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Suns News: Week 14 (1/17 - 1/23)

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 6:39 am
by ShelC
Last Week's Games

Tuesday, Jan. 11th @ Toronto WIN! 99-95 :D
Thursday, Jan. 14th @ Indiana WIN! 112-94 :D
Sunday, Jan. 16th @ Detroit WIN! 135-108 :D

This Week's Games
Monday, Jan. 17th @ San Antonio WIN! 121-107 :D
Thursday, Jan. 20th @ Dallas TNT 7:30 PM EST
Saturday, Jan. 22nd vs. Indiana BSAZ 9:00 PM EST

Suns Stories
Devin Booker leads Suns with season-high 48 points in win vs. Spurs
https://arizonasports.com/story/2974157 ... -vs-spurs/

3 Trade Deadline Deals Involving Suns Big Man Dario Saric
https://valleyofthesuns.com/2022/01/18/ ... rio-saric/

Devin Booker, Darius Garland named NBA Players of the Week
https://arizonasports.com/story/2940107 ... -for-suns/

ESPN Power Rankings
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/330 ... eep-rising
1. Phoenix Suns
2021-22 record: 33-9
Previous ranking: 2

Chris Paul is looking to secure his fifth season of averaging 10 assists and two steals with his third team. He did it over three consecutive seasons with New Orleans (2007-10) and once with the Clippers (2013-14). He is the only player to accomplish the feat with two franchises since the NBA started recording steals in 1973-74. At 36, he also would be the oldest player to hit those marks in the same season. -- Lopez
CBSSportsline Midseason Grades
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2021 ... irst-half/
Phoenix Suns: A+
The Suns have emphatically proven that last season's run to the NBA Finals was no fluke, posting the league's best record and second-best net rating in the first half of the 2021-22 season. They've essentially been a top-five offense and a top-five defense for the majority of the season, and that's with Chris Paul posting the worst field goal and 3-point percentages since he was a rookie. Devin Booker is shooting a career high from 3-point range, Deandre Ayton, Cam Johnson and Mikal Bridges have all continued to develop, while JaVale McGee and Jalen Smith have plugged a hole at backup center. Overall, Monty Williams' squad couldn't have asked for a better first half of the season. -- Colin Ward-Henninger
SI Power Rankings
https://www.si.com/nba/2022/01/17/nba-p ... nd-sellers
1. Phoenix Suns
Current record: 33-9

Previous ranking: 2

Casual buyers. Phoenix can and should browse around the market, but James Jones doesn’t need to make any splashy moves. The Suns are comfortably in first place in the NBA, though Jones does have some movable pieces in Jalen Smith and Dario Saric, whose salaries add up to a mid-priced veteran. Saric hasn’t played since tearing his ACL in last year’s Finals, and Smith has actually had some nice moments this season after the team curiously declined his option, which means he’s a free agent this summer. Trading Smith isn’t as obvious as it once was thanks to the potential he’s flashed with the starters, as well as Deandre Ayton’s own up-in-the-air contract situation. Still, if anyone can help Phoenix in a playoff series, Jones should be poking around for a bargain.

Re: Suns News: Week 10 (12/20 - 12/26)

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 8:42 am
by Mori Chu
Thanks for the thread, Shel.

LOL @ Suns getting in on Ben Simmons sweepstakes. I don't think that's very likely.

Re: Suns News: Week 10 (12/20 - 12/26)

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 8:48 am
by Split T
Mori Chu wrote:
Mon Dec 20, 2021 8:42 am
Thanks for the thread, Shel.

LOL @ Suns getting in on Ben Simmons sweepstakes. I don't think that's very likely.
Well it’s only as a 3rd team. In none of the scenarios do we end up with Simmons. We get Thad, Bagley, and Achiuwa.

Re: Suns News: Week 10 (12/20 - 12/26)

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 9:02 am
by Split T


DA showing me everything he needs to get that max deal

Re: Suns News: Week 10 (12/20 - 12/26)

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 9:07 am
by Split T
I feel even more confident that teams won’t be able to go small on us. That was the one slight advantage a team like GS or LAC might have had on us, but I think Ayton will torch those lineups and force them to play their bigs. It’s the biggest reason I have us ahead of GS right now. I think they will have to go get an actual C if they want to beat us.

