Phoenix Suns Weekly: Goran Dragic’s Ankle, Grantland’s Rankings And More

August through October is generally the toughest time to be an NBA writer. By that point trade activities from the summer have died down, preseason games are either overhyped or ignored entirely and most people are more excited about the start of football or the conclusion of baseball. Covering a team that’s lottery-bound for the upcoming season makes it twice as hard to come up with good ideas during this time of year. Thankfully, between Goran Dragic‘s ankle injury, more preseason action and Grantland’s Boris Diaw-sized dump on the Phoenix Suns in their 2013-14 League Pass Watchability Rankings, we’ve got plenty to talk about!

How To Heal Your Dragon:

I’m running out of ways to say this, so I’ll just continue to use my Suns-related metaphor: Last season, Goran Dragic was the sole bright spot in an otherwise cloudy and dreary year in the Valley of the Sun. So when Goran Dragic went down in a preseason game against the Sacramento Kings, a team led by the easy-to-resent DeMarcus Cousins, I will admit I panicked a teensy little bit.

Luckily, it was just a minor ankle sprain and the Dragon should be ready to go for Phoenix’s season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers on Oct. 30. Still, doesn’t it say a lot about the 2013-14 Phoenix Suns when a potentially serious injury to a top-15 point guard in the league is enough to set fans over the edge? Bringing in Eric Bledsoe was a terrific move by new general manager Ryan McDonough, but the Dragic-Bledsoe backcourt is easily the Suns’ most exciting aspect of the upcoming season. Well, other than Tank Watch, Riggin’ For Wiggins or whatever you want to call it.

Bill Simmons Doesn’t Care For Robert Sarver:

Well, I can’t really think of many people who do care for Robert Sarver, but that statement could spawn off a whole new column of its own (if Robert Sarver didn’t try to trade it for cash considerations first). But ESPN/Grantland’s Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe made a point of spurning the Suns in their League Pass Watchability Rankings by putting Phoenix at dead last. The rankings took into account playoff relevance, stylistic appeal, overall League Pass experience, individual player appeal and other intangibles.

Obviously a column like that is meant to be silly. It’s exactly the kind of column to make up for this dry spell of material to write about between August and October. But the Suns scored a 27 out of a possible 100 points on that Grantland scale and were ranked behind the Philadelphia 76ers, a team that could break the NBA’s record for lowest winning percentage in a full season. I mean come on, their best two players are Thaddeus Young and Evan Turner, for crying out loud!

Maybe I’m just a bitter Suns supporter, but I have to believe that between the Goran Dragic-Eric Bledsoe backcourt and Alex Len/Archie Goodwin developing, the Suns will be more pleasing on the eyes than a team that might not reach double digit wins this season. Granted, the Sixers losing the most games in NBA history would make a great story, but do you really want to watch them while they go about doing so? I don’t. HOW DARE YOU PUT THE SUNS IN THE NO. 30 SPOT IN YOUR SILLY OCTOBER COLUMN, SIMMONS AND LOWE! THEY DESERVED TO BE NO. 29!! You’ll see, Grantland.

The Bench That Could Not Shoot, Saying Goodbye To Kendall Marshall And Other Preseason Observations:

Just four days ago, the name of my column was “The Undefeated Suns.” Guess I jinxed it, because Phoenix has lost two straight since then. Worse, the bench absolutely could not put the ball in the hole against Sacramento. Between 10 Suns reserves, the Phoenix bench shot a combined 31 percent from the floor, compared to the starters’ 66 percent. That can’t happen. Unless the Suns are tanking. Which they are. So maybe it can happen after all. Well done, reserves!

On a note related to the Suns’ bench woes, I think it’s time for us all to say goodbye to Kendall Marshall. I didn’t like the pick on draft night 2012 and I still don’t like it more than a year later. This might seem a little premature considering he’s only 22 years old, but Marshall hasn’t really ever shown flashes of brilliance on the court. Instead, it’s been turnovers (1.2 per game in just 14.6 minutes), poor shooting (37.1 percent) and matador defense. Does it suck to admit that taking Marshall ahead of the likes of John Henson, Maurice Harkless and Evan Fournier was a mistake? Yes. But there’s no reason to keep Marshall on this roster when Phoenix already has Dragic, Bledsoe, Goodwin, Shannon Brown and a slew of shooting guards that any competent fan would rather keep.

No offense, Kendall, but you shouldn’t be taking this shot. This was an airball, by the way. Photo Credit: Michael Dunlap, HoopsHabit.com

Maybe it’s just wishful thinking that the Suns will admit Lance Blanks‘ drafting mistake and cut ties early with Marshall, but I don’t know anyone who thinks he’ll help with Phoenix’s rebuilding process. Speaking of draft bust potential, here’s hoping Alex Len starts to show signs of life sometime soon. On Thursday against the Kings, Len played 12 minutes and finished with more fouls (four) than points and rebounds combined (three). This is the third time in four preseason games Len has finished with four fouls. And he’s only played 17 minutes per game in those three!

I know it’s just preseason and that he’s coming back from an injury and he’s still learning, but I’d like to know the light at the end of the tunnel isn’t a semi-truck ready to make roadkill of my hopes and dreams for a better future in Phoenix. Unfortunately, that might be an apt description for the 2013-14 Phoenix Suns fan base: Sometimes you have to get run over by a semi-truck or seven before you can get to the end of the tunnel. Drive safe, everyone.

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