Suns Lineups

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

Two questions:
1. Who do you think will be in the Suns starting lineup on opening night?
2. What lineup are you most excited about seeing this season?

For me,
1. Bledsoe-Booker-Warren-Dudley-Len

I consider Bledsoe, Dudley and Booker locks. Yes, Booker a lock. His game screams alpha playmaker.

I think Warren gets the nod over Tucker because we need his offense more than PJ's defense, and in any case, I think Warren's a better defender than the stats indicate. Not only is TJ efficient offensively, he also steals the ball while keeping his own turnovers low. This results in fewer opportunities for the other team, but he also encourages fast-paced basketball, meaning that if the team around him is **** in terms of its transition defense, this brings him down. PJ+Jared+Either center creates nothing offensively, and Bled and either Booker or Knight can't create enough on their own. The starters need TJ, and PJ's at the end of his time with the Suns.

Len over Tyson is the closest call. Tyson doesn't work well with Brandon, and frankly, I don't think they like each other. That supports starting Tyson with Knight off the bench. But I think that because we've identified Len as part of our core (we think and hope), and because we don't lose any rebounding or interior D with Len, we start Alex. It would be nice to have a scoring 4 off the bench, so here's hoping Chriss steps up big time.

2. Ulis-Booker-Warren-Dudley-Chriss/Bender

This is a very small lineup, and if we see any variation of this, it will probably be with Bled at the 1 or Len at the 5. To me, the fun part is Ulis-Booker-Warren. Ulis's well-known chemistry with Booker, Ulis's and Booker's passing, and TJ's elite cutting abilities could make that a dangerous trio - especially when you consider Ulis's propensity to steal the ball on consecutive possessions. With them, I'd want the stabilizing, floor-stretching, athletic-handed Jared Dudley. At the 5, a floor-stretching big. The issue here is defense at the five, but on offense, this could be a HOT SQUAD.

Future Hot Squad: Ulis-Booker-Warren-Bender-Chriss

[NTB]

1. Bledsoe - Booker - Tucker - Dudley - Chandler

2. Bledsoe - Booker - Warren - Bender(Chriss) - Len

[bwgood77]

I echo NTB's first lineup and for my most excited it would be

Ulis, Booker, Warren, Bender and Chriss.

That just sounds fun to watch. Everyone can shoot the 3 and is unselfish plus it is the future of our team with at least three good passers.

[SC923]

I agree with NTB and bwgood77 about the starting lineup and not sure if they will ever the see the floor together but Bled-Book-T.j-Chriss and Williams would be intriguing

[Walt_Uoob]

I agree with Bledsoe - Booker - Tucker - Dudley - Chandler too. Eager to see Warren take over the starting spot but since he's coming back from injury and all I think they'll go with Tucker to start the season. And Chandler gets the nod as the vet.

2. Bledsoe - Knight - Booker - Warren - Len. I want to see the other lineups mentioned too, but intrigued by this small-ball set as well. Might be our 5 best players this year, so I'm sure we'll see some of this for stretches.

[Jdiddy701]

I agree with NTB and bwgood77 about the starting lineup and not sure if they will ever the see the floor together but Bled-Book-T.j-Chriss and Williams would be intriguing

Williams lol



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[Qwigglez]

Ulis-Bledsoe-Knight-Archie-Booker all Kentucky lineup.

[SC923]

I agree with NTB and bwgood77 about the starting lineup and not sure if they will ever the see the floor together but Bled-Book-T.j-Chriss and Williams would be intriguing

Williams lol



Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

I think the intensity he brings helps this team. His defense and rebounding makes up for Chriss' defensive liability. Plus I don't really like Tyson or Len lol

[Damkac]

1. Who do you think will be in the Suns starting lineup on opening night?

Bledsoe-Booker-Tucker-Dudley-Chandler

2. What lineup are you most excited about seeing this season?

Ulis-Booker-Warren-Bender-Len

[Saberestar]

1. Bledsoe-Booker-Warren-Dudley-Chandler.

2. Ulis-Bledsoe-Booker-Warren-Tucker.

Yes, I like small ball.

