Game Day: Kings (1-2) @ Suns (0-3), Mon 10/23/17

[iLLmatic]

Ideally, I would prefer to start Jackson and bring Warren off the bench, as I think the 6th man role is his destiny in the NBA, but we can get there in time. Make Jackson earn it.

Jackson's first game under Triano: 24 min, 15 pts, 5 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl, 6-8 FG. Keeps that up and he'll earn it in no time.

Warren's going to kill my prediction. He's been playing like poop so far this year, I'm hoping he's just rounding out into basketball shape again.

[In2ition]

Koufas either needs to go all in on the propecia or just give up.

LMAO! So cruel, but so funny because it's true.

[ShelC]

Don't think this was posted anywhere but love reading this:

“Possibly the threat of not playing,” Triano said, referring to what he saw from Chriss that he didn’t in previous games. “That’s still one of the biggest things for these guys. Despite how much money they make, they want to play the game. I told all of the players, if I don’t see an energy level to my standards, I’m going to get subs in. We’re going to play at a high level, we’re going to be energized, and if you don’t play that way, I’ll find someone that will.”

[Superbone]

I rewatched the first quarter and our defense was very good. It's just about effort and a little bit of smarts and helping each other out. Not sure why they couldn't do that to start the season.

[Mori Chu]

It was good for our morale to get a win. But I didn't like how Chandler got so many minutes; would rather see Len in for longer stretches.

As well as Mike James is playing, I still don't really like the flow of the offense when he's out there. He looks to shoot/attack first too much for my taste, and too often he takes jumpers rather than finding the open man or setting up a play. But I agree that he is basically doing exactly the same stuff that Bledsoe does, probably about 80-90% as well, for a minimum salary. So it just shows how expendable a guy like Bledsoe really is.

I'm worried about TJ Warren. He showed some signs early this season but now he's had a few awful games. He seems to just kind of float out there and doesn't assert himself. I don't know what the problem is. He also seems prone to nagging injuries.

I keep watching for signs from Bender. I think there's talent and potential there, and I really want coach to find minutes for the guy. I think he does really badly in small stretches and needs to be out there longer to just get comfortable. He makes a lot of goofy mistakes, passing the ball out of bounds, bobbling a catch, dribbling the ball off his foot. I want to see him get more minutes so we can see if he finds a comfort level the same way Chriss found his last year after he got extended minutes.

[AmareIsGod]

As well as Mike James is playing, I still don't really like the flow of the offense when he's out there. He looks to shoot/attack first too much for my taste, and too often he takes jumpers rather than finding the open man or setting up a play. But I agree that he is basically doing exactly the same stuff that Bledsoe does, probably about 80-90% as well, for a minimum salary. So it just shows how expendable a guy like Bledsoe really is.

Disagree. He looked much better than Bledsoe. He was playing defense with effort and actively trying to involve his teammates. He had some fantastic pick and roll passes. That dish to Jackson in the first was a thing of beauty. Bledsoe was playing defense with no effort, letting his man score at will and never was a good facilitator. When has he ever ran a solid pick and roll? I've yet to see it.

[virtual9mm]

The offense looked so much better last night and apparently they had more of a camp than shoot-a-round yesterday morning. Now this begs the question, Why didn't Triano put this in place in the offseason, training camp or pre-season? Wasn't he in charge of the offense? I know Triano couldn't be more complimentary and thankful to Watson, he even said that he felt like he failed Watson. So, was Watson holding him back on the changes he thought should take place? Did he hold out on Watson, letting him fail and fall on his face? Maybe it's none of the above.

A lot of it is on the PG. If Triano were preaching a motion offense, and if the ball stopped with the PG, it would be hard to avoid one-on-one ball.

It was amazing how Chriss of all people did so many touch passes. They had to have practiced it. Just that players either didn't respect Watson and his calls -- or that the ball stuck with Bledsoe -- or both.

[virtual9mm]

It was good for our morale to get a win. But I didn't like how Chandler got so many minutes; would rather see Len in for longer stretches.

As well as Mike James is playing, I still don't really like the flow of the offense when he's out there. He looks to shoot/attack first too much for my taste, and too often he takes jumpers rather than finding the open man or setting up a play. But I agree that he is basically doing exactly the same stuff that Bledsoe does, probably about 80-90% as well, for a minimum salary. So it just shows how expendable a guy like Bledsoe really is.

I'm worried about TJ Warren. He showed some signs early this season but now he's had a few awful games. He seems to just kind of float out there and doesn't assert himself. I don't know what the problem is. He also seems prone to nagging injuries.

