Game Day:Suns (32-39) vs 76ers (42-28), Tues 8/11/20

[Nodack]

Time: 1:30 pm AZ (1:30 pm PT/4:30 pm ET)
Place: Orlando, FL
TV: FSAZ

The 6-0 Suns look to continue their Cinderella season as the only undefeated team in the bubble.

Go Suns!!!

Dis • cuss

[Nodack]

Phoenix Suns vs Philadelphia 76ers Prediction & Match Preview - August 11th, 2020
https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/ ... -11th-2020

[Nodack]

NBA Power Rankings, Week 24: West play-in race highlights final week before playoffs
Suns rise, Bucks take over top spot in latest ranking of 22 teams in Orlando
https://www.nba.com/powerrankings/2019-20-week-24
The Phoenix Suns probably shouldn't have been invited to the restart. But they were, they have their first five-game winning streak in 5 1/2 years, and they're still very much alive in the chase for eighth and ninth place in the Western Conference.

15
Phoenix Suns
Last week: 19
Phoenix Suns
Record: 31-39 (5-0)
Pace: 101.9 (9) OffRtg: 110.6 (14) DefRtg: 110.9 (18) NetRtg: -0.4 (14)

The Suns are the only undefeated team in the restart, and have been about equally improved on both ends of the floor. The offensive improvement has come with Devin Booker averaging 29.4 points, but also with five other guys averaging double-figures. One of those five is Cameron Payne, who spent the pre-hiatus season in the NBA G League. The Suns have outscored their opponents by 34 points in 58 minutes (allowing just 106 points on 133 defensive possessions) with their second-unit backcourt of Payne and Jevon Carter on the floor.

The offensive improvement has also come with a drop in both assist percentage (the Suns have dipped below the idle Warriors for the league lead) and turnover rate. (Carter has 12 assists and zero turnovers in the five games.) After being assisted on 48% of his buckets prior to the hiatus, Booker has been assisted on only 31% of them in the restart. The game-winner over two of the best defenders in the league was, by definition, unassisted. But give Mikal Bridges an assist for coming up with the deflection that set it up. When you combine Bridges' length with active hands, you have an impact defender.

The Suns still need help to reach the play-in scenario, but no matter what happens this week, this trip to Orlando has been fruitful.

[Superbone]

There we go! Great thread, ‘Dack. 7-0 here we come, baby!

[Nodack]

You betcha!!

[Democritus]

We need to handle these Sixers easily, they almost miss their entire starting five...
Bold prediction we win 133-111.. with a monster game from our big pussy...

[ShelC]

HEY EVERYONE WE ALL REMEMBERED TO GET OUR COVID TESTS TODAY RIIIIIIIIIGGGGGHHHHTTTTTTT?

[Wally_West]

Nodack, you da man! Thanks for the thread!

[Nodack]

Nodack, you da man! Thanks for the thread!

Thanks!

[Nodack]

I want to thank all the teams we have played in the bubble for having half their players missing. That has no doubt played a part in this run.

[ShelC]

Yea good looks Nodack!

Also, maybe a Baynes sighting soon?

[Shabazz]

I want to thank all the teams we have played in the bubble for having half their players missing. That has no doubt played a part in this run.

I don't feel guilty at all. We're missing both our starting 4 and backup 5. Both were critical parts of any success we had this season.

[Nodack]

That is true. Oubre is a 3 to me. Bridges, Cam and Oubre are all threes to me.

[jonh]

Yea good looks Nodack!

Also, maybe a Baynes sighting soon?

It would be weird for Baynes to come before Oubre. Ive been expecting Oubre back the last few games.

[Indy]

That is true. Oubre is a 3 to me. Bridges, Cam and Oubre are all threes to me.

Mikal and Oubre have spent the majority of their time at 3, but Cam has spent the vast majority at 4. He has played almost 1000 minutes there this season. (I was surprised when I looked that up)

[Split T]

[ShelC]

Good news for us, let's do for the whole game what we did to the Thunder in the 2nd half. All we can do is win and hope for the best.

[Superbone]

I want to thank all the teams we have played in the bubble for having half their players missing. That has no doubt played a part in this run.

I don't feel guilty at all. We're missing both our starting 4 and backup 5. Both were critical parts of any success we had this season.

Right and yesterday was the first of the serious missing player games. We've earned our place in the pantheon of bubble teams.

[Superbone]

Step on their throats early. No messing around this time.

[Superbone]

I've been having an intense workday and finally got a lunch break and I was freaking out thinking the game had started at 11:30 (now that I don't start the bubble gameday threads). I had no recordings and the FSAZ was blacked out but that was because they were showing the OKC game. Shoo.