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Re: Around the League: Week 14 3/22-3/28
Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 8:55 am
by Split T
KD returns tonight
Re: Around the League: Week 14 3/22-3/28
Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 8:56 am
by Indy
Split T wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 8:46 am
Indy wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 8:30 am
jonh wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 7:17 am
What would it have taken for us to get Gordon?
I assume Crowder or Saric + Mikal and a 1st. I am not sure they would have taken a package that didn't include Mikal unless we wanted to give up DA instead.
Hmm, Mikal straight up would be a no for me. Denver gave up Harris(bad contract), RJ Hampton(decent prospect), and a 1st, right?
Problem is we wouldn’t really have anything they’d want. Cam Johnson maybe could replace Bridges as the prospect...though I think Orlando would have had more interest in RJ. Don’t think there was a way to beat the Denver offer without giving up Mikal.
Yeah I just can't see it happening without Mikal for them. And he is only at ~5M so we needed quite a bit more salary to match.
Re: Around the League: Week 14 3/22-3/28
Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 8:57 am
by Indy
Split T wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 8:55 am
KD returns tonight
Good because I have like $178k on them to win.
Re: Around the League: Week 14 3/22-3/28
Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 9:24 am
by Mori Chu
I love this year's Suns team, but I think we would lose in a series to the Nuggets if both teams were close to full strength.
Re: Around the League: Week 14 3/22-3/28
Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 9:30 am
by Indy
Mori Chu wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 9:24 am
I love this year's Suns team, but I think we would lose in a series to the Nuggets if both teams were close to full strength.
If everyone is healthy, and Ayton plays his normal way, probably. But if he is aggressive I think we would beat them.
Re: Around the League: Week 14 3/22-3/28
Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 9:32 am
by In2ition
Mori Chu wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 9:24 am
I love this year's Suns team, but I think we would lose in a series to the Nuggets if both teams were close to full strength.
I wasn't worried about them until the Gordon trade. Seems that he was the perfect piece next to Jokic. I do think that them losing Harris hurts their defense on Booker though.
Re: Around the League: Week 14 3/22-3/28
Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 9:32 am
by Indy
By the way, in 7 career games against Denver, Ayton is averaging 22/13 on 64% shooting and taking over 15 shots a game.
Re: Around the League: Week 14 3/22-3/28
Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 9:41 am
by Mori Chu
Indy wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 9:30 am
Mori Chu wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 9:24 am
I love this year's Suns team, but I think we would lose in a series to the Nuggets if both teams were close to full strength.
If everyone is healthy, and Ayton plays his normal way, probably. But if he is aggressive I think we would beat them.
Yeah, but if our beating them depends on Ayton being consistently aggressive, would you really bet on that? I am a big Ayton defender, but I wouldn't put my kids' college fund on that bet.
At the very least, if we find ourselves unable to beat a strong Nuggets opponent in a series, at least we'll learn what we need to work on and what changes if any we need to make. The playoff experience this year will be invaluable.
Re: Around the League: Week 14 3/22-3/28
Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 9:53 am
by The Bobster
So if two years ago if told one team between the Suns and Warriors would be battling for the league's best record and one would be suffering from internal sniping and be fielding a roster filled with borderline G-League-level players, who would have thought the Suns would be the better of the two teams by far?
None of us. That Golden State dynasty certainly crumbled a lot faster than anyone could have imagined. Two seasons ago - Golden State was 57-25 and playing in their 5th straight NBA Finals the Suns were 19-63, worst team in the Western Conference and missing the playoffs for their 9th straight year.
Re: Around the League: Week 14 3/22-3/28
Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 10:03 am
by Indy
Mori Chu wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 9:41 am
Indy wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 9:30 am
Mori Chu wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 9:24 am
I love this year's Suns team, but I think we would lose in a series to the Nuggets if both teams were close to full strength.
If everyone is healthy, and Ayton plays his normal way, probably. But if he is aggressive I think we would beat them.
Yeah, but if our beating them depends on Ayton being consistently aggressive, would you really bet on that? I am a big Ayton defender, but I wouldn't put my kids' college fund on that bet.
At the very least, if we find ourselves unable to beat a strong Nuggets opponent in a series, at least we'll learn what we need to work on and what changes if any we need to make. The playoff experience this year will be invaluable.
Yeah, I am with you. I wouldn't bet significant money on Ayton ever really getting it, much less this season, even more less in the playoffs.
But I would love to be wrong.
Re: Around the League: Week 14 3/22-3/28
Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 10:05 am
by Indy
The Bobster wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 9:53 am
So if two years ago if told one team between the Suns and Warriors would be battling for the league's best record and one would be suffering from internal sniping and be fielding a roster filled with borderline G-League-level players, who would have thought the Suns would be the better of the two teams by far?
