Improvement

[SirStefan32]

It is no secret that the Suns are not a good team. I figured it would be a good idea to look for improvements. Last few games, the Suns passed my eye-test, so I decided to look at some stats for the last five games.

Looking at the last five games the Suns look pretty decent.

Turnovers: 13.6 (6th best)
Assists: 25.2 (tied for 12th)
FG%: 50.1 (First)
3 Pts FG%: 38.6 (Tied for first)

This is huge improvement from the start of the season.

They do, however, rank dead last in rebounds per game at just over 35.

Full stats:
https://stats.nba.com/teams/traditi... Season&DateFrom=11/14/2018&DateTo=11/23/2018

 

[Chaplin]

They're positioning is terrible. Because Igor continually likes to run the high pick and roll, Ayton is continually away from the basket and since he's our best rebounder... well, you do the math.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

They're positioning is terrible. Because Igor continually likes to run the high pick and roll, Ayton is continually away from the basket and since he's our best rebounder... well, you do the math.

That speaks to the lack of offensive rebounding, but not defensive rebounds. We are one of the worst defensive rebounding teams in the league and I imagine that has a lot to do with starting TJ and Ariza at the forward positions.

 

[1tinsoldier]

it doesn't help that as soon as our shot is in the air, our biggest and best rebounder starts heading up the court the other way

 

[1Sun]

it doesn't help that as soon as our shot is in the air, our biggest and best rebounder starts heading up the court the other way

Likely at the coach's instruction, as that is the opposite of his M.O. from last year, when he was an offensive rebounding machine, even as he was parked in the high post in offensive sets.

 

[Suns_fan69]

Another interesting stat from that link, Phoenix is getting far more fouls called on them than for them. It's a pretty big differential at 7 more fouls called against them. Next closest is Denver at 3.8

 

[1Sun]

Another interesting stat from that link, Phoenix is getting far more fouls called on them than for them. It's a pretty big differential at 7 more fouls called against them. Next closest is Denver at 3.8

Passive play on offense, combined with fundamentally sloppy play on defense, naturally results in this.

 

[BC867]

All of the above posts reflect the lack of a rebounding Power Forward to share the load with Ayton.

The philosophy that "everybody is a rebounder" just doesn't cut it. Everybody is not a rebounder.

Not by where they're playing on the court and not by their skillset. It is lazy management.

Have we ever had a Head Coach, no matter how bad, who was so out of touch with the basic fundamentals?

Setting up any Wing or Guard at any time to be criticized for not being out of position to be charging the basket for rebounds is a cop-out.

Of course other players help on rebounds, but to be counted on to be "a rebounder" is just looking for scape goats.

I think that mentality is the worst part of Igor's approach. He appears to be defensive on everything but . . . defense.

 

[1Sun]

Have we ever had a Head Coach, no matter how bad, who was so out of touch with the basic fundamentals?

Sadly, we have had too many of those. Lindsey Hunter, Earl Watson and Frank Johnson all come to mind instantly. The problem is that above all else we needed to avoid a repeat of this when we hired Earl Watson's permanent replacement.

 

[1tinsoldier]

Sadly, we have had too many of those. Lindsey Hunter, Earl Watson and Frank Johnson all come to mind instantly. The problem is that above all else we needed to avoid a repeat of this when we hired Earl Watson's permanent replacement.

all first time head coaches, right?

Hornacek was also a first time head coach here wasn't he. What did he do after the Suns?

and Terry Porter
and Triano?

 

[1Sun]

all first time head coaches, right?

Hornacek was also a first time head coach here wasn't he. What did he do after the Suns?

and Terry Porter
and Triano?

Each of them had at least some grasp of fundamentals. They were bad coaches, but nowhere near as seemingly clueless with respect to the most basic aspects of basketball as Earl Watson, Lindsey Hunter, Frank Johnson and now Igor Kokoskov have been.

FYI, to answer your question, after the Suns, Hornacek had a predictably failed stint with the Knicks. Porter and Triano were not first time head coaches. Porter had a failed stint in Milwaukee, and Triano had a failed stint in Toronto.

Never should have fired Alvin Gentry. I didn't like the move then, and I like it even less now.

 

[Superbone]

all first time head coaches, right?

Hornacek was also a first time head coach here wasn't he. What did he do after the Suns?

and Terry Porter
and Triano?

Hornacek coached the Knicks for a couple years before getting fired. Triano is currently lead assistant on the Hornets.

 

[devilalum]

Improvement is the key this year. The Suns don't have to make the playoffs to consider this year a success. They do need to show that they have taken a step forward. If they could have a winning record over the last 40 games that would be ideal. Probably still have a decent lottery pick but also show potential free agents that they're just a player or two away from being legit.

 

[sunsfan88]

all first time head coaches, right?

Hornacek was also a first time head coach here wasn't he. What did he do after the Suns?

and Terry Porter
and Triano?

Lindsey Hunter was an assistant coach for the Mark Jackson Warriors teams iirc.

 

[sunsfan88]

I'm definitely seeing improvement in play from the beginning of the year to now.

 

[sunsfan88]

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[1Sun]

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Congrats. We have improved from historically horrendous to just plain bad...

 

[BC867]

Congrats. We have improved from historically horrendous to just plain bad...

And it seemed like to pulling teeth for that to happen.

 

[JCSunsfan]

And it seemed like to pulling teeth for that to happen.

Patience.

 

[1Sun]

Patience.

The Suns currently have the second longest active playoff drought and the seventh longest playoff drought in NBA history. How much more patience could we possibly be expected to have?

 

[BC867]

The Suns currently have the second longest active playoff drought and the seventh longest playoff drought in NBA history. How much more patience could we possibly be expected to have?

Thanks, "1".

 

[1Sun]

https://www.azcentral.com/story/spo...ns-worst-starts-franchise-history/2140295002/

Perhaps the thread should be renamed "Improvement???"...