Phx-Suns.Net

Spurs in 6. Anunoby will give Wemby some trouble, along with Towns and Big Robby. Spurs have Bryant and Harper in addition to the rest of the backcourt to keep Brunson in check. Kornet, Champagnie and K. Johnson will play complementary roles. Altough the Knicks steamrolled the Cavs, Cleveland's ...

I'd say Carroll was a better basketball player, while Ayton was/is a better athlete.
The disappointment with Carroll was that as good as he could be, he would be MIA at times.
The disappointment with Ayton is that he never was a student of the game, and hasn't shown an inclination to evolve.

Agree fairly much what Bobster said.

Joe Barry gets some props for getting his offense on his own gumption.
Ayton was pushed and cajoled by CP3, while Carroll played with a parade of point guards at Golden State, during his best years.

Franz and Banchero are the Magic cornerstones. Don't think they're going anywhere, unless it's for, say, Giannis.

Wally_West wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 25, 2026 3:20 pm

I think Ott has shown too much to dismiss him as just a good assistant. It is just his first year after all. Year 2 is the big test.

Let's hope the lessons OKC is imparting in this series are being absorbed by Ott and his staff.
Let's hope there will be a good learning curve as a result.

Re: Houston ... I think the bloom is off on Udoka being a great, game-changing coach.

Ott should experiment with the lineups/rotation. What's the risk?

Ott is reminding a bit of John MacLeod, who became very rigid in player rotations later in his tenure with the Suns.

specialsauce wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 25, 2026 2:51 pm

First half the year Ott would constantly make subs until he found a lineup that would click and go on a run.

He stopped doing that when he became a Bott

Amen.

Ott should sub in Fleming for Oso in the second half (when he subs for Oso).
Maluach was a bit lackadaisical in his minutes, getting back a bit tardy on defense.
Fleming might give them more energy.

Bridges had a sad stat line for NY: 0 pts, 4 T0s in 21 minutes for +/- of -26

I'd like to see Goodwin and Highsmith together in the lineup for a stretch or two. Great disruptive combo ...

25 points in the second half ...

... and Ryan Dunn's deer-in-the-headlights performance was beyond miserable.

The backcourt of Bouyea and Brea was bumblingly bad.

2-15 shooting, 4 assists, 6 TOs.

If that was an audition for next season, they failed.

Royce is valuable for his shooting. But if he's not an option in the offense, it's silly to have him out there for 20-25 minutes. He took only two shots ... not his fault, nobody was giving him the rock and he had several potential open looks. Fleming should get some of those minutes ... he gives ...

Now that Gillespie has his three-point record, sit him because he's worn down--most games he's played in his NBA career. Ott needs to be an adult, now, and play the best mix, not just favorites or needy vets. Maybe an offense/defense rotation, e.g. Goodwin, Fleming and Maluach coming off the bench ...

Out-rebounded 47-30.
Suns played with little energy and little flow after the first quarter.

Defense suffers when Green and Gillespie are on the court together along with Book.
Fleming playing just eight minutes is unwise.

The last three minutes, the offense flowed like mud in winter.

Allen and Green, 3-16 FG.

Also, why play Brooks in the first half when he already had three fouls?

Flagrant Fowl wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 30, 2026 7:27 pm

The Bobster wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 30, 2026 7:24 pm

Flagrant Fowl wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 30, 2026 7:19 pm

It wasn't the bench. It was Collin finally making some damn shots.

The defense came around and held them to 16 points in the 4th though.

Fair. Getting Royce and Jalen off the court certainly helped in that regard.

Yeah, Jalen was having a typical third quarter fade and fumble.

Suns awaken in the fourth quarter, Gillespie rediscovers his shot.

Phoenix outscores the big teddy bears, 40-16.

I thought Utah had an unrecognizable lineup. Memphis also played a bunch of John Does ...