None of us. That Golden State dynasty certainly crumbled a lot faster than anyone could have imagined. Two seasons ago - Golden State was 57-25 and playing in their 5th straight NBA Finals the Suns were 19-63, worst team in the Western Conference and missing the playoffs for their 9th straight year.
Who are their borderline G-league players in their rotation? And aren't they in the mix for the play in game? When does Klay come back?
Re: Around the League: Week 14 3/22-3/28
Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 10:06 am
by O_Gardino
Mori Chu wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 9:41 am
Indy wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 9:30 am
Mori Chu wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 9:24 am
I love this year's Suns team, but I think we would lose in a series to the Nuggets if both teams were close to full strength.
If everyone is healthy, and Ayton plays his normal way, probably. But if he is aggressive I think we would beat them.
Yeah, but if our beating them depends on Ayton being consistently aggressive, would you really bet on that? I am a big Ayton defender, but I wouldn't put my kids' college fund on that bet.
At the very least, if we find ourselves unable to beat a strong Nuggets opponent in a series, at least we'll learn what we need to work on and what changes if any we need to make. The playoff experience this year will be invaluable.
DA usually plays well against Denver. 22/13 on .642 shooting over his career.
I think Bridges can slow down Murray and Crowder can slow down Gordon enough for the starters to be competitive. And I still like our bench over theirs. I think the series comes down to Saric vs Porter.
Re: Around the League: Week 14 3/22-3/28
Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 10:11 am
by Split T
Ayton also defends Jokic well. I’m worried about Denver if we face them, but the blueprint to beat them is there. Ayton needs to step up and be what he’s been against them. Then we need to keep Murray from being prime Curry against us...which we historically have failed at.
Re: Around the League: Week 14 3/22-3/28
Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 10:19 am
by Indy
If Ayton keeps his average of taking 15 shots a game against them, I like our chances.
Re: Around the League: Week 14 3/22-3/28
Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 10:26 am
by The Bobster
Indy wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 10:05 am
The Bobster wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 9:53 am
So if two years ago if told one team between the Suns and Warriors would be battling for the league's best record and one would be suffering from internal sniping and be fielding a roster filled with borderline G-League-level players, who would have thought the Suns would be the better of the two teams by far?
None of us. That Golden State dynasty certainly crumbled a lot faster than anyone could have imagined. Two seasons ago - Golden State was 57-25 and playing in their 5th straight NBA Finals the Suns were 19-63, worst team in the Western Conference and missing the playoffs for their 9th straight year.
Who are their borderline G-league players in their rotation? And aren't they in the mix for the play in game? When does Klay come back?
Damion Lee, Jordan Pool, Juan Toscano-Anderson, Kevon Loney, Brad Wanamaker. All rotation guys at some point this year.
Will Thompson ever be the same player again? He's on the bad side of 30 and coming off missing two full seasons with serious leg injuries. And now there's the beginning of speculation that Curry may look to greener pastures when his contract is up.
Re: Around the League: Week 14 3/22-3/28
Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 10:33 am
by Indy
I don't think all of those guys are borderline G-league.
Not sure on Klay. I think his defense will suffer more than his offense. But it might be harder for him to come of multiple screens as fast as he used to. I am not worried about his shooting.
Curious where Curry wants to play out his career. He will be 35 at the start of his next contract. And he has a 15% trade kicker, so I am not sure if anyone would be willing to trade for a year or less rental of him at 52M.
Re: Around the League: Week 14 3/22-3/28
Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 12:07 pm
by jonh
Mori Chu wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 9:24 am
I love this year's Suns team, but I think we would lose in a series to the Nuggets if both teams were close to full strength.
Sounds like you are inferring the Suns need to do something to ensure the Nuggets are not at full strength.
Re: Around the League: Week 14 3/22-3/28
Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 12:21 pm
by Split T
How would you guys rank the potential playoff opponents for the suns?
Right now from worst matchup to best:
1. Lakers(assuming fully healthy)
2. Nuggets
3. Clippers
4. Jazz
Fairly significant gap
5. Blazers
6. Mavs
7. Pelicans
8. No one else remotely worries me. Grizz, Warriors, or Spurs. Though we haven’t played the Spurs yet.
If AD isn’t healthy, I’d drop the Lakers to 4. If Lebron isn’t healthy I’d drop them to 6. If neither are healthy they drop into the group I’m not worried about at all.
Re: Around the League: Week 14 3/22-3/28
Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 12:33 pm
by bajanguy008
Haven't watched the Nuggets yet
I don't like being a box score analyst but yea the numbers are there it seems
Re: Around the League: Week 14 3/22-3/28
Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 2:15 pm
by Superbone