Suns News: Week 21 3/13-3/19

[carey]

Last Week's Games

vs. Washington L131-127
vs. L.A. Lakers L122-110
@ Dallas W100-98
vs. Portland L110-101

This Week's Games

Wed. March 15th vs. Sacramento 10:00PM EST
Fri. March 17th vs. Orlando 10:00PM EST
Sun. March 19th @ Detroit 4:30PM EST

Suns Stories

Suns’ second-half surge comes up short after Lillard’s monster first half for Blazers: Phoenix Suns rookie small forward Derrick Jones Jr. now knows what time it is. Jones guarded Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard in the first half using fullcourt pressure, and Lillard responded Sunday by dropping 28 of his 39 points before the break. Despite a run from the Suns in the second half, Lillard’s explosion in the first 24 minutes provided enough insurance for Portland in Phoenix’s 110-101 loss. -- http://arizonasports.com/story/1054929/ ... d-blazers/

Watson praises Derrick Jones Jr. after first career start: In Saturday’s 100-98 win over the Dallas Mavericks on the road, Alex Len was ruled out of the game due to a hip injury, and the lineup change would be forwards Marquese Chriss and T.J. Warren moving one spot up to center and power forward, respectively. That left a spot open at small forward, and it was awarded to rookie Derrick Jones Jr., his first career start. -- http://arizonasports.com/story/1054723/ ... me-winner/

Devin Booker, rapper Futuristic recreate Michael Jordan-Spike Lee commercial: It was the commercial of commercials to promote the shoe brands of shoe brands. Now, Devin Booker and Arizona rapper Futuristic have recreated Michael Jordan and Spike Lee’s famous Nike commercial. With a few tweaks to the original script -- “Is it the knock-down jumper?” replaces “Is it the vicious dunks?” -- Futuristic becomes Booker’s hypeman. -- http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/n ... /99111556/

Devin Booker's past buzzer failures set up Suns' winner: Devin Booker pointed it out about 20 minutes after he sank Saturday night's winning jumper to lift the Suns over the Dallas Mavericks. He’s hit clutch shots these past two seasons, but not all of them have dropped, each one a learning lesson for the young guard. Before Sunday’s home game against Portland, coach Earl Watson recalled a couple times last season when Booker missed with the game on the line. Then a 19-year-old rookie, Booker was so upset at the time he sent a text message to his coach and apologized. -- http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/n ... /99107130/

Center of the Sun, where the Suns are still nestled safely in 3rd place = With just 15 games left to play in a losing season, the way the Suns have been playing has given fans something more than just the upcoming draft to look forward to. It seems as though the Suns already have a promising young core which should only get better with plenty of time on the court together and this year's draft addition(s).-- http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2017/ ... hird-place

Suns prospect Xavier Silas hits 9 threes in a game for the NAZ -- http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2017/ ... basketball

Solar Panel: Suns 2020 champs?? -- http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2017/ ... nba-champs

[Mori Chu]

That was cool that Jones Jr got to start. He doesn't really deserve a starting role at this point in his career, but after riding the bench most of the season, the team has made a point to find minutes for him. I'm sure he appreciates it and it makes him work harder for the team.

[pickle]

I haven't been reading/posting in the game day threads because I don't get to watch the games in real time. But I do have to say, now that we've gone with the youth movement, the games are fun again. I love Ulis, don't think he's NBA starter quality but he really changes the complexion of the game when he gets on the court. I love Jones' athleticism and demeanor. I love Chriss' toughness. I am pleased to see Warren doing his clean up duty. And I love Alan Williams' soft touch around the hoop though I realize that he's not a long term cornerstone type piece. Booker is Booker. Bledsoe has not played well lately and every time I see a Jokic or a Zubac putting up numbers I lament the cluster fuck of a situation we call Alex Len, but I still like the guy. All in all I'm pleased with the corp of young players and look forward to actually building around them next year.

[Split T]

Would be nice to lose some games this week. Sacramento and Orlando are right on our tails for ping pong balls. Sacramento probably won't catch us, but Orlando is a real threat, we really need to lose that game.

[Superbone]

Would be nice to lose some games this week. Sacramento and Orlando are right on our tails for ping pong balls. Sacramento probably won't catch us, but Orlando is a real threat, we really need to lose that game.

Therefore we won't.

