Game 45: The Booker Watch against the Hawks.

[saintEscaton]

Down To Buck is prolific [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bm3lqhrh6V4[/youtube]

[jcsunsfan]

22 assist as a team. Great stat.
Chandler showing his leadership. Maybe with Knight and Bledsoe injured Chandler will emerge as the voice and heart of the team.

I hope that game opens up the Archie Goodwin show. I haven't been this excited for him since his rookie year.

It's funny, I was just debating people today about lack of assists for our team and my take was that having shoot first point guards, and more than one or two of them isn't going to help with assists, but then when all those guys are out, and Hornacek has a nice group to play with, we have assists.

It's certainly better, but really we average 20.5 on the season, so we've hit 22 assists plenty times before with our shoot first PGs, and our guards took the bulk of our shots again. It's the system we run. You look at the team assist numbers across the league and most make sense based on how they play. Utah is last, because they post up a ton, for instance.

Archie was 7-17 with 4 assists (although he deserved more imo) and 1 TO. Booker was 6-19 with 1 assist and 3 TOs. Let's be real, we'd crucify both if Bledsoe and Knight put up those lines. It's a system thing, and Booker and Archie played tonight just like our previous guards. Our guards have always been our shot takers and the team overall doesn't get assists because that's how our system is set up. It tries to create a mismatch and then tries to exploit that mismatch 1 on 1. Assists don't come from those scenarios.

On the plus side, Archie hit 8-9 FTs and the game winner, and Len and Chandler had 39 rebounds between them, while Len was 6-10 from the field and had more assists than either of our guards.

This is true.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

[Blackification]

''The play was originally drawn up for Alex (Len) to come off and shoot the 3, but I wasn't going to let him do it. I was going to shoot it all the time,'' Goodwin said. ''I was looking at the play like, 'Yeah right, I am shooting this.'''

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/goodwin-hits-3-0-1-seconds-left-suns-044440885--nba.html#

hope thats a joke on his part. if not it shows why this team is so **** up, first of all Len for three for game winner? **** off hornacek. second of all follow the play archie thats why you get no damn minutes

[Qwigglez]

Eh... I watched the replay. I didn't see Len flare out for the three, so I imagine he was kidding.

[thamadkant]

I think the plan was to ensure that possession was the LAST for the regulation. Hornacek didnt want a missed shot then a rebound time out for Hawks for them to have the last shot.



Shame when Price and Knight comes back, Goodwin is likely playing 5-7 minutes off the bench again assuming the Suns are winning by 20 or losing by 20.

[RunDogGun]

I am super impressed by the whole team tonight. They battled, they worked together, and man did they take a bunch of fouls. Archie played very well, and Bel Biv Devoe was fouling him all night.

Some huge blocks, which were called fouls by us.

Chandler finally looks healthy, and rebounded like a man.

Great team win. I'm glad the youngsters got a taste of a hard fought win.

[MathiasPW]

Put into perspective we had 22 assists which is only 2 more than we average per game. Also, Booker and Goodwin took 19 and 17 shots which are two more than what Bledsoe and Knight take.

What looks different is the shorter rotation and the twin towers. Our starters played big minutes.

Well observed. Was trying to understand if the difference was the players, the system or just heart.

Comes down to rotation and execution. The shots Goodwin and Booker took seemed much more like open shots than contested ones like super-heroes Knight and Bledsoe usually take.

[Years90Suns]

Alex Len at the 4 might not be a joke. It might be his actual natural position a la Kristaps Porzingis. Especially if he keeps knocking down his jumpshots.

Having a starting lineup with Len at the 4 offers a lot of possibilities. He can begin there, knock down shots or go to the low post against smaller defenders (which should be the case). Then Chandler gets to the bench for rest and Len plays the 5 agains a bench C who he should crash.

The formula of having three main inside players is the best one for me, with then a fourth one offering totally different carachteristics. Main minutes for Len, Chandler and then a good PF and Leuer offering some extra effort, shooting or running. Leuer can play the C too, so that gives us a lot of combinations, which is an ideal situation.
Rosters with players that can play just one position are not for today.

