Game 16: Phoenix Suns (8-7) @ Denver Nuggets (11-3) - Sun, 6PM MST

[Fo-Real]

I must say again that Saric is a underrated defender. I've never seen anyone kept Jokic quiet in 2 games.

Diallo deserves some of that credit also. Not only did he do a decent job defensively but he made him work on defense too. He was a solid scorer last night.

[Fo-Real]

Millsaps shooting showed that he should be a free agent target for us this offseason.

[Saberestar]

He wasn’t all great against Boston with like 4 days rest and Baynes available too.

I feel like I’m starting to see some of the criticism that non Suns fans have for Booker. He’s not a stat padder but I don’t think he’s a true #1 option for a playoff team. He’s still young so who knows but I think he has limitations that are hard to overcome. Still a great #2 though.

I’d be happy to be proven wrong though.

I think he is a perfect as a #1 option on a playoff team, but he needs the team to have a #2 too. He can't be both.

Ayton is (hopefully) that #2 option. Everything would be easy for Book and the rest of the team offensively with him on the court.

As has been shown this year, he needs a good pg and supporting cast to be a first option. But only in a system where he gets plays ran for him in quick hit fashion. Meaning he'll just get more of the same shots as other guys, albeit some with a bit more complexity. Then yes, he can be the first option. But as a Kobe, clear out and run iso when you need a bucket type #1 option- no - and suns fans need to get that idea or of their heads. He's not good enough for that.

So is that a true number one? Not really, but it's what we got. Team as a whole is solid, and we will make the playoffs if we stay healthy, which we haven't thus far.

Come on, you are using Kobe as an example as a #1 option on a playoff team? Kobe is one of the best scorers in the history of the game...yeah, that is not Booker yet.

But we are talking about being a #1 option on a playoff team at this point of his career (23 years old and improving). He is good enough.

Just look first options on last year's playoff teams. No contenders...just playoff teams:

Spurs had DeRozan. The Jazz had Donovan Mitchell. Pacers Oladipo. Nets Russell....for example.

This is the first step to be a contender team. First you need to go to the playoffs. Like Donovan already has done Book can show this season that he can be the first option on a playoff team and after that try to be a #1 on a contender team.

Book has all the tools and personality to be one of the best and efficient scorers in the league for the next 10 years. But this is a team sport, like every other player he needs good teammates around him to win games consistently.

[hollywood6964]

I think he is a perfect as a #1 option on a playoff team, but he needs the team to have a #2 too. He can't be both.

Ayton is (hopefully) that #2 option. Everything would be easy for Book and the rest of the team offensively with him on the court.

As has been shown this year, he needs a good pg and supporting cast to be a first option. But only in a system where he gets plays ran for him in quick hit fashion. Meaning he'll just get more of the same shots as other guys, albeit some with a bit more complexity. Then yes, he can be the first option. But as a Kobe, clear out and run iso when you need a bucket type #1 option- no - and suns fans need to get that idea or of their heads. He's not good enough for that.

So is that a true number one? Not really, but it's what we got. Team as a whole is solid, and we will make the playoffs if we stay healthy, which we haven't thus far.

Come on, you are using Kobe as an example as a #1 option on a playoff team? Kobe is one of the best scorers in the history of the game...yeah, that is not Booker yes.

But we are talking about being a #1 option on a playoff team at this point of his career (23 years old and improving). He is good enough.

Just look first options on last year's playoff teams. No contenders...just playoff teams:

Spurs had DeRozan. The Jazz had Donovan Mitchell. Pacers Oladipo. Nets Russell....for example.

This is the first step to be a contender team. First you need to go to the playoffs. Like Donovan already has done Book can show this season that he can be the first option on a playoff team and after that try to be a #1 on a contender team.

Book has all the tools and personality to be one of the best and efficient scorers in the league for the next 10 years. But this is a team sport, like every other player he needs good teammates around him to win games consistently.

Yes, I use it because I call it as I see it. Fans, and also ones on this board have made the comparison for years, as well as even recently the lame suns pre-game show with that goof Tom Leander. He's not that, never will be, not even in this not allowed to play defense era, where appearing like you might be a Kobe (there's a lot more names I can mention as well) type player is easier than ever. Not even under these rules, will he ever be, nevermind 20 years ago, where he'd have a tough time getting his off at all in isolation against a decent defender.

I also said- yes, we should make the playoffs if players can play, and he will be the #1 option. but only under the terms I stated of being a system #1 option. No need to talk about Mitchell and all of them.

He's going to be great in this system with a proper supporting cast. Nothing more, nothing less.

[bwgood77]

Tyler really hasn't impressed me this season so far. He's had a couple of games where he kind of took over but overall, I don't even see him as a 1st guard off the bench type of player. I really do have reservations about keeping him long term

Does anyone here actually want to keep him longterm?

The only reason he’s on the team is because we bit the bullet on the Ryan Anderson contract and assumed that Tyler being more useful than Anderson would be worth the additional year of overpaid contract.

I dunno. Thing is, if majority of us don't see him as a long term piece then we need to make a move with his contract which is what I want to see. But I've also seen some posters who's more on board with keeping him around for continuity or as a solid guy off the bench. How good is he even as a guy off the bench?

He's pretty good. We took off last year when he was starting next to Book, but obviously, like any player, he will struggle...heck, Booker and Oubre did last night, all of our players have at times. He is still playing pretty solid defense, shooting 35% from 3 and has over a 2/1 ast/to ratio (and usually is better than that). I think we definitely need him until Rubio and Jerome are completely healthy and Bridges shot (hopefully) improves.

[Revived]

Does anyone here actually want to keep him longterm?

