Suns News: Season Resumes

[Shabazz]

Lowe gives both Devin and Mikal some love here.

[Superbone]

I got an email from the NBA with a link to their bubble power rankings:

https://www.nba.com/powerrankings/2019-20-week-23

Started looking at it with anticipation to see how high up the Suns were. Started from 1 and kept going. I'm 16 teams out and I STILL don't see them. I finally see them at 19! I'm pissed. But then I noticed that this was made after only the first 2 games.

[specialsauce]

We're gonna have to brace ourselves , Saucy hot takes incoming
How can Monty/Jones still buy Kelly's antics as being a good teammate , figure they would be on to him by now

What do you think he’s gonna say, they don’t want him back?

Never said he’s not a good teammate. I don’t think he’s a smart player.

[Superbone]

Possible tampering violation by Draymond Green; will the NBA fine him?

https://sports.yahoo.com/draymond-green ... 39322.html

[INFORMER]

Players aren't subject to tampering rules.

[ShelC]

Won't post all the tweets, but definitely worth checking out the thread breaking down some of Ayton's plays on offense and defense

[In2ition]

I got an email from the NBA with a link to their bubble power rankings:

https://www.nba.com/powerrankings/2019-20-week-23

Started looking at it with anticipation to see how high up the Suns were. Started from 1 and kept going. I'm 16 teams out and I STILL don't see them. I finally see them at 19! I'm pissed. But then I noticed that this was made after only the first 2 games.

Haha, I got the same email yesterday and it was advertised as new Power Rankings, yet they were already 4 days old. I had the same reaction.

[bajanguy008]

[INFORMER]

Absent from that list is Mikal Bridges:

35.2 mpg
9 ppg
43.8% FGs
28.6% 3PTs
2 apg
1 tpg
1.5 spg
1 bpg

The usual spotty/low production offense has continued, but the defense has been tremendous.

[ShelC]

Good breakdown on Mikal's defensive impact

[INFORMER]

Interesting numbers. A few of things:

• Do the "contested" stats ignore the result of the shot attempt?

• I'm surprised to see Rui, Luka, and Aaron Gordon ranked so high on the 10' and below defended FG% (and higher than Bridges)

• The most meaningful stat for me is the defended FG% - Bridges ranks 3rd, which is fantastic

[INFORMER]

Also, there is some good stuff there in those numbers for the pro-Jerami Grant crowd.

[Split T]

I’d be curious what those numbers look like for the whole season. I’m glad Bridges is having a great bubble defensively, I wonder just how good he was all year.

[INFORMER]

I’d be curious what those numbers look like for the whole season. I’m glad Bridges is having a great bubble defensively, I wonder just how good he was all year.

Yep. It's great to see, but it is also just four games.

I think that is going to be a challenge for a lot of these teams, at least those that don't make the playoffs or over/underachieve: how much stock do you put in the bubble games? How do weigh them versus the pre-shutdown part of the season?

It will be interesting to see how teams/front offices respond...

[ShelC]

I'd imagine Rui, Luka and Gordon see more time at the 4 and are guarding those types, so they're defending closer to the basket?

4 games so far but we've some some good scorers including the scrimmages with Tatum, TJ, George, Kawhi. Luka went to work but got the benefit of a lot of calls. He's the only one who really went off against us. I feel like Mikal was defending well during the season but keeping a certain level of focus and intensity over 80 games is a different challenge.

I think for our young guys like Mikal and Cam, this has been almost a pro-type of Summer League. They basically had an offseason to get some work in, but instead of playing in SL against other younger players and journeyman FAs, they're getting real reps in games that count against legit NBA players. Not summer league, pickup games in gyms or pro-ams where guys are only working on offense and there's no defense. Cam had a quote where he said he's still a rookie based on the roster, but the break gave him time off to reflect and work on things. Given that he went thru 2/3s of a season already, this probably feels like the start of a 2nd season; except after this he and Mikal will have another offseason to work on things even more and use these games to build upon their foundations.

Barring a complete breakdown or major injury(injuries) we should be a good spot heading into next year. The frontcourt is concern with free agency but at least our core is coming together in Orlando.

[ShelC]

[Split T]

The Spurs game doesn’t change our control. Blazers game is huge though.

[Superbone]

[bajanguy008]

[Shabazz]