Summer League: Vegas baby, vegas.

[bhawk]

I'm really not feeling Chris right now. I'd prefer TJ at the 4 over him.

Bender stroke is quick and pure though. He ain't afraid to shoot. I'm giving him more leeway than Chris because of the attitude I see on the court. Chriss is like Boogie, without the skills..... not good.

Chriss is playing like a bust. Call it what it is. For many of the Suns fans he has gone from having "potential" to becoming extremely unlikable. But all is forgiven if he puts it together... just not seeing ANY development right now.

[bwgood77]

For the 4th pick in last years draft we wanted Bender to be the exception. Turns out it could take him an extra year, two, three or he may never put it together. It is up to him.

I was really high on him and Chriss and wanted to draft them, but always expected them to take a few years. They were both really young and raw. Chriss did more than I expected and Bender didn't get a lot of opportunity (nor was he utilized correctly imo) and then got injured, but I guess I didn't have nearly as high of early expectations for these guys than many people here. I actually was quite impressed from some of the things I saw from them (Chriss' rebounding, Bender's perimeter D, etc). But, yes, they are raw and still both make a lot of mistakes as well, but I expected it.

[bhawk]

For the 4th pick in last years draft we wanted Bender to be the exception. Turns out it could take him an extra year, two, three or he may never put it together. It is up to him.

I was really high on him and Chriss and wanted to draft them, but always expected them to take a few years. They were both really young and raw. Chriss did more than I expected and Bender didn't get a lot of opportunity (nor was he utilized correctly imo) and then got injured, but I guess I didn't have nearly as high of early expectations for these guys than many people here. I actually was quite impressed from some of the things I saw from them (Chriss' rebounding, Bender's perimeter D, etc). But, yes, they are raw and still both make a lot of mistakes as well, but I expected it.

Great point. We are PHX fans and we all have different expectations, hopes, ideas about what these players will become. My personal and basic expectation is that a high draft pick (top 5) and smart front office equals an All-Star NBA player.

High Draft Pick + Smart People at the Suns = All-Star Player.

I understand that it RARELY turns out this way for any NBA team, and it is funny that we have had more success with mid-lottery with Amare and Booker... but I will keep dreaming and hoping for the second coming.

My expectation is that McD - Sarver draft the BPA. At this point in time with a horrible summer league team, it feels like we missed on Bender and Chriss... which sucks.

[bwgood77]

For the 4th pick in last years draft we wanted Bender to be the exception. Turns out it could take him an extra year, two, three or he may never put it together. It is up to him.

I was really high on him and Chriss and wanted to draft them, but always expected them to take a few years. They were both really young and raw. Chriss did more than I expected and Bender didn't get a lot of opportunity (nor was he utilized correctly imo) and then got injured, but I guess I didn't have nearly as high of early expectations for these guys than many people here. I actually was quite impressed from some of the things I saw from them (Chriss' rebounding, Bender's perimeter D, etc). But, yes, they are raw and still both make a lot of mistakes as well, but I expected it.

Great point. We are PHX fans and we all have different expectations, hopes, ideas about what these players will become. My personal and basic expectation is that a high draft pick (top 5) and smart front office equals an All-Star NBA player.

High Draft Pick + Smart People at the Suns = All-Star Player.

I understand that it RARELY turns out this way for any NBA team, and it is funny that we have had more success with mid-lottery with Amare and Booker... but I will keep dreaming and hoping for the second coming.

My expectation is that McD - Sarver draft the BPA. At this point in time with a horrible summer league team, it feels like we missed on Bender and Chriss... which sucks.

Is there an alternative that you would have rather taken at 4? I suppose with Chriss we could have kept 13, 28 and Bogdan, but I don't see too many great players that went down there either. I suppose Hernangomez at 13 maybe or Skal. I feel pretty good about Chriss overall, though him not looking in shape is worrisome as are the turnovers in summer league. That's the primary difference in why Bender fares so much better in +/- is that Chriss turns it over so much it takes a possession from our team and gives an extra one to the opposition. If he would have only had like 3 turnovers as opposed to 7 yesterday we probably win. Bender had 1 turnover. Bender looked good early but then sat because of fouls (some ticky tack) and never got in as much rhythm again after sitting.

Ultimately I think people are being a little too critical based on summer league. I feel it's certainly WAY too early to call anyone from last year's draft, particularly the two youngest guys, busts.

