Game 32: Suns (9-22) @ Spurs (25-6)

[OGBAH]

Is Booker playing hurt (toe)?

[grumpysaddle]

Is Booker playing hurt (toe)?

(head)

[OGBAH]

(Ok)

[darealjuice]

Bender has played very well the last 2 games, it's nice to see his minutes go up in back to back games. He had a good game today, but I feel like he needs to be more aggressive when he has the ball, especially when he has fossils like David Lee and Pau Gasol out on the floor covering him. Put the ball on the deck and get to the bucket or show some of that playmaking we've gotten glimpses of. I think once he starts showing more of aggressiveness, the team will build trust and get him the ball more when he's open on the perimeter for kick outs, because it seemed like the majority of the second half he'd trail the play, catch the ball at the top of the key, swing it to the wing and not touch the ball again even if he was open.

His perimeter defense is solid, he does a good job switching on guards and not going for fakes and sliding with them. His post defense is fundamentally pretty good, he just needs to put on some muscle so he isn't getting backed down by the few remaining traditional power forwards like LMA, but that will come with time. Overall it was another very encouraging game from him.

[sleepyvato]

Devin should change his last name to Chucker because instead of making the easy pass to an open player, he decides to pull up and shoot a brick.

What a terrible game this was, especially the second half. Well, at least Warren, Bender and Chriss had solid games so it's not all bad.

[LukasBMW]

Don't look now, but Chriss and Bender are starting to make major league moves and complete nice plays in real game time (not just garbage time).

Great to see Chriss start to slow down and play smoother. His combination of spin post moves and ability to drain the 3 are going to be bonkers if he keeps working hard.

Great to see Bender do more then just shoot 3's. I love seeing him go to the rim and finish with a dunk! He might be our best passer. I hope our coaching staff is pushing him to develop his mid-range and inside game because that will make the difference between role player off the bench and possible all star.

[nevetsov]

Starting to worry about Book. Last year he was so focused, so disciplined. Was all about working hard and getting better. Chip on his shoulder.

This year, it's almost like he's been suffocated in the negative team dynamic and "doing as the veterans do". That is, looking for his own shot rather than the best shot, losing focus defensively and barking at the ref's rather than taking accountability for his own miscues.

Without a strong coaching voice to pull everyone into line (not faulting Watson here, he's still a rookie himself) the veterans need to set a better example, which is clearly not happening and it's affecting the way in which the youth are developing.

Duds and Barbs are the only vets worth keeping. Either Watson needs to start laying down some accountability, or we need to purge the rest before Chriss and Bender become the Morris brothers part two.

[LukasBMW]

Booker is at the top of the scouting report. Teams are putting their best defender on him and roughing him up. He's getting superstar defense treatment in only his second year because teams have no one else to focus on.

He'll be fine when he learns how to handle being target #1 AND when the other Suns start to consistently relieve some pressure off of him.

[TeamTragic]

Starting to worry about Book. Last year he was so focused, so disciplined. Was all about working hard and getting better. Chip on his shoulder.

This year, it's almost like he's been suffocated in the negative team dynamic and "doing as the veterans do". That is, looking for his own shot rather than the best shot, losing focus defensively and barking at the ref's rather than taking accountability for his own miscues.

Without a strong coaching voice to pull everyone into line (not faulting Watson here, he's still a rookie himself) the veterans need to set a better example, which is clearly not happening and it's affecting the way in which the youth are developing.

Duds and Barbs are the only vets worth keeping. Either Watson needs to start laying down some accountability, or we need to purge the rest before Chriss and Bender become the Morris brothers part two.

Every time I watch Booker player I can see that he doesn't really care. Why should he give a ****? This team is garbage. The youth are just now barely getting playing time. Watson is a babysitter and not a coach.

If we don't make changes fast the next shocking headline will be when Booker leaves this team. Then what will follow will be an MVP season right before he becomes a franchise player. Someone please screen cap this post for reference.

[RunDogGun]

Starting to worry about Book. Last year he was so focused, so disciplined. Was all about working hard and getting better. Chip on his shoulder.

This year, it's almost like he's been suffocated in the negative team dynamic and "doing as the veterans do". That is, looking for his own shot rather than the best shot, losing focus defensively and barking at the ref's rather than taking accountability for his own miscues.

Without a strong coaching voice to pull everyone into line (not faulting Watson here, he's still a rookie himself) the veterans need to set a better example, which is clearly not happening and it's affecting the way in which the youth are developing.

Duds and Barbs are the only vets worth keeping. Either Watson needs to start laying down some accountability, or we need to purge the rest before Chriss and Bender become the Morris brothers part two.

I'm a bit confused, Nev, are you saying that Tucker and Chandler are the vets who are displaying the shoot first mentality, and therefore aren't worthy to keep?

[thamadkant]

Why doesn't Watson ever say anything to the players when they make a bonehead play?

because he cant coach so being liked by players is his only upside.

[Jdiddy701]

If we can get rid of Knight, Tucker and Len, that'll be great.


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[Sonne]

i think watson is the worst coach of all time this dude is annoying like **** damn please mcdon fire him!

[PackSuns]

deleted post

[PackSuns]

Forgot to add Go Suns!!!

[thamadkant]

People saying Booker is "chucking" and "shooting terribly" because of teams focusing on defending him are apologists... thats all.

If Booker was shooting the ball 5-6 times a game and passing the ball a lot because he was being doubled or being closely defended by the other team's defender... that I can accept as Booker performing below par due to defense on him.


Booker chucking bad shots and forcing shots.... does not mean defenses has focused on him solely.

32 games in.... and enough evidence to show that Booker has been a chucker and has been impatient. As Sean Elliot said about young players (originally about them not playing defense), these players want instant gratification. They want results here and now, not patient enough to slowly put the work in. In this case, Booker rather shoot BAD shots than move the ball around and run to open spots. Watson has given him too much confidence and breathing room to chuck.

[nevetsov]

Starting to worry about Book. Last year he was so focused, so disciplined. Was all about working hard and getting better. Chip on his shoulder.

This year, it's almost like he's been suffocated in the negative team dynamic and "doing as the veterans do". That is, looking for his own shot rather than the best shot, losing focus defensively and barking at the ref's rather than taking accountability for his own miscues.

Without a strong coaching voice to pull everyone into line (not faulting Watson here, he's still a rookie himself) the veterans need to set a better example, which is clearly not happening and it's affecting the way in which the youth are developing.

Duds and Barbs are the only vets worth keeping. Either Watson needs to start laying down some accountability, or we need to purge the rest before Chriss and Bender become the Morris brothers part two.

I'm a bit confused, Nev, are you saying that Tucker and Chandler are the vets who are displaying the shoot first mentality, and therefore aren't worthy to keep?

Sorry RDG for the late response. With respect to Chandler and Tucker - probably moreso the lack of discipline and accountability displayed by these two (certainly the jawing at the ref's and complaining) than ball hogging and taking shots. That said, Tucker especially is often guilty of ball stopping and jacking up poor shots in the flow of the offense.

In a nutshell, last year I felt Book kept his mouth shut and let his actions speak for themselves. This year, he's doing more talking the talk, and not walking the walk. It's a quality that I certainly associate more with guys like PJ and Tyson.

[grumpysaddle]

Watching Knight jack up anything and everything with immunity can't be helping Boomer either. The sooner Knight is removed, the better. Booker is too young to instill these habits in.