Game Day : Celtics (13-13) @ Suns (20-4) Friday Dec 10

[MightyMoog]

I still don’t understand why we didn’t keep Moore instead of going after Payton. I also miss having someone like Galloway on the team. I haven’t been much impressed with Wainwright.

[AmareIsGod]

Champagne problems. Love it!

[Flagrant Fowl]

I still don’t understand why we didn’t keep Moore instead of going after Payton. I also miss having someone like Galloway on the team. I haven’t been much impressed with Wainwright.

Maybe they knew something since Moore hasn't played a minute this season due to a knee injury. I guess they'd say they like Payton's ballhandling and defense more than Moore's shooting, although I thought Moore handled spot PG minutes OK in the past regular season. I think it's pretty telling that neither Moore nor Galloway are getting minutes anywhere.

Wainwright is a practice team, locker room guy. He's going to work hard and push people. There aren't many teams in the league that would give him a shot at making their rotation.

[Superbone]

Well DA out is obviously not ideal as there is no Frank now

I was gonna say that I watched some of Lakers v Celtics and Rob Williams was very active and it will be interesting to see that matchup.

Horford at the 4 I think so their size might be an issue but I believe Grant Williams is like their small ball 5 unless I forgetting someone. If that's the case we should be "Ok" plus Jaylen Brown is still Out and we're at Home so let's handle biz

Forgive me for forgetting Kanter might play smh

You mean Freedom?

[Superbone]

Well DA out is obviously not ideal as there is no Frank now

I was gonna say that I watched some of Lakers v Celtics and Rob Williams was very active and it will be interesting to see that matchup.

Horford at the 4 I think so their size might be an issue but I believe Grant Williams is like their small ball 5 unless I forgetting someone. If that's the case we should be "Ok" plus Jaylen Brown is still Out and we're at Home so let's handle biz

Forgive me for forgetting Kanter might play smh

Kanter's size and rebounding could hurt us if they use him. Wonder if Stix can give us some minutes.

Good call on Stix. He wasn’t bad.

[Split T]

I still don’t understand why we didn’t keep Moore instead of going after Payton. I also miss having someone like Galloway on the team. I haven’t been much impressed with Wainwright.

Payton can actually run an offense. Moore isn’t a pg. Even if overall he isn’t as good of a player, he can keep us in our offense and probably makes it easier for everyone around him. I might just be making stuff up though

[Split T]

Missed the game, but was pleasantly surprised looking at the box score this morning. Looks like Javale came up big and even Stix had a good showing…maybe soon someone will bite on a trade for him.

[bajanguy008]

Yea been rooting hard for Wainwright in his first two games for sure but now I kinda don't expect him to score tbh. He had the interview after the Warriors game saying how nervous he was, literally shaking to be playing rotation minutes in such a big matchup. I understood that been even since he hasn't looked the part

What's interesting is that there was a vid from practice with him working on 3s and the caption said he didn't shoot much in college (Baylor) I think. That's the shot he has taken the most soo.....

[ShelC]

Boxscore: https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401360214

Full game: https://nbareplay.net/boston-celtics-vs ... full-game/

[Nodack]

I was most proud of Stix. We needed him and he more than held his own. The first time I know of that he has played in anything but garbage time. Good job young man!

[Mori Chu]

I was most proud of Stix. We needed him and he more than held his own. The first time I know of that he has played in anything but garbage time. Good job young man!

I wish we would just give the guy a chance, and then, if he turns out to be decent, try to sign him to a low-cost deal at the end of the season. Everybody assumes he's gone because we didn't extend him, but we could still work out a contract if it turned out to be beneficial.

[Split T]

I was most proud of Stix. We needed him and he more than held his own. The first time I know of that he has played in anything but garbage time. Good job young man!

I wish we would just give the guy a chance, and then, if he turns out to be decent, try to sign him to a low-cost deal at the end of the season. Everybody assumes he's gone because we didn't extend him, but we could still work out a contract if it turned out to be beneficial.