[LukasBMW]

1. I'd be shocked if the starting 5 on opening night wasn't Bledsoe/Booker/PJ/Dudley/Chandler.

I think Len has the best chance of beating out Chandler followed by TJ beating out PJ.


2. What lineup are you most excited about seeing this season?

Ulis/Booker/TJ/Bender/Len - AKA the future

-Ulis is a great unselfish floor general.

-Booker is our future superstar SG.

-TJ will only be even more effective on offense playing alongside a pass first PG who can better hit him when he cuts.

-I expect Bender to learn quickly. He has so much potential. I loved that he could pick and pop in summer league, pass well, and even defend the rim. He didn't bang inside at all on offense, but towards the end, he was pretty physical on defense and did a good job of helping our 5 protect the rim and box out. Once his shot adjusts and he bulks up and learns how to play inside on offense, he will become a killer PF in the modern NBA.

-If Len comes in motivated, I think he and Bender can become a SICK frontcourt. Both are 7 footers who have shown shotblocking ability when they want to. Len doesn't have the range of Bender, but he doesn't need it. He can already knock down the 17 footer and he is still improving rolling to the basket as well as his post game. I still think Len could be our 5 of the future.

Chriss misses the cut just because I think Bender is wayyyy more NBA ready and further ahead on defense, rebounding, and passing. Essentially, Bender can play and not be a "net negative" as his offensive game develops. Chriss on the other hand would probably get abused on defense and on the boards. But as recent articles have said, he is still learning and still growing. I fully expect him to get some good garbage time minutes and show us that he has potential to do major damage once he stops playing like a wide receiver (using his quickness to avoid contact) and more like a tight end (using his size to box out, defend, and run over people on offense. I think Chandler will be a great teacher for him regarding toughness, defense, rebounding, and using his body to overpower people without fouling.

[Mulhollanddrive]

Bledsoe, Knight, Tucker, Dudley, Chandler.

I'm excited for a Booker-Warren combo to see if they can just go off with 12-15 points each in a quarter.

[Superhuman]

I'd love to see a Bledsoe/Booker/Warren/Dudley/Bender lineup in short stretches. Who needs defense amirite?

[NavLDO]

1. Bledsoe-Booker-Warren-Dudley-Chandler.

2. Ulis-Bledsoe-Booker-Warren-Tucker.

Yes, I like small ball.

I'll get beat up again, but why are we not starting Warren as a stretch-4??? Dudley-Warren/Warren-Dudley...IDK, but Warren needs to start.

Bledsoe-Booker-Dudley-Warren-Len

Ulis-Knight-Bender-PJ-Chriss or Bender-Chriss-Willams

Trade PJ to a contender for a late-1st. Trade Knight to anyone for a cookie! j/k...Knight may breakout this year; stranger things have happened, but he might be a good trade piece for a contender, especially if it looks as if Ulis can handle 2-team PG effectively.

[bwgood77]

1. Bledsoe-Booker-Warren-Dudley-Chandler.

2. Ulis-Bledsoe-Booker-Warren-Tucker.

Yes, I like small ball.

I'll get beat up again, but why are we not starting Warren as a stretch-4??? Dudley-Warren/Warren-Dudley...IDK, but Warren needs to start.

Bledsoe-Booker-Dudley-Warren-Len

Ulis-Knight-Bender-PJ-Chriss or Bender-Chriss-Willams

Trade PJ to a contender for a late-1st. Trade Knight to anyone for a cookie! j/k...Knight may breakout this year; stranger things have happened, but he might be a good trade piece for a contender, especially if it looks as if Ulis can handle 2-team PG effectively.

I've read non biased fans or other teams say that Dudley has to pretty much play the 4 now because his quickness works at the 4, but he's not quick enough to guard 3s. TJ despite needing to get better defensively, is quick enough to guard 3s if he just simply gets better at defending.

[NavLDO]

1. Bledsoe-Booker-Warren-Dudley-Chandler.

2. Ulis-Bledsoe-Booker-Warren-Tucker.

Yes, I like small ball.

I'll get beat up again, but why are we not starting Warren as a stretch-4??? Dudley-Warren/Warren-Dudley...IDK, but Warren needs to start.

