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Another couple of (short) highlight videos of our rookies that I wanted to share.

First, here's the Goodwin video.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_3md-Xz6GY[/youtube]

For Goodwin, there were enough highlight plays and replay angles that I could make an entire short video out of those. Which is what I prefer to do if possible.

For Len, it was more challenging. He didn't have many conventional "highlight plays", so I instead compiled a lot of clips that hopefully do a good job of presenting his entire skillset. There are clips of him dunking, making jump shots, performing post moves, blocking shots and grabbing offensive rebounds. But it doesn't look as pretty as a normal highlight mix.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5coMT6Cr3Y[/youtube]

Great videos Scooper! I liked the both.

I realize these are highlight videos, but I am very happy having both of these young players. They both need to get stronger, but with Suns training and medical staff they will both develop in medically sound ways.

Between the two, Archie will probably "arrive" first pushing Green for starters minutes at the 2. If he could develop a solid 3 point shot (let's say 37% or so) plus his slashing ability and defense he will be a Sun for a long time.

I don't know if others see it, but I see so much potential offensively and defensively in Alex Len. Again he needs more strength (a lot) but the Suns staff will ensure he develops the correct way. I predict a major step forward this year, and potentially taking the starting job from the much lower ceiling'd Miles Plumlee. Len is going to be awesome.

Archie and Alex are going to be Suns a long time.

Good stuff, thanks. I think people tend to look at numbers too much when evaluating Len. He can be a solid center on a championship team. Never a Shaq, but he can to to the level of A more athletic Marc Gasol.

I wouldn't call him more athletic Gasol, he moves a lot stiffer than Gasol. I think he is a blend of Timofey Mozgov and robin Lopez.

My favorite play was Goodwin stealing it from Duncan.

Nice stuff! Love the Rick Ross music for Len.

I love the fact that most of the time, even while in heavy traffic Alex went up with the ball with intentions of DUNKING THE F#$&ING BALL!!! Really hate when a big is within arms length of the basket, and 90% of the time you get a fall away or weak finger roll. Gortat really pissed me off with that. GO HARD AND STRONG YOUNG MAN!!!! MAKE SOMEONE STOP IT!!!

I think the sky is the limit for Archie. At the end of the season after a couple of very successful and short stints in the D League, it seemed to click for the kid. Its rare to see a kid that confident in his rookie year. The game already slowed down for him a bit, you could tell he wasnt just a scared rookie out there trying to get by on hustle, but already thinking the game, already anticipating and jumping passing lanes. With his size, athleticism, and his obvious competitive FIRE!!! If the kids shot becomes consistent, he is going to be known around the league soon.

phrazbit wrote:I wouldn't call him more athletic Gasol, he moves a lot stiffer than Gasol. I think he is a blend of Timofey Mozgov and robin Lopez.

Len is much more fluid than Lopez. He reminds me of Ilgauskus--similar to Gasol, not many moves yet.

Very impressed with both players this season.

I could write thousands of words on how both impressed me in different areas, but unfortunately I havemt got the time.

So here goes.


Archie
-Looks amazing. Truly impressed with his game. Gets to the rim at will, is a tenacious defender, and posses great instincts and good BBall IQ on the court. For his size, he has a lightning quick first step and can slither through defences like they're nothing. When he gets a consistent jumpshot, league, watch out. We have a good one here folks.

Alex
Didnt expect anything from him this season, so whatever he gave us was a bonus. Great size, uses his body really well for a big man. Impressed with his rebounding instincts, and his polish on the offensive end. He's knocking down 15-18 foot jumpers pretty damn well. Needs to bulk up, but he's shown alot of promise this season, even in limited playing time. Plays aggressive too, and is a bit of a Thug. Love it. Hands of stone though, which hopefully he can fix. Blew my expectations for him out of the water, and hope to see great strides next season too.

Forget our upcoming draft picks. These two guys are who I want to develop, and which is why I'm so open to trading our draft picks to allow these two to develop further. This is our future right here guys. It's looking really really bright

You must have seen a different Len that I did last year. There was no way to sugar coat his play, he was a flat out bad player. Dead weight on offense, as bad as playing 4 on 5 out there. We couldn't play our fast break style because he is so slow and stiff in transition. Defensive he was easy for people to get around and regularly caught out of position.