And if he shows something, the easier to trade him. Still think that’s the most likely scenario. It would be nice to build some trade value in him. Right now I don’t think he has any

[LazarusLong]

I was most proud of Stix. We needed him and he more than held his own. The first time I know of that he has played in anything but garbage time. Good job young man!

I wish we would just give the guy a chance, and then, if he turns out to be decent, try to sign him to a low-cost deal at the end of the season. Everybody assumes he's gone because we didn't extend him, but we could still work out a contract if it turned out to be beneficial.

And if he shows something, the easier to trade him. Still think that’s the most likely scenario. It would be nice to build some trade value in him. Right now I don’t think he has any

Agree. Smith is a center who likes to shoot threes. The Suns already have three decent guys at that position.
What Phoenix needs is a somebody like Craig or Thad Young to work the boards, grind and defend bigger perimeter players.
Smith isn't that guy ...

[Superbone]

I was most proud of Stix. We needed him and he more than held his own. The first time I know of that he has played in anything but garbage time. Good job young man!

I wish we would just give the guy a chance, and then, if he turns out to be decent, try to sign him to a low-cost deal at the end of the season. Everybody assumes he's gone because we didn't extend him, but we could still work out a contract if it turned out to be beneficial.

And if he shows something, the easier to trade him. Still think that’s the most likely scenario. It would be nice to build some trade value in him. Right now I don’t think he has any

Agree. Smith is a center who likes to shoot threes. The Suns already have three decent guys at that position.
What Phoenix needs is a somebody like Craig or Thad Young to work the boards, grind and defend bigger perimeter players.
Smith isn't that guy ...

I don't know. I think he could be. He's a pretty good rebounder and defender.

[Superbone]

I never imagined I'd become such a big fan of McGee. What a game for him! He even threw in the Kareem sky hook again in this game. He's got the full bag of tricks.

[ShelC]

I was most proud of Stix. We needed him and he more than held his own. The first time I know of that he has played in anything but garbage time. Good job young man!

I wish we would just give the guy a chance, and then, if he turns out to be decent, try to sign him to a low-cost deal at the end of the season. Everybody assumes he's gone because we didn't extend him, but we could still work out a contract if it turned out to be beneficial.

And if he shows something, the easier to trade him. Still think that’s the most likely scenario. It would be nice to build some trade value in him. Right now I don’t think he has any

Agree. Smith is a center who likes to shoot threes. The Suns already have three decent guys at that position.
What Phoenix needs is a somebody like Craig or Thad Young to work the boards, grind and defend bigger perimeter players.
Smith isn't that guy ...

I do agree we could use a defensive big to guard perimeter bigs and Stix doesn't seem to be that. But I'm still confused by the whole situation. Did they misjudge in their draft evaluation thinking he could transition to the 4 spot? Was he not working hard enough for them to pick up his option (maybe sending a message ala DA)? Are they just cutting bait because he's not what they want/need right now and no matter how he plays they're intent on moving on from him? The decisions around Stix seem a bit rushed to me, but I'm not around the team and seeing what Monty and Jones are seeing with him. He looks like he can carve out a niche as an athletic, defensive 5 that can shoot it but the Suns don't seem to be interested.

[Split T]

It feels like they thought he could be a more athletic Saric and it turns out he’s just a 5. Some have theorized that Bower was the guy who wanted him and that’s why he quietly was let go.

[Superbone]

It feels like they thought he could be a more athletic Saric and it turns out he’s just a 5. Some have theorized that Bower was the guy who wanted him and that’s why he quietly was let go.

It was pretty wild how quiet he was his whole tenure. I guess he was just a guide rail for Jones as he got his feet wet in the position.

[AmareIsGod]

I never imagined I'd become such a big fan of McGee. What a game for him! He even threw in the Kareem sky hook again in this game. He's got the full bag of tricks.

This.

[AmareIsGod]

Sarver probably didn't want to spend money having Bower on the payroll any longer.