[Gladiator]

Would be nice to lose some games this week. Sacramento and Orlando are right on our tails for ping pong balls. Sacramento probably won't catch us, but Orlando is a real threat, we really need to lose that game.

Time for a random 30minutes for Brandon Knight?

[Superbone]

Would be nice to lose some games this week. Sacramento and Orlando are right on our tails for ping pong balls. Sacramento probably won't catch us, but Orlando is a real threat, we really need to lose that game.

Time for a random 30minutes for Brandon Knight?

We're up 20 with 10 minutes to play. In comes Brandon Knight...
We lose by 13.

[Gladiator]

Would be nice to lose some games this week. Sacramento and Orlando are right on our tails for ping pong balls. Sacramento probably won't catch us, but Orlando is a real threat, we really need to lose that game.

Time for a random 30minutes for Brandon Knight?

We're up 20 with 10 minutes to play. In comes Brandon Knight...
We lose by 13.

The funny thing is that could legitimately happen

[Superbone]

Would be nice to lose some games this week. Sacramento and Orlando are right on our tails for ping pong balls. Sacramento probably won't catch us, but Orlando is a real threat, we really need to lose that game.

Time for a random 30minutes for Brandon Knight?

We're up 20 with 10 minutes to play. In comes Brandon Knight...
We lose by 13.

The funny thing is that could legitimately happen

I know! It's not even that funny.

[Cap]

Would be nice to lose some games this week. Sacramento and Orlando are right on our tails for ping pong balls. Sacramento probably won't catch us, but Orlando is a real threat, we really need to lose that game.

Time for a random 30minutes for Brandon Knight?

We're up 20 with 10 minutes to play. In comes Brandon Knight...
We lose by 13.

The funny thing is that could legitimately happen

I know! It's not even that funny.

[youtube][/youtube]

[O_Gardino]

As mentioned in the game thread, it looks like Eric Bledsoe is out for the season with "knee soreness".

Here's some analysis from our optimistic friends at Bright Side. http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2017/ ... t-hot-seat

They seriously call out Brandon Knight for not playing yesterday, and praise Bled for the season he has had.

And here's some trouble mucking from ESPN. http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/1892 ... der-season

ESPN says that benching Bled is a management decision and was not the coaching staff or Erics decision.

[JCSunsfan]

Of course it's not a Bledsoe decision. Why would he want to sit so that we can get a better opportunity to draft Fultz or Ball and then send Eric packing?

[Mori Chu]

I'm fine with Bledsoe sitting. We were winning too many games lately, and Bledsoe does in fact have gimpy knees. It would be wise to rest him, whether we plan to keep him or trade him.

I do think that since the top 2 players in the draft are clearly PGs, it makes for an awkward situation for Bledsoe if we do get one of those picks. We essentially have to trade him if we get a top-2 lottery pick this spring. I would love to see that, but it would put pressure on us to move him as quickly as possible. We probably wouldn't get a great return for him given that every team in the league would know that we needed to trade him.

[pickle]

Damn it there goes my fantasy team.

[Superbone]

Damn it there goes my fantasy team.

Well, at least it's not the playoffs or anything.

[EDC]

Sitting Bledsoe is huge. The last thing we need is for him to go down with an injury. If we manage to get one of the top guards in the draft we have to be able to move Bledsoe.

[Cap]

Sitting Bledsoe is huge. The last thing we need is for him to go down with an injury. If we manage to get one of the top guards in the draft we have to be able to move Bledsoe.

It's not inconceivable we could keep him and run a guard rotation of Bleds, Booker and Fultz/Ball. (Ball would go better with the "Killer B's," I guess.) That would mean burying Ulis, which would be unfortunate, but not unthinkable. I don't think McD will feel pressured to accept a deal he doesn't like for Bledsoe just to guarantee Ulis a major role in the rotation.

[carey]

I heard a little bit of Gambo on Bickley's show today. Bledsoe isn't injured beyond a few bumps and nicks you get after 65 games. The order also came from above McDonough.

Everyone was miffed that Knight refused to play but Gambo said they shut Knight and Chandler down for the year. That they couldn't then go to him and ask him to play even though they did. Also said we are tanking and there's no need to sugar coat it.

[TOO]

So Sarver, of all people, is the one calling for the actual tank? Finally? Really?




Cool.

[pickle]

Damn it there goes my fantasy team.

Well, at least it's not the playoffs or anything.

Arghhhh. Smack in the middle of the playoffs I lose my second rounder. Just brilliant.