Game Day: Lakers (31-27) @ Suns (33-24), Sun 2/25/24

[Split T]

Need to win the next two vs Houston…the schedule gets real tough soon. We play Thunder, Nuggets, Celtics X2, and Cavs in 5 of the 6 after that.

[3TheHardaway]

EG is useful as a shooter for sure, but he makes some really boneheaded decision late in games. I trust Royce handling the ball a heck of a lot more, not to mention his defensive versatility.

I can't help but thinking about keeping Royce a starter, and moving Beal (rather than Allen) to the bench, especially for teams with bulky, athletic wings. It's somewhat blasphemous to stash a 40 million a year player on the bench, but it could make a lot of sense to ensure more consistent offensive firepower throughout the game. I'd rather keep Allen with the starters because of ability to space the floor.

But imagine Book-Allen-KD-Royce-Nurk, and Beal/Gordon/Bol coming in for Allen/KD/Nurk

You'd have Book-Beal-Gordon-Royce/Bol, bring in Thad/Ewbanks thereafter, letting Bol slide to the 4.

This would keep Beal fresh to finish Q1 with Book, start Q2 with KD coming back in.
You'd get a few big 3 minutes in the middle of Q2, and a longer stretch in the 4th to close out games with the big 3 much fresher.

It's really tough to watch KD as the offensive initiator, especially when he's paired with Ewbanks/JO or other offensively challenged players out there with him. Those stretches could lose multiple playoff games alone.

[TOO]

Can't pay Beal 60m to come off the bench. Just no way.

[Superbone]

The good vibes from the 1st quarter didn’t last long haha

If anything it’s the 4th quarter I’ve grown accustomed to disappointment.

Not today, pal!

[3TheHardaway]

Luckily it's only 47 million this year

But I hear you. I think for this year, it would correct a lot of issues and might be the best way to maximize this roster.

[Superbone]

This game made me wonder: Would we be a better team if we had this year's Lebron rather than KD? Like if you just swapped them straight up. KD is a better scorer, but Lebron's facilitating is so exceptional that maybe it would fix our awful offense.

I don’t think this is an option.

[Superbone]

Lemme do an EJ....

"I love when KD struggles early cause you know he's going to focus in and make the adjustment"

Still waiting.

[Superbone]

Durant absolutely sucks tonight

Luckily, we didn’t have to give up much to get him.

[Superbone]

I hate hearing the Phoenix crowd cheering loudly for Lebron dunking on us.

Way too many Lakers fans for my taste. (Of course, one is too many.)

[Superbone]

I didn’t have a good feeling going into this one and very pleased to be proven wrong. A satisfying and much-needed win

I felt a win coming. Won a small money line bet as well.

[Superbone]

L

Glad I was wrong too.

Wait, I thought this was a reverse jinx?

[Kryptonic]

I didn’t have a good feeling going into this one and very pleased to be proven wrong. A satisfying and much-needed win

I felt a win coming. Won a small money line bet as well.

Ehhhh! Attaboy!

[Split T]

I don’t think Beal off the bench is a terrible idea…you’d really need Beal to be on board with it and you could still have an avenue to 30 minutes for him.

Biggest problem is you’d want to have chemistry for the big 3 because come playoff time they will certainly play a lot together so I’d rather just stick with them all starting for now.

[Split T]

This game made me wonder: Would we be a better team if we had this year's Lebron rather than KD? Like if you just swapped them straight up. KD is a better scorer, but Lebron's facilitating is so exceptional that maybe it would fix our awful offense.

Fix that awful offense that has the best offensive rating in suns history

[ShelC]

Postgame Quotes and Videos

Spoiler: show/hide

[TOO]

This game made me wonder: Would we be a better team if we had this year's Lebron rather than KD? Like if you just swapped them straight up. KD is a better scorer, but Lebron's facilitating is so exceptional that maybe it would fix our awful offense.

Fix that awful offense that has the best offensive rating in suns history

It's also as about fun to watch as the Bledsoe led Suns.

Call me crazy, but I also like to enjoy what I'm watching.

[Split T]

This game made me wonder: Would we be a better team if we had this year's Lebron rather than KD? Like if you just swapped them straight up. KD is a better scorer, but Lebron's facilitating is so exceptional that maybe it would fix our awful offense.

Fix that awful offense that has the best offensive rating in suns history

It's also as about fun to watch as the Bledsoe led Suns.

Call me crazy, but I also like to enjoy what I'm watching.

Well that’s something completely different.

[MightyMoog]

Back to 5th in the standings. Crazy.

[SunsSince92]

I don’t think Beal off the bench is a terrible idea…you’d really need Beal to be on board with it and you could still have an avenue to 30 minutes for him.

Biggest problem is you’d want to have chemistry for the big 3 because come playoff time they will certainly play a lot together so I’d rather just stick with them all starting for now.

Putting Beal on the bench makes zero sense to me. He's a legit star and was brought in to form part of a big 3. His level of performance for the most part has lived up to that billing so I really question why he should be the one to make way? The only thing that has let him down is his availability, but that's not a reason to bench him in my view.

[3TheHardaway]

It’s hard to view coming off the bench as anything but negative due to egos, buts it’s really a function of improving rotations and optimizing balance.

Starting 3 guys under 6’6” with Durant as your power forward has its limitations that we’ve seen throughout this season against the Mavs, Clippers, Lakers. I think back to what Aaron Gordon did last season and have a ton of reservations about this team being able to compete in the postseason.

Additionally, the Durant as offense initiator lineups have been abysmal. Turnover riddled and stagnant offense with iso-ball.


If Beal was willing to be the Ginobili role, we’d ensure consistent firepower offensively through the game. Even when it’s Booker + Bench (and usually Allen or EG) the offense sputters.

I recognize it’s absolutely not going to happen because of his price tag, Big 3 narrative, etc., but it seems we’re not maximizing this roster with our undersized starters.