[kennydorglas]

''The play was originally drawn up for Alex (Len) to come off and shoot the 3, but I wasn't going to let him do it. I was going to shoot it all the time,'' Goodwin said. ''I was looking at the play like, 'Yeah right, I am shooting this.'''

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/goodwin-hits-3-0-1-seconds-left-suns-044440885--nba.html#

hope thats a joke on his part. if not it shows why this team is so **** up, first of all Len for three for game winner? **** off hornacek. second of all follow the play archie thats why you get no damn minutes

Yeah, sounded like a joke. I cant even believe Len taking a 3 to finish this game hahaha

[MathiasPW]

''The play was originally drawn up for Alex (Len) to come off and shoot the 3, but I wasn't going to let him do it. I was going to shoot it all the time,'' Goodwin said. ''I was looking at the play like, 'Yeah right, I am shooting this.'''

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/goodwin-hits-3-0-1-seconds-left-suns-044440885--nba.html#

hope thats a joke on his part. if not it shows why this team is so **** up, first of all Len for three for game winner? **** off hornacek. second of all follow the play archie thats why you get no damn minutes

Yeah, sounded like a joke. I cant even believe Len taking a 3 to finish this game hahaha

Don't think it was a joke. Len went to set the pick n pop (likely not a 3, but a jumper at the FT line, where he was hitting consistently), but the pick didn't work out.

[thamadkant]

He really does look like a young MJ there lol.

He can pass as MJs son anyways lol

[Saberestar]

What a tremendous dunk by Archie. Wowww. And then the game winner....Archie doesn't have a lot of value around the league so it's better to have him here for next season.

Chandler on the other hand....if you can get a decent pick and an expiring he can be dealt.

[JMac1]

It's funny, I was just debating people today about lack of assists for our team and my take was that having shoot first point guards, and more than one or two of them isn't going to help with assists, but then when all those guys are out, and Hornacek has a nice group to play with, we have assists.

It's certainly better, but really we average 20.5 on the season, so we've hit 22 assists plenty times before with our shoot first PGs, and our guards took the bulk of our shots again. It's the system we run. You look at the team assist numbers across the league and most make sense based on how they play. Utah is last, because they post up a ton, for instance.

Archie was 7-17 with 4 assists (although he deserved more imo) and 1 TO. Booker was 6-19 with 1 assist and 3 TOs. Let's be real, we'd crucify both if Bledsoe and Knight put up those lines. It's a system thing, and Booker and Archie played tonight just like our previous guards. Our guards have always been our shot takers and the team overall doesn't get assists because that's how our system is set up. It tries to create a mismatch and then tries to exploit that mismatch 1 on 1. Assists don't come from those scenarios.

On the plus side, Archie hit 8-9 FTs and the game winner, and Len and Chandler had 39 rebounds between them, while Len was 6-10 from the field and had more assists than either of our guards.

This is true.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

This is false. I don't have a problem with shots being missed, I have a problem with the shots being taken. Two of Booker shots were 3 pt heaves to beat the expiring shot clock and he missed shots he normally makes. Knight comes down and just shoots. He only passes if and only if it is impossible to shoot the ball. Knight doesn't even look to pass, and shows frustration if he does. I pointed out his frustration after a brick and Booker took a wide open three during the Pacers game, look it up. Goodwin was forced to take wide open shots because as Eddie said, Atl was going under the screens. As far as the assists being down, it was because no one was making shots, how could you not see that or were you just trying to get on us fans for being hypocritical?

I would love to see a stat that had failed assists because a shot was missed. Attempting an assist and not attempting an assist and having the same number of assist are not the same thing. Stats don't lie but statisticians do. Don't just look at the box score.

[JMac1]

Put into perspective we had 22 assists which is only 2 more than we average per game. Also, Booker and Goodwin took 19 and 17 shots which are two more than what Bledsoe and Knight take.

What looks different is the shorter rotation and the twin towers. Our starters played big minutes.

Well observed. Was trying to understand if the difference was the players, the system or just heart.