He might one day become something useful, but it's a big might. Outside of blind faith there is little reason to expect Len will become anything more that a serviceable backup.

I'd hate to put all our eggs in the Goodwin/Len basket, although I do have more hope for Goodwin because he clearly has the tools, it's just a matter of utilizing them.

phrazbit wrote:You must have seen a different Len that I did last year. There was no way to sugar coat his play, he was a flat out bad player. Dead weight on offense, as bad as playing 4 on 5 out there. We couldn't play our fast break style because he is so slow and stiff in transition. Defensive he was easy for people to get around and regularly caught out of position.

He might one day become something useful, but it's a big might. Outside of blind faith there is little reason to expect Len will become anything more that a serviceable backup.

I'd hate to put all our eggs in the Goodwin/Len basket, although I do have more hope for Goodwin because he clearly has the tools, it's just a matter of utilizing them.

Obviously you have some bias against him and or you don't really know what to look for in a young big. Tell Eddie Johnson that and he will at you.

Len needs to slow down and relax. He said the game was moving to fast for him. But that 15-18 footer is butter. He will be a menace on D; the guy has determination and grit. I like him. The Suns NEVER involved in any aspects of the game on the offensive of end. That was cool with me, because they were just getting his feet wet. Don't be surprise if he starts next year.

He missed damn near the whole season and all of the summer and fall. What did you expect from a guy like that?

"A serviceable big?"

I like both guys, but one could make a lowlight reel for each with an equal amount of screw ups. Hopefully that will be changed this upcoming season.

Archie has to fix that shot, as someone from the gym would say,"That shot is broke".

phrazbit wrote:You must have seen a different Len that I did last year. There was no way to sugar coat his play, he was a flat out bad player. Dead weight on offense, as bad as playing 4 on 5 out there. We couldn't play our fast break style because he is so slow and stiff in transition. Defensive he was easy for people to get around and regularly caught out of position.

He might one day become something useful, but it's a big might. Outside of blind faith there is little reason to expect Len will become anything more that a serviceable backup.

I'd hate to put all our eggs in the Goodwin/Len basket, although I do have more hope for Goodwin because he clearly has the tools, it's just a matter of utilizing them.

I agree with this but not as strongly as yourself. I think for the most part, Len wasn't really that good. He's had a few good games where it looked like he was playing with a purpose and not just happy to be out there. But for the majority of his playing time, he just wasn't that good.

That said, I hardly think it's right to put a cap on his potential based on what was largely a shortened season for the big man coming back from injury. But the potential is there for the rookie who has the size, is fairly athletic for a big man and he's only 20. IIRC, we all were having a similar discussion about Lopez being nothing more than a serviceable back up but he's carved out a nice little role for himself as a starting C on a solid playoff team averaging 10/9/2.

Len is clearly over thinking the game and panics a bit, maybe he is worried about failing to rotate with one eye on the bench and one eye on the court.

The moment he focuses on his man, and plays within instinct the game will slow down... he'll start playing with poise and watch him make an impact on the boards and interior defense.

Even Robin showed more offensively as a rookie which is a little scary but we shouldn't judge since he wasn't at full strength. I don't expect him to be a great offensive center but he's already shown NBA physicality so I'm expecting him to be a dominant rebounder. Anything more is a bonus.

If Archie becomes a Jrue Holliday-caliber player I'll sign up for it right now.

Len did not have the mobility this season that I saw in his time at Maryland. If he can put his injuries behind him then we might have a good one. His lower body needs to get a lot stronger.

Len looks like he could be a longer version of Valanciunas.

He MUST bulk up though, then he could be a great asset on D, especially with his rebounding

TASTIC wrote:Len looks like he could be a longer version of Valanciunas.

He MUST bulk up though, then he could be a great asset on D, especially with his rebounding

He is only 20. Everyone bulks up after 20 especially big men.

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These are great, thanks!