Game Day: Knicks (8-8) @ Suns (9-6), Sat 11/20/22

[ShelC]

Time: 1:30 pm AZ (12:30 pm PT/3:30 pm ET)
Place: Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
TV: BSAZ, MSG, NBALP

The fellas are coming off another close loss to the Jazz while the Knicks are coming off a loss to Golden State and are playing the 4th game of a 5 game West Coast trip. Thibs was on the hot seat prior to the trip but the Knicks have bounced back a bit with wins against the Jazz and Nuggets. Mitch Robinson will miss hit 9th straight game so Hartenstein gets the start and 2nd year big Jericho Sims has been playing well off the bench. He's a pogo stick defender/shotblocker/lob threat so the defense can't fall asleep on him. Toppin's another athlete who's a lob threat with legit 3pt range this year. Jalen Brunson is leading them at PG with an extremely solid season so far, RJ Barrett has been under the weather on the trip and playing like ass but is looking to get back on track. Randle's always a load and a triple double threat. Cam Reddish was playing well but hurt his groin against Golden State so he's questionable, Fournier's been out of the rotation and Grimes, a 2nd year swing they were excited about hurt his foot in training camp and hasn't gotten been able to get back on the floor just yet.

Still no Chris Paul or Landry Shamet for the good guys. Will need Payne to lock in and help keep Brunson from running the show. Craig will have his work cut out for him with Randle. Maybe there's some switching with DA on Randle and Craig on Hartenstein? Not sure how we counter their size of Toppin and Sims off the bench, just need to be active and disrupt as much as possible.

https://www.nba.com/gamenotes/knicks.pdf
https://www.nba.com/gamenotes/suns.pdf

GO SUNS!

[Superbone]

Thanks, Shel. You've been doing it all lately. I just realized it's an early game day and I hadn't gotten the thread up. Usually do it the night before. Go Suns!

[ShelC]

So much for my scouting report! Mitch Rob is in, he likes playing against DA. Reddish is out.

[ShelC]

Thanks, Shel. You've been doing it all lately. I just realized it's an early game day and I hadn't gotten the thread up. Usually do it the night before. Go Suns!

All good. Any Suns game that starts before 10pm EST is a gift for me these days lol

[Superbone]

I'm just looking forward to DOMINAyton playing with force. He's had success against the Knicks in the past. With his size and skillset, he should be able to dominate the smaller Knicks from tip off to final buzzer.

[ShelC]

[ShelC]

Payne starting strong going at Brunson, who can struggle defensively and can't seem to handle Payne's quickness. Can't forget about Grimes, who's a sneaky 2 way player with two 3s already.

Knicks fouling on 3pt shots, Payne and Book both getting fouled on 3s.

[ShelC]

DWJ with early minutes for Payne. We're settling for too many 3s which is keeping the Knicks in it. Craig's shot is rimming out so we need another threat out there.

[Wally_West]

Biz over Landale. Early Ish minute. Interesting.

[specialsauce]

Biz over Landale. Early Ish minute. Interesting.

The less JACK the better

[Wally_West]

Thibs needs to just shave his head. That comb over is embarrassing.

[ShelC]

Nice to see Monty going deep into the bench and seeing them respond. DWJ, Lee, Okogie, Ish and Biz making things happen defensively. Okogie with a nice take to the basket, Lee with some 3s, Biz with a nice block. Extended the lead against the Knicks bench.

[Wally_West]

Biz over Landale. Early Ish minute. Interesting.

The less JACK the better

So you want JACK off?

[The Bobster]

Not a whole lot going right on offense.

[Wally_West]

Just being straight lazy right now

[Democritus]

Ayton is such a joke..

[LazarusLong]

Having Biyombo, Okogie and Wainwright on the floor is like going 2 v. 5 on offense.
Biyombo and Okogie ... maybe.
But Wainwright also? WTF???

[LazarusLong]

Suns shooting 39% from the field.

[ShelC]

Not a great 2nd quarter offensively, TC had 9 straight points but not much else going on. Grimes is doing a good job on Book plus the Knicks are doubling him early.

DA with 4 FTAs but has missed them all

[ShelC]

Having Biyombo, Okogie and Wainwright on the floor is like going 2 v. 5 on offense.
Biyombo and Okogie ... maybe.
But Wainwright also? WTF???

Monty's trying to get creative in cutting back Book and Mikal's minutes. They helped give us our biggest lead so it wasn't terrible and the defense/hustle was off the charts. If Okogie were 6-9 he'd be a monster frontcourt player.