Re: Suns News: Week 10 (12/20 - 12/26)

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 9:08 am
by ShelC
Yea lately I've felt like DA's been playing with more savvy and a veteran feel. Maybe the game is finally slowing down a bit for him on both ends and it's nothing really specific I can point to but the impact is there now along with the numbers.

Re: Suns News: Week 10 (12/20 - 12/26)

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 9:29 am
by AmareIsGod
I think having McGee has also been a revelation for DA.

Re: Suns News: Week 10 (12/20 - 12/26)

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 10:15 am
by bajanguy008
I was happy with the JaVale signing and referencing the same stuff EJ n Leander talk about constantly, that being on championship teams and understanding his role can't be downplayed and that he has become very good at what he does.

So try to grab every board, block every shot while finishing chances around the rim especially having CP3 I felt he would be fine. Do his whole 5min bursts before starting to run out of gas cause he not expected to play big minutes lol. I was ready to accept the JaVale head scratching moments because at least he would still give us that much needed size. Honestly he did have a few of those regularly early on :lol:

What I didn't see coming which I think is basically all of us was the freedom Monty has given him. I'm sure he shakes his head or holds his breath once JaVale has the ball out top for more than 2secs cause you know he's going to go into some dribble move :twisted:

There have definitely been some Geeez JaVale whatcha doing moments but really can't argue the results. I would always see highlights from Drew League with him "in his bag" and laugh n smh. The number of moves he has made recently, the hooks, the finger rolls, switching to the left then the dishes n no looks from high post has been so fun to watch. Dude really putting his name in all time fav Suns role players conversation, I'm amazed how effective he's been tbh (consistently)

Shout to JaVale fuh real 8-)

Re: Suns News: Week 10 (12/20 - 12/26)

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 10:18 am
by LazarusLong
I had to chuckle when the announcers said McGee's finger roll layup was reminiscent of George Gervin.
Because Gervin once said he modeled that move after .... Connie Hawkins!

Re: Suns News: Week 10 (12/20 - 12/26)

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 10:20 am
by bajanguy008
LazarusLong wrote:
Mon Dec 20, 2021 10:18 am
I had to chuckle when the announcers said McGee's finger roll layup was reminiscent of George Gervin.
Because Gervin once said he modeled that move after .... Connie Hawkins!
Laz always coming through with a Connie reference 8-)

Re: Suns News: Week 10 (12/20 - 12/26)

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 10:26 am
by ShelC

Re: Suns News: Week 10 (12/20 - 12/26)

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 10:50 am
by Superbone
bajanguy008 wrote:
Mon Dec 20, 2021 10:20 am
LazarusLong wrote:
Mon Dec 20, 2021 10:18 am
I had to chuckle when the announcers said McGee's finger roll layup was reminiscent of George Gervin.
Because Gervin once said he modeled that move after .... Connie Hawkins!
Laz always coming through with a Connie reference 8-)
Hey, when he's your avatar, you've got to!

Re: Suns News: Week 10 (12/20 - 12/26)

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 10:51 am
by Superbone
Man, our team has come so far thanks to James Jones and Monty Williams. We went from laughingstock to well respected overnight.

Re: Suns News: Week 10 (12/20 - 12/26)

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 11:05 am
by ShelC
Superbone wrote:
Mon Dec 20, 2021 10:51 am
Man, our team has come so far thanks to James Jones and Monty Williams. We went from laughingstock to well respected overnight.
We've been extremely fortunate and the stars aligned for us big time. But I think it also shows you don't need 5 years for a tank and rebuild. That's BS some execs use to hold onto their jobs longer than they should have it.

Re: Suns News: Week 10 (12/20 - 12/26)

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 12:26 pm
by Nodack
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/p ... y-matchups
1. Phoenix Suns
2021-22 record: 24-5
Previous ranking: 1

Suns leading scorer Devin Booker made his return to the court Sunday night after missing seven games with a hamstring injury. Phoenix put up a balanced effort without Booker, but one player in particular who stepped up his play was reserve forward Cameron Johnson. In 30.3 minutes per night in the seven contests, Johnson averaged 14.6 points and was Phoenix's second-leading scorer in that stretch. -- Lopez


https://www.si.com/nba/2021/12/20/nba-p ... -christmas

1. Phoenix Suns

Current record: 24–5

Previous ranking: 1

Credit Suns forward Cam Johnson for continuing to improve early in his NBA career. Johnson is shooting a career-high 40.9% from three this season, up from 34.9% in his second campaign. He’s upped his overall scoring numbers and seen his rebounding average increase as well. And his win/shares per 48 minutes is also the high mark in his career, playing a key role on this Western Conference contender.