Bledsoe-Booker-Dudley-Warren-Len

Ulis-Knight-Bender-PJ-Chriss or Bender-Chriss-Willams

Trade PJ to a contender for a late-1st. Trade Knight to anyone for a cookie! j/k...Knight may breakout this year; stranger things have happened, but he might be a good trade piece for a contender, especially if it looks as if Ulis can handle 2-team PG effectively.

I've read non biased fans or other teams say that Dudley has to pretty much play the 4 now because his quickness works at the 4, but he's not quick enough to guard 3s. TJ despite needing to get better defensively, is quick enough to guard 3s if he just simply gets better at defending.

But he's not freakishly long like PJ or 'big' like Barkley--simply, a 6'7" guy with 6'7" wingspan defending the 4 is too small, and if he's too slow for the 3, then that concerns me.

[bwgood77]

I'll get beat up again, but why are we not starting Warren as a stretch-4??? Dudley-Warren/Warren-Dudley...IDK, but Warren needs to start.

Bledsoe-Booker-Dudley-Warren-Len

Ulis-Knight-Bender-PJ-Chriss or Bender-Chriss-Willams

Trade PJ to a contender for a late-1st. Trade Knight to anyone for a cookie! j/k...Knight may breakout this year; stranger things have happened, but he might be a good trade piece for a contender, especially if it looks as if Ulis can handle 2-team PG effectively.

I've read non biased fans or other teams say that Dudley has to pretty much play the 4 now because his quickness works at the 4, but he's not quick enough to guard 3s. TJ despite needing to get better defensively, is quick enough to guard 3s if he just simply gets better at defending.

But he's not freakishly long like PJ or 'big' like Barkley--simply, a 6'7" guy with 6'7" wingspan defending the 4 is too small, and if he's too slow for the 3, then that concerns me.

I'm sure Watson will play guys where they seem to work out best. We have so many players who can switch that it really doesn't matter.

[Saberestar]

I'll get beat up again, but why are we not starting Warren as a stretch-4??? Dudley-Warren/Warren-Dudley...IDK, but Warren needs to start.

Bledsoe-Booker-Dudley-Warren-Len

Ulis-Knight-Bender-PJ-Chriss or Bender-Chriss-Willams

Trade PJ to a contender for a late-1st. Trade Knight to anyone for a cookie! j/k...Knight may breakout this year; stranger things have happened, but he might be a good trade piece for a contender, especially if it looks as if Ulis can handle 2-team PG effectively.

I've read non biased fans or other teams say that Dudley has to pretty much play the 4 now because his quickness works at the 4, but he's not quick enough to guard 3s. TJ despite needing to get better defensively, is quick enough to guard 3s if he just simply gets better at defending.

But he's not freakishly long like PJ or 'big' like Barkley--simply, a 6'7" guy with 6'7" wingspan defending the 4 is too small, and if he's too slow for the 3, then that concerns me.

IMHO you are putting too much value in players size, wingspan and weight. Yeah, that is important, but those are cold numbers that do not say the complet story...at the end of the day the most important thing is their mentality and skillset.

Some players play bigger than their size and love contact and to fight around the rim. And other players with size do not know how to rebound or go away of contact easily.

For example... Hedo Turkoglu was 6'10 with 230 lbs and he was ALWAYS a perimeter player...it was a big fail to try to play him at PF because he was not just that type of player.

The same can be said about Gerald Green who is 6'8 but he has always played like an small guy. It does not matter if Tucker is 2-3 inches short, his strength and mentality makes him a better fit to play some minutes at PF than Green.

I think that Dudley knows how to defend PFs better than Warren because he is a good defender off the ball and fights really hard in the post, and he is really good boxing out. Not a perfect PF, but a decent one.

Warren is a more finesse player and right now he is not a physical player on defense...probably in the future, I hope so, but I expect him to defend mainly SFs.

[NavLDO]

I've read non biased fans or other teams say that Dudley has to pretty much play the 4 now because his quickness works at the 4, but he's not quick enough to guard 3s. TJ despite needing to get better defensively, is quick enough to guard 3s if he just simply gets better at defending.

But he's not freakishly long like PJ or 'big' like Barkley--simply, a 6'7" guy with 6'7" wingspan defending the 4 is too small, and if he's too slow for the 3, then that concerns me.

