Game Day: Suns (29-39) vs Pacers (42-26), Thu 8/6/20

[Superbone]

Cam Johnson now +37

Whoa! That's surprising with so many missed 3s but he made up for it with the little things.

[Superbone]

Booker is dad dicking now.

I have no idea what this means

I'm glad I wasn't the only one.

[Superbone]

Ayton 23 points on 11-18 shooting, 10 boards, and 4 blocks. I often find myself feeling like Ayton has a big impact when he's out there, regardless of the eventual stats.

Imagine if he started dunking the ball and started being aggressive!

[Superbone]

Sounds like the Suns were performing some Cam Payne finance reform!

Thanks for coming through on that one!

[Superbone]

I love your delayed play by play Bone. I get to relive the game a 2nd time. It's only really fun when they win though.

Yeah, very true. It would be adding insult to injury.

[Superbone]

Back to 10 with 7 min left.

‘Bone is gonna get a happy ending. Wait...

In more ways than you'll ever know!

[Superbone]

Smh lol at 'Bone
I'm about to watch it over on Pacers broadcast tho

Oh! Thanks for reminding me. These are the games that are so fun to watch the opposing broadcast. Can't wait to hear them get excited about 3 threes in a row, poor bastards.

[Superbone]

Cam J really struggling today.

+36 in 36 minutes is pretty damn good.

I was strictly talking about shooting.

[Superbone]

I have such a bad feeling about this game

I do too. It feels like an "L" is coming.

How dare anyone say they don't expect the Suns to win every game...

Right?! Hey, I'm just having fun with INF's patented eye roll. It's all in good fun. I think INF knows that.

[Split T]

Just now watching. The 2nd half run just happened. We’ve found our backup pg. I love Payne.

[Wally_West]

If anybody wants more Phoenix basketball, the Mercury are playing on espnnews. They just went on a 24-2 run to end the 1st quarter.

[Aztec Sunsfan]

I have such a bad feeling about this game

I do too. It feels like an "L" is coming.

How dare anyone say they don't expect the Suns to win every game...

I like to imagine 8 impossible things before the end of regular season...

[Flagrant Fowl]

What'll probably end up happening is the Suns will lose a game that everyone thinks is a likely win because the opposing team has injuries or is resting players.

[Nodack]

What an exciting time! The Cinderella Suns Keep surprising everyone. Seems like every game the Suns average 10 point lead for most of the game and have been countering every run by their opposition with their own. Every time we get in foul trouble and things look like they are going bad the bench steps up and holds the lead. Bridges has been locking down opposing stars as good as anyone can. Rubio’s shooting has been pretty good. Ayton got burned a couple times by guards driving by him and laying it up on the opposite side of the rim. The third time it was blocked by Ayton and led to a slam dunk in traffic by Ayton. This team is maturing before our eyes. Really liking Payne.

It sure is a lot more fun when they don’t suck.

[jonh]

It sure is a lot more fun when they don’t suck.

Forget this “Time to Rise” crap, this should be the slogan for next season.

[ShelC]

Gritty game that felt uneven throughout. We started things off really smoothly on offense but let the Pacers get to the basket whenever they wanted. I don't know if it was the defensive gameplan or what but it felt like we were playing way up on guys when we should've laid off a bit. I believe we started Bridges on TJ which was the right move. TJ started 0-3 I think and Bridges made life tough on him throughout the game. He eventually went on a little run but was contained most the game finishing 6-17.

When our shots weren't falling, they were able to claw their way back in near the half and into the 3rd qtr. It wasn't that their offense was so great but more that our offense just wasn't clicking to match. Everything kind of felt out sync after that great start. Luckily, Payne brought it in the 3rd and we got our confidence back through him and Dario. I don't think the Pacers were ever really a threat after that 3rd qtr. They got close in the 4th but then Monty got Book back in to seal the deal.

Ayton had another great statline yet I found myself frustrated with his play most of the game. I don't mind that he doesn't dunk it but he's just weak around the basket. Brings the ball down too low, got stripped probably 3 times, fumbled a few passes, gets boxed out or pushed out of the lane on boards. 4 Pacers are around the basket waiting for the rebound and Ayton's standing at the FT line. It's just annoying. They go on their run and it's Payne, not Ayton, who becomes the difference maker. We need to be able to rely on him for certain parts of the game and he's just not there yet.

Book got into foul trouble in the 3rd which he needs to do a better job avoiding. There was an offensive foul that was very questionable and then he tried taking a charge on a fastbreak that seemed like he tried out of frustration/immaturity. But like I said previously, it was a blessing in disguise because it kept his minutes down to 29-30 and didn't cost us the game. 20 and 10 assists and his playmaking in Orlando seems to have taken the next step. Of course, having better players around him also helps.

Rubio was Rubio with 13-4-4, got burned a bit on defense by overplaying but was again the steady hand down the stretch and only played 26 minutes. Bridges locked down TJ which we all wanted to see. Cam another very solid game with 14 and 12 plus 3 assists and a +36. Good to see him still contributing even when the shot isn't all the way there.

Payne and Dario were the MVPs of the game tho. They saved us in the 3rd, Cam from the outside with his 3s and Dario working inside for 16 and 8 and got to the line 8 times. He was really going to work in the paint and it felt like he was finally getting some calls from the refs. Payne 6-9 from the field and 3-5 from 3 with 3 boards and 3 assists in 22 minutes. He's hot right now and knocking down shots but I feel like he's one bad shooting night away from us hating him lol. Still, he's running the team, pushing the pace, and keeping things moving so if/when his shot isn't falling, he's not a total negative out there. Carter gave us some good minutes again with his energy and defense. Shot wasn't falling but still a +4.

Overall, we should've beaten the Pacers. Outside of Brogdan, DIpo, TJ and Turner their roster is thin. They're well coached, play hard, execute but we just have more talent right now IMO. If Sabonis were playing it might be a different story. But we handled their run and pushed thru even when the 3s weren't dropping.

On to Miami...

[ShelC]

Payne's 3s





Bridges getting to the basket





Book's Assists

[ShelC]

Here's postgame - I like what Monty says about the guy's doing what they need to to "get back to full"

[bajanguy008]

Actually got this quote from the Pacers broadcast
"He's having quite the Campaign for next season"

[Oatmeal]

Actually got this quote from the Pacers broadcast
"He's having quite the Campaign for next season"

If he reverts to previous levels of suckage, can we call him Sham Payne?