Game Day: Suns (25-23) @ Blazers (20-29), Mon 2/3/25
- Drewsprocket
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Re: Game Day: Suns (25-23) @ Blazers (20-29), Mon 2/3/25
Wow. Crazy game. The fellas played well enough against an aggressive Blazers. This suns team is just too unbalanced skill wise to win. It needs desperately a center who sucks the defense into the paint and a player who can drive and finish in the lane. It’s nobody’s fault except JJ and Ishbia. You cant win with a roster of mostly 6’5”- 6’3” perimeter players. Tyus is just too small btw.
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Re: Game Day: Suns (25-23) @ Blazers (20-29), Mon 2/3/25
Waiting on more postgame videos but a lot of stuff was about Book's milestone which I posted in the other thread.
I think it's important to note what Book says about playing the entire 1st. He's talked about this before and says he'd rather play the entire 1sy qtr but Bud refuses to let him. Took him out of a good rhythm last night. Bud just doesn't have a feel for the team/roster IMO.
Postgame Quotes and Videos
I think it's important to note what Book says about playing the entire 1st. He's talked about this before and says he'd rather play the entire 1sy qtr but Bud refuses to let him. Took him out of a good rhythm last night. Bud just doesn't have a feel for the team/roster IMO.
Postgame Quotes and Videos
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Re: Game Day: Suns (25-23) @ Blazers (20-29), Mon 2/3/25
ShelC wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 6:53 amWaiting on more postgame videos but a lot of stuff was about Book's milestone which I posted in the other thread.
I think it's important to note what Book says about playing the entire 1st. He's talked about this before and says he'd rather play the entire 1sy qtr but Bud refuses to let him. Took him out of a good rhythm last night. Bud just doesn't have a feel for the team/roster IMO.
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These seem to be the most common (no disrespect intended) excuses for our poor performance, but I honestly think they are both symptoms of trying to build around KD. If Bud can't get a feel on the roster, and Frank couldn't, and Monty couldn't, then maybe the problem isn't the coach. Our bench was +12 last night, and has consistently beaten the other team's bench regardless of who is healthy and who is in the starting lineup. I think we have the players to be good. Not great, but good. Certainly the Suns should be much better than the blazers. What we lack is cultural, and it's on Book and KD.Drewsprocket wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 6:45 amWow. Crazy game. The fellas played well enough against an aggressive Blazers. This suns team is just too unbalanced skill wise to win. It needs desperately a center who sucks the defense into the paint and a player who can drive and finish in the lane. It’s nobody’s fault except JJ and Ishbia. You cant win with a roster of mostly 6’5”- 6’3” perimeter players. Tyus is just too small btw.
The league needs heroes, villains... and clowns. -- Aztec Sunsfan
- specialsauce
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Re: Game Day: Suns (25-23) @ Blazers (20-29), Mon 2/3/25
Again when the head of the snake is an idiot (KD) the trickle effect is bad.
There's too many low IQ guys on this team. Nobody you look at who is making cerebral plays. Grayson, KD, Royce, Mason, Nurk, Beal and even Book to a lesser extent all do things that make you think WHY WHY WHY even ATTEMPT that on both ends of the floor. And when KD is nonchalant about an 8 turnover game, the others aren't held accountable.
There's too many low IQ guys on this team. Nobody you look at who is making cerebral plays. Grayson, KD, Royce, Mason, Nurk, Beal and even Book to a lesser extent all do things that make you think WHY WHY WHY even ATTEMPT that on both ends of the floor. And when KD is nonchalant about an 8 turnover game, the others aren't held accountable.
- Drewsprocket
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Re: Game Day: Suns (25-23) @ Blazers (20-29), Mon 2/3/25
There’s always this problem of blaming character or criticizing effort or competitiveness. They had good effort and competitiveness but it’s impossible to sustain when your offense is 100% picking and popping with no threat to suck the defense away from the ball handler. Our offense is overtly predictable and it’s because of our construction. And again it’s because our dudes are outsized. It’s easy to snipe at the monotony as nit trying enough. But it’s an impossible task. There’s no player on this roster to can consistently penetrate into the paint or finish. We’re mice out there. And our guys played pretty big at times last night.O_Gardino wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 7:54 amShelC wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 6:53 amWaiting on more postgame videos but a lot of stuff was about Book's milestone which I posted in the other thread.
I think it's important to note what Book says about playing the entire 1st. He's talked about this before and says he'd rather play the entire 1sy qtr but Bud refuses to let him. Took him out of a good rhythm last night. Bud just doesn't have a feel for the team/roster IMO.
...
