Offseason Thread 7: A Tale Of Two Dragons

SunsFanSSOL · Post #401 » by **SunsFanSSOL** » Wed Oct 1, 2014 9:02 pm

Tbh, Isaiah probably won't play out his contract with us. He's very tradable on that contract and with our depth.

RunDogGun · Post #402 » by **RunDogGun** » Wed Oct 1, 2014 9:36 pm

cosmofizzo wrote:
SSOL wrote:I could very well see him finishing games.

You mean, running all 3 Point Guards to finish? Between timeouts, perhaps! But for minutes in the fourth?

Or do you mean Goran or Eric sits? It could be a competition every game.

RunDogGun wrote:So Thomas says this : "I want to be a starter," Thomas said. "Who wouldn't? I'm going to push to be one but as long as I play, like Coach said I'm going to have a big role and play big minutes, I'm fine with that. As long as I'm in at the end of games when it really counts, that's all that matters."

And now there is a concern that he might not be happy here?

Aw come on, chill. I'm not declaring a chemistry emergency here. I just think it's intriguing.

RunDogGun wrote:If Jeff says that IT will have a big role, he probably will.

So far I think IT has said everything I would want to hear from a guard coming into a situation having guys like Eric and Goran ahead of him.

I agree with the first part. With respect to the second, I don't think his statements are a problem necessarily. But you know what happens in NBA2K when you change a player's role from Starter to 6th Man.

What do I need to chill about? I think you should take your own advice.

IT could easily play down the stretch of games, it will all depend on who is playing better, which seems to be what Hornacek has said all along.

Sun Scorched · Post #403 » by **Sun Scorched** » Wed Oct 1, 2014 10:49 pm

It seems obvious to me that some people are misinterpreting Thomas' comments as the voice of displeasure. In his quotes, I see determination and a competitive spirit.

Also, from a macro perspective, I see a guy who is absolutely thrilled to have landed the payday that he did with an organization who wanted him for what he is, a 5'9" scoring point guard. He's said as much in a few interviews.

He's done some impressive things since being the last pick in the draft.

aIvin adams · Post #404 » by **aIvin adams** » Wed Oct 1, 2014 10:52 pm

i saw some of IT's and Dragic's and i liked that they had similar answers to the question, 'will the 3 guards thing work?':

"we'll see."

dragic also mentioned how everyone asked him last year at this time whether he and Bledsoe would be able to play together. dragic said his answer last year was:

"we'll see."

so we'll see.

nevetsov · Post #405 » by **nevetsov** » Wed Oct 1, 2014 11:20 pm

How is everyone else watching the Training camp "live stream"? It wasn't working on either my iPhone or iPad yesterday, and today I'm trying to watch it on my laptop via the website, but all I get are two boring Espo interviews. No player scrimmaging or anything!

JTrain · Post #406 » by **JTrain** » Wed Oct 1, 2014 11:23 pm

Keep in mind, the Kings had significantly fewer wins than the Suns, so IT's number is actually handicapped a bit.

Post #407 » by **lilfishi22** » Wed Oct 1, 2014 11:24 pm

carey wrote:
cosmofizzo wrote:Alex's ability to block shots without fouling is pretty unique.

Hmmm. He averaged 6.8 fouls per 36. That's actually a bit of a problem.

Yeah I was going to mention that. Pretty much any big man who can block shots without fouling is unique but there are maybe less than a handful of those guys who can do that.

NTB · Post #408 » by **NTB** » Wed Oct 1, 2014 11:27 pm

Will we have an open scrimmage like Heat or Spurs?

sdballer · Post #409 » by **sdballer** » Thu Oct 2, 2014 12:13 am

cosmofizzo wrote:I'm not going to re-post everything, but anyone else see Isaiah Thomas's quotes on azcentral today? Doesn't sound to me like someone who'll be happy playing third fiddle in the back court. Maybe if we're atop the west... but even then, he seems to want to be a main guy. And that may never happen, no matter how good he is, on this team. Curious to see whether its expectations or reality that shifts first.

Welcome to being a fan of a team IT plays for. He can be a joy to watch as he takes on defenses with his surprisingly effective scoring. But his attitude about being the guy gets in the way of what could be a very effective sparkplug bench scorer. If it's anything like his tenure in sac, these kinds of comments and his play on the court will become an issue as the season goes along. Hopefully if you win, hell tone it down a bit.

