Game Day (Summer League): Suns (0-0) @ Blazers (0-0), Sat 7/9/16

[INFORMER]

I love the beginning of Stotts' interview. The play by play guy makes a remark about Bender scoring his first "pro" basket, and Stotts challenges on two fronts: 1) this is summer league and 2) Bender was a pro overseas. And the way Stotts did it was tremendous. I got a nice laugh out of that.

[Indy]

That hook shot really had me shaking my head. So glad there were so many positive things to take away from the game after it.

[INFORMER]

So glad there were so many positive things to take away from the game after it.

The sequence near the start of the game where bender fed Chriss at the elbow, Bender cut to the basket, and Chriss found him with a nice pass.

Chriss had an interesting sequence late in the first half. He rotated nicely to challenge a drive, but then completely lost his man. Alec Brown gave him a nudge and pointed out where Chriss needed to be.

Brown looked solid out there, but I still don't know if he'll be able to contribute in the NBA. He's bulked up a bit, which is good.

[Indy]

Brown seems like the kind of guy that could be very serviceable in the d-league. Seems smart too, just a bit limited.

[INFORMER]

Not crazy about Pat freakin' Connaughton taking Booker off the dribble at the three point line and getting all the way to the hoop. Ugh.

[Indy]

That part of his game is clearly the furthest from 'NBA average'.

[Superbone]

Booker has worked to become so much better off the bounce than I thought he ever would be, and he's probably going get even better. He truly is a stud.

Yes! INF said something positive. Thank you.

[Superbone]

I love the beginning of Stotts' interview. The play by play guy makes a remark about Bender scoring his first "pro" basket, and Stotts challenges on two fronts: 1) this is summer league and 2) Bender was a pro overseas. And the way Stotts did it was tremendous. I got a nice laugh out of that.

That was funny. Me too.

[Superbone]

That hook shot really had me shaking my head. So glad there were so many positive things to take away from the game after it.

There was a sweeping hook shot by Bender later in the game that showed me that he already has better touch around the basket than Len.

[Superbone]

So glad there were so many positive things to take away from the game after it.

The sequence near the start of the game where bender fed Chriss at the elbow, Bender cut to the basket, and Chriss found him with a nice pass.

Chriss had an interesting sequence late in the first half. He rotated nicely to challenge a drive, but then completely lost his man. Alec Brown gave him a nudge and pointed out where Chriss needed to be.

Brown looked solid out there, but I still don't know if he'll be able to contribute in the NBA. He's bulked up a bit, which is good.

Yes. I meant to mention Alec Brown. He was solid and hit all his open shots. I'm also not sure if he'll be able to make it in the NBA though.

[Superbone]

That part of his game is clearly the furthest from 'NBA average'.

Yup, definitely the part of Booker's game that needs the most work.

[Mori Chu]

I watched highlights and looked at the box score as well as reading some running commentary from you guys. I can't help but be excited. I think Bender is going to be a real player, and Ulis too. Bender probably needs another year or two with an NBA weight training program and just learning the game; I suspect he'll be hard to play for many minutes this year. But in a year or so I think he could be really ready. I would love to see them just give the reins to Ulis to run the offense with the second unit. Probably isn't quite ready for it, but who cares? Our team stinks anyway. I don't know what to make of Chriss. I didn't want us to acquire him, and he didn't show me very much tonight, but it's just one summer league game and I don't want to rush to judgment. I'd rather be excited when a player does well in SL than be critical and grumpy when they don't.

And it goes without saying that Devin Booker is a freaking stud. He is our franchise player of the future. Couldn't be happier with him so far as a Sun. Hopefully he'll be here for a long time.

[OE32]

I think Bender could crack the rotation this year. Chriss is a bit further away.

[ShelC]

Watching it again, Chriss seemed a lot more active and locked in early in the game than late. It's that focus he needs to work on, but he showed some savvy offensive skills and tried on D.

Bender's a player. You can see he's got a great feel for the game, attacking off the dribble or backing his man down, active on D and on the boards. Plays and looks like a vet out there. I'm excited to watch more of him. I think he'll be a 3/4 early in his career and then could be a 4 or even 5. The fact he's playing the 3 for a guy his size is impressive. I'd like to see more of him in the post tho in the next couple of games just to see what he can do.

[Danimal]

being outside the states some of those replay things I cannot access. Does anyone have any vid of Chriss from the game? no matter how brief

[Sunsfan4life]

The Vonleh elbow to Booker seemed to be uncalled for. Chriss and Big Sauce came in for the save haha. One of my major takes from the game is Alan Williams nickname is Big Sauce.

[Sunsfan4life]

Watching it again, Chriss seemed a lot more active and locked in early in the game than late. It's that focus he needs to work on, but he showed some savvy offensive skills and tried on D.

Bender's a player. You can see he's got a great feel for the game, attacking off the dribble or backing his man down, active on D and on the boards. Plays and looks like a vet out there. I'm excited to watch more of him. I think he'll be a 3/4 early in his career and then could be a 4 or even 5. The fact he's playing the 3 for a guy his size is impressive. I'd like to see more of him in the post tho in the next couple of games just to see what he can do.

I was most impressed with Benders intensity the entire game. From picking up guys full court to chirpping at offcials for an obvious blown goaltending call. I love that in a summer league game. Shows he's engaged. I'm not a huge fan of him grabbing a board waving off Ulis and then just dribbling into a 3, but The dude oozes confidence and as Steve Smith pointed out, he wants to be the best, so the work ethic will be there.

Tyler Ulis had an absolutely gorgeous shot/pass feed to Alan Williams in the 2nd. Just very solid.

For the Blazers, I wasn't that impressed with Vonlah who is prob the most heralded player on there team. Pierre Jackson had some nice moments. Ulis and him were going at it.

[Indy]

Mori, I think your take on Chriss is off. I agree with Shel. Can't watch the highlights and get a sense of his play.

[Cap]

being outside the states some of those replay things I cannot access. Does anyone have any vid of Chriss from the game? no matter how brief

Um, OK. This is all I could find.

[youtube][/youtube]

You asked.

[Mori Chu]

Mori, I think your take on Chriss is off. I agree with Shel. Can't watch the highlights and get a sense of his play.

I'll be the first to admit that you can't read much into one SL game. I will give him time. I want to see him succeed and will be really happy if he is a good NBA player. I have my fingers crossed that he'll turn into kind of a neo-Marion, which would be amazing for us.