Game Day: Nuggets (2-0) @ Suns (2-1), Mon 10/14/19

[Superbone]

Odiase for three!

[Mori Chu]

Our garbage time guys have cut it to 101-95 with 2:28 left. It's a ballgame!

[Superbone]

6 point game with 2:28 to play.

[Aztec Sunsfan]

Okobo leading this group looks steady.

[Mori Chu]

One point game with a minute left!

[Superbone]

Timeout. 41.9 seconds remaining. Down 3 with the ball.

[Aztec Sunsfan]

Okobo gives and Okobo takes away

[Mori Chu]

Okobo misses a step-back hero-ball 3 that would have tied it. Ballgame. Should have run a play there.

[Superbone]

Okobo forced a 3. Ballgame.

[AmareIsGod]

Okobo. Barf.

[SDC]

not a good idea to start both oubre and bridges.

oubre needs to come off the bench, but play him more minutes than starters saric or mikal.

kelly is the fifth option in the starting five, but the first option in the second unit.

[ShelC]

Missed most of this one but caught the 1st and part of the 2nd qtr. I didn't think we played poorly, Denver's just better. Our offense looked quick with Rubio, Book and Ayton though you can tell they're trying to find their way. The 0.5 offense is great with roleplayers passing and cutting but there's gotta be a balance with your top players who may need the ball longer to set themselves or their teammates up.

Our interior defense is just going to be soft all year. Even when Ayton's near the basket, he's usually a non-factor. Rubio's really good on the perimeter, Booker looked especially good on D last night. Just gotta keep guys out of the paint.

I've seen some quotes from Monty after the game about Ayton needing to dominate both ends and be more assertive (we knew that) and he said there's more offensive packages/plays to come, especially for Devin but he wants to get the team offense going first so guys aren't overly reliant on Book.

[Flagrant Fowl]

I know it's not realistic, but if I were James Jones, I'd be quietly fielding offers for Ayton. Before anyone jumps down my throat, I'm not suggesting they should trade him tomorrow. He's just not untouchable in my eyes.

His lack of aggression and defensive awareness really bother me. I'm also not seeing the kind of improvement I was hoping for and I really question whether he's ever going to be an elite big man in the NBA.

Ultimately, I have doubts about him on a max contract in the future and I'm curious about the type of return the Suns could get for him in the next 12 months.

[ShelC]

I've had it in the back of my mind too. If Monty can't get it to click with Ayton and says as much to Jones, what do we do?

[Wally_West]

I know it's not realistic, but if I were James Jones, I'd be quietly fielding offers for Ayton. Before anyone jumps down my throat, I'm not suggesting they should trade him tomorrow. He's just not untouchable in my eyes.

His lack of aggression and defensive awareness really bother me. I'm also not seeing the kind of improvement I was hoping for and I really question whether he's ever going to be an elite big man in the NBA.

Ultimately, I have doubts about him on a max contract in the future and I'm curious about the type of return the Suns could get for him in the next 12 months.

...the season hasn’t even started yet.

[The Bobster]

I know it's not realistic, but if I were James Jones, I'd be quietly fielding offers for Ayton. Before anyone jumps down my throat, I'm not suggesting they should trade him tomorrow. He's just not untouchable in my eyes.

His lack of aggression and defensive awareness really bother me. I'm also not seeing the kind of improvement I was hoping for and I really question whether he's ever going to be an elite big man in the NBA.

Ultimately, I have doubts about him on a max contract in the future and I'm curious about the type of return the Suns could get for him in the next 12 months.

Ayton's preseason per-36 min stats - 67.7 FG%, 11.7 Reb, 3.0 Ast, 1.7 Blk, 24.6 Pnts
Last season's per-36 min stats - 58.5 FG%, 12.0 Reb, 2.1 Ast, 1.1 Blk, 19.1 Pnts

[carey]

Ayton still has elite footwork and vision for a big man. I'm going to give him time for the defensive instincts to click. All he needs to be is average on that end and the team would improve significantly.

[ShelC]

Wondering/hoping if we see some Ayton low post offense with shooters all around. I would've liked to have seen him and Jerome work together because I think they're a match made in heaven. Monty said we haven't seen the full offense so maybe when the season starts we'll get more quick hits in the post. Ayton with guys like Booker, Bridges, Cam, Frank, Dario, Jerome on the perimeter should be lethal.

[Mori Chu]

I have concerns about Ayton, too, but I want to give him this season at least. He is so young, and the things he's bad at are things he might be able to improve on with coaching and experience. I love how accurate he is on offense, and it feels like he could build on that by expanding his game in other areas. I especially want to see what he will do with a real PG throwing him great passes all year.

[Indy]

I don't remember who said this, but the fact that we hit more threes in 1 preseason game than we did in the other 3 combined says something. Let's hope it is saying something about our potential versus saying something about blind squirrels.