Game Day: Suns (1-2) @ Jazz (1-1), Mon 10/27/25

[Superbone]

Time: 6:00 pm AZ (6:00 pm PT/9:00 pm ET)
Place: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT
TV: AZ Family 3TV/NBALP

What happened to the defensive identity this new Suns team is supposed to possess? Let's hope it improves tonight. The Jazz on the other hand have played much better than their "worst team in the league" preseason prognostications. They destroyed the Clippers and just barely lost to the Kings in a very close game.

https://www.nba.com/gamenotes/jazz.pdf
https://www.nba.com/gamenotes/suns.pdf

Go Suns!!!

Dis • cuss

[Superbone]

[TOO]

I think I'll watch the Suns today.

[ShelC]

Should be a good matchup for Williams against bigger centers like Kessler and Nurk. Richards too, but he seems to be out of the mix right now. I like Oso but I don't love him against truer centers. Filipowski is starting at PF so they've got a lot of size across the frontline with Markannen at SF. Going to have to really boxout or use Oso/Fleming a bit more at PF. We should also look to run at every opportunity to stay out of the halfcourt and maybe wear those guys out.

[Mori Chu]

Jusuf Nurkic revenge game?

[Mori Chu]

Despite the fact that Utah's youngs don't seem to have gotten the memo that they are tanking this year, I do think they are the worst team in the West and will prove that pretty soon. And I think we can beat them. As much as I have disliked Dillon Brooks, it would hurt us if he sits this game out, as we sorely need another scorer and willing shot-taker behind Booker. Grayson Allen has been giving us a bit of that; I would not mind seeing him increase his FGAs substantially. I hope Mark Williams can play, but I especially hope Coach Ott is flexible about whom he starts at C each night; Oso does not match up well with Utah's centers, and starting him tonight will only expose that. Start Richards and bring Williams in off the bench, with Oso getting spot duty.

[O_Gardino]

Shel, Mori, and whoever else doesn't like Oso against bigger players - what role do you see Oso in if he keeps improving? We are supposed to develop the young guys, right? So what do you see Oso developing into?

After the first 3 games, I'm content to see more of Oso against bigger players. I think he's smart enough to play up with more experience.

[ShelC]

I think he can be a backup 4/5. I said when he was drafted that he was a tweener and no matter how much he improves and adds weight, he's still 6-10ish 235-240. You can't expect him to hold up physically against Jokic/JV/Zubac/Kessler/Nurk where he's giving up 2-3 inches and some 20-50 lbs. And the fact that he can't shoot means he can't draw those guys out of the paint with a jumper and then use that to blow by them with his speed/ballhandling. But against some smaller/less talented backups he could be more useful and if we can pair him with a center that can shoot, then we can maybe use him more effectively as a 4 where he can be a better matchup physically. Like tonight I think he could do well against Markannen because he can hang on the perimeter and won't get bullied by him down low.

But I also don't think we're using enough PnR to take advantage of his quickness, ability to finish or passing out of the midpost to shooters. We're so intent on copying the rest of the league that we're moving away from what our guys actually do well.

[Mori Chu]

Shel, Mori, and whoever else doesn't like Oso against bigger players - what role do you see Oso in if he keeps improving? We are supposed to develop the young guys, right? So what do you see Oso developing into?

After the first 3 games, I'm content to see more of Oso against bigger players. I think he's smart enough to play up with more experience.

I do like Oso a lot but the first 3 games of the season show how much a player can struggle if he's put in the wrong role. I think the perfect way to use Oso is as a bench C who can provide hustle, defense, and great court vision / passing to help facilitate the bench offense when guys like Book are resting. We have shaky PGs and offensive initiation, so I think the bench unit can keep the ball moving if they run it through Gillespie and Oso together, each helping find open men for easy shots.

As a starting C, Oso has to pound with the very biggest and best centers in the league, which I don't think he is tall or heavy or long-armed enough to do. And I don't think the starting unit benefits as much from his passing and facilitating, since the ball will mostly be in the hands of guys like Book, Brooks, Green (when back), and maybe Grayson Allen. I think a more traditional C like Nick Richards makes much more sense with that starting lineup than an undersized but high-bbiq facilitator like Oso.

[specialsauce]

Oso is not a rotation piece if he doesn't develop a 3 ball or FT shooting ability.

His offense is basically limited to dunks and pray that he doesn't get fouled. Traditionally the guys that have absolutely no FT shooting ability or a 3 ball are 7'0 and 280 pounds. He's not a big bruiser and yet he's not a shooting small ball stretch 5 either. He's just not going to be on the court for a winning team if he doesn't develop a shot. We're wasting our time. I'd rather give all his minutes to Maluach.

[Shabazz]

I got the hookup for courtside seats tonight from a business partner, so I’ll be there.

[SunsRIt]

Oso is not a rotation piece if he doesn't develop a 3 ball or FT shooting ability.