[bhawk]

I was really high on him and Chriss and wanted to draft them, but always expected them to take a few years. They were both really young and raw. Chriss did more than I expected and Bender didn't get a lot of opportunity (nor was he utilized correctly imo) and then got injured, but I guess I didn't have nearly as high of early expectations for these guys than many people here. I actually was quite impressed from some of the things I saw from them (Chriss' rebounding, Bender's perimeter D, etc). But, yes, they are raw and still both make a lot of mistakes as well, but I expected it.

Great point. We are PHX fans and we all have different expectations, hopes, ideas about what these players will become. My personal and basic expectation is that a high draft pick (top 5) and smart front office equals an All-Star NBA player.

High Draft Pick + Smart People at the Suns = All-Star Player.

I understand that it RARELY turns out this way for any NBA team, and it is funny that we have had more success with mid-lottery with Amare and Booker... but I will keep dreaming and hoping for the second coming.

My expectation is that McD - Sarver draft the BPA. At this point in time with a horrible summer league team, it feels like we missed on Bender and Chriss... which sucks.

Is there an alternative that you would have rather taken at 4? I suppose with Chriss we could have kept 13, 28 and Bogdan, but I don't see too many great players that went down there either. I suppose Hernangomez at 13 maybe or Skal. I feel pretty good about Chriss overall, though him not looking in shape is worrisome as are the turnovers in summer league. That's the primary difference in why Bender fares so much better in +/- is that Chriss turns it over so much it takes a possession from our team and gives an extra one to the opposition. If he would have only had like 3 turnovers as opposed to 7 yesterday we probably win. Bender had 1 turnover. Bender looked good early but then sat because of fouls (some ticky tack) and never got in as much rhythm again after sitting.

Ultimately I think people are being a little too critical based on summer league. I feel it's certainly WAY too early to call anyone from last year's draft, particularly the two youngest guys, busts.

In the 2016 draft... I like Hield... but he has not been much better. Bender and Marquesse were the consensus best picks and I was happy as a clam. The good vibes from the org and the kool-aid was awesome.

Fast forward to this year's summer league and I'm quickly losing patience... and there is no doubt that I am being too critical. But wouldn't it be nice for one of these guys to break out and have a great game? I'm still waiting...

[bwgood77]

Great point. We are PHX fans and we all have different expectations, hopes, ideas about what these players will become. My personal and basic expectation is that a high draft pick (top 5) and smart front office equals an All-Star NBA player.

High Draft Pick + Smart People at the Suns = All-Star Player.

I understand that it RARELY turns out this way for any NBA team, and it is funny that we have had more success with mid-lottery with Amare and Booker... but I will keep dreaming and hoping for the second coming.

My expectation is that McD - Sarver draft the BPA. At this point in time with a horrible summer league team, it feels like we missed on Bender and Chriss... which sucks.

Is there an alternative that you would have rather taken at 4? I suppose with Chriss we could have kept 13, 28 and Bogdan, but I don't see too many great players that went down there either. I suppose Hernangomez at 13 maybe or Skal. I feel pretty good about Chriss overall, though him not looking in shape is worrisome as are the turnovers in summer league. That's the primary difference in why Bender fares so much better in +/- is that Chriss turns it over so much it takes a possession from our team and gives an extra one to the opposition. If he would have only had like 3 turnovers as opposed to 7 yesterday we probably win. Bender had 1 turnover. Bender looked good early but then sat because of fouls (some ticky tack) and never got in as much rhythm again after sitting.

Ultimately I think people are being a little too critical based on summer league. I feel it's certainly WAY too early to call anyone from last year's draft, particularly the two youngest guys, busts.

In the 2016 draft... I like Hield... but he has not been much better. Bender and Marquesse were the consensus best picks and I was happy as a clam. The good vibes from the org and the kool-aid was awesome.

Fast forward to this year's summer league and I'm quickly losing patience... and there is no doubt that I am being too critical. But wouldn't it be nice for one of these guys to break out and have a great game? I'm still waiting...

I like Hield too, but he's 23, so he has 4 years on Bender and are at far different levels in their development. And of course we had Booker, though I'm not saying you shouldn't take BPA many times the 4 year guys are better players at draft time simply due to age and were no better at the same age.

