Game 56: Phoenix Suns (29-26) @ Chicago Bulls (34-21)

[RunDogGun]

Strange, but did Taj just get the ligament damage from our game last night? Shabazz had the same thing after our game with the Wolves.

[tdjm]

Kieff isn't a great rebounder, but I'm hesitant to knock him too hard for it last night. We don't have a backup in his position so we have to play him 40 minutes on the second night of a back to back right after he had an offensive explosion? He had double digit rebounds last time we played the Bulls, but he (understandably) looked absolutely exhausted yesterday.

[sunsfever68]

Kieff isn't a great rebounder, but I'm hesitant to knock him too hard for it last night. We don't have a backup in his position so we have to play him 40 minutes on the second night of a back to back right after he had an offensive explosion? He had double digit rebounds last time we played the Bulls, but he (understandably) looked absolutely exhausted yesterday.

Insert T Rob for 10-15 mins a game and problem solved. I couldn't imagine the recklessness of team FOE being together lol

[tdjm]

Kieff isn't a great rebounder, but I'm hesitant to knock him too hard for it last night. We don't have a backup in his position so we have to play him 40 minutes on the second night of a back to back right after he had an offensive explosion? He had double digit rebounds last time we played the Bulls, but he (understandably) looked absolutely exhausted yesterday.

Insert T Rob for 10-15 mins a game and problem solved. I couldn't imagine the recklessness of team FOE being together lol

Hell, give him 20 and turn him all the way loose.

[RaisingArizona]

Kieff isn't a great rebounder, but I'm hesitant to knock him too hard for it last night. We don't have a backup in his position so we have to play him 40 minutes on the second night of a back to back right after he had an offensive explosion? He had double digit rebounds last time we played the Bulls, but he (understandably) looked absolutely exhausted yesterday.

Good point! Our depth in the front court is really weak at the moment.

[RaisingArizona]

All this hatefest and stupidity and none of those Tucker haters complimenting or praising him for a 20/6 game with three steals?

People are stuck in their ways. Tucker played well. He kept us in the game since nobody else was able to score at will. I still think Knight should have played more but I understand it being his first game and all.

I admitted that Kieff sucked tonight on offense-- I mean, I can't really spin that. However, his defense wasn't bad at all, imo. AB and Gasol killed us down the stretch.

You complain about others overreacting and yet you think Tucker should be crowned for his first 20 point game in a LONG time? Are you serious?

I'm not a big tucker fan in general but I can admit he was our best player yesterday. I never said to crown him? Are you Dennis Green?

Some people here will still complain that TJ didn't get all of his minutes.

[lilfishi22]

People are stuck in their ways. Tucker played well. He kept us in the game since nobody else was able to score at will. I still think Knight should have played more but I understand it being his first game and all.

I admitted that Kieff sucked tonight on offense-- I mean, I can't really spin that. However, his defense wasn't bad at all, imo. AB and Gasol killed us down the stretch.

You complain about others overreacting and yet you think Tucker should be crowned for his first 20 point game in a LONG time? Are you serious?

I'm not a big tucker fan in general but I can admit he was our best player yesterday. I never said to crown him? Are you Dennis Green?

Some people here will still complain that TJ didn't get all of his minutes.

People seem to forget that nobody expects 20 pts from Tucker on a nightly basis, heck even on a monthly basis no one expects it. He isn't in there to score, he's there to rebound, defend and put up a few points when the opportunities presents itself.

[Revived]

You complain about others overreacting and yet you think Tucker should be crowned for his first 20 point game in a LONG time? Are you serious?

I'm not a big tucker fan in general but I can admit he was our best player yesterday. I never said to crown him? Are you Dennis Green?

Some people here will still complain that TJ didn't get all of his minutes.

People seem to forget that nobody expects 20 pts from Tucker on a nightly basis, heck even on a monthly basis no one expects it. He isn't in there to score, he's there to rebound, defend and put up a few points when the opportunities presents itself.

Do you think his defense this year has been as advertised?

[lilfishi22]

I'm not a big tucker fan in general but I can admit he was our best player yesterday. I never said to crown him? Are you Dennis Green?

Some people here will still complain that TJ didn't get all of his minutes.

People seem to forget that nobody expects 20 pts from Tucker on a nightly basis, heck even on a monthly basis no one expects it. He isn't in there to score, he's there to rebound, defend and put up a few points when the opportunities presents itself.

Do you think his defense this year has been as advertised?

By and large, yes. Keep in mind, he's had to defend big men more often this season and it's not easy switching defensive assignments from PF's then to SG's but I think he's done fine. Once again, he's not a lock down defender despite having lock down defensive performances but I thought he's made things hard for his defensive assignment.

Outside of his man defense, he's still rebounding, shot blocking and stealing at the same rate as last season.

