Suns News: Week 9 (12/12 - 12/18)

[bajanguy008]

[bajanguy008]

Another "on brand" win
Luv to see it continue

[bajanguy008]

Again Last night was some real top top stuff from DA all things considered....

[LazarusLong]

talk/gossip/rumor/idle speculation about possible Sabonis trade to Suns...

https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/ ... 911961002/

[Flagrant Fowl]

I'm not buying the Sabonis trade talk. "In recent years" as the rumors have stated, sure, I can believe that because the Suns were bad and simply trying to acquire good basketball players.

However, I wouldn't completely rule it out if the Pacers are willing to take back a couple of nickels and a quarter for him. I think they could do much better than Saric, Smith, and Cam Johnson.

[Shabazz]

Would take him over Elfrid:

[Split T]

He certainly provides shot creation. He wouldn’t be a bad idea if he was willing to stay in his role and play spot minutes. I’m just not sure if that’s what he’s after. I get the feeling he thinks he can be a starter in the league still. Always liked him though, seems like Denver would be smart to give him a chance with all their injuries. Believe it’s their G league team he’s playing for.

[Flagrant Fowl]

Campazzo is already the shortest player in the league. Imagine if his back up was even shorter?

[Mori Chu]

I liked Thomas, but if you think Payne has tunnel vision about looking for his own shot first, ...

[bajanguy008]

I prefer to do 10 game or more sample sizes but as I just saw this tweet I fact checked some stuff



In the first 15 games of Nov, he had avgs of 22mins - 7fga / 9ppg
Last game of Nov was when Book got hurt and he scored 14pts which basically goes with the other numbers in the tweet
So last "7" games with Book out, avgs of 30mins - 11fga / 14ppg

Expected bump in minutes and usage and his shooting % hasn't changed much so double digit games been the result.
Glad he's done a decent job of stepping up, he's been solid. Think his drives to the basket last couple games were much stronger and he seems to be getting on the boards more which been necessary.

I'm still bugging out on the middies tho, obviously he watches Book and mimicks Mikal so he gotta get his pull up in order like theirs as I'm fairly certain that % has to be low or lower than someone of his shooting ability

[bajanguy008]

Whoaa
And in spite of this we're still pulling out the wins because of our Clutch Rating or well CP3's lol



Edit: and our D

[bajanguy008]

Oh I decided to stop being lazy and just peep the numbers
The Good News - I'm happy to know I'm "seeing the game" and observing tendencies
The Bad News - Geeeez my eyes really weren't lying smh lol




My guy's midrange shooting so far this season
Yikes lol
What's going on there man....

[Flagrant Fowl]

I liked Thomas, but if you think Payne has tunnel vision about looking for his own shot first, ...

We're talking about him taking Payton's role. He's signed a 10-day contract with the Lakers, so we'll see what he has left pretty quickly.

[Split T]

Suns looking good, Ayton having another good game and I’m seeing a lot of all-star talk for him…what are the chances he makes it?

Locks to start would be:
Curry, James, Jokic…not sure who the other guard and front court guy will be. Luka and Dame aren’t exactly having the best seasons and their teams are losing. Draymond, CP3, Book, Mitchell, and Gobert are probably locks. Gotta think Memphis will have a rep and Ja seems most likely if he comes back in time. Luka will still probably make it even if I’m not sure he deserves it at this point..so let’s say:

Curry, CP3, James, Green, Jokic
Ja, Mitchell, Booker, Luka, and Rudy off the bench.

Leaves two spots, if Dame gets it going, he’ll get one. Paul George, KAT, Fox, Ayton, AD.

Who am I missing?

If we stay on like a 65+ win pace and Ayton keeps up his play of late, he’s got a shot. Especially if some of the bigger names keep struggling along with their teams(Dame and Por, Luka and Dal, AD and LAL, PG and LAC)

[Mori Chu]

Feels like this year a lot of guys will be All-Stars based on their reputation and past seasons. Guys like Dame, Luka, Ja, AD, Paul George, etc. will probably get in no matter what their numbers are.

