Suns Struggling To Stay In Postseason Picture

[jonathanlambert33]

NEW YORK No matter how the Phoenix Suns finish the 2013-14 season, the year will be considered an overachievement by every metric possible.

But after spending so much of the season as one of the leagues feel-good stories, firmly entrenched in the Western Conference playoff picture for most of it, falling out of postseason contention and finishing in the lottery as many predicted would be supremely disappointing.

The Suns find themselves a game and a half behind Memphis for the final playoff spot in the West after getting rolled by the Nets on Monday, in a contest where Phoenix brought nowhere near the required effort something that was evident from the games early moments.

It sure looked like [a difficult night was ahead] right from the start, head coach Jeff Hornacek said afterward. The energy level wasnt where it was in the [previous game, a win in Toronto] missing easy shots right off the bat, timeouts. They came out of timeouts and didnt run the play we had on the board, didnt know where to go. I just didnt think their heads were in it.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/03/18/the-extra-pass-suns-struggling-to-stay-in-postseason-picture-after-recent-disappointing-slide/

 

[RipCity32]

Wonder where they'd be right now without the injury to Bledsoe. 

 

[playmaker7]

Wonder where they'd be right now without the injury to Bledsoe. 

Probably playing a lot better.
 
But they've done a good job thus far. People need to leave them alone.

 

[dcpwner]

I feel as if since they didn't rush to get a big man via waivers or FA late they might as well be happy if they hit the lotto

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Wonder where they'd be right now without the injury to Bledsoe.

Hard to say. People talk about how having Bledsoe helps them as a team, but Dragic's level of play has decreased this season whenever Bledsoe has been on the floor. Granted he's still playing VERY well, but just not at the level he did without Bledsoe.

 

[BwareDWare94]

I firmly believe this team has been wonderfully coached by Jeff Hornacek in the context of this season but that he should have realized he needs to give minutes to players who are going to be worthwhile in 5 years. Miles Plumlee will never be more than a bench center. Channing Frye will probably not be in the league 4-5 years from now. These aren't starters. While they work well as a unit, there was no way this Suns team was going to get above a 7 seed, and now they're likely to miss out on the playoffs altogether, potentially headed for that disastrous 41-45 win mark. They've got 3 definitive role players starting right now, and the only one should be PJ Tucker.
 
Markieff Morris should be the starting 4. Alex Len is raw, but while he maybe shouldn't start, Hornacek needed to look past this season and give him some real minutes. Miles Plumlee can't be your starting center in a few years, if you want to build a truly competitive team. 

 

[Mexi]

Hard to say. People talk about how having Bledsoe helps them as a team, but Dragic's level of play has decreased this season whenever Bledsoe has been on the floor. Granted he's still playing VERY well, but just not at the level he did without Bledsoe.

lesser dragic but still good dragic with bledsoe or super dragic without bledsoe?

Ill still take bled

Theyve been falling for a while anyways. Right before bled came back they had been losing close games

 

[jonathanlambert33]

lesser dragic but still good dragic with bledsoe or super dragic without bledsoe?

Ill still take bled

Theyve been falling for a while anyways. Right before bled came back they had been losing close games

Depends on what you want in your team. Phoenix suffers offensively with Bledsoe on the floor, but improves defensively.

With Bledsoe off the floor and Gerald Green in instead, you're looking at a better team in terms of efficiency and ball movement.

 

[BwareDWare94]

Yeah, the Suns thrive on not having too many ball dominant players on the floor.