Game 72: Sacramento Kings (24-45) @ Phoenix Suns (38-33)

[RaisingArizona]

We lost because Tucker was terrible tonight and Len just didn't bring it. Also, WTF, make a d*** free throw. You could tell Bledsoe was sick and did the best he could. I don't understand why Price ever touches the court. I wish Knight would just suck it up and play-- even for a few minutes. We really need his offense to have any shot going forward with this season.

6 offensive rebounds (9 total), 4 blocks, 6 points, 2 assists and a steal in 25 min and Len didn't bring it? Not sure how you drew that conclusion.

Turnovers down the stretch, missed free throws, bad ball movement on offense and a some daggers late in the 4th from the Kings (those McLemore 3s were deadly) is what caused us the game.

2-7. Had Plumleeitis out there. Missed quite a few bunnies.

[SunsRback4Good]

At this point the Morris bro's need to go. Even if both play with fire for the rest of the season I still want them gone I've wanted this since the beginning of the season. They are too inconsistent and bring nothing but drama. Even if Kieff is clutch during crunch time I don't care anymore. We need to find a real pf and trade them for him. The players Id keep are Wright, Len, Tucker, Bled( we have no choice), Warren, Goodwin. Those 6 I want back next season and possibly Knight if he isn't included in Morris's trade package. Maybe bring back Green since I wanted one off the team between him and Thomas both playing together is a nightmare. Green could be our Terry/Crawford a spark off the bench.

[Qwigglez]

You think if Cousins demands a trade another team could put together a better package than what we could give? A S&T Brandon Knight (or Bled if this isn't possible or as plausible), Len, Archie, two 1st from us, two 1st we got from the Heat? Or is that too much from our end?

I rather trade the Morris Brothers than Goodwin and Len for a Cousins-trade package.

Cousins need touches inside... and the brothers would be in his way. Goodwin atleast is a guard who penetrates breaks down defense and looks to be enjoying passing to open men.... Len can thrive focusing on defense and doing the dirty work. If Cousins come.. you eliminate players who will take away possessions and plays from him... Cousins is closest to Tim Duncan in a while... in regards to creating shots for him or team mates when he gets the ball.

Oh no doubt. I was just thinking for both parties, what would be most fair. If we were able to swing MoBros, 2015 Suns 1st, 2017 Suns 1st (unprotected), Miami's 1st (2017 & 2021) for Cousins I would do it 100 times out of 100.

[Frank Lee]

OK Milo... Hope...

I hope we do not get full of ourselves by making the playoffs. I don't really care to see us get waxed by GState. Just tag us and bag us already. I haven't watched a whole game in 3 weeks. Some have been almost unwatchable.

but yes... it doesn't hurt to hope for the best, but I'll leave that all up to you and RDog

What do you want to see out of the rest of the season?

Hmmmm

It would be nice to see sustained effort from game to game, wire to wire. Some level of consistency...intensity. For a team on the verge of making the playoffs, these guys look like the just don't give a s**t some nights. Its too much to expect players to be any more than what they are at this point. We are not going to be able to inject a dose of BBIQ into anyone.

I would like to see more Len, Goodwin, and Warren on the court together... and may be even just see Bullock play on occasion.

Overall, these guys have lost my interest with their effort, attitudes, style of play, and mainly, the front office arrogance. As a FAN, I can equally dislike what is going on with my team as anyone who tries to spray perfume on this dung pile as they shoo off the flies. I await the offseason and look forward to some big changes, but have less confidence in the ability of the FO. After all, they are the ones who mudbutted this steamer and continue to say... it don't stink.

Hey, but we still have Keif and Bledsoe right?

[NavLDO]

You think if Cousins demands a trade another team could put together a better package than what we could give? A S&T Brandon Knight (or Bled if this isn't possible or as plausible), Len, Archie, two 1st from us, two 1st we got from the Heat? Or is that too much from our end?

I rather trade the Morris Brothers than Goodwin and Len for a Cousins-trade package.

Cousins need touches inside... and the brothers would be in his way. Goodwin atleast is a guard who penetrates breaks down defense and looks to be enjoying passing to open men.... Len can thrive focusing on defense and doing the dirty work. If Cousins come.. you eliminate players who will take away possessions and plays from him... Cousins is closest to Tim Duncan in a while... in regards to creating shots for him or team mates when he gets the ball.

Oh no doubt. I was just thinking for both parties, what would be most fair. If we were able to swing MoBros, 2015 Suns 1st, 2017 Suns 1st (unprotected), Miami's 1st (2017 & 2021) for Cousins I would do it 100 times out of 100.

