Game Day: Kings (11-11) @ Suns (4-19), Tues 12/4/18

[ShadowHawke]

What was the youngest team to ever win a championship?

[djy2j]

EJ just in roast mode tonight. I love it! Rosted Ayton and then McLemore and then Bender.

Melton looks nice. Hopefully this is his first of many good ones

I didn't watch the 2nd half but how the hell did Bender get roasted, he barely played?

EJ said the kid has been in the game for 9 mins and youve just now noticed him. He should take what Giles is doing to him as an insult.

Basically all but used the word pussy to describe his play.

[Superbone]

Ayton benched for Holmes. Anyone else concerned about Ayton yet or am I alone?

Have you not been reading the board?

[Superbone]

Another lottery pick ain't going to do jackshit for this sorry team.

I guarantee you Zion will play with energy every damn night.

[iLLmatic]

Ayton benched for Holmes. Anyone else concerned about Ayton yet or am I alone?

Have you not been reading the board?

I'll be the first to admit my interest has plummeted the last few weeks.

[Superbone]

How does Ayton end the game with 0 fouls when we were being made laughingstocks? Put somebody on their butt! You can’t allow a team to come in and have a party in your house. Show some pride. I sure hope we don’t have an Olowokandi on our hands.

[Nodack]

The game sucked bad but, I don’t want to overreact. We were missing our two top scorers and one of them has been our primary ball handler. Ayton has been a starter with a dozen double doubles as a rookie already. His defense has been sorely lacking along with what appears to be a lack of energy/effort at times. Maybe that is or isn’t someething that can be corrected. I am not ready to write him off by any stretch of the imagination.

As far as effort, the coach can send messages like he did this game by giving Holmes a lot of his minutes and then when Holmes fouled out Ayton stayed on the bench.

Bender was like EJ described to me. I paid a lot of attention to Bender. He was burned a few times on Defense but he was still twice as good as Anderson. He still passes up shots and can’t hit the ocean from a row boat still and yet I still prefer him over Anderson. At least with Bender there is a small chance he could turn into something if he would only grow a pair.

Melton surprised me but, I have seen all of our crappy point guards have a decent game every once in awhile. Can he do it for more than one game?

Daniels is slowly working his way into the rotation.

[SDC]

TIMING IS EVERYTHING: Sarver shouldnt have fired mcdo before the season started.

[Cap]

It’s like being a Clippers fan during the Sterling era. No hope.

[SDC]

why would the suns let go of canaan? hes not good but hes the only pg they got

[JeremyG]

Ayton shot 62.5% from the field last night. He could at least be providing offense for us, especially with Booker and Warren out. I blame the coach for that.

[Ring_Wanted]

Agreed. No excuses for Ayton's mental flaws, but Igor's offense is not doing him any favors. Booker is out so you need to at least try to run things through him, whatever the results may be.

[In2ition]

why would the suns let go of canaan? hes not good but hes the only pg they got

This seemed self explanatory. He was terrible on the court, didn't contribute to winning and wasn't making any money. If they didn't do this, Igor would keep playing him over developing Okobo or Melton. I know you are pining for him, as you believe that he was the only pg on the roster, but he was completely unplayable most of the time.

[In2ition]

Agreed. No excuses for Ayton's mental flaws, but Igor's offense is not doing him any favors. Booker is out so you need to at least try to run things through him, whatever the results may be.

The Suns threw the ball away 4 times early in the ball game on passes to Ayton.

[Superbone]

Ayton shot 62.5% from the field last night. He could at least be providing offense for us, especially with Booker and Warren out. I blame the coach for that.

The reason he shoots such a high percentage is because he's afraid to take any chances. He only shoots if it's a dunk or layup. Very rarely will he make a move. He needs to be aggressive and take some chances. Draw a foul! He's way too passive.

[SDC]

run the offense thru ayton. why are the suns letting low IQ guards run it? the suns have good shooters but no point guards.

[carey]

run the offense thru ayton. why are the suns letting low IQ guards run it? the suns have good shooters but no point guards.

I've been talking about this on twitter with someone. It's not a good idea. He's not good enough to yet command double teams so the defense just stays home on their man. While we attempt to keep dumping it down low for 2-points we get drowned in a sea of drained 3's. There's no way to statistically keep up unless your 3-point defense is really good and ours.... is not.

[SDC]

i think one on one, ayton will score most of the time. and if they double, hes good enough of a passer to make them pay.

[SDC]

for ayton, the best defense is a good offense.

[In2ition]

I would have thought that running the offense through Ayton would be a good idea, but the Suns turned it over 4 times in their first 6 possessions by trying to pass it to Ayton. Also, as good as Ayton's offense is, it's still very limited. He hasn't shown that he can score at will. He can't create for himself or other yet. Have we seen him ever take anyone off the dribble? How about the ability to get to the line? I think he's taken 6 free throws in the last 4 games. He can check out of a double team, and pass out of the post when he probably shouldn't, but he hasn't shown the ability to consistently impose his will with the ball. I'm not saying that he won't ever develop this, but if it happens, it's going to take time.