2022-23 Season Discussion and Speculation 5 - The KD era begins

[NavLDO]

I seriously doubt they cut Landale. He hasn't been good, but he is one of the few non starters we hold the rights to next season and is a RFA. I don't know if they would keep him but we don't know if we can find Cs on the market in the summer. He is a decent defender an ok rebounder, and likely can play better, and has played well at times. I don't expect him to get offers this summer so we could maybe keep him for slightly more than the minimum and can also wait until FA, see if we can find minimum back up bigs, and if we can, cut him then. He could also be a throw in trade piece. Aside from 4 of the starters, we only have the rights to Payne and Shamet this season. Hopefully we are able to keep Craig, but it's not a guarantee if someone will pay him more than the tax MLE.

Fair enough. The point of even bringing his name up, however, was in response to the concerns with how we match up, height-wise, against other Playoff contenders, and I doubt Landale really comes into the conversation regarding this point. If we are realying on Landale to offset any type of height, or length discrepancy in the Playoffs, than we've got 'bigger fish to fry', than worrying about the measurement discrepancy. We'll go all-out small-ball before we rely on Landale to give us serious minutes in a Playoff series...unless something drastically changes over the next 20 games.

[bwgood77]

I seriously doubt they cut Landale. He hasn't been good, but he is one of the few non starters we hold the rights to next season and is a RFA. I don't know if they would keep him but we don't know if we can find Cs on the market in the summer. He is a decent defender an ok rebounder, and likely can play better, and has played well at times. I don't expect him to get offers this summer so we could maybe keep him for slightly more than the minimum and can also wait until FA, see if we can find minimum back up bigs, and if we can, cut him then. He could also be a throw in trade piece. Aside from 4 of the starters, we only have the rights to Payne and Shamet this season. Hopefully we are able to keep Craig, but it's not a guarantee if someone will pay him more than the tax MLE.

Fair enough. The point of even bringing his name up, however, was in response to the concerns with how we match up, height-wise, against other Playoff contenders, and I doubt Landale really comes into the conversation regarding this point. If we are realying on Landale to offset any type of height, or length discrepancy in the Playoffs, than we've got 'bigger fish to fry', than worrying about the measurement discrepancy. We'll go all-out small-ball before we rely on Landale to give us serious minutes in a Playoff series...unless something drastically changes over the next 20 games.

I don't think we really need to worry about it. If we need to worry about anything, it's health.

[POLI]

Our C/PF rotation is fine. The narrative that bigger teams punish smaller teams in the playoffs is an exaggeration. This isn't 1990's basketball, and in the playoffs teams don't suddenly change scripts and try to change their entire offensive scheme. I do want to mention that teams should remain flexible in having the ability to change their offense, but I think the Suns will be the most versatile team to do that come playoff time.

Also, what teams are going to destroy the Suns because the Suns are smaller? The top team in the West have Jokic, and then 6'8 Aaron Gordon and 6'8 Michael Porter Jr. The Grizzlies have Adams and JJJ, but JJJ is not really a post player taking more than 1/3 of his shots at the 3P line. The 3rd place Kings are running a small ball lineup, and the Clippers traditionally try and play small ball to run opposing teams out of the gym (similar to SSOL Suns). Pelicans and Wolves are currently 7th and 8th in the West with last year champs Warriors sitting in 9th and Lakers down sitting 5 games below .500.

I think above all though, you have it backwards. Teams are going to have to worry about how they are going to guard the Suns (if everyone is healthy).

Porter is 6-10
Then they have Bryant now with 6-11
Then Gancar at 6-9 at least.

Clippers have Zubac at 7-2
Plumlee at 6-10
Morris at 6-9
Batum at 6-8

Grizzlies have Adams at 7-0
JJJ at 6-10/6-11
Then Aldama at 6-11
Then Clarke at 6-10/6-11

The Jazz, that could be in the mix, have

Markannen at 7-0
Kessler at 7-0
Olynik at 6-11
Azubuike at 6-11

Sacramento is not that small, as they play Sabonis, Barnes and another SF-PF at the same time. Then they make use of Lyles and others.

Clarke is 6'8

If you are putting some backups in there, we have, starting,

Ayton - 7'0
KD - 6'10
Landale - 6'11
Biyombo - 6'8, but a solid defender/rebounder
Also, Craig is a great rebounder and solid defender and is 6'7

But if teams go big and we go smaller, they will have trouble guarding us. Memphis could guard our bigs ok, but they couldn't double KD, and as good as JJJ is on, KD is still almost impossible to guard given his length and shot creation.

