2023-24 Season Discussion and Speculation 4 - A Rocky Start

[NapoleonII]

The fact that we're even discussing this POS is a stench very unbecoming of this board.

[enigmatics]

Read on Twitter

[sashaturiaf]

Read on Twitter

Big 3 lineup with Beal waiting to strike in the corner is like a gladiator escaping from the Colosseum only to run into a vipers nest for the opponent.

[lilfishi22]

Read on Twitter

The amazing thing is that it isn't just limited to Beal.

You look at the stats of Book and KD as well and there's literally no ego with them either. No one is like, oh KD got his 30, I need to get mine now or Book has 40, I need to get to 25 at least. No, it's none of that.

The following 2 games after Book's 52 piece against the Pels and he's not feeling it, he's letting KD cook for b2b 40+. Or in this game where Book was on fire and KD is happy to play elite defense, rebound, pass and only took 10 shots. Kevin Durant is happy to take 10 shots if it means we get the win.

You need any of the Big 3 to do something that's considered dirty work like playing defense or grabbing boards or just facilitating for others, they are all happy to do it, in the name of playing winning basketball. This is just good basketball.


Now..... if only the bench can step up so them boys don't have to be playing high 30's mpg

[enigmatics]

The amazing thing is that it isn't just limited to Beal.

You look at the stats of Book and KD as well and there's literally no ego with them either. No one is like, oh KD got his 30, I need to get mine now or Book has 40, I need to get to 25 at least. No, it's none of that.

The following 2 games after Book's 52 piece against the Pels and he's not feeling it, he's letting KD cook for b2b 40+. Or in this game where Book was on fire and KD is happy to play elite defense, rebound, pass and only took 10 shots. Kevin Durant is happy to take 10 shots if it means we get the win.

You need any of the Big 3 to do something that's considered dirty work like playing defense or grabbing boards or just facilitating for others, they are all happy to do it, in the name of playing winning basketball. This is just good basketball.

Now..... if only the bench can step up so them boys don't have to be playing high 30's mpg

KD's defense in particular needs to be highlighted. I saw a breakdown of it over on the Suns reddit - particularly him locking down some of the opposing teams best players and blocking shots.

I had been screaming for that kind of effort for the longest time and it seems like it's finally here. That's the benefit of the Big 3 because he knows the other two can get buckets when the Suns need it, so he can expend more energy defensively.

[sashaturiaf]

Read on Twitter

The amazing thing is that it isn't just limited to Beal.

You look at the stats of Book and KD as well and there's literally no ego with them either. No one is like, oh KD got his 30, I need to get mine now or Book has 40, I need to get to 25 at least. No, it's none of that.

The following 2 games after Book's 52 piece against the Pels and he's not feeling it, he's letting KD cook for b2b 40+. Or in this game where Book was on fire and KD is happy to play elite defense, rebound, pass and only took 10 shots. Kevin Durant is happy to take 10 shots if it means we get the win.

You need any of the Big 3 to do something that's considered dirty work like playing defense or grabbing boards or just facilitating for others, they are all happy to do it, in the name of playing winning basketball. This is just good basketball.


Now..... if only the bench can step up so them boys don't have to be playing high 30's mpg

The buy in from the big 3 have been great. We ride the hot hand on any given night and nobody is too much of a star to do some of the dirty work. If the big 3 are buying in, then everybody else on the team is buying in too.


I think they are just happy to be in this position playing with other talented players who give a damn. Beal knows what life is like in the NBA wilderness, and KD knows what it's like to play with unreliable guys like Kyrie who treats basketball as a side hobby. And Book.. Book was brought up with the Ayton experience in full view.

[Bogyo]

If we had last years KDB instead of this years we'd be a full on, scary mofo contenders.
Here is hoping, as he is seemingly starting to string some stuff together in this winning streak...

[lilfishi22]

The amazing thing is that it isn't just limited to Beal.

You look at the stats of Book and KD as well and there's literally no ego with them either. No one is like, oh KD got his 30, I need to get mine now or Book has 40, I need to get to 25 at least. No, it's none of that.

The following 2 games after Book's 52 piece against the Pels and he's not feeling it, he's letting KD cook for b2b 40+. Or in this game where Book was on fire and KD is happy to play elite defense, rebound, pass and only took 10 shots. Kevin Durant is happy to take 10 shots if it means we get the win.

