with him.

Tonight after playing all of 26 seconds in the first half, Tucker defended LeBron down the stretch and did a fantastic job bodying him up and forcing him to take contested jump shots. For the quarter, the three-time MVP missed six of nine shots, and afterward Gentry said he did as good a job as you can do on LBJ.

http://valleyofthesuns.com/2012/11/18/m ... ndhog-day/

I'll repost a comment I made last season when people were talking about Beas:

Looking at some of his advanced stats does not paint a pretty picture
2011-2012:

He has this reputation of being a good scorer, but he’s actually inefficient, and I’m not comparing him to the elite SFs. I’m comparing him to the average SF.

http://www.thenbageek.com/players/180-michael-beasley

Beasley TS: 50.2%
Average SF: 53.1%

Beasley Wins Produced per 48: -0.014(ranked last on his team, by the way)
Average SF: .099

http://www.nerdnumbers.com/splits?team= … F01%2F2012

Heck, he was last on his team of Points over Par: -.86

He put up a PER of 13. League average is 15.

His adjusted +/- numbers this year were at a -2.73, ahead of only Ridnour, Barea, Wayne Elington, and Wesley Johnson.

2010-2011(his <em>good</em> season)

He had a 15.5 PER in 2010-2011, which is basically the league average: http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla … lmi01.html

Let’s look at his efficiency.

Beasley: 51% TS
Avg SF: 54% TS

Beasley Wins Produced per 48: -.100
Avg SF Wins Produced per 48: +.099

Unfortunately the points over par metric was only measured starting this season, so I can’t look up his 2010-2011 PoP.

Adjusted +/- for 2010-2011 was -.06. That was somehow Minnesota’s 3rd best mark, which says a lot more about how bad they were than it does about how “good” Beasley was(good being a relative term, because a negative adjusted plus/minus still means your team played better with you off the floor).

So PER, Adjusted +/-, TS% and WP48 show that he was a mediocre, inefficient player who did not have a positive impact on his squad. Just like he was this past season.

[rsavaj]

Other suggestions from the comment section:

Sorry but I don't agree with those saying Dudley is getting benched
It obviously wouldn’t surprise me if he was, but I think we’ll only see one lineup change at first – Tucker starting ahead of Beasley.

Dudley has proven himself to this franchise. Gentry knows that, and he knows what Dudley can bring. If I’m Gentry I’d make changes to try and get Dudley productive again, and for me that means not playing Beasley at the same time. You try and fix the things that used to work first, and then sort out the newer stuff, rather than the other way round.

A five of Gortat-Scola-Tucker-Dudley-Dragic balances the offense/defense well, and then we can see how Beasley copes off the bench. I suspect Brown’s scoring would drop. But Beasley seems to be struggling between trying to fit in to the team, and trying to play his iso game. On the second unit he could do his thing more.

It’s alarming that one of the major acquisitions of the summer can’t fit in to the team (yet), but I really think letting him come off the bench is better for all.

Dragic/Bassy
Dudley/Brown
Tucker/Beasley
Scola/Markieff
Gortat/O'Neal

^^That makes the most sense to me.
And there’s still plenty of offense in the starting group even with Tucker’s very limited offensive game. The concern has been having Brown and Beasley play together with the second unit, but I think putting them together is the right move. Instead of Beasley’s offense taking opportunities away from Dragic, he’ll only take them away from Brown’s ball-dominating and chucking.

Brown and Beasley are the team’s two highest usage players. Let them fight with each other for the ball, because right now Beasley being used more than Dragic is killing us.
...
Actually, the more I think about this, it's really simple.
Beasley’s been the Suns worst player so far this season, and he’s been playing a large role on the team. Any way his role can be reduced will help the Suns to be a better team in the short term.

The question is, will reducing his role be seen as “pulling the plug” on him? If they still think he’s got long term potential, they might swallow the short term pain and keep playing him a lot, but I hope not.

Another suggestion is starting Brown at Beasley's spot, since Brown and Dudley played very well together as starters after Hill got injured last season:

Dragic/Bassy
Brown/Tucker
Dudley/Beasley
Scola/Markieff
Gortat/O'Neal

And finally...one last crazy idea from the gallery is starting Bassy at the 1, moving Goran at the 2, playing a two PG backcourt. I have no idea who handles the backup PG spots, because Marshall and Garret aren't going to cut it.

[b-ball forever]

So Gentry's ready to go into tank mode, that's new for the Suns.

If he wanted to try to win more, the only roster change that might work for the better is bringing Bealsey off the bench since he might perform better against bench units and with more touches, move Dudley to his more effective spot of starting SF, and move Brown into the starting lineup.

[rsavaj]

So Gentry's ready to go into tank mode, that's new for the Suns.

If he wanted to try to win more, the only roster change that might work for the better is bringing Bealsey off the bench since he might perform better against bench units and with more touches, move Dudley to his more effective spot of starting SF, and move Brown into the starting lineup.

I like those potential units a lot.

[b-ball forever]

So Gentry's ready to go into tank mode, that's new for the Suns.

If he wanted to try to win more, the only roster change that might work for the better is bringing Bealsey off the bench since he might perform better against bench units and with more touches, move Dudley to his more effective spot of starting SF, and move Brown into the starting lineup.

I like those potential units a lot.

A starting lineup of Dragic/Tucker/Beasley/Scola/O'Neal = top 5 pick in the draft.

[rsavaj]

So Gentry's ready to go into tank mode, that's new for the Suns.

