Summer League Fun

[suns91fan]

I don't think TJ will ever have 3 point game in his arsenal. He doesn't even intends to shoot 3.

So whenever TJ is in lineup, he will need Teletovic or Leuer at PF.

He doesn't attempt 3pt shoots because that's not his strength. Playing to your strengths is a trait of smart players, and Warren is sure one of them. He is one of those players who will rarely (if ever) shoot threes one season, and then absolutely explode on that end next season. Attempting 3-4 of these shots per game right now is surely not going to improve him on that end. 1000s of threes taken in practice is what will ultimately make him a better 3pt shooter.

[bigfoot]

Nice win by Suns. TJ Warren needs to show quickly that he can translate this performance to the regular season. If he does that it will put pressure on Hornacek to make decision on who to start between Tucker and Warren.

Warren, Kief, and Chandler on the floor at the same time is probably not a good idea. Very little three point shooting other than Knight. If Warren moves into a starting role then Kief is going to the bench.

[Saberestar]

Warren needs to be our go to guy next season. He is unstoppable if he receives the ball betwen the 3p line and the top of the key....he is really good creating on this area. Great mid range shot and amazing runner. Good passer too.

[SkinnyOMiller]

They can't have a ridiculously slow start against the Hornets tomorrow otherwise they may not get back into it.

[Saberestar]

Len today has been disappointing. Six faults in 18 minutes? Come on...they didn't have Cousins or Anthony Davis on their team.
I think it's possible that he will play tomorrow because he played only a few minutes...I really want to win the tournament at this point.

[letsgosuns]

Warren and Goodwin combining for over 50 points in a summer league game against a team known for defense is remarkable. The Suns young perimeter talent is off the charts. Too bad Len got totally outplayed by a guy who has never played in an NBA game before. Len just looked bad. No other way to say it. He needs to be far better than that. Looked slow and late on defense constantly and indecisive on offense. Not what anyone wants to see. I hope he turns it around.

[PackSuns]

How were TJ's intangibles tonight? How was his defense? I wasn't able to watch the game but I will later.

[Revived]

Warren and Goodwin did what they were supposed to which was dominate a summer league team that's only NBA player is Portis.

Len on the other hand did not. Every bad game he has makes the Chandler signing that much better because it shows that if we had to rely on Len to be starter, he wouldn't be able to do it with all his fouls.

[AtheJ415]

I don't think TJ will ever have 3 point game in his arsenal. He doesn't even intends to shoot 3.

So whenever TJ is in lineup, he will need Teletovic or Leuer at PF.

He needs to. It's just inexcusable for an offensive SF to be no threat from 3. For me, I expect him to dominate summer league around the rim and mid range at will. We all know he's elite at both even at the NBA level.

If he doesn't develop a 3 point shot, his ceiling becomes drastically lower.

[AtheJ415]

Portis will have an impossible time cracking the Bulls rotation

well similar to Suns drafting guards... behind Bledsoe/Knight

Bulls are stock piling PFs..


I still want Mirotic off them.

I'd give our lottery protected first and the CLE first for Mirotic right now and not even think twice about it.

I doubt the Bulls would do that. They want to move Gibson, not Mirotic, and they're seeking a ton for Gibson.

[starbosa10]

len needs to keep working on his offense

[starbosa10]

don't see the obsession with warren being named a starter and I think he's good. as long as he gets enough minutes it doesnt matter if he's a "starter" or "6th man"

[DirtyDez]

don't see the obsession with warren being named a starter and I think he's good. as long as he gets enough minutes it doesnt matter if he's a "starter" or "6th man"

Agreed. As long as he's getting a majority of minutes I don't care if he's in the game at tip off or not.

[Mr Puddles]

don't see the obsession with warren being named a starter and I think he's good. as long as he gets enough minutes it doesnt matter if he's a "starter" or "6th man"

Agreed. As long as he's getting a majority of minutes I don't care if he's in the game at tip off or not.

I actually think he would work better as back-up getting starters minutes. Between Bledsoe, Knight and Morris, our starting unit already has a lot of guys who can create their own shot. The second unit could use a scoring punch however - Warren would be the go to guy on offense for our second unit.

[JMac1]

So Booker had 13 pts with two missed bunny Js and a lay-up,plus Len's dumb ass moving screen cost him a three!! He left 9 pts on the table, he still looked good though. The defense was all over him trying to deny him the ball!! NICE!!

[aIvin adams]

Booker is a lot better than I expected. Wow.

Mike James looks like he deserves an NBA contract somewhere. I'm happy with Ronnie Price and all but some team has got to need what that guy brings. I agree w IT (btw he is a very good commentator)

[Mulhollanddrive]

Maybe in this era it's different, but elite mid-range / attack the basket players like Wade and Jordan got by without a 3 point shot.

I still think Warren can score 20 points on average to above average ORating and that would have him in line for All-Star status in a few years.

53% FG and 74% FT and 108 O-Rating in his first season. A 3 point shot would make the team better if he's 33%+, but if not it would only hurt both him and the team.

His test will of course be when teams do their scouting and block the lane and give him 16 footers, so we'll see.

[AtheJ415]

I don't think TJ will ever have 3 point game in his arsenal. He doesn't even intends to shoot 3.

So whenever TJ is in lineup, he will need Teletovic or Leuer at PF.

He doesn't attempt 3pt shoots because that's not his strength. Playing to your strengths is a trait of smart players, and Warren is sure one of them. He is one of those players who will rarely (if ever) shoot threes one season, and then absolutely explode on that end next season. Attempting 3-4 of these shots per game right now is surely not going to improve him on that end. 1000s of threes taken in practice is what will ultimately make him a better 3pt shooter.

Right, and he needs to have already been doing that since getting into the league. Tonight he played great, but for the team to be better at the NBA level (not Summer League, where Marcus Banks and Jerryd Bayless are hall of famers), he has to be able to provide some spacing at the 3. Multiple times tonight TJ got the ball wide open with nobody within 10 feet of him at the 3 point line, and he instead passed on those to dribble in and take stop and pop mid range jumpers. Even if he hits those--that's a mathematically bad decision if he can hit 33%. Maybe he can't and therefore is playing it "smart", but with his stroke he should have put in enough time shooting the 3 to hit that very minimal benchmark. Furthermore, if he keeps doing that it is also going to kill one of our team strengths--the ability for our guards to drive to the hoop, because teams will guard us by crowding in. It will turn TJ into having a Corey Maggette ceiling instead of a truly elite offensive dynamo.

[RaisingArizona]

lol @ IT saying that Warren will only get 5-7 minutes a game this year. The guy is on crack.

[bwgood77]

Nice win by Suns. TJ Warren needs to show quickly that he can translate this performance to the regular season. If he does that it will put pressure on Hornacek to make decision on who to start between Tucker and Warren.

Warren, Kief, and Chandler on the floor at the same time is probably not a good idea. Very little three point shooting other than Knight. If Warren moves into a starting role then Kief is going to the bench.

Yes, we need one or both of Warren and Kieff to become a three point threat immediately.