Suns News: Week 13 (1/14/24 - 1/21/24)

[wpmiller42]

Last Week's Games
Mon, Jan 8th at LA Clippers 111-138 Loss.
Thurs, Jan 11th at LA Lakers 127 - 109 Win!
Sun, Jan 14th at Portland 127 - 116 Win!

This Week's Games
Tue, Jan 16th vs Kings 7:00 MST SUNS LIVE, ARIZONA'S FAMILY 3TV / ARIZONA'S FAMILY SPORTS
Fri, Jan 19th @ Pelicans 6:00 MST SUNS LIVE, ARIZONA'S FAMILY 3TV / ARIZONA'S FAMILY SPORTS
Sun, Jan 21st vs Pacers 6:00 MST SUNS LIVE, ARIZONA'S FAMILY 3TV / ARIZONA'S FAMILY SPORTS

Suns News
Zooming in on one play with Josh Okogie, displaying how to optimize him offensively

The Suns continue to be the worst team in the fourth quarter, and it’s not even close.

Suns’ inexplicable fourth-quarter problem is causing their star-laden roster to underachieve

Phoenix Suns Big 3 of Booker, Durant, Beal too much for L.A. Lakers

[Mori Chu]

Thanks for making the threads, wp!

The Suns continue to be the worst team in the fourth quarter, and it’s not even close.

This pains me. If we could just fix this, wouldn't we be one of the best teams in the league? I know it isn't as simple as that, but still, ugh.

[Split T]

I think I heard if games stopped after the 3rd Q, we would have 8 more wins…so 29-10…that would be 1st in the West

[Shabazz]

The 3 games this week are both really important in the standings and a good measuring stick for where we are as a team.

[ShelC]

I just don't understand the 4th qtr issues. The starters have one of the highest net ratings in the league, they look great in the 1st qtr when they're out there and then later on look like they've never played together. We know defenses tighten up and adjustments are made throughout the game but it shouldn't be so bad that Book, Beal, KD and Nurk can't figure it out on the fly and do what they need to do. Maybe it's still just a comfort thing but the more this goes on the more it's going to be a mental thing with them.

[Mori Chu]

That's why I still hold some hope that they'll figure it out. There's no real reason talent-wise why it should be happening. That means it is probably fixable.

[Cap]

That's why I still hold some hope that they'll figure it out. There's no real reason talent-wise why it should be happening. That means it is probably fixable.

Sounds like what some used to say about a certain former center.

[bajanguy008]

So much of this stuff if not basically all I agree with
I've made my thoughts clear about Beal...
Book and KD need no justification and as I said in other thread, half the issues is when they get caught up playing too slow with zero to little player movement

As others have said, breaking up the Starting 5 or as the guys here said, removing Grayson I don't think is what needs correcting



Anyways
9:30 - 22:30
Feel free to check it out

[Shabazz]

I just don't understand the 4th qtr issues. The starters have one of the highest net ratings in the league, they look great in the 1st qtr when they're out there and then later on look like they've never played together. We know defenses tighten up and adjustments are made throughout the game but it shouldn't be so bad that Book, Beal, KD and Nurk can't figure it out on the fly and do what they need to do. Maybe it's still just a comfort thing but the more this goes on the more it's going to be a mental thing with them.

2 adjustments I’d consider:

Subbing Book out earlier in the 3rd so he can start the 4th. The KD/Beal combo is still finding its rhythm.

Little over KBD. I don’t understand why this hasn’t happened yet, unless Little is hurt.

[Superbone]

That's why I still hold some hope that they'll figure it out. There's no real reason talent-wise why it should be happening. That means it is probably fixable.

Let's hope it starts going in the other direction. Would be nice to finish the season and into the playoffs in an upwards swing.

[Superbone]

After the Blazers game, Book says, "Yeah, I'm feeling better."

That explains some things. He wasn't old Book for a stretch a little ways back.

[Furlanfufi]

I still don't think we got any better. The Lakers game had a lot of good individual performances, but we ran the clogged toilet offense vs Portland. It's baffling that our team don't have one back door cut, all the screens are to free the ball handler, the players just stand around the 3 point line waiting for the play to develop.

[specialsauce]

I just don't understand the 4th qtr issues. The starters have one of the highest net ratings in the league, they look great in the 1st qtr when they're out there and then later on look like they've never played together. We know defenses tighten up and adjustments are made throughout the game but it shouldn't be so bad that Book, Beal, KD and Nurk can't figure it out on the fly and do what they need to do. Maybe it's still just a comfort thing but the more this goes on the more it's going to be a mental thing with them.

2 adjustments I’d consider:

Subbing Book out earlier in the 3rd so he can start the 4th. The KD/Beal combo is still finding its rhythm.

Little over KBD. I don’t understand why this hasn’t happened yet, unless Little is hurt.

Agree about Little. I don’t get it

[Split T]

I didn’t watch the Portland game, but KBD has been a better defensive player imo. His length is impactful at times and Little has been a bit of a turnstile…perimeter guys go right buy him. Little is way better offensively as he’s a pretty good finisher and isn’t a complete zero from 3…I’d rather KBD play in lineups with the starters, but KBD in bench lineups is kinda rough…KBD/Eubanks/Okogie should never be on the court together

[Kryptonic]

That's why I still hold some hope that they'll figure it out. There's no real reason talent-wise why it should be happening. That means it is probably fixable.

Sounds like what some used to say about a certain former center.

Damn Oliver miller

[specialsauce]

I didn’t watch the Portland game, but KBD has been a better defensive player imo. His length is impactful at times and Little has been a bit of a turnstile…perimeter guys go right buy him. Little is way better offensively as he’s a pretty good finisher and isn’t a complete zero from 3…I’d rather KBD play in lineups with the starters, but KBD in bench lineups is kinda rough…KBD/Eubanks/Okogie should never be on the court together

KBDs burner account is alive and well

[Mori Chu]

KBDs burner account is alive and well

That is a normal account. Move on, find a new slant!

[specialsauce]

KBDs burner account is alive and well

That is a normal account. Move on, find a new slant!

Ah KBDs momma got an account on here too

[Superbone]

I just don't understand the 4th qtr issues. The starters have one of the highest net ratings in the league, they look great in the 1st qtr when they're out there and then later on look like they've never played together. We know defenses tighten up and adjustments are made throughout the game but it shouldn't be so bad that Book, Beal, KD and Nurk can't figure it out on the fly and do what they need to do. Maybe it's still just a comfort thing but the more this goes on the more it's going to be a mental thing with them.

2 adjustments I’d consider:

Subbing Book out earlier in the 3rd so he can start the 4th. The KD/Beal combo is still finding its rhythm.

Little over KBD. I don’t understand why this hasn’t happened yet, unless Little is hurt.

Agree about Little. I don’t get it

You guys doth protest a Little too much.

[Flagrant Fowl]

He's had some good 1v1 defensive possessions, but I think KBD has otherwise been poor defensively.