What is so different from last year?

Revived · Post #1 » by **Revived** » Tue Feb 3, 2015 7:54 am

Anyone else notice a huge difference from our team last year despite record wise, we're almost the exact same?

Is it added expectations? Is it because of low expectations from last season?

Last year, this team and its players looked like it was having fun and laughing and enjoying every game. All the games were fun for us fans as well. It was a sight to see.

This year, even the games in which we win have been depressing. Completely different demeanor from our players during games as well.

What's the difference? Is it because everyone got paid? Tucker, Kieff, Bledsoe, and Marcus all getting fat contract extensions?

Did swapping Frye for IT really make this much of a difference? Magic fans sure don't see Frye bringing much joy to their team or its fans in Orlando.

IT had a bad rep prior to coming here but is it really all on him?

What the hell is so different about this team from last year? Its not just about wins and losses because like I said, we're on pace for about the same as last year. Its probably just me but the vibe from this team just does not feel right.

This is a thread from last year after the season ended, barring major changes I doubt many, if any, feel the same way anymore

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Blackification · Post #2 » by **Blackification** » Tue Feb 3, 2015 8:03 am

Its definitely not all on just IT. Last year everyone came together in a similar position, all castoffs written off as tanking losers. So they came together as a team and all had career years. No egos because everyone just wanted to prove the critics and skeptics wrong.

This year? People got payed, people are playing for contracts, people are trying to repeat the performances they did last year, people don't know their roles because they don't know when they might get benched during the game, they are competing for minutes with people that play the same position. People are scouting them differently and preparing to defend them differently. They have expectations now and pressure that comes with it. No longer are they just surprising people now they have to make the playoffs or this season is written off as a failure. Last year it was all on house money. People are afraid of getting traded this year too. There were not that many trade rumors like this year.

Its like Babby said in the off season, no season is ever the same like no school year is ever the same. Last year the chemistry was magical, it is almost impossible to replicate.

I'm seeing a lot of talk this year, not so much action. Last year they proved it out on the court, this year its just talk.

Revived · Post #3 » by **Revived** » Tue Feb 3, 2015 8:04 am

Personally, I think its tension between the guards. I do think Dragic feels disrespected that after he combined with Bledsoe to win 48 games and him personally winning All NBA 3rd team, that the Suns went and got themselves yet another PG both in the draft and in free agency.

I think PHX should really choose if their gonna pick the Dragon or Thomas. Personally, I'll take Dragic at $14-$16M/yr over IT even though IT is cheaper.

I'm not gonna use Dragic's numbers this season to determine his value. When it was just Dragic and Bledsoe, this team was fun, exciting and good. And Dragic played a HUGE role in that success. I'd trade IT, Marcus and Tucker before letting Goran walk.

Blackification · Post #4 » by **Blackification** » Tue Feb 3, 2015 8:07 am

SF88 wrote:Personally, I think its tension between the guards. I do think Dragic feels disrespected that after he combined with Bledsoe to win 48 games and him personally winning All NBA 3rd team, that the Suns went and got themselves yet another PG both in the draft and in free agency.

I think PHX should really choose if their gonna pick the Dragon or Thomas. Personally, I'll take Dragic at $14-$16M/yr over IT even though IT is cheaper.

I'm not gonna use Dragic's numbers this season to determine his value. When it was just Dragic and Bledsoe, this team was fun, exciting and good. And Dragic played a HUGE role in that success. I'd trade IT, Marcus and Tucker before letting Goran walk.

Its not just them though, we have three pgs fighting for those minutes.

Then we have Tucker and Morris fighting for SF minutes but losing them because of the hydra line up.

Then you have Len, Plumlee, and now Wright at the C and markieff even takes some of those minutes at times. Its a logjam of redundant pieces. The idea was to wear opponents out with a consistent attack. Too bad nothing this year has been consistent except for how much we go up and down.

I do think one of the guards has to go, but that is only one part of the bigger issue. I still think this is a try out year for McD to decide who he is keeping and who he isn't.

Revived · Post #5 » by **Revived** » Tue Feb 3, 2015 8:26 am

Blackification wrote:
SF88 wrote:Personally, I think its tension between the guards. I do think Dragic feels disrespected that after he combined with Bledsoe to win 48 games and him personally winning All NBA 3rd team, that the Suns went and got themselves yet another PG both in the draft and in free agency.

I think PHX should really choose if their gonna pick the Dragon or Thomas. Personally, I'll take Dragic at $14-$16M/yr over IT even though IT is cheaper.

I'm not gonna use Dragic's numbers this season to determine his value. When it was just Dragic and Bledsoe, this team was fun, exciting and good. And Dragic played a HUGE role in that success. I'd trade IT, Marcus and Tucker before letting Goran walk.

Its not just them though, we have three pgs fighting for those minutes.

Then we have Tucker and Morris fighting for SF minutes but losing them because of the hydra line up.