[Split T]

Feels like this year a lot of guys will be All-Stars based on their reputation and past seasons. Guys like Dame, Luka, Ja, AD, Paul George, etc. will probably get in no matter what their numbers are.

I don’t know that I’d include Ja with those guys, but ya it kinda feels that way. It’s too bad because a guy like Dame really does not deserve to be an all star this year. AD’s numbers are better than I expected, so it’s probably hard to keep him out. Luka will get in because he’s a name and he’s got the counting stats. His efficiency numbers and on/off numbers are bad though. I don’t think he should get a spot. PG is having a pretty inefficient year as well. Will be interesting to see.

[The Bobster]

I figure there are 11 spots that are pretty secure in the West -

Luka Dončić, Stephen Curry and LeBron James are pretty much locks to get voted in, Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Rudy Gobert, Donovan Mitchell, Ja Morant, Paul George, Anthony Davis and, Nikola Jokić are all likely.

The top players in the running for the 12 spot would include Draymond Green, Karl-Anthony Towns, Deandre Ayton, De'Aaron Fox, Damian Lillard and Brandon Ingram. Green, Towns and Ayton are probably the most deserving/likely of this group. Lillard may make it just based on reputation/past history, but I don't think he's playing at All-Star level this year.

And you always have injury replacements to consider, there is usually at least one or two of those every year. So I would guess Ayton is in the position that Booker was in the past couple of years - there's a chance he might make it as an injury replacement, but the numbers are working against him otherwise, especially with Jokić and Gobert ahead of him at center.

[bajanguy008]

Busy Busy stretch incoming

[Split T]

I figure there are 11 spots that are pretty secure in the West -

Luka Dončić, Stephen Curry and LeBron James are pretty much locks to get voted in, Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Rudy Gobert, Donovan Mitchell, Ja Morant, Paul George, Anthony Davis and, Nikola Jokić are all likely.

The top players in the running for the 12 spot would include Draymond Green, Karl-Anthony Towns, Deandre Ayton, De'Aaron Fox, Damian Lillard and Brandon Ingram. Green, Towns and Ayton are probably the most deserving/likely of this group. Lillard may make it just based on reputation/past history, but I don't think he's playing at All-Star level this year.

And you always have injury replacements to consider, there is usually at least one or two of those every year. So I would guess Ayton is in the position that Booker was in the past couple of years - there's a chance he might make it as an injury replacement, but the numbers are working against him otherwise, especially with Jokić and Gobert ahead of him at center.

I’d switch Draymond and PG on your list. Draymond has been very good and GS has the best record, he’ll get in. PG has been very inefficient and has missed a few games as well.

You’re probably right about Luka, but I don’t think he deserves a spot based on how he’s played so far. I’m hoping he gets left off somehow.

Warriors get 2(Steph and Draymond)
Suns get 2(CP3 and Booker)
Jazz get 2(Mitchell and Gobert)
Grizz get 1(Ja)
Lakers get 2(LeBron and AD)
Nuggets get 1(Jokic)

Then you have a few options for the last two spots:

Perennial all-stars having mediocre seasons(PG, Dame, Luka)

3rd stars on a top team(Wiggins, Ayton, Conley)

Numbers on a non Playoff team(KAT)

At this point I see no way Dame makes it, his numbers are bad and his team is bad, it’d be a travesty if he made it. Conley won’t make it either. His counting stats have gone down, Jazz aren’t as good, and there won’t be a push to finally make him an all-star.

I think Ayton has been better than Wiggins, but they are close. Think we’d need to have the better record than GS in that scenario. Still, most likely its PG and Luka taking those spots. So ya, Ayton probably needs to be an injury replacement.

[Superbone]

You’re probably right about Luka, but I don’t think he deserves a spot based on how he’s played so far. I’m hoping he gets left off somehow.

There's a 0% chance that the fans don't vote Doncic in as a starter.