Game Day (Early Start!): Suns (39-28) @ Bucks (43-24), Sun 3/17/24

[SunsSince92]

I think he's a viable "PG" option if the lineup has better balance. This team would look a lot better with a real perimeter defender with size/length instead of Beal. (That's not a dig at Beal who's been as advertised for better and worse.)

Booker needs an alpha male who doesn't get rattled next to him. A steadying presence. CP3 was that but he got old so the production wasn't where it needed to be any more and he was killing us defensively. KD is more like Booker. They're both sidekicks. KD needs to ride someone else's coattails as well.

Yep, I agree with this. Both Book and KD are complementary players but not #1s. I said the same above.

Therein lies the problem. The conundrum Jones has now is whether he backs Booker or Durant as I don't think you can keep both and build a roster that's going to be good enough to challenge for a title with the limited resources we have. If we are saying that neither Book or Durant are number 1's then presumably the player you have to bring in to replace one or other of them will need to be the designated number 1 and the player you build the franchise around?

I can't see Booker being happy about that at all. Durant would probably have less of a problem with it although he supposedly came to Phoenix to play with Booker, so if he were no longer here, would that cause issues? The only other option would be to move Beal but it's unlikely he would sign off on a trade unless it was to a contender. I also don't think he is the issue here. He's a complimentary piece that provides something different to both Book and Durant in terms of driving the lane and getting to the basket.

I really don’t think Booker would have a problem with it. He didn’t have an issue with Paul.

I don't think Paul was considered the number 1 when he was here. The team was built around Book. My point is if we brought a number 1 in for Durant, I don't think Book would want to play second fiddle to them.

[specialsauce]

Booker needs an alpha male who doesn't get rattled next to him. A steadying presence. CP3 was that but he got old so the production wasn't where it needed to be any more and he was killing us defensively. KD is more like Booker. They're both sidekicks. KD needs to ride someone else's coattails as well.

Yep, I agree with this. Both Book and KD are complementary players but not #1s. I said the same above.

Therein lies the problem. The conundrum Jones has now is whether he backs Booker or Durant as I don't think you can keep both and build a roster that's going to be good enough to challenge for a title with the limited resources we have. If we are saying that neither Book or Durant are number 1's then presumably the player you have to bring in to replace one or other of them will need to be the designated number 1 and the player you build the franchise around?

I can't see Booker being happy about that at all. Durant would probably have less of a problem with it although he supposedly came to Phoenix to play with Booker, so if he were no longer here, would that cause issues? The only other option would be to move Beal but it's unlikely he would sign off on a trade unless it was to a contender. I also don't think he is the issue here. He's a complimentary piece that provides something different to both Book and Durant in terms of driving the lane and getting to the basket.

I really don’t think Booker would have a problem with it. He didn’t have an issue with Paul.

I don't think Paul was considered the number 1 when he was here. The team was built around Book. My point is if we brought a number 1 in for Durant, I don't think Book would want to play second fiddle to them.

CP3 was the alpha male in the room. Not necessarily the #1 scoring option but the leading voice/steadying presence

[LazarusLong]

Agree. Paul was the coach on the floor.
The team also lost a measure of court testosterone when Paul and Crowder left.

[Nodack]

I think you roll with what you have this year and let the chips fall where they fall in the offseason. Not the time for a big change heading into playoffs.

I’m see them play good defense when they want to. I also see the lackadaisical defense they play a lot of times too. And maybe it’s me but, on offense their passing can be poor and not crisp. They telegraph their passes and they get picked off. Their passing around the horn can be slow giving the defense time to recover.

[Furlanfufi]

I don't think the roster is the problem. They can work together, but not with this coaching staff and not with the "I hope they don't make their 3s" attitude.

[Mori Chu]

IMO the old Finals team had a way better balance between offense and defense than this current team has. That starting 5 was:

Paul, Booker, Bridges, Crowder, Ayton

Basically 4/5 of those guys are plus defenders along with one slightly-minus defender (Book). The other 4 can help cover for the moderate deficiencies of the 5th guy. Overall that's a very good defensive team that also features a superb scorer/finisher in Booker, a superb facilitator/initiator in CP3, a great second scorer and fastbreak athlete in Mikal, a very efficient midrange and interior shooting big in Ayton, and a 3-point specialist in Crowder. It's an almost perfectly constructed starting 5. If you could play God with it, you'd make CP3 a few years younger/healthier, and you'd make Crowder a few inches taller, and you'd make Ayton have a penis instead of a vagina. That's about it. Otherwise almost perfect team. Oh by the way, they had Cam Johnson, Cam Payne, Torrey Craig, and other guys off their bench. Very solid impressive roster.

