Game Day: Mavs (0-0) @ Suns (0-0), Wed 10/28/15

[Shabazz]

Washed Deron Williams and acid-washed Ray Felton may be the worst back-court the Suns face all year (other than Brooklyn). They clowned our $140M boys.

Games will only get tougher. Dallas is not a good team. Need to figure out an identity soon.

I think we need to have a quick trigger with pulling PJ out of the starting lineup. He's looked awful since the preseason. If he stinks for a few more games, I'd pull him from the rotation altogether in favor of Warren, Weems and Archie.

[carey]

I wonder who we'll take with the 10th pick at next year's draft?

Hopefully Dragan Bender, but he may go in the top 5.

[ShelC]

From what I saw, spacing is a problem. Kieff doesn't play at the 3pt line, our SFs aren't legit 3pt threats and our two PGs aren't knock down shooters. So defenders can pretty much pack in the paint to stop Bledsoe, Goodwin and Knight from driving. And even when they drive, you have Len and Kieff in and around the paint creating more congestion. Too many times we'd put up quick 3s that were bad or contested shots. Playing fast doesn't mean shooting a lot. Takes a while for guys to figure that out.

[carey]

I fell asleep at half time. Just hadn't had much sleep the night before. I did buy a new car yesterday. I bought my 4 Runner in Tucson in 1998. I drove that thing for 17 years, put 150,000 miles on it. That thing was a rock. Never had any major problems.

I decided to go German this time and bought a Volkswaggen Tiguan. I wanted something a little smaller with better gas mileage because I'm doing more driving lately with my son playing baseball all over the damn place. It's weird but the 4-cylinder turbo engine in it feels like I'm driving my mom's 325i.

Anyway, figured I'd talk about that instead of whatever that was last night. If you don't have anything positive to say, right? Hehe

[djy2j]

Lack of effort and urgency by the veterans was most disappointing. I realize it's just the first game but it is the FIRST game to come out and set the tone of your season in front of your fans who were already skeptical of what kind of season you are going to have. The team did the same crap last year, play a few shitty games then do the "OK guys it's time to get serious" act for a few, rinse, repeat.

[LazarusLong]

It's one game, but if the Suns keep playing like this, they should change the arena name from "Talking Stick" to "Walking Dead" ...

[wpmiller42]

I think Len and Booker need to see ALOT more minutes on the court. Lose by 30 with your promising young guys getting minutes is way better than losing by 30 with guys who really aren't part of the long-term solution.

[Shabazz]

I decided to go German this time and bought a Volkswaggen Tiguan. I wanted something a little smaller with better gas mileage

(does anyone want to tell him?)

[Ring_Wanted]

Ugh. Booker is the only positive thing one can take from the game.

2015 Felton and Deron torch our backcourt? Really? Also, people talk a lot about rim protection but what about three point line protection. Fuckers, the only thing Villanueva does nowadays is launching threes, same with Mathews on one good leg so pay attention you idiots.

Oh, and it's great that Teletovic survived war and blood clots in his lungs, but man he needs to calm down with shooting the ball almost every single time he touches it.

[Indy]

It's unfortunate that we waited until the 4th quarter to start playing some real D. Booker was the lone bright spot for me. However, I think there was a lot of overreaction in this thread. We've got a lot of new guys. Let's give them a little bit of time to get their act together. I think they'll come out focused on Friday. They had better.

I think the issue is that the non-new guys that we are betting heavy money on, could not have performed much worse.

[ShelC]

We're only going to move forward when we move one of our PGs. The backcourt won't work and we'll be better off in terms of play with Booker at the 2. Still don't know who we keep but the Bledsoe/Knight won't work. In general, I'm concerned we have real nice individual talent, but they just don't mesh. Like I could see Bledsoe, Booker, Tucker, Aldridge and Len working because you have a legit go-to big you can play through and have reliable offense. Right now, we just have jumpshooters who aren't very good shooters.

[Indy]

I decided to go German this time and bought a Volkswaggen Tiguan. I wanted something a little smaller with better gas mileage

(does anyone want to tell him?)

Let's hope they only lied/cheated with their diesels.