[Saberestar]

I was really high on him and Chriss and wanted to draft them, but always expected them to take a few years. They were both really young and raw. Chriss did more than I expected and Bender didn't get a lot of opportunity (nor was he utilized correctly imo) and then got injured, but I guess I didn't have nearly as high of early expectations for these guys than many people here. I actually was quite impressed from some of the things I saw from them (Chriss' rebounding, Bender's perimeter D, etc). But, yes, they are raw and still both make a lot of mistakes as well, but I expected it.

Great point. We are PHX fans and we all have different expectations, hopes, ideas about what these players will become. My personal and basic expectation is that a high draft pick (top 5) and smart front office equals an All-Star NBA player.

High Draft Pick + Smart People at the Suns = All-Star Player.

I understand that it RARELY turns out this way for any NBA team, and it is funny that we have had more success with mid-lottery with Amare and Booker... but I will keep dreaming and hoping for the second coming.

My expectation is that McD - Sarver draft the BPA. At this point in time with a horrible summer league team, it feels like we missed on Bender and Chriss... which sucks.

Is there an alternative that you would have rather taken at 4? I suppose with Chriss we could have kept 13, 28 and Bogdan, but I don't see too many great players that went down there either. I suppose Hernangomez at 13 maybe or Skal. I feel pretty good about Chriss overall, though him not looking in shape is worrisome as are the turnovers in summer league. That's the primary difference in why Bender fares so much better in +/- is that Chriss turns it over so much it takes a possession from our team and gives an extra one to the opposition. If he would have only had like 3 turnovers as opposed to 7 yesterday we probably win. Bender had 1 turnover. Bender looked good early but then sat because of fouls (some ticky tack) and never got in as much rhythm again after sitting.

Ultimately I think people are being a little too critical based on summer league. I feel it's certainly WAY too early to call anyone from last year's draft, particularly the two youngest guys, busts.

I wanted Jamal Murray badly. I wanted to trade Knight before the season (higher value), and draft Murray to play that sixth man role. I think that he is gonna be an All-Star, he has the mentality and the skillset to be great in the current NBA.

But well...it is too early to say that Bender and Chriss are worse players. I would give them more time, but I am not happy at the moment with their playing.

I think that Chriss needs a psychologist and I am serious about it. He probably denies that, but he has issues because he just doesn't understand that there are rules in the **** game named basketball.

Does he know that it is impossible to play professional basketball without referees?

Regarding Bender, he needs to play without fear. He needs to go to the rim to destroy a defender. Please...just for one time at least. He is sooooo afraid of contact.

[bwgood77]

Great point. We are PHX fans and we all have different expectations, hopes, ideas about what these players will become. My personal and basic expectation is that a high draft pick (top 5) and smart front office equals an All-Star NBA player.

High Draft Pick + Smart People at the Suns = All-Star Player.

I understand that it RARELY turns out this way for any NBA team, and it is funny that we have had more success with mid-lottery with Amare and Booker... but I will keep dreaming and hoping for the second coming.

My expectation is that McD - Sarver draft the BPA. At this point in time with a horrible summer league team, it feels like we missed on Bender and Chriss... which sucks.

Is there an alternative that you would have rather taken at 4? I suppose with Chriss we could have kept 13, 28 and Bogdan, but I don't see too many great players that went down there either. I suppose Hernangomez at 13 maybe or Skal. I feel pretty good about Chriss overall, though him not looking in shape is worrisome as are the turnovers in summer league. That's the primary difference in why Bender fares so much better in +/- is that Chriss turns it over so much it takes a possession from our team and gives an extra one to the opposition. If he would have only had like 3 turnovers as opposed to 7 yesterday we probably win. Bender had 1 turnover. Bender looked good early but then sat because of fouls (some ticky tack) and never got in as much rhythm again after sitting.

Ultimately I think people are being a little too critical based on summer league. I feel it's certainly WAY too early to call anyone from last year's draft, particularly the two youngest guys, busts.

I wanted Jamal Murray badly. I wanted to trade Knight before the season (higher value), and draft Murray to play that sixth man role. I think that he is gonna be an All-Star, he has the mentality and the skillset to be great in the current NBA.

But well...it is too early to say that Bender and Chriss are worse players. I would give them more time, but I am not happy at the moment with their playing.

I think that Chriss needs a psychologist and I am serious about it. He probably denies that, but he has issues because he just doesn't understand that there are rules in the **** game named basketball.

Does he know that it is impossible to play professional basketball without referees?

Regarding Bender, he needs to play without fear. He needs to go to the rim to destroy a defender. Please...just for one time at least. He is sooooo afraid of contact.