[RaisingArizona]

I'm not a big tucker fan in general but I can admit he was our best player yesterday. I never said to crown him? Are you Dennis Green?

Some people here will still complain that TJ didn't get all of his minutes.

People seem to forget that nobody expects 20 pts from Tucker on a nightly basis, heck even on a monthly basis no one expects it. He isn't in there to score, he's there to rebound, defend and put up a few points when the opportunities presents itself.

Do you think his defense this year has been as advertised?

I agree with you here. I don't think his defense, especially his perimeter defense, has been as good this year. He looks bigger to me this year.

[RunDogGun]

People are stuck in their ways. Tucker played well. He kept us in the game since nobody else was able to score at will. I still think Knight should have played more but I understand it being his first game and all.

I admitted that Kieff sucked tonight on offense-- I mean, I can't really spin that. However, his defense wasn't bad at all, imo. AB and Gasol killed us down the stretch.

You complain about others overreacting and yet you think Tucker should be crowned for his first 20 point game in a LONG time? Are you serious?

I'm not a big tucker fan in general but I can admit he was our best player yesterday. I never said to crown him? Are you Dennis Green?

Some people here will still complain that TJ didn't get all of his minutes.

I like Tucker. I like dirt workers that have no problem doing all the little things that the team needs. Him adding that three point shot was huge. If we start Bledsoe, Knight, Tucker, Keef, and Len, we really only have one mid to below defender in the starting lineup. I am hoping Tucker feeds off of Knight's work ethic, and we get a huge boost from our guys.

[RaisingArizona]

You complain about others overreacting and yet you think Tucker should be crowned for his first 20 point game in a LONG time? Are you serious?

I'm not a big tucker fan in general but I can admit he was our best player yesterday. I never said to crown him? Are you Dennis Green?

Some people here will still complain that TJ didn't get all of his minutes.

I like Tucker. I like dirt workers that have no problem doing all the little things that the team needs. Him adding that three point shot was huge. If we start Bledsoe, Knight, Tucker, Keef, and Len, we really only have one mid to below defender in the starting lineup. I am hoping Tucker feeds off of Knight's work ethic, and we get a huge boost from our guys.

The fact that McD praised PJ for his selflessness means they like him around the young guys. I have no problem with having a lunch pail guy on the team. From what I've seen, TJ doesn't look ready yet to contribute nightly.

[tdjm]

TJ definitely isn't ready to contribute nightly, and I don't think he will be until next season. Whether he commits to playing SF or PF (and it looks like he/the Suns want him to play on the wing), he's not going to do anything of note until he bulks up a little bit, like Len and Archie did. Reason being he's a guy who looks like he wants to thrive in the paint, but is too afraid of contact.

In the D-League, he'll take it one dribble further in and absorb the hit before the floater so he can get his free throws (D-League FTR .267). In the NBA, he's too gunshy in the lane and throws up that 10-13 foot floater before looking for contact (in limited minutes, his FTR is an exceedingly laughable .067). A scorer who isn't hungry for free throws isn't going to amount to anything. I think once he gets his body, he'll be better about it, but he definitely isn't ready on a night to night basis. He could get minutes if he committed to good cuts (like in sets with Kieff at the elbow, he's really good at finding cutters) or strong takes to the lane, but he needs to stay in the gym until then.

Not to mention with how desperate we are for defensive rebounds and defense in general, he'd probably want to be a little more inspiring on that end of the floor before he sees regular minutes, although he's a little less bad there than he was at the start of the season

[Frank Lee]

Being among the biggest opposers to playing Goodwin, i have to admit he played very well the last 2 games - sound and responsible, without rushed and immature shots/drives. Overall quite a pleasant surprise.
The Suns are in dire need of a defensive ass. coach. Defense is atrocious. All it takes is 2 opponents crossing under the basket and 1 drive in and all 5 Suns are collapsed shoulder-to-shoulder under the basket. No rotation, no switches. At the same time on offense no off the ball movement whatsoever, no PnR, nothing. Guess for another year we have to say "ahh...next season" .

Heard a comment from Bledsoe's post game where he praised the D saying it may have been the best all yr?????
They gave up 112

True story ?

[Revived]

People seem to forget that nobody expects 20 pts from Tucker on a nightly basis, heck even on a monthly basis no one expects it. He isn't in there to score, he's there to rebound, defend and put up a few points when the opportunities presents itself.

Do you think his defense this year has been as advertised?

I agree with you here. I don't think his defense, especially his perimeter defense, has been as good this year. He looks bigger to me this year.

I like Tucker but to me, he should be in a bench role with limited minutes so that he can go 100% and doesn't get wore out.

Right now, I don't mind him starting cause we don't have a better option.

[WheelsOntario4]

Who cleans up the interior tonight vs the banged up Celtics?