You need any of the Big 3 to do something that's considered dirty work like playing defense or grabbing boards or just facilitating for others, they are all happy to do it, in the name of playing winning basketball. This is just good basketball.

Now..... if only the bench can step up so them boys don't have to be playing high 30's mpg

KD's defense in particular needs to be highlighted. I saw a breakdown of it over on the Suns reddit - particularly him locking down some of the opposing teams best players and blocking shots.

I had been screaming for that kind of effort for the longest time and it seems like it's finally here. That's the benefit of the Big 3 because he knows the other two can get buckets when the Suns need it, so he can expend more energy defensively.

100%

Earlier in the season when it was just KD or KD and a still coming back to full health Book, you'd have KD trying to hard to not only create for himself and the team but also do it consistently through all 4 quarters. And when it's a close game, there's even more pressure for him to perform in the clutch when he's already expended so much energy carrying the team. Things got easier when Book came back but there also wasn't the flow we have now in the offense which meant there were a little more your turn, my turn.

Then it really started to flow when Beal came back and Book got to play increasingly more off-ball which meant he also has more energy to expend on other aspects of the game as did KD.

[Ghost of Kleine]

The fact that we're even discussing this POS is a stench very unbecoming of this board.

It'll pass in a week or so. Personally, I'm more interested on how we can creatively be a 3rd team facilitator for another team that ends up with him. And we get solid complimentary pieces back or maybe one decent bench player and a draft asset........................ another 2nd or whatever if possible.

I'd think that if he goes to a contender, and we send Little and another vet min to Charlotte then maybe we can get something decent but not great back. It just depends upon what contender he'd be going to and what player or players they might need to offload at his position if necessary?

Other than that, I'm more interested in our buyout options and some of the unsigned vet min options that nobody else besides myself would likely consider anyways.....lol. I'm very adamant about us needing an athletic, switchable rim protector/ vertical gravity threat, and a solid lockdown perimeter defensive wing if possible. Lastly in order of importance would be a legit backup guard option to sustain our bench and provide insurance for our backcourt stars.

** Gambo mentioned in his podcast I shared earlier in the evan sidery tweet that PJ Tucker isn't getting bought out and we're not getting him. BUT that he strongly believes the suns WILL make some moves by the deadline no matter what.

[Saberestar]

The Big 3, over this 7-game win streak:

Devin Booker — 31.6 PPG on 66.1 TS% w/ 5.1 RPG & 6.3 APG

Kevin Durant — 26.7 PPG on 65.7 TS% w/ 6.4 RPG & 4.9 APG

Bradley Beal — 21.3 PPG on 65.5 TS% w/ 5.0 RPG & 4.9 APG

Becoming deadlier by the day.

Read on Twitter

It's remarkable that all three with 66 TS%.

[Saberestar]

If we had last years KDB instead of this years we'd be a full on, scary mofo contenders.
Here is hoping, as he is seemingly starting to string some stuff together in this winning streak...

We are already all of that.

Bates-Diop averages in his last two games:

8 points, 1.5 boards, 1.5 assists, 1 steal shooting 7/10 (2/4 triples) in 16.5 minutes. +16

That's the KBD we expected and hopefully he can keep it up.

[Frank Lee]

If we had last years KDB instead of this years we'd be a full on, scary mofo contenders.
Here is hoping, as he is seemingly starting to string some stuff together in this winning streak...

We are already all of that.

Bates-Diop averages in his last two games:

8 points, 1.5 boards, 1.5 assists, 1 steal shooting 7/10 (2/4 triples) in 16.5 minutes. +16

That's the KBD we expected and hopefully he can keep it up.

The KBD of last year was playing 25-30 minutes a night for the last half of the season. Granted, the Spurs were tanking and likely the opposition looked at them like a night off, but it’s easy to fathom his inability to find any rhythm here when he’s limited to 10 min every other game.

The irony is, his recent play will likely improve his trade value.

[Book1Nation]

No thanks on Miles Bridges. Good player, yes, but the off court stuff sucks.

What I would like for us to do is use our trade exceptions to try and make upgrades that way.