These seem to be the most common (no disrespect intended) excuses for our poor performance, but I honestly think they are both symptoms of trying to build around KD. If Bud can't get a feel on the roster, and Frank couldn't, and Monty couldn't, then maybe the problem isn't the coach. Our bench was +12 last night, and has consistently beaten the other team's bench regardless of who is healthy and who is in the starting lineup. I think we have the players to be good. Not great, but good. Certainly the Suns should be much better than the blazers. What we lack is cultural, and it's on Book and KD.Drewsprocket wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 6:45 amWow. Crazy game. The fellas played well enough against an aggressive Blazers. This suns team is just too unbalanced skill wise to win. It needs desperately a center who sucks the defense into the paint and a player who can drive and finish in the lane. It’s nobody’s fault except JJ and Ishbia. You cant win with a roster of mostly 6’5”- 6’3” perimeter players. Tyus is just too small btw.
Re: Game Day: Suns (25-23) @ Blazers (20-29), Mon 2/3/25
Lol, you want me posting about Ayton all season? It’s just a frustrating trade, even more so seeing how Camara is blossoming, and how Nurkic is not even in the rotation anymore.iLLmatic wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 12:55 amFunny how quiet you've been on the Ayton front until we got beat a couple of times by them.JeremyG wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 12:07 amOne plus a large percentage of the fanbase on other sites (X, Reddit, etc.). Y’all forget there are other Suns fans out there and act like I’m uniquely alone in my opinions.
"I'm a Deandre Ayton guy."--Al McCoy, September 21, 2022.
- The Bobster
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Re: Game Day: Suns (25-23) @ Blazers (20-29), Mon 2/3/25
The Suns biggest problem is that most of their players are one-dimensional fall into one of these catagories -
Good offensive player, but can't defend - Booker, Beal, Allen
Good defensive player, but can't score - Richards, Dunn, O'Neale
One very specific skill, but doesn't contribute much else - Joynes (passing), Nurkic (rebounding)
Still trying to figure out what they do well - Ighodaro, Plumlee
Just around to fill out the roster - Morris, Bol, Lee, Gillespie, Washington, Bridges (Nurkic and Ighodaro seem to have fallen into this group too)
Durant is the exception in that he plays well on both ends of the court. The problem is, he's 36. When you "Big Three" (Ha!) is really only impactful on one end of the court and you have real problems. They're constantly trying to match up with lineups that can defend (but can't score or rebound) or can score (but can't defend or rebound). You can't win consistently that way.
Good offensive player, but can't defend - Booker, Beal, Allen
Good defensive player, but can't score - Richards, Dunn, O'Neale
One very specific skill, but doesn't contribute much else - Joynes (passing), Nurkic (rebounding)
Still trying to figure out what they do well - Ighodaro, Plumlee
Just around to fill out the roster - Morris, Bol, Lee, Gillespie, Washington, Bridges (Nurkic and Ighodaro seem to have fallen into this group too)
Durant is the exception in that he plays well on both ends of the court. The problem is, he's 36. When you "Big Three" (Ha!) is really only impactful on one end of the court and you have real problems. They're constantly trying to match up with lineups that can defend (but can't score or rebound) or can score (but can't defend or rebound). You can't win consistently that way.
Author of The Basketball Draft Fact Book: A History of Professional Basketball's College Drafts
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Available from Scarecrow Press at - https://rowman.com/ISBN/9780810890695
Re: Game Day: Suns (25-23) @ Blazers (20-29), Mon 2/3/25
Bro nobody wants you complaining about Ayton at all. Jesus Christ.JeremyG wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:57 amLol, you want me posting about Ayton all season? It’s just a frustrating trade, even more so seeing how Camara is blossoming, and how Nurkic is not even in the rotation anymore.iLLmatic wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 12:55 amFunny how quiet you've been on the Ayton front until we got beat a couple of times by them.JeremyG wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 12:07 amOne plus a large percentage of the fanbase on other sites (X, Reddit, etc.). Y’all forget there are other Suns fans out there and act like I’m uniquely alone in my opinions.
Love, Hurts.
- Drewsprocket
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Re: Game Day: Suns (25-23) @ Blazers (20-29), Mon 2/3/25
Agreed about Camara. Not much can be said about Ayton that hasn’t already. He had a nice game yesterday that demonstrated the same sort of decent game he played when he was locked in. He played within himself. Grabbed some boards, was weak at times. Ayton was done with the Suns. I wish him the best.JeremyG wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:57 amLol, you want me posting about Ayton all season? It’s just a frustrating trade, even more so seeing how Camara is blossoming, and how Nurkic is not even in the rotation anymore.iLLmatic wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 12:55 amFunny how quiet you've been on the Ayton front until we got beat a couple of times by them.JeremyG wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 12:07 amOne plus a large percentage of the fanbase on other sites (X, Reddit, etc.). Y’all forget there are other Suns fans out there and act like I’m uniquely alone in my opinions.
