The TJ Warren Thread!

[rsavaj]

Was my favorite player coming into the season (now it's probably Booker) but has he seemed just seriously off these last few games?

Absolutely. Not sure if the scouting report's out on him or what, but he's been kinda invisible recently.

Guy needs to develop legit 3 point range and it will open up his entire game.

[Saberestar]

Was my favorite player coming into the season (now it's probably Booker) but has he seemed just seriously off these last few games?

Absolutely. Not sure if the scouting report's out on him or what, but he's been kinda invisible recently.

Guy needs to develop legit 3 point range and it will open up his entire game.

He was playing his best basketball and after some really good games he was receiving less and less minutes from Hornacek with not reason at all. He has lost a lot of confidence in the last 5-6 games and he doesn't seem the same player out there.

This is exactly the same that was happening to Len early in the season. He didn't have confidence and minutes from Hornacek and he was playing only 14 minutes per game with no impact out there. With the injury of Chandler, Len has shown that he has not regressed at all and he is playing great lately.

Hornacek needs to believe in Warren and give him minutes and opportunities.

[bwgood77]

Was my favorite player coming into the season (now it's probably Booker) but has he seemed just seriously off these last few games?

Absolutely. Not sure if the scouting report's out on him or what, but he's been kinda invisible recently.

Guy needs to develop legit 3 point range and it will open up his entire game.

He was playing his best basketball and after some really good games he was receiving less and less minutes from Hornacek with not reason at all. He has lost a lot of confidence in the last 5-6 games and he doesn't seem the same player out there.

This is exactly the same that was happening to Len early in the season. He didn't have confidence and minutes from Hornacek and he was playing only 14 minutes per game with no impact out there. With the injury of Chandler, Len has shown that he has not regressed at all and he is playing great lately.

Hornacek needs to believe in Warren and give him minutes and opportunities.

Perhaps, but he just looked like maybe he was sick or something for like a week because he didn't look like himself. He looked a little more like himself today. I think the primary reason Len looks better now is because Tyson told the guards they NEEDED to get the centers more involved on offense.

[Mulhollanddrive]

He's back.

[hauntedan]

he just needed minutes and shot opportunities..

[rsavaj]

He suddenly has a 3 point shot!

[ATTL]

A very good three point shot. He just needed an opportunity to shoot.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

Compared to what I expected of Warren coming out of the draft, he's improved his 3 point shot much quicker than I think anyone could have expected. But the biggest surprise has been his passing - he really is very unselfish, and he sees the open man, which is why he connected with Chandler on two lobs last night. He makes the right pass and doesn't turn the ball over. He doesn't get a ton of assists because he gives the ball up so freely, rather than hogging it and waiting to make the scoring play. The biggest disappointment (for me) has been his rebounding - he's not nearly as good in that department as I had expected, though he did well last night.

[Saberestar]

In my opinion we need to run our offense through him. Screens and back cuts to free him, if he catches the ball on the move with a little advantage he is GREAT making shots or looking for teammates.

My only concern right now is Hornacek...he is capable of playing him in the next game 17 or 18 minutes coming from the bench if Leuer is healthy again. Hopefully Bjorkgren is in his ear and they start Warren for the rest of the season.

[kennydorglas]

TJ Warren is unbelievable.

[PackSuns]

#TonyBuckets

[jcsunsfan]

I like it. But I am going to reserve judgment for when NBA defenses start keying on him. If he can continue this then, I will be convinced.

Honestly, I like Booker at PG. He has the mentality. He doesn't look for himself first, but when he does shoot, he is effective. He is a very good passer. He just doesnt quite have the handles, I am afraid.

[blacksun]

Im very impressed with the three ball. Ive always thought his shot mechanics are great, and that all he needed was a little more arc. I hope what we saw is the norm and he really does have it down pat.

[Cutter]

TJ needs to show he can consistently hit 3 point shots as part of the Suns normal motion offense, plus on set plays that are ran to get him an open look. So far this year Warren has shot only 47 three point shots, and made 20 of them. This isn't a large sample size so I am reserving judgement as to whether he is a good 3 point shooter. I am super high on this kid, but I think we need to also remain realistic as to how good he is playing.

[bwgood77]

he just needed minutes and shot opportunities..

In for your one post per year? I agree though.

