Suns current #1 problem - Fix the bench

Cutter · Post #1 » by **Cutter** » Sun Nov 28, 2010 6:54 pm

Early 2010-11 Suns Woes (in reverse order)

3) Life without Steve Nash (scary) - Nash missed both the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic games and for those who watched each contest it was ugly. To me it showed that Dragic isn't ready to lead the Sun's at PG and I'm not really sure he is the type of facilitating PG we need in the fture. He is more of an athletic/slashing PG (but he can dish assists at times). He seems lost at times directing the offense and getting players in the proper positions on the floor. I hate to say it but...see what you can get in trade for him. So our future rests on the legs of a 38 yo former MVP PG who holds up remarkably well and I believe has 2 more quality years left.

2) Lack of Rebounding / Defense (thanks Lon Babby) - No Power Forward......WTFrick is up front office? Hedo Turkoglu as this teams PF? Someone was way overestimating Nash's ability to make everyone around him better. Not even Nash can make Turk a successful PF. Also we put all of our defensive chips onto the shoulders of an injury prone RoLo. Already out for several weeks due to a knee sprain which further weakens the front line. Just like the AZ Cardinals not being serious about running the ball, the Suns are still not serious about defense/rebounding. The ghost of D'Antoni still in the locker room at US Airways arena.

1) Fix the Bench - the bench productivity has dropped off a cliff big time in the last several games. We have become spoiled in the last year and a half having the bench come in and play at a very high level. Hell, last year the reason we made it to the WCF awas because of the bench. Why has bench effectiveness eroded lately? RoLO out means Frye becomes a starter. Frye helps the bench more than he helps the starters. Yes he is playing well with the starting unit, but the bench as a whole has suffered more. Also, Warrick doesn't seem to have any connection with the bench, but does seem to connect with Nash and the starters. Also I think for some reason JChill has added a weird dynamic to the bench that is just not flowing well right now.

So #1 Gentry and staff need to get the bench back to scoring 30-40 points per game and playing 20+ mpg.

New Bench
Dragic - PG
Turk - SF
Dudz - SG
JChill - PF (WTF Babby no PF for this team????)
Barron - C

Stix · Post #2 » by **Stix** » Sun Nov 28, 2010 7:21 pm

Cutter
Ballboy

Posts: 6
Joined: Wed Nov 24, 2010 8:06 pm

Thanks bro, but you're only stating the obvious...

I almost stopped reading after you suggested we trade Dragic... our best young talent.

You couldve easily posted this in any of our other 100 posts about our early year struggles, which mostly has to do with a very hard schedule. This team has not been able to practice very much, therefore team chemistry is at an all time low. Give this team some time to gel.

grumpysaddle · Post #3 » by **grumpysaddle** » Sun Nov 28, 2010 8:03 pm

For real... The team has barely had consecutive days off, and did a pretty tough road trip, adding a new guy that will hopefully be able to contribute when given practice time. IIRC, the Suns play tonight then have 3 days off. They've played a game at least every other day for the past couple weeks, and mostly on the road.

sunsfan3 · Post #4 » by **sunsfan3** » Sun Nov 28, 2010 11:58 pm

This team has somewhat of an opportunity to play a little bit bigger.
To do so, we need this starting lineup:
Nash
JRich
Hedo
Warrick
Frye
...but that would disturb bench rotations, so adjustments are needed.
I propose this lineup:
Nash-Dragic
JRich-Dudley
Hill-JChill
Warrick-Hedo
Frye-Barron

Hedo could play the Frye role off the bench. Since most backup PF's are either undersized or a little bit weaker than the starter, Hedo can take advantage and spread the floor and also help Dragic at PG. This allows Barron to operate the paint. Dragic, Dud, and JChill's defensive focus can cover up for Hedo's poor defense. Plus, JChill is an above average rebounder for his height and position, which again, would cover up for Hedo's lack of rebounding.

PLEASE Gentry, consider this... PLEASE
Same goes for Frye. He can spread the floor which allows Warrick to operate the bench.

schnakenpopanz · Post #5 » by **schnakenpopanz** » Mon Nov 29, 2010 12:52 am

no the solution is crystal clear and from the start of the off season it was a huge mistake by signing so much wing players and NO defensive big men.
TRADE one or better two out of: jchill - dudley - turk for 2 bigs.
j thompson + murphy would be nice

TheBluest · Post #6 » by **TheBluest** » Mon Nov 29, 2010 3:03 am

Why doesn't Gentry play the younger players after he sees qrt after qrt and game after game the vets get their arses handed to them.

How about play.....Lawai/Clark when the team is getting blown out with a full-half qrt to play.

ma_falaa_50 · Post #7 » by **ma_falaa_50** » Mon Nov 29, 2010 5:01 am

I think the bench is out of whack because the core bench players IE hakim and Channing are starting now. once the starters actually do their job, the bench will continue to struggle in chemistry. Babby the frog and sarver the ass needs to find a PF and a Center that can play 70 games then the suns should be okay.

grumpysaddle · Post #8 » by **grumpysaddle** » Mon Nov 29, 2010 10:48 am

TheBluest wrote:Why doesn't Gentry play the younger players after he sees qrt after qrt and game after game the vets get their arses handed to them.

How about play.....Lawai/Clark when the team is getting blown out with a full-half qrt to play.

Why do so many people put an "i" at the end of Lawal's last name? I've seen at least 5 different people do it.

mybloodisorange · Post #9 » by **mybloodisorange** » Mon Nov 29, 2010 11:09 am

Speaking of Lawal does anyone know how he is doing in the dev league atm? I would be all for bringing him back for the second half of the season and giving him 6-8 min off the bench to help him develop since we need power forwards anyway. Clark isnt it, as good as his physical talents are from what ive seen I just dont think EC has what it takes between the ears.

Post #10 » by **lilfishi22** » Mon Nov 29, 2010 11:31 am

mybloodisorange wrote:Speaking of Lawal does anyone know how he is doing in the dev league atm? I would be all for bringing him back for the second half of the season and giving him 6-8 min off the bench to help him develop since we need power forwards anyway. Clark isnt it, as good as his physical talents are from what ive seen I just dont think EC has what it takes between the ears.

Inconsistent from what I've read from other posters.

DRK · Post #11 » by **DRK** » Mon Nov 29, 2010 12:19 pm

I think Clark should get at least 10-15 minutes a game. I've been very impressed with what I saw from him in pre-season and what little I have seen from him in the regular season.

It must be realy disheartening for him to watch his NBA career slowly pass right before his eyes as his rides the pine.

Hang in there young fella! Your time will come!

JohnVancouver · Post #12 » by **JohnVancouver** » Mon Nov 29, 2010 7:19 pm

TheBluest wrote:Why doesn't Gentry play the younger players after he sees qrt after qrt and game after game the vets get their arses handed to them.

How about play.....Lawai/Clark when the team is getting blown out with a full-half qrt to play.

Agreed - 100%

I like Alvin a lot and I think he's great with the players. No knock on what he's done since taking over. I do wonder if he worries for his job though -