Re: Game Day: Suns (25-23) @ Blazers (20-29), Mon 2/3/25
I mean you have your own thread to post all things Ayton all season long if you'd like.JeremyG wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:57 amLol, you want me posting about Ayton all season? It’s just a frustrating trade, even more so seeing how Camara is blossoming, and how Nurkic is not even in the rotation anymore.iLLmatic wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 12:55 amFunny how quiet you've been on the Ayton front until we got beat a couple of times by them.JeremyG wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 12:07 amOne plus a large percentage of the fanbase on other sites (X, Reddit, etc.). Y’all forget there are other Suns fans out there and act like I’m uniquely alone in my opinions.
I agree with you, it's frustrating, but there's a long list of things that are frustrating about this team. Trading away Ayton is pretty far down the list of things that keep me awake at night regarding this team.
Re: Game Day: Suns (25-23) @ Blazers (20-29), Mon 2/3/25
It’s been locked…since November I believe.iLLmatic wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 2:03 pmI mean you have your own thread to post all things Ayton all season long if you'd like.JeremyG wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:57 amLol, you want me posting about Ayton all season? It’s just a frustrating trade, even more so seeing how Camara is blossoming, and how Nurkic is not even in the rotation anymore.iLLmatic wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 12:55 amFunny how quiet you've been on the Ayton front until we got beat a couple of times by them.
"I'm a Deandre Ayton guy."--Al McCoy, September 21, 2022.
Re: Game Day: Suns (25-23) @ Blazers (20-29), Mon 2/3/25
Maybe that was the sign you should prob lock those feelings away tooJeremyG wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 2:43 pmIt’s been locked…since November I believe.iLLmatic wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 2:03 pmI mean you have your own thread to post all things Ayton all season long if you'd like.JeremyG wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:57 amLol, you want me posting about Ayton all season? It’s just a frustrating trade, even more so seeing how Camara is blossoming, and how Nurkic is not even in the rotation anymore.
Re: Game Day: Suns (25-23) @ Blazers (20-29), Mon 2/3/25
Ayton played great in the 2 games against us, no doubt. It's a great example of how frustrating he was. Call me if he ever wakes up and learns to play like that more than once in a blue moon.
Re: Game Day: Suns (25-23) @ Blazers (20-29), Mon 2/3/25
For all we know, Ayton would be out of the rotation with Bud too! Probably not fair to compare stats to players that aren't playing.JeremyG wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:57 amLol, you want me posting about Ayton all season? It’s just a frustrating trade, even more so seeing how Camara is blossoming, and how Nurkic is not even in the rotation anymore.iLLmatic wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 12:55 amFunny how quiet you've been on the Ayton front until we got beat a couple of times by them.JeremyG wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 12:07 amOne plus a large percentage of the fanbase on other sites (X, Reddit, etc.). Y’all forget there are other Suns fans out there and act like I’m uniquely alone in my opinions.
Synchronicity and all that jazz, man.
Re: Game Day: Suns (25-23) @ Blazers (20-29), Mon 2/3/25
We'd all be going crazy if he played like that every game.
Synchronicity and all that jazz, man.
Re: Game Day: Suns (25-23) @ Blazers (20-29), Mon 2/3/25
Re: Game Day: Suns (25-23) @ Blazers (20-29), Mon 2/3/25
Oh..JeremyG wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 2:43 pmIt’s been locked…since November I believe.iLLmatic wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 2:03 pmI mean you have your own thread to post all things Ayton all season long if you'd like.JeremyG wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:57 amLol, you want me posting about Ayton all season? It’s just a frustrating trade, even more so seeing how Camara is blossoming, and how Nurkic is not even in the rotation anymore.
Re: Game Day: Suns (25-23) @ Blazers (20-29), Mon 2/3/25
It was “boned”.iLLmatic wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:11 pmOh..JeremyG wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 2:43 pmIt’s been locked…since November I believe.iLLmatic wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 2:03 pmI mean you have your own thread to post all things Ayton all season long if you'd like.
Re: Game Day: Suns (25-23) @ Blazers (20-29), Mon 2/3/25
Don't put that on me. It wasn't me. Get your facts straight, pal.Kryptonic wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 11:24 pmIt was “boned”.
Synchronicity and all that jazz, man.
Re: Game Day: Suns (25-23) @ Blazers (20-29), Mon 2/3/25
I locked it. The thread had devolved and we needed an opportunity to move on.