Indeed.
It was a mistake to focus on how tall each player is.
In addition, it does not matter who is taller sometimes.
Biyombo is 6-8 and plays bigger than Landale and even than DA, although Landale is soft and I would not trust him to get rebounds against a 6-2 centre on an opposing team.
Clarke can be 6-8, although I think he is taller. He plays bigger than that and Aldama, who is 6-11 and has long arms, does not play that big.
Anyway, I would not place us among the strongest, toughest teams in the West when talking about inside presence.
It was obvious last year against Dallas, when they did not have Javale and just have Powell, Kleber and a bunch of undersized SF/PF.
The important thing is to have tall players who are also tough and can take care of the paint. Of course KD is long and can rebound, he can also defend some tough players because, in the end, one has to shoot over you tom get a basket and that is really complicated with KD's arms in front.

I love Craig and what he brings to the table, because he offers all he has (it being a lot or a little).

All that said, I firmly believe we would have a higher chance of getting the ring by signing another big, who could be Ibaka (as Love is not going to be). Other players available are Cousins, Aldridge, Favors... I do not think they can match what Serge can offer.

Other than that, probably we need a back up point guard who can assist and shoot with consistency, as he will be on the court with Booker, KD, Warren, Ayton, Lee, Landale. All are good off players who need to get the ball in good situations. We do not need a back up PG who looks for crazy plays and penetrations. I do not have anything against Payne, but I believe he fits poorly what we need from a PG.
I think Paul is the best PG we can get at this point to play with the rest of the guys: assists, shoots, experience, defense, toughness...

[Calvin Klein]

Glad we had no players playing that game. What's the point anymore?

[sunsbg]

Glad we had no players playing that game. What's the point anymore?

Haven't watched ASG for years now. Only 3PT and dunk competition short highlights. Who really cares if Tatum had a record 55 points. Just makes it even more obvious everything is different now, so no point in comparing stats between different eras.

[Saberestar]

After finalizing a contract buyout with the Utah Jazz, nine-time All-Star guard Russell Westbrook plans to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers, his agent Jeff Schwartz of @excelbasketball tells ESPN.

[Qwigglez]

red text

So... basically. Suns need to get a backup big, to help alleviate the pressure for Booker, CP3, Durant. If one of them go down, our team is toast. But if we get a backup big to shore up any exploitable weaknesses Suns would be fine? What current free agent are the Suns going to land that is going to shore up exploitable weaknesses that can be targeted by opposing teams? What current free agent would be good enough to slow down any of Jokic/Gordon/Porter Jr, AD, and everyone else on your list? I'm not disregarding anything. But you cannot have every single strength with no weaknesses. How is Jokic going to guard the pick and roll against the Suns. How are the Grizzlies going to guard the pick and roll? How are any of these teams going to guard the Suns?


Suns added McGee after losing to the Bucks because you simply cannot play your starting center 36+ minutes a night and expect to win. The Suns didn't add McGee to run a twin towers lineup. We didn't see that.

I'm gonna be honest man and I think you are just arguing just to argue. Suns traded Saric because they wanted to save money in their luxury tax bill. He wasn't worth the contract and the Suns figured they could likely get two maybe even three players for the cost of Saric. And they got exactly that while saving money because they got Bazley, and then Ross, and are still trying to figure out that last roster spot.
They didn't trade Saric to gain fan interest, nobody is going to games to see Bazley, and nobody cares for him when the Suns have Booker, CP3, Ayton, and Durant.

How do you figure the Suns got beat in the paint against Dallas? Suns literally outrebounded Dallas every game of the series and that includes offensive rebounds too (except Game 6 Mavs grabbed one more offensive rebound than the Suns).
Games 1 and 2, Suns scored more points in the paint by a decent margin
Game 3 Mavs scored more by a decent margin
Game 4, Mavs scored one more bucket than the Suns in the paint.
Game 5 Suns made 22/35 in the paint, Mavs made 12/28
Game 6 Suns got wrecked, but still... scored 10 more points in the paint than the Mavs.
Game 7 Mavs scored one more bucket in the paint.


I really just don't see the main purpose of your argument. If you are basically saying you think the Suns should get a backup big. Fine, yes I agree it's not a bad thing to have more depth. However... who... again who, is going to be that difference maker. What free agent is that guy? Who is going to give our elite scoring weapons/shot creators room to operate effectively? Is Lebron James on the market? You know who would give our elite scorers more room to operate? Guys like TJ Warren, Terrence Ross.

[bwgood77]

Glad we had no players playing that game. What's the point anymore?

Haven't watched ASG for years now. Only 3PT and dunk competition short highlights. Who really cares if Tatum had a record 55 points. Just makes it even more obvious everything is different now, so no point in comparing stats between different eras.

