Suns 2024-2025 Season Discussions

[Hoop Head]

As a shooting guard, he was steadily improving as a defender. Even spending much of his time now as a point guard his stats are still okay (mostly) but he's just not capable of defending any of the PGs in this league and it puts our entire defensive scheme in jeopardy.

Booker lacks the foot speed and shouldn't be guarding opposing PG's but he is better suited than Tyus, who is just atrocious on defense. I think he's gotten worse as the year has gone on.

I heard some rumblings back when Beal was moved to the bench that Bud wanted to bring Tyus off the bench but he's been mandated to start Tyus since Tyus coming here for the minimum was based on him starting. It'll be interesting to see if he continues to start going forward because I believe Beal is more deserving than Tyus since we aren't utilizing Tyus' PG skills early on anyways.

 

[Phrazbit]

As a shooting guard, he was steadily improving as a defender. Even spending much of his time now as a point guard his stats are still okay (mostly) but he's just not capable of defending any of the PGs in this league and it puts our entire defensive scheme in jeopardy.

Booker was one of the defensive standouts in the olympics, but his offensive burden was far lighter than what we're asking of him. Other than his 3 point shooting, his offensive numbers are still great, I think most of his issues are that he's been put in a bad situation, often defending out of position and rarely getting to run around off the ball on offense, something he is GREAT at but our current personnel require him to either create for himself and others or... stand around watching Durant go ISO.

I don't doubt that he is still a top 2 or 3 SG... but he's not getting to actually play that role very often.

Jones being a complete doormat on defense and his continued shrinking on offense has been probably the most dissapointing storyline so far this year.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Booker was one of the defensive standouts in the olympics, but his offensive burden was far lighter than what we're asking of him. Other than his 3 point shooting, his offensive numbers are still great, I think most of his issues are that he's been put in a bad situation, often defending out of position and rarely getting to run around off the ball on offense, something he is GREAT at but our current personnel require him to either create for himself and others or... stand around watching Durant go ISO.

I don't doubt that he is still a top 2 or 3 SG... but he's not getting to actually play that role very often.

Jones being a complete doormat on defense and his continued shrinking on offense has been probably the most dissapointing storyline so far this year.

Yeah if it wasn't clear, it's his defense at the 1 spot that I was talking about. There are a few shooting guards that he can't handle but that's pretty much true for all of them. And while I think overall he's had a disappointing season, he's been much more like his old self for more than a month now. I just wish the team or Devin would get over this fascination with having him play lead guard.

 

[Mainstreet]

As a shooting guard, he was steadily improving as a defender. Even spending much of his time now as a point guard his stats are still okay (mostly) but he's just not capable of defending any of the PGs in this league and it puts our entire defensive scheme in jeopardy.

IMO, this more of a personnel problem because Tyus should be defending point guards.

This is probably why Ty Ty Washington is getting minutes.

 

[95pro]

Booker was one of the defensive standouts in the olympics, but his offensive burden was far lighter than what we're asking of him. Other than his 3 point shooting, his offensive numbers are still great, I think most of his issues are that he's been put in a bad situation, often defending out of position and rarely getting to run around off the ball on offense, something he is GREAT at but our current personnel require him to either create for himself and others or... stand around watching Durant go ISO.

I don't doubt that he is still a top 2 or 3 SG... but he's not getting to actually play that role very often.

Jones being a complete doormat on defense and his continued shrinking on offense has been probably the most dissapointing storyline so far this year.

And we don’t switch anything on defense.

 

[Covert Rain]

Can they do an extension and trade?

Actually it would be part of a trade. I don't see a team giving up a ton of assets for him without the signing an extension as part of a trade or they have to take their chances he is a 1 year rental.

 

[Yuma]

Barring a sudden 10-12 win game streak, this team is cooked. Last night was a must win against the spurs, and the Spurs looked like a better constructed team, and they were missing their biggest star! Barring a KD trade, this is our team for two more seasons, with maybe getting a big man addition this off season.

 

[leclerc]

They have to get bigger, faster and more athletic. That means moving any of Grayson, Royce, Plumlee, Tyus. Dunn and perhaps Oso should get major minutes next season, in case we're stuck with the big three wage earners.

 

[95pro]

They have to get bigger, faster and more athletic. That means moving any of Grayson, Royce, Plumlee, Tyus. Dunn and perhaps Oso should get major minutes next season, in case we're stuck with the big three wage earners.

Well we need to keep developing Richards, Dunn and Oso. I think we keep either one of Royce or Allen, but them playing together to close a game is the wrong move.

 

[Mainstreet]

I hope Cody Martin gets some minutes when healthy. The Suns need to keep tightening up the defense. Getting minutes from Dunn and Martin would help.

Moving Tyus Jones to the bench seems appropriate.

I no longer have an idea how Bud decides who gets playing time, other than the supposed three stars.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

My god, this is the most depressing Suns team of all time, which is saying something. Why on earth is Tyus Jones still on the team? Nobody would even give up a 2nd for him? Why on earth are you giving up a 1st rounder to dump Nurk for nothing, when he'd have value as an expiring next year? What could possibly justify Dunn getting no minutes with this crap roster?

