Game Day: Suns (19-15) @ Grizzlies (20-12), Tuesday 12/27/22

[INFORMER]

Washington should get more time. I get that he makes some dumb mistakes but his ability to score at 4 levels from the guard position is an anomaly on our roster.

I don't think it has anything to do with the dumb mistakes; he just hasn't been good. I get he has scoring ability, but it just hasn't materialized enough this season to warrant penciling him into the rotation.

Now, we don't have a choice but to play him.

[Shabazz]

Washington should get more time. I get that he makes some dumb mistakes but his ability to score at 3 levels from the guard position is an anomaly on our roster.

I don't think it has anything to do with the dumb mistakes; he just hasn't been good. I get he has scoring ability, but it just hasn't materialized enough this season to warrant penciling him into the rotation.

Now, we don't have a choice but to play him.

I don't know that Payne has been that much better, save for a good stretch early in the season. Washington clearly has talent, but there needs to be an accepted learning curve with him. He's also the only young player on our roster, so there's some actual "internal development" to mine.

Payne has been better on D, though.

[Split T]

I think you’ve got to give Washington a few minutes every game. He’s one of the few guys who can create stuff off the dribble. He’s not really a pg at this point but you can only develop that if you play him. He’s also got the talent to do this when no one else really does on our bench

[Vladimir_Taltos]

I didn't get to watch tonight...we spent at least some time w/Landale and Ayton in the rotation...who was playing C vs. PF? If he's trying Ayton at PF, how did the time go together?

VT

[Split T]

Ayton was defending Adams so he was the C I’d say

[Shabazz]

Ayton had a really good run on both sides of the ball in the 3rd that put the game out of reach.

[Drewsprocket]

If Chris is also hurt, I think DWJ is ready to step up.

Point Saric for the second unit then?

He unlocks the Gorilla in the 4th.

[Superbone]

Time: 6 pm AZ (5 pm PT/8 pm ET)
Place: FedEx Forum, Memphis, TN
TV: BSAZ

Trying to be optimistic, but … ugh …

Just when we’re about to give up they surprise us.

[Superbone]

Suns coming off a deflating loss. Grizz mad about GS punking them. Grizz by 30+. This team is out of heroics until James Jones is done sitting on his hands. Dude refuses to use an open roster spot in this situation with all the injuries, Crowder away, and Saric unable to play NBA caliber basketball. My patience is running thin. I realize the whole "games in December don't matter" but when you get dog walked every game by your playoff competitors that shit will show up mentally in March and April.

Wrong! Washington Jr. says hold my beer.

[Superbone]

This team better not get killed on the boards…that’s a massive lineup and they better make up for what’s going to be an ugly offense by crashing the glass…let’s just say I’ll be very surprised if this is a win. We should get slaughtered

It really was a nice surprise.

[Superbone]

Hey, I just realized something. Chris Paul won a Scott Foster refereed game.

[ShelC]

Postgame quotes and videos

Spoiler: show/hide

[ShelC]

Really good win. Kind of a junk win with 2nd and 3rd stringers catching the top team off guard a bit. Everyone was looking past this one so getting the blowout is even better. These are the games that sting - when you're full strength and a bunch of unknowns like DWJ go off for a career high. Glad it came against the Grizz.

The Grizz look tired after their last stretch of games. They're learning that you can't dominate and run your mouth for an entire season - there are peaks and valleys and they're in a valley now (no pun intended).

Our backups are energy guys who wore them down that much more. The defense in the 1st half was great and the Grizz just couldn't get their legs or find their shot. Good job by Monty adjusting and going big to negate JJJ and Adams. Also hid CP on guys like Aldama who aren't big offensive threats.

DWJ's a little wild at times but can be a pretty lethal scorer when he's on. He's got range and can pull it or get to the basket with some deceptive quickness and finish with his length. The hip injury put him on the backburner but we shouldn't forget about him when we're healthy.

8 guys in double figures, beat them on the glass and really only let Morant hurt us. Felt like Craig brought the energy for the starters and guys like Okogie and DWJ kept it going with the 2nd unit. Also thought we were a little more creative with our defense on Ja at times which got them out of sync.

[Drewsprocket]

DWJ can create for himself better than Shamet. I believe he needs more development. People should stop talking about him like he is Eddie House or Mike James.

[ShelC]

I think of him as a bigger Eddie House but in a good way with his ability to just rise up and pull it. He's got a very quick release and doesn't need much space to get a shot off.

[ShelC]

It's pretty crazy that we have the ability to play this kind of defense. A lot of offensive and defensive flexibility and versatility on the roster. Just a matter of using the right combos at the right times.

[bajanguy008]

Wow man
Shitty night at work so I took my time getting around to this replay cause who wants to see that Cocky bunch beat up on our skeleton squad......

Well this I think probably my favourite game of the year.
The fact that Torrey got in Brooks face so early in the game, not like the game needed any more spice and yet we still kept up the physicality and ran them off their homecourt
What a fun game

Reminded me of the Bubble Suns, we are going to Outwork you
Not been many games this year when we getting the loose balls, winning the hustle stats. It's usually Torrey or Okogie on some one man band All Out energy type stuff but collectively everyone seemed at it tonight

[bajanguy008]

Wait what now ?!?
This is hilarious to hear/read

[O_Gardino]

It was really nice to see the Suns play defense. We 've got a bunch of scorers out, but we should still be a good defensive team every night.

I keep looking back at the box score just to see the minutes played. It's so satisfying to get a blowout and play the deep bench.

[bajanguy008]

Thought this play was worth its own post

Crazy to pull that shot on a full sprint to the base line much like when Book was cooking in his 50pt game
What was even better that it was part of our big run to answer Ja leading them to within 6 in the 3rd