Game Day: Suns (1-1) @ Clippers (2-0), Sun 10/23/22

[bajanguy008]

My first live game and reading this thread
I'm wondering if I watched the same game, offense bogged down against their zone at times but Yikes thread reads like a loss lol

The Clippers really tried to battle back in the 2nd half but we lead by double digits basically the whole game......

Torrey drives me crazy when he goes on those fast break "adventures to the rim" when we don't have numbers but there was none of those tonight. Really stuck to his M.O.of all out hustle with couple timely 3s. Criticism of him tonight is interesting

[Wally_West]

Kawhi Leonard is finished as an elite player in the league. He'll have individual moments or brief stretches in a game of greatness, but he's not going to carry a team in the playoffs. Physically and athletically, it's not there for him anymore.

It’s only game 3. I think he’ll be fine. I’m going to wait a little before making any major declaration on him.

[Cap]

What happened to Biyombo and Saric? Do they no longer have a place in this rotation?

[Split T]

Kawhi Leonard is finished as an elite player in the league. He'll have individual moments or brief stretches in a game of greatness, but he's not going to carry a team in the playoffs. Physically and athletically, it's not there for him anymore.

I’m not ready to say that based off two minutes restricted regular season games…He’s never cared about the regular season and his game(offensively at least) doesn’t really require elite athleticism. He’s physical and overpowering on the drive and a good shooter from all areas. We won’t see an All-NBA 1st team like season from him(mostly because he’ll never play enough in the regular season), but I think a finals MVP or conference finals MVP is definitely realistic still.

[ShelC]

Kawhi Leonard is finished as an elite player in the league. He'll have individual moments or brief stretches in a game of greatness, but he's not going to carry a team in the playoffs. Physically and athletically, it's not there for him anymore.

I won't write him off yet as he's still shaking off rust and getting back into playing shape, He doesn't look great right now tho.

[Split T]

What happened to Biyombo and Saric? Do they no longer have a place in this rotation?

I think Biyombo only got minutes as the Ayton replacement when he got in foul trouble. He’s the Ayton backup which is different from our 2nd string C, which is Landale. I think Biyombo would’ve played tonight due to Ayton’s foul trouble if we weren’t playing the Clippers. Their small ball, switching bench unit makes Biyombo hard to play.

Bad lineup for Saric too since he’s now a 4 in the rotation. Craig more valuable to use on those wings.

[Wally_West]

Kawhi Leonard is finished as an elite player in the league. He'll have individual moments or brief stretches in a game of greatness, but he's not going to carry a team in the playoffs. Physically and athletically, it's not there for him anymore.

I’m not ready to say that based off two minutes restricted regular season games…He’s never cared about the regular season and his game(offensively at least) doesn’t really require elite athleticism. He’s physical and overpowering on the drive and a good shooter from all areas. We won’t see an All-NBA 1st team like season from him(mostly because he’ll never play enough in the regular season), but I think a finals MVP or conference finals MVP is definitely realistic still.

Agreed but I do wonder if the clippers eat ass again this year if either Kawhi or PG become possibly available next summer.

[TOO]

Torrey drives me crazy when he goes on those fast break "adventures to the rim" when we don't have numbers but there was none of those tonight. Really stuck to his M.O.of all out hustle with couple timely 3s. Criticism of him tonight is interesting

That's called the PJ Tucker.

[Split T]

I’ll get banned for this but Marcus Morris would be pretty good on this team.

Ya Morris the player would be the perfect 4 for us.

Guess we’re both getting banned

Harrison Barnes is a little Marcus Morris-ey, without the whole being a jerk thing. He’s still my favorite target and I still think Crowder makes sense for the Kings…They could use some toughness and Keegan Murray is gonna take Barnes minutes anyways.

Agreed but he’s having a pretty rough start

Although he might’ve checked out knowing it’s a matter of time before Murray takes his minutes.

Would the clippers be interested in crowder? Crowder and Craig for Morris would work.

Ya not a great start, but it’s only 3 games. And while I’m sure the clippers would love Crowder(they love all wings) Morris is more valuable. As their small ball 5, he feasts in isolation against opposing true 5s…Just like he toasted Landale on 3 straight plays. Crowder would be a Covington replacement.