This current team has a starting 5 of:

Book, Beal, Allen, KD, Nurkic

I like all 5 of these guys. But I'd say 4/5 of these guys are minus defenders at their position, all of them other than KD. Beal's a pretty decent defender, not horrible. Nurkic is okay, and he can rebound. But overall this starting 5 is way, way worse defensively than the '21 group. There just isn't a single guy in that lineup who can act as a perimeter stopper to slow/stop the other team's best scorer. Not a one.

The lineup also features nobody who can really facilitate and initiate an offense. Book and Beal try, and KD sometimes tries. But it's really not good enough. Book gets doubled near midcourt and turns it over, or he dribbles out 18 seconds of the clock before trying to initiate a play. KD does a high dribble that gets stolen way too often. Honestly Nurkic and Beal are probably their best facilitators overall in the starting lineup, but you don't want to rely on them doing that.

Overall it's just a much worse lineup despite the top-line star power of Book, KD, and Beal. Worse than the 2021 team in almost every way.

[Superbone]

Yep, I agree with this. Both Book and KD are complementary players but not #1s. I said the same above.

Therein lies the problem. The conundrum Jones has now is whether he backs Booker or Durant as I don't think you can keep both and build a roster that's going to be good enough to challenge for a title with the limited resources we have. If we are saying that neither Book or Durant are number 1's then presumably the player you have to bring in to replace one or other of them will need to be the designated number 1 and the player you build the franchise around?

I can't see Booker being happy about that at all. Durant would probably have less of a problem with it although he supposedly came to Phoenix to play with Booker, so if he were no longer here, would that cause issues? The only other option would be to move Beal but it's unlikely he would sign off on a trade unless it was to a contender. I also don't think he is the issue here. He's a complimentary piece that provides something different to both Book and Durant in terms of driving the lane and getting to the basket.

I really don’t think Booker would have a problem with it. He didn’t have an issue with Paul.

I don't think Paul was considered the number 1 when he was here. The team was built around Book. My point is if we brought a number 1 in for Durant, I don't think Book would want to play second fiddle to them.

CP3 was the alpha male in the room. Not necessarily the #1 scoring option but the leading voice/steadying presence

This exactly. We no longer have an alpha anywhere. Not just in players but in coaches too. Obviously, nobody is being held accountable when game after game, our three point defense is horrendous.

[Superbone]

Agree. Paul was the coach on the floor.
The team also lost a measure of court testosterone when Paul and Crowder left.

Yep and Yep. Coach Williams had a reputation of not handling player personalities well in the past (Paul/AD) and that is a big part of what brought his downfall in Phoenix too. Williams could have been a long time staple here but he was unable to work with personalities like Ayton and Crowder. All the strong personalities are now gone and it shows.

Seems like these guys are just going through the motions and nobody is holding them accountable.

[Superbone]

I think you roll with what you have this year and let the chips fall where they fall in the offseason. Not the time for a big change heading into playoffs.

I’m see them play good defense when they want to. I also see the lackadaisical defense they play a lot of times too. And maybe it’s me but, on offense their passing can be poor and not crisp. They telegraph their passes and they get picked off. Their passing around the horn can be slow giving the defense time to recover.

Obviously, it is too late to do anything now. And, dude, are you kidding?! Maybe it's just you? No, game after game, they do this stuff continuously and don't seem to get better. I even documented it in my notes for this game.

Everybody is talking about how Durant hardly took any shots. Well, you know what? It's his own damn fault. I don't blame anybody but him. Instead of taking the shot, most of them very makable for him, he makes these horrible passes and often to the worst possible player in the worst place. Last night he was wide open in the lane the shot clock dwindling and he passed it out to Nurkic of all people behind the three point line!!! Idiotic. How many times has he passed out to Saben Lee behind the three point line too?

[Superbone]

Its crazy to me now everyone is talking about trading Booker. This season been a roller coaster and overall been a disappointment but to me trading the best Suns player in history is crazy.

