Is Earl Clark a bust?

MaryvalesFinest · Post #1 » by **MaryvalesFinest** » Fri Jan 1, 2010 10:02 pm

I know many of us were happy to see him fall to the Suns at #14 including myself, even by sports writers he was talked up to have the potential of a top 5 pick but the reason they said he fell was because of his work ethic and attitude.

When the season started he played in the first game and played major minutes that resulted in a win, it just seemed to go all downhill from their. Now it's almost halfway through the season and he's barely playing. It's hard to understand why considering he has the length and height that could defend all four positions.

It has been rumored the reason why he doesn't get playing time is because he doesn't bring it in practice but if he never does that mean he can never get playing time and will end up sitting on the bench and not having his option picked up?

Just by looking at this list of players drafted after him, these guys are either contributing to their teams, many of them being winning or have shown flashes of potential.

Jrue Holiday
Ty Lawson
Eric Maynor
Darren Collison
Omar Casspi
Rodrigue Babois
Taj Gibson
Demare Carrol
Jeff Pendergraph
Sam Young
Dejuan Blair
Jonas Jerbko
Jon Brockman
Marcus Thornton
Chase Budinger

Does anyone think the Suns missed the boat on another draft again? The guys I named above are all getting solid minutes and have outplayed Clark so far. Looking at that list would anyone say now they would rather have one of those guys over Clark?

Zarko · Post #2 » by **Zarko** » Fri Jan 1, 2010 10:17 pm

So far...yes.

I remember you regulars saying Earl Clark has the possibility of being the 2nd best rookie in the league....lol

b-ball forever · Post #3 » by **b-ball forever** » Fri Jan 1, 2010 10:33 pm

Zarko wrote:So far...yes.

I remember you regulars saying Earl Clark has the possibility of being the 2nd best rookie in the league....lol

Um, almost everybody knew he was a project that likely wouldn't get much playtime in his first year.

Clark's rumored lack of effort in practice is concerning, but it's way too early to call him a bust.

Mr. Sun · Post #4 » by **Mr. Sun** » Fri Jan 1, 2010 10:39 pm

YAWN.

ruiner · Post #5 » by **ruiner** » Fri Jan 1, 2010 10:41 pm

Get off the internet.

Classick · Post #6 » by **Classick** » Fri Jan 1, 2010 10:44 pm

It's hard to be a bust when you don't get playing time and had no hype surrounding your signing. :roll:

schnakenpopanz · Post #7 » by **schnakenpopanz** » Fri Jan 1, 2010 10:45 pm

to be honest, i am not surprised to read this form you.
every thread and nearly every post of you is negative.
ok its good to point on faults of our FO and other thnigs but i think there is no chance to play him like you want to. and even if we do you would come here and talk about why griffin is bad.so catch a break this year our FO has done more good things than bad so far. lets wait and see the results.

hunterxaz · Post #8 » by **hunterxaz** » Fri Jan 1, 2010 11:01 pm

So far, yes he's been a complete bust -- especially speaking in terms that you'd hope someone in the top 15 of the draft could have an impact on a team -- so far he's had none.

I'm hoping we can dupe someone into believing his "future" growth and "natural talent" and trade us something we can use now. EC isn't a good fit for the Suns.

Apart from his poor work ethic, immaturity, and lack of any "skills" that he was scouted on, I just don't think the guy cares to work hard for us.

tigerblood · Post #9 » by **tigerblood** » Fri Jan 1, 2010 11:11 pm

this is a great thread for all of the neg heads on this board. You should rename this the "official negativity thread". EC has a lot of learning to do, way to early to call him a bust. He has skills, just needs to mature a little, like some of the people that are commenting on him.

hunterxaz · Post #10 » by **hunterxaz** » Fri Jan 1, 2010 11:13 pm

All of you guys who are big EC supporters have nothing to stand on though... he's been a ghost in every single game, except 1. He's played some 25 games now. When will that talent kick in? So far, the facts are in favor of EC not being right for the Suns, or just a bad player.

