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[King4Day]

Where did the Kings come from? They are 11-11 and about to be over .500 if they hang on in the final minute over LAC

[SunsRback4Good]

Where did the Kings come from? They are 11-11 and about to be over .500 if they hang on in the final minute over LAC

7-1 in their last 8 games with wins over Clippers, Nuggets, Celtics, Pels, Raptors, Knicks and Magic.

Fox is playing out of his mind has scored 30+ in 3 of the last 5 games. Haliburton of course is chipping in as well.

[King4Day]

Where did the Kings come from? They are 11-11 and about to be over .500 if they hang on in the final minute over LAC

7-1 in their last 8 games with wins over Clippers, Nuggets, Celtics, Pels, Raptors, Knicks and Magic.

Fox is playing out of his mind has scored 30+ in 3 of the last 5 games. Haliburton of course is chipping in as well.

I'm OK with this. For as much as we get on ourselves about passing on Luka, they have it even worse with Bagley. Nice to see them finding some success.
Haliburton could be their second star.

[Saberestar]

Where did the Kings come from? They are 11-11 and about to be over .500 if they hang on in the final minute over LAC

The Kings have been solid since the start of the season but for whatever reason some people just do not want to give them credit.

They have a bit of everything on their roster and they will fight for the playoffs for sure this season.

The same can be said about the Pelicans.

[Mulhollanddrive]

Not sure if it's actually possible but a team could go .500 and finish 11th to miss the play-in.

Any team between 4-14 right now is 10 days away from any spot in that range.

[WeekapaugGroove]

Not sure if it's actually possible but a team could go .500 and finish 11th to miss the play-in.

Any team between 4-14 right now is 10 days away from any spot in that range.

I think it's going to be this way the whole year. After the top couple teams the next group is pretty even talent wise and I'd guess the west cannibalizes it's self all year and the actual records will be a little worse than we think.

Sent from my SM-G986U using RealGM mobile app

[bwgood77]

Not sure if it's actually possible but a team could go .500 and finish 11th to miss the play-in.

Any team between 4-14 right now is 10 days away from any spot in that range.

I think it's going to be this way the whole year. After the top couple teams the next group is pretty even talent wise and I'd guess the west cannibalizes it's self all year and the actual records will be a little worse than we think.

Sent from my SM-G986U using RealGM mobile app

Yeah, the 4 seed is 2 games ahead of the 11th place team. If we have a couple of losses and a bunch of teams win 1-2 we could suddenly be in like 10th. Have to beat the Cavs with Philly and Milwaukee next, and then beat Orlando with the Nets after them with a returning KD.

[Revived]

Man Utah is really damn good. I think they can beat the Lakers in a 7 game series if they stay healthy.

Jazz have like 5 players on the roster that can create their own shot and also very unselfish passers. Bogdanovic, Mitchell, Clarkson, Conley and Ingles.

All 5 of those guys are good at throwing lobs to Gobert as well. We have 1 guy on our whole roster that knows how to throw a lob lol.

[bwgood77]

Man Utah is really damn good. I think they can beat the Lakers in a 7 game series if they stay healthy.

Jazz have like 5 players on the roster that can create their own shot and also very unselfish passers. Bogdanovic, Mitchell, Clarkson, Conley and Ingles.

All 5 of those guys are good at throwing lobs to Gobert as well. We have 1 guy on our whole roster that knows how to throw a lob lol.

Who's that? Paul hasn't even been throwing good ones. It seems like random people do on very few occasions. Honestly I don't know why they don't take time to just have all the guys practice lobs in practice.

Utah will be interesting. They had Denver on the ropes who somehow came back down 3-1 against them and the Clips and would have given the Lakers a good series if AD doesn't hit a crazy 3 to win a game to really tilt the series in their favor.

But a team that loses like that will have a chip on their shoulder. I wouldn't be that surprised if it was the Clips and Jazz in the WCF...because the Clips will have that chip too....and Paul George is really balling...I was looking at his TS% the other day and it's absurd...and he's one of the best defenders...and we know how clutch Kawhi can be in the playoffs....carrying Toronto in that series a couple years ago.

