Suns News: Week 1 (10/20 - 10/26) WE BACK MFs!!!!

[pickle]

Anybody else watching OKC/HOU? I am super hate-watching hoping Durant sucks and the Rockets lose. Right now Houston is up 7 in the middle of the 3rd quarter, but OKC is showing signs of life.

His first game in Houston *should* have ended with him calling an illegal timeout at the end of the first overtime, but apparently the ghost of Richie Powers possessed the officials right then and they looked it off. So instead, his first game ended with him taking an obvious foul on SGA to provide the winning points for OKC, and fouling out in the process.

Durant was good for the most part, and served as a great decoy for Sengun, especially. He didn't get a lot of easy shots, especially late in the game. Shot creation looks like it might be a little bit of a struggle for Houston, but there's a lot of things they can do well.

Wait, isn't that the reason behind Houston acquiring Durant in the first place? (I'm being facetious)

[Mori Chu]

Watching Houston lose to OKC, and then the Lakers lose to GSW, was a glorious first day of the NBA season. Also, what did you guys think of the NBA on NBC production? I thought they were great, much better than ESPN. The graphics and music were really top-notch. They seem to have hired Reggie Miller for some reason, though, ugh.

[Carno]

Agreed on all accounts, especially the one about hiring Reggie Miller. I just don't get it. He isn't good.

[Superbone]

The thing is that Bill Simmons never said this. This was from the Ringer article that Shel posted. I heard an AZ Sports snippet the other day where Simmons responded and said as much. But then he goes on to say his only Suns prediction is the under on winning 31.5 games. So, he didn't say they were going to have the worst defense just that they're not going to win many games.

[ShelC]

It's Ishbia being a clown again. He can't even hit back properly. The article was meant to over the top, extreme predictions and Michael Pina wrote it. But Ishbia can't stay out of the spotlight, constantly needs attention. I did like that he QT'd Sam Cooper's tweet tho.

[Superbone]

It's Ishbia being a clown again. He can't even hit back properly. The article was meant to over the top, extreme predictions and Michael Pina wrote it. But Ishbia can't stay out of the spotlight, constantly needs attention. I did like that he QT'd Sam Cooper's tweet tho.

I don't have any problem with Ish wearing his heart on his sleeve. He's not worried about being embarrassed nor should he.

[Mori Chu]

I have some major concerns about Ishbia, but this isn't one of them. The take that we would have the NBA's worst defense seems silly and unlikely, and it was fine for Ishbia to criticize it and respond to it. In general I do think Ishbia would be wise to settle down a bit and take a step back, especially given the dark times that are likely ahead for the franchise (and that were caused largely by his input and ideas and will). But most people don't buy a sports team to just sit on the sidelines quietly.

[Superbone]

[Superbone]

Everybody here seems to love hearing Mat Ishbia talk so here's his full media availability.

[Superbone]

[ShelC]

As of today, the Suns are tied for 19th in defensive rating. So suck it, Ringer.

[Carno]

As of today, the Suns are tied for 19th in defensive rating. So suck it, Ringer.

Woohoo! We're 19th!

[Superbone]

As of today, the Suns are tied for 19th in defensive rating. So suck it, Ringer.

LOL. And that was after a bad first half.

[Superbone]

This is kind of cool:

[Carno]

I guess it's an improvement over the last 2 seasons. I guess...

[Superbone]

I guess it's an improvement over the last 2 seasons. I guess...

At least burnt orange and black is better than straight up orange and black.

[Superbone]

The Athletic: The foundation Jordan Ott has been building paid off in Suns' opening win
The Suns' new head coach has gone mostly overlooked, but his leadership this season will be crucial for a new-look Phoenix team.
Doug Haller, The Athletic

https://www.nba.com/news/the-athletic-t ... pening-win

PHOENIX — In the four-plus months since his hire, Jordan Ott has been asked several times what this has all meant, a grinder from small-town Pennsylvania climbing his way up the NBA ladder. Throughout, the Phoenix Suns head coach has kept these emotions mostly to himself.

At his introductory press conference, Ott said he had too much appreciation for the profession to believe that his path was guaranteed. He discussed the steps he had taken as an assistant coach with the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers, and the experience he had last season on the bench with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Since then, the 40-year-old Ott has focused on the difficult task of building a foundation for an overhauled roster. Asked last week about opening night, Ott said he was only concerned about the next day’s scrimmage. Asked the same question before Wednesday night’s game, Ott said he was sure it was a big moment for his family, but he was more focused on the pregame pep talk...

[Mori Chu]

I do think Ott has been a pretty good coach so far. I poo-pooed his hire because of the Michigan connection, and it is still early, but it seems like he is doing well.

[ShelC]

Y'knowhatimsayin?

[Mori Chu]

Shawn Marion was so freaking awesome. I just think about that Nash / Marion / Amare core and how it's probably the best and most enjoyable Suns team I'll see in my lifetime. What a great era that was.