Game Day: Suns (39-28) @ Celtics (44-23), Mon 3/16/26

[virtual9mm]

Half court execution in the clutch is a problem. Lost the game in the end but unbelievable to that point.

[The Bobster]

The Suns' last field goal came at 4:46 left in the game.

Boston outscored 14-2 down thee stretch.

[ShelC]

Book can't handle pressure defense, needed CG out there IMO to get the ball out of Book's hands and get him open for shots.

[SunsRIt]

Ott really needs to figure out end-of-game offense. They haven’t hit a field goal in almost 5 minutes. ISO ball doesn’t work.

[Flagrant Fowl]

Just not enough fire power to match the Celtics.

[AmareIsGod]

Rookies played some good playoff minutes
Book was back to being flamethrower Book minus the 3
The role players were doing their Gary Payton thing
I like this active on defense Jalen Green and he does some unbelievable things on offense

The Celtics shot the ball phenomenally well (past tense, trying to jinx them)
The ball sticks when Jalen Green plays hero ball

The ball sticks or gets turned over when Booker plays hero ball in the 4th. Tired of Green getting called out lately when it's Booker, irregardless of a great 3 quarters, playing careless bullshit basketball in the 4th. I'd rather see Green penetrating in those plays. Book is so fucking careless late in the game with the ball. You trap him and he's almost guaranteed to do some dumb bullshit.

[SunsRIt]

Rookies played some good playoff minutes
Book was back to being flamethrower Book minus the 3
The role players were doing their Gary Payton thing
I like this active on defense Jalen Green and he does some unbelievable things on offense

The Celtics shot the ball phenomenally well (past tense, trying to jinx them)
The ball sticks when Jalen Green plays hero ball

The ball sticks or gets turned over when Booker plays hero ball in the 4th. Tired of Green getting called out lately when it's Booker, irregardless of a great 3 quarters, playing careless bullshit basketball in the 4th. I'd rather see Green penetrating in those plays. Book is so fucking careless late in the game with the ball. You trap him and he's almost guaranteed to do some dumb bullshit.

I don’t think Book is careless with it, the other teams know what is coming and double or triple him and he can’t get to to the open player.

[AmareIsGod]

Rookies played some good playoff minutes
Book was back to being flamethrower Book minus the 3
The role players were doing their Gary Payton thing
I like this active on defense Jalen Green and he does some unbelievable things on offense

The Celtics shot the ball phenomenally well (past tense, trying to jinx them)
The ball sticks when Jalen Green plays hero ball

The ball sticks or gets turned over when Booker plays hero ball in the 4th. Tired of Green getting called out lately when it's Booker, irregardless of a great 3 quarters, playing careless bullshit basketball in the 4th. I'd rather see Green penetrating in those plays. Book is so fucking careless late in the game with the ball. You trap him and he's almost guaranteed to do some dumb bullshit.

I don’t think Book is careless with it, the other teams know what is coming and double or triple him and he can’t get to to the open player.

So stop trying the same stupid shit in the 4th quarter. If other teams know what's coming and double or triple team him, as fans, we see it. But we keep doing the same stupid thing, having him force himself into double and triple teams and traps. Colin, Green, anybody else. I'm tired of seeing 4 straight possessions where he gets stuck in a double team and throws it away or has it picked.

[AmareIsGod]

I think I'm also ignoring the fact that they were definitely hacking the shit out of us there late with no calls. Just been a tiring and shitty stretch lately at work. Taking it out on Booker and the Suns.

[SunsRIt]

I think I'm also ignoring the fact that they were definitely hacking the shit out of us there late with no calls. Just been a tiring and shitty stretch lately at work. Taking it out on Booker and the Suns.

I get that. I don’t understand why the refs whistle seems like it has been against the Suns for decades. Nash used to get beat up and so did KJ.

[The Bobster]

O'Neale, Ighodaro & Gillespie -

vs. Toronto - 78 minutes, 4/15 FG, 11 points, 15 rebounds, 6 assists
vs. Boston - 75 minutes, 5/17 FG, 13 points, 9 rebounds, 12 assists

You have to get more out of your other three starters.

[LazarusLong]

Great defensive rotations for the Suns when Highsmith and Goodwin were in at the same time.
I realize he had 40, but Booker needs to play smarter on offense and find teammates -- Celtics were pressuring him and he made some mistakes.

Not too disappointed in the loss. Boston looks solid with Tatum back and has a good chance to overtake Detroit in the East.

[The Bobster]

And they really need Williams back in the paint. Oso just doesn't make anybody think twice about attacking the basket.

[LazarusLong]

O'Neale, Ighodaro & Gillespie -

vs. Toronto - 78 minutes, 4/15 FG, 11 points, 15 rebounds, 6 assists
vs. Boston - 75 minutes, 5/17 FG, 13 points, 9 rebounds, 12 assists

You have to get more out of your other three starters.

Oso is a default starter. He's not going to get the team a bunch of points (especially given his struggles with foul shots).
Gillespie has struggled mightily. Maybe sit him and give more minutes to other guards.
O'Neale may see his minutes decrease given Highsmith's output tonight.

[Uncle_Gene]

Tough loss.

If Mark and Dillon were available, this is a Suns win.

[The Bobster]

O'Neale, Ighodaro & Gillespie -

vs. Toronto - 78 minutes, 4/15 FG, 11 points, 15 rebounds, 6 assists
vs. Boston - 75 minutes, 5/17 FG, 13 points, 9 rebounds, 12 assists

You have to get more out of your other three starters.

Oso is a default starter. He's not going to get the team a bunch of points (especially given his struggles with foul shots).
Gillespie has struggled mightily. Maybe sit him and give more minutes to other guards.
O'Neale may see his minutes decrease given Highsmith's output tonight.

I'd be totally fine with them moving O'Neale in the offseason and giving his minutes to Fleming and Highsmith.

Also, watching the postgame show feature on the '76 Suns and it made it hit home how many of the guys who were so integral to their success are gone now - Westphal, Van Arsdale, MacLeod, Bianchi, and of course, Al McCoy. Good to see Perry, Heard and Adams, but I wish they had Sobers, Erickson and Awtrey in there too.

[Superbone]

Almost pulled off a reverse Toronto. Celtics got to 100 with about 8 minutes left and then the Suns came storming back and took the lead. Unfortunately, just like in Toronto, soon after that we couldn't score any more to end the game. Still proud of the guys. They played the nearly full strength Celtics much tighter than I had even hoped for.

[Danimal]

So Ott doing his best Vogel impression and just leaving it up to iso again? Or was it channeling Phil Jackson and letting the players sort it out. He is showing hiw green he is lately at just the wrong time. What’s the word again if you try the same crap over again and it doesn’t work?

[ShelC]

Postgame Quotes and Videos

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[ShelC]

Frustrating loss, frustrating late-game execution, frustrating officiating. Still, we were in a position to win as we have been most games. Maybe we have "new" guys like Green and Highsmith we need to learn how to win with but like the Raps loss, we're not really in a position to try new things right now. I think we need a steady hand out there at PG even tho some still think PointBook is a good option. I know some don't like Dunn but I don't think he should be seeing DNPs when we're getting torched by bigger wings.

Good news is the Rockets lost and we play the Wolves without Ant Edwards so we can maybe make up some ground. Just feels like some missed opportunities lately.