Dragan Bender News, Discussion and Highlights

[sunsbg]

I know people get sick of hearing it; but I still don't think people are really looking at the fact that he's 20 years old.

We are talking about a kid who isn't going to be in his prime for ANOTHER 5 years! And then he missed most of his first year with injury, he was saddled with maybe the worst coaching staff in the NBA and he came into the draft as a kid that would need some time and development even if he went to the perfect system with amazing coaches.

The lack of patience with the Suns organization is warranted; but the lack of patience with Bender feels odd to me.

I also think people need to come to grips with the fact that he's likely not going to be a star and that stinks to invest the 4th overall pick in that, but that doesn't mean he can't become a really good winning player on the next great Suns team.

I really see a guy who's going to be a stretch-forward that spaces defenses, can adequately guard a couple positions and will make the correct basketball decisions. That's a player that's going to help us win games.

I agree, he could become a good role player in the future, on a team with a good system, as one of the reasons for his struggles is obviously that he has a typical euro player mindset. Unfortunately the Suns don't have such right now.

But still don't get this - he is 20 years old. So what ? You are supposedly multi-skilled, why not try something else in 30 mins instead of hiding around the 3 point line ?

[bwgood77]

Wow lmao I'm done here, you keep watching those G-League highlight reels. I'm sure he'll live up to that amazing defender/shot blocker, Jokic passing, Steph Curry shooting, superstar expectations that you're setting for him when he's not playing against scrubs.

You're embarassing yourself. Strawman much? I never said steph curry shooting lol superstar expectations?

You're clearly over your head. Calm down, then come back.

You're calling a G-League player that hasn't played a second in the NBA an amazing defensive player/shot blocker, Jokic-like passer, high basketball IQ player, and shooter from anywhere that's strong as a bull, takes over games, and bullies anyone in his path, and I'm the one who's embarrassing himself? You verbatim called him a future All Star with all of those traits, are those not superstar expectations in this league? You're the one that's clearly in over your head, maybe you should re-evaluate how you try to prove your points outside of extreme hyperbole clown. Put a little gray in that black and white world of yours.

OK, that's enough. No need to attack one another.

[bwgood77]

The other two guys with the same size, close to same age, and were also lottery picks have pretty comparable numbers to Bender, per 36. They all shoot around the same number of times per 36. They rebound a little more, he averages a little more assists. They both foul more.

http://bkref.com/tiny/ByzNf

Obviously 20 year old 7 footers take time. I think it's still early to judge how good any of these guys are when they all turned 20 in the last four months.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

The other two guys with the same size, close to same age, and were also lottery picks have pretty comparable numbers to Bender, per 36. They all shoot around the same number of times per 36. They rebound a little more, he averages a little more assists. They both foul more.

http://bkref.com/tiny/ByzNf

Obviously 20 year old 7 footers take time. I think it's still early to judge how good any of these guys are when they all turned 20 in the last four months.

Very useful comps. It's worth pointing out the difference in 3FG%, which is encouraging. I think the most disappointing stat for me is the steals number - abysmal. More than anything, it reflects Bender's biggest shortcoming as of yet - his lack of hustle. He never, ever sticks around for the offensive rebound. He doesn't get up into guys or get in the passing lanes. With his physical skill set, he should be able to do those things.

[bwgood77]

The other two guys with the same size, close to same age, and were also lottery picks have pretty comparable numbers to Bender, per 36. They all shoot around the same number of times per 36. They rebound a little more, he averages a little more assists. They both foul more.

http://bkref.com/tiny/ByzNf

Obviously 20 year old 7 footers take time. I think it's still early to judge how good any of these guys are when they all turned 20 in the last four months.

Very useful comps. It's worth pointing out the difference in 3FG%, which is encouraging. I think the most disappointing stat for me is the steals number - abysmal. More than anything, it reflects Bender's biggest shortcoming as of yet - his lack of hustle. He never, ever sticks around for the offensive rebound. He doesn't get up into guys or get in the passing lanes. With his physical skill set, he should be able to do those things.