Utah has little room for error though and stars win in the playoffs. They all have to be on. Clarkson has been an enormous help though...made them MUCH tougher. Glad we beat them in Utah.

[Revived]

Man Utah is really damn good. I think they can beat the Lakers in a 7 game series if they stay healthy.

Jazz have like 5 players on the roster that can create their own shot and also very unselfish passers. Bogdanovic, Mitchell, Clarkson, Conley and Ingles.

All 5 of those guys are good at throwing lobs to Gobert as well. We have 1 guy on our whole roster that knows how to throw a lob lol.

Who's that? Paul hasn't even been throwing good ones. It seems like random people do on very few occasions. Honestly I don't know why they don't take time to just have all the guys practice lobs in practice.

Utah will be interesting. They had Denver on the ropes who somehow came back down 3-1 against them and the Clips and would have given the Lakers a good series if AD doesn't hit a crazy 3 to win a game to really tilt the series in their favor.

But a team that loses like that will have a chip on their shoulder. I wouldn't be that surprised if it was the Clips and Jazz in the WCF...because the Clips will have that chip too....and Paul George is really balling...I was looking at his TS% the other day and it's absurd...and he's one of the best defenders...and we know how clutch Kawhi can be in the playoffs....carrying Toronto in that series a couple years ago.

Utah has little room for error though and stars win in the playoffs. They all have to be on. Clarkson has been an enormous help though...made them MUCH tougher. Glad we beat them in Utah.

Eh but I think for the most part Paul’s been pretty good with throwing them. He has experience at it from throwing them to Jordan, Griffin, Capela etc. Even though I think he’s had to adjust how he throws them because Ayton isn’t as athletic as those guys in terms of jumping but he’s gotten it now. Watching Booker try and throw lobs is always cringey. He tried 3 times in our last game and all three were super easy lob throws but they only connected on one. Booker’s problem is that he just doesn’t throw it high enough so it gets deflected or knocked away. And the few times when does throw it high enough it’s wildly inaccurate. I don’t understand how coaches haven’t worked on just throwing lobs with him and Ayton in practice, it seems like an easy fix for a player who’s otherwise a decent passer.

You don’t think the Lakers make it to the WCFs? Especially after they improved the roster with Harrell and Schroeder additions plus development of Horton-Tucker. I’d be surprised.

I think Paul George will definitely fold in the playoffs again. He’s a guy that’s always gonna ball out in the reg season but once teams toughen up and the lights get brighter, he can’t handle it. Kawhi can’t do it himself and I’m not impressed by the other Clippers role players like Marcus, Kennard etc. Lou looks washed and done.

I can see Utah and Lakers being in the WCFs and it would be a good one too. And yeah Clarkson should easily win the 6MOY. Hell, he might have a case to make the All Star game along with the Mitchell who should be a shoo-in.

[Revived]

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[bwgood77]

Man Utah is really damn good. I think they can beat the Lakers in a 7 game series if they stay healthy.

Jazz have like 5 players on the roster that can create their own shot and also very unselfish passers. Bogdanovic, Mitchell, Clarkson, Conley and Ingles.

All 5 of those guys are good at throwing lobs to Gobert as well. We have 1 guy on our whole roster that knows how to throw a lob lol.

Who's that? Paul hasn't even been throwing good ones. It seems like random people do on very few occasions. Honestly I don't know why they don't take time to just have all the guys practice lobs in practice.

Utah will be interesting. They had Denver on the ropes who somehow came back down 3-1 against them and the Clips and would have given the Lakers a good series if AD doesn't hit a crazy 3 to win a game to really tilt the series in their favor.

But a team that loses like that will have a chip on their shoulder. I wouldn't be that surprised if it was the Clips and Jazz in the WCF...because the Clips will have that chip too....and Paul George is really balling...I was looking at his TS% the other day and it's absurd...and he's one of the best defenders...and we know how clutch Kawhi can be in the playoffs....carrying Toronto in that series a couple years ago.

Utah has little room for error though and stars win in the playoffs. They all have to be on. Clarkson has been an enormous help though...made them MUCH tougher. Glad we beat them in Utah.

