Game 44: The Booker Watch

[Damkac]

Didn't watched the game but it seems young guys played well. Time to search for hightlights

[thamadkant]

Archie was 8-10 from the line. Must shoot better from the field though (5-14). Was overly aggressive tonight imo. Forced some shots and passes that weren't there. Kind of expected though. He was probably too hyped to be starting.

Yup.
When he hit that 3pter... He got a bit confident and went solo against the defense and quickly brought down to earth. In the last quarter i think he was gassed as he quickly subbed out after 2 turn overs in a row. 39 minutes for someone who has sat down a lot is a huge change.

[thamadkant]

It was so refreshing not seeing Tucker fight Chandler or Len for rebounds. Tucker likes to clog the paint after the shot goes up. Should be boxing out for Chandler or Len... Its good he likes to rebound. But when friggin Chandler is there or a 7'1 athletic guy in Len is there... Let them get to the and box out instead.

[thamadkant]

I never gave up on Len or will.

He plays well with minutes and when he gets the ball WHERE and WHEN he is not in a disadvantage.

Rather than being a finisher or someone who is forced to simply clean up misses from Bledsoe or Knight... When he gets the ball and has a smaller or slower player guarding him... He has a good chance of scoring.

[Mulhollanddrive]

He's got everything you want, but just needs experience and mentally put it together.

He blocked shots, attacked the rim, hit mid range, had rebounds, set screens, that's basically his job that he can take to another couple of levels in time. If he can overcome the odd brain fade and tune in and play with purpose all the time he can be a top 10 center.

Only 9 players average 12 points, 9 rebounds, 1.5 blocks.

[thamadkant]

Booker
Len
Goodwin
Warren

And one of Simmons or Ingram.

And a young star player that suns can trade Knight or Bledsoe for.

The potential moves and some pieces are there to be developed. Suns will be bad until the players develop.

For the rest of the season Len, Goodwin, Warren should be playing as much as Booker... With Booker playing 25 minutes plus.

Knight can be DNP due to stomach virus or something. But just let the young players develop on the court for the rest of the season.

[Years90Suns]

With Booker on board it seems cristal clear that we need to do something to end this stupid two guard era.
We cannot afford 25 millions in two players when one of them is always going to play in the place of the best asset we have right now.
We need to forget about that and set up a traditional 5 with a real SG as Booker.
Then we need to think who of Bledsoe and Knight is best to share the court with Booker, who I believe is Bledsoe.
Then we have to decide whether Knight should stay and play backup minutes with his 14 millions contract and share the court like 12 minutes a night with Bledsoe or get traded. And if traded, what do we need and who we could get.
Then we need to trade Morris.

So for next years we should show more or less a roster like this one, I believe...

Bledsoe
Booker
Warren
XXXXXXX
Len
---------
Knight
Goodwin
Tucker
Leuer
Chandler

Warren and Tucker could exchange positions, as Warren brings much more offensively, and will not have enough touches with Bledsoe, Booker, Len and our new PF.

Option 2 would be to package Knight and Morris to get a good PF and then get a decent bench PG. We could pley Len and Chandler together for stretches and also Wareen and/or Tucker at the PF spot for sometime.

[thamadkant]

Yeah.

Ideally one of Bledsoe or Knight gets traded along with Morris or/with Tucker.


Id even consider getting Kings pick and Gay for one of Bledsoe or Knight.

Play Gay as a small PF... Or get a 3rd team to get him.

[Funky Tut]

Just checked the last ESPN power rankings, we are the worst team in the league according to the power rankings. Too bad our record isn't the worst, would like our chances better at getting Simmons.

[AtheJ415]

Warren needs to start rebounding. He leaks out a ton on the fast break. I'd prefer he be something more than an efficient Nick Young. The 3 point shot improvement is awesome, but he's entirely 1 dimensional right now. He needs to become close to average at the other aspects of the game other than scoring.

[Qwigglez]

Has anyone checked out Booker's highlights yet? Incredible...

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHgoILBsTxQ[/youtube]


1st scoring bucket for the Suns, he hits a shot over Danny Green. Green is a pesky defender and is probably one of the best/underrated two-way SG's in the league.
2nd shot, again over Danny Green, which should have been an and-1.
3rd basket, on a 1 on 3 fast break, hits the shot over two defenders. I think Aldridge didn't think Booker was gonna drive there and he was gonna pull it back and wait for teammates.
4th highlight. Creating easy buckets for Warren.
5th highlight. Manu pulling a Flopoli, Booker makes him pay and knocks down a mid-range jumper. Do you guys remember in the beginning of the year, his mid-range game was very very inconsistent to say the least. Now he's hitting them in his sleep. Oh, and Booker has created/made 5/6ths of our offense at this point.
6th highlight. Another smart play from Booker.
Number 7. Showing his versatility. I thought the play was originally designed for Booker to get the ball off the screen by Chandler, but maybe Simmons was playing him too tight so they went with option b, which was posting Booker up. He blows by Simmons and makes the layup.
8th highlight. Nice dish off to Chandler. Booker is really looking like a veteran out there.
9th. Another assist for Booker. Chandler did most of the work there though.
10th. Booker analyzes the defense. Pulls up for the three since he has room. Could have been a 4-point play since West didn't let him land correctly.
11th. Chandler might have gotten away with a moving screen. Still, if the refs don't call it then Booker needs to take advantage, which he does.
12th. Probably my favorite shot by Booker. He says Kawhi who? A facial for Leonard.

