Game 16: Denver Nuggets (7-7) @ Phoenix Suns (9-6)

[thamadkant]

Sure facts or numbers show Suns don't have a big problem.

But if you were a scout... Against the suns, your job won't be that hard.

The numbers presented may not be ugly, but the evidence in hand is....
And many people here pointing out the concerns are worried because against GOOD teams the style of play is likely not going to work.

I suppose the Spurs play beautiful team basketball, the way they play you'd expect they are first in all the stats.

Rockets have nice numbers too but terrible to watch... But they have the talent and defensive capability to win a series against playoff teams

if the suns can improve their team defence maybe they can get away with their style of offense....

Their record shows that they are doing OK, but the concerns are still their against elite/playoff teams.

[Eney]

Fact is Suns dont suck, the record proves it. Fact is Phoenix has 2 great sparks in Green and IT. They can do amazing things but they can also do amazingly bad things.

Fact is the guard rotation is **** up. Guards dont know if they are gonna play 20 or 30 or 35 minutes. Green is bassicaly benched if he misses the first few shots, at least he was in a couple of games. If you are in that kind of situation ofcourse you are gonna try and force the issue when you are playing and try to do as much as you can and prove your worth. That backfires A LOT. I think re-signing Green for around 5 - 7 mill and trading one of the guards for an interior presence would benefit everyone.

You dont need two guys that shoot first and think later, one is enough. That is why I think IT needs to go for someone who can defend the paint. Plumle sucks, yes he is young yes he will be better but he will never be an inside presence. A guy coming of the bench sure but not more. Suns need to commit to Len and get him a guy who he can learn from and evenly distribute the minutes. Getting someone like that wont be easy, especially the small market where IT or even Dragić is needed for that matter. But the suns sure as **** need to try, cause currently the inside is killing the Suns.

Playing the season out with three guards will kill Dragić and he will leave end of season, I'm sure of that. Deciding between who to keep IT or Dragić it is Dragić every single time. He will always put the team first and he will do everything for his team, IT is not that type of player. I rather have someone like that on the team. He has a lot of years infront of him as his play is not based on athleticism as much.

[Jdiddy701]

For all the bad talking about Green, I don't recall a game where he was the reason why we lost a game. He's coming off the bench. Losses shouldn't come down to him IMO.

I can recall 20+ games where we have won games because of him. He takes bad shots but they go in. This team would be .500 AT BEST without him.

I just hope we can resign him.


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[grumpysaddle]

As much as I like Thomas, it's obvious that Dragic is the most effected by his presence. Dragic >>>> Thomas. Thomas would be great if he was okay with playing 15 MPG, but that won't happen. As far as chemistry goes, I'm thinking trading off Thomas is addition by subtraction. If the Suns can get a decent backup PG vet with a short contract (to expire and slowly bring Ennis into that role) that is content with little playing time and some other assets for Thomas, I'd pull the trigger.

[carey]

As much as I like Thomas, it's obvious that Dragic is the most effected by his presence. Dragic >>>> Thomas. Thomas would be great if he was okay with playing 15 MPG, but that won't happen. As far as chemistry goes, I'm thinking trading off Thomas is addition by subtraction. If the Suns can get a decent backup PG vet with a short contract (to expire and slowly bring Ennis into that role) that is content with little playing time and some other assets for Thomas, I'd pull the trigger.

I think Ennis can handle 3rd guard duties just fine. I think the trouble would come in if Bledsoe or Dragic miss extended time. That's where IT's value lies to me. We wouldn't suffer too much if either were injured and we had to go with IT & Ennis. Though with IT hurt & Ennis still not getting activated last night...

[Saberestar]

After sitting out Wednesday's game for an ankle bruise, Isaiah Thomas is expected to play tonight at Denver. Eric Bledsoe said he would be fine to play despite taking two hard fouls to bruise his butt.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/n ... /19588165/

[lilfishi22]

After sitting out Wednesday's game for an ankle bruise, Isaiah Thomas is expected to play tonight at Denver. Eric Bledsoe said he would be fine to play despite taking two hard fouls to bruise his butt.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/n ... /19588165/

[JMac1]

Were we watching the same game ?? I understand the giddiness over the Green Light's one man demolition... but to watch this squad is painful at times.

Matador D and Hero Ball....

sure a few times the ball jumped around the perimeter with an extra pass for an open 3, but nary was there any inside out outside in or PNR plays. It seems like its a shoot-if-you-can-because-you-won't-get-another-chance offense. I watched Dragic on two or three occasions have no picks set, no movement from the 4 others... just watching him till he either shot or got in trouble enough to pass. We know what the Green Light does... and honestly, the MoBros are trigger happy too. We cringe when Tucker has the ball, because its going up too, no matter. Heck, sometimes I wonder if they are ever running a set play.

Glad for the win, but this 'chemistry' so many boiling over about doesn't seem to percolate on the court.