His offense is basically limited to dunks and pray that he doesn't get fouled. Traditionally the guys that have absolutely no FT shooting ability or a 3 ball are 7'0 and 280 pounds. He's not a big bruiser and yet he's not a shooting small ball stretch 5 either. He's just not going to be on the court for a winning team if he doesn't develop a shot. We're wasting our time. I'd rather give all his minutes to Maluach.

I feel like Oso has the speed, agility and size to be a big PF and agree that Maluach should be getting the backup C minutes.

[Superbone]

It seems like Ott is sticking with Oso at center for the time being. We'll see tonight but I'll be surprised if Oso isn't starting. What happened to our new defensive identity? I thought it looked pretty good in preseason but it hasn't looked very good in the regular season so far. Is it just the level of the competition?

[ShelC]

Preseason is preseason. Teams are playing their starters and their starters and playing hard now. We're also down 2 starters, one isn't a great defender as it is but even when they're back and at full strength it'll take time to get everyone on the same page assuming no more injuries. I think the sooner Williams starts the better, even with a 25 minute restriction. He should be getting reps with the starters. I don't know what the difference is at this point between 25 minutes starting vs off the bench.

[Mori Chu]

Oso is not a rotation piece if he doesn't develop a 3 ball or FT shooting ability.

His offense is basically limited to dunks and pray that he doesn't get fouled. Traditionally the guys that have absolutely no FT shooting ability or a 3 ball are 7'0 and 280 pounds. He's not a big bruiser and yet he's not a shooting small ball stretch 5 either. He's just not going to be on the court for a winning team if he doesn't develop a shot. We're wasting our time. I'd rather give all his minutes to Maluach.

He also has that nice push shot in his offensive repertoire. But yes, he is very limited in terms of shooting, and the poor FTs really hurt him because he has nice footwork and moves inside, but it doesn't matter if you can just hack him and he'll miss one or both of the FTs every time. His FTs look really bad and maybe unfixable. So then he turns into more of a facilitator, screener, passer on offense, which is helpful but very limited if you don't have to respect him and guard him. I don't really care if he can shoot 3s, but if he can't hit a mid-range jumper or FT it really hurts us on that end. And I don't think you can play him as a 4 alongside another C if he can't hit any shots; we'd just have too many non-shooters on the floor.

On defense he is smart and hustles fine, but he is still undersized and not a great rebounder, so we're kind of losing on both ends. He's much better against backups and smaller centers.

[Superbone]

Oso is not a rotation piece if he doesn't develop a 3 ball or FT shooting ability.

His offense is basically limited to dunks and pray that he doesn't get fouled. Traditionally the guys that have absolutely no FT shooting ability or a 3 ball are 7'0 and 280 pounds. He's not a big bruiser and yet he's not a shooting small ball stretch 5 either. He's just not going to be on the court for a winning team if he doesn't develop a shot. We're wasting our time. I'd rather give all his minutes to Maluach.

He also has that nice push shot in his offensive repertoire. But yes, he is very limited in terms of shooting, and the poor FTs really hurt him because he has nice footwork and moves inside, but it doesn't matter if you can just hack him and he'll miss one or both of the FTs every time. His FTs look really bad and maybe unfixable. So then he turns into more of a facilitator, screener, passer on offense, which is helpful but very limited if you don't have to respect him and guard him. I don't really care if he can shoot 3s, but if he can't hit a mid-range jumper or FT it really hurts us on that end. And I don't think you can play him as a 4 alongside another C if he can't hit any shots; we'd just have too many non-shooters on the floor.

On defense he is smart and hustles fine, but he is still undersized and not a great rebounder, so we're kind of losing on both ends. He's much better against backups and smaller centers.

He HAS to get to 70% or better from the FT line. He just has to. And I think he can. It might be mostly a mental issue. When I went to the home opener and he was going to the line for an "and one", I told my buddy he's a horrible FT shooter. And then he shot a perfect swished FT. So I know he's capable. He just needs to get the mental aspect down and be able to replicate his motion when he shoots it well.

[Mori Chu]

I will just never understand these guys who suck at FTs. It's one of the few basketball skills that you can absolutely just lock yourself in a gym and work on, where the practice is essentially exactly the same as the real thing in a real game. Just go to the gym and shoot 500 FTs a day! Work with a shooting coach! Fix it!

[Superbone]

I will just never understand these guys who suck at FTs. It's one of the few basketball skills that you can absolutely just lock yourself in a gym and work on, where the practice is essentially exactly the same as the real thing in a real game. Just go to the gym and shoot 500 FTs a day! Work with a shooting coach! Fix it!

I agree. It seems so simple. These guys are paid millions to put a ball through a hoop. This should be Oso's single biggest thing he's working on and the Suns can afford to have a shooting expert work with him and a psychatrist too for that matter if needed.

[specialsauce]

How do you even end up with a shooting form like that?? Who the hell guided him growing up??

[ShelC]

I thought his form looked better recently than it did lat year. Still not great but better. I don't think he'll ever be a competent jumpshooter. His shot mechanics are just broken.