We better develop some flow to that second unit

[EJPLAYA]

...or else we are going to have some problems. Yet another great night by the first squad ruined by poor overall play by the second unit. They take a 35 point lead and lose over half of it. Yes, we also had some third stringers in there for a bit, but we have no flow or go to offense out there. The only time the bench players did anything at all was when they were accompanied by a couple starters. Maybe the smart thing to do with this second unit is to sit KG a little earlier to get Powe in there, and Perk as well when he comes back. Let them play with Ray and PP and Rondo a bit. Then bring the other guys in a wave, but be able to put KG and Perk back in when you give Ray and PP a rest. I hope that is what is in the works, because sticking all the 2nd unit in at the same time is a lead killer.

[cordobes]

It was the 3rd unit. And ruined? They kept the lead till garbage time. I mean, after the first 5 minutes of the 4th quarter it was still a 30 points difference. But then they made a couple of shots, Scal and Davis were replaced by POB and Walker and the scrubs were outscored badly. But does it really matters? The 2unit guys played very well tonight. 

And EJPLAYA, I know this kills you, but right now Davis is the first big off the bench, not Powe. And rightly so.

[Roy Hobbs]

The good thing is, during the playoffs there won't be a "second unit".  Instead, Doc will mix his bench in with his starters (which he has been doing a little more lately, thankfully).

As for last night, the entire fourth quarter was garbage time.  We're not going to see the Scal/BBD/Powe/House/Pruitt or POB/Powe/Walker/House/Pruitt lineups unless it's a blowout.

[Fafnir]

The good thing is, during the playoffs there won't be a "second unit".  Instead, Doc will mix his bench in with his starters (which he has been doing a little more lately, thankfully).

As for last night, the entire fourth quarter was garbage time.  We're not going to see the Scal/BBD/Powe/House/Pruitt or POB/Powe/Walker/House/Pruitt lineups unless it's a blowout.

Exactly! You shouldn't make judgments about our bench based on garbage time. Especially when the bench, just like the rest of the team, had a great game overall.

[Bankshot]

It was the 3rd unit. And ruined? They kept the lead till garbage time. I mean, after the first 5 minutes of the 4th quarter it was still a 30 points difference. But then they made a couple of shots, Scal and Davis were replaced by POB and Walker and the scrubs were outscored badly. But does it really matters? The 2unit guys played very well tonight. 

And EJPLAYA, I know this kills you, but right now Davis is the first big off the bench, not Powe. And rightly so.

Yep.  And the bench's defense was horrible in the 4th quarter garbage time (letting Phoenix' bench walz to the rim) because BBD was on the bench with the starters.

[CelticsWhat35]

Actually, the second unit helped increase that 15 point first quarter lead to 20+.  That's all you can ask for out of your bench.  If they had laid down like they have in some previous games, the Suns could've cut it down to 5 points or so and made a game of it.  But the bench helped ensure that the Suns didn't stand a chanch in this game.

The fourth quarter wasn't very good, but that's hardly the "second unit".  And for a blow out game, the refs were calling a lot of cheap fouls down the stretch.  I'd bet about half of the Suns' points in the 4th were off free throw shots.

[kenmaine]

Amazing! Up by 30 at halftime and the bench sucked? The game was so over by the 4th quarter that I didn't even watch most of it, whatever happened in the 4th was irrelevant.
A bench of Leon, BB, Eddie House, and Pruitt is pretty [dang] good. Add TA, and Scal when Perk comes back, and we don't need any all-stars.  The starting five is so good that the bench really only needs to be half-decent, and they're  more than that.
So quit nitpicking

[wdleehi]

I am actually feeling a little better about the bench lately now that Scali is being given minutes. 

[QuinielaBox]

I want to see Walker get a 2nd qtr stint one of these days. He is an instigator.

[QuinielaBox]

I am actually feeling a little better about the bench lately now that Scali is being given minutes. 

HAH HAH HAH!!!! I get it!!!!! 

[wdleehi]

I am actually feeling a little better about the bench lately now that Scali is being given minutes. 

HAH HAH HAH!!!! I get it!!!!! 

 

[Donoghus]

I'm really not concerned about how people played during "garbage" minutes last night.  You're not going to see that particular lineup rolled out at all if a game is still in question.  As a few mentioned before, its not going to be a complete second unit out there.  A starter or two will be sprinkled in. 

[KCattheStripe]

I am actually feeling a little better about the bench lately now that Scali is being given minutes. 

HAH HAH HAH!!!! I get it!!!!! 

 

He's starting, meaning he's no longer on the bench.

[EJPLAYA]

It was the 3rd unit. And ruined? They kept the lead till garbage time. I mean, after the first 5 minutes of the 4th quarter it was still a 30 points difference. But then they made a couple of shots, Scal and Davis were replaced by POB and Walker and the scrubs were outscored badly. But does it really matters? The 2unit guys played very well tonight. 

And EJPLAYA, I know this kills you, but right now Davis is the first big off the bench, not Powe. And rightly so.

It doesn't kill me at all, because BBD was brought out first last night for one reason. He was the only one out there that can match Shaq in a chicken wing eating contest. His pushing 300 lb frame was why he got the call. Shaq was manhandling KG in the post so they tried out BBD (He was pretty effective by the way. I like what BBD did last night) Powe on the other hand has played more minutes than BBD in 4 out of the last 5 games, and it often the first guy called out, not BBD. It has 100% to do with matchups. I am fine with that. That's how it should be.

As far as the garbage time comments, I don't know how people can say that the fact our guys continuously have an issue with keeping the lead is not a big deal. This says everything about our depth and what we are faced with if we get an injury, or have some foul trouble down the road. I am very happy that Doc is experimenting with a mixed lineup (starters and bench at the same time) , but you know he'd be a lot happier if he didn't feel like his bench was going to go out in a period of 10 minutes and give up 18 points of the lead. The starters were amazing. That doesn't take anything away from them. The bench was 13-34 though and that is troubling. They comitted half our turnovers, and were outplayed by a bunch of scrubs. That concerns me.

[Edgar]

I Hate to see Eddie next to Pruitt

I rather see any other SG

even a SF playing SG

Playing Eddie with Pruitt will hurt him more than help him.