I love this kid. He is the Suns future. Do not trade him. He will end making more threes in his career than Reggie Miller.

[AtheJ415]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/SunsBballComm/status/690410297992069120[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/SunsBballComm/status/690425001141538816[/tweet]

LMAO I was actually just thinking of this while I hit the gym. I was gonna post something along the lines of... who was the last rookie to put up 56 points in a two game span.
Right now Booker is playing very elite basketball for his age.
Len also had a good game and I liked the two dunks he had on that elephant ear player.

It's kind of funny. We've been clamoring that we must suck to get a top 5 pick because that's what it takes to get a superstar (despite Butler, George, Curry, Green, Leonard, etc.. not coming from that range), and many have been furious we traded a potential top 10 pick for Knight, but we probably already have our future star, selected with a dreaded late lottery pick. I'm on board the tank, and fully believe we're better off with a higher pick, but the value of it is never as high as many think.

Seriously, there's no reason Booker can't develop into the best 2 guard in basketball when he's in his mid 20s (by then, Harden is what, 33?). It's just Beal for guys around his age and I like Booker's game better. He comes from a dad who played overseas, which explains his maturity. His offensive game has shown the ability to drive, shoot off screens, shoot off the dribble, pull up, even post up, and to adapt to the defense as needed, while playing within the offense. The only thing he really needs to improve on a lot is his defense, but given his maturity and family background I see no reason why that wouldn't happen. Even today I saw him as an off-ball defender yelling for Tyson to help the on ball defender right before a drive (Tyson ignored him and was late anyways), but it shows he's talking and recognizing defenses better.

Is there anything anybody's seen from Booker that makes them think he can't be that guy for us? The more up in the air questions for me are whether Len can be a 2 way, above average starter at center in the long run, and whether Warren can develop more of his game other than scoring. Those are more open questions to me than whether Booker will be a star player.

[bigfoot]

I would love to see a Bledsoe-Booker backcourt for the next four years. We have to move Knight by the end of this summer to make room for Bogdanovic who plays both SG and PG. He needs to come over next year.

Bledsoe-Booker-Bogdanovic ... the killer B's

[jcsunsfan]

Has anyone checked out Booker's highlights yet? Incredible...

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHgoILBsTxQ[/youtube]


1st scoring bucket for the Suns, he hits a shot over Danny Green. Green is a pesky defender and is probably one of the best/underrated two-way SG's in the league.
2nd shot, again over Danny Green, which should have been an and-1.
3rd basket, on a 1 on 3 fast break, hits the shot over two defenders. I think Aldridge didn't think Booker was gonna drive there and he was gonna pull it back and wait for teammates.
4th highlight. Creating easy buckets for Warren.
5th highlight. Manu pulling a Flopoli, Booker makes him pay and knocks down a mid-range jumper. Do you guys remember in the beginning of the year, his mid-range game was very very inconsistent to say the least. Now he's hitting them in his sleep. Oh, and Booker has created/made 5/6ths of our offense at this point.
6th highlight. Another smart play from Booker.
Number 7. Showing his versatility. I thought the play was originally designed for Booker to get the ball off the screen by Chandler, but maybe Simmons was playing him too tight so they went with option b, which was posting Booker up. He blows by Simmons and makes the layup.
8th highlight. Nice dish off to Chandler. Booker is really looking like a veteran out there.
9th. Another assist for Booker. Chandler did most of the work there though.
10th. Booker analyzes the defense. Pulls up for the three since he has room. Could have been a 4-point play since West didn't let him land correctly.
11th. Chandler might have gotten away with a moving screen. Still, if the refs don't call it then Booker needs to take advantage, which he does.
12th. Probably my favorite shot by Booker. He says Kawhi who? A facial for Leonard.

I love this kid. He is the Suns future. Do not trade him. He will end making more threes in his career than Reggie Miller.

Love the passing and unselfish play. Teammates love to play with someone like that. He just LOOKS like a better player than most out there. I wonder how long it will be til he starts getting star treatment from the refs.

[jcsunsfan]

I would love to see a Bledsoe-Booker backcourt for the next four years. We have to move Knight by the end of this summer to make room for Bogdanovic who plays both SG and PG. He needs to come over next year.

Bledsoe-Booker-Bogdanovic ... the killer B's

As bad as we are playing, this team is not in bad shape. We have Booker who is looking like a star. Bledsoe is a solid pg, and a trade commodity if things don't fit. Warren is still developing but looks to be a solid starter at worst. We have Bogdan starting to improve over seas. Len still has the possibility of developing. And then there is the lottery pick this year.