Then you have Len, Plumlee, and now Wright at the C and markieff even takes some of those minutes at times. Its a logjam of redundant pieces. The idea was to wear opponents out with a consistent attack. Too bad nothing this year has been consistent except for how much we go up and down.

I do think one of the guards has to go, but that is only one part of the bigger issue. I still think this is a try out year for McD to decide who he is keeping and who he isn't.

I'm not sure if that's a good way of finding out if a player's good or not by pitting them all against each other.

It hurts team chemistry because everyone wants more playing time and others want an opportunity to play to show what they have and it just creates a mess because without team chemistry, nobody is able to perform well.

Grots · Post #6 » by **Grots** » Tue Feb 3, 2015 8:47 am

Len, Keef got better, Plumlee and Green got a lot worse. Tucker is worse. We lost Frye. Most importantly, Dragic is playing out of position and off-ball. It's a waste and misuse of his talent. IT helps on offense, but god knows how many points he gives up on defense and he doesn't get the rest of the bench involved enough.
The Western Conference (like the Grizz, for instance) mostly got even better, while we're around the same or a bit worse.

I don't think it's a big mystery.

schnakenpopanz · Post #7 » by **schnakenpopanz** » Tue Feb 3, 2015 8:48 am

it is all about coaching and players adapting to their roles. last year suns had a true leader with all the duties related to it. now he does not even know if he is touching the ball in the important moments.

gaspar · Post #8 » by **gaspar** » Tue Feb 3, 2015 9:11 am

Unreasonable expectations.

Revived · Post #9 » by **Revived** » Tue Feb 3, 2015 9:18 am

Is making playoffs that unreasonable though for a team that won 48 games the year before with its 2nd best player missing half the year?

Frank Lee · Post #10 » by **Frank Lee** » Tue Feb 3, 2015 1:19 pm

JTrain · Post #11 » by **JTrain** » Tue Feb 3, 2015 4:15 pm

SF88 wrote:Tucker...getting fat...

JTrain · Post #12 » by **JTrain** » Tue Feb 3, 2015 4:17 pm

It does seem like people are having less fun.

It also bothers me that a few of the players don't seem to care that much about actually winning. Why am I pacing the living room in the last few minutes of a close game while some of the players are laughing with the opponent?

As far as wins, I think most of us expected between 44 and 49 from what I remember. We're projected at 44, so we were pretty much accurate.

Post #13 » by **rsavaj** » Tue Feb 3, 2015 4:29 pm

The team isn't different.

We're different.

think about it #2deep4me

MrMiyagi · Post #14 » by **MrMiyagi** » Tue Feb 3, 2015 5:10 pm

SF88 wrote:Is making playoffs that unreasonable though for a team that won 48 games the year before with its 2nd best player missing half the year?

Are we suddenly out of the playoff hunt? When did this happen?

MilotheSlayer · Post #15 » by **MilotheSlayer** » Tue Feb 3, 2015 5:23 pm

The locker room presence of Frye, Ish, and Shav. Now we replaced them with young guys who want and deserve minutes. Green is fighting for minutes so he can get paid, and he's been struggling recently. Goran seems isolated from the rest of the crew some nights.

MGA · Post #16 » by **MGA** » Tue Feb 3, 2015 8:21 pm

Gerald Green was HUGE for us last year, and his regression has really hurt us. That and the loss of Frye are the two major factors in my opinion. His spacing allowed more open lanes to the basket, which is why Goran has also slightly regressed.

WTFsunsFTW · Post #17 » by **WTFsunsFTW** » Tue Feb 3, 2015 8:40 pm

Dragic took a backseat. I dont like it.

DirtyDez · Post #18 » by **DirtyDez** » Tue Feb 3, 2015 8:49 pm

WTFsunsFTW wrote:Dragic took a backseat. I dont like it.

He doesn't really have a choice with us hoarding PG's. Bledsoe and IT need the ball.

Kyler Murray · Post #19 » by **Kyler Murray** » Tue Feb 3, 2015 10:34 pm

IMO it's more on us than the team. We're too spoiled with great teams that had a lot of success, and as soon as this unit started clicking we started expecting better results.

Revived · Post #20 » by **Revived** » Tue Feb 3, 2015 11:26 pm

Ulquiorra wrote:IMO it's more on us than the team. We're too spoiled with great teams that had a lot of success, and as soon as this unit started clicking we started expecting better results.

I wouldn't say we're spoiled when our trophy case is as empty as it was when the team was founded.

I realize that we have like the best winning percentage out of teams who have never won a title and that we have a top 5 winning record over past 10-15 years or whatever but I wouldn't say we're spoiled until we win titles.

LAL fans, for example, are spoiled. 5 titles in 16 years. Heat fans, also, are spoiled. 3 titles in 7 years. Spurs fans, obviously, are spoiled with their 5 titles in 16 years. You get the point.