What if the Suns are

[carey]

Since there's no standard thread for Suns news I'll leave this here. From a new Grantland article: http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/996 ... -questions

It's early, and the schedule has been friendly, with only two of Phoenix's first seven games coming against sure playoff teams. But Phoenix was competitive in losses to the Spurs and Thunder, and any allegedly tanktastic team outscoring opponents by five points per 100 possessions — typically a top-seven overall differential — merits a closer look. Multiple executives from other Western Conference teams have expressed concern that Phoenix might — gulp — be for real.

The Suns have totally revamped their shot-selection profile after jacking the second-most long 2s in the league last season. Three of Phoenix's four rotation bigs have 3-point range, and the Suns are spreading teams thin, letting Eric Bledsoe attack on the pick-and-roll, launching corner 3s, and urging Markieff Morris to attack the basket instead of settling for midrange shots. 'Kieff is averaging nearly 23 points per game on 70 percent shooting over his last four games, and while that can't last, he'll maintain some level of efficiency so long as half his shot attempts are coming in the restricted area.4

But the Suns have really shined on the other side, where they're fifth in points allowed per possession. Mike Longabardi, an assistant coach who worked under Tom Thibodeau in Boston, has Phoenix playing a standard Thibodeau system with shocking success. Everyone is following the rules, Bledsoe is a freaking menace, and opponents are shooting only about 40 percent on close-range shots when Channing Frye, Morris, or Miles Plumlee is near the rim, per SportVU. That's not quite Roy Hibbert–level intimidation, but Tyson Chandler–level work is a giant surprise for this frisky bunch. They're probably not a playoff team, and they certainly wish not to be, but they are way better than anyone anticipated.

[bwgood77]

I think they are pretty good and certainly better than most of us expected. But it will be hard to tell exactly how good until December, because we have a cake schedule through November. We do play in Miami, but they are not exactly playing well, having lost to Boston and Philly. Brooklyn hasn't really started to play well together yet either.

In December we play at Memphis, Houston, GS, and LAC, and have home games against SA and GS.

[jcsunsfan]

With every win, the evaluation changes a little. Its gone from "bottom of the league" to "5-8 pick" to "probably not a playoff team."

If you would have said "the Suns are probably not a playoff team" two weeks ago you would have been laughed to tears by every nba media type there is just for putting the words "playoffs" and "Suns" in the same sentence.

[carey]

That's a fair point. The truth is, we really don't know much about this team yet. While I've enjoyed the wins, I know that some of these performances can't continue. Bledsoe is going to continue to shoot 50% from the field and score 20 points per game? Markieff is going to continue to score 20 a game on a ridiculous 70% shooting? Green's going to continue to play lights out as well?

The only thing that I think will definitely continue is Plumlee as the double double machine. Everyone else will likely come back down to earth a bit. If others don't step up their play to fill the void that will likely result in some L's.

[Cash]

That's a fair point. The truth is, we really don't know much about this team yet. While I've enjoyed the wins, I know that some of these performances can't continue. Bledsoe is going to continue to shoot 50% from the field and score 20 points per game? Markieff is going to continue to score 20 a game on a ridiculous 70% shooting? Green's going to continue to play lights out as well?

The only thing that I think will definitely continue is Plumlee as the double double machine. Everyone else will likely come back down to earth a bit. If others don't step up their play to fill the void that will likely result in some L's.

Very true. I think the move is to enjoy the ride while it lasts. Even Plumlee's rebounding could easily fall off -- he's had a couple 5-6 rebound games, and if those become more frequent, he could turn from a double-double machine into a 12/8 machine. Which is still better than we all expected before the season.

The wildcard is Len. When he comes back, will he help or hurt the team? How does he develop throughout the year?

[Miklo]

That's a fair point. The truth is, we really don't know much about this team yet. While I've enjoyed the wins, I know that some of these performances can't continue. Bledsoe is going to continue to shoot 50% from the field and score 20 points per game? Markieff is going to continue to score 20 a game on a ridiculous 70% shooting? Green's going to continue to play lights out as well?

The only thing that I think will definitely continue is Plumlee as the double double machine. Everyone else will likely come back down to earth a bit. If others don't step up their play to fill the void that will likely result in some L's.

Very true. I think the move is to enjoy the ride while it lasts. Even Plumlee's rebounding could easily fall off -- he's had a couple 5-6 rebound games, and if those become more frequent, he could turn from a double-double machine into a 12/8 machine. Which is still better than we all expected before the season.

The wildcard is Len. When he comes back, will he help or hurt the team? How does he develop throughout the year?