Eh but I think for the most part Paul’s been pretty good with throwing them. He has experience at it from throwing them to Jordan, Griffin, Capela etc. Even though I think he’s had to adjust how he throws them because Ayton isn’t as athletic as those guys in terms of jumping but he’s gotten it now. Watching Booker try and throw lobs is always cringey. He tried 3 times in our last game and all three were super easy lob throws but they only connected on one. Booker’s problem is that he just doesn’t throw it high enough so it gets deflected or knocked away. And the few times when does throw it high enough it’s wildly inaccurate. I don’t understand how coaches haven’t worked on just throwing lobs with him and Ayton in practice, it seems like an easy fix for a player who’s otherwise a decent passer.

You don’t think the Lakers make it to the WCFs? Especially after they improved the roster with Harrell and Schroeder additions plus development of Horton-Tucker. I’d be surprised.

I think Paul George will definitely fold in the playoffs again. He’s a guy that’s always gonna ball out in the reg season but once teams toughen up and the lights get brighter, he can’t handle it. Kawhi can’t do it himself and I’m not impressed by the other Clippers role players like Marcus, Kennard etc. Lou looks washed and done.

I can see Utah and Lakers being in the WCFs and it would be a good one too. And yeah Clarkson should easily win the 6MOY. Hell, he might have a case to make the All Star game along with the Mitchell who should be a shoo-in.

I don't know about George. The guy was talked about as like a top 8 player in OKC and last year and then after the playoffs people don't put him in the top 20. Now he is a super stud again.

I don't tend to think choking is something that is consistent. I think it is something that happens here and there and just so has happened for him in bigger games.

Paul is known as a choker too.

Anyway I think with Kawhi as the main guy, it takes more pressure off and after a year of playing with him (or a 2nd year) George will be ok. You could say Lowry or the Raptors always choked in the WCF too..until they had Kawhi.

Lakers are the favorite...just meant I wouldn't be surprised if it's the other two there. Ultimately I think Utah's star power could prevent it...but they could potentially beat one of the LA teams...maybe more likely the Clippers. Though I think if the Clippers face the Lakers in the semis, they would have the best chance of beating them.

[bwgood77]

Read on Twitter

Wow, when quiet Bender rips on McD....you know he was bad.

He has to be among the worst GMs in history in all of sports.

[suns12345]

Read on Twitter

Wow, when quiet Bender rips on McD....you know he was bad.

He has to be among the worst GMs in history in all of sports.

Its not like Bender had any success anywhere else though.

Not a fan of nobody's trashing others to excuse their own failed potential.

Not an McD sympathiser, but yeh...

[Revived]

Read on Twitter

Wow, when quiet Bender rips on McD....you know he was bad.

He has to be among the worst GMs in history in all of sports.

Just funny because remember all the “OMG thank god we have McD after the awful Lance Blanks tenure” mindset many had.

Even with the Booker draft, I’m not sure McD was any better than Blanks. At least Blanks didn’t have a public feud with players we traded away. We also didn’t have a player demanding trade every single season under Blanks.

Don’t get me wrong though both were awful...

[lilfishi22]

Read on Twitter

Wow, when quiet Bender rips on McD....you know he was bad.

He has to be among the worst GMs in history in all of sports.

Just funny because remember all the “OMG thank god we have McD after the awful Lance Blanks tenure” mindset many had.

Even with the Booker draft, I’m not sure McD was any better than Blanks. At least Blanks didn’t have a public feud with players we traded away. We also didn’t have a player demanding trade every single season under Blanks.

Don’t get me wrong though both were awful...

Let's be honest, we were all excited. McD bought himself a ton of goodwill, basically on luck with that hiring of Hornacek and his 1st season where we won 48 games and just missed the playoffs and that's coming off a 25 and 33 wins the previous two season.

But things unravelled pretty quickly with his massive F-up of the Goran/IT/Knight situation. He basically held it together for one season and then it all went to crap the following off season. He lucked himself into the Booker draft which unfortunately bought him some goodwill again and then selling Sarver on the "timeline" of tanking really got him an extra few seasons on the job.

[Revived]

Wow, when quiet Bender rips on McD....you know he was bad.

He has to be among the worst GMs in history in all of sports.

