Nashty & Cactus: Game 45 @ Blazers

[batsmasher]

Standings

How it works

Spoiler:

After each Suns game, an MVP thread will be opened for you to vote for your top 3 players. These threads can be created by anyone, as long as there isn't currently a thread for that game.

Anyone can vote for the 3-2-1 (including other fans from other forums) but you can only vote for the Suns players (or coach).

3 votes to who you think was a the best Suns player.
2 for the second best
and 1 for the 3rd best.

**EDIT: as of January something-or-other 2017, you can now distribute votes for the Nashty and Cactus however you please. You have a total of 6 votes to give out, but now you have the freedom to do what you want with those 6. The only condition which applies is no more than 3 votes can be given to one player (or coach) in either award. **

In the event of a Suns loss, you are also encouraged to vote for the Cactus of the game:

-3 votes for the player most responsible for the loss
-2 votes for the second most responsible
-1 for the third most responsible

Any votes with more than 3 players listed and not in the required format will not count. Voting will close before the start of the next Suns game.

After the thread closes, the votes will be tallied. The highest scoring total Sun gets 3 points, the next 2, and the third gets 1 point towards their season total. In the event of a tie in a count for a game, if the result of the game is a Suns win, a maximum of 4 players will be awarded points. A tie in the event of a loss will only result in a maximum of 3 players getting awarded points.

The player with the highest total at season's end wins the award!

The same applies for the Cactus of the Year, although of course the lowest tally at year's end takes it.

[KLEON]

3 Booker
3 Daniels

-6 Bender- SOFT

[bwgood77]

+3 Booker
+2 Bender
+1 Daniels

HM Ulis

-3 Chandler
-2 Jackson - nice start, but it didn't last long. I think right after Kerrsed posted that he never waivered on JJ he stopped scoring
-1 Canaan

[KLEON]

+3 Booker
+2 Bender
+1 Daniels

HM Ulis

-3 Chandler
-2 Jackson - nice start, but it didn't last long. I think right after Kerrsed posted that he never waivered on JJ he stopped scoring
-1 Canaan

Please explain

[bwgood77]

+3 Booker
+2 Bender
+1 Daniels

HM Ulis

-3 Chandler
-2 Jackson - nice start, but it didn't last long. I think right after Kerrsed posted that he never waivered on JJ he stopped scoring
-1 Canaan

Please explain

I thought about asking you the same. Sure it's frustrating he is soft but he is still playing better team ball than anyone out there. I struggled a little bit after the Booker +3 because Daniels hits shots, but he is terrible otherwise, Ulis did ok, but Bender plays smart ball even though the fact that he can be so much more is frustrating. That vote is more of a lack of better options though I was happy he rebounded more tonight (and often slaps back rebounds to other teammates) and he hit two of his three 3s.

[KLEON]

+3 Booker
+2 Bender
+1 Daniels

HM Ulis

-3 Chandler
-2 Jackson - nice start, but it didn't last long. I think right after Kerrsed posted that he never waivered on JJ he stopped scoring
-1 Canaan

Please explain

I thought about asking you the same. Sure it's frustrating he is soft but he is still playing better team ball than anyone out there. I struggled a little bit after the Booker +3 because Daniels hits shots, but he is terrible otherwise, Ulis did ok, but Bender plays smart ball even though the fact that he can be so much more is frustrating. That vote is more of a lack of better options though I was happy he rebounded more tonight (and often slaps back rebounds to other teammates) and he hit two of his three 3s.

The problem I have with Bender is that he's the # 4 pick and he seems content on being just a 3 point shooter. I need him to expand his game because he's more than capable to.He has good handles for a guy his size so why not try to beat guys off the dribble and get to the rim. He also needs to develop a post game because at 7'1" you should have that in the bag. Overall I see a potential mini Porzingis in him if he just expands his game and play with aggression

[Hesh]

+3 Booker
+2 Daniels

[bwgood77]

Please explain

I thought about asking you the same. Sure it's frustrating he is soft but he is still playing better team ball than anyone out there. I struggled a little bit after the Booker +3 because Daniels hits shots, but he is terrible otherwise, Ulis did ok, but Bender plays smart ball even though the fact that he can be so much more is frustrating. That vote is more of a lack of better options though I was happy he rebounded more tonight (and often slaps back rebounds to other teammates) and he hit two of his three 3s.

The problem I have with Bender is that he's the # 4 pick and he seems content on being just a 3 point shooter. I need him to expand his game because he's more than capable to.He has good handles for a guy his size so why not try to beat guys off the dribble and get to the rim. He also needs to develop a post game because at 7'1" you should have that in the bag. Overall I see a potential mini Porzingis in him if he just expands his game and play with aggression

I agree and I think over the past 10 games or so he has taken it to the dribble some and to the rim. He should do it more. I am not entirely sure it is asked of him. Hopefully it is. That is the one drawback with Booker at times is that I think it might make others (except Jackson) sometimes more hesitant to take it to the rim themselves and they continue to defer.

I share your frustration. I think he could be very very good if he was more aggressive. I hope part of it is due to age. Someone else mentioned earlier that maybe him being so good so young and placed on men's teams where he couldn't just dominate him hurt his development, or at least confidence. I think that's a good point. We will see. I'm happy with his progression from last year to this year for the most part, but want more.

[lilfishi22]

+3 Booker
+2 Bender
+1 Daniels

HM Ulis

-3 Chandler
-2 Jackson - nice start, but it didn't last long. I think right after Kerrsed posted that he never waivered on JJ he stopped scoring
-1 Canaan

Please explain

I thought about asking you the same. Sure it's frustrating he is soft but he is still playing better team ball than anyone out there. I struggled a little bit after the Booker +3 because Daniels hits shots, but he is terrible otherwise, Ulis did ok, but Bender plays smart ball even though the fact that he can be so much more is frustrating. That vote is more of a lack of better options though I was happy he rebounded more tonight (and often slaps back rebounds to other teammates) and he hit two of his three 3s.

I haven't watched the game but I'm aware of Bender being soft. But I don't think it's necessarily making him a negative on the floor. Him being soft doesn't equate to TO's, it doesn't equate to fouls, it doesn't equate to being a black hole and it doesn't equate to being a poor defender. It does mean he's missing opportunities where he could be a positive through scoring for example but not be better doesn't necessarily mean he's bad. So I'm hesitant too in giving him a cactus.

Unlike Chriss, who's over-aggressiveness usually leads to blown dunks and ticky tack fouls, Bender's mistakes aren't really a negative.

[Saberestar]

+3 Booker
+1 Daniels

-3 Bender
-1 Jackson
-1 Dudley
-1 Chandler

[Damkac]

+3 Booker
+2 Daniels
+1 Ulis

-3 Chandler
-2 Jackson
-1 Bender