Yeah, Murray's been pretty bad too, as a shooter shooting 33% from 3 and 40% overall and a terrible defender, but I wouldn't proclaim him a bust either. Not sure I see him as an all star, but he will likely turn into a pretty good player.

[sunsbum]

I'm happy with the JJ pick. He looks like a mini scottie pippen out there that cant shoot...yet.

[gaspar]

It's nothing new for this board to get too high or too low on our team but some of you really outdid yourselves this time.

[SarcasticSun]

I really don't understand the concern over Chriss's weight. We ALL said he needed to gain weight this off season. Did you guys think he was going to put on 10 lbs of lean muscle without putting on
some fat too? Of course he's not in playing shape right now, he's put on the weight so he could be in the shape he wants for the games that actually count. If he still looks like this at the season's beginning we can be concerned. Would you rather he show up to SL out of shape or show up next season just as skinny as last? Because you can't have both. He gained 20 lbs, a lot of which is fat, he knows this and he knows he'll cut the fat before the actual season so he'll probably actually have gained 5-10 lbs of lean muscle by the end of this

[sunsbg]

So what SL games remain or it's over now for the Suns ? Only 3 games ? Some teams had 7-8 games combined from two SLs.

IMO Chriss and Bender will be a 3rd option at best, but what about JJ ? How many think he can surpass Booker as a leader of the team ? He is definitely much more talented than Marion offensively and the Matrix had 20ppg seasons ?

[NTB]

So what SL games remain or it's over now for the Suns ? Only 3 games ? Some teams had 7-8 games combined from two SLs.

IMO Chriss and Bender will be a 3rd option at best, but what about JJ ? How many think he can surpass Booker as a leader of the team ? He is definitely much more talented than Marion offensively and the Matrix had 20ppg seasons ?

We have at least 2 more games.

[JMac1]

So what SL games remain or it's over now for the Suns ? Only 3 games ? Some teams had 7-8 games combined from two SLs.

IMO Chriss and Bender will be a 3rd option at best, but what about JJ ? How many think he can surpass Booker as a leader of the team ? He is definitely much more talented than Marion offensively and the Matrix had 20ppg seasons ?

Booker or JJ.....good problem to have. I hope they don't clash......to hard, because they will. Booker became an alpha, I think JJ has always been an alpha. Dude is a little street....

Can't wait to see those two on the court together. I'm hoping JJ is that guy, then I won't be too concern with Chriss and Bender. If you have two studs, go get a third and fill in the blanks with the rest.

[sunsbg]

So what SL games remain or it's over now for the Suns ? Only 3 games ? Some teams had 7-8 games combined from two SLs.

IMO Chriss and Bender will be a 3rd option at best, but what about JJ ? How many think he can surpass Booker as a leader of the team ? He is definitely much more talented than Marion offensively and the Matrix had 20ppg seasons ?

Booker or JJ.....good problem to have. I hope they don't clash......to hard, because they will. Booker became an alpha, I think JJ has always been an alpha. Dude is a little street....

Can't wait to see those two on the court together. I'm hoping JJ is that guy, then I won't be too concern with Chriss and Bender. If you have two studs, go get a third and fill in the blanks with the rest.

On the court Josh looks very unselfish. Let's hope they get along very well off the court for a long time

[NTB]

Watch on YouTube

Wow he is amazing. 37 points 8 steals. Steal of the draft perhaps.

[thamadkant]

Watch on YouTube

Wow he is amazing. 37 points 8 steals. Steal of the draft perhaps.

Yes.

He is impressive, seen a few SL Utah games and he has impressed me. Could be the Booker of 2017.

[darealjuice]

Jordan Bell with the 5 x 5 in Summer League. Dude's a perfect fit for the Warriors, sucks they got him.

[bwgood77]

So leading scorer by avg of the summer league. Bryn Forbes of the Spurs. I know a lot of bad players have torn up summer league, so just stating that. I was researching this guy and he shot over 48% from 3 his last year in college. Brandon Ingram next but only in 1 game, but shot close to 53%. Then our ex summer league guy we just too, Troy Williams in 3rd.

[darealjuice]

Read on Twitter

We got the Jazz tomorrow at 5 PM for our first game in the SL Playoffs, if we win we go up against the Grizz. Excited to see more of Donovan Mitchell, wonder who'll end up guarding him for us?