I keep watching for signs from Bender. I think there's talent and potential there, and I really want coach to find minutes for the guy. I think he does really badly in small stretches and needs to be out there longer to just get comfortable. He makes a lot of goofy mistakes, passing the ball out of bounds, bobbling a catch, dribbling the ball off his foot. I want to see him get more minutes so we can see if he finds a comfort level the same way Chriss found his last year after he got extended minutes.

I thought that James was fine, he passed when he had a man open. It was reminiscent of KJ how he drove, collapsed the defense and handed the ball off to Chris for open Dunks.

Bender also looked fine. He made a turnover or two but he was fairly aggressive. Keep on playing this way and the shot will come.

[djy2j]

"Marty [Mori Chu]"]It was good for our morale to get a win. But I didn't like how Chandler got so many minutes; would rather see Len in for longer stretches

I think Len would have stayed in longer but he picks/picked up dumb fouls. They mentioned it as well during the game that they wanted him to be able to play in longer stretches.[/quote]

[EDC]

Mike James sure knows this is his one shot and he is smart enough to play team ball to take advantage of it.

That drive and shot over Fox at the end was beautiful.

If we can get consistent play like this out of him, then a lot of possibilities open up as we trade Bledsoe. We do not have to get a pg back. One good player could really make a difference, especially a good defensive rebounding center.

The offense just flowed so much better with both James and Ulis than when Bledsoe was running things.

No question. It was great to see the ball moving and guys moving. I think Chriss got more touches tonight than he did all season last year. We are going to have a lot of turnovers as we get used to this new effort, but it will be worth it.

Was nice to see them actually involve Chriss in the pick and roll. It is amazing how often we would just give up on the offense in the past and go with the center setting a pick for a guard while everyone else stands around. Looked completely different out there last night. They would get the ball on the side and run a pick and roll there instead of just doing the weave back to the top of the key.

I really don't understand how the same system being run under a different coach with only one practice in between could result in such a different flow to the offense. It really is mind boggling. What instructions was Watson giving them?

[bajanguy008]

Some might not recognize the person's Twitter handle but he is just a fantasy league writer and a fan of Marquese "skill set" but still a proper source for the quotes
https://twitter.com/MikeSGallagher/status/922683189948137473

Chriss also said that they didn't run much plays last night, calling it "organized chaos". Defense is about energy as much as it is smarts/schemes and it was obvious the team was simply hustling more last night and it seems that on O it wasn't about the plays but guys just being more focused which for me only confirms that the team had just checked out and stop responding to Watson more than it being system flaws. Big at the high post, running pick n roll and getting driving lanes to attack and kick is as basic as you can get in the game, the guys were simply legit trying in my opinion. Interested to see how they play tomorrow as most of us did expect some kinda response in the first game after the Firing.

[O_Gardino]

The offense looked so much better last night and apparently they had more of a camp than shoot-a-round yesterday morning. Now this begs the question, Why didn't Triano put this in place in the offseason, training camp or pre-season? Wasn't he in charge of the offense? I know Triano couldn't be more complimentary and thankful to Watson, he even said that he felt like he failed Watson. So, was Watson holding him back on the changes he thought should take place? Did he hold out on Watson, letting him fail and fall on his face? Maybe it's none of the above.

A lot of it is on the PG. If Triano were preaching a motion offense, and if the ball stopped with the PG, it would be hard to avoid one-on-one ball.

It was amazing how Chriss of all people did so many touch passes. They had to have practiced it. Just that players either didn't respect Watson and his calls -- or that the ball stuck with Bledsoe -- or both.

Agree on all counts.

About the PG needing to run the coach's system or it wont succeed: that's doubly true when the PG is your "best player" and "team leader" and "locker room presence."

[O_Gardino]

It was good for our morale to get a win. But I didn't like how Chandler got so many minutes; would rather see Len in for longer stretches

I think Len would have stayed in longer but he picks/picked up dumb fouls. They mentioned it as well during the game that they wanted him to be able to play in longer stretches.

Fouls and turnovers kept Len out. But you could see that Chandler wasn't as effective down the stretch. He got something like 13 rebounds in the first 3 quarters and 1 in the 4th.

We needed the win. I expect that in games where we are farther behind or farther ahead, Len will get minutes and learn to play through foul trouble. And I really hope Triano can teach the team to set thier feet when setting a screen.

[In2ition]

Mike James sure knows this is his one shot and he is smart enough to play team ball to take advantage of it.

That drive and shot over Fox at the end was beautiful.

If we can get consistent play like this out of him, then a lot of possibilities open up as we trade Bledsoe. We do not have to get a pg back. One good player could really make a difference, especially a good defensive rebounding center.

The offense just flowed so much better with both James and Ulis than when Bledsoe was running things.