The goal is three star players. Booker--check. Lottery pick this year -- good opportunity for number 2. Lots of trade fodder to pick up number 3 somewhere.


That doesn't include the future picks from Miami.

[RunDogGun]

What I liked most about Booker is he didn't get rattled after Green fouled him numerous times with no calls. He just kept after it to find his shot. He also didn't b*tch at the refs. That will go a long way if he keeps that attitude up. Eventually (hopefully), refs will see that he isn't complaining and should get the respect he gives out.

[Puff]

I would love to see a Bledsoe-Booker backcourt for the next four years. We have to move Knight by the end of this summer to make room for Bogdanovic who plays both SG and PG. He needs to come over next year.

Bledsoe-Booker-Bogdanovic ... the killer B's

As bad as we are playing, this team is not in bad shape. We have Booker who is looking like a star. Bledsoe is a solid pg, and a trade commodity if things don't fit. Warren is still developing but looks to be a solid starter at worst. We have Bogdan starting to improve over seas. Len still has the possibility of developing. And then there is the lottery pick this year.

The goal is three star players. Booker--check. Lottery pick this year -- good opportunity for number 2. Lots of trade fodder to pick up number 3 somewhere.


That doesn't include the future picks from Miami.

I admire your positive attitude, I really do. I am usually a positive guy as well but other than Booker we are bad in all areas.

1. Bad Owner
2. Bad Coach
3. Questionable GM at best
4. Only one player on the current roster, IMO, is a keeper and that is Booker. I like Bledsoe and would really like to see him in a starting back court with Booker, along with a new coaching philosophy prior to passing final judgement. Many on this board say they would definitely keep Warren and Len. I am not convinced, both have many limitations and it appears that when they finally show signs of productivity they could be real expensive to keep around. Bogdanovic is interesting and I have hope but we have seen what another player that tore up the Euro league did this year, Sonny Weems. So I will hold judgement.
5. These players have to disappear as soon as possible or for sure by this summers end. Knight, Chandler, Morris, Tucker, Lerurer (yeah he sucks to), Weems and Mirza. Basically everyone not named Booker.
6. This means that I am suggesting that we basically turn over the entire roster again this summer. I cannot remember an off season since the Nash gang was broken up that we have not had huge changes in the off season. Good teams and organizations do not do this every off season.
7. Since the current management and coach has created this disaster, how can you expect it to get better anytime soon without major changes in management and philosophy.

Again, I admire your positive attitude. However when you break it down, we are a total freaking disaster which appears to be on he road to get worse rather than better.

I approve this message

[Damkac]

I would love to see a Bledsoe-Booker backcourt for the next four years. We have to move Knight by the end of this summer to make room for Bogdanovic who plays both SG and PG. He needs to come over next year.

Bledsoe-Booker-Bogdanovic ... the killer B's

I wouldn't mind our frontcourt to look like this:
Bledsoe/Knight
Booker/Bogdanovic

Bogdan is good at passing so he can compensate for Knight's lack of it.

Many may say Knight is to expensive for a bench guy but let's wait to see how crazy contracts will come in this offseason.

[Years90Suns]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/SunsBballComm/status/690410297992069120[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/SunsBballComm/status/690425001141538816[/tweet]

LMAO I was actually just thinking of this while I hit the gym. I was gonna post something along the lines of... who was the last rookie to put up 56 points in a two game span.
Right now Booker is playing very elite basketball for his age.
Len also had a good game and I liked the two dunks he had on that elephant ear player.

It's kind of funny. We've been clamoring that we must suck to get a top 5 pick because that's what it takes to get a superstar (despite Butler, George, Curry, Green, Leonard, etc.. not coming from that range), and many have been furious we traded a potential top 10 pick for Knight, but we probably already have our future star, selected with a dreaded late lottery pick. I'm on board the tank, and fully believe we're better off with a higher pick, but the value of it is never as high as many think.

Seriously, there's no reason Booker can't develop into the best 2 guard in basketball when he's in his mid 20s (by then, Harden is what, 33?). It's just Beal for guys around his age and I like Booker's game better. He comes from a dad who played overseas, which explains his maturity. His offensive game has shown the ability to drive, shoot off screens, shoot off the dribble, pull up, even post up, and to adapt to the defense as needed, while playing within the offense. The only thing he really needs to improve on a lot is his defense, but given his maturity and family background I see no reason why that wouldn't happen. Even today I saw him as an off-ball defender yelling for Tyson to help the on ball defender right before a drive (Tyson ignored him and was late anyways), but it shows he's talking and recognizing defenses better.

Is there anything anybody's seen from Booker that makes them think he can't be that guy for us? The more up in the air questions for me are whether Len can be a 2 way, above average starter at center in the long run, and whether Warren can develop more of his game other than scoring. Those are more open questions to me than whether Booker will be a star player.

I believe it is kind of imposible to know who 18 year old guy is going to settle all up together when he gets to be a millionaire, live on his own in a different city and with 28-35 year old guys who could care or not care about you.