Game Day (Preseason): Nets (1-1) vs Suns (2-0), Sun 10/12/25

[Superbone]

So far this preseason Richards has played 32 minutes and is +37

Nice! He's been very solid.

[Superbone]

DANNY WOLF REVENGE GAME

Give me a break with the banked three!

[virtual9mm]

Overall, this team is going to be feisty, hard working, and offensively challenged. The team fell apart offensively when the bench was out there without Gillespie, the ball handling is a bit lacking although Oso definitely helps. The shooting is a bit weak but let's see if Green helps with the offensive lulls.

This is going to be a much better team than most people imagined, though.

I'm thinking so too. I put a Benjamin on the over for the Suns win total this season. I just need them to win 32 or more.

32 is going to be easy. I might have to do this, too.

[virtual9mm]

So far this preseason Richards has played 32 minutes and is +37

Nice! He's been very solid.

Is it a matter of better guard play or his beating up on backups? Either way, fantastic player in that role.

[Superbone]

[Split T]

Overall, this team is going to be feisty, hard working, and offensively challenged. The team fell apart offensively when the bench was out there without Gillespie, the ball handling is a bit lacking although Oso definitely helps. The shooting is a bit weak but let's see if Green helps with the offensive lulls.

This is going to be a much better team than most people imagined, though.

I'm thinking so too. I put a Benjamin on the over for the Suns win total this season. I just need them to win 32 or more.

32 is going to be easy. I might have to do this, too.

I think this team is really dependent on the health of 2 guys…if Booker misses extended time we will really struggle to win any games. To a lesser extent, I think Mark Williams is very important too…Maluach isn’t ready and we already know Richards/Oso isn’t a good nba center rotation.

Basically, I do think we should win more than 32 games if we are healthy, but we better hope Booker plays 70 games and Mark Williams plays at least 50(probably can’t expect more than that). If not, the west is absolutely stacked and I don’t see many easy wins out there.

[Mori Chu]

I like most of the guys on this roster individually, but we don't have enough size or rebounding, we don't have anybody who can run an offense, our shooting outside of a few guys is very suspect, and we have questionable defense especially on the perimeter. And the West, as well as the league as a whole, has gotten really talented; you can't just show up and beat very many teams with a roster with this many flaws. I think they're going to be fun to watch and have good energy and hustle and team camaraderie, but I think they'll lose a lot of close games and will generally be one of the worst teams in the West; I think they'll almost-win 55 games but actually-win 30 games. I don't gamble but I would bet the under on this team any day.

Bookmark this post and shove it in my face if we have a shockingly good season.

[virtual9mm]

Overall, this team is going to be feisty, hard working, and offensively challenged. The team fell apart offensively when the bench was out there without Gillespie, the ball handling is a bit lacking although Oso definitely helps. The shooting is a bit weak but let's see if Green helps with the offensive lulls.

This is going to be a much better team than most people imagined, though.

I'm thinking so too. I put a Benjamin on the over for the Suns win total this season. I just need them to win 32 or more.

32 is going to be easy. I might have to do this, too.

I think this team is really dependent on the health of 2 guys…if Booker misses extended time we will really struggle to win any games. To a lesser extent, I think Mark Williams is very important too…Maluach isn’t ready and we already know Richards/Oso isn’t a good nba center rotation.

Basically, I do think we should win more than 32 games if we are healthy, but we better hope Booker plays 70 games and Mark Williams plays at least 50(probably can’t expect more than that). If not, the west is absolutely stacked and I don’t see many easy wins out there.

I agree regarding Booker and I wonder if you are right about Williams. Maluach will have games where he will look solid and others where he looks like a skinny 19 year old with an underdeveloped body who knows he is playing with grown men. I do think he will be very, very good someday. He is a 7-5 freak that can stay in front of guards on the perimeter and make pinpoint passes. His rotations are good when he doesn't miss them. I am not concerned with his attitude or work ethic.

I love how hard they work and their D was really solid. The Nets hit some crazy shots at the end but that was also against the Suns' C-team.

[virtual9mm]

I like most of the guys on this roster individually, but we don't have enough size or rebounding, we don't have anybody who can run an offense, our shooting outside of a few guys is very suspect, and we have questionable defense especially on the perimeter. And the West, as well as the league as a whole, has gotten really talented; you can't just show up and beat very many teams with a roster with this many flaws. I think they're going to be fun to watch and have good energy and hustle and team camaraderie, but I think they'll lose a lot of close games and will generally be one of the worst teams in the West; I think they'll almost-win 55 games but actually-win 30 games. I don't gamble but I would bet the under on this team any day.

Bookmark this post and shove it in my face if we have a shockingly good season.

I agree with almost everything here but I think that hustle is one of the key ingredients to winning close games and the Suns have a lot of it. We'll see if the also have the heart.

I have a feeling that Colin Gillespie will win the Suns some games. He looked like a Nash-Ginobili combo out there.

[ShelC]

It's still a talent league tho. I think we can win 35ish games, maybe 40-42 if things break the right way and everyone's healthy. 28-32 is probably realistic.

[virtual9mm]

It's still a talent league tho. I think we can win 35ish games, maybe 40-42 if things break the right way and everyone's healthy. 28-32 is probably realistic.

We know it's not that simple. Look how many wins Booker, Durant and Beal got.

It's about chemistry, cohesiveness, and the capability to fill the right roles. Right now, the Suns are missing playmaking and shooting on offense but looking really good on defense. They can be picked apart in the playoffs but will be able to win with relentlessness in the regular season...as long as Booker does not go down.