[Mr Puddles]

ESPN just posted an article on "Top 10 NBA sophs ranked by future potential"

Neither Kevin Pelton or Chad Ford has Warren in their top 10

Kevin Pelton:
1. Andrew Wiggins
2. Clint Capela
3. Zach LaVine
4 .Elfrid Payton
5. Marcus Smart
6. Jusuf Nurkic
7. Aaron Gordon
8. Nerlens Noel
9. Nikola Mirotic
10. Jabari Parker

Chad Ford:
1. Andrew Wiggins
2. Jabari Parker
3. Zach LaVine
4. Dante Exum
5. Clint Capela
6. Marcus Smart
7. Elfrid Payton
8. Nerlens Noel
9. Aaron Gordon
10. Nikola Mirotic


Mirotic is amost 3 years older than Warren and scoring less per game while shooting 37% from the floor, but somehow has more future potential?

I get that this is a future potential, and that Warren is older than most guys (albeit by only a few months in most cases), but Warren is:
- 3rd on this list in ppg. (Warren is however significantly more efficient scoring wise than the two guys above him: Wiggins and Lavine)
- 2nd in fg% (behind Clint Capela)
- has arguably made the biggest improvement statistically from all these guys (from last year)

[bwgood77]

ESPN just posted an article on "Top 10 NBA sophs ranked by future potential"

Neither Kevin Pelton or Chad Ford has Warren in their top 10

Kevin Pelton:
1. Andrew Wiggins
2. Clint Capela
3. Zach LaVine
4 .Elfrid Payton
5. Marcus Smart
6. Jusuf Nurkic
7. Aaron Gordon
8. Nerlens Noel
9. Nikola Mirotic
10. Jabari Parker

Chad Ford:
1. Andrew Wiggins
2. Jabari Parker
3. Zach LaVine
4. Dante Exum
5. Clint Capela
6. Marcus Smart
7. Elfrid Payton
8. Nerlens Noel
9. Aaron Gordon
10. Nikola Mirotic


Mirotic is amost 3 years older than Warren and scoring less per game while shooting 37% from the floor, but somehow has more future potential?

I get that this is a future potential, and that Warren is older than most guys (albeit by only a few months in most cases), but Warren is:
- 3rd on this list in ppg. (Warren is however significantly more efficient scoring wise than the two guys above him: Wiggins and Lavine)
- 2nd in fg% (behind Clint Capela)
- has arguably made the biggest improvement statistically from all these guys (from last year)

I'm a little surprised that Pelton doesn't have him there, but I know he works a ton with advanced stats, so he probably hasn't even put games like last night's into the equation. I don't think based on advanced stats, it would be evident yet. I do think (other than Zach Lowe) that Pelton is the best guy at espn, and like his chats. They are probably the only guys I respect.

Ford will stick by his draft thoughts until they are forgotten and people focus on the next one.

[Mr Puddles]

ESPN just posted an article on "Top 10 NBA sophs ranked by future potential"

Neither Kevin Pelton or Chad Ford has Warren in their top 10

Kevin Pelton:
1. Andrew Wiggins
2. Clint Capela
3. Zach LaVine
4 .Elfrid Payton
5. Marcus Smart
6. Jusuf Nurkic
7. Aaron Gordon
8. Nerlens Noel
9. Nikola Mirotic
10. Jabari Parker

Chad Ford:
1. Andrew Wiggins
2. Jabari Parker
3. Zach LaVine
4. Dante Exum
5. Clint Capela
6. Marcus Smart
7. Elfrid Payton
8. Nerlens Noel
9. Aaron Gordon
10. Nikola Mirotic


Mirotic is amost 3 years older than Warren and scoring less per game while shooting 37% from the floor, but somehow has more future potential?

I get that this is a future potential, and that Warren is older than most guys (albeit by only a few months in most cases), but Warren is:
- 3rd on this list in ppg. (Warren is however significantly more efficient scoring wise than the two guys above him: Wiggins and Lavine)
- 2nd in fg% (behind Clint Capela)
- has arguably made the biggest improvement statistically from all these guys (from last year)

I'm a little surprised that Pelton doesn't have him there, but I know he works a ton with advanced stats, so he probably hasn't even put games like last night's into the equation. I don't think based on advanced stats, it would be evident yet. I do think (other than Zach Lowe) that Pelton is the best guy at espn, and like his chats. They are probably the only guys I respect.

