Game Day: Suns (34-14) @ Rockets (16-36), Mon 4/5/21

[ShelC]

He was shooting 50% as a starter. He fell out of rhythm when he went back to the bench.

[Indy]

He was shooting 50% as a starter. He fell out of rhythm when he went back to the bench.

I think we have the same problem with Crowder when he comes off the bench. He just doesn't seem like the same player.

[Split T]

I guess we should move Ayton to the bench...start Crowder and Frank

[Mori Chu]

He was shooting 50% as a starter. He fell out of rhythm when he went back to the bench.

Let's call him "1st Quarter Frank"

[O_Gardino]

These comments are making my week.

[djy2j]

Hey Monty - what happened to playing through Ayton?

He was awesome, but he also looked GASSSED about half way through the 4th.

And he still looked much better than Saric did. The need a third option to play at center when Saric hasn't got it. Even having Cheick Diallo at the end of the bench would be an improvement over nothing.

They just used the #10 to draft this guy who happens to be a PF/C...

Seriously, they need to give him minutes, even if it is just 8-12. If he was not going to crack the rotation at all, might as well traded out of the draft.

I wasn't expecting much from Jalen year 1 and I'm yet still disappointed. I don't like the excuse that has been used in the past of "he didn't get a training camp." Yeah neither did any of the other rookies. I know he had Covid and that sucks so I can give him a pass on that but the Suns are real contender-ish this season and really wish we'd have someone who can contribute this season using his roster spot. Maybe Jalen continues to develop but right now he doesn't look anything close to an NBA player.

[Indy]

Hey Monty - what happened to playing through Ayton?

He was awesome, but he also looked GASSSED about half way through the 4th.

And he still looked much better than Saric did. The need a third option to play at center when Saric hasn't got it. Even having Cheick Diallo at the end of the bench would be an improvement over nothing.

They just used the #10 to draft this guy who happens to be a PF/C...

Seriously, they need to give him minutes, even if it is just 8-12. If he was not going to crack the rotation at all, might as well traded out of the draft.

I wasn't expecting much from Jalen year 1 and I'm yet still disappointed. I don't like the excuse that has been used in the past of "he didn't get a training camp." Yeah neither did any of the other rookies. I know he had Covid and that sucks so I can give him a pass on that but the Suns are real contender-ish this season and really wish we'd have someone who can contribute this season using his roster spot. Maybe Jalen continues to develop but right now he doesn't look anything close to an NBA player.

If we had drafted Haliburton I think we would have done something to solidify our PF/C position at the deadline or buy-out market. We would look to be set in the backcourt and likely not feel we had to keep Jevon, Payne, Gallo, Alexander and Moore to support CP3/Book. Changing out one of those guys for someone over 6-8/225 would be helpful.

[djy2j]

Would have liked Haliburton in hindsight but the more I read the more I feel his camp told the Suns not to draft him so I'm not too upset about not getting him now. Still need a rebounding big.

[Superbone]

Would have liked Haliburton in hindsight but the more I read the more I feel his camp told the Suns not to draft him so I'm not too upset about not getting him now. Still need a rebounding big.

I wonder if he's rethinking that decision now.

[Indy]

Would have liked Haliburton in hindsight but the more I read the more I feel his camp told the Suns not to draft him so I'm not too upset about not getting him now. Still need a rebounding big.

I wonder if he's rethinking that decision now.

He has been doing awesome, took over the starting spot, gets over 30 minutes per game, and is setting himself up for a big 2nd contract. He wouldn't be doing that here.

[Superbone]

Would have liked Haliburton in hindsight but the more I read the more I feel his camp told the Suns not to draft him so I'm not too upset about not getting him now. Still need a rebounding big.

I wonder if he's rethinking that decision now.

He has been doing awesome, took over the starting spot, gets over 30 minutes per game, and is setting himself up for a big 2nd contract. He wouldn't be doing that here.

All true. I'm sure he'll get used to the losing in time.

[Indy]

Would have liked Haliburton in hindsight but the more I read the more I feel his camp told the Suns not to draft him so I'm not too upset about not getting him now. Still need a rebounding big.

I wonder if he's rethinking that decision now.

He has been doing awesome, took over the starting spot, gets over 30 minutes per game, and is setting himself up for a big 2nd contract. He wouldn't be doing that here.

