Game 76: Phoenix Suns (38-37) @ GS Warriors (60-13)

[thamadkant]

Warren is the ideal SF next to the Suns combo guards, because he is efficient.. doesnt dance around.... cuts, slashes, pass the ball quick and within flow. Rather him start than Marcus or Tucker... Tucker is a bull defensively and nailed a couple of nice shots, but he also had some selfish/low IQ moments.

Suns need to really do make a decision between Knight OR Bledsoe, because I like Goodwin and Bogdanovic to slide in that shooting guard spot and develop them next to Warren.

I don't see why we can't just slide Tucker to the two spot, if we choose between Bledsoe and Knight, while starting Warren. They played fine together tonight and in the past. To me Goodwin has a similar game to Bledsoe with similar BBIQs.

I believe Goodwin can be developed into a Lance Stephenson type SG, do it all, handle the ball, penetrate, rebound, hustle etc.
I too have noticed Bledsoe and Goodwin bring similar things on the court... but Goodwin's height, length, potential still makes him more intriguing. Basically Goodwin can get away with being a lesser shooter than Bledsoe because he can finish in traffic easier due to his length and height. Also when playing PG, Goodwin is obviously still uncomfortable but he rotates the ball better than Bledsoe IMO... Its really frustrating Bledsoe not trusting Len even when he has his man pinned on the low block. Goodwin doesnt discriminate.. he rotates the ball to the open man no hesitation.

Tucker is better off on a contender NOW, he is a bigger Bruce Bowen type. I think a contender would give up a first rounder for him. I rather Suns float around 9th-10th seed with an incredibly YOUNG team, atleast they have upside and ideal age group to be "competitive".

One of Bledsoe or Knight at PG
Goodwin and Bogdanovic at the SG
Warren, Bogdanovic, Bullock at the SF

The back court is set that way, no chemistry issues because minutes and role will be sufficient.
The front court needs an overhaul... Len is the only keeper and maybe Wright depending on his salary next season.

All the above is just what I would do... some fans here will see otherwise and thats fine, but whilst the Suns are trying to establish an identity I rather have a 25 and under team, who can still be molded.

[grumpysaddle]

That was a Suns' win in reality, but in the WWE of sports, that obvious travel by Barnes didn't even happen.

[RunDogGun]

That was a Suns' win in reality, but in the WWE of sports, that obvious travel by Barnes didn't even happen.

The super obvious moving screen by Bogut was worse, because it opened up a three. The Barnes travel I could see the refs thinking one of our guys knocked it loose, but then it should have been a jump ball. The Thompson/Goodwin jump ball was a joke as well. At the end of the play Klay had his hand on the ball, but before that, his hands were all over Goodwin.

I'm still tired of the two to three fouls we have to take before we get one called. And it pains me to watch replays on national tv, where they show a close up of the play, and our guys getting fouled like crazy with no calls, and the commentators saying it was good defense. It's just disgusting what this league puts forth as a skilled sport that is supposed to be fairly officiated. No wonder kids don't know what a foul is.

Good to see our guys fight through the bull though. Hopefully it toughens them up.

[Mr Puddles]

Great game by the Suns. Warren is exceeding my expectations, his explosion in the 4th against Iggy - not the shabbiest of defenders - was a thing of beauty. Once he improves his long distance shot he could very well become our go to guy on offense.

[Mr Puddles]

Who was saying to give Bullock a chance is a genius. 1/1/1 this game the guys going to be a stud.

Really one f*cking game? He is a good complement to Bledsoe, but we aren't using him as such, which is fine if we are using Tucker at the two and TJ at the three.

I thought Bullock played well defensively. I understand that people are pessimistic about him, given how he's only scored one field goal so far as a Phoenix Sun, but I do like his potential as a 3D role player. We gave up basically nothing to get him so best case scenario he finds his stroke and contributes for us off the bench next season, worst case scenario nothing gained but nothing lost either.

[Saberestar]

Warren needs to be our starting SF next year.Period.

[RaisingArizona]

I have no words.

[NavLDO]

Who was saying to give Bullock a chance is a genius. 1/1/1 this game the guys going to be a stud.

Really one f*cking game? He is a good complement to Bledsoe, but we aren't using him as such, which is fine if we are using Tucker at the two and TJ at the three.

Yep, that's about "par for the course" this season on this board. A true microcosm of the general feeling on the Suns forum this year. Just absolutely brilliant statement there.

