Game Day: Suns (17-33) @ Grizzlies (17-31), Mon 1/29/18

[Mori Chu]

Happy we lost this one. That's huge for the ping-pong balls. Actually not such a bad showing given that Booker was out. Warren is a pretty dependable scorer. Monroe had a solid game; I keep hoping other teams are watching and wanting to toss us a middling piece (heavily protected pick?) for him. Josh Jackson had pretty good numbers despite poor shooting. We actually had a lot of guys in double-figures and a fairly balanced scoring. And my man Ulis had 13 points, 7 assists, 5 steals (!); considering how he's played recently, that's a step up.

http://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400975486

[n4th4n]

And with that, we fall to 34 losses, tied (with 3 other teams) for second worst in the NBA. We are now only 1 game ahead of (behind??) Sacramento.

[Cap]

And with that, we fall to 34 losses, tied (with 3 other teams) for second worst in the NBA. We are now only 1 game ahead of (behind??) Sacramento.

We're still in 5th position by win%.

[Superbone]

I give Ulis a break because he spent the entire offseason injured, but if he doesn’t drastically improve his shot this offseason he’ll be out of the league in 2 years

And learn to make use of his speed. No excuse for him getting blocked on that breakaway. If he's not going to use his advantage which is speed, he's not going to make it in the NBA.

[Superbone]

It was good to see Alex Len out there. He worked hard around the hoop and had some nice and 1s where he powered through the defenders.

[Superbone]

Gotta give it up for Ulis though from taking that charge from Gasol. If I'm Ulis' size and Gasol is coming at me, I am sprinting out of the way!

[carey]

I had stuff to do but I could have watched the 2nd half when I got home. Instead I did laundry, emptied the dishwasher, etc. I'm not really interested in watching this team lose soundly to other bad teams.

[iLLmatic]

I had stuff to do but I could have watched the 2nd half when I got home. Instead I did laundry, emptied the dishwasher, etc. I'm not really interested in watching this team lose soundly to other bad teams.

I don't think anyone would blame you either. I'm not sure how you guys are doing it but hats off to you fellows. I bought two months of PSN to watch the Suns in November and December and that's all I could handle.

[Superbone]

We can't all be diehards. Maybe I'm a closet masochist but I watch every minute of every game.

[AmareIsGod]

We can't all be diehards. Maybe I'm a closet masochist but I watch every minute of every game.

It's gotten so bad that I think I've watched maybe 10 full games this season. I usually just look at the box score and then YouTube highlights from that game for a player of ours when they have a good game (usually only Booker, it seems).

[n4th4n]

We can't all be diehards. Maybe I'm a closet masochist but I watch every minute of every game.

I do too. I am pretty sure we are diagnosable with... something or another.

[specialsauce]

Troy Daniels ripped into Bender's passiveness tonight. I love it. Grow up. 2 shots in 20 minutes with half our team out? Are you kidding me?

Dude is too scared to even ATTEMPT to make a play.



He needs a supply of these.

[specialsauce]

But the continuously passive play from Dragan Bender has to concern the Suns. Bender didn’t score a point for the third time in four games, and he took only two shots.

“We’re trying to figure out how to get him more involved in the offense,” Triano said, adding that Bender is having trouble finding shots when he’s in the starting lineup.

Troy Daniels saw it differently. He said it’s on Bender to get more involved offensively.

“And not just shoot 3s,” Daniels said. “I know I’m not the one to talk but just take the ball to the basket a couple of times and see what happens. To me, when I’m off sometime I’ll take the ball to the basket and it might get me in my rhythm.

“I think he should take the ball to the basket more and be aggressive. Nobody is going to say anything if he takes 10 shots. We want you to be aggressive. When you take two shots it’s tough for us to win.”

[Superbone]

But the continuously passive play from Dragan Bender has to concern the Suns. Bender didn’t score a point for the third time in four games, and he took only two shots.

“We’re trying to figure out how to get him more involved in the offense,” Triano said, adding that Bender is having trouble finding shots when he’s in the starting lineup.

Troy Daniels saw it differently. He said it’s on Bender to get more involved offensively.

“And not just shoot 3s,” Daniels said. “I know I’m not the one to talk but just take the ball to the basket a couple of times and see what happens. To me, when I’m off sometime I’ll take the ball to the basket and it might get me in my rhythm.

“I think he should take the ball to the basket more and be aggressive. Nobody is going to say anything if he takes 10 shots. We want you to be aggressive. When you take two shots it’s tough for us to win.”

Yeah, good to hear. Somebody has to light a fire under his butt. He's freaking 7 feet tall and he's scared to take the ball to the basket.

[Superbone]

We can't all be diehards. Maybe I'm a closet masochist but I watch every minute of every game.

I do too. I am pretty sure we are diagnosable with... something or another.

<thumbs up>

[Shabazz]

We can't all be diehards. Maybe I'm a closet masochist but I watch every minute of every game.

I do too. I am pretty sure we are diagnosable with... something or another.

Same. This one was a turd. Over in the second quarter.

[Danimal]

But the continuously passive play from Dragan Bender has to concern the Suns. Bender didn’t score a point for the third time in four games, and he took only two shots.

“We’re trying to figure out how to get him more involved in the offense,” Triano said, adding that Bender is having trouble finding shots when he’s in the starting lineup.

Troy Daniels saw it differently. He said it’s on Bender to get more involved offensively.

“And not just shoot 3s,” Daniels said. “I know I’m not the one to talk but just take the ball to the basket a couple of times and see what happens. To me, when I’m off sometime I’ll take the ball to the basket and it might get me in my rhythm.

“I think he should take the ball to the basket more and be aggressive. Nobody is going to say anything if he takes 10 shots. We want you to be aggressive. When you take two shots it’s tough for us to win.”

Yeah, good to hear. Somebody has to light a fire under his butt. He's freaking 7 feet tall and he's scared to take the ball to the basket.

Part of it for me is coaching. We let Bender and Chriss drift around the 3pt line too much. We keep doing this and expect a different result. Unless their 3's are falling they are both usually fairly quiet on O. Chriss could be used more in the pnr. Bender more in the high post. Give them each a few post ups a game. Just try something different.

- liked jacksons game
- ulis showed some signs of life. But yeah needs that 3pt shot
- Len battled hard with some good finishes around the rim
- reed got some burn. But didn't get the all when he was open
- not sure why stopped feeding warren after the first

[bajanguy008]

I can totally understand why the Gameday threads are short and why most don't watch any/all of the game. I can't help but tune in although we all know it isn't exactly Fun lol.
I definitely get annoyed much easier recently but hey as informative as the Forum is I just prefer to see things for myself may it be good/bad. Most nights I just want Josh play 40 tbh because he's the player I get to assess learn the most about.

[O_Gardino]

- Jackson is so streaky, even in game. He started 3-3, then went 0-8ish before finishing strong.
- Nice to see a bounce back game from Ulis. He needs to find his edge in the NBA. I college, he could outsmart and outwork everyone.
- Foul trouble aside, Len might have been our best player last night. Very glad to see him back, and I wish him well wherever he goes.
- Warren finished some incredible shots last night I mean, dang, dude.
- Canaan in the starting lineup is a better fit than Ulis.
- If you just watch Monroe on offense, he seems like a great player. Daniels too.
- Reed sighting!!! This is what I've been talking about! Davon gave us that balanced, smart, all around game we have been hoping for. Similar to the IQ presence we have from Bender. *THUMBS UP*