Phx-Suns.Net

He was the same draft as Booker, right?

Split T wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 11, 2021 8:13 am

He was the same draft as Booker, right?

that is what the history books say, but I think they have all been doctored in a global conspiracy to convince the world he is in his 20s.

Flagrant Fowl wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 10, 2021 9:02 pm

I was about to make a joke about how Frank's haircut doesn't match his age until I looked up his age. TIL he's only 28.

moves with the grace of someone 10 years older than that

Crowder: hit a few but struggled with his shot mostly. His misses were missed very badly.

McGee: Wow he's been better than advertised. He and Cam have some chemistry already. He hustles and is aggressive and stays focused. He's everything we needed for a bench center.

Ayton: Looks like he was asleep mostly out there. Had some good moments on D but was pretty much the opposite of McGee. It's preseason so I hope he wakes up.

Cam J: More mins please. His confidence has improved as much as his game has. Would like to see him start in place of Crowder next game just to see what he can do with more time.

Stix: I haven't figured him out. He looks fine when he's with other top tier teammates. Gets boards, gets putbacks. But when he's with a lesser squad he looks absolutely awful. You'd think he'd look like the best player of the third string but that's not usually the case.

It'll always feel good beating the doors off the Lakers. All the Laker people keep saying not to worry but they look like dog shit and that's not something you can just flip the switch on. My prediction is that they'll be a play in team again.

Mori Chu wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 11, 2021 7:59 am

Man, our two most important new players, McGee and Shamet, look great so far. They are fitting right in and feel like they've been here for years already. Excellent surgical improvement to our roster this offseason. This is how you reload for another championship run. I think we're poised to be a special team again this season.

It does feel like we're still one big short, or something. But I like the improvement Stix is showing, and Kaminsky may be able to get by in the rest of those minutes. It would be nice to have Thad Young but I really wouldn't want to break the bank for him. I think we have a really good roster already.

Now just don't screw it up by low-balling Ayton and Bridges, and we should be good to go!

James Jones, NBA Executive of the Year, really knows what he's doing when it comes to personnel and making a TEAM. So refreshing after our last GM.

Indy wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 11, 2021 8:05 am

Flagrant Fowl wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 10, 2021 9:02 pm

I was about to make a joke about how Frank's haircut doesn't match his age until I looked up his age. TIL he's only 28.

This is likely the most shocking stat I have ever read. In my head he is 33.

Another shocking thing I heard was that the Lakers only have 3 returning players from last season's team.

I didn’t know what Elfrid Payton looked like until last night. He always had that studio hair covering his face.

Superbone wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 11, 2021 11:46 am

Indy wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 11, 2021 8:05 am

Flagrant Fowl wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 10, 2021 9:02 pm

I was about to make a joke about how Frank's haircut doesn't match his age until I looked up his age. TIL he's only 28.

This is likely the most shocking stat I have ever read. In my head he is 33.

Another shocking thing I heard was that the Lakers only have 3 returning players from last season's team.

Lebron, AD, and Horton-Tucker? What about KCP? Is he no longer on the team?

KCP went to Washington in the trade for Westbrook.

Superbone wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 11, 2021 11:46 am

Indy wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 11, 2021 8:05 am

Flagrant Fowl wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 10, 2021 9:02 pm

I was about to make a joke about how Frank's haircut doesn't match his age until I looked up his age. TIL he's only 28.

This is likely the most shocking stat I have ever read. In my head he is 33.

Another shocking thing I heard was that the Lakers only have 3 returning players from last season's team.

However, they did bring back a couple players who were playing for them 1 year ago tonight: Dwight Howard and Rajon Rondo.

Flagrant Fowl wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 10, 2021 8:35 pm

Drewsprocket wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 10, 2021 8:34 pm

Ayton still avoiding contact in the paint.

That's never going to change.

I think it could change if his coaches made it a huge point of emphasis for him and held him accountable for it.

JeremyG wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 11, 2021 5:14 pm

Flagrant Fowl wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 10, 2021 8:35 pm

Drewsprocket wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 10, 2021 8:34 pm

Ayton still avoiding contact in the paint.

That's never going to change.

I think it could change if his coaches made it a huge point of emphasis for him and held him accountable for it.

So you're inferring the coaches haven't been emphasizing it enough or holding him accountable for it so far?

I don't believe that's the case at all. He's just not wired in the same way as a guy like Richaun Holmes, for example. They'd be dumb to bench someone as talented as Ayton just for being more of a finesse player. The smarter thing would be to coach to his strengths and work on other things that are more likely to improve such as his ability to catch difficult passes or body positioning.

Even just getting him to attack more would be helpful. Contact will just happen if he attacks, even if he’s not seeking it out. He’s got to start being aggressive in some way and as he sees the reward, he’ll learn to add it to his game.

I just got finished watching the 2nd half of the game and DA was pretty awful. All of his flaws were on display...bringing the ball down in traffic, not being ready for passes, getting stripped by a smaller player, putting up that panic flip/push shot when he got the ball in the lane. Just still no awareness and no "force" as Monty says. Seeing him play like that makes it tough to justify a max deal. It's preseason and we just went to the Finals but these are the same issues he's had as a rookie. His interior defense and rebounding are there and I guess that's really what we're paying for, but you watch the game and his 33 yr old journeyman backup looks better and more impactful. Even Stix plays with a better motor and more force/contact inside. DA plays like he's 6-7 on offense. I don't know that it'll ever change.

Also here are some Stix highlights. I thought he looked good again last night. He definitely looks like a backup 5 playing the 4 when he's next to Javale. The lefty drive and finish was nice to see tho.

Landry Shamet looked good out there. He's a better playmaker than I thought, too.

BTW, Blazers and Suns Wednesday on League Pass. It'll be the Blazers broadcast team at 2pm.

AmareIsGod wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 10, 2021 8:56 pm

McGee playing awesome. Love seeing a physical big on the court.

I said last season that when the Nuggets traded for McGee, felt that was the trade the Suns should've made.

Uncle_Gene wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 12, 2021 12:03 am

BTW, Blazers and Suns Wednesday on League Pass. It'll be the Blazers broadcast team at 2pm.

Thanks! I just set up a recording. It will be our last preseason game and then our first regular season game will be a week later.