The Suns needed this one and just blew it down the stretch.
Next three - Boston, Minnesota and San Antonio are going to be tough.
O'Neale, Oso and Gillespie combing to shoot 4/15 FG and 1/6 FT for 11 points in 78 minutes. You can't have three starters who don't contribute anything on offense.
Some good things this week but also two blown games against lesser teams at a crucial time of year. There seems to be several games lately where someone cant hit shit and he gives them too much leash. Otts still got learning to do.
Ott's decision to go small in the fourth really backfired and played into Toronto's success.
Suns needed length (Fleming!!) to help combat Barnes and Ingram.
Why Fleming is sitting on the bench down the stretch is inexplicable.
Yup. We went away from what was working for us down the stretch, in terms of both personnel and offense, which devolved into stagnant, clock-draining, 1-on-1 slop.
Big wings, Quickley can score in bunches, Barrett can get downhill and be a handful getting into the paint. Good news is we got Grayson and Highsmith available.
We also have a history of struggling to contain Brandon Ingram.
Big wings, Quickley can score in bunches, Barrett can get downhill and be a handful getting into the paint. Good news is we got Grayson and Highsmith available.
We also have a history of struggling to contain Brandon Ingram.
The Suns got out-Suns-ed by the Raptors. Toronto kept pounding and pounding the whole game, keeping it close, staying with their game plan and then made their move at the end when they had worn the Suns down. The Suns played their game through most of it keeping the lead but weren't able to get any real distance. I'm not big on excuses but it being the 2nd of a back to back might have contributed. But I agree with some of you as to why Fleming wasn't out there in the 4th.
Edit: Have I told you that I hate Booker hero ball at the end of games?
Tough loss, felt like we lost some steam late which could've been because of the B2B. Also think Ott maybe overthought things trying to match up small and go with offense which hurt us. I get he wants to try different combos but this isn't really the time of year to be experimenting.
I probably would've gone with Oso down the stretch since he keeps the offense flowing. Without him we tend to rely too much on Book and Green trying to create and with five 6-5 guys out there we have no resistance in the paint. I know Dunn has his limitations but he should've been out there at some point with his ability to switch and defend against guys like Barrett, Barnes and Ingram. Goodwin could've been out there too for some added juice on the perimeter defensively.
It was embarrassing how easy Ingram was able to get position nearly point blank near the hoop seemingly every possession in the 4th. You'd think we would have tried something different defensively.
What is smallball? I play basketball. I'm not a regular big man. I can switch from the center to the guards. The game is evolving. I'd be dominAyton if the WNBA would let me in. - Ayton
I love Colin, but it’s time for him to go back the bench where he excels. Also it’s so clear Rasheer is ready to start, maybe Ott is hesitant to trust rookie starting but sometimes you need to trust your eyes. Either way Colin should go back to the bench.
I love Colin, but it’s time for him to go back the bench where he excels. Also it’s so clear Rasheer is ready to start, maybe Ott is hesitant to trust rookie starting but sometimes you need to trust your eyes. Either way Colin should go back to the bench.
Both of those highlight reel blocks were against the guy that killed us in the 4th. And the guy with those blocks was on the bench while that guy killed us in the 4th. Infuriating as fuck. For a more potent offensive lineup? The one with hero ball, no movement, Booker airballing 3's and throwing it away? It was maddening watching the end of the game.
What is smallball? I play basketball. I'm not a regular big man. I can switch from the center to the guards. The game is evolving. I'd be dominAyton if the WNBA would let me in. - Ayton