[Superbone]

I like most of the guys on this roster individually, but we don't have enough size or rebounding, we don't have anybody who can run an offense, our shooting outside of a few guys is very suspect, and we have questionable defense especially on the perimeter. And the West, as well as the league as a whole, has gotten really talented; you can't just show up and beat very many teams with a roster with this many flaws. I think they're going to be fun to watch and have good energy and hustle and team camaraderie, but I think they'll lose a lot of close games and will generally be one of the worst teams in the West; I think they'll almost-win 55 games but actually-win 30 games. I don't gamble but I would bet the under on this team any day.

Bookmark this post and shove it in my face if we have a shockingly good season.

You got it, boss.

[Split T]

Overall, this team is going to be feisty, hard working, and offensively challenged. The team fell apart offensively when the bench was out there without Gillespie, the ball handling is a bit lacking although Oso definitely helps. The shooting is a bit weak but let's see if Green helps with the offensive lulls.

This is going to be a much better team than most people imagined, though.

I'm thinking so too. I put a Benjamin on the over for the Suns win total this season. I just need them to win 32 or more.

32 is going to be easy. I might have to do this, too.

I think this team is really dependent on the health of 2 guys…if Booker misses extended time we will really struggle to win any games. To a lesser extent, I think Mark Williams is very important too…Maluach isn’t ready and we already know Richards/Oso isn’t a good nba center rotation.

Basically, I do think we should win more than 32 games if we are healthy, but we better hope Booker plays 70 games and Mark Williams plays at least 50(probably can’t expect more than that). If not, the west is absolutely stacked and I don’t see many easy wins out there.

I agree regarding Booker and I wonder if you are right about Williams. Maluach will have games where he will look solid and others where he looks like a skinny 19 year old with an underdeveloped body who knows he is playing with grown men. I do think he will be very, very good someday. He is a 7-5 freak that can stay in front of guards on the perimeter and make pinpoint passes. His rotations are good when he doesn't miss them. I am not concerned with his attitude or work ethic.

I love how hard they work and their D was really solid. The Nets hit some crazy shots at the end but that was also against the Suns' C-team.

Ya I’m excited for Maluach…I think he could be pretty good someday too

[Superbone]

[virtual9mm]

I'm thinking so too. I put a Benjamin on the over for the Suns win total this season. I just need them to win 32 or more.

32 is going to be easy. I might have to do this, too.

I think this team is really dependent on the health of 2 guys…if Booker misses extended time we will really struggle to win any games. To a lesser extent, I think Mark Williams is very important too…Maluach isn’t ready and we already know Richards/Oso isn’t a good nba center rotation.

Basically, I do think we should win more than 32 games if we are healthy, but we better hope Booker plays 70 games and Mark Williams plays at least 50(probably can’t expect more than that). If not, the west is absolutely stacked and I don’t see many easy wins out there.

I agree regarding Booker and I wonder if you are right about Williams. Maluach will have games where he will look solid and others where he looks like a skinny 19 year old with an underdeveloped body who knows he is playing with grown men. I do think he will be very, very good someday. He is a 7-5 freak that can stay in front of guards on the perimeter and make pinpoint passes. His rotations are good when he doesn't miss them. I am not concerned with his attitude or work ethic.

I love how hard they work and their D was really solid. The Nets hit some crazy shots at the end but that was also against the Suns' C-team.

Ya I’m excited for Maluach…I think he could be pretty good someday too

A Garnett-Mutumbo hybrid defending the top of the key with massively long arms? Let's see.

[ShelC]

It's still a talent league tho. I think we can win 35ish games, maybe 40-42 if things break the right way and everyone's healthy. 28-32 is probably realistic.

We know it's not that simple. Look how many wins Booker, Durant and Beal got.

It's about chemistry, cohesiveness, and the capability to fill the right roles. Right now, the Suns are missing playmaking and shooting on offense but looking really good on defense. They can be picked apart in the playoffs but will be able to win with relentlessness in the regular season...as long as Booker does not go down.

But you still need talent. When teams are keying in on Book and guys like Brooks, Allen and Royce aren't hitting 3s it will be very tough to win games. Jalen Green is a career 42% shooter. We're not so good defensively that we're going to be a top 10 defensive team. We're undersized and our starting center is a question mark. I know we all want to be optimistic but Book surrounded by a bunch of undersized try-hards isn't winning 50 games.

[Mori Chu]

Jalen Green is still the huge question mark to me. Undeniable talent and athleticism, but is he really a fit next to Booker? Feels like the team has a cohesive identity and style without Green; I almost think we're better without him. I wish we could stagger his minutes and Book's because I don't think they will be good together, but having Green out there during the non-Booker minutes could really juice our bench offense and keep us from having scoring droughts while Booker sits. But they'll probably start Green and mostly play him with Booker, and I still want to see how that looks. Our offense will probably be more potent, but so far this preseason the one thing that has been most encouraging to me has been the team's defense and hustle, which I think will take a step back with Green on the floor. I hope it's a better fit than I've been fearing.

I basically think Book/Green will be a lot like Book/Beal in terms of not really making the team better, even though Beal and Green are not exactly the same kind of player. In both cases it's two score-first guards trying to take turns or set each other up, which I think is really hard to pull off.

[Split T]

Jalen Green has been a good catch and shoot guy, so I think the offense next to Book will be fine…like you mention, it’s probably the defense that we need to worry about.