Game Day: Suns (1-0) @ Nuggets (1-0), Sat 10/20/18

[virtual9mm]

An early postmortem:

(1) Canaan is a solid backup but should not be starting
(2) Crawford is going to need some more time to adjust, he should be running PnR almost every single possession
(3) Booker's legs were not there today. Wonder why.
(4) And same for Ayton. Jokic just overpowered him inside and then took him outside. Welcome to the league, rookie.
(5) Anderson has no business being a starting PF. On the other hand, TJ Warren is looking really, really good.

Overall, the Suns came back twice but without Booker being Booker and Ayton being dominant, the Suns just weren't good enough to win today.

[O_Gardino]

Here's Okobo, Booker, Bridges, Bender, and Ayton.

Our starting lineup 2020.

[n4th4n]

Okobo is another player who is terrible at D

[O_Gardino]

Bridges with a great fast break layup.

[virtual9mm]

You see which players have a future, and which ones do not.

[specialsauce]

Here's Okobo, Booker, Bridges, Bender, and Ayton.

Our starting lineup 2020.

One of these things is not like the otttheeeerrr

[EDC]

Igor has his work cut out for him.

[Split T]

10 points, 4 boards, 2 assists, 2 steals and a +21 for Bridges. He backed up Ariza who finished with a -47.

[JeremyG]

Didn’t get to see much of the game. Was Ayton hobbled by the sprained ankle?

[Split T]

Didn’t get to see much of the game. Was Ayton hobbled by the sprained ankle?

Not noticeably. Foul trouble probably the main culprit

[virtual9mm]

Didn’t get to see much of the game. Was Ayton hobbled by the sprained ankle?

Unclear if he was just physically dominated or hobbled. It's also the first time Ayton's seen someone who can toss him around like a rag doll. Jokic is fucking huge, just like Sabonis in his day.

[The Bobster]

Didn’t get to see much of the game. Was Ayton hobbled by the sprained ankle?

Not noticeably. Foul trouble probably the main culprit

Foul trouble and that continuing inability to pass the ball in to him.

[Mori Chu]

Looking forward to this one. Jokic may be a tough matchup for Ayton. He'll pull DA farther away from the basket than he likes to operate. Worried that the Joker will score 40 on us and mess with Ayton's confidence.

Will we see 75% 3-point shooting from both Josh Jackson and TJ Warren? Find out tonight!!

wasn't the whole thing at Arizona that Ayton played away from the basket more cause he was the more agile of the two centers ?
either way the Joker isn't really a go for 40 type player so I wouldn't worry about that . what happened last season is as a facilitator he had those guys killing us on back cuts, was fairly ridiculous iirc

You were right! He only got a 35-point triple-double.

[bajanguy008]

Looking forward to this one. Jokic may be a tough matchup for Ayton. He'll pull DA farther away from the basket than he likes to operate. Worried that the Joker will score 40 on us and mess with Ayton's confidence.

Will we see 75% 3-point shooting from both Josh Jackson and TJ Warren? Find out tonight!!

wasn't the whole thing at Arizona that Ayton played away from the basket more cause he was the more agile of the two centers ?
either way the Joker isn't really a go for 40 type player so I wouldn't worry about that . what happened last season is as a facilitator he had those guys killing us on back cuts, was fairly ridiculous iirc

You were right! He only got a 35-point triple-double.

Why am I not surprised you would find it necessary to comment. Everybody else on here who actually weren't watching Jokic for the first time like yourself knows what makes him special is the ability to rack up dimes as a center
So I have no need to back track on my take as I actually watch more players on a consistent basis than the Warriors and Rubio sir

[specialsauce]

Let's get ya some lime to go with that salt

[Cap]

So of Ariza sits the rest of the game and we keep Bridges in, we should win, haha. A -38 would have to be some kind of record in a win.

Apparently it would be. Current record holder: On November 26, 2015, in Houston’s 116-110 win in Sacto, Corey Brewer put up a -31 for the Rockets. Teammate Jason Terry put up a -25 in the same game. https://www.basketball-reference.com/bo ... 60SAC.html

The dubious leaderboard: http://bkref.com/tiny/sa0eA

[Mori Chu]

An early postmortem:

(1) Canaan is a solid backup but should not be starting
(2) Crawford is going to need some more time to adjust, he should be running PnR almost every single possession
(3) Booker's legs were not there today. Wonder why.
(4) And same for Ayton. Jokic just overpowered him inside and then took him outside. Welcome to the league, rookie.
(5) Anderson has no business being a starting PF. On the other hand, TJ Warren is looking really, really good.

Overall, the Suns came back twice but without Booker being Booker and Ayton being dominant, the Suns just weren't good enough to win today.

Word. I agree with all of this. I really want them to start TJ Warren. I think he's ready for it and would help in that role. I don't hate Anderson as a backup but I don't think he should be starting. I think a lineup of Canaan/Booker/Ariza/Warren/Ayton is pretty solid other than the PG spot, and a bench of Okobo/Crawford/(Jackson or Bridges)/(Anderson or Bender)/Holmes is tolerable.

[Superbone]

Mikal !!

Bridges was the only positive in this game for us. He looked good.

[Superbone]

Only gets better from here. Next up: the defending NBA champs.

[virtual9mm]

I would not be surprised for the kids to knock off Golden State. Jokic was super-motivated to put the rookie in his place and cement his status as a dominant center. Now, it's Ayton's turn for payback against either an undersized Draymond or whatever stiffs they can put in Ayton's path.