Dario Saric $4,975,371 expires on February 8, so we have about 2 weeks. Cam Payne $6,500,000 expires July 16 so I wouldn't be mad if they held it for next season or used it now.

Some potential options we could take off bad teams...

Jae'Sean Tate
Otto Porter Jr.
Jevon Carter
Saddiq Bey
Corey Kispert
Andre Drummond

I would also look to move Nassir Little and his $6.25M salary, package him with someone like KBD, Damion Lee or Watanabe for a guy in the $8-9 million salary range.

Obi Toppin would be nice if the Pacers want to move him.

[spanishninja]

excellent article from the Ringer. I had no idea our shotmaking was so great with the big 3 on the floor. every zone except for above the break 3 is in the high 90s in terms of percentiles.

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2024/1/25/24049830/phoenix-suns-offense-big-three-nba-all-star-snubs-kram-session

[King4Day]

The fact that we're even discussing this POS is a stench very unbecoming of this board.

It'll pass in a week or so. Personally, I'm more interested on how we can creatively be a 3rd team facilitator for another team that ends up with him. And we get solid complimentary pieces back or maybe one decent bench player and a draft asset........................ another 2nd or whatever if possible.

I'd think that if he goes to a contender, and we send Little and another vet min to Charlotte then maybe we can get something decent but not great back. It just depends upon what contender he'd be going to and what player or players they might need to offload at his position if necessary?

Other than that, I'm more interested in our buyout options and some of the unsigned vet min options that nobody else besides myself would likely consider anyways.....lol. I'm very adamant about us needing an athletic, switchable rim protector/ vertical gravity threat, and a solid lockdown perimeter defensive wing if possible. Lastly in order of importance would be a legit backup guard option to sustain our bench and provide insurance for our backcourt stars.

** Gambo mentioned in his podcast I shared earlier in the evan sidery tweet that PJ Tucker isn't getting bought out and we're not getting him. BUT that he strongly believes the suns WILL make some moves by the deadline no matter what.

I guess LAC knows he'd come here and doesn't want to help us. So they'd rather bury him on the bench than let him go to a contender he can contribute on

[sashaturiaf]

excellent article from the Ringer. I had no idea our shotmaking was so great with the big 3 on the floor. every zone except for above the break 3 is in the high 90s in terms of percentiles.

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2024/1/25/24049830/phoenix-suns-offense-big-three-nba-all-star-snubs-kram-session

The numbers are truly ridiculous, eye test told me the big 3 lineups were good but I didn't expect them to be THIS good.

The numbers support Donovan’s assertion. The Suns trio is up to 535 possessions together, per Cleaning the Glass, which comprises a decent enough sample to start to make conclusions—and the results, well, they’ll just about melt your face off.

When Beal, Booker, and Durant share the court, the Suns are scoring 135.7 points per 100 possessions, which ranks in the 100th percentile compared to all lineups with at least 100 possessions played. They have a plus-25.1 net rating, also in the 100th percentile.

[King4Day]

excellent article from the Ringer. I had no idea our shotmaking was so great with the big 3 on the floor. every zone except for above the break 3 is in the high 90s in terms of percentiles.

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2024/1/25/24049830/phoenix-suns-offense-big-three-nba-all-star-snubs-kram-session

As good as Allen has been, I think this article sums up why he won't get an absurd type of deal. He's getting wide open looks because of who he's playing with.
Other GM's know this and I'm not sure many contenders out there could afford someone like him.
And why would a team like Charlotte go and offer him 20-25mil. Or Detroit. Yes he's an elite shooter, but what happens when teams don't have to sag off?
Hopefully a team out there doesn't make a boneheaded decision to do this.

[spanishninja]

Read on Twitter

Beal is a strong ****, especially for his size.

[SunsRback4Good]

Read on Twitter

Beal is a strong ****, especially for his size.

Beal will lead our team to the promise land and the Suns organization will unveil a mega tall BB statue outside the arena. It’s going to be huge and Mexico is going to pay for it.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Watch on YouTube

Nba pundits (former players discuss what they think the suns still need most despite recent dominance).

Watch on YouTube

(Locked on NBA talks about the suns chances as a legit contender).

Watch on YouTube

(Stephen A Smith on where the suns rank in the west).