Yeah, with that wingspan he should be able to get some steals. However, I think he used to try and do more and picked up so many fouls so quickly that they just told him to put his arms up and that will disrupt the shot. He did a good job drastically reducing his fouls but obviously now he probably doesn't use his hands enough.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

The other two guys with the same size, close to same age, and were also lottery picks have pretty comparable numbers to Bender, per 36. They all shoot around the same number of times per 36. They rebound a little more, he averages a little more assists. They both foul more.

http://bkref.com/tiny/ByzNf

Obviously 20 year old 7 footers take time. I think it's still early to judge how good any of these guys are when they all turned 20 in the last four months.

Very useful comps. It's worth pointing out the difference in 3FG%, which is encouraging. I think the most disappointing stat for me is the steals number - abysmal. More than anything, it reflects Bender's biggest shortcoming as of yet - his lack of hustle. He never, ever sticks around for the offensive rebound. He doesn't get up into guys or get in the passing lanes. With his physical skill set, he should be able to do those things.

Yeah, with that wingspan he should be able to get some steals. However, I think he used to try and do more and picked up so many fouls so quickly that they just told him to put his arms up and that will disrupt the shot. He did a good job drastically reducing his fouls but obviously now he probably doesn't use his hands enough.

Yeah, officials treat skinny defenders and thick defenders pretty differently. A thick defender is allowed to invade your space, but a skinny guy has to maintain their distance. Funny thing is, the opposite is true on offense - you can get up into a skinny guy without getting a call, but if you get up into a thick player, the margin for error is much smaller.

I just wish Bender left the court looking gassed instead of looking fresh as a daisy.

If we had anything approaching reliable rim protection, perhaps he'd do a better job challenging shooters as well.

He's a work in progress. I just want to see the work.

[nevetsov]

How long did Goran look like the worst and most timid player in the NBA for? 3 seasons? And I'm pretty sure he was older when we brought him over too.

It's even harder for bigs. Dragan will be alright, give him time.

[LV-Suns]

How long did Goran look like the worst and most timid player in the NBA for? 3 seasons? And I'm pretty sure he was older when we brought him over too.

It's even harder for bigs. Dragan will be alright, give him time.

viewtopic.php?t=850720

[Saberestar]

How long did Goran look like the worst and most timid player in the NBA for? 3 seasons? And I'm pretty sure he was older when we brought him over too.

It's even harder for bigs. Dragan will be alright, give him time.

viewtopic.php?t=850720

Dragic was really bad in his rookie season. But he showed a big improvement after that.

In his second year in the league he was already a solid backup PG. He made that outstandig performance against the Spurs in his second season.

I am looking at his numbers...he scored 7.9 points and 3 assists in just 18 mpg and he was shooting .394% from three.

Bender is putting the same numbers since his rookie season. Not improvement in his second season other than a better percentage from three.

His stats PER 36 MINUTES in his rookie season:
9.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.6 steals and 1.4 blocks.

His stats PER 36 MINUTES in his second season:
9.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.4 steals and 0.9 blocks.

Dragic was older than Bender when he arrived to the league, so that can make a big difference in his quickest development.

I hope that Bender trains like crazy this summer and he makes a big leap in his play next season.

[bwgood77]

How long did Goran look like the worst and most timid player in the NBA for? 3 seasons? And I'm pretty sure he was older when we brought him over too.

It's even harder for bigs. Dragan will be alright, give him time.

viewtopic.php?t=850720

Dragic was really bad in his rookie season. But he showed a big improvement after that.

In his second year in the league he was already a solid backup PG. He made that outstandig performance against the Spurs in his second season.

I am looking at his numbers...he scored 7.9 points and 3 assists in just 18 mpg and he was shooting .394% from three.

Bender is putting the same numbers since his rookie season. Not improvement in his second season other than a better percentage from three.

His stats PER 36 MINUTES in his rookie season:
9.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.6 steals and 1.4 blocks.

His stats PER 36 MINUTES in his second season:
9.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.4 steals and 0.9 blocks.

Dragic was older than Bender when he arrived to the league, so that can make a big difference in his quickest development.

I hope that Bender trains like crazy this summer and he makes a big leap in his play next season.

Yeah, Dragic was a couple years older coming in and had it much easier playing in a well spaced D'Antoni offense with great players that should make things easier.