What I'd rather see is a young up-and-comer like Sullinger, a PF that is maybe in his 2nd/3rd year in the league that hasn't hit his stride, but shows a lot of promise. Now, I understand that those guys are typically not "for sale," per se, and McD/Horny would have better insight into this than any of us, but they surely they know of a PF that right now is a 3rd option on a team, but is on the "uptick," and said team needs a pick and are a playoff team, and a decent, already developed PF/SF like the MoBros.

I know that's a lot to hope for, but really would like to keep our rotation somewhat intact, and not give up a bunch of picks. Reason being is that we aren't one "Cousins" away from being a top 4 seed, and still need our picks to build our team over the next couple of years. So basically, MoBros and the Heat 2021 pick for Sullinger-type of trade. Doesn't need to be Sullinger, of course.

The aboce trade is just too many assets to be traded--we need those picks, again, as we are rebuilding, and hard to do that without draft picks, because we can't do via trades and FA alone.

[Saberestar]

It was a disappointment, but if we have to take something good about this game we need to talk about Archie's progression and the consistency in the last three games from MoBros. It was really bad that Marcus had foul's trouble, because he is playing extremely well the last few games, and Markieff is playing like a borderline All Star in the last 10 games. I think they are right now "average" defenders at worst, and that is a good compliment because they were strictly "bad" about two years ago.

Archie's is making big steps in the last few games, and I think he is now for Hornacek a sure thing on the rotation for next year, who will play around 20 minutes per game at least. BTW, I really like his passion for the game.

Warren is making baby steps, but at least is making steps too. He needs to be stronger to fight better the screens, heis struggling defensively.

[MCMXCII]

How does he help the opposing team when he's on the floor?

That's how, his horrid shooting.

Good game though.

[DRK]

I watched a bit of the OKC game during halftime. At one point (this is in the third quarter) the Spurs are up by 23 and Danny Green doesn't get out to the perimeter nearly in time to guard Waiters, who makes a three to cut the lead to 20. Popovich angrily rushes to the bench and tells Belinelli to get ready, then pulls Green at the next dead ball.

Then, in Phoenix, we get this (after a Suns missed free throw while losing to the sixth worst team in the league in a must-win game):

Exactly what I have said all season about Hornacek. I never saw Carlisle laugh or even smile once the entire game the other night when the Suns beat Dallas. I also do not remember Phil Jackson ever giggling like an idiot during games when his team keeps screwing up or missing free throws.

Seriously? Here is a man who obviously loves the game of basketball, and enjoys his job. Good for him.

Hornacek may have many flaws, but taking a dump on him for his facial expression at one particular moment in a 48 minute game is just grasping at straws.

I like people who smile. They make me happy. Dogging on a guy for smiling shows what kinda person you are.

[LukasBMW]

Before I die, I want to go on a trip to Vegas with Gerald Green and watch him play roulette.


I imagine it would go like this:

Green bets $20 on red and wins.

Gerald: "**** yeah! I'm Gerald Green son!

Green bets $100 on red and wins.

Gerald: "They can't stop me! Ain't nobody guarding me!

Green bets $500 on red an wins.

Gerald: "That's right bitch, I'm da mutha **** man!!!!!!!

Green bets $1,000 on red...and loses.

Green bets another $1,000 on red....and loses

Green sells his car and bets $10,000 on red....and loses.

Green mortgages his house, bets $100,000 on red... and loses.

Green goes home broke.

[MilotheSlayer]

Hmmmm

It would be nice to see sustained effort from game to game, wire to wire. Some level of consistency...intensity. For a team on the verge of making the playoffs, these guys look like the just don't give a s**t some nights. Its too much to expect players to be any more than what they are at this point. We are not going to be able to inject a dose of BBIQ into anyone.

I would like to see more Len, Goodwin, and Warren on the court together... and may be even just see Bullock play on occasion.

Overall, these guys have lost my interest with their effort, attitudes, style of play, and mainly, the front office arrogance. As a FAN, I can equally dislike what is going on with my team as anyone who tries to spray perfume on this dung pile as they shoo off the flies. I await the offseason and look forward to some big changes, but have less confidence in the ability of the FO. After all, they are the ones who mudbutted this steamer and continue to say... it don't stink.

Hey, but we still have Keif and Bledsoe right?