[Indy]

We're only going to move forward when we move one of our PGs. The backcourt won't work and we'll be better off in terms of play with Booker at the 2. Still don't know who we keep but the Bledsoe/Knight won't work. In general, I'm concerned we have real nice individual talent, but they just don't mesh. Like I could see Bledsoe, Booker, Tucker, Aldridge and Len working because you have a legit go-to big you can play through and have reliable offense. Right now, we just have jumpshooters who aren't very good shooters.

Yeah, it isn't likely, but we need to find a way to get Booker into the starting lineup, and get a PG that can run an offense. If we are going to have a 30-35 win season, I would much prefer to see that with Booker and TJ playing +30 minutes a night, and Len getting at least 25. And I will keep rooting for one of our PGs to start playing well, but we just need to stop thinking that will actually happen.

[Mori Chu]

It's unfortunate that we waited until the 4th quarter to start playing some real D. Booker was the lone bright spot for me. However, I think there was a lot of overreaction in this thread. We've got a lot of new guys. Let's give them a little bit of time to get their act together. I think they'll come out focused on Friday. They had better.

Yup, Bone is right on this. I said to "nuke from orbit" but that's meant mostly in jest. I do think these guys will need time to figure out the team chemistry. I'm willing to wait a while before I switch into full-blown panic mode.

Still, what they showed us last night was a real turd sandwich.

[Ring_Wanted]

We're only going to move forward when we move one of our PGs. The backcourt won't work and we'll be better off in terms of play with Booker at the 2. Still don't know who we keep but the Bledsoe/Knight won't work.

They have no chemistry together whatsoever. They just take turns, one at hero shots, the other at hero penetrations. And as pointed ad nauseam, neither is good at creating for others off pick and roll/pop situations. Doesn't help a natural cutter like TJ either.

In general, I'm concerned we have real nice individual talent, but they just don't mesh... Right now, we just have jumpshooters who aren't very good shooters.

Agree overall, but it also looks like the coach is using some pieces less than ideally. For instance, Kieff started the game trying to post up and went 0-3. His game is much more face to the basket from the elbow, then the occasional post play.

[Indy]

For instance, Kieff started the game trying to post up and went 0-3. His game is much more face to the basket from the elbow, then the occasional post play.

Maybe this is just false memory, but it seems that a good number of his points last year came from that fade away from a post-up.

[carey]

I decided to go German this time and bought a Volkswaggen Tiguan. I wanted something a little smaller with better gas mileage

(does anyone want to tell him?)

Let's hope they only lied/cheated with their diesels.

Ha. I'm aware of the lawsuits about the software on the Diesel models. I'm going to double check when I fill up but it's getting 22 in the city right now.

[Indy]

I decided to go German this time and bought a Volkswaggen Tiguan. I wanted something a little smaller with better gas mileage

(does anyone want to tell him?)

Let's hope they only lied/cheated with their diesels.

Ha. I'm aware of the lawsuits about the software on the Diesel models. I'm going to double check when I fill up but it's getting 22 in the city right now.

Good luck. Hope you got an amazing deal since they are having their worst quarter in the history of the company.

[Ring_Wanted]

For instance, Kieff started the game trying to post up and went 0-3. His game is much more face to the basket from the elbow, then the occasional post play.

Maybe this is just false memory, but it seems that a good number of his points last year came from that fade away from a post-up.

You are right. I've watched those plays back and actually it's me with the wrong recollection. Kieff started the play farther from the rim than I thought when I posted so scratch that comment. He did what he does, the shots just didn't go in (good defense by Mathews).

[Indy]

For instance, Kieff started the game trying to post up and went 0-3. His game is much more face to the basket from the elbow, then the occasional post play.

Maybe this is just false memory, but it seems that a good number of his points last year came from that fade away from a post-up.

You are right. I've watched those plays back and actually it's me with the wrong recollection. Kieff started the play farther from the rim than I thought when I posted so scratch that comment. He did what he does, the shots just didn't go in (good defense by Mathews).

Thanks for telling me that I am not losing my mind. I turn 40 tomorrow and was starting to wonder...