Game Day (Preseason): Kings (0-0) @ Suns (0-0), Mon 10/01/18

[UglyTruth]

https://twitter.com/TriRocPodcast/status/1046981838114295809

[specialsauce]

Annoyed that Chandler is getting the PT over Holmes. I'd prefer that Chandler doesn't play at all.

Absolutely. Perhaps Chandler tries to move more once the real games start and provided we are not tanking, but I wouldn't count on it.

He's in a contract year, he's gonna start putting more effort in this season just like Dudley will for the Nets.

Contract year? Dude is much more likely to retire at the end of the year.

[Ring_Wanted]

Kudos to Bagley for the block. What interests me is how high Ayton catched that bad-ish pass. Good hands and timing are going to be essential given what we currently have (and what we don't) on the roster. The following move was less impressive, as he had time to get to a better spot under the basket, and he would have gotten the bucket had he used his left hand. Hopefully the ability to read those situations will come with more experience.

[ShelC]

Anyone know if/when/where there would be a replay of the game? Only caught a bit of the 2nd and 3rd qtrs. Looked like Okobo was steady at point guard but I didn't get to see much of Ayton or Jackson.

[Superbone]

Love how Ayton talks like Josh Jackson is a grizzled veteran. LOL

https://twitter.com/Suns/status/1047020787654385664

[Superbone]

I liked what Josh had to say too:

https://twitter.com/Suns/status/1047018752661962752

[Superbone]

Anyone know if/when/where there would be a replay of the game? Only caught a bit of the 2nd and 3rd qtrs. Looked like Okobo was steady at point guard but I didn't get to see much of Ayton or Jackson.

I'm hoping it's going to be available on LP but no luck so far:

There are currently no archives available for this game. Please check back later.

You can watch highlights at nba.com.

[UglyTruth]

Annoyed that Chandler is getting the PT over Holmes. I'd prefer that Chandler doesn't play at all.

Absolutely. Perhaps Chandler tries to move more once the real games start and provided we are not tanking, but I wouldn't count on it.

He's in a contract year, he's gonna start putting more effort in this season just like Dudley will for the Nets.

Contract year? Dude is much more likely to retire at the end of the year.

I doubt it. He was quoted at media day as saying that he’s done sitting out games and resting and all that and insinuated that he needs to show he can be productive for his next contract.

[ShelC]

I like what I had read about JJ playing point-forward. I think he can really flourish in this role because he's a legit ballhandler. Guys like Warren and Bridges and Ariza can handle the ball well, but Jackson handles and moves like a guard. I wouldn't make him a full time PG by any means, but I think he can play a high screen and role effectively and see over the defense in a secondary break type of situation. This also allows Booker to act as the primary option on the perimeter and not have to worry about running offense himself.

[bajanguy008]

This is always an interesting discussion, how things like usage and system make some guys look better or restrict them in college

https://twitter.com/BryanGibberman/status/1046984842615906305

[carey]

[youtube][/youtube]

[iLLmatic]

time is running out

https://basketball.realgm.com/tradechec ... de/7118839

SDC smokin' that good good.

[O_Gardino]

https://twitter.com/duanerankin/status/1046994507047362561

"And that's why we had to foul him on every possession."

[AmareIsGod]

Just watched the highlights as I only caught the live stream of the game last night in the 4th. Ayton looked great. Jackson looks much improved from Summer league with his handles and passing. Wow. Can't wait until Booker is back.

[O_Gardino]

Okobo just naturally better running an offense over Shaq.

That's not very hard to do haha. How's his playmaking and defense?

I didn't notice him getting killed on D any more than Harrison, and he did a good job of moving the ball when there was an opportunity. This guy is the bargain of the draft. He looked like he could be one of the 10 best players in this draft when their careers are all accounted for.

[virtual9mm]

I finally got a chance to watch the second half. Some quick thoughts:

- Ayton looks like a cross between Dwight Howard with a jump shot and Patrick Ewing. He has neither the fluidity of an Olajuwon nor the sheer power of a Shaq, but a nice mix. Since he's got that athleticism plus power, I can't really see too many strategies to shut him down working short of a double team. I can see him averaging 20 and 10 as early as this season.

- Josh Jackson looks more like a point guard than any other player on the roster. And folks here thought I was crazy to think that this might be his long-term position. I do think that we have to see how the other teams react to Jackson playing PG/point forward before we see how viable this is.

- I like Shaq Harrison as a defensive stopper combo guard off the bench. I don't see him being a starter, unless he can play a 3-and-D role next to Jackson as point forward.

- I think I like the offense. Almost like the old Four Corners offense but with more motion thrown in around the pick-and-roll. Will Booker be the primary option on the pick-and-roll with Ayton, or will he be the second option when the pick-and-roll breaks down? Either way, this could be scary good.

[Mori Chu]

I don't get why people crap on Troy Daniels so much. He's the only one out there who seems like he can consistently take and make 3s. I really like him as a bench SG/swingman for us. If you're rooting for Bridges or Reed, you are essentially hoping they end up as good in a few years as Daniels is right now. He seems really undervalued on this board to me.

I feel similarly about TJ Warren. I think we should start TJ at PF. He's too good to bring off the bench. He is such a talented scorer, and he seems to be working on his body and his game. Put him out there, tell him we need him to take a few corner 3s a night. I'd much rather have him on the floor than Ryan Anderson or the ghost of Dragan Bender.

[Split T]

I don't get why people crap on Troy Daniels so much. He's the only one out there who seems like he can consistently take and make 3s. I really like him as a bench SG/swingman for us. If you're rooting for Bridges or Reed, you are essentially hoping they end up as good in a few years as Daniels is right now. He seems really undervalued on this board to me.

He's a good shooter, but that's literally the only thing he does well. He's an awful defender, he can't get to the rim, doesn't pass, doesn't rebound. We root for Bridges and Reed because they can both be so much more than Daniels.

[AmareIsGod]

Per The Athletic (paid) latest piece, Deandre Ayton thrives in Phoenix Suns’ preseason opener:

“Deandre’s got a presence, obviously,” coach Igor Kokoskov said. “ … I know he’s sure that he’s pretty good. But you have to step on the stage and kind of measure yourself with other guys on the court.

“Once we start playing and it feels like, ‘Hey, I belong here and I can play against the best,’ his productivity and his game is gonna be even better.”

[Superbone]

Per The Athletic (paid) latest piece, Deandre Ayton thrives in Phoenix Suns’ preseason opener:

“Deandre’s got a presence, obviously,” coach Igor Kokoskov said. “ … I know he’s sure that he’s pretty good. But you have to step on the stage and kind of measure yourself with other guys on the court.

“Once we start playing and it feels like, ‘Hey, I belong here and I can play against the best,’ his productivity and his game is gonna be even better.”

Awesome quote. Can't wait!