Game Day: Suns (1-0) @ Kings (1-0), Sat 12/26/20

[Shabazz]

Mikal Bridges was pretty demonstrably upset that he didn’t finish that open dunk he set him up for.

[Wally_West]

I think Ayton needs to lose weight. I was watching some video of him throwing down crazy warm-up dunks while at Arizona and he would explode off the floor in a way that he doesn’t anymore. He seems to have no explosiveness these days. He’s slow off the floor. Between that and his poor hands, small forwards are successfully challenging him at the rim.

It might be time to work out more than 4 days a week, big fella. Shed a few LBs and get some bounce back.

I blame you. You spoke his man boobs into existence.

[Shabazz]

I think Ayton needs to lose weight. I was watching some video of him throwing down crazy warm-up dunks while at Arizona and he would explode off the floor in a way that he doesn’t anymore. He seems to have no explosiveness these days. He’s slow off the floor. Between that and his poor hands, small forwards are successfully challenging him at the rim.

It might be time to work out more than 4 days a week, big fella. Shed a few LBs and get some bounce back.

I blame you. You spoke his man boobs into existence.

<Lt. Frank Drebin voice>

Everywhere I go something reminds me of Ayton

[Split T]

Mikal Bridges was pretty demonstrably upset that he didn’t finish that open dunk he set him up for.

This one?




I just have no idea why he doesn’t dunk that. It’s an automatic two points and likely and and-1. Instead he goes up soft and misses. He did get fouled, of course I think this is where he missed both free throws.

[Shabazz]

Mikal Bridges was pretty demonstrably upset that he didn’t finish that open dunk he set him up for.

This one?




I just have no idea why he doesn’t dunk that. It’s an automatic two points and likely and and-1. Instead he goes up soft and misses. He did get fouled, of course I think this is where he missed both free throws.

That was the one. But he made both his FTs on that one. Missed both during his first half trip.

[Shabazz]

Here’s the video I’m referencing earlier. Is this even the same dude? Look at how he glides here.

[Wally_West]

This Ayton game sucked but it’s game 2. Ayton is going to have shitty games. Everyone does. Dude had shitty games last year too followed by some amazing performances. Still thinks he averages 20 and 12 this year but we’ll see. Clearly, everyone is still not on the same page yet on both ends of the floor.

[Superbone]

Holmes gets the game ball. We couldn’t keep him off the glass. Suns can’t play from behind and expect to win at the end. I hope this game was a growing experience for the team.

[Nodack]

It seems to me other teams have a total lack of respect of our interior defense at this point and are exploiting that weakness. That needs to change.

[Superbone]

I actually think DA has been ok. It’s just not reflected in the box score.

Still. Role-player stuff. I’ve got higher expectations.

We should. We passed on a future HOFer.

[Superbone]

FSAZ sucks!

You must be talking about those commercial cut ins in the middle of play. Frustrating.

[Nodack]

“I said camera #2, not a commercial break!”

“Sally, don’t touch that!”

Regrets bring your daughter to work day.

[Oatmeal]

At least we'll be able to get Anthony Edwards from Minnesota when Booker asks out because Ayton is total turd. Sad thing is, Ayton still doesn't realize he has so much work to do, he thinks he's good.

[The Bobster]

This Ayton game sucked but it’s game 2. Ayton is going to have shitty games. Everyone does. Dude had shitty games last year too followed by some amazing performances. Still thinks he averages 20 and 12 this year but we’ll see. Clearly, everyone is still not on the same page yet on both ends of the floor.

His offense hasn't been good the first two games, but unfortunately (or fortunately depending how you look at it) he's the only one on the team that we can reply on for any sort of rebounding and interior defense.

This team still needs a backup center who can pick up the slack defensively when Ayton's in foul trouble like he has been the first two games.

[Oatmeal]

I actually think DA has been ok. It’s just not reflected in the box score.

Still. Role-player stuff. I’ve got higher expectations.

We should. We passed on a future HOFer.

Passed on 2 of them for a fucking Center.

[ShelC]

So yea that game sucked. No real energy, shots weren't falling (not that we were getting great looks) and defense was suspect. Felt like neither did played well or wanted to win but we had plenty of chances and I thought we'd pull it out.

The offense definitely gets stagnant will all the dribbling. Our shooters aren't getting open looks from pass-pass-pass-shot, it's dribble-dribble-dribble-dribble-dribble-dribble shot. Big difference. Boxscore says we took 20 more 3pt shots than them but didn't feel that way. I thought CP and Book were taking and making good midrange shots but also felt like we're playing 2s for 3s. If we get some more ball and player movement we should be OK. That's not unfixable. Payne could've seen more time and I think Monty may have messed up or just thought better than playing Paul the entire 4th qtr so gave him a breather.

I didn't think Ayton played poorly, just didn't impact the game much which is probably enough to say he played poorly. But we've either got to force feed him the ball or he's got to make the impact himself without the ball. Not confident about the latter. I also don't think it's a matter of conditioning or age or anything like that. This is who is and he'll have games like this. And I still don't think he's a big who can catch the ball on the move and make a play. His hands aren't great, he's surprised/not even looking for passes. He's more of a deliberate big who needs touches in the post.

Book with another 7 TOs, gotta be better and keep the ball moving.

I'm not sure why Frank got 3 minutes, Jalen got 4 while Jones got 15. Jalen needs to get some minutes every night and he might've been a better matchup against the more athletic frontcourt. Holmes gave them the boost we needed, would've liked to have Motley out there just to matchup with him a bit because we don't have any energy bigs.

Bridges was OK but needs more shots, Jae was great, Cam Johnson struggled. Everyone on the bench was a negative in +/-.

Even if we had pulled out the win, we'd still have these issues. In a shorter season tho, we need to beat these teams for that cushion later on. Good news is we'll see how the team responds tonight.

[ShelC]

[In2ition]

If any of these things went the other way, we are talking about a Suns win.
1. If Paul's buzzer beaters all counted.
2. If the Suns didn't come out flat with energy.
3. If the Suns weren't out rebounded 56-40.
4. If the Kings didn't take 20 more FTs.
5. If Book didn't commit 7 TOs.
6. If the Suns didn't shoot so poorly from 3.
7. If Saric played backup center instead of Jones.

[Mori Chu]

WE NEED RUBIO BACK

[Split T]

WE NEED RUBIO BACK

That wasn’t the problem. CP3 was good today...if anything we needed Baynes back tonight