Game Day: Blazers (9-22) @ Suns (17-15), Mon 1/1/24

[Superbone]

Time: 7:00 pm AZ (6:00 pm PT/9:00 pm ET)
Place: Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
TV: AZ Family 3TV, NBALP

The Portland Trail Blazers come into Phoenix looking to start off the new year with a bang. The Phoenix Suns have other ideas. Look for first quarter fireworks from the Big 3. Unfortunately, former Sun Deandre Ayton has been ruled out for this one.

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

Go Suns!!!

Dis • cuss

[Mori Chu]

Wonder if / how much Beal will play given that it's a back-to-back. I'm not opposed to resting him if that's what he needs.

[Split T]

I think he’ll play, but I’m cool if we limit his minutes. Vogel has definitely shortened the rotation though. I think there was definitely some pressure to start winning from up above.

[Kryptonic]

Not a fan of shortening the rotation and the wear and tear it’s gonna put on the others, especially this early in the season. KDs been playing great but worry about those minutes. Nurkic’s been great and been what we need at C. I think my biggest disappointment had been okogie… thought he’d be progressing but the dudes vanished.

[JJ Slim]

I think the big thing after last night is to limit Beal's and KD's minutes and get the bench more involved especially EG and Metu. Maybe let KBD and Yuta get some burn too.

I also want to say that Nurk has been our rock this season. He isn't perfect but I love his fire.

[Mori Chu]

I hope Coach gives KBD another look this season. I think he can and should be part of our eventual rotation.

[Split T]

I think we’ll see the bench pieces get another chance…want to see how they play with the full team intact.

[TOO]

What's up with our old C? He hasn't played in a while it seems.

[ShelC]

Simons is out, DA has missed the past few games, Reath may be out too. Scoot, Brogdan and Grant have been playing well for them but hopefully we can take care of business on a B2B.

[ShelC]

What's up with our old C? He hasn't played in a while it seems.

Camara's been getting steady playing time, just up and down production. GTD with knee soreness tonight tho.

[wpmiller42]

Not a fan of shortening the rotation and the wear and tear it’s gonna put on the others, especially this early in the season. KDs been playing great but worry about those minutes. Nurkic’s been great and been what we need at C. I think my biggest disappointment had been okogie… thought he’d be progressing but the dudes vanished.

I'm not too worried about KD's minutes. He's playing a lot, but I feel like they haven't been "hard" minutes. He's mostly jump shooting, not taking a ton of contact, and not expending a ton of energy on defense (for him I think). If he was banging against huge PFs every night, I'd be more concerned, but I get the sense that he's pacing himself pretty well.

[Superbone]

[ShelC]

We're so cooked

[Split T]

Feels like a resting KD on 2nd night of a b2b type scenario..I wouldn’t expect him to miss more than 1 game

[SunsSince92]

Feels like a resting KD on 2nd night of a b2b type scenario..I wouldn’t expect him to miss more than 1 game

Agreed but I'm not sure we're consistently good enough yet to take the luxury of resting our stars. I think we'll win tonight but if we don't we've just given up a game and undermined the momentum we've built over the last 3.

[Superbone]

Feels like a resting KD on 2nd night of a b2b type scenario..I wouldn’t expect him to miss more than 1 game

Agreed but I'm not sure we're consistently good enough yet to take the luxury of resting our stars. I think we'll win tonight but if we don't we've just given up a game and undermined the momentum we've built over the last 3.

We are not losing tonight. Yes, you can blame me if we do. This was a calculated rest.

[Wally_West]

Feels like a resting KD on 2nd night of a b2b type scenario..I wouldn’t expect him to miss more than 1 game

Yep.

[Superbone]

With KD out, this may be the game Beal gets 28.

[JJ Slim]

I think one of the reasons to get Beal and have a big 3 was not only to have a devastating offense when all three were available but to have insurance for if and when one of them is hurt so we can usually have at least a Big 2. Of course its playing the odds but that's basketball. After a couple games together and progress has been made it makes sense to give KD a rest. I've been worried about him playing as many minutes as he has and quite often being the only one of the three available. Now we can have Beal and Book lead the charge and hopefully get others involved and stepping up. I almost feel like Vogel is using this first part of the season as an extended pre-season for both him and the rest of the team to learn each other and gel.

I've got a Rose Bowl to watch now. If my Wolverines tank it I'm definitely going to need a Suns win to help me recover.

[Superbone]