Game Day: Suns (2-5) @ Blazers (4-3), Tues 11/8/16

[Superbone]

Time: 8:00 pm AZ (7:00 pm PT / 10:00 pm ET)
Place: Moda Center, Portland, OR
TV: FSAZ/NBALP

Booker and McCollum have been the big guns for their respective teams as of late. We'll see if it continues tonight.

Go Suns!!!

Dis • cuss

[Nodack]

As much as we hate The Black Hole Knight, he is due for a good game.

[Mori Chu]

Gonna be hard to focus on this one with the OTHER big event happening today. But hopefully I can pay partial attention to both. Blazers look decent so far this year, but no juggernaut. I think we could give them a good run. Booker seems to be shaking off the early-season rust, Warren is having just a nasty good year so far, and if we get at least one other strong contribution (maybe from Bledsoe), I think we will be in good shape.

[Superbone]

Gonna be hard to focus on this one with the OTHER big event happening today. But hopefully I can pay partial attention to both.

I'm recording them both. I'll have no issues watching the game from start to finish.

Booker seems to be shaking off the early-season rust...

37 and then 38. Ya think?

[Aztec Sunsfan]

Last week, an historic game seven showdown, tonight election day, wonder what is on the books for december 6th, next in line tuesday with a Suns' game. Alien invasion?

[O_Gardino]

I think Portland wants revenge, and this will be a tough one for us. We may trail the whole game.

I also think this is another team that doesn't have a player who can guard Booker even a little bit. I'm looking for 30+ from D.Book.

[LazarusLong]

I'm beating a dead pony, but I hope the coaching staff mixes up the substitution patterns and give the rooks some more run.

[England Sun]

Got to start getting the young ones involved in that second team. DNP in this year is difficult to take when we are more or less accepting it is a building year.
Loving that TJ has turned a lot of heads and is seen as a potential running make of Booker into the future, so many wrote him off last year.
I hope Booker continues to develop but really hoping for the 3 new rookies to learn as they go as well, you can only learn so much by sitting on the bench watching.

[Superbone]

Got to start getting the young ones involved in that second team. DNP in this year is difficult to take when we are more or less accepting it is a building year.
Loving that TJ has turned a lot of heads and is seen as a potential running make of Booker into the future, so many wrote him off last year.
I hope Booker continues to develop but really hoping for the 3 new rookies to learn as they go as well, you can only learn so much by sitting on the bench watching.

I think the problem is that we see it as a building year but the franchise wants to "surprise people" and win games. That's probably what the common fan wants too but since we know that we're not going to be great this year, we might as well develop the "young 'uns". That seems to be the consensus here on .net and I agree. On the other hand, I do agree that we don't want to develop a losing atmosphere. So, it is a fine line.

[carey]

https://twitter.com/paulcoro/status/796114751654760448 So long Dudley as starting PF we hardly knew ye.

[Superbone]

Yes! I love Dudley but I'm really glad for Chriss to get the opportunity.

[Cap]

Got to start getting the young ones involved in that second team. DNP in this year is difficult to take when we are more or less accepting it is a building year.
Loving that TJ has turned a lot of heads and is seen as a potential running make of Booker into the future, so many wrote him off last year.
I hope Booker continues to develop but really hoping for the 3 new rookies to learn as they go as well, you can only learn so much by sitting on the bench watching.

I think the problem is that we see it as a building year but the franchise wants to "surprise people" and win games. That's probably what the common fan wants too but since we know that we're not going to be great this year, we might as well develop the "young 'uns". That seems to be the consensus here on .net and I agree. On the other hand, I do agree that we don't want to develop a losing atmosphere. So, it is a fine line.

I for one don't care if Knight, Barbosa, Tucker, Dudley and Chandler can "surprise people" enough to win 35-40 games this season. They're not the future of this team. If the kids aren't a part of it, it means nothing.

I'm glad Chriss is going to be starting. Hopefully Bender and Ulis can get some burn too. It doesn't have to be a lot. Just enough that, if we win, they can say to themselves, "Yeah, I was a part of that win."

(Williams can be a cheerleader until somebody gets hurt. That's probably the kind of career he's going to have, so he might as well get used to it.)

[JCSunsfan]

I'm beating a dead pony, but I hope the coaching staff mixes up the substitution patterns and give the rooks some more run.

I think you got your wish.

[Gladiator]

Yes! I love Dudley but I'm really glad for Chriss to get the opportunity.

I'm excited to see what Chriss can do as a starter as well. Now to get Bender some minutes off the bench....

[Cap]

Williams can be a cheerleader until somebody gets hurt.

Tonight may be his chance — Chandler's out.

[EDC]

I'm glad Chriss is going to get playing time but I feel like it will be a 30+ minute nite for PJ with no Bender. The stark difference in which our two lottery picks are being treated is just really confusing. Chriss has made some really good plays but he has also looked completely lost at times. Bender has looked solid but not flashy. The problem is he has played so little that you can barely get an idea of what he can do.

Chriss: 92 minutes
Bender: 29 minutes

This game should be pretty telling. With Tyson out there are more minutes to be had. If Watson keeps Bender on the bench in this one it is unlikely we will be seeing him play much anytime soon.

All of this makes me hate the front office and coaches love of PJ.

[EDC]

I'm beating a dead pony, but I hope the coaching staff mixes up the substitution patterns and give the rooks some more run.

I think you got your wish.

The minutes for Chriss have been about right except for the Lakers game.

[Superbone]

Chriss: 92 minutes
Bender: 29 minutes

It's pretty obvious that their goal is to keep their minutes palindromes of each other.

[UglyTruth]

I'm beating a dead pony, but I hope the coaching staff mixes up the substitution patterns and give the rooks some more run.

I think you got your wish.

The minutes for Chriss have been about right except for the Lakers game.

Yeah its Bender and Ulis who have been screwed this season in terms of minutes.

[O_Gardino]

Williams can be a cheerleader until somebody gets hurt.

Tonight may be his chance — Chandler's out.

Every once in a while people talk about how Chandler is blocking Len's development. I don't buy it, but I do see it in articles and on here every once in a while. The theory is that Len is more confident and plays better when he know the minutes are his even if he makes a mistake. Well, let's see it.