Game Day: Suns (33-25) vs Celtics (37-19), Tue 2/24

[O_Gardino]

Do y'all remember Royce being a gritty defender and decent ball mover when we first got him? Either I'm crazy or he has aged really fast since we brought him in. Seems like he was a breath of fresh air back then. I hope we can get something in return for him over the offseason, because he's done. No hate - we just need draft picks and young players pretty badly. Or Giannis.

Fleming, on the other hand, was individually very quiet. But the team played well with him out there, and he ended up with the highest +/- of anyone outside of garbage time. I credit his defense as being good enough to let the rest of the team do it's thing, whereas Royce was killing us out there. All we needed was a PF who held his own on one end of the court. I still expect him to improve and be a contributing player next year. Crossing my fingers that he gets comfortable on the offensive end.

[Mori Chu]

Another toilet-flush game. Only bright spot is that some of our youngs seem to be finally starting to show promise. On to the next.

[specialsauce]

Do y'all remember Royce being a gritty defender and decent ball mover when we first got him? Either I'm crazy or he has aged really fast since we brought him in. Seems like he was a breath of fresh air back then. I hope we can get something in return for him over the offseason, because he's done. No hate - we just need draft picks and young players pretty badly. Or Giannis.

Fleming, on the other hand, was individually very quiet. But the team played well with him out there, and he ended up with the highest +/- of anyone outside of garbage time. I credit his defense as being good enough to let the rest of the team do it's thing, whereas Royce was killing us out there. All we needed was a PF who held his own on one end of the court. I still expect him to improve and be a contributing player next year. Crossing my fingers that he gets comfortable on the offensive end.

Yes. Yes. More Royce revelations. I've been complaining all along and glad to see more are starting to see what I have been saying since the end of last season

[ShelC]

Postgame Quotes and Videos

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[SunsRIt]

I guess this loss is partly my fault. I turned the game on with a few minutes left in the 2nd when the Suns were up 11. I watched the Celtics take the lead and be up at half time. Then I went to sleep. If i had never watched maybe the Suns would have kept the lead. Sorry.

[Kryptonic]

I guess this loss is partly my fault. I turned the game on with a few minutes left in the 2nd when the Suns were up 11. I watched the Celtics take the lead and be up at half time. Then I went to sleep. If i had never watched maybe the Suns would have kept the lead. Sorry.

Damn it! lol

[ShelC]

We held strong for the first half but let go of the rope in the middle of the 3rd. Just can't win games the way we're shooting. Working Green into the offense has its price at this point in the season and Ott has to find a way to move him off the ball for easier shots. Right now, he's just overdribbling trying to work into a shot which is killing our offense. It's like watching our offense from the past two seasons.

Williams is having too many games now where he's just out there. Not a threat inside near the basket, not a lob threat off PnR, not even a force on the boards. Fatigue shouldn't be a factor because we're coming off the All-Star Break and he only played 15 minutes against the Blazers. I'm sure he's affected by Book and Brooks being out, but you'd like to see him impact things on his own in the paint when he can. He also seems to be struggling in the highpost role within the offense that Oso excels at. The more I see him night in and night out, the less convinced I am he's a truly impactful center but we're also better off with him than without.

Missing Book means missing a lot of gravity and a reliable go-to scorer. He makes everyone around him better, so I still won't sound the alarm over these losses. I don't think we all of a sudden "lost it", but we'll also see how Ott handles this rough patch and what buttons he can push to get us out of it.

Generally speaking tho, it feels like everyone's seeing and playing the game one way while Green and Williams see and play it the opposite way. These last 25 games needs to be an evaluation of them and their fit as much as trying to position ourselves for the postseason.

[Shabazz]

This team has too many wingmen who can’t reliably create offense (Highsmith will be another). Mark having zero creation skills too makes it too easy to load up on Green, Grayson, and CG.

Bouyea has kind of stunk lately too.

[BigLewy]

I still think the team is way better with Williams than without, but if Man Man can develop like we hope and Oso continues to be effective, I'd be happy selling high on Williams and getting assets back in the offseason. Or maybe at the very least, his price tag will start going down now that he seems to have hit a wall.

[Superbone]

Do y'all remember Royce being a gritty defender and decent ball mover when we first got him? Either I'm crazy or he has aged really fast since we brought him in. Seems like he was a breath of fresh air back then. I hope we can get something in return for him over the offseason, because he's done. No hate - we just need draft picks and young players pretty badly. Or Giannis.

Fleming, on the other hand, was individually very quiet. But the team played well with him out there, and he ended up with the highest +/- of anyone outside of garbage time. I credit his defense as being good enough to let the rest of the team do it's thing, whereas Royce was killing us out there. All we needed was a PF who held his own on one end of the court. I still expect him to improve and be a contributing player next year. Crossing my fingers that he gets comfortable on the offensive end.

Yes, I was very impressed with Fleming's defense on Pritchard. He didn't let him get off at all. As far as offense, you're right. He needs to let the game slow down for him and he has the physical tools to cause some havoc at the rim in addition to hitting his corner threes at a higher rate.

[LazarusLong]

I'll repeat: Booker's and Brooks' absences are crucial, but overlooked is Goodwin's absence.
He leads the team in steals and is the third best rebounder (at 6'-3").
His Defensive +/- and VORP also are among team leaders.

His energy off the bench has been an important component of the team's success.

[Superbone]

I guess this loss is partly my fault. I turned the game on with a few minutes left in the 2nd when the Suns were up 11. I watched the Celtics take the lead and be up at half time. Then I went to sleep. If i had never watched maybe the Suns would have kept the lead. Sorry.

I can't let you take any blame, man. I was there. I saw the Suns start strong and then let go of the rope half way through the 2nd quarter. And then to top if off, it felt like the stadium was more than half full of Celtic fan snow birds. They were quite to start and then got more and more emboldened as the game went on until it felt like I was at Boston Garden at the end. I'm glad I won't be at the Lakers game tomorrow.

But on a happier note, I just purchased a quarter season, 10 game package for next season. It includes some bonus games this year and playoff dibs for this season. Oh, and I'll be sitting behind the Suns bench (something like 15 rows up) rather than behind the visitor bench like I was last night where the majority of the Celtics fans were.

But I dutifully stuck it out until the bitter end. At least got to see our rookies out there looking competent. Even Brea hit a three.

[JustWinBaby]

Will this team win more than 36 games this season?

[Superbone]

Will this team win more than 36 games this season?

I get your feeling but I can competently say, yes. How many more? That is the question. A lot depends on health.

[Shabazz]

I'll repeat: Booker's and Brooks' absences are crucial, but overlooked is Goodwin's absence.
He leads the team in steals and is the third best rebounder (at 6'-3").
His Defensive +/- and VORP also are among team leaders.

His energy off the bench has been an important component of the team's success.

100%

[specialsauce]

I'll repeat: Booker's and Brooks' absences are crucial, but overlooked is Goodwin's absence.
He leads the team in steals and is the third best rebounder (at 6'-3").
His Defensive +/- and VORP also are among team leaders.

His energy off the bench has been an important component of the team's success.

100%

100%