Happy Tday

[bwgood77]

I don't see anything wrong with it either if they can work it out. But I don't like seeing ball movement stop or Dragic not having the ball in his hands. Our depth would be much better, confident and active if Thomas could get the ball to the rest of the guys other than Green on occasion. It would be nice to see Len get more touches. He often is in prime position to get a fast break dunk or something and IT pulls up and bricks a three.

Ball movement has improved tremendously for the Kings this year and the team has vastly improved. Much of that is an improved Cousins but getting him the ball more is a big part of why he has improved.

Kings are ranked last in points made of assists per game and are 3rd worst in assists per game and middle of the pack in passes per game.

Last year they were better in points made of assists (still ranked last, but scored more), and last in assists per game. But they only got a better rank this year because other teams are worse, as they still have the same number of 18.8 APG.

The only stat that supports your point is that the number of passes per game increased by almost 30.

Yeah, IT gets assists from dumping off to Green on occasion for a quick shot, but there is little ball movement. I like to see ball movement.

[lilfishi22]

From what I've seen, last year was always about making the extra pass to the open man on the 3 or the PnP. This year it's all about the one pass out from guard penetration.

The difference is passes from guard penetration doesn't rely on running plays and in general, success is harder to come by from these types of plays.

[BurningHeart]

Looks like everyone played pretty well today. Good. Was not having Thomas really that visibly the difference?

No. C'mon BH. Not you, too..

No no, was a legitimate question. Didn't really get to watch.

[RunDogGun]

We are not getting rid of IT, and definitely not after watching Bledsoe leave the game after yet another fall on his hips. Bledsoe lands on his hips at least four times a game. This will be a nagging injury all season, unless the staff can get him some hip pads.

IT can consistently get to the line, something we need so desperately. In four of the games so far, he has had nine or more free throws. For the season, he has missed five total, and is shooting just over 90%. He has had one game with 30+ minutes, and in that game he went 22 pts, and 9 assists.

We have needed him in almost every game, and when he sucks, we suck. Many games so far either both Bled and Goran have had crap games or just one of them.

We are not trading IT unless he demands a trade.

[MathiasPW]

As much as I like Thomas, it's obvious that Dragic is the most effected by his presence. Dragic >>>> Thomas. Thomas would be great if he was okay with playing 15 MPG, but that won't happen. As far as chemistry goes, I'm thinking trading off Thomas is addition by subtraction. If the Suns can get a decent backup PG vet with a short contract (to expire and slowly bring Ennis into that role) that is content with little playing time and some other assets for Thomas, I'd pull the trigger.

This line of thinking works if you are cheering for Dragic to succeed, but that does not necessarily mean that the Suns will be better off.

[Revived]

As much as I like Thomas, it's obvious that Dragic is the most effected by his presence. Dragic >>>> Thomas. Thomas would be great if he was okay with playing 15 MPG, but that won't happen. As far as chemistry goes, I'm thinking trading off Thomas is addition by subtraction. If the Suns can get a decent backup PG vet with a short contract (to expire and slowly bring Ennis into that role) that is content with little playing time and some other assets for Thomas, I'd pull the trigger.

This line of thinking works if you are cheering for Dragic to succeed, but that does not necessarily mean that the Suns will be better off.

Suns were better off last season when both Dragic and Bledsoe were successful with Green as the only gunner.

[thamadkant]

One of Green and Thomas has to be trade for a Tolliver replacement... A big who can do damage from outside.

I am amazed with Green's highlights and Kobe-like shooting choice.. In both a bad and good way.
But id probably keep Thomas due to his contract and production.

But I bet Dragic, Bledsoe, Ennis, Goodwin would rather its Thomas.

Basically the small guards on the team would rather the Suns trade off one or two to get more minutes and ease the clog.

[Funky Tut]

We look like trash

[DRK]

As much as I like Thomas, it's obvious that Dragic is the most effected by his presence. Dragic >>>> Thomas. Thomas would be great if he was okay with playing 15 MPG, but that won't happen. As far as chemistry goes, I'm thinking trading off Thomas is addition by subtraction. If the Suns can get a decent backup PG vet with a short contract (to expire and slowly bring Ennis into that role) that is content with little playing time and some other assets for Thomas, I'd pull the trigger.

I think Ennis can handle 3rd guard duties just fine. I think the trouble would come in if Bledsoe or Dragic miss extended time. That's where IT's value lies to me. We wouldn't suffer too much if either were injured and we had to go with IT & Ennis. Though with IT hurt & Ennis still not getting activated last night...

If Dragic or Bledsoe misses time, we'd just start Green, play PJ at SG for stretches, and have Ennis backup the point. It's not a big issue.

I'm all for moving IT right now.

[RunDogGun]

First off, we can't move IT right now. Second, for who? Who is available that would fit our needs better? Third,as we have seen, without Thomas we are back to living or dying by Green. With both Green and IT coming off the bench, we increase our odds of still having the bench points we lost by moving both Morris brothers to the starting lineup.

Now here is the clincher for me: we are consistently losing out in the free throw differential. It is monumentally stupid to get rid of a player, who gets to the line the most on your team, knowing you are already in the hole in that department. Next, it's even dumber if that person is also our best free throw shooter.