IMHO you are putting too much value in players size, wingspan and weight. Yeah, that is important, but those are cold numbers that do not say the complet story...at the end of the day the most important thing is their mentality and skillset.

Some players play bigger than their size and love contact and to fight around the rim. And other players with size do not know how to rebound or go away of contact easily.

For example... Hedo Turkoglu was 6'10 with 230 lbs and he was ALWAYS a perimeter player...it was a big fail to try to play him at PF because he was not just that type of player.

The same can be said about Gerald Green who is 6'8 but he has always played like an small guy. It does not matter if Tucker is 2-3 inches short, his strength and mentality makes him a better fit to play some minutes at PF than Green...AND has a freakishly long 7' Wingspan.

I think that Dudley knows how to defend PFs better than Warren because he is a good defender off the ball and fights really hard in the post, and he is really good boxing out. Not a perfect PF, but a decent one.

Warren is a more finesse player and right now he is not a physical player on defense...probably in the future, I hope so, but I expect him to defend mainly SFs.

And there's a reason larger, longer players play PF and Center, and why shorter, lighter players play PG and SG...there's a reason they average out that way. Also, Warren has grown an inch and has added muscle weight, and we have a whopping 1.5 years of evidence on him. He's been 'trained' and 'practiced as' a SF; you are making a generalization based upon very limited evidence.

I'm just saying that per his 'size', he's a better fit to play PF. He's 2" taller and has a 3.5" advantage in length, and again, has added weight. practice him as a PF, and he can play it. He has played some already, so it's not as if it's an impossibility.

All things being equal, he's a better 'model' to defend the position, and since he's been played at the position prior, and if asked to play and practice as a PF, I do not see why he couldn't be successful. RIGHT NOW? Maybe Dudley has a better mindset and has more experience, but that doesn't mean he's best suited to play PF, and he's (nor Warren) are probably best suited to bring Chriss along as a PF, which could be an issue, but hopefully PJ, Dudley, and yes a guy that's closer to his size, Warren, can help him along.

Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley are anomalies. Chuck should've been a SF, at his biggest position, and SF was probably the smallest size that Magic should've played. So I'm not saying it's impossible, but I think it's fair for a fan to be worried that a guy who has played nearly all his career at SF, except for 42 games last year at PF, who has his 'measurements', is our best option at PF; I'm just offering another suggestion is all. And saying that a 9 year vet plays better defense than a guy with 1.5 years of experience...well, yeah, that's not a surprise. But to dismiss Warren outright because of that fact isn't really fair. I even admitted that either could, and likely will, switch off a lot. I just think it needs to happen a little more often than not, is all.

[lumes]

Do you really believe Warren can play defense? Can guard someone more dangerous, than bencher SF's?
P.J. made brilliant job last season versus Harden, he also can guard top physical SF like LeBron. He should start couse he is only real Suns perimeter defender. Booker can't guard sf, so I assume he will play very limited minutes on that position. Also, Tucker will make his life easier, guarding Wiggins or Beard - big strong wings. Devine doesn't seemed ready for really hardcore match-ups

Also, Dudley as starting PF only means that your team has so poor roster, that you have to trust PF position to guy, armed with hustle only, no skill, no size.

Yes, Len is not PF, but, he didn't look terrible paired with TC. Better he will guard KAT than Dudley or Warren.
I'm not sure Bender or Chriss are ready to play big minutes and contribute, (the only rooks, that really can help right now is Uliss) but if I have to chose, I would take Bender. His speed and size for 4 are very impressive, and he seemed to be coachable. Not vs Brow or Griffin or Boogie/LMA (they will slice and dice him), but vs smaller teams he can fit.

Knight was good last season, when in second unit - he could be upgraded version of J.Crawford. This could be our advantage - 20ppg from the bench.

Against big teams like Mem, SAS, Sacto, Jazz I would definitely like to see big line-up
Bledsoe - Booker-PJ-Len-TC - yes, lack of scoring, but this team can play defense
Against smaller teams - in october probably we don't have other option, than
Bledsoe-Booker-Dudley-Tucker-TC - but in January I hope to see Bender starting to benefit with his unique blend of size, speedy feet and 3pt shot.