If he wanted to try to win more, the only roster change that might work for the better is bringing Bealsey off the bench since he might perform better against bench units and with more touches, move Dudley to his more effective spot of starting SF, and move Brown into the starting lineup.

I like those potential units a lot.

A starting lineup of Dragic/Tucker/Beasley/Scola/O'Neal = top 5 pick in the draft.

I meant your lineup.

Although I wouldn't mind a top 5 pick.

[b-ball forever]

meant your lineup.

Although I wouldn't mind a top 5 pick.

OK then.

I wouldn't mind a top 5 pick either, but in that case we should go all out and trade Scola (when possible)+Gortat for young talent and expirings.

That said, our draft record after Amare in 2002 has been scary as hell. Needa bring in a skilled scout if that's the direction we're headed

[Beetlejuice]

As long as Beasley plays in a starting lineup we cant do much of anything useful with it. Signing him shows that our front office isnt anywhere close to adequate, the more i read about Beasleys offseason options the more it seems that we were really the only ones with a serious interest in him . Mountains of data available about him no demand for him in sight and we gave him 6 million ... by wins produced he should be paying the suns several millions for the privilege of playing basketball.

Worried about Scola too, looking him on the court in rebounding situations.... i think his rebound numbers might be elevated by statistical hot streak of easy rebounds. If he is subpar in that category then all he brings is some flashiness around the basket not warranting a starting PF spot on decent team really. Not sure i want to substitute him with the worst midrange shooter in the NBA who shouldnt shoot from midrange in first place, but i hope its Gentrys philosophy of taking the shot "when its there" which shouldnt be applied to any PF by standard , or we have a chucker in Morris .

On the positive side Dragic has been a treat. Gortat has also been decent, dont understand the hate at all . Tucker - love him.

If we move Dudley to 3 and dont play beasley i think he shows up nicely paired with more athletic 2. J. O`Neal movements look really promising so far. Maybe the guy can still play ball on a high level.

[lilfishi22]

I'd prefer to see Beasley come off the bench and Tucker start with Dudley. At least we'd still have a healthy balance of offense/defense. Regardless of whether Beasley is starting or not, he's going to continue to be an inefficient chucker. But I can't imagine how much it would suck with Cannon and Beasley coming off the bench to chuck.

[EB2]

I'd prefer to see Beasley come off the bench and Tucker start with Dudley. At least we'd still have a healthy balance of offense/defense. Regardless of whether Beasley is starting or not, he's going to continue to be an inefficient chucker. But I can't imagine how much it would suck with Cannon and Beasley coming off the bench to chuck.

Beas would be a pretty good 6th man, because you can be a chucker off the bench (Jamaal Crawford), start Brown, and then move Dudley to the wing.

[lilfishi22]

Bench players are still held to the same standards of efficiency, so coming off the bench doesn't mean his nor Crawford's inefficiencies are suddenly waived. At this point, I'm looking purely at which groups would get us going early better. I think Beasley's ball stopping "abilities" really impacts the offensive flow of our starting unit and might be better with our bench unit which doesn't really have anyone who can create his own shot consistently.

[schnakenpopanz]

some very reasonable stuff here. if only you were in our fo to save them from signing beasley....

[Kerrsed]

LMFAO, continuing to call Crawford a chucker is f'ing laughable. You guys do realize that he is shooting over 53% this year, and is also 92%FT and 44% from three.

[EB2]

LMFAO, continuing to call Crawford a chucker is f'ing laughable. You guys do realize that he is shooting over 53% this year, and is also 92%FT and 44% from three.

I was talking about the past years, like when he was with Atlanta and won 6th man of the year. He wasn't so effiecient back then and he helped Atlanta make the playoffs.

[mybloodisorange]

There is no way they arent starting Gortat and Scola. This is a nice way of giving Brown an opportunity since Dudley hasnt found his game yet. I think its also a clever way to bench Beasley without him feeling singled out to hopefully light a fire under his tweener ass.

[Jdiddy701]

I'm going with..

Dragic
Wesley
Dudley
Scola
Gortat

Telfair
Brown
Beasley
Morris
O'Neal

Wesley is made for our system.. don't understand why he rides the bench. Put him next to Dragic and good things will happen, please, just one game. Don't ask why I want Dudley playing SF, I just can't see Beasley staying in the lineup, and DON'T want to see Tucker with the starting 5. No offense to Tucker, but our starting unit will be too predictable with him in the lineup. He can't shoot. He's a bench player.

[Jdiddy701]

I also believe Zeller should get some minutes. I also think Morris wouldn't be a bad fit in the lineup. To sum it up, Gentry has a lot to think about.

[Kerrsed]

“We’ll take one guy or two guys or three guys or four guys out of the lineup, and we’ll replace them with other guys who have played and done the same thing,” Gentry said. “How many or what we’re going to do, I don’t know yet, but we’re definitely going to do something.

“We’ve just got to be much more gritty, if you want to use that word, and much more resilient at the start of games.”

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/ar ... spark.html

Dragic/Brown/Tucker/Morris/Gortat

Telfair/Dudley/Beasley/Scola/ONeal

We have to have some kind of 3 point threats in the game at all times. Dudley isnt anymore. Our only 3 point shooters are Dragic/Brown/Morris/Beasley/Telfair. Thats it.

[Revived]

LMFAO, continuing to call Crawford a chucker is f'ing laughable. You guys do realize that he is shooting over 53% this year, and is also 92%FT and 44% from three.

Doesn't Chucker mean someone who takes a lot of shots? Like there can be good chuckers out there like Kobe & Westbrook.

I didn't know Chucker meant that you take a lot of shots AND have terrible percentages.