Ford will stick by his draft thoughts until they are forgotten and people focus on the next one.

I honestly think that after a few months of Warren as a starter, these predictions are going to look silly. A lot of the guys on this list are probably players that Ford and Pelton had been raving about last year, oozing about their potential, and now they're simply doubling down. I understand to a certain degree why they would put high potential boom or bust guys on there like Exum (whom I like myself), but Mirotic? I really fail to see how he had more upside moving forward than Warren.

[bwgood77]

ESPN just posted an article on "Top 10 NBA sophs ranked by future potential"

Neither Kevin Pelton or Chad Ford has Warren in their top 10

Kevin Pelton:
1. Andrew Wiggins
2. Clint Capela
3. Zach LaVine
4 .Elfrid Payton
5. Marcus Smart
6. Jusuf Nurkic
7. Aaron Gordon
8. Nerlens Noel
9. Nikola Mirotic
10. Jabari Parker

Chad Ford:
1. Andrew Wiggins
2. Jabari Parker
3. Zach LaVine
4. Dante Exum
5. Clint Capela
6. Marcus Smart
7. Elfrid Payton
8. Nerlens Noel
9. Aaron Gordon
10. Nikola Mirotic


Mirotic is amost 3 years older than Warren and scoring less per game while shooting 37% from the floor, but somehow has more future potential?

I get that this is a future potential, and that Warren is older than most guys (albeit by only a few months in most cases), but Warren is:
- 3rd on this list in ppg. (Warren is however significantly more efficient scoring wise than the two guys above him: Wiggins and Lavine)
- 2nd in fg% (behind Clint Capela)
- has arguably made the biggest improvement statistically from all these guys (from last year)

I'm a little surprised that Pelton doesn't have him there, but I know he works a ton with advanced stats, so he probably hasn't even put games like last night's into the equation. I don't think based on advanced stats, it would be evident yet. I do think (other than Zach Lowe) that Pelton is the best guy at espn, and like his chats. They are probably the only guys I respect.

Ford will stick by his draft thoughts until they are forgotten and people focus on the next one.

I honestly think that after a few months of Warren as a starter, these predictions are going to look silly. A lot of the guys on this list are probably players that Ford and Pelton had been raving about last year, oozing about their potential, and now they're simply doubling down. I understand to a certain degree why they would put high potential boom or bust guys on there like Exum (whom I like myself), but Mirotic? I really fail to see how he had more upside moving forward than Warren.

Mirotic has sucked, but look at his stats tonight...very solid, so I don't know about him. I only know about his stats because I traded for him in fantasy, but he has been stuck on my bench, so I didn't benefit from this output tonight...solid across the board.

http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400828380

[Mr Puddles]

I'm a little surprised that Pelton doesn't have him there, but I know he works a ton with advanced stats, so he probably hasn't even put games like last night's into the equation. I don't think based on advanced stats, it would be evident yet. I do think (other than Zach Lowe) that Pelton is the best guy at espn, and like his chats. They are probably the only guys I respect.

Ford will stick by his draft thoughts until they are forgotten and people focus on the next one.

I honestly think that after a few months of Warren as a starter, these predictions are going to look silly. A lot of the guys on this list are probably players that Ford and Pelton had been raving about last year, oozing about their potential, and now they're simply doubling down. I understand to a certain degree why they would put high potential boom or bust guys on there like Exum (whom I like myself), but Mirotic? I really fail to see how he had more upside moving forward than Warren.

Mirotic has sucked, but look at his stats tonight...very solid, so I don't know about him. I only know about his stats because I traded for him in fantasy, but he has been stuck on my bench, so I didn't benefit from this output tonight...solid across the board.

http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400828380

Sure but the guy is close to 25 vs Warren who turned 22 a couple of months ago. This is an article about guys with the most potential. Mirotic has started most games for the Bulls this season, and played in every game last season. He's had plenty more opportunities than Warren, and still Warren has managed to outplay him. Assuming that Warren has been promoted to starter now, and should get more consistent minutes than before, I fully expect his production go up.

I don't see how an almost 25 year old who has been a consistent part of his team's rotation, has more potential than a 22 year old who is just now starting to get consistent playing time.