Agreed with both posts. I expect to see some leveling off on some of the performances, and I personally wouldn't even count on Plumlee as a double-double every night. Now there is room for these guys to perform since we don't have any superstar talent taking the spotlight, but our team is still really untested. I'll be interested to see where we are at the midseason mark, and until then I have no idea where we fall amongst the league. Very tumultuous season for every team in general.

I honestly don't think Len will have a huge effect this year. Possibly could take a chunk of time away from our other bigs but I don't see a double-double average or anything. In future years perhaps, but it just doesn't seem likely this season.

Either way, this team is damn fun to watch and this will be an enjoyable season no matter where we end up.

[TASTIC]

Thought I'd do a quick summary of some of my observations from seeing each game so far.

I enjoy watching this team so much.

Last year I didn't get the chance to see as many games as I wanted to, but with league pass I get up every morning, hide the scores and watch the whole game before breakfast/on the bus to work/walking to work/finish it at lunch. I am literally walking head down up Oxford St in London, avoiding the hobos, subway stations, crazy traffic and 100s of people, watching the Suns on my phone.

These guys have my attention and I can't stop watching them - they're extremely exciting to watch for a team with 'no hope', no media proclaimed 'stars' and a rookie coach.

I love when it's a close game going into the fourth and knowing basically whoever is guarding Bledsoe one-on-one, has NO chance staying in front of him - and not only that, he's been willing as a passer and creating for others.

I find myself fist pumping whenever Plumlee gets someone down on the block by himself, back to the basket. He's got amazing footwork, incredible poise and doesn't rush his shots AND he can finish with both hands - there are bigs (cough Dwight) getting paid 10x as much as him that don't have that footwork. I love his shot-blocking - whether it's a big one hand swat or the straight up two hand that's working for him. It seems so simple and yet few players do it cos it isn't flashy.

Dragic is still getting use to sharing the ball, but you can see he's loose and scoring at a decent clip and that will continue as he and Bledsoe get use to each other more.

Goodwin has been better on D than on offense, which was a really nice surprise that I don't think any of us expected. He's going to be a terror on both ends in 2-3 years, I just hope he gets more confidence and doesn't get down about playing less than 10 mins most nights.

Green has been awesome - basically doing exactly what people hoped he would, just 6-7 years after they thought he'd do it. He still has his moments and has horrible handles and some suspect shots, but WOW he has brought excitement back to the Valley and it's AWESOME seeing him on the highlight reel every night. He seems to really like it here too which is awesome.

The Morrii...I always thought Kieff had some skills, who'd have thought his perceived strength of outside shooting, was actually his kryptonite as well. Only 6 attempts from deep and he's destroying other PFs inside with that quickness - Hornacek and West need extra kudos there. Marcus Morris...hmmm...the one blight I've seen with his game is his handles - whenever he puts it on the floor he simply loses it. He has his nights though and is a rotation 3/4 for sure.

We're 5-2 and Frye still can't buy a bucket!

I'm loving this team this year, whether we make the playoffs or not - we're making teams wake up and realise it's not a W you can chalk up without 100% effort.

Anyway, Suns 2013-14, strap yourself in and FEEL THE CHEESE!

[thamadkant]

As posted on ASFN forums..

Suns are looking like the "best of the worst" teams.
I compare them to the Nuggets of a couple of seasons ago.

Defense is above average, offense is surprisingly average with Bledsoe doing his MJ impersonations of 4th quarter runs and Markieff Morris having his greatest week ever.

Very best case they finish 7th-8th seed... With a first round exit.
So same result as when Nash and Hill was on the Suns... Only upside is they are young... But no superstar but a bunch of under achievers having good chemistry and good motivation... I mean Green, Morris's, Plumlee are after all fighting for NBA contracts long term.

So they will miss out on a major rebuilding piece from the draft... Unless they can package all their picks for a top 5.

But the good thing about their success so far is that they can file a case to lure a FA star.

I actually think Lebron isn't impossible anymore... Even Lebron can see he would fit right in on the Suns and lead them to contender ship by himself.

[LukasBMW]

I wonder if management would have kept Gortat if they knew we would be this competitive.

Adding Gortat back to this team would make our interior defense even tougher and give us another scoring threat in the paint.

Then again his minutes could just have subtracted from the quality minutes Kieff and Plumlee are giving us.

[E-Buck]

Gortat make our defense tougher? Not sure if you're being serious there or not.

[thamadkant]

I wonder if management would have kept Gortat if they knew we would be this competitive.

Adding Gortat back to this team would make our interior defense even tougher and give us another scoring threat in the paint.