Let's compare Warren's 2 January game against the Sixers to Bullock's game on 3 January against the Sixers:

Warren: 11 minutes; 2-4 FGs; 0-1 3-Pts; 0-0 FTs; 1 Rebs; 1 TO; 4 Pts

Bullock: 19 minutes; 3-4 FGs; 3-4 3-Pts; 1-2 FTs; 4 Rebs; 2 Asst; 2 Stls; 10 Pts

Or, let's just disregard Bullocks 5 January game against ATL, which was even better, in some ways, when considering he played half the minutes he played against the Sixers:

10 minutes; 2-3 FGs; 2-3 3-Pts; 0-0 FTs; 4 Rebs; 1 Stl; 6 Pts

But please let's,YET AGAIN, evaluate a player's worth based on one game's performance. If we do that for this performances below:

18 minutes; 4-7 FGs; 4-6 3Pts; 2 Rebs; 1 Asst; 12 Pts

Against Utah, that makes his per36 numbers of:

24 Pts, 8-12 3-Pts; 4 Rebs; 2 Asst

Against Sixers, per36 numbers of:

20 Pts, 6-8 3-Pts, 8 Rebs, 4 Assts, 4 Stls

Against ATL?

21 Pts, 7-10 3-PTs, 14 Rebs, 4 Stls

Those are impressive numbers, right? Bullock should be pushing our Tucker for the starting SF/SG position, but at a minimum, have consistent minutes of playing time every game.

But a number of forum members won't even even consider those games, they ONLY consider his poor performances. I tell ya, the half-truths/half-facts spewed on this board are simply mind-blowing. And yes, what I just did was compile a bunch of "half-facts" to support my analysis of why Bullock should be permanently in the rotation. Pretty silly, huh? But the best part is when those select few come back and give reasons why we shouldn't consider his good games (he was still on the Clippers then; they were two months ago; the moon was exactly halfway through it's waning phase, etc.), but they are fully justified in using his bad games.

We have 6 games to make up a 4.5 gm deficit to OKC--we aren't making the playoffs, so why wouldn't we play Bullock now?

Oh, and on another note, the comment about how Len is "injury prone" after receiving a broken nose? Really? That's not like a sprained knee or ankle or wrist, or some other injury that would possibly be indicative of an injury prone player. But the fact that Kaman busted his nose with his elbow does NOT make Len "injury prone".

[Tahleron]

That was a Suns' win in reality, but in the WWE of sports, that obvious travel by Barnes didn't even happen.

The super obvious moving screen by Bogut was worse, because it opened up a three. The Barnes travel I could see the refs thinking one of our guys knocked it loose, but then it should have been a jump ball. The Thompson/Goodwin jump ball was a joke as well. At the end of the play Klay had his hand on the ball, but before that, his hands were all over Goodwin.

I'm still tired of the two to three fouls we have to take before we get one called. And it pains me to watch replays on national tv, where they show a close up of the play, and our guys getting fouled like crazy with no calls, and the commentators saying it was good defense. It's just disgusting what this league puts forth as a skilled sport that is supposed to be fairly officiated. No wonder kids don't know what a foul is.

Good to see our guys fight through the bull though. Hopefully it toughens them up.

The moving screen on Bogut and his push of Tucker on the rebound before Curry's last 3 were ruled incorrect

That's a 6-8 point swing (as the push should have been loose ball free throws)

[kennydorglas]

I was talking all year long about how 'nice' the refs were treating GSW
Let's see what happens in the playoffs... probably they'll start calling this **** and draymond will lost his mind (like that game vs Cleveland)

[Tahleron]

I was talking all year long about how 'nice' the refs were treating GSW
Let's see what happens in the playoffs... probably they'll start calling this **** and draymond will lost his mind (like that game vs Cleveland)

I would guess the moving screens and the like will probably get some videos sent to the league office and start getting called

[RunDogGun]

I was talking all year long about how 'nice' the refs were treating GSW
Let's see what happens in the playoffs... probably they'll start calling this **** and draymond will lost his mind (like that game vs Cleveland)

I would guess the moving screens and the like will probably get some videos sent to the league office and start getting called

Well it really hasn't changed, many players still do their moving screens, and if they're stars, or on star teams, they aren't getting called. Watching that Suns/Dallas game, where Chandler performed at least ten moving screens, some of which were super obvious, and many right in front of the ref, and he didn't get called for one. However, when Tucker did the same move that Chandler did the very next play, was called instantly when the Dallas player fell to the ground. Are we just not flopping enough to get the call?

Side note, why is this thread still stickied?