lipoli390 wrote:Q - The defense didn't look much better in person than on paper, but it was better than it has been earlier this season and it was good enough for the win. And that's the key. I'm not expecting this team to become a defensive force. But we are loaded with scorers. Defensively, we just need to be "good enough."
Where will you be sitting next Monday?
Q I thought the starters in the first half played terrific defense. The bench gave up some points but it was also to guys like Barbosa and Knight who are pretty good players. The 2nd half wasn't as impressive as the Suns were able to get various switches and take advantage. Bledsoe made some tough shots. I thought Rubio's defense was really good he is really starting to look like the player we saw last year on that end which is pretty big for this team.
Q12543 wrote:Thanks for the thorough report Lip and company, as I missed this one.
It's hard for me to get giddy over getting a fairly narrow win at home against a fellow bottom-feeder, but it sounds like the offense was clicking on all cylinders. The defense, at least on paper, didn't look so good. But a win is a win is a win.
We have come up with a couple of surprising road wins this year in Chicago and Charlotte. This team is capable of playing some good ball on the road. I feel hopeful for Wednesday.
I attend one game every year when I visit for the holidays. That will be the game against Atlanta next Monday. It would be nice to go into it with some momentum!
I think people don't give the Suns much credit for their talent. That team is not a joke. They have some legit vet players like Chandler as a starter and solid vets like Dudley and Barbosa on the bench. Knight is coming off the bench for them. That dude can score. To me at this point in the season we don't have any completely starved talent team in the NBA like we have seen from say the Sixers of the past few years or some really injury decimated teams. the Suns have some tough customers like Chandler, a healthy Bledsoe and Tucker, so overcoming those guys is something.
Those blocks Dunn had where pretty spectacular. He had some poor moments but there were for sure some positive ones. That jumper continues to look good when he shoots it which is pretty encouraging.
Bazz's defense has gotten better, I agree there. He just kills us sometimes when he puts the blinders on and makes dumb plays, whether it's a 1 on 2 fast break where he ends up barreling into a set defender for a charge or a quick shot that isn't in the flow of the offense.
Regardless, I feel like we need a 3rd wing that is nearly good enough to even push LaVine and Wiggins for minutes. I think we need to spend some coin/assets to get a guy in that can play 20 MPG and isn't a feast or famine type of player, but a guy that can defend and make smart decisions. If our future stars actually do become future stars, they need to be surrounded by guys that are more fundamentally sound than Bazz.
Q12543 wrote:Bazz's defense has gotten better, I agree there. He just kills us sometimes when he puts the blinders on and makes dumb plays, whether it's a 1 on 2 fast break where he ends up barreling into a set defender for a charge or a quick shot that isn't in the flow of the offense.
Regardless, I feel like we need a 3rd wing that is nearly good enough to even push LaVine and Wiggins for minutes. I think we need to spend some coin/assets to get a guy in that can play 20 MPG and isn't a feast or famine type of player, but a guy that can defend and make smart decisions. If our future stars actually do become future stars, they need to be surrounded by guys that are more fundamentally sound than Bazz.
Q I actually think if this team matures they probably could benefit and/or live with a feast or famine guy like Bazz but right now you are right it would be nice to have another player that's solid like Aldrich. It's just weird that Bazz hasn't been able to finish Bazz type plays both hitting shots and squeezing loose balls rebounds he usually gets. I figure he will turn that around eventually. Rubio struggled early on and seems to be coming around. Bazz's defense I think keeps him in the rotation (plus Rush being hurt and in effective) Who woulda thunk it? It's a big year for him I wonder if he is pressing. I'm a Bazz guy but I am starting to think he is a bench player. Obviously this is the year the Wolves have to make a decision on him and I am curious to see what the totality of the season brings one way or another.