The only reason he’s on the team is because we bit the bullet on the Ryan Anderson contract and assumed that Tyler being more useful than Anderson would be worth the additional year of overpaid contract.

I dunno. Thing is, if majority of us don't see him as a long term piece then we need to make a move with his contract which is what I want to see. But I've also seen some posters who's more on board with keeping him around for continuity or as a solid guy off the bench. How good is he even as a guy off the bench?

He's pretty good. We took off last year when he was starting next to Book, but obviously, like any player, he will struggle...heck, Booker and Oubre did last night, all of our players have at times. He is still playing pretty solid defense, shooting 35% from 3 and has over a 2/1 ast/to ratio (and usually is better than that). I think we definitely need him until Rubio and Jerome are completely healthy and Bridges shot (hopefully) improves.

Tyler’s struggled more than Booker & Oubre though. He’s shooting 34% from 3 but he’s also shooting just 38% FG% and an abysmal TS% of 50%. PER of 8 and career worst advanced metrics across the board.

Without Rubio and Jerome, the Suns have to play him minutes by default this season. But imo, he’s certainly not someone worth bringing back for next season unless it’s as a 4th or 5th guard for near the vet min but I’d guess Johnson gets offered more from elsewhere.

[bwgood77]

I dunno. Thing is, if majority of us don't see him as a long term piece then we need to make a move with his contract which is what I want to see. But I've also seen some posters who's more on board with keeping him around for continuity or as a solid guy off the bench. How good is he even as a guy off the bench?

He's pretty good. We took off last year when he was starting next to Book, but obviously, like any player, he will struggle...heck, Booker and Oubre did last night, all of our players have at times. He is still playing pretty solid defense, shooting 35% from 3 and has over a 2/1 ast/to ratio (and usually is better than that). I think we definitely need him until Rubio and Jerome are completely healthy and Bridges shot (hopefully) improves.

Tyler’s struggled more than Booker & Oubre though. He’s shooting 34% from 3 but he’s also shooting just 38% FG% and an abysmal TS% of 50%. PER of 8 and career worst advanced metrics across the board.

Without Rubio and Jerome, the Suns have to play him minutes by default this season. But imo, he’s certainly not someone worth bringing back for next season unless it’s as a 4th or 5th guard for near the vet min but I’d guess Johnson gets offered more from elsewhere.

I don't want to bring him back next season but I do imagine he will improve as the year goes on. Everyone has played worse with no true PGs or Cs (other than 3rd and 4th string ones).

[jcsunsfan]

Could’ve used Luka tonight

Go watch "Frozen" and sing along.

[Frank Lee]

Spoiler:

I dunno. Thing is, if majority of us don't see him as a long term piece then we need to make a move with his contract which is what I want to see. But I've also seen some posters who's more on board with keeping him around for continuity or as a solid guy off the bench. How good is he even as a guy off the bench?

He's pretty good. We took off last year when he was starting next to Book, but obviously, like any player, he will struggle...heck, Booker and Oubre did last night, all of our players have at times. He is still playing pretty solid defense, shooting 35% from 3 and has over a 2/1 ast/to ratio (and usually is better than that). I think we definitely need him until Rubio and Jerome are completely healthy and Bridges shot (hopefully) improves.

Tyler’s struggled more than Booker & Oubre though. He’s shooting 34% from 3 but he’s also shooting just 38% FG% and an abysmal TS% of 50%. PER of 8 and career worst advanced metrics across the board.

Without Rubio and Jerome, the Suns have to play him minutes by default this season. But imo, he’s certainly not someone worth bringing back for next season unless it’s as a 4th or 5th guard for near the vet min but I’d guess Johnson gets offered more from elsewhere.

Well, drafting Ty Jerome and having Okobo sort of crowds his position. Given his value in trade (ie expiring 19 mill) it only makes sense to see if some improvement can be made with a deal. Ive seen a few proposed but truly, he'd have to go to a team looking to shed salary... and that means we'd have to be willing to absorb some. Its quite a limited short list. Furthermore, to upgrade this team it begins with PF. Baynes shows he can start, or at least deserve 24+ minutes... Ayton should get 32+ ... there just has to be some overlap. And then toss in CamJohnson for some small ball PF... we might be only looking at about 20-24 of available PF minutes. Saric seems willing and able to me. Shank gets in for his first 3 shots.....

So, I guess, once fully healthy, we arent sitting too bad. Unless we get exactly who we want, I dont see making a deal just because. Griffin and Love still intrigue me though, as I'd say, anything done , its even money one of those two is in the mix. Like it or not. Too much front office history to ignore.

I havent looked at our cap scene too close, but if I was listing off priorities, I think keeping Baynes next yr has to be about tops by now. Wouldnt want to make a move that would jeopardize that.

[lilfishi22]

Does anyone here actually want to keep him longterm?

The only reason he’s on the team is because we bit the bullet on the Ryan Anderson contract and assumed that Tyler being more useful than Anderson would be worth the additional year of overpaid contract.

I dunno. Thing is, if majority of us don't see him as a long term piece then we need to make a move with his contract which is what I want to see. But I've also seen some posters who's more on board with keeping him around for continuity or as a solid guy off the bench. How good is he even as a guy off the bench?

He's pretty good. We took off last year when he was starting next to Book, but obviously, like any player, he will struggle...heck, Booker and Oubre did last night, all of our players have at times. He is still playing pretty solid defense, shooting 35% from 3 and has over a 2/1 ast/to ratio (and usually is better than that). I think we definitely need him until Rubio and Jerome are completely healthy and Bridges shot (hopefully) improves.

Hopefully that happens before the trade deadline.