Game Day: Suns (31-9) @ Pacers (15-27), Fri 1/14/22

[bajanguy008]

I agree with "pickle", Jalen just gobbles up defensive boards which I think is taken for granted when he isn't being a factor on O. Obviously getting feed as the roll man when playing the 5 is optimal but also he gets more time for the spot up 3

At the 4 he has quicker players closing out to him which means a rushed shot or having to try dribble drive which is not ideal. Don't think there's any way that he gets the backup 5mins so rebounding is probably gonna be his main contribution most nights.

[bajanguy008]

Nice on Book to have a strong game, efficiency started to drop off a lil bit after going off in the 3rd but that was big time stuff tonight.

Glad to see CP3 with one of those 4th quarter take overs we have gotten used to. The variation of the Shammgod was nuts lol

I actually enjoyed the Pacers coverage

[Split T]

lol, 16 games of 6, but never 7. Still technically no triple double either. He got that and the 7 3pt game in the playoffs.

[Split T]

This is pretty funny

[Superbone]

I pushed back earlier in the year when people complained about Shamet, but he’s had 3 really good looks from 3 tonight and bricked all of them. He’s really just not that useful if he’s not making 3s

He was pretty dang useful in the second half!

[Superbone]

Brutal half so far. Can’t believe I saw DA make a 3 in real life.

Pacers have a way of dragging teams down to their level.

Smith and Shamet look ill prepared

I knew we were in good shape due to the low score. We don’t lose when we hold a team under 100.

[Superbone]

Feels like a game where we fool around and then put them away in the 4th. Hopefully we come out hot in the 3Q

Bingo.

[pickle]

Nice on Book to have a strong game, efficiency started to drop off a lil bit after going off in the 3rd but that was big time stuff tonight.

Glad to see CP3 with one of those 4th quarter take overs we have gotten used to. The variation of the Shammgod was nuts lol

I actually enjoyed the Pacers coverage

Pacers broadcasters were quite good. They complained a bit about one foul call on Booker I think where I think LeVert flopped. Other than that I think they were more than fair the whole game.

[bajanguy008]

The Fellas !!

[ShelC]

[ShelC]

Another good road win. DA was dominant in the 1st half and really took the messaging about our rebounding to heart. He was physical inside, putting a body on Sabonis and Turner and fighting for rebounds in traffic. Crowder also mixed it up inside more than usual IMO which I'd like to see more of. We know he's undersized for the 4spot but has the bulk and strength to move people out of the way in traffic and grabbed 11 boards. Good to see our guys respond after the coaches emphasized rebounding after Toronto.

Book went to work in the 2nd half and was unguardable for a stretch in the 3rd. Payne and Shamet helped extend the lead and break the game open in the 4th, which we need a lot more of going forward to take the pressure off the starters. Stix played big on the boards and last night was a little more favorable for him because of Indy's bigs. He's still pretty raw on offense from the 4spot tho.

I think EJ called this another "methodical" win, where it's close in the 1st half and then we break it open in the 2nd half. That's been our style and it really hasn't bitten us in the ass because we're good. We make adjustments at halftime and execute down the stretch. Other teams may be more exciting, but we're just grinding away towards the playoffs.

[Mori Chu]

Really nice game by Booker and Ayton. Glad to see Ayton have his touch back after a few sluggish post-COVID games. Ayton seems to get up for playing against Sabonis or something. They were kind of going at each other in the first half.

Pacers came back to tie and briefly lead in the 3rd quarter, but this team is good at weathering such runs and calmly regaining its lead. We really pulled away later in the 2nd half. Book was key in this stretch.

I'm glad Jalen Smith is getting rotation minutes. He had 12 big rebounds tonight, even though he didn't score. Cam Payne had one of his rare strong games of the season, shooting 5-7. He did well knifing through the defense to get his patented speedy layups.

My only real concern is that our starting forwards are often kind of invisible offensively. Bridges was 1-6 tonight for 4 points, and Crowder was 2-6 for 8 points. I wish they could give us a more consistent offensive contribution.

Holiday had a really nice game for the Pacers. I feel like he's a bit of a hidden gem on their roster. Sabonis and Turner get all the attention in trade talks, but I would love to see whether Holiday would be attainable if they do have a fire sale. It was also nice to see Torrey Craig again; he hit two 3s and had 8 points. Wish we still had him around.

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401360453

[Split T]

I would love Holiday…Holiday/Craig for Saric/Smith and 2 2nd’s.

[djy2j]

Nice on Book to have a strong game, efficiency started to drop off a lil bit after going off in the 3rd but that was big time stuff tonight.

Glad to see CP3 with one of those 4th quarter take overs we have gotten used to. The variation of the Shammgod was nuts lol

I actually enjoyed the Pacers coverage

You have a stronger stomach than me. I find Quinn Buckner to be unbearable. Also, dude actually called Tacko Fall, "Taco Bell" during a broadcast this season He's a hot mess. The Quinn Buckner burner account is a fun follow on Twitter though.

[Superbone]

A couple signature plays in this one. First that incredible no look pass from McGee to Payne. McGee put the perfect spin on the bounce pass too as it just crawled into Payne's hands for the easy lay in. Then Paul's dance moves on Sabonis leaving him the proper Covid 6 feet away for the easy basket.

[Superbone]

My only real concern is that our starting forwards are often kind of invisible offensively. Bridges was 1-6 tonight for 4 points, and Crowder was 2-6 for 8 points. I wish they could give us a more consistent offensive contribution.

Crowder's two made shots were two big threes in the last half of the fourth quarter.

[Superbone]

Nice on Book to have a strong game, efficiency started to drop off a lil bit after going off in the 3rd but that was big time stuff tonight.

Glad to see CP3 with one of those 4th quarter take overs we have gotten used to. The variation of the Shammgod was nuts lol

I actually enjoyed the Pacers coverage

You have a stronger stomach than me. I find Quinn Buckner to be unbearable. Also, dude actually called Tacko Fall, "Taco Bell" during a broadcast this season He's a hot mess. The Quinn Buckner burner account is a fun follow on Twitter though.

I'm with you. I watched them for the first quarter and then couldn't take it any more. Buckner would say "thank you" every time a play went the Pacers' way. After I had finished with the Phoenix broadcast, I went back and listened to them in the fourth as the Suns pulled away. That was more bearable as Buckner couldn't help but praise the Suns.

[JeremyG]

The most predictable thing in the world was Ayton having 21 points at halftime and still not getting to 30.

[Split T]

The most predictable thing in the world was Ayton having 21 points at halftime and still not getting to 30.

I’d have to rewatch, but wonder if the Pacers switched up coverage. Book had it going though, so I’m not going to complain. Then CP3 got it going. Gotta credit Ayton though as he kept us alive in the 1st half.

[pickle]

I would love Holiday…Holiday/Craig for Saric/Smith and 2 2nd’s.

That’s way too much imho. Holiday is as streaky as they come and he’s skinny, doesn’t solve the bigger problem we have with rebounding. We tend to have trouble against bigger wings and 4s like OG or Portis. If we are picking Pacers’ carcass I’d rather get Brissett.