Suns 2025-2026 Season Discussion

[TJ]

Sounds like we could get Trae for scraps.

Need forwards. When Jalen returns, there wont be a need for another guard.

 

[Proximo]

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Devin does not deserve to be an all star this season - at all.

Gillespie has really been a more valuable player to us in all honesty.

 

[Chaplin]

Devin does not deserve to be an all star this season - at all.

Gillespie has really been a more valuable player to us in all honesty.

Interesting take there. You think we'd still be at the same record if we didn't have Devin? Or more importantly, that we'd be significantly worse if Collin didn't play and Devin did?

Collin is fantastic and is super important to our success, to be sure, but he's not an excuse for the standard Devin hate this board shows on a regular basis.

 

[Adrian]

Phoenix Suns' surge draws praise from Mat Ishbia on X - Burn City Sports Phoenix Sports

PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns have been on a roll and owner Mat Ishbia is excited about what they’ve accomplished so far this season.Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe! The Suns have won four games in a row, defeating the Washington Wizards on Dec. 29 to improve to 19-13 on...

burncitysports.com

 

[Proximo]

Interesting take there. You think we'd still be at the same record if we didn't have Devin? Or more importantly, that we'd be significantly worse if Collin didn't play and Devin did?

Collin is fantastic and is super important to our success, to be sure, but he's not an excuse for the standard Devin hate this board shows on a regular basis.

I do not hate Devin. He simply is nowhere near efficient enough to be considered an all star. He has been in previous years, but this is by far his worst season in many years, if not ever. I am in no way happy about this - it is depressing, because his contract looks like it is going to become a huge anchor if his play doesn't revert to the old him. This is supposed to be the peak of his career, but he can't seem to shoot any better than Ryan Dunn from 3. That is really pathetic considering he is known as a shooter, and people want to bench Dunn because of his 3 point shooting.

Do I think we would have the same record without him, no it would be a little worse - but mainly because it would shorten our rotation of a quality player, not because he is really a big factor in us winning games this year. I don't think Colin is much better than Devin just slightly - but I think the idea anyone should even consider him as an all star is ridiculous. Nobody on this team is an all star this season, they are playing great as a unit, but no one player is playing like a star.

Bookers best skill for us is actually his passing, scoring wise he has been inferior to both Collin and Dillon this season. He gets a lot more shots based on his reputation, which is starting to fade away because he has been so meh. This is going to be a big problem since about half his scoring is now coming from the free throw line because his rep is still getting him calls most players don't get - but it won't stay that way forever.

 

[Dr dumas]

I do not hate Devin. He simply is nowhere near efficient enough to be considered an all star. He has been in previous years, but this is by far his worst season in many years, if not ever. I am in no way happy about this - it is depressing, because his contract looks like it is going to become a huge anchor if his play doesn't revert to the old him. This is supposed to be the peak of his career, but he can't seem to shoot any better than Ryan Dunn from 3. That is really pathetic considering he is known as a shooter, and people want to bench Dunn because of his 3 point shooting.

Do I think we would have the same record without him, no it would be a little worse - but mainly because it would shorten our rotation of a quality player, not because he is really a big factor in us winning games this year. I don't think Colin is much better than Devin just slightly - but I think the idea anyone should even consider him as an all star is ridiculous. Nobody on this team is an all star this season, they are playing great as a unit, but no one player is playing like a star.

Bookers best skill for us is actually his passing, scoring wise he has been inferior to both Collin and Dillon this season. He gets a lot more shots based on his reputation, which is starting to fade away because he has been so meh. This is going to be a big problem since about half his scoring is now coming from the free throw line because his rep is still getting him calls most players don't get - but it won't stay that way forever.

Booker still commands being double-teamed which makes things easier for everyone else. My hope is that once Green returns, it makes it harder for teams to double Book which should help improve his shooting percentages.

 

[SirStefan32]

I understand the argument that Book is having a "down" season, but 25 points, 4+ rebounds, and 6+ assists per game is flat-out an all star.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I understand the argument that Book is having a "down" season, but 25 points, 4+ rebounds, and 6+ assists per game is flat-out an all star.

Especially being double-teamed on every possession. That is how every team has defended the Suns this season. Double Book and make him take a contested shot or pass. He passes often and it creates open shots for teammates.

 

[Proximo]

I understand the argument that Book is having a "down" season, but 25 points, 4+ rebounds, and 6+ assists per game is flat-out an all star.

So efficiency doesn't matter to you? It matters A LOT to me. It's why I never thought Iverson was a top 20 player.

Booker is shooting 45% and 29% from 3.

Luka,
Shai,
Steph,
Anthony Edwards,
Keyonte George,
Jamal Murray,
Austin Reeves

all better at guard.

He's about even with Hardin

Jokic, Markkanen, Kwahi, Wemby, Avdija, Sengun, KD for the frontcourt.

I don't see how Booker deserves a spot over any of them

I will admit after looking closely at the stats it is closer for Booker than I thought, but he doesn't deserve it.

 

[Proximo]

Especially being double-teamed on every possession. That is how every team has defended the Suns this season. Double Book and make him take a contested shot or pass. He passes often and it creates open shots for teammates.