[Wally_West]

One big positive so far this season is Book looks like he taking it to another level. I think he’s a safe bet for 1st team all nba and gut tells me he’ll be an undisputed top 10 player this year.

[Shabazz]

Payne is frustrating

Payne has improved this season, though. His "Good Thing:Bad Thing" ratio went from 1:4 to 1:2.

[Split T]

My first live game and reading this thread
I'm wondering if I watched the same game, offense bogged down against their zone at times but Yikes thread reads like a lost lol

The Clippers really tried to battle back in the 2nd half but we lead by double digits basically the whole game......

Torrey drives me crazy when he goes on those fast break "adventures to the rim" when we don't have numbers but there was none of those tonight. Really stuck to his M.O.of all out hustle with couple timely 3s. Criticism of him tonight is interesting

I think maybe a little of the suns getting the big lead early and it becoming one of those games where you just hope we don’t blow it. The bad sticks out more in those. Also most of the good stuff was just Booker. A lot of meh play from everyone else…Landale and Craig were good off the bench and CamJ played good when he stayed on the court…his defense has underwhelmed lately. He gets bullied to the rim and then just fouls…though guys like PG/Kawhi/Luka are tough assignments.


Side note, if Paul doesn’t ever figure out his scoring, Booker is absolutely going to drop 30 a game this year and challenge for the scoring title. And we’ll need every bit of them.

[bajanguy008]

Payne is frustrating

Payne has improved this season, though. His "Good Thing:Bad Thing" ratio went from 1:4 to 1:2.

Lolol
Honestly I think most are so low on him right now that they are expecting the bad plays so they stand out more when they do happen. I also think so far he isn't the trainwreck he was last season and showing some flashes, turnover to Landry tonight was a real knucklehead play forcing a fast break but he was ok man
The ratio thing isn't too far off rho

[Shabazz]

Buzzer to buzzer whoopin. Booker good, Landale good, winning good. Ayton bad, Johnson's defense, bad. Chris Paul looks like Raymond Felton.

I thought the same thing. Late-career, fat Raymond Felton.

[Split T]

One big positive so far this season is Book looks like he taking it to another level. I think he’s a safe bet for 1st team all nba and gut tells me he’ll be an undisputed top 10 player this year.

Tricky part is they consider Luka a guard…Luka/Ja/Curry/Dame

That’s a tough group.

[Wally_West]

[Split T]

Buzzer to buzzer whoopin. Booker good, Landale good, winning good. Ayton bad, Johnson's defense, bad. Chris Paul looks like Raymond Felton.

I thought the same thing. Late-career, fat Raymond Felton.

He kept talking about spending time with family in the offseason…maybe he didn’t touch a basketball between Dallas and training camp…I’ll give him till Christmas, but if he doesn’t start showing flashes by the end of the year, we might be in trouble.

[Aztec Sunsfan]

I’ll get banned for this but Marcus Morris would be pretty good on this team.

Ya Morris the player would be the perfect 4 for us.

Guess we’re both getting banned

Harrison Barnes is a little Marcus Morris-ey, without the whole being a jerk thing. He’s still my favorite target and I still think Crowder makes sense for the Kings…They could use some toughness and Keegan Murray is gonna take Barnes minutes anyways.

Agreed but he’s having a pretty rough start

Although he might’ve checked out knowing it’s a matter of time before Murray takes his minutes.

Would the clippers be interested in crowder? Crowder and Craig for Morris would work.

What about Terrence Mann?

He looks like the odd man out in their backcourt rotation, while Morris is the nominal 5 when they runt that all wings lineup.

[bajanguy008]

Wow
Well I just went to peep the box score before nitpicking at Book's game and am shocked to see only 3 TOs.....

I thought he coughed up the ball way too much so not sure how he only had 3. Feels like every time we play Clippers I get frustrated by how many times they poke away the ball on his drives or when he trying to keep someone on his hip.

Anyways
Yeah the array of shots especially that 1st quarter barrage was awesome

[Shabazz]

I've been encouraged by Landry since the preseason. His shot looks much better. Fewer line-drive missiles at the rim.