Preseason Game Day: Jazz (0-1) @ Suns (1-0), Wed 10/5/16

[AmareIsGod]

I really think Watson is trying to repeat and instill a certain mentality and positive vibe for the team. There are a TON of young guys and you have to coach them differently than a group of veterans. I think he is just wanting to create chemistry and reiterate that everyone will get a chance to contribute whether starting or off the bench. I like it.

[carey]

^ That's true. I just meant that it sounded premature to say, "Look at what this could dictate in the season!" when we lost the game.

Also, Chriss, Bender, and Ulis combined for 29 points & 16 rebounds. They are just getting started.

[Cap]

I really think Watson is trying to repeat and instill a certain mentality and positive vibe for the team. There are a TON of young guys and you have to coach them differently than a group of veterans. I think he is just wanting to create chemistry and reiterate that everyone will get a chance to contribute whether starting or off the bench. I like it.

Everyone except Archie.

[OE32]

I don't see the problems for Bender that others see. I'm a little surprised to find myself saying this, but I think he can play C against a lot of teams. Has better shot blocking instincts than Len.

Speaking of Len, I'm finally coming around to a tough conclusion. I found it hard to imagine that Chandler would have struggled against Gobert as bad as Len did last night. Alex looks like a backup. That means that long-term, we have a hole at the C... unless that C is Bender, in which case, (1) our offense is going to be sick, and (2) our rebounding is going to be the other kind of sick. If Chandler is the starter this season as well as next... what do we do with Alex? Is he even worth a first rounder at this point?

I've loved the energy Knight has brought, but the production has been a bit of a mixed bag. He seems to have cut down on the turnovers, he's playing aggressive defense, and he's going to the rack. But that chip on his shoulder also leads to bad decisions. Didn't talk to the press again after the game, which is concerning.

Warren has been our best player so far. So many of his jumpers are short - I imagine he'll return to form as the season progresses. But man, his defense for the last three halves of play has been great. Three blocks, one steal, one turnover, stayed close to his assignment. Great to see.

[AmareIsGod]

I've loved the energy Knight has brought, but the production has been a bit of a mixed bag. He seems to have cut down on the turnovers, he's playing aggressive defense, and he's going to the rack. But that chip on his shoulder also leads to bad decisions. Didn't talk to the press again after the game, which is concerning.

Bledsoe didn't talk to the press after game. Nor did Barbosa or Ulis. Was Knight approached and he said "no comment" or something along those lines? I think we're making a big deal out of a non issue.

[djy2j]

Wow. AIG and djy2j in playoff form already. Impressive for the preseason.

When it comes to snark and mediocre posts...I have no offseason.

[AmareIsGod]

Wow. AIG and djy2j in playoff form already. Impressive for the preseason.

When it comes to snark and mediocre posts...I have no offseason.

And sometimes I just get bored and it's a stream of my crummy thoughts.

[OE32]

I've loved the energy Knight has brought, but the production has been a bit of a mixed bag. He seems to have cut down on the turnovers, he's playing aggressive defense, and he's going to the rack. But that chip on his shoulder also leads to bad decisions. Didn't talk to the press again after the game, which is concerning.

Bledsoe didn't talk to the press after game. Nor did Barbosa or Ulis. Was Knight approached and he said "no comment" or something along those lines? I think we're making a big deal out of a non issue.

Didn't know that. Just referencing what BSOTS had to say:

Knight had arguably the best game of his Suns career, in that he scored the right way (at the basket, in the paint) with aggression and carried that aggression to the defensive end as well.

“Brandon led us in scoring,” Watson said. “That’s how it’s going to flow some games. Hopefully, the majority of the games. Because he comes off, he’s a great scorer. I want to put him in the position to be successful.”

Unfortunately, Knight did not make himself available to the media postgame, instead choosing to slip out while another player was getting interviewed. Suns personnel appeared a bit perturbed.

[ShelC]

Where there's smoke there's fire, people. If this is indeed smoke.

[Cap]

He's not thrilled about coming off the bench. But he's not lashing out Morris-style. It's not the same kind of problem at all.

[O_Gardino]

He's not thrilled about coming off the bench. But he's not lashing out Morris-style. It's not the same kind of problem at all.

I agree that Knight seems to have better character than Markief and is handling a worse situation better.

On the other hand, I can't help but be a bit of a Debbie Downer. It's the same Suns, AFAIK, and we've mismanaged at least one player every season since Sarver took over. It seems like Knight's season. The best thing we could do for Knight and for the Suns is to trade him somewhere he can be a starter. But I'm afraid we will ignore the signs and manage according to the theory of the roster instead of the reality.

