i think we're trying to get rasheer ready for the playoffs - that timeline makes sense and those minutes would be invaluable for his confidence moving forward - plus we need a power forward that knows our system
Suns draft Rasheer Fleming with the 31st pick
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Chaplin
Better off silent
Blasphemy!
SirStefan32
Krycek, Alex Krycek
His jumper looks really nice. He is not hitting them at a great rate yet, but there is just nothing wrong with his shot. He is still a little lost on defense, but I think that will come with experience.
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It's not about who starts, but the Suns need size coming off the bench. Brooks is fine starting, but the Suns could use a bigger 4 coming off the bench. Sometimes the Suns are undersized.
You're right. Without draft capital for the next few years, it's imperative that we develop our current rookies and youth.
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Yuma
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I always think of Wes Unseld. For his time as an NBA Center, he was short compared to the 7 footers that roamed the land of the NBA at that time. Wes was stout and super strong. Plus, he played with such violence, you didn't want to get hit by a stray elbow, etc. I keep reading how Charles Barkley was not as tall as listed. A lot of NBA players from his generation talk about him being shorter than advertised. We all know Chuck wasn't skinny. I am just adding on to your point, @JCSunsfan.
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Following up on the strong and stout thing, Rasheer could stand to add a few pounds. He's got the height and athleticism. Just needs some more strength and pounds.
Fleming seems more like a wing in his style of play. Not seen many back to the basket plays. Same thing with rebounding and defense. Is he used to playing on the inside?
Regardless, I hope Ott puts him in more often. He needs experience.
Regardless, I hope Ott puts him in more often. He needs experience.
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we have 27 games remaining - 27 games to get in playoff shape - i don't see the rookies seeing much meaningful time - i wish tho
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Yuma
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Fleming is more of a wing on offense. Fleming just needs to develop a handle for drives to the basket. When he starts mixing up his three point shots with effective drives to the basket, the offense for him will take off. His length on defense already affects plays. When he is able to stay in front of guys on defense, he usually forces them to pass the ball away.
fleming has turned the corner in february - he's always had the size and ability - now he's playing smart and unselfish - running up to set those screens - rewarded with 6 3pt attempts (made 2)
im not comparing him to dunn - dunn is still absolutely above fleming on the proverbial totem pole - but fleming did just jump livers - i don't think there's any question - our eyes don't lie - im super excited to see where he can be before the playoffs - we need to give him more and more minutes
im not comparing him to dunn - dunn is still absolutely above fleming on the proverbial totem pole - but fleming did just jump livers - i don't think there's any question - our eyes don't lie - im super excited to see where he can be before the playoffs - we need to give him more and more minutes
Yes, his potential is exciting. This last game felt like a break out game. Once he starts looking at the basket during plays, he will take it to the next level. And if he can consistently knock down those threes it will go a long way. His defense is stifling.
Suns_fan69
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You can see he's still processing where he needs to be at times on both ends of the court, but having reps in non-garbage non-gleague minutes should help this. I hope they can find 15-20 mins a game for him to develop.
There was a point during last night's game where I was yelling at the screen: "Where's FLEMING! Luka's torching us!"
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Heard Fleming on 98.7 today. He said the G League play helped his confidence greatly. He said all the rookies feel they have improved their skills over this season.
Yeah, Barkley was barely 6'4...but the talking heads regularly pitched him as 6'6.... he used his mass well to compensate for his lack of height.
In some cases, like rebounding, I can see a benefit to being more short and stout... when banging in the paint against a guy thats 7 foot but only about 235 pounds... that lower center of gravity can help your weight move those taller guys right out of the way...at the park I modeled my game off of Barkley and thats how I did it..... then those big guys start to get scared your gonna drop them on the deck if they go up for the ball and that basically negates their height advantage.
They didnt call him "The Round Mound on the Rebound" for nothing.
agree...he needs to get familiar enough with his team mates that he knows right where they are going to go in a given situation...only minutes will fix it but it shouldnt take too long.
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He was also a next level athlete. In edible quick with hops for someone of his size.
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I learned from football, the guy who gets his mass the lowest, usually wins. Same in basketball. I tried to push my hips lower than their hips. Usually that would end up in fisticuffs in pick up games when you as a short guy start out rebounding and getting shots off bigger players. I was always getting in scraps with bigger guys. Football, guys know it's going to be physical so not so much. Basketball, there's so much ego involved.
Ouchie-Z-Clown
I'm better than Mulli!
Getting the lower leverage is definitely and advantage. It’s what I used to defend and post up guys who were 6’4 when I’m 5’11 (at best). What usually resulted in scraps is when guys took out peoples legs while they were in the air under the guise of boxing out. That’s dangerous. Had a buddy who did it all the time - even in dunk hoops (short rims). Closest I’ve ever gotten to getting into a fight on a court with a friend because it was dangeous and he kept doing it.
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Man Man and Fleming have size. Dunn and Oso have some size, but not when compared to the long sized teams that give us fits. Dunn and Oso were decent picks with limited upside. Man Man and Fleming have the chance at higher upsides. All four are good young picks that help extend our timeline. We need to get more of these, and rely less on the mid range smaller vets we have been filling our line ups with. We also need to get more serious on developing young talent alongside maintaining playoff ability. It's going to be hard to do those two things at once. Ott seems to be doing it. I am just worried he's not getting Fleming and Man Man enough minutes, but Dunn and Oso made a move up in ability in year 2, so maybe that's the plan?
Ouchie-Z-Clown
I'm better than Mulli!
Given the growth we’ve seen from Fleming I’d say I’m comfortable trusting otts strategy with the young guys.
Can't say that about Dunn who stagnated in year 2, and regressed a bit on D.
Dunn appears to be a confidence issue. I've heard EJ reference confidence as an issue also. He appears timid to shoot from deep unless he's wide open. Even then he takes his time. He's not active on offense and that causes him to check out on defense as well. Granted on D he's not being tested a lot but he's slower on switches than I remember him early in the year. It doesn't appear he's dogging it but more of mental lapses. He doesn't see extended stretches on the floor either so or appears Ott isn't relying a lot on him. He went from fringe starter to fringe rotation player though and that's troubling.
I'd be fine if the team quietly shopped him this summer. Maybe try and get a pick in the late teens for him. He isn't useless but he's not what anyone hoped for at this point.
