Game Day: Lakers (13-16) @ Suns (18-12), Mon 12/19/22

[Mori Chu]

One thing you could feel in this game was that the Suns took (and made) a ton of 3s. I don't know why we don't always play like that. We have a lot of good 3-point shooters on this team; why are we known for settling for mid-range pull-up jumpers? CP3 and Book may be good at hitting them, but that is inefficient basketball. I say the Suns should shoot way more 3s and it'd make us a more deadly basketball team.

[Flagrant Fowl]

Taking and missing a whole bunch of 3’s was a pretty big factor in getting smoked for 5 games in a row.

[INFORMER]

Yeah, I think the Suns take enough threes. If anything, they need to be more aggressive attacking the basket and finishing through contact instead of around contact.

[INFORMER]

I hate how single-minded the NBA can be. For the longest, everything was post-up. Everyone had to have a post-up game, and we had to watch guys back their opponents down for like ten seconds of the shot clock.

Then we went to iso ball. Everyone had to have one-on-one skills, and we had to watch Dribblefest 2000.

Now, besides the 3-ball, everything requires a pick. I can't stand it when a player already has a favorable one-on-one matchup, but instead of attacking, he waits for a pick. It's no one has ever scored in the history of basketball without receiving a pick.

And with the 3-ball, I get 3 is more than 2, but ultimately, you need to take shots you can make. And while prioritizing the 3-ball over the course of a game has its value, it doesn't matter in a close when you absolutely need a bucket. If the game is tied and you have one shot to win, you need to take the highest percentage shot, not the shot that is worth the most. And by prioritizing the 3-ball, so many players and teams are losing that ability to get that desperately needed bucket in clutch time.

[TOO]

Yeah, I think the Suns take enough threes. If anything, they need to be more aggressive attacking the basket and finishing through contact instead of around contact.

Roster retool would be required.

[specialsauce]

Yeah, I think the Suns take enough threes. If anything, they need to be more aggressive attacking the basket and finishing through contact instead of around contact.

Roster retool would be required.

Again we have too many Betas. Need to decide which 2 of Ayton Bridges and Johnson are worth keeping around and trade the other for an alpha male. Doesn’t even have to be a star. Just someone not afraid of contact and afraid of killing the man in front of him

[Wally_West]

Yeah, I think the Suns take enough threes. If anything, they need to be more aggressive attacking the basket and finishing through contact instead of around contact.

Roster retool would be required.

Again we have too many Betas. Need to decide which 2 of Ayton Bridges and Johnson are worth keeping around and trade the other for an alpha male. Doesn’t even have to be a star. Just someone not afraid of contact and afraid of killing the man in front of him

I brought it up before a little while ago but Bill Simmons just mentioned on his recent podcast too about the possibility Jimmy Butler being available if the heat keep being mid. Heat’s young players are too good for them to tank for Wemby but pivoting off of 33 year old Jimmy’s fat contract (currently 37 but jumps to 45-48-52 the following years) and get picks while doing would be smart.

Mikal + Dario and 2 1st for Jimmy technically works. Mikal got a great contract and gives the heat a good core of Herro-Bridges-Bam and Suns get a legit 2nd option next to Book, who raises his game in the playoffs and big games.

[TOO]

Butler would make Ayton retire.

[Wally_West]

Butler would make Ayton retire.

30 million off the cap

[Split T]

Butler would make Ayton retire.

Ya we’d need to move Ayton as well. I’d hesitate on Butler though. He’s 33 and not exactly the healthiest guy. He’d be a good fit with Booker for maybe a year or two, but hard to know if he’d last. Same boat as KD, but KD takes us to a level that Jimmy doesn’t.

[Wally_West]

Butler would make Ayton retire.

Ya we’d need to move Ayton as well. I’d hesitate on Butler though. He’s 33 and not exactly the healthiest guy. He’d be a good fit with Booker for maybe a year or two, but hard to know if he’d last. Same boat as KD, but KD takes us to a level that Jimmy doesn’t.

Eh. I think Ayton would be fine. If he can survive Paul I think he could survive Butler but if not, that’s what the offseason is for.


If we did Mikal and filler that would still allow us to have 2 of Crowder/Shamet/Dario contracts to still make another deal, even Craig or CamJ too if you wanted to go there. You could still try to get Kuzma or Eric Gordon OR maybe use the leftover contracts and remaining picks to get Clarkson and Vanderbilt from Utah?

CP3-Book-Jimmy-CamJ-Ayton
Payne-Clarkson-Lee-Okogie-Vanderbilt
DWJ-Ish-Craig-Biz-Landale

[specialsauce]

I don’t really want 33 year old Jimmy's contract and his spacing ability is less than ideal.

His attitude is exactly what we are missing though.

[Mori Chu]

I feel like Butler is a high-usage guy who probably wouldn't be as valuable to a team that already has a great SG in Booker. I like his rugged demeanor and his energy level, but I think his best days are behind him and his contract is massive. I would not be very interested in acquiring him on the Suns.

[Split T]

He’d honestly make CP3 pretty expendable…that’s who’s role he’d really take.

[INFORMER]

Yep. Same with DeRozan.