Re: Game Day: Pistons (5-15) @ Suns (11-6), Fri 11/25/22
Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2022 6:26 am
by ShelC
Ugly win but a win nonetheless. Looked like Thanksgiving had a few guys dragging to start the game and things didn't really kick in until the 2nd half. DA carried us nicely tho and was maybe the only guy to bring in from start to finish. Glad he dominated inside and out and was decisive with his moves. He'd been sleepwalking in the 1st half of recent games so it's a good sign to him engaged for an entire game. Can he/will he keep it up?
Payne was really solid again and sliced up the Pistons' defense. They couldn't really stay in front of him, wish he would've looked for his shot more. Book got it going in the 2nd half, Mikal woke up and came on in the 3rd and helped give us the push we needed.
Okogie gave us a nice spark off the bench, which was needed in the 1st half with the way some of the starters were playing. Lee eventually gave us some offense but he's also just a solid ball mover within the offense and knows to play off the other guys. Biz is the backup center for the time being, which is a bit odd since Landale was playing well and clicking with the 2nd unit. But Monty wants rim pressure and Biz gives him that option.
Offensive rebounding was an issue in this one and we need to make sure it doesn't become a problem again. We also missed a ton of FTs, which felt more like an aberration than anything else. Just sucks we were getting to the line so much and missed 9 FTs on the night.
Re: Game Day: Pistons (5-15) @ Suns (11-6), Fri 11/25/22
Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2022 8:06 am
by LazarusLong
Got tickets to the game and sat in nosebleed seats.
Ayton looked like a max player last night.
If he played 36-38 minutes instead of 30, he probably could have had 40.
Bogdanovic looked strong in the first half, but faded in the second as the Suns started guarding him tighter.
He collided with Torrey Craig late in the game ... Pistons coach was livid and wanted a foul called.
From what I saw and the replay, they both were going for the ball and Craig stepped on the side of his foot.
Booker was inexplicably bad from the FT line, missing four.
Craig was not awe inspiring on offense, missing shots and fumbling the ball.
Monty thinned the rotation and only played nine players.
Okogie is scary bad on offense, but a disrupter on defense.
Biyombo, likewise ...
Lee was a bit off, but had some key steals.
Bridges ... couldn't throw a ball in the ocean in the first half, but had a decent second half.
Overall, the effort by both teams was what one expected for a post Turkey day game.
Pistons stayed in the game buoyed by the second unit, mainly Burks and Diallo.
Bagley had a strong second half and looked somewhat like the player everyone thought he might be ...
Re: Game Day: Pistons (5-15) @ Suns (11-6), Fri 11/25/22
Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2022 9:46 am
by bajanguy008
This was great from DA
I saw a post a couple games back saying he's only now fully recovered from the ankle and he had his best game that night. Last seen is the Pat Bev body check and DA saying postgame that he has bigger things he focused on and his teammates know how hard he works
So to come out minute 1 after that game with this response
Have to tip the hat
Last time against Jazz I said it's no way we should have let Markkanen get away with defending DA so to be continued
Re: Game Day: Pistons (5-15) @ Suns (11-6), Fri 11/25/22
Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2022 10:08 am
by AmareIsGod
DA looked fantastic. It's games like tonight that are the reason we are so frustrated with him. Every single time he steps on the floor with NBA players, he's top 2 or 3 most athletic on the floor. Many times THE most. With those God given gifts, this should be the norm from him. Kudos on a great game. Let's start stringing these together. 7 FT attempts, 2 blocks, 12 rebounds. DominAyton.
Re: Game Day: Pistons (5-15) @ Suns (11-6), Fri 11/25/22
FINALLY! People are starting to understand that Monty is holding Ayton back and that his lack of minutes is ridiculous.
Minutes, sure. Monty holding him back is a weak take. Maybe the minutes have had to do with the ankle and getting his stamina back as well. We're not at the practices, in the huddles, listening to Ayton communicating with coach.
How is Monty holding him back? Does he tell Ayton to not go hard to the hoop and draw fouls? Don't dunk the ball. Try to keep your rebounds single digit? Those are all things AYTON has to want, like tonight. I guarantee if he's dunking on smaller players, getting to the FT line, he's going to be fed.
I'm sure coach isn't in the huddle telling guys to actively ignore Ayton in the post. Telling Ayton to let the opposing big score at will most nights. Asking Ayton to lay it up when he's got the smaller man on him. You always blame Monty and it makes no sense. Minutes are the only fair argument but even then, he's looked gas since coming back from the ankle injury when he comes out of the game or he's in early foul trouble. Do you suggest leaving a gassed or foul plagued guy out there for long stretches?
Re: Game Day: Pistons (5-15) @ Suns (11-6), Fri 11/25/22
Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2022 10:20 am
by LazarusLong
The Suns are playing the Jazz tonight, so Monty probably didn't want Ayton to leave it all on the floor against the Pistons.
Re: Game Day: Pistons (5-15) @ Suns (11-6), Fri 11/25/22
FINALLY! People are starting to understand that Monty is holding Ayton back and that his lack of minutes is ridiculous.