I haven't watched it either, but when looking at the box score was still amazed at his and Jaylen Brown's #s. Tatum still shot crazy from 3 as did Mitchell and Lillard.

[BobbieL]

After finalizing a contract buyout with the Utah Jazz, nine-time All-Star guard Russell Westbrook plans to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers, his agent Jeff Schwartz of @excelbasketball tells ESPN.

Miami got Love
Clippers get RW

Was hoping more for Love but another week or so - see if anybody else is bought out

[sunsbg]

Glad we had no players playing that game. What's the point anymore?

Haven't watched ASG for years now. Only 3PT and dunk competition short highlights. Who really cares if Tatum had a record 55 points. Just makes it even more obvious everything is different now, so no point in comparing stats between different eras.

I haven't watched it either, but when looking at the box score was still amazed at his and Jaylen Brown's #s. Tatum still shot crazy from 3 as did Mitchell and Lillard.

Amazed by the volume I guess as 10-18 when not defended is nothing impressive. I watched a training clip the other day with Payne hitting 8 in a row which is normal for a professional player.

[NapoleonII]

Every playoff team in the West after Clippers pick up Westbrook:

[bwgood77]

Haven't watched ASG for years now. Only 3PT and dunk competition short highlights. Who really cares if Tatum had a record 55 points. Just makes it even more obvious everything is different now, so no point in comparing stats between different eras.

I haven't watched it either, but when looking at the box score was still amazed at his and Jaylen Brown's #s. Tatum still shot crazy from 3 as did Mitchell and Lillard.

Amazed by the volume I guess as 10-18 when not defended is nothing impressive. I watched a training clip the other day with Payne hitting 8 in a row which is normal for a professional player.

Most 3s in taken in games are not defended unless players are taking bad or dumb shots. They shoot wide open on passes or a few players do step back 3s like Luka/Harden and then some take spot up 3s, like Lillard, and Book occasionally. To take a contested 3 is usually only either at the very end of a game or someone trying to bait a foul after a guy has jumped.

[flagstaff]

This is not a basketball team but a geriatric park. Roster full of old geezers with questionable at best availability. Silly gamble for a fresh new owner. Fiasco awaits, so let's enjoy the disaster.

It seems like a five years ago we were one of the youngest.

[sunsbg]

I haven't watched it either, but when looking at the box score was still amazed at his and Jaylen Brown's #s. Tatum still shot crazy from 3 as did Mitchell and Lillard.

Amazed by the volume I guess as 10-18 when not defended is nothing impressive. I watched a training clip the other day with Payne hitting 8 in a row which is normal for a professional player.

Most 3s in taken in games are not defended unless players are taking bad or dumb shots. They shoot wide open on passes or a few players do step back 3s like Luka/Harden and then some take spot up 3s, like Lillard, and Book occasionally. To take a contested 3 is usually only either at the very end of a game or someone trying to bait a foul after a guy has jumped.

I wouldn't say most are not defended. Half of them are open, but there is still someone trying to challenge the shot so you don't have all the time to take it. If that was the case every guard will shoot 50%+.

I had a quick look at Tatum's highlights. They really let him and Brown play 1-on-1 at one point with everybody else watching on the other side of the court. Could have sat on chairs. Pathetic.

[NapoleonII]

This is not a basketball team but a geriatric park. Roster full of old geezers with questionable at best availability. Silly gamble for a fresh new owner. Fiasco awaits, so let's enjoy the disaster.

It seems like a five years ago we were one of the youngest.

Yeah, how did that season go?

[thamadkant]

Glad we had no players playing that game. What's the point anymore?

Haven't watched ASG for years now. Only 3PT and dunk competition short highlights. Who really cares if Tatum had a record 55 points. Just makes it even more obvious everything is different now, so no point in comparing stats between different eras.

The last good All Star was when Kobe was actually trying to stop Jordan. Also when Marion was defending Jordan... but Jordan still got his...

Today it's layups for layups.

[bullsaficianado]

Glad we had no players playing that game. What's the point anymore?

I don't care for the new format it should just be West vs East. Western conference players playing against Eastern conference players. They never should have changed it.

[lilfishi22]

I want to see the players go back to wearing their team jerseys. I wonder if playing with their jerseys would make them play with more pride and competitiveness out there because they are more publicly representing their team.

[starbosa10]

I want to see the players go back to wearing their team jerseys. I wonder if playing with their jerseys would make them play with more pride and competitiveness out there because they are more publicly representing their team.

Never happening as nba wants to sell the jerseys

[spanishninja]

patbev is signing with the Bulls. we are officially not gonna see him at all in the playoffs!

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