Preseason Game 7: Suns(4-2) @ Jazz(5-2)

[Zelaznyrules]

Not that he's there now but I'd rather try to teach Plumlee to be that stretch 4 than Keef. Turn him into a slightly tougher Hawes and let Keef body up down low.

Say what now?

Yeah, that's not a bad response. I'm not really advocating it. I'm just saying if we absolutely feel the need to turn one of our big guys into a stretch player, Plumlee is a better choice. Keef handles contact down low better than any player on our roster. It makes little sense to have him standing out there at the three point line. And keep in mind that Plumlee has claimed to have been a pretty good 3 point shooter earlier in his life.

The truth is, we don't have what we need. So the question becomes, how can we cover up those needs in the interim. I'm not sure I have the answer but I'm convinced it isn't turning Markieff into a stretch 4. The Hawes comment is just a reference to a big guy that changed his game by becoming a 3 point threat. Spencer attempted and made more 3's last season than he had in the previous 6 years of his career combined. Regardless though, it's an offseason effort not something that could be expected to happen overnight.

[MathiasPW]

I always thought that a necessary condition to be a stretch-4 is being able to shoot the ball?

[Miklo]

I think we're setting our hopes a little high hoping Plumlee could develop the mid range skillset to be considered any type of stretch 4. Kieff has more of that skillset for sure, though I don't disagree that we want him in there bodying up some too. I think what it really comes down to, and I know I've said this before, is that Plumlee just isn't that great at *anything*. He was a stiff at Duke, couldn't even start over Zoubek...and that guy ended up opening a cupcake store or something. He's been better in the NBA than he was at Duke, but still not someone I feel great about relying on for more than some spot minutes in the paint here and there.

[Zelaznyrules]

I think we're setting our hopes a little high hoping Plumlee could develop the mid range skillset to be considered any type of stretch 4. Kieff has more of that skillset for sure, though I don't disagree that we want him in there bodying up some too. I think what it really comes down to, and I know I've said this before, is that Plumlee just isn't that great at *anything*. He was a stiff at Duke, couldn't even start over Zoubek...and that guy ended up opening a cupcake store or something. He's been better in the NBA than he was at Duke, but still not someone I feel great about relying on for more than some spot minutes in the paint here and there.

I think this is taking on more of a life than I intended. I have no idea if Plumlee can eventually become a decent stretch big man. If it happened it would require a lot of offseason work and it certainly isn't going to happen this season. But with him and Plumlee playing together right now you have a bad center and a bad stretch forward. If we absolutely have to ruin one of these guys, ruin Plumlee. Markieff has too much value as a traditional inside player to just waste it away at the three point line. That's all I was trying to say.

[NavLDO]

I think we're setting our hopes a little high hoping Plumlee could develop the mid range skillset to be considered any type of stretch 4. Kieff has more of that skillset for sure, though I don't disagree that we want him in there bodying up some too. I think what it really comes down to, and I know I've said this before, is that Plumlee just isn't that great at *anything*. He was a stiff at Duke, couldn't even start over Zoubek...and that guy ended up opening a cupcake store or something. He's been better in the NBA than he was at Duke, but still not someone I feel great about relying on for more than some spot minutes in the paint here and there.

I think this is taking on more of a life than I intended. I have no idea if Plumlee can eventually become a decent stretch big man. If it happened it would require a lot of offseason work and it certainly isn't going to happen this season. But with him and Plumlee playing together right now you have a bad center and a bad stretch forward. If we absolutely have to ruin one of these guys, ruin Plumlee. Markieff has too much value as a traditional inside player to just waste it away at the three point line. That's all I was trying to say.

Well, I don't even believe the intent from McD or horny was to have Plumlee be our starting 5. Obviously Len is the one that is desired to be the starting 5 in our system, with Plumlee being the off the bench energy guy at the 5, right? What needs to happen is really pretty simple...Len needs to step up by the end of this season as being the clear cut starter for this team. Doubt it will happen, because I believe it will take longer than just this season to happen, but we can always hope, right?