He is doubled a ton because he sucks at handling double teams.

You don't think teams would double Ant constantly if it was effective? Where is the second option on his team that is so scary?

I'm tired of that excuse, because I see other stars, and they split double teams or make teams pay with their passing if they try.

 

[Suns_fan69]

This was posted earlier in the season (start of Dec), so just over a month of the season is captured here. Given his pass percentage, I'm surprised his %TOV is relatively low in comparison.

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[Suns_fan69]

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[Phrazbit]

Outside of his 3 point shooting, I am not sure what more people are expecting of him.

Is he hustling? Yes. Is he playing good defense? Yes. Has he been good in the clutch? Yes.

He is basically checking off all the complaints from the last few years.

70 million dollars is a joke for anyone to make, but it's the cost of all-star caliber players. He is still the best player, by far, on the team, the team is playing well and he is still a hugely positive trade asset.

Furthermore, that contract doesn't even kick in for 3 more seasons.

 

[SactownSunsFan]

I saw a report that Jalen Green will be re-evaluated in another 2-3 weeks. The window will be awfully short to evaluate how he fits in with this team and look at trade options if it's not working. Probably best to keep him and see what he brings for the rest of the season.

 

[Adrian]

NBA fines Suns G Jalen Green $25,000 for profanity on live TV

The NBA fined Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green $25,000 on Tuesday for using profanity when he interrupted a live television ‍interview with words of support for teammate Collin Gillespie. Green's comments came after a 115-101 win over the host Washingto...

wiky.com

 

[Adrian]

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[Adrian]

Suns Schedule Watch: The fight for a playoff spot

Let’s take a look at the Suns’ next 10 games heading into the new year.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[AzStevenCal]

NBA fines Suns G Jalen Green $25,000 for profanity on live TV

The NBA fined Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green $25,000 on Tuesday for using profanity when he interrupted a live television ‍interview with words of support for teammate Collin Gillespie. Green's comments came after a 115-101 win over the host Washingto...

wiky.com

Yeah I watched that and wondered if there'd be consequences. Poor Collin, they never let him interview alone especially Brooks and Green.

 

[SirStefan32]

Outside of his 3 point shooting, I am not sure what more people are expecting of him.

Is he hustling? Yes. Is he playing good defense? Yes. Has he been good in the clutch? Yes.

He is basically checking off all the complaints from the last few years.

70 million dollars is a joke for anyone to make, but it's the cost of all-star caliber players. He is still the best player, by far, on the team, the team is playing well and he is still a hugely positive trade asset.

Furthermore, that contract doesn't even kick in for 3 more seasons.

Exactly! He is in bit of a shooting slump from three-point range, but he is doing great everywhere else. Contract not kicking in is especially important as when it kicks in, it will be the same percentage of the cap then as it is right now.

 

[Proximo]

Outside of his 3 point shooting, I am not sure what more people are expecting of him.

Is he hustling? Yes. Is he playing good defense? Yes. Has he been good in the clutch? Yes.

He is basically checking off all the complaints from the last few years.

70 million dollars is a joke for anyone to make, but it's the cost of all-star caliber players. He is still the best player, by far, on the team, the team is playing well and he is still a hugely positive trade asset.

Furthermore, that contract doesn't even kick in for 3 more seasons.

Have you watched him play consistently over the last 5 years?

The answer is obvious if you have - he is a shadow of his former self, and people don't like it.

His defense is still very weak - he is usually the worst defender on the floor for us. No he is not as good in the clutch. When is the last time he took over a game - I don't think it has happened once this whole season - not that I can remember.

The contract not kicking in yet is not the point - his value in a trade is affected by it NOW.

He is not the best player by far Gillespie and Booker both have a 2.7 win shares.
Booker is at .9 VORP and Gillespie is at 1.4.

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

Have you watched him play consistently over the last 5 years?

The answer is obvious if you have - he is a shadow of his former self, and people don't like it.

have you watched dtv and gillespie play with book? have they always been this good? aren't you supposed to make your team better? do you want ja morant or do you want 6 players in double figures? we're winning games nobody had us penciled to win but we're still somehow blaming devin

 

[Mainstreet]

The Suns trading Jusuf Nurkic and a 2026 first round pick seems as off the wall now as it did then.

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[JCSunsfan]

Book has bought in to the team concept. He is moving the ball at times when he used to go one on one. He is playing good D. I have been watching him specifically on D. He is working very hard at it. This is a new way of playing for him, and it is for Ott's system.

 

[Dback Jon]

Book has bought in to the team concept. He is moving the ball at times when he used to go one on one. He is playing good D. I have been watching him specifically on D. He is working very hard at it. This is a new way of playing for him, and it is for Ott's system.

Yes - and the attention paid to him by double teams allows others to get open and score.

Booker has been very good this year - just not in the ways some think he should be. Even the local sports idiots on the radio haven't figured it out yet.

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

I saw a report that Jalen Green will be re-evaluated in another 2-3 weeks. The window will be awfully short to evaluate how he fits in with this team and look at trade options if it's not working. Probably best to keep him and see what he brings for the rest of the season.

He definitely has a grade 3 hamstring strain, so he probably tore it in some capacity. Probably wont be 100% for the rest of the year.