Other than his "natural talent" and scouting reports, what do you have to go on?

justinb80 · Post #11 » by **justinb80** » Fri Jan 1, 2010 11:18 pm

He can't be a bust if he never plays. I'm really hoping that we start to see him on the court regularly. If he doesn't produce when on the court consistently, then ok, yank him from the rotation and we'll move on.

tigerblood · Post #12 » by **tigerblood** » Fri Jan 1, 2010 11:20 pm

hunterxaz wrote:All of you guys who are big EC supporters have nothing to stand on though... he's been a ghost in every single game, except 1. He's played some 25 games now. When will that talent kick in? So far, the facts are in favor of EC not being right for the Suns, or just a bad player.

Other than his "natural talent" and scouting reports, what do you have to go on?

do you not remember how bad Dragic looked last year, Lopez...? Bayless sat on the bench in Portland for 2 years and now looks great. EC will get his chance and I bet he does fine. You can't show anything in 4 minutes other than effort, and he has shown that.

hunterxaz · Post #13 » by **hunterxaz** » Fri Jan 1, 2010 11:27 pm

He shows missed defensive assignments and rotations... turnovers, and bad ball-handling. I am not convinced due to his reported work ethics, and immaturity, that he will improve. I remember hearing about Lopez and Dragic last year, and they all busted their ass to improve. So far from EC, we have heard nothing but the opposite. Like I said, we need to trade him for someone who has a better attitude, and works hard.

justinb80 wrote:He can't be a bust if he never plays. I'm really hoping that we start to see him on the court regularly. If he doesn't produce when on the court consistently, then ok, yank him from the rotation and we'll move on.

He's gotten more PT than he deserves, and thus far, has shown nothing but his butterfingers. I don't know the exact amount, but he's played in almost 25 games so far. Each time, a disappointment.

Fact is, guy doesn't deserve ANY play time.

http://www.nba.com/playerfile/earl_clark/index.html

24 games (out of 33) w/ 9 mpg. That's enough time to show some consistency.

OrangeNation · Post #14 » by **OrangeNation** » Sat Jan 2, 2010 12:16 am

It's Boris "THE HORROR" Diaw Part II. :lol:

Post #15 » by **Qwigglez** » Sat Jan 2, 2010 12:30 am

Earl Clark isn't a bust. Calm down.

DirtyDez · Post #16 » by **DirtyDez** » Sat Jan 2, 2010 12:33 am

We need to get rid of Hill next year so EC can get some time. I think Grant has a player option though :oops:

hunterxaz · Post #17 » by **hunterxaz** » Sat Jan 2, 2010 12:33 am

Lol.... Hill >>>>>>>>>>> EC

Post #18 » by **Qwigglez** » Sat Jan 2, 2010 12:43 am

I like what the Suns are doing.
They have a few old guys to mentor the young guys. It's like a school program, lol. Hill can teach Clark a few things.

sunsbum · Post #19 » by **sunsbum** » Sat Jan 2, 2010 1:03 am

In the 4 games that hes logged over 15 minutes this season (19.5mpg) hes avg 8ppg 4.5 rpg .75 ast .5 blks. Its hard to get a good feel for earl since we see so little of him.

Small sample but the #'s look good. Everyone was ready to give up on dragic 1/3rd of the way into the season last year as well. Clark will never be a star but a "lamar odom" type potential is whithin his reach.

-SDU- · Post #20 » by **-SDU-** » Sat Jan 2, 2010 1:44 am

These are the thing I hate , most of those rookies listed above are either on teams not as good as us or not behind players as capable as Amare hill Dudley etc. Haven't some people learnt from saying dragic was a bust? Earl is what we thought he was - a talented player who has more potential than current ability. Every day he is training with the best - when there is an injury or if Amare leaves as a FA then he will get his shot to prove if he is a bust or not. Until then , so far we are getting exactly what I thought we would in his rookie year........