All true. I'm sure he'll get used to the losing in time.

Did book?

[Superbone]

Would have liked Haliburton in hindsight but the more I read the more I feel his camp told the Suns not to draft him so I'm not too upset about not getting him now. Still need a rebounding big.

I wonder if he's rethinking that decision now.

He has been doing awesome, took over the starting spot, gets over 30 minutes per game, and is setting himself up for a big 2nd contract. He wouldn't be doing that here.

All true. I'm sure he'll get used to the losing in time.

Did book?

Last I checked, he's winning more than he loses these days. Only team with a longer drought from the playoffs? Yeah, you guessed it, the Sacramento Kings.

[Indy]

Right. Book played a ton of minutes on bad teams and worked on his game while we paid him more than any other team could. I doubt he has any regrets, and there is no reason to think Haliburton will either.

[Ring_Wanted]

Hey Monty - what happened to playing through Ayton?

He was awesome, but he also looked GASSSED about half way through the 4th.

And he still looked much better than Saric did. The need a third option to play at center when Saric hasn't got it. Even having Cheick Diallo at the end of the bench would be an improvement over nothing.

They just used the #10 to draft this guy who happens to be a PF/C...

Seriously, they need to give him minutes, even if it is just 8-12. If he was not going to crack the rotation at all, might as well traded out of the draft.

I wasn't expecting much from Jalen year 1 and I'm yet still disappointed. I don't like the excuse that has been used in the past of "he didn't get a training camp." Yeah neither did any of the other rookies. I know he had Covid and that sucks so I can give him a pass on that but the Suns are real contender-ish this season and really wish we'd have someone who can contribute this season using his roster spot. Maybe Jalen continues to develop but right now he doesn't look anything close to an NBA player.

I really liked him at the draft and was expecting a rotation spot at least, given our lack of athleticism and obvious hole at PF. Hate to see this is a wasted year, especially with Hali available. I am not sure Hali told the Suns not to draft him but in any case my guess is JJones simply saw the backup pg well covered with Payne and Carter, needing just a minor addition like Moore.

[Mori Chu]

One other thing that has hurt Smith is that we haven't had a lot of true "garbage time" this season. We've won a ton of games, but most of them have been close, or at least it's felt that way. We haven't had a lot of games where we were up by 20-30 points and could just throw a guy like Smith out there to get reps. I think he should be back in the G-League just so that he'd play. I don't think being with the team in practice is as valuable as having him out on a real court playing games. He didn't seem to be doing that well even in his G-League games, so it seems like he should spend more time there until he kind of "outgrows" it and is consistently looking like he's ready to come back.

[Split T]

G league is over for the season

[INFORMER]

So why doesn't Ayton do this stuff every game?

Exactly. He got 27 points just by making the simple, average basketball plays while being engaged for around 20 minutes of play. Running the floor. Making quick moves on offense. Looking to take advantage of basketball plays. We didn't see Ayton on fire, draining a bunch of perimeter jumpers. We didn't see Ayton executing a ton high-level, one-on-one moves. Just regular basketball plays. Beating his man down the floor. Catching lobs. Getting good positioning and executing a simple jumphook. SIMPLE STUFF. And it got him 27 points. That's why I essentially have no tolerance for his lackluster play this. Just a lot of stupid, frustrating basketball from him this year.

If that Ayton shows up in the playoffs, the Suns are going to the Finals.

[INFORMER]

So why doesn't Ayton do this stuff every game?

He doesn't usually have a couple inches and a couple stones over the opposing center that is stuck playing center because the team is a mess even though he is really a 4.

That's not it. He struggled against PJ Tucker last year. Christian Wood, Kelly Olynyk, and DJ Wilson aren't that significant of a difference in size than what a lot of teams are throwing out there at the 5. And a lot of times in there games, there are switches where the other players besides the opposing 5 gets stuck on Ayton.

[INFORMER]

I think he should be back in the G-League just so that he'd play. I don't think being with the team in practice is as valuable as having him out on a real court playing games. He didn't seem to be doing that well even in his G-League games, so it seems like he should spend more time there until he kind of "outgrows" it and is consistently looking like he's ready to come back.

The G League isn't running anymore games this season.