https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba- ... rd-top-10/
Losing to a Clippers team without Paul George is not ideal, but the Suns won their other two games this week against the Celtics and Blazers, though the latter required overtime. Chris Paul averaged 14.3 points and 11.7 assists per game for the week, though he struggled from the field as the primary offensive weapon with Devin Booker missing all three games and Deandre Ayton missing two of them. The Cams (Payne and Johnson) each averaged 15 points per game this week to help pick up the slack.


https://nba.nbcsports.com/2021/12/15/nb ... se-behind/

3. Suns (22-5, LW 2). The win over Portland Tuesday improved the Suns to 12-1 in clutch games this season (within 5 points in the final 5 minutes) with a +49 net rating. The lineup responsible for a lot of that the core group of Chris Paul, Booker, Mikal Bridges, Jae Crwoder, and Deandre Ayton, but that fivesome has just a +2 net rating for the season — they haven’t been blowing teams away. At least, not until the final minutes of a game.

Re: Suns News: Week 10 (12/20 - 12/26)

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 12:38 pm
by LazarusLong
Superbone wrote:
Mon Dec 20, 2021 10:50 am
bajanguy008 wrote:
Mon Dec 20, 2021 10:20 am
LazarusLong wrote:
Mon Dec 20, 2021 10:18 am
I had to chuckle when the announcers said McGee's finger roll layup was reminiscent of George Gervin.
Because Gervin once said he modeled that move after .... Connie Hawkins!
Laz always coming through with a Connie reference 8-)
Hey, when he's your avatar, you've got to!
I know I'm sort of old school, but if you would have seen him play, you'd understand.
It was like the rest of the NBA was riffing Lawrence Welk, and the Hawk was playing Miles Davis ...

Re: Suns News: Week 10 (12/20 - 12/26)

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 12:59 pm
by SunsRIt
LazarusLong wrote:
Mon Dec 20, 2021 12:38 pm
Superbone wrote:
Mon Dec 20, 2021 10:50 am
bajanguy008 wrote:
Mon Dec 20, 2021 10:20 am
LazarusLong wrote:
Mon Dec 20, 2021 10:18 am
I had to chuckle when the announcers said McGee's finger roll layup was reminiscent of George Gervin.
Because Gervin once said he modeled that move after .... Connie Hawkins!
Laz always coming through with a Connie reference 8-)
Hey, when he's your avatar, you've got to!
I know I'm sort of old school, but if you would have seen him play, you'd understand.
It was like the rest of the NBA was riffing Lawrence Welk, and the Hawk was playing Miles Davis ...
Swing man would have appreciated that reference!

Re: Suns News: Week 10 (12/20 - 12/26)

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 1:08 pm
by Nodack
SunsRIt wrote:
Mon Dec 20, 2021 12:59 pm
LazarusLong wrote:
Mon Dec 20, 2021 12:38 pm
Superbone wrote:
Mon Dec 20, 2021 10:50 am
bajanguy008 wrote:
Mon Dec 20, 2021 10:20 am
LazarusLong wrote:
Mon Dec 20, 2021 10:18 am
I had to chuckle when the announcers said McGee's finger roll layup was reminiscent of George Gervin.
Because Gervin once said he modeled that move after .... Connie Hawkins!
Laz always coming through with a Connie reference 8-)
Hey, when he's your avatar, you've got to!
I know I'm sort of old school, but if you would have seen him play, you'd understand.
It was like the rest of the NBA was riffing Lawrence Welk, and the Hawk was playing Miles Davis ...
Swing man would have appreciated that reference!
I certainly do.

Re: Suns News: Week 10 (12/20 - 12/26)

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 1:39 pm
by ShelC
These are always fun. First one is tough!


Re: Suns News: Week 10 (12/20 - 12/26)

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 1:56 pm
by Indy
"I never thought he would eat KFC!"

:lol:

It actually took me longer to see #2 than #1. I had #1 immediately, but it took me a minute to get #2.