Game 80: Phoenix Suns (18-61) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (32-47) - 10:00 PM ET

[Bogyo]

This game just showed how our bench players could be good as bench players. Too bad they had to play starter level roles/minutes most of the season. I really liked Bender and Josh all the way (they made me really pissed a lot of times though), so I kinda hate to give up on them - if we brought in a quality PG and PF during the offseason.
They could be perfect bench guys, especially if we had some stability with coaching, and they developed a bit further.
(Check out Alex Len's stats for this year...)

[sunsbg]

Im pissed, i was stuck dealing with some drama and this is the first Suns game i missed all season. So, based off the highlight video and game breakdown video/Boxscore:

Good to see Jackson have a great game and be efficient for once. Even better to see that it was his all around game on display tonight (Points/rebounds/assists/steals), as that was his hype around the draft, not the best shooter/scorer, but solid all around game. How was his defense?

Also good to see Spalding Balling. Should be a nice cheap reserve to keep a hold on to.

Very surprised to see Bender doing good in the boxscore as well. The question is does the 1 game make up for all the chances he has had over the season? Seems like its a recurring theme here, when given time during the season we see a scared little big boy afraid to take the open shot or drive the open lane or practically do anything besides just pass the ball, but once in a blue moon when Venus and Mars align, he finally comes out to play and wows everyone. I think it might be too little too late. In a way seems very reminiscent of guys like Andris Biedrins, Donatas Motiejunas, and everyones favorite Anthony "MAGIC" Randolph.

Kind of disapointing to see our 2 Project Potential Point Guards once again not really do much when given the opportunity.

I can send you a link to a site, which has full games, if interested.

I called it yesterday, by saying the fun games against tanking teams begin. The time when the disappointing players give those fans some hope in a game or two.

And wasn't Randolph looking good for his full rookie season ? I remember being high on him in the potential Amare trade, but haven't watched any Warriors games back then.

[Saberestar]

I did not watch the game. It was a good game to improve the stats for a lot of our players.

Spalding 21p and 13 boards? Crawford 28 points? Jackson 35?? It is funny....what a joke.

Stats from the first month of the season need to value way more than stats for the last month of the season. The competition is absolutely different.

[Revived]

Josh Jackson does well without Booker and when the stakes are low. He did this last season too.

I hope these type of games are increasing his trade value though.

[Revived]

Bender with 6 assists and 7 Blocks anyone still not want him back next season?

Yes, good for that 1 game of the season playing against a team missing just about as many starters as us.

Totally worth the money he would cost.

What do you predict he will cost?

I doubt any team offers him anything more than $4M-$5M/yr at the very most.

Unless it’s some type of big 1 year deal but even that I reaaaaally doubt anyone would give that to Dragan Bender.

[thamadkant]

too many sour fans in these forums these days, just very negative... the team today was given no chance, some even laughed how an abomination of a game this will be because their fave suns players are out

Josh killed it and some here are\licking their lips that his value increases, he got the Suns the win along with Bender's defense, and good effort from several players


Its been great cutting down on reading negatives, these forums used to be real good for objective and subjective discussions, but now the hate from some has over taken the culture of these boards... hopefully it gets better

[Revived]

Josh Jackson sucks balls for the whole season and suddenly when all teams are throwing in the towel, he has a couple good games. Are people really that dense to actually think these games mean anything?

He couldn’t even play half decent basketball in summer league when teams then were trying.

Buying into Jackson’s sudden emergence would be like saying Alex Caruso is a top 5 PG in the league and the Suns should trade everything for him.

And please, nobody left the forums because it was negative. People left the forums once it became apparent that the team is going to be really bad and not very enjoyable to watch. Also called, fair weather fans. These same fans would show back up immediately if the team started to perform well.

[sunsbg]

Josh Jackson sucks balls for the whole season and suddenly when all teams are throwing in the towel, he has a couple good games. Are people really that dense to actually think these games mean anything?

He couldn’t even play half decent basketball in summer league when teams then were trying.

Buying into Jackson’s sudden emergence would be like saying Alex Caruso is a top 5 PG in the league and the Suns should trade everything for him.

And please, nobody left the forums because it was negative. People left the forums once it became apparent that the team is going to be really bad and not very enjoyable to watch. Also called, fair weather fans. These same fans would show back up immediately if the team started to perform well.

He had a stretch of good games when the team was winning and there was a debate who to keep between him and Oubre, but fans like you tend to ignore it as it doesn't fit your narrative.

[Crives]

Bender with 6 assists and 7 Blocks anyone still not want him back next season?

Yes, good for that 1 game of the season playing against a team missing just about as many starters as us.

Totally worth the money he would cost.

What do you predict he will cost?

I doubt any team offers him anything more than $4M-$5M/yr at the very most.

Unless it’s some type of big 1 year deal but even that I reaaaaally doubt anyone would give that to Dragan Bender.

I think we have to offer him his team original option ant, no more no less

[Crives]

Bender with 6 assists and 7 Blocks anyone still not want him back next season?

Yes, good for that 1 game of the season playing against a team missing just about as many starters as us.

Totally worth the money he would cost.

Yeah but he was going up against Okafor and randle, not exactly third stringers

[darealjuice]

Why do some Suns fans feel the need to **** on everything lol? People here just wanted to enjoy a win with some good performances from guys that we'd like to see improve, and you guys just have to come out of the woodworks so you can sew in some negativity without even watching the game.

[Crives]

Josh Jackson sucks balls for the whole season and suddenly when all teams are throwing in the towel, he has a couple good games. Are people really that dense to actually think these games mean anything?

He couldn’t even play half decent basketball in summer league when teams then were trying.

Buying into Jackson’s sudden emergence would be like saying Alex Caruso is a top 5 PG in the league and the Suns should trade everything for him.

And please, nobody left the forums because it was negative. People left the forums once it became apparent that the team is going to be really bad and not very enjoyable to watch. Also called, fair weather fans. These same fans would show back up immediately if the team started to perform well.

I think it’s fair to say his improvements in shooting have not just been a few games. For all of Jackson’s faults, the biggest one he needed to fix was his jump shot and we have now seen a decent sample size of 40%+ from 3 post all star break.

[DroughtsOverPHX]

Bender with 6 assists and 7 Blocks anyone still not want him back next season?

Yes, good for that 1 game of the season playing against a team missing just about as many starters as us.

Totally worth the money he would cost.

Yeah but he was going up against Okafor and randle, not exactly third stringers

It looked pretty rec league out there at times but it could be all the unfamiliar combos that we never see playing long stints together. There were some stretches that were extremely fun to watch in this game. The guy I just gave up on goes 11, 10, 6, 7 and 1 turnover. Randle played 38 minutes same as him. I'll be over here in the corner mumbling something about a small sampling and a garbage game.