Game Day: Suns (22-49) @ Nets (14-56), Thurs 3/23/17

[The Bobster]

10 games left. Can we catch the Lakers?!

LA is 1-14 in their last 15 games.

[Indy]

10 games left. Can we catch the Lakers?!

LA is 1-14 in their last 15 games.

So we need to end on a 16 game losing streak, and they need to buck their season odds and go 2-8.

[Indy]

I know this is petty of me, but I really hope they slip out of the top 3 in the lottery and end up with 4.

[The Bobster]

Since the All-Star Break (4 wins, 11 losses) -

Booker - 35.5 Min, .402 FG%, .348 3P%, .833 FT%, 19.9 Pts, 4.4 Reb, 3.0 Ast
Warren - 34.8 Min, .571 FG%, .167 3P%, .765 FT%, 16.9 Pts, 7.4 Reb, 1.6 Ast
Ulis - 27.8 Min, .404 FG%, .125 3P%, .769 FT%, 10.5 Pts, 2.2 Reb, 6.9 Ast
Chriss - 27.3 Min, .540 FG%, .442 3P%, .625 FT%, 13.5 Pts, 5.8 Reb, 0.7 Ast
Williams - 24.5 Min, .518 FG%, .000 3P%, .635 FT%, 12.8 Pts, 9.6 Reb, 1.1 Ast
Len - 22.1 Min, .462 FG%, .286 3P%, .690 FT%, 8.2 Pts, 7.2 Reb, 0.7 Ast
Jones - 16.9 Min, .551 FG%, .000 3P%, .706 FT%, 4.4 Pts, 2.2 Reb, 0.3 Ast
Eddie - 14.0 Min, .400 FG%, .250 3P%, 1.000 FT%, 5.7 Pts, 1.7 Reb, 0.0 Ast

[Indy]

There is a lot to be happy about there, and then there is Booker.

[The Bobster]

There is a lot to be happy about there, and then there is Booker.

It's disappointing how his game hasn't really improved any since his play after the All-Star Game last year -

Booker Post-All-Star Game -

2015-16 - 35.3 Min, .401 FG%, .287 3P%, .855 FT%, 19.2 Pts, 3.0 Reb, 4.1 Ast
2016-17 - 35.5 Min, .402 FG%, .348 3P%, .833 FT%, 19.9 Pts, 4.4 Reb, 3.0 Ast

[The Bobster]

I know this is petty of me, but I really hope they slip out of the top 3 in the lottery and end up with 4.

The Lakers will lose 55 games again this year, and that would give them four 55-loss seasons in their history - 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17.

And I'm rooting for them to come up #4 after the lottery too.

[Split T]

The Lakers have 3 games against Minnesota left, but the rest of their schedule is pretty tough. I'd be shocked if they win more than 2. Wouldn't be surprised if they lost them all.

It's too bad Brooklyn is so far back. They are playing better and have a easy schedule the rest of the way. 2 games each against Orlando and Philly. They also play Detroit, who they just beat and who is falling apart, and Chicago twice right at the end of the season. Chicago might be tanking at that point. Still don't see them winning more than 4 or 5 games from here on out.

[Mori Chu]

I really enjoyed that Chriss highlight video. He looks like a totally different player than he was a few months ago. Playing with a pass-first PG like Ulis probably helps him a lot, too. There are some promising signs here. I don't mind the big loss; need those ping pong balls.

[Cap]

Rock bottom.

Let's hope so. I don't want to imagine lower.

You guys act like you want them to win. In case you weren't aware, the tank is on! We just passed a big hurdle. We should now be able to lose out and secure that high draft pick.

I looked it up, and it turns out that losing by 28 to the worst team in the league after being spotted a 15-point lead doesn't get you any more ping pong balls than a dignified loss.

[Aztec Sunsfan]

I didn't like it either, but a close game is a risky business. Trust the process!!!

[In2ition]

Rock bottom.

Let's hope so. I don't want to imagine lower.

You guys act like you want them to win. In case you weren't aware, the tank is on! We just passed a big hurdle. We should now be able to lose out and secure that high draft pick.

I looked it up, and it turns out that losing by 28 to the worst team in the league after being spotted a 15-point lead doesn't get you any more ping pong balls than a dignified loss.

Yeah, I didn't care that they lost. I was hoping that they would lose, but the way they lost made it a bad loss and a new low.

[djy2j]

Oh there was a game? I guess I'm tanking as a fan too

[Aztec Sunsfan]

Oh there was a game? I guess I'm tanking as a fan too

[LazarusLong]

Archie Goodwin last night for the Nets:

12 pts. in 8 minutes on 4-4 (1-1 from the arc) FG shooting and 3-4 for FT. And 3 boards and 3 assists.

[djy2j]

Archie Goodwin last night for the Nets:

12 pts. in 8 minutes on 4-4 (1-1 from the arc) FG shooting and 3-4 for FT. And 3 boards and 3 assists.

Noticed that. Since I didnt see the game so i just assumed all of his 2pt attempts were drives to the rim.

[JCSunsfan]

So. Here is the dream scenario. The lottery ends up like this:

1. Suns
2. Philly
3. Boston (or whoever)
4. Philly (from Lakers)

Philly loves Ball (or Fultz even). They have lots of young talent and right now really want "their guy" and they are panicked that we might pick him. We make a show of trading the pick, so everything is really uncertain. They trade us #2 and #4 to move up to the #1 spot. They take Ball (or Fultz, whichever). We then take Fultz (or Ball) with the number two.

We then trade Bledsoe and a future first to Ainge to move up from #4 to #3. We take Jackson.

Rebuild complete.

Star players: Fultz, Booker, Jackson
Quality role players: Chriss, Bender, Warren, Ulis
Quality bench players: Williams, DJJr.

Still have enough cap space to sign a max FA of our choosing.

[Ring_Wanted]

He he. Nice scenario. But I think I wouldn't want to trade Ball. How about this? We select Ball with our pick, Orlando grabs Jackson and moves him to PHX for Bledsoe. Orland tries to win now with young vets and we go full youth movement with a lineup made of Ball-Booker-Jackson-Chriss-Bender and a bench made of Ulis, Sauce, Barbosa and Dudley. Chandler to play here and there (or get traded), Len gone.

[Superbone]

Archie Goodwin last night for the Nets:

12 pts. in 8 minutes on 4-4 (1-1 from the arc) FG shooting and 3-4 for FT. And 3 boards and 3 assists.

Noticed that. Since I didnt see the game so i just assumed all of his 2pt attempts were drives to the rim.

They were.

[UglyTruth]

Chriss is developing quite nicely. Everything seems to be finally clicking for him.