I agree with you for the most part. For a team outside of the playoffs, our intensity can't be what it was last night. But that's been like that all season and it is getting old. The youth has been getting more minutes as of late which is refreshing. Len seems to have hit the wall over the past month, Warren looks poised on offense but struggles at times on defense, and Archie looks good but gets lost at times on both ends of the floor. It is nice to see them get minutes though. Beats seeing Green throwing prayers (Although I got a kick out of last night).
As far as the FO goes. I think they know they sh*t the bed this past year as far as Dragic and IT go. But I don't think our FO can say they messed up big time this year until after the season, we're still in the hunt so to the casual fan it'd look like they're throwing in the towel. I know McD took the blame for the roster in-balance, and I'm sure this coming summer he'll fix it. He's still shooting a high percentage on the moves that he makes. Sarver is just Sarver, sometimes I wish he wasn't so involved in the operations.
You have all the right to call it like you see it with team. I actually enjoy seeing the broad spectrum of opinions of our team. The only thing that bothers me is the guys actively rooting for us not to make the playoffs. I think sneaking into the 8th seed would be the best thing for this team. Either we get hot and play GSW close, or we get swept and completely annihilated, which might bode well for guys rooting for change.
I think Keif has hit his ceiling as a player, a nice 3rd option on a good team. Bled I think still has room to grow as a player.

[SunsRback4Good]

Before I die, I want to go on a trip to Vegas with Gerald Green and watch him play roulette.


I imagine it would go like this:

Green bets $20 on red and wins.

Gerald: "**** yeah! I'm Gerald Green son!

Green bets $100 on red and wins.

Gerald: "They can't stop me! Ain't nobody guarding me!

Green bets $500 on red an wins.

Gerald: "That's right bitch, I'm da mutha **** man!!!!!!!

Green bets $1,000 on red...and loses.

Green bets another $1,000 on red....and loses

Green sells his car and bets $10,000 on red....and loses.

Green mortgages his house, bets $100,000 on red... and loses.

Green goes home broke.

That's one tasteless joke that I don't find funny. Green is a good kid, leave him alone.

[thamadkant]

I rather trade the Morris Brothers than Goodwin and Len for a Cousins-trade package.

Cousins need touches inside... and the brothers would be in his way. Goodwin atleast is a guard who penetrates breaks down defense and looks to be enjoying passing to open men.... Len can thrive focusing on defense and doing the dirty work. If Cousins come.. you eliminate players who will take away possessions and plays from him... Cousins is closest to Tim Duncan in a while... in regards to creating shots for him or team mates when he gets the ball.

Oh no doubt. I was just thinking for both parties, what would be most fair. If we were able to swing MoBros, 2015 Suns 1st, 2017 Suns 1st (unprotected), Miami's 1st (2017 & 2021) for Cousins I would do it 100 times out of 100.

What I'd rather see is a young up-and-comer like Sullinger, a PF that is maybe in his 2nd/3rd year in the league that hasn't hit his stride, but shows a lot of promise. Now, I understand that those guys are typically not "for sale," per se, and McD/Horny would have better insight into this than any of us, but they surely they know of a PF that right now is a 3rd option on a team, but is on the "uptick," and said team needs a pick and are a playoff team, and a decent, already developed PF/SF like the MoBros.

I know that's a lot to hope for, but really would like to keep our rotation somewhat intact, and not give up a bunch of picks. Reason being is that we aren't one "Cousins" away from being a top 4 seed, and still need our picks to build our team over the next couple of years. So basically, MoBros and the Heat 2021 pick for Sullinger-type of trade. Doesn't need to be Sullinger, of course.

The aboce trade is just too many assets to be traded--we need those picks, again, as we are rebuilding, and hard to do that without draft picks, because we can't do via trades and FA alone.

Demarcus Cousins is 24 years old
Jared Sullinger is 23 years old

If you want the Suns to have a chance for a championship in your lifetime, the need to go as much as possible for an MVP caliber player... Cousins is a 24ppg 13rpg 1.5bpg 1.5spg Big man who can dominate offensively and on the boards... not a jump shooting big man either.. he dominates INSIDE.

[JTrain]

I watched a bit of the OKC game during halftime. At one point (this is in the third quarter) the Spurs are up by 23 and Danny Green doesn't get out to the perimeter nearly in time to guard Waiters, who makes a three to cut the lead to 20. Popovich angrily rushes to the bench and tells Belinelli to get ready, then pulls Green at the next dead ball.

Then, in Phoenix, we get this (after a Suns missed free throw while losing to the sixth worst team in the league in a must-win game):

Exactly what I have said all season about Hornacek. I never saw Carlisle laugh or even smile once the entire game the other night when the Suns beat Dallas. I also do not remember Phil Jackson ever giggling like an idiot during games when his team keeps screwing up or missing free throws.