Comes down to rotation and execution. The shots Goodwin and Booker took seemed much more like open shots than contested ones like super-heroes Knight and Bledsoe usually take.

By George, I think he's got it!

[JMac1]

I think with the last 2 games, with Goodwin and Booker NOT being 100% play makers.... Chandler and Len has become the "setup" guys.

Imagine a Bogut or heck a Brad Miller type center who plays the give and go with either Goodwin or Booker... it looks good in action with a non-passing big in Chandler so imagine it with a good passing center.

Another point that debunks the theory of its our offense. Booker and Goodwin were able to get shots and Len and Chandler were able to score because there were no wasted possession were Knight just dribbles dribbles dribbles and dribbles looking for his shot then passes late when he can't and takes away opportunities from other players.

[BobbieL]

What a tremendous dunk by Archie. Wowww. And then the game winner....Archie doesn't have a lot of value around the league so it's better to have him here for next season.

Chandler on the other hand....if you can get a decent pick and an expiring he can be dealt.

I think Archie is a guy that needs a lot of minutes just to see what he can do

Warren, Archie and Booker, Len too - they need minutes

Chandler - trade him for Lee and a pick

Do the Bulls need him with NOah out -- straight up noah for chandler

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

How can you guys want to trade Chandler after seeing how effective he and Alex can be together?? If we trade Chandler, we won't see any more Len at the 4 - which was highly effective. If anything, I want to bolster our center depth so we can continue to trot out two rim protectors. If our offense isn't elite (and it isn't), better to have elite defense and rebounding out there. Watching Alex run guys off the line and slide with players as they drive - not having to worry about defending the rim 100% of the time - was a revelation. We have to play this way.

NOT INTERESTED in trading Chandler.

[bwgood77]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/goodwin-hits-3-0-1-seconds-left-suns-044440885--nba.html#

hope thats a joke on his part. if not it shows why this team is so **** up, first of all Len for three for game winner? **** off hornacek. second of all follow the play archie thats why you get no damn minutes

Yeah, sounded like a joke. I cant even believe Len taking a 3 to finish this game hahaha

Don't think it was a joke. Len went to set the pick n pop (likely not a 3, but a jumper at the FT line, where he was hitting consistently), but the pick didn't work out.

Yeah, no need to shoot a 3. It was probably more like Archie drives, Len gets open from midrange to hit his money shot, and if not Archie take it.

Usually it sounds like there are two options, and if one breaks down, the other takes it. I doubt Archie was supposed to be that far out, but a guy got in front of him, so he couldn't drive, and had to improvise and take the shot, and it went in.

[bwgood77]

How can you guys want to trade Chandler after seeing how effective he and Alex can be together?? If we trade Chandler, we won't see any more Len at the 4 - which was highly effective. If anything, I want to bolster our center depth so we can continue to trot out two rim protectors. If our offense isn't elite (and it isn't), better to have elite defense and rebounding out there. Watching Alex run guys off the line and slide with players as they drive - not having to worry about defending the rim 100% of the time - was a revelation. We have to play this way.

NOT INTERESTED in trading Chandler.

I was just thinking the same thing. Hornacek talked about possibly playing them together before the season but unfortunately they have rarely both been healthy at the same time. When it works and we can out rebound people like that, it is huge. We also got to the line more, with our bigs going 11-14 from the line.

[JMac1]

How can you guys want to trade Chandler after seeing how effective he and Alex can be together?? If we trade Chandler, we won't see any more Len at the 4 - which was highly effective. If anything, I want to bolster our center depth so we can continue to trot out two rim protectors. If our offense isn't elite (and it isn't), better to have elite defense and rebounding out there. Watching Alex run guys off the line and slide with players as they drive - not having to worry about defending the rim 100% of the time - was a revelation. We have to play this way.

NOT INTERESTED in trading Chandler.

I was just thinking the same thing. Hornacek talked about possibly playing them together before the season but unfortunately they have rarely both been healthy at the same time. When it works and we can out rebound people like that, it is huge. We also got to the line more, with our bigs going 11-14 from the line.

Nope. Trade Chandler while his stock is high because:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3ceb5OVG7k[/youtube]