Game Day: Spurs (19-31) @ Suns (39-9), Sun 1/30/22

[Split T]

Ya Gordon is still my top target, but I get the feeling we won’t do anything big. Probably send out Smith and a 2nd for a bench shooter. I’m thinking probably more of an alternative to Shamet instead of a replacement. We’ll see though.

[Mori Chu]

Man this team is so good at closing out games.

[The Bobster]

Going into tonight's game the Spurs had actually matched their opponents in scoring for the season, but still managed to be only 19-31. So they have been more competitive than their record would indicate. Still, a lackluster defensive effort by the Suns tonight until crunch time.

[The Bobster]

Chris Paul with the near 20/20 game - 20 points, 19 assists.

[LazarusLong]

Landry Shamet suffered a right ankle sprain in the fourth quarter.

https://arizonasports.com/story/2993514 ... to-injury/

[pickle]

Shamet’s injury? Shit!

[Superbone]

Man, I wish we wouldn’t play with our food for a full three quarters. I was getting worried there. Down 2 with two minutes to go so of course we won those final two minutes in a big way. Also, no doubt that was Wainright’s best game as a Sun. Hit some big threes and played some great defense.

[Superbone]

I’ve been impressed with Primo. Spurs took a lot of shit for drafting him where they did, but he looks like a good piece for them.

He looks so much better than Secondario but that was pretty much a given.

[BKinSJC]

Something I haven't seen reported so far: if you'll recall, the Suns won their last two games last year against the Spurs (May 15th and 16th at San Antonio, the final two games of the year), and with tonight's win have swept the season series between the two teams 4-0. According to Stathead's Team Rivalry Finder, that current six-game winning streak by the Suns over the Spurs would be the Suns' longest in the now-183-game history between the two teams, dating back to the 1976-77 season.

The Suns had previously won 5 straight in sweeping a 37-45 Spurs team in the 1983-84 season, and also won 5 straight (across two seasons) between March of 1997 and February of 1998.

The Spurs won 9 straight, nearly all by lopsided scores, between early 2015 and the end of 2016 during the gone-but-never-to-be-forgotten McDoofus era.

(Note that the link I shared doesn't show today's game yet, as of this posting. Basketball-reference and Stathead are usually a day behind in updating game results.)

[Split T]

The Suns also won 5 straight if you count the 2010 sweep in the playoffs as they also beat them in their last matchup during the regular season that year too

[BKinSJC]

The Suns also won 5 straight if you count the 2010 sweep in the playoffs as they also beat them in their last matchup during the regular season that year too

You are correct, sir, and including playoffs also adds another 5-game winning streak in 1993 (last 3 contests of the regular season + first two games of the Western Conference Semifinals for those Barkley vs. David Robinson teams).

We followed up the 2010 playoffs sweep by going 7-31 over the next ten years, never winning more than one game in a row in the series until the current streak. Ouch.

[ShelC]

[bajanguy008]

Man I'm happy for Ish
Don't know if it was on here or Suns Twitter that I saw ppl saying maybe he can try be like PJ Tucker. The size, strength and defensive instincts are there and he's more athletic than PJ was.
What was most impressive is that his 3pters weren't the D just left him open with all day, both were like quick releases so yea good for him.

[bajanguy008]

Really enjoyed Cam's game and was surprised to see he only had 11pts
That's because I always get more excited in the games with "Off the dribble" Cam potential shows up. Dunk was obviously cool, but also had two other nice finishes at the rim.

And there was also this gem smh lol



Baby pics segment is always funny

[The Bobster]

Chris Paul last two games -

14/25 FG (56%), 5/8 3Pt FG (62%), 20.5 Pts, 17.5 Ast, 9.0 Reb 1.0 Stl, 1.0 Blk

[ShelC]

Man, I wish we wouldn’t play with our food for a full three quarters. I was getting worried there. Down 2 with two minutes to go so of course we won those final two minutes in a big way. Also, no doubt that was Wainright’s best game as a Sun. Hit some big threes and played some great defense.

Yea it feels like it's going to burn us at some point, especially with how thin we've been with guys out. Still, with Book and CP out there, there just aren't many teams that can match us in executing and knocking down shots in those final minutes. It'd be nice to get a big lead and hold it tho in some of these games.

Really like the look of Ish at the 5 and he looked better last night in the role. The Spurs aren't so big or athletic up front so a smaller 5 can be a good matchup. Sometimes you need a smaller, bulkier big with a lower center of gravity and Ish, with his athleticism and length, can switch around the 3-4-5 spots pretty well. The fact that he's getting these minutes over Stix should tell us everything we need to know. Interested to see how much he's used/developed when we're healthy.

Biyombo started last night with McGee off the bench. Had a feeling Monty would make that move with Biyombo working better with the starters. Wonder how he'll balance center minutes when DA is back.

Mikal with another great scoring game plus 8 boards. Cam a little quiet but came on strong late. Spurs have good swings, felt like they were knocking down all their 3s (maybe it was just McDermott and Primo).

James Jones spoke during the broadcast and reiterated that improvement is probably coming from what's already on the roster. They like the chemistry and continuity. I could still see Stix and/or Dario being sent out but I doubt there's a larger move involving Shamet or Payne. Flipping Stix seems like a no-brainer at this point.

[carey]

James Jones said that they tried to sign Biyombo during the off-season. Wasn’t aware.

[ShelC]

We signed JaVale early in FA too so Jones clearly knew he wanted/needed more size on the roster.

[Indy]

Chris Paul last two games -

14/25 FG (56%), 5/8 3Pt FG (62%), 20.5 Pts, 17.5 Ast, 9.0 Reb 1.0 Stl, 1.0 Blk

and only 2.0 TOs to those 17.5 Assists. unreal.

[bajanguy008]

Monty mentioned Mikal as a screener is a new wrinkle being used this year
I also like the dribble hand off set, Cam gets that action sometimes also and the fake to CP3/Book is almost always on and they being able to get to the rim or pull up can be a very efficient play.
Just cool to see the different ways Mikal is scoring this year while still having great fg%. His 3pt has dropped off from last year but it's clear he's taking much more pull up 3s and not just living in the corners so work in progress.