No question. It was great to see the ball moving and guys moving. I think Chriss got more touches tonight than he did all season last year. We are going to have a lot of turnovers as we get used to this new effort, but it will be worth it.

Was nice to see them actually involve Chriss in the pick and roll. It is amazing how often we would just give up on the offense in the past and go with the center setting a pick for a guard while everyone else stands around. Looked completely different out there last night. They would get the ball on the side and run a pick and roll there instead of just doing the weave back to the top of the key.

I really don't understand how the same system being run under a different coach with only one practice in between could result in such a different flow to the offense. It really is mind boggling. What instructions was Watson giving them?

He was probably talking philosophy to them to death, they must have missed the "basketball" instruction.

[O_Gardino]

I once had a boss who was a big talker, but he didn't really get the technical aspects of my job. He would talk nonsense at me, then I would go out and figure out the work myself. Then he would take credit for my work.

So I know how the players felt under Watson, and I know how impossible it is to stay motivated under those circumstances.

[JCSunsfan]

I really don't understand how the same system being run under a different coach with only one practice in between could result in such a different flow to the offense. It really is mind boggling. What instructions was Watson giving them?

I think its several things. You had Mike James with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to start, and he was dead sure that ball was going to move. Chriss got to start again and was motivated. Then there is Tyson Chandler. In the first three games, he was just plain horrible. He was clearly disinterested. It almost looked like a rebellion against Watson. There is no doubt that Watson had just lost them.

Triano said in his interview this morning that he told the players he was going to substitute freely and often. He wanted them to go all out and then he would pull them and let them rest. He did not want anyone trying to pace themselves on the court.

I have noticed over the years that Bledsoe is just plain a walk it up type of pg. He will let the ball roll and pick it up. He rarely pushes a break. I think he lacks cardio conditioning or maybe he just does not have good natural cardio stamina.

[ShelC]

It's just his style of play. Even when he's jogging the ball up, he's not pushing it and putting pressure on the D to get back. Ulis and James both do that naturally. That's why I've said Bledsoe needs a halfcourt, Xs and Os type of coach to let him walk it up and call out plays with a set offense. Bledsoe isn't a running, probing, make-something-out-of-nothing PG.

[Superbone]

Mike James sure knows this is his one shot and he is smart enough to play team ball to take advantage of it.

That drive and shot over Fox at the end was beautiful.

If we can get consistent play like this out of him, then a lot of possibilities open up as we trade Bledsoe. We do not have to get a pg back. One good player could really make a difference, especially a good defensive rebounding center.

The offense just flowed so much better with both James and Ulis than when Bledsoe was running things.

No question. It was great to see the ball moving and guys moving. I think Chriss got more touches tonight than he did all season last year. We are going to have a lot of turnovers as we get used to this new effort, but it will be worth it.

Was nice to see them actually involve Chriss in the pick and roll. It is amazing how often we would just give up on the offense in the past and go with the center setting a pick for a guard while everyone else stands around. Looked completely different out there last night. They would get the ball on the side and run a pick and roll there instead of just doing the weave back to the top of the key.

I really don't understand how the same system being run under a different coach with only one practice in between could result in such a different flow to the offense. It really is mind boggling. What instructions was Watson giving them?

Don't forget a different player running it. I really think that was the main difference.

[Aztec Sunsfan]

I especially love Triano's comments after the game. He thought we lost energy due to not being in shape. He thought it hurt us on defense and caused some of the turnovers. He basically said that they cannot play the way he wants to play without getting in better shape. Wow, I have been waiting for that from a head coach for a very long time.

Go Suns

WAIT!!!

Nothing about Family? It feels weird.

[Superbone]

Quotes from the game:

“I don’t think anybody came out and played for themselves," rookie forward Josh Jackson said. "Everybody came out and played for each other and it showed.”

Triano said there might have been another reason for Chriss’ production.

“Possibly the threat of not playing,” he said. “... I told all the players, ‘If I don’t see an energy level to my standards I’m going to get subs in. We’re going to play at a high level, we’re going to be energized and if you don’t play that way I’ll find someone that will.’ ”

"Guys are going to get rewarded for playing the way we want to play," Triano said.

The Suns responded to Triano’s adjustments so quickly that they built a 36-17 first-quarter lead. It was the biggest lead after one quarter since February 25, 2011, when Phoenix led Toronto 35-14. The coach of the Raptors back then: None other than Triano.

“I’m happy for our players,” Triano said. “What they’ve gone through the last couple of days, trying to learn this morning at shootaround. It was more of a clinic than a shootaround. Just trying to get new concepts in and for the most part I feel like we did a pretty good job of trying to apply them.”

“Today was definitely a step forward for us,” said Booker.