What we've seen has been underwhelming to say the least but the season isnt over. Lets see how this plays out and reassess in the offseason. But the big 3 to me doesnt need to be traded. You just have to find the right surrounding pieces. Think we have some of those pieces, but a retooling (if we flame out in playoffs) would definitely need to happen. Problem is were strapped but if you have a decent 1st thats a good start, just cant miss on that pick.

Huh? Everyone? I mentioned Booker but never said ANYTHING about trading him. Everybody has some blame here but doesn't mean they all need to be traded.

[Superbone]

Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale (and Okogie when he plays) are the only players on the team that show intensity on the defensive end at all times. I mean Book and Durant will show it occasionally but not consistently. There is just no way this team is doing much of anything with their lousy defense and inability to get a defensive rebound (except for Nurk). The multiple attempts for the opposition drive me crazy and yet it keeps happening.

[specialsauce]

I think you roll with what you have this year and let the chips fall where they fall in the offseason. Not the time for a big change heading into playoffs.

I’m see them play good defense when they want to. I also see the lackadaisical defense they play a lot of times too. And maybe it’s me but, on offense their passing can be poor and not crisp. They telegraph their passes and they get picked off. Their passing around the horn can be slow giving the defense time to recover.

Obviously, it is too late to do anything now. And, dude, are you kidding?! Maybe it's just you? No, game after game, they do this stuff continuously and don't seem to get better. I even documented it in my notes for this game.

Everybody is talking about how Durant hardly took any shots. Well, you know what? It's his own damn fault. I don't blame anybody but him. Instead of taking the shot, most of them very makable for him, he makes these horrible passes and often to the worst possible player in the worst place. Last night he was wide open in the lane the shot clock dwindling and he passed it out to Nurkic of all people behind the three point line!!! Idiotic. How many times has he passed out to Saben Lee behind the three point line too?

Yup

[AmareIsGod]

I could see all of what has happened earlier in the year and was scrutinized a bit as being pessimistic. And here we all are.

[virtual9mm]

Either the Suns can flip on a switch when the playoffs begin or they're second round bantha fodder.

[Mori Chu]

Either the Suns can flip on a switch when the playoffs begin or they're second round bantha fodder.

There's no way they make the 2nd round at this rate.

[Split T]

No way seems a little much…it’s just one round. If we get the right matchup(Wolves) it’s definitely possible. I will say I won’t be surprised by anything though…we could lose two games in the play-in and end up a lottery team and I won’t be surprised. We could also make a run to the WCF. I’d be a bit surprised if we made the finals or won the finals, but there’s not a team that terrifies me in the west. We can beat any one team. It’s stringing that together for multiple rounds that I don’t think we can do.

[ShelC]

I don't want to see us win a series just to give some false sense of security about this team going into next season.

[AmareIsGod]

No way seems a little much…it’s just one round. If we get the right matchup(Wolves) it’s definitely possible. I will say I won’t be surprised by anything though…we could lose two games in the play-in and end up a lottery team and I won’t be surprised. We could also make a run to the WCF. I’d be a bit surprised if we made the finals or won the finals, but there’s not a team that terrifies me in the west. We can beat any one team. It’s stringing that together for multiple rounds that I don’t think we can do.

I'm not sure we'd beat the Wolves in a series. Not sure if you've seen the product on the court lately or not but we're horrible.

[Split T]

No way seems a little much…it’s just one round. If we get the right matchup(Wolves) it’s definitely possible. I will say I won’t be surprised by anything though…we could lose two games in the play-in and end up a lottery team and I won’t be surprised. We could also make a run to the WCF. I’d be a bit surprised if we made the finals or won the finals, but there’s not a team that terrifies me in the west. We can beat any one team. It’s stringing that together for multiple rounds that I don’t think we can do.

I'm not sure we'd beat the Wolves in a series. Not sure if you've seen the product on the court lately or not but we're horrible.

Well the point is not sure and no chance are not the same. I’m not sure we would either, but there’s a chance. That’s what I’m saying…but also I haven’t watched since the Denver win, so I haven’t seen any of our 1-3 stretch(though from a not watching perspective, going 1-3 against BostonX2, Cleveland, and Milwaukee is not unexpected. I know Milwaukee didn’t have Giannis, but that was also a morning game after a b2b, so 3 games in 3.5 days essentially).

[Superbone]

Either the Suns can flip on a switch when the playoffs begin or they're second round bantha fodder.

Second round?! LOL.