I think this is really more like Bender's rookie year. He didn't play much at all the first half of last season...Watson barely ever put him in...and then about the time we went young he got injured and only played a few games at the end of the year. Not only did he not have a real coach, but he was sitting on the bench, then injured, and then just got a little real nba action at the end of the year.

[jcsunsfan]

viewtopic.php?t=850720

Dragic was really bad in his rookie season. But he showed a big improvement after that.

In his second year in the league he was already a solid backup PG. He made that outstandig performance against the Spurs in his second season.

I am looking at his numbers...he scored 7.9 points and 3 assists in just 18 mpg and he was shooting .394% from three.

Bender is putting the same numbers since his rookie season. Not improvement in his second season other than a better percentage from three.

His stats PER 36 MINUTES in his rookie season:
9.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.6 steals and 1.4 blocks.

His stats PER 36 MINUTES in his second season:
9.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.4 steals and 0.9 blocks.

Dragic was older than Bender when he arrived to the league, so that can make a big difference in his quickest development.

I hope that Bender trains like crazy this summer and he makes a big leap in his play next season.

Yeah, Dragic was a couple years older coming in and had it much easier playing in a well spaced D'Antoni offense with great players that should make things easier.

I think this is really more like Bender's rookie year. He didn't play much at all the first half of last season...Watson barely ever put him in...and then about the time we went young he got injured and only played a few games at the end of the year. Not only did he not have a real coach, but he was sitting on the bench, then injured, and then just got a little real nba action at the end of the year.

I never said this before, and I might be completely wrong, but I had this odd feeling that Watson had a bias against white players.

[Revived]

How long did Goran look like the worst and most timid player in the NBA for? 3 seasons? And I'm pretty sure he was older when we brought him over too.

It's even harder for bigs. Dragan will be alright, give him time.

viewtopic.php?t=850720

Holy crap, I can’t believe PER was a huge deal even back in 2008!

[Revived]

Bender feeling the love on the GB from non Suns fans

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1684148

[Saberestar]

Watch on YouTube

[batsmasher]

Am I an idiot for thinking Dragan's offensive ceiling is some version of Frank Kaminsky?

[MathiasPW]

Am I an idiot for thinking Dragan's offensive ceiling is some version of Frank Kaminsky?

His ceiling is higher cause he has a few more tools, specially passing, but there is a high chance they end up being very similar offensive players (both not living up to their ceiling expectations)

[JMac1]

Watch on YouTube

If we get this right. That guy would be a perfect on this team. Solid role player......at the five tho.

Edit: crazy thought. But his play could be a deciding factor in who we draft because the guys coming out are so close. Bender could allow us to go Bagley or Doncic (love Trae but know he isn’t an option right now) without hesitation.

Man I’ll roll out

Doncic
Booker
JJ
FA
Bender

And wouldn’t think twice about it.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

Watch on YouTube

Love the point Dragan look. If he's being guarded by a big, let him take the ball up and dare the defender to sag off.

[Fo-Real]

Hopefully they can show him the game tape and convince him that his 4th quarter persona would have led to a win had he been that aggressive all game, like the lotto slogan, you cant win if you dont play. They need to make him acostomed to taking a lot of shots weather they are falling or not, give yourself a chance to get hot every game. It would be different if he was changing the game with his defense, rebounding, passing, or blocking shots, but he never is. He needs to be a scorer to be a diffrence maker at this stage, like Eddie Johnson when he played. If Eddie wasnt on the floor to score or his shot just wasnt falling, what was his impact at the time?

The only other thing he may be good at right now is assisting the ball but how can you get assists if every defender on the court knows you are looking to pass every time, its like going under the screen on a pick knowing damn well that dude isnt a threat to shoot OR attack the rim either, you are a handicap to the team at that point.

[sunsfever68]

I'm a big big Bender fan long term. Guy is 20 years old, plays solid defense, he's so fluid, has great form on his shot, he's long and lean which is ideal for the future of the NBA.

He has more upside than Chriss because he plays both sides of the ball. I look at him as a better Pau Gasol long term and we absolutely can NOT give up on this dude.

We need him to unleash the Dragon every single game and run alot of offense through him like our point forward.

I can just see this core 4 of Booker Jackson Bender and Ayton one day wrecking the league. It will happen give it time.