Just funny because remember all the “OMG thank god we have McD after the awful Lance Blanks tenure” mindset many had.

Even with the Booker draft, I’m not sure McD was any better than Blanks. At least Blanks didn’t have a public feud with players we traded away. We also didn’t have a player demanding trade every single season under Blanks.

Don’t get me wrong though both were awful...

Let's be honest, we were all excited. McD bought himself a ton of goodwill, basically on luck with that hiring of Hornacek and his 1st season where we won 48 games and just missed the playoffs and that's coming off a 25 and 33 wins the previous two season.

But things unravelled pretty quickly with his massive F-up of the Goran/IT/Knight situation. He basically held it together for one season and then it all went to crap the following off season. He lucked himself into the Booker draft which unfortunately bought him some goodwill again and then selling Sarver on the "timeline" of tanking really got him an extra few seasons on the job.

Yeah at first because we were looking for just about anything to feel better after getting rid of Blanks. Plus he came from Ainge so we assumed he’d be good.

But he still had somewhat of a cult like fanbase. Every single draft choice, FA signee and trade was praised and if anyone questioned it then it was “McD knows what he’s doing and I’ll blindly trust that, he knows more than any fan on a dumb message forum hahaha”.

Remember the stupid “Dat asset” meme lol that was overplayed quite a bit as well.

I think you, me and like 2-3 others were the first to start calling him out on his BS. The IT signing/Dragic debacle basically ended any good feelings I had left for him.

[darealjuice]

It's not like Bender's wrong. Trevor Ariza trashed us for the same stuff. Other franchises had state of the art practice facilities with multiple basketball courts, great workout facilities, and private chefs on site. The Suns practiced on a single court in the basement, likely didn't have the same level of equipment available for training or recovery, and apparently didn't care about getting their young and physically underdeveloped players' nutrition right. We're on a better track now, but our facilities were a massive downgrade to any major college prior to like 6 months ago.

I did chuckle at his "consistent playing time" quote considering he played 25 mpg for 82 games in his sophomore season, which is more than he had for Maccabi tel Aviv in his season there. With that said, constant changes in expectations and role due to coaching changes and high school-level facilities wasn't a good environment to develop 2 raw players like Bender and Chriss.

[AtheJ415]

Ariza was inexcusably terrible for us and threw in the towel. He has no room to complain. Bender at least tried here. That said, he's still super young and failed in other places so it's as much on him as Phoenix.

McD was still way better than Blanks. At least we got Booker and Ayton (even if we passed on Luka to do it).

I'm also very concerned about Smith at this point. I realize Kaminsky has played well of late, but for all of last season and the first 12 games or so this season, he was arguably the worst player in the NBA. Smith was a very high pick in a value draft around our draft slot. He should be able to beat out Kaminsky and Damian Jones for a team lacking quality bigs beyond Ayton and an injured Saric. I fear that passing on Haliburton and Vassell will haunt us.

I think Jones may have been too cute and planning on Smith replacing Ayton if Ayton is moved for another star. If Smith was seen as a 4, I think we would've seen him more than we have when Kaminsky was still terrible.

[suns12345]

Ariza was inexcusably terrible for us and threw in the towel. He has no room to complain. Bender at least tried here. That said, he's still super young and failed in other places so it's as much on him as Phoenix.

McD was still way better than Blanks. At least we got Booker and Ayton (even if we passed on Luka to do it).

I'm also very concerned about Smith at this point. I realize Kaminsky has played well of late, but for all of last season and the first 12 games or so this season, he was arguably the worst player in the NBA. Smith was a very high pick in a value draft around our draft slot. He should be able to beat out Kaminsky and Damian Jones for a team lacking quality bigs beyond Ayton and an injured Saric. I fear that passing on Haliburton and Vassell will haunt us.

I think Jones may have been too cute and planning on Smith replacing Ayton if Ayton is moved for another star. If Smith was seen as a 4, I think we would've seen him more than we have when Kaminsky was still terrible.

He had COVID and no pre season and may have been injured.

Kaminsky was also picked higher than Smith in a better draft I believe if we're talking about projected talent

We're a playoff team now (hopefully) with aspirations of contending. Get used to rookies not playing much if at all.