It's just mismanagement and poor decision making all around.

 

[leclerc]

"It's just mismanagement and poor decision making all around."

I agree. What the hell. I bet we see more of the same mess in the next game. As it stands I hope to see more intensity and effort (honestly I think that ship has sailed), next is playing time to develop players (Dunn, Oso, TyTy, Collin, Richards) and lastly just close out the season so we can get some signs of where the team and front office is going.

 

[Ronin]

Sam Cooper

@scooperhoops
·
3h


Over a month after the Nick Richards trade, the Suns are a team-worst -7.9 net rating when he plays. When he and Tyus play together (close to 300 minutes now), the defensive rating is 123. They're not stopping anyone.

 

[sdscard4]

We need defense that's the element we're missing! Maybe we will hire Terry Porter he....oops already seen that movie!

 

[BirdGangThing]

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Sam Cooper
@scooperhoops
·
3h


Over a month after the Nick Richards trade, the Suns are a team-worst -7.9 net rating when he plays. When he and Tyus play together (close to 300 minutes now), the defensive rating is 123. They're not stopping anyone.

teams bait richards into helping and then they hit his man - or he goes to help and the player shoots it leaving richards' man there for the easy rebound - i think it drives bud nuts when players go to help and it only hurts - when they're out of position - but the banishments are still wicked hardcore

 

[leclerc]

CP3 seemed like a good influence on Booker. I'm excited about what changes they are able to pull off. Praying for a rebuild instead of a retool, meaning 1-2 of the big three wage earners must be moved. But first let's beat the Bulls. Come on team!

 

[Yuma]

We need defense that's the element we're missing! Maybe we will hire Terry Porter he....oops already seen that movie!

They may not hire another head coach at this point, but could force a defensive coach onto Bud's staff.

 

[GatorAZ]

Keep putting up numbers KD. All I care about.

 

[95pro]

Sam Cooper
@scooperhoops
·
3h


Over a month after the Nick Richards trade, the Suns are a team-worst -7.9 net rating when he plays. When he and Tyus play together (close to 300 minutes now), the defensive rating is 123. They're not stopping anyone.

I kind of had a feeling analytics were driving some of these lineups and rotations, BUT that still doesn’t make sense if Tyus is still playing a good amount of minutes.

I would have thought by now there was good reason to remove Tyus from starting.

 

[BirdGangThing]

They may not hire another head coach at this point, but could force a defensive coach onto Bud's staff.

seriously tho - if bud's not playing dunn he might wanna be fired

 

[Hoop Head]

I kind of had a feeling analytics were driving some of these lineups and rotations, BUT that still doesn’t make sense if Tyus is still playing a good amount of minutes.

I would have thought by now there was good reason to remove Tyus from starting.

Tyus signed because he was promised a starting job. Ishbia, JJ, and Bud know if they walk back that agreement then odds are the Suns won't sign anyone else at a discount next off-season. Of course odds of signing anyone at a discount are low anyways since no one will be convinced we're a winner so damned if you do, damned if you don't.

 

[Yuma]

seriously tho - if bud's not playing dunn he might wanna be fired

For now, they still have a chance to make the playoffs. You could argue you start veterans. The real scenario is if the Suns are clearly out, and he still doesn't play Dunn, then we can really argue against him. I wouldn't be averse to him going to G League like Oso did. You get to have a big game like Oso, and kind of get your mojo back after feasting on lesser talent.

 

[Hoop Head]

My only guess as to why Dunn isn't playing is it's clear he's not a PF. He was used there a lot to get him minutes but he's not the answer there. I know Royce isn't a real PF either but Royce is trusted by the other starters more than Dunn so there's more ball movement with Royce compared to Dunn on the floor. Now that Bol² is in the rotation as well there's less minutes for Dunn as well.

It'll take something happening, like dropping from the playoff race or locking in a spot in the play-in, for Dunn to fit back into the rotation if everyone stays healthy.

 

[95pro]

Tyus signed because he was promised a starting job. Ishbia, JJ, and Bud know if they walk back that agreement then odds are the Suns won't sign anyone else at a discount next off-season. Of course odds of signing anyone at a discount are low anyways since no one will be convinced we're a winner so damned if you do, damned if you don't.

This doesn’t make sense since we benched Beal and keep Tyus in, and have started Bol and TyTy too. And we haven’t even looked to start Beal even when KD or Book were out.

At this point we don’t owe a min contract guy anything if he’s not producing or holding his own. I’m sure future prospective free agents realize this.

 

[Hoop Head]

This doesn’t make sense since we benched Beal and keep Tyus in, and have started Bol and TyTy too. And we haven’t even looked to start Beal even when KD or Book were out.

I get it. I just read a few talking heads discussing that around when Beal was benched. I can't recall who exactly but they were local media, like Gerald Borquet types. I wish I would have shared some of the takes here but it was pretty contentious at the time regarding Beal and Nurkic so I felt it best not to bring another Suns player into the foray.

I will add that it wouldn't surprise me because the Suns are so terribly managed. Nothing would be that surprising at this point.