Game Day: Suns (7-9) @ Raptors (11-6), Sun 11/29/15

[Superbone]

Time: 4:00 pm AZ (3:00 pm PT / 6:00 pm ET)
Place: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON
TV: FSAZ/NBALP

It doesn't get any easier. The Raptors are going for their 5th win in a row while we try to prevent our 5th loss in a row.

Go Suns!!!

Dis • cuss

[Indy]

Is Chandler out?

[EDC]

Is Chandler out?

Does it really matter? Coach got a taste of a 4 guard lineup last game. Small ball here we come! :p

Of course he won't change the starting lineup because he doesn't dare. So we might get 4 minutes in the first and 4 in the third from Chandler.

As of this morning Coro wrote:

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/n ... /76493604/

However, Suns center Tyson Chandler is doubtful to play Sunday after leaving Friday’s game in the first quarter for a right hamstring strain.

Chandler, the Suns’ prized offseason signing at $54 million, averaged 18 minutes for three games before missing Wednesday’s loss to New Orleans for illness and then playing four minutes Friday night before the injury. Backup center Alex Len, the No. 5 pick two years ago, has averaged 8.3 minutes over the past four losses, including one start.

I love that emphasis on defense from the Suns. Second worst in opponent FG% this season.

[carey]

It's funny but Gentry and Hornacek seem to be having the same issues. What works for Golden State with their players and their talent doesn't mean it's going to work for your team. Gentry is basically refusing to play Asik and Ajinca. We're barely playing Chandler and Len. They are both losing a lot of games because neither has the talent to play the way they are trying to play.

[Mori Chu]

I just want a coach who will scream at Bledsoe and Knight and tell them to pass the effing ball. And if they don't, bench them for the rest of the half. And who'll have the guts to just bench Markieff and never play him ever again. And who'll play a center. And Booker. And TJ Warren.

[Cap]

Remember when we were top 10 in defensive efficiency? That didn't last long. We're in the bottom 10 now. Giving up 118.8 in the losing streak.

[OE32]

Remember when we were top 10 in defensive efficiency? That didn't last long. We're in the bottom 10 now. Giving up 118.8 in the losing streak.

The plummet appears to have coincided with Keef's return to the lineup and our embrace of small ball. It looks like our commitment to defense is almost exclusively verbal in nature.

[LazarusLong]

They are both losing a lot of games because neither has the talent to play the way they are trying to play.

Bingo.

Suns assembled a squad with decent talent, but now the complaints are "we can't do this, we don't have the guys to do that..."

If Hornacek and McD wanted to play small, then why not get the horses to do so? Teletovic, Leuer nor Kieff have the needed athleticism to be a stretch 4 or 5.

There appears to be no long-term vision or style of play serving as a template for making personnel moves. None. Zero.

[Cap]

Remember when Premier was first on the team in +/-? That didn't last long. He's now last.

[EDC]

When we signed Chandler I was really thought we had locked down the center position and we would always have a rim protector in the game. I was even hoping we might see a little twin towers action from time to time. It was nice early when we were out rebounding opponents and playing defense.

We were playing mostly bad teams but instead of buckling down and trying to get better defensively after losing to some good teams we just abandoned the whole idea of defense and rebounding. Most of our guys leak out after the other team shoots the ball. Hoping to get an easy fast break. Which leads to really embarrassing possessions where one of our bigs is playing 1v3 after an offensive rebound for the other team.

It is really amusing when our big manages to make them miss a second time only to find out he is still playing 1v3 while the rest of our team just stands out at the three point line watching.

[Superbone]

https://twitter.com/paulcoro/status/671082915539910656

[Cap]

Alex Len making the most out of his start with two early buckets.

[Cap]

TJ checks in and immediately scores.

[Cap]

Keef doing nothing but missing jumpers.

ETA: never mind. Nice orb and putback off the Bledsoe miss.

[Gladiator]

https://twitter.com/Suns/status/671104029968175104

Here's our starters. This GIF seems somewhat appropriate. Bledsoe's looking at the floor instead of keeping his eyes up, Keef's holding onto the ball like he doesn't want to share it with anyone, Tucker is scowling and looking mean, but not really doing anything, Len's enormous, but what's going on with his finger? Is that why he can't catch it properly?

[EDC]

Here's our starters. This GIF seems somewhat appropriate. Bledsoe's looking at the floor instead of keeping his eyes up, Keef's holding onto the ball like he doesn't want to share it with anyone, Tucker is scowling and looking mean, but not really doing anything, Len's enormous, but what's going on with his finger? Is that why he can't catch it properly?

[Cap]

Deroza keeps beating TJ.

[Cap]

Big white guys raining threes! Telly and Leuer a combined 4-5.

[Cap]

TJ nearly air balled a corner 3.

[Shabazz]

Ronnie Price's D over the last 6 games: activity mistaken for achievement. His offense: non-existent and space killing.

Booker and Goodwin still glued to the bench.