SunsFanSSOL · Post #410 » by **SunsFanSSOL** » Thu Oct 2, 2014 12:22 am

Isaiah even said on media day that he didn't know if he made the right decision signing here and he'd have to wait until the season to know. Kinda discouraging to hear...Dude needs to learn his place, there's a reason Bledsoe's getting paid $14m/yr and people are talking about Dragic getting the same while IT3's only making $7m/yr.

aIvin adams · Post #411 » by **aIvin adams** » Thu Oct 2, 2014 12:30 am

SunsFanSSOL wrote:Isaiah even said on media day that he didn't know if he made the right decision signing here and he'd have to wait until the season to know. Kinda discouraging to hear...Dude needs to learn his place, there's a reason Bledsoe's getting paid $14m/yr and people are talking about Dragic getting the same while IT3's only making $7m/yr.

i don't get this. was the question, "did you make the right choice signing here?"

his answer is completely 100% reasonable. it's the best possible response.

why would his mind have changed between when he signed his contract and when he answered that question? bc his jersey fit?

imo he's being respectful to whoever asked that question by giving such a good answer.

SunsFanSSOL · Post #412 » by **SunsFanSSOL** » Thu Oct 2, 2014 12:32 am

aIvin adams wrote:
SunsFanSSOL wrote:Isaiah even said on media day that he didn't know if he made the right decision signing here and he'd have to wait until the season to know. Kinda discouraging to hear...Dude needs to learn his place, there's a reason Bledsoe's getting paid $14m/yr and people are talking about Dragic getting the same while IT3's only making $7m/yr.

i don't get this. was the question, "did you make the right choice signing here?"

his answer is completely 100% reasonable. it's the best possible response.

why would his mind have changed between when he signed his contract and when he answered that question? bc his jersey fit?

imo he's being respectful to whoever asked that question by giving such a good answer.

Well, when he signed the Bledsoe situation was unresolved. I'm sure his huge ego is taking a hit hearing everyone talking about Bledsoe and Dragic again.

aIvin adams · Post #413 » by **aIvin adams** » Thu Oct 2, 2014 12:36 am

SunsFanSSOL wrote:
aIvin adams wrote:
SunsFanSSOL wrote:Isaiah even said on media day that he didn't know if he made the right decision signing here and he'd have to wait until the season to know. Kinda discouraging to hear...Dude needs to learn his place, there's a reason Bledsoe's getting paid $14m/yr and people are talking about Dragic getting the same while IT3's only making $7m/yr.

i don't get this. was the question, "did you make the right choice signing here?"

his answer is completely 100% reasonable. it's the best possible response.

why would his mind have changed between when he signed his contract and when he answered that question? bc his jersey fit?

imo he's being respectful to whoever asked that question by giving such a good answer.

Well, when he signed the Bledsoe situation was unresolved. I'm sure his huge ego is taking a hit hearing everyone talking about Bledsoe and Dragic again.

if that's the case then his answer is still good IMO. he's a bball player not a prophet or a PR person.

and i thought Bledsoe would be back; i expect IT did too.

i dunno. let's not buy trouble.

SunsFanSSOL · Post #414 » by **SunsFanSSOL** » Thu Oct 2, 2014 12:45 am

aIvin adams wrote:
SunsFanSSOL wrote:
aIvin adams wrote:
i don't get this. was the question, "did you make the right choice signing here?"

his answer is completely 100% reasonable. it's the best possible response.

why would his mind have changed between when he signed his contract and when he answered that question? bc his jersey fit?

imo he's being respectful to whoever asked that question by giving such a good answer.

Well, when he signed the Bledsoe situation was unresolved. I'm sure his huge ego is taking a hit hearing everyone talking about Bledsoe and Dragic again.

if that's the case then his answer is still good IMO. he's a bball player not a prophet or a PR person.

and i thought Bledsoe would be back; i expect IT did too.

i dunno. let's not buy trouble.

Yeah looking back on the interview what he said didn't seem as bad as I remember hearing it. But hearing everything else about him saying he wants to start, finish the games etc. part of that seems like competitive spirit and part of it seems like arrogance. He's said openly in the past he thinks he's better than Kyrie Irving, and when 2K came out their their ratings he went and told them he thought he should be higher. It's a change in pace having a guy like him versus quiet guys like Bledsoe/Dragic, but what can you expect from someone who's tight with the most arrogant guy in all of sports in Floyd Mayweather and on top of that he's a Lakers fan too
http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/ ... the-kings/

aIvin adams · Post #415 » by **aIvin adams** » Thu Oct 2, 2014 12:59 am

SunsFanSSOL wrote:
aIvin adams wrote:
SunsFanSSOL wrote:
Well, when he signed the Bledsoe situation was unresolved. I'm sure his huge ego is taking a hit hearing everyone talking about Bledsoe and Dragic again.

if that's the case then his answer is still good IMO. he's a bball player not a prophet or a PR person.

and i thought Bledsoe would be back; i expect IT did too.

i dunno. let's not buy trouble.