Then again his minutes could just have subtracted from the quality minutes Kieff and Plumlee are giving us.

you have to be high!


Plumlee's athleticism and aggresiveness and production is one reason why the Suns are competitive.

[grumpysaddle]

I wonder if management would have kept Gortat if they knew we would be this competitive.

Adding Gortat back to this team would make our interior defense even tougher and give us another scoring threat in the paint.

Then again his minutes could just have subtracted from the quality minutes Kieff and Plumlee are giving us.

Who?

[LukasBMW]

Gortat is a solid center. When he was healthy last year, we were a decent team.

Add Gortat back to this team and we may be even better. Isn't Gortat putting up solid numbers in Washington? (Yes).

But its water under the bridge now. And if Okafor comes back after the all star break...wow! It could be a nice surprise.

[bigfoot]

Last year we watched a team win 24 games. They were blown out by 20+ many, many times. Those days are long gone.

Realgm'ers had best get used to the fact this Suns team is better than last years ... more athletic, longer, faster, have more desire, and are better coached. Best give up the dream of a lotto pick this year because the Suns will make the playoffs. I am already expecting:

Coach of the Year
Executive of the Year
At least one all-star (Bledsoe)
Sixth man of the Year (Markieff)

I was already saying in preseason threads this team is way too athletic to lose 60 games like talking heads in the national media were predicting.

It not a question of if the Suns are good. It is a question of when will a lot of the posters on this board realize the Suns are good and quit whining about the tank going off track.

[bwgood77]

Last year we watched a team win 24 games. They were blown out by 20+ many, many times. Those days are long gone.

Realgm'ers had best get used to the fact this Suns team is better than last years ... more athletic, longer, faster, have more desire, and are better coached. Best give up the dream of a lotto pick this year because the Suns will make the playoffs. I am already expecting:

Coach of the Year
Executive of the Year
At least one all-star (Bledsoe)
Sixth man of the Year (Markieff)

I was already saying in preseason threads this team is way too athletic to lose 60 games like talking heads in the national media were predicting.

It not a question of if the Suns are good. It is a question of when will a lot of the posters on this board realize the Suns are good and quit whining about the tank going off track.

I don't see anyone complaining about the tank going off the track. Everyone is happy we are playing so well. But our roster can only go so far with our current pieces, even if we do make the playoffs, which is a stretch (unless a couple of teams have serious injuries, which is always possible). I think we may be in the playoff hunt for quite a while though, and may still be over 500 around Christmas (and possibly well over 500 at the end of this month).

I think coach of the year might be deserved, but it might be tough to get unless the team makes the playoffs. Executive of the year would probably go to someone like Morey.

[snowthedirtbub]

Anybody been paying attention to power rankings? The lowest I've seen the Suns ranked is #8, looks like people are starting to take notice. I was surprised by it.

[lilfishi22]

It's still early days and the schedule has been pretty cruisey thus far so I wouldn't expect us to carry this level of success to the end of the season. However, it's great to see our young guys playing surprisingly well and the team is more cohesive than I had expected. We've been competitive against elite teams which is awesome to see and I don't mind that we are losing against these teams because it shows there is substance in our youth.

[Cutter]

"This Season"

I want to see an aggressive team defense develop, this season

I want to see Archie, Bledsoe, the M&M bros and hopefully Len grow and develop, this season

I want to see a team develop that looks desirable to a top FA, this season

I want to see Suns win as many games as possible, this season

[TOO]

It would be very Suns like to overachieve in a loaded draft year.

[DirtyDez]

As posted on ASFN forums..

Suns are looking like the "best of the worst" teams.
I compare them to the Nuggets of a couple of seasons ago.

Defense is above average, offense is surprisingly average with Bledsoe doing his MJ impersonations of 4th quarter runs and Markieff Morris having his greatest week ever.

Very best case they finish 7th-8th seed... With a first round exit.
So same result as when Nash and Hill was on the Suns... Only upside is they are young... But no superstar but a bunch of under achievers having good chemistry and good motivation... I mean Green, Morris's, Plumlee are after all fighting for NBA contracts long term.

So they will miss out on a major rebuilding piece from the draft... Unless they can package all their picks for a top 5.

But the good thing about their success so far is that they can file a case to lure a FA star.

I actually think Lebron isn't impossible anymore... Even Lebron can see he would fit right in on the Suns and lead them to contender ship by himself.

McD would have to pull off one helluva sell job to lure the King here. Roster wise it's not crazy since SF is our weakest position...

Bledsoe, Archie
Dragic, Green
The King, Tucker
Kieff, Frye (spacing)
Plumlee, Len

+ picks for depth/other moves