Hollinger's opinion of Earl Clark

[justinb80]

Take this with a grain of salt, since Hollinger is the master of jumping to conclusions. It's from an ESPN Insider column about this year's biggest disappointments.

He's a lottery pick, he played three seasons in college and he plays for a team with a limited bench. Yet, he still can't get on the floor. Ladies and gentleman, I bring you Earl Clark, the early leader in the race of the biggest draft bust of 2009. Clark sports a PER of 6.99 on 37.1 percent shooting in 36 appearances, and increasingly seems to be falling out of favor, playing a total of seven minutes in Phoenix's past three games.

This is a particularly sensitive topic for Suns fans since the draft has been their bugaboo in recent seasons; the Suns have sold picks that became Rudy Fernandez, Nate Robinson and Rajon Rondo while keeping the likes of Alando Tucker, Robin Lopez and Clark. It's the major reason they haven't been able to keep pace with the other elite teams in the West in recent seasons.

[hunterxaz]

I'd agree. I want Clark to do well, but comparatively speaking he's just not showing that "raw" talent or "promise" that people sold him as. If he plays... of course I want him to do well, but I'm hoping that we swing a J-Rich / Clark deal and pick up some real young talent and an efficient SG.

[charley barkles]

I still think its way too early to tell. A lottery pick yes, but at #14... there is no reason he should be considered a bigger bust than Hasheem Thabeet at this stage, who was drafted #2. Also, i think Gerald Henderson was taken before Clark... so why not him either? (who also happened to play for a while college...). His shooting % sucks, but he's a rookie. That will go up as he gets more confidence in his game. From what i remember, our young guys last year didn't shoot very well and seem to be shooting much better this year. And our bench may be somewhat limited... but clark is behind amare, lou, and frye at the PF spot and behind hill, dudley, and sometimes even J-Rich will play SF too... Earl Clark definitely should not be considered a bust, yet. Next year we'll have a better idea of what he might or might not be...

[hunterxaz]

I wouldn't consider him a bust but the Suns team is a team where you either "get it" or you don't.

They run very simple schemes offensively and defensively, and Clark consistently looks lost on both ends -- it never fails. I know rookies get some leeway (and this is where I forgive his turnovers, poor shooting, and getting blocked, etc) but I just don't see Clark being a part of the Suns system unless it changes from it's current state to something like we saw last season w/ Porter, which sucked, and probably wouldn't be installable until Nash is retired or not on our team.

If Clark was awesome and could at least get 4 or 5 points a game in those 10 minutes he plays, then I'd be enthused, especially if he was the defender he was promised to be.

[TheMoochinator]

Hollinger also called Goran Dragic the worst player in the NBA last year...He also has ripped lopez a few times.

Obviously neither of them are stars but I think it's safe to say that Hollinger may not be the greatest young talent evaluator ESPN has.

Not too mention his talk of our bench being thin right away forces me to discredit him. We play our bench quite a bit actually. Frye, Dragic, Dudley and Amundson

[Mr. Sun]

Always easy to beat up on a green rookie who gets little playing time.

[MaryvalesFinest]

I don't get it either, if they don't want to play him why not trade him than? I'm sure there are teams that would love to take a chance on a guy that can play defense.

[hunterxaz]

I don't get it either, if they don't want to play him why not trade him than? I'm sure there are teams that would love to take a chance on a guy that can play defense.

Maybe because so far he hasn't been able to show that he can play defense, in any of the games he's played in so far.

[TheMoochinator]

I disagree with that hunterxaz, in fact the one thing I've noticed is that he CAN play great D.

His IQ isnt high enough to play good team D yet but when Gentry says "hey go lock down maggette he's killing us" clark did that rather easily.

We have to be patient

[thapharcyd]

We started winning again so Clark isn't seeing mins any more. I am willing to bet on a lottery team he would put up numbers. However, I think he is a jacker. He would be sub 40% shooter taking 20+ shots a game given the mins.

[rsavaj]

http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2010/ ... earl-clark

Hollinger can jump in a lake.

[Mr. Sun]

I don't get it either, if they don't want to play him why not trade him than? I'm sure there are teams that would love to take a chance on a guy that can play defense.

Maybe because so far he hasn't been able to show that he can play defense, in any of the games he's played in so far.

He was the only Sun who could stop maggette. He is capable of playing defense just fine unlike all other Suns.

[LV-Suns]

Particularly weak bench? It took a LB injury for Clark to start getting some minutes. Then again, Hill/Dudley and Amare/Lou/Frye eats up 95% of the minutes at the forward spot, not sure what he is saying about a weak bench.

Dragic was Hollinger's selection for worst player in the league first half of the season last year. I guess he is not keeping up with what Lopez is doing lately since he is mentioned as a "bust."

[Sun Scorched]

Rookies that go onto ailing squads play more, are vetted faster and are either solid busts or put up great numbers because of a great amount of playing time.

Rookies that go onto established teams don't get that opportunity. Enter Clark, he simply hasn't played enough to call him a bust.

[OrangeNation]

Who's Hollinger ? Who's Hollinger ? Who's Hollinger ?

[Qwigglez]

Particularly weak bench? It took a LB injury for Clark to start getting some minutes. Then again, Hill/Dudley and Amare/Lou/Frye eats up 95% of the minutes at the forward spot, not sure what he is saying about a weak bench.

Dragic was Hollinger's selection for worst player in the league first half of the season last year. I guess he is not keeping up with what Lopez is doing lately since he is mentioned as a "bust."

+1
I'd say the Suns have a top five bench in the league in terms of depth and productivity. Suns have a good backup in each position, and while none are likely to grow into an all-star I'd say the bench still hasn't reached its full potential of talent.

[Jimmy76]

hollinger isnt well informed Lopez has been killin lately and his PER has Lopez as an above average player already

if Clark can make a jump like Goran and Lopez did he'll be at least a solid player

[alldayeveryday]

Nash turned 36 on Sunday but he has been asked about it since Friday and again Tuesday, which did prompt a funny line: "I feel like I'm still playing as well as I've ever played and feel comfortable and confident out there. But you're reminded all the time of how old you are. Earl just got his driver's license this season." It's true. His girlfriend was driving him around at the start of the season.


The kid is still young. Give him time to develop.

[hunterxaz]

He can develop when we're not trying to win a title (ie rebuilding). In case you guys haven't heard, the Suns are trying to compete to get to the Finals. They're not just hoping to make the playoffs.

[alldayeveryday]

We`re trying to win a title right now?

I think I just had a stroke. I'll transfer you a three bills if sun's make it to the finals this season or the next. BOOK IT! (win the title of course)