[ShelC]

But it could be a passive-aggressive approach that festers and lingers in the lockerroom. And if Watson is overcompensating with things to try and keep him happy, could cause issues with some other guys.

Just sayin'.

[carey]

On the other hand, I can't help but be a bit of a Debbie Downer. It's the same Suns, AFAIK, and we've mismanaged at least one player every season since Sarver took over. It seems like Knight's season. The best thing we could do for Knight and for the Suns is to trade him somewhere he can be a starter. But I'm afraid we will ignore the signs and manage according to the theory of the roster instead of the reality.

Nope. If Knight continues to be sore over it I firmly believe McDonough trades him quickly. I have to believe he's learned his lesson after Dragic and Markieff.

[O_Gardino]

On the other hand, I can't help but be a bit of a Debbie Downer. It's the same Suns, AFAIK, and we've mismanaged at least one player every season since Sarver took over. It seems like Knight's season. The best thing we could do for Knight and for the Suns is to trade him somewhere he can be a starter. But I'm afraid we will ignore the signs and manage according to the theory of the roster instead of the reality.

Nope. If Knight continues to be sore over it I firmly believe McDonough trades him quickly. I have to believe he's learned his lesson after Dragic and Markieff.

Fingers crossed. Hey, let's hope that he plays well and embraces the role.

[O_Gardino]

"The ball moved and no one cared who got the most shots. You see tonight what it could dictate in the season."

I am trying to give Watson a chance. But this is a pretty dumb quote. WE LOST THE GAME. The other team shot well and didn't exactly struggle to beat us. What exactly did our balanced shooting "dictate"?

I just watched the game and the postgame interview. That quote was specifically about the lineup of Bled-Knight-Book-Warren-Len. That lineup got us back in the game after being down 12. I think TJ had maybe 8 points in that run.

[O_Gardino]

I really think Watson is trying to repeat and instill a certain mentality and positive vibe for the team. There are a TON of young guys and you have to coach them differently than a group of veterans. I think he is just wanting to create chemistry and reiterate that everyone will get a chance to contribute whether starting or off the bench. I like it.

Everyone except Archie.

Archie was so bad in his few minutes. Uhg.

I think he needs to go somewhere where he plays good minutes every game just to learn how to be mentally prepared every night. Even going back to last season when he was a starter for a bit, there were some nights when he would just daydream out on the court.

It's too bad he didn't learn that a couple of years ago, because his contract is up after this season, and he's not an nba player yet.

[O_Gardino]

Alright, here are some other thoughts from the game:

Every time LB was matched up against Joe Johnson, LB got the best of the matchup. Joe couldn't score on the little guy, and that was fun to see.
Bledsoe looked good again, letting other guys work in the half court and running for layup on the break.
Booker is such a strong personality for such a young guy. This is his team, he knows it and his teammates know it.
Booker played a lot of forward. The rest of the team did really well in those lineups.
Warren played very well. He's ready to be a starter / borderline all star.
Ulis once again with the terrific positional D and great decisions with the ball. Good shooting, too.
Len is so much better when he doesn't hold the ball. Catch / pass, catch / shoot, catch / one quick dribble then hand off to a cutter. Anything besides isolation.
Chriss and Bender have some learning to do, but they do know their roles already.
I'd like to see Bender in the paint more. He seems more comfortable in a crowd than he does spotting up.

Gober hit 13 free throws in a row. If he can be a 70% ft shooter, Utah is a much better team.

[Aztec Sunsfan]

^ That's true. I just meant that it sounded premature to say, "Look at what this could dictate in the season!" when we lost the game.

Preseason games are more about reaching goals in terms of style and development, that W-L record. I prefer that we keep practicing ball movement losing all the way to the opening tip, that the opposite. Even if we just move from terrible to below average, it will be development nonetheless. We are going to lose a lot next season, we have to start dealing with that reality, I don't see us ready to take over the league by surprise.

[Mori Chu]

^ Yup, all of those responses are fair. I didn't mean to piss on Coach's enthusiasm. I do think his methods are a little hokey, cheerleader-y, etc., but maybe these are methods that will reach this group of players.

[ShelC]

I'll say this...Booker is light years ahead of his actual age/experience in terms of offense. He's not just a shooter, not just a penetrator relying on athleticism. He had a drive to the left and hung in the air, shooting against his body off the glass for a bank shot. Then had the ball in the corner, took his time to get position on the defender, drove baseline and finished with the reverse off the glass. It's an old school, effective offensive game. Super impressive.