It's like you refuse to acknowledge DAs shortcomings. All of us who complain about him also give him his due when he plays well. But it's always someone else's fault when he doesn't perform. You sound like Trump and DA is your election.
Re: Game Day: Pistons (5-15) @ Suns (11-6), Fri 11/25/22
Yes this worked super well. Site didn’t crash on my phone and when I opened up the spoiler it still didn’t crash. Thumbs up all around.
Re: Game Day: Pistons (5-15) @ Suns (11-6), Fri 11/25/22
Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2022 11:12 am
by ShelC
Love the Suns dancing with the kid...that video's been making the rounds since last night and I like that casuals and non-basketball fans are seeing it.
Re: Game Day: Pistons (5-15) @ Suns (11-6), Fri 11/25/22
We could offer…I don’t think there’s much of a chance of them accepting.
Exactly, Split. The only GM in the league that would trade Ivey would be...James Jones. He'd do it, and then be documented saying that Jaden Ivey isn't better than Alec Burks.
Re: Game Day: Pistons (5-15) @ Suns (11-6), Fri 11/25/22
Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2022 2:50 pm
by SunsRIt
This is the type of game I have expected Ayton to average by now.
Re: Game Day: Pistons (5-15) @ Suns (11-6), Fri 11/25/22
FINALLY! People are starting to understand that Monty is holding Ayton back and that his lack of minutes is ridiculous.
Minutes, sure. Monty holding him back is a weak take. Maybe the minutes have had to do with the ankle and getting his stamina back as well. We're not at the practices, in the huddles, listening to Ayton communicating with coach.
How is Monty holding him back? Does he tell Ayton to not go hard to the hoop and draw fouls? Don't dunk the ball. Try to keep your rebounds single digit? Those are all things AYTON has to want, like tonight. I guarantee if he's dunking on smaller players, getting to the FT line, he's going to be fed.
I'm sure coach isn't in the huddle telling guys to actively ignore Ayton in the post. Telling Ayton to let the opposing big score at will most nights. Asking Ayton to lay it up when he's got the smaller man on him. You always blame Monty and it makes no sense. Minutes are the only fair argument but even then, he's looked gas since coming back from the ankle injury when he comes out of the game or he's in early foul trouble. Do you suggest leaving a gassed or foul plagued guy out there for long stretches?
When he's on fire like that, 13 FGA is unacceptable. Monty should run plays for him and/or tell the guards to get him the ball. The reporters even asked DA postgame about the guards not getting him the ball. But yes, like the PHNX guys were saying in the video, Monty's minutes restriction and just inflexible rotation in general is holding him back (and has been for a long time, not just after the ankle injury, which he's clearly been over for a few games now). Like Saul said, taking him out for 9 straight minutes, especially when he's got it going like that, and bringing him back when the second quarter is more than half over is just crazy. Even Igor let him score 24 points in the second quarter once, during his rookie year.
DA could have easily had his first ever 40-point game last night, which could have really helped his growth and confidence in his ability to be dominant offensively.
Re: Game Day: Pistons (5-15) @ Suns (11-6), Fri 11/25/22
FINALLY! People are starting to understand that Monty is holding Ayton back and that his lack of minutes is ridiculous.
Minutes, sure. Monty holding him back is a weak take. Maybe the minutes have had to do with the ankle and getting his stamina back as well. We're not at the practices, in the huddles, listening to Ayton communicating with coach.
How is Monty holding him back? Does he tell Ayton to not go hard to the hoop and draw fouls? Don't dunk the ball. Try to keep your rebounds single digit? Those are all things AYTON has to want, like tonight. I guarantee if he's dunking on smaller players, getting to the FT line, he's going to be fed.
I'm sure coach isn't in the huddle telling guys to actively ignore Ayton in the post. Telling Ayton to let the opposing big score at will most nights. Asking Ayton to lay it up when he's got the smaller man on him. You always blame Monty and it makes no sense. Minutes are the only fair argument but even then, he's looked gas since coming back from the ankle injury when he comes out of the game or he's in early foul trouble. Do you suggest leaving a gassed or foul plagued guy out there for long stretches?
When he's on fire like that, 13 FGA is unacceptable. Monty should run plays for him and/or tell the guards to get him the ball. The reporters even asked DA postgame about the guards not getting him the ball. But yes, like the PHNX guys were saying in the video, Monty's minutes restriction and just inflexible rotation in general is holding him back (and has been for a long time, not just after the ankle injury, which he's clearly been over for a few games now). Like Saul said, taking him out for 9 straight minutes, especially when he's got it going like that, and bringing him back when the second quarter is more than half over is just crazy. Even Igor let him score 24 points in the second quarter once, during his rookie year.
DA could have easily had his first ever 40-point game last night, which could have really helped his growth and confidence in his ability to be dominant offensively.
After his monster night tonight and seeing them hoist 3's while he kept getting offensive rebounds, I agree. They should have given him the ball late when it was so close. He was dominAyton.