Seriously? Here is a man who obviously loves the game of basketball, and enjoys his job. Good for him.

Hornacek may have many flaws, but taking a dump on him for his facial expression at one particular moment in a 48 minute game is just grasping at straws.

I like people who smile. They make me happy. Dogging on a guy for smiling shows what kinda person you are.

Haha. Whoa. I like Horny. The criticism is basketball related. To say it "shows what kinda person you are" is ridiculous.

It isn't just about "one particular moment". His temperament has been brought up countless times in game threads this season. If LeBron James was laughing while losing by 10 in the fourth quarter of a Game 7, you don't think that would be relevant and worth talking about? Would everyone just say, "Hey, he loves the game! Good for him!" Of course not. Psychology is just as big a part of being successful in this game as shooting form or ball handling ability. People feed off their leaders' emotions and body language.

Discussing a coach's body language as it relates to the team's success or failure says nothing more about those having the discussion than does discussing a player's ability to box out during a shot attempt.

[LukasBMW]

Before I die, I want to go on a trip to Vegas with Gerald Green and watch him play roulette.


I imagine it would go like this:

Green bets $20 on red and wins.

Gerald: "**** yeah! I'm Gerald Green son!

Green bets $100 on red and wins.

Gerald: "They can't stop me! Ain't nobody guarding me!

Green bets $500 on red an wins.

Gerald: "That's right bitch, I'm da mutha **** man!!!!!!!

Green bets $1,000 on red...and loses.

Green bets another $1,000 on red....and loses

Green sells his car and bets $10,000 on red....and loses.

Green mortgages his house, bets $100,000 on red... and loses.

Green goes home broke.

That's one tasteless joke that I don't find funny. Green is a good kid, leave him alone.

Awwwwwwww come on man! I'm just playin!

Green takes one shot and makes it.
Green takes a slightly worse shot and makes it.
Green takes a stupid shot and makes it.
Then everything goes to hell.
Green keeps shooting worse and worse shots until Horny pulls him out. Same **** every game. It's like a gambling addict playing roulette.

[NavLDO]

Oh no doubt. I was just thinking for both parties, what would be most fair. If we were able to swing MoBros, 2015 Suns 1st, 2017 Suns 1st (unprotected), Miami's 1st (2017 & 2021) for Cousins I would do it 100 times out of 100.

What I'd rather see is a young up-and-comer like Sullinger, a PF that is maybe in his 2nd/3rd year in the league that hasn't hit his stride, but shows a lot of promise. Now, I understand that those guys are typically not "for sale," per se, and McD/Horny would have better insight into this than any of us, but they surely they know of a PF that right now is a 3rd option on a team, but is on the "uptick," and said team needs a pick and are a playoff team, and a decent, already developed PF/SF like the MoBros.

I know that's a lot to hope for, but really would like to keep our rotation somewhat intact, and not give up a bunch of picks. Reason being is that we aren't one "Cousins" away from being a top 4 seed, and still need our picks to build our team over the next couple of years. So basically, MoBros and the Heat 2021 pick for Sullinger-type of trade. Doesn't need to be Sullinger, of course.

The aboce trade is just too many assets to be traded--we need those picks, again, as we are rebuilding, and hard to do that without draft picks, because we can't do via trades and FA alone.

Demarcus Cousins is 24 years old
Jared Sullinger is 23 years old

If you want the Suns to have a chance for a championship in your lifetime, the need to go as much as possible for an MVP caliber player... Cousins is a 24ppg 13rpg 1.5bpg 1.5spg Big man who can dominate offensively and on the boards... not a jump shooting big man either.. he dominates INSIDE.

I don't think I clearly stated what I wanted to...my point was on HOW much we would have to give up for that piece, like Cousins, not that Cousins is too old or anything. I get that he's young, and would be a nice player to have, but the Suns aren't missing just one piece, and Cousins hasn't proven to be able to carry an entire team to the playoffs, so I wouldn't feel comfortable giving up 4 draft picks, along with other young players for a guy that isn't going to turn us into a playoff contender. Cousins would be a nice player to have--don't get me wrong. He could be part of a "big 3" for sure. But we don't have the other two pieces yet. MAYBE Len is almost there, and MAYBE Warren will be good enough to be part of it, but we don't know that yet.

I'm saying that a guy "like" Sullinger, one that is still developing, yet wouldn't break the bank, is the type we should be going after. I was just using him as an example of the "worth" and "upside", not him or his skillset, specifically. We need the next few years of 1st Rd picks to build this team, IMO.