Yeah looking back on the interview what he said didn't seem as bad as I remember hearing it. But hearing everything else about him saying he wants to start, finish the games etc. part of that seems like competitive spirit and part of it seems like arrogance. He's said openly in the past he thinks he's better than Kyrie Irving, and when 2K came out their their ratings he went and told them he thought he should be higher. It's a change in pace having a guy like him versus quiet guys like Bledsoe/Dragic, but what can you expect from someone who's tight with the most arrogant guy in all of sports in Floyd Mayweather and on top of that he's a Lakers fan too
http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/ ... the-kings/

Isaiah Thomas wrote: It sucks to be a Lakers fan on the Kings roster.

FIFY IT wrote: It sucks to be a Lakers fan.

i don't want to sound like an IT apologist, but... at least he has an excuse. he says his dad was a Laker fan. plus at least he grew up in Seattle, where presumably the stupidity of his Laker fandom was pointed out to him repeatedly.

and he sounds apologetic:

I was a little brainwashed. My dad’s from LA, so growing up in his house, I was a Laker fan. But I loved the Sonics, I loved Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp. The Glove and the Reign Man, those were my two favorite players. But growing up, like I said, I was in a Laker household and got brainwashed.

let's just take a moment to thank the Lord that we were all indoctrinated properly as Suns fans. (or any non-Laker fangroup). can you imagine growing up in a household where you were expected to root for the Lakers? horrifying.

JMac1 · Post #416 » by **JMac1** » Thu Oct 2, 2014 1:56 am

Fo-Real wrote:Dude... Archie took a bite of a damn sandwich during his interview..... gave an answer while chewing. As far as Ravin... meaning that she in real life is past thick. That gif showed her like a damn face book photo.... above the waist and dosenot show her like she really is. I like em a little thick, but that chick full body is a fat nasty.... without even a good shape (witch is needed if you are over thick). As a black man... I prefer them with curve not bones but Raven is short fat chick with fat chick boobs.

Oh, okay. I hear ya on that.

No-Man · Post #417 » by **No-Man** » Thu Oct 2, 2014 2:28 am

I see the minutes going like this,

Bledsoe, 30ming, Thomas, 24minpg
Dragic, 32minpg, Dragic, 12minpg
Tucker, 26minpg, Green, 22minpg
Morris, 28minpg, Morris, 22minpg
Plumlee, 22minpg, Len, 16minpg

Kind of during the regular season.
I guess, Goodwin, Warren and Tolliver could get some minutes, Randolph is just there and Ennis is not going to get any minutes unless someone get injured.

JDLAW · Post #418 » by **JDLAW** » Thu Oct 2, 2014 2:38 am

lilfishi22 wrote:
carey wrote:
cosmofizzo wrote:Alex's ability to block shots without fouling is pretty unique.

Hmmm. He averaged 6.8 fouls per 36. That's actually a bit of a problem.

Yeah I was going to mention that. Pretty much any big man who can block shots without fouling is unique but there are maybe less than a handful of those guys who can do that.

I love everyone's citation to stats per 36 min. Keep this in mind. Last year there were more than 500 players that matriculated through the NBA and there were 16 who averaged 36 minutes or more per game. To my way of thinking using stats per 36 min is artificial and misleading.

As for Len, if he is good enough to play 30 mpg and he fouls out of every game - I''ll take that as a huge step in his development.

JDLAW · Post #419 » by **JDLAW** » Thu Oct 2, 2014 2:43 am

Fischella wrote:I see the minutes going like this,

Bledsoe, 30ming, Thomas, 24minpg
Dragic, 32minpg, Dragic, 12minpg
Tucker, 26minpg, Green, 22minpg
Morris, 28minpg, Morris, 22minpg
Plumlee, 22minpg, Len, 16minpg

Kind of during the regular season.
I guess, Goodwin, Warren and Tolliver could get some minutes, Randolph is just there and Ennis is not going to get any minutes unless someone get injured.

You're probably not too far off on average, but I think Goodwin will see minutes before Z Dragic does and both Plumlee and Len will likely get a few more minutes than you have there. It is only 38 minutes and I do not think Markeiff will average 10 minutes/game at the center spot.

No-Man · Post #420 » by **No-Man** » Thu Oct 2, 2014 2:47 am

I do think he is going to play 5-10minpg as a Center with Marcus next to him as a PF.
It depends on Len, but you got such depth in the perimeter that you will probably play smallball a lot.
Zoran is way more ready to play than Archie and he fits a role, slasher off the bench that can hit from outside, rebound, cut, play in transition and play smart and defense, he is a energetic guy that is going to play hard even if you give him small minutes, I'm not sure about Archie, and I do like him.