Phx-Suns.Net

Not too far away now, folks! The Booker injury has put a little dampening on the start of our season but hopefully he'll be back at least in early November. Training camp is at NAU from September 25-28 concluding with an "open practice" on Saturday, September 29th.

https://www.nba.com/suns/press-release/ ... mber-25-28

https://www.nba.com/suns/suns-host-open ... ht-you-nau

https://valleyofthesuns.com/2018/08/24/ ... t-excited/

I hope to see improvements out of the young guys and some evidence that this coaching staff is really as good as advertised in terms of player development. I was thinking about listing what I'd like to see out of all the young players, but as I went through the list mentally I realized that I want better focus on defense for all of our top players and game reps and confidence from the secondary guys like Bridges Okobo and Melton. So ... yeah. I'm cautiously excited.

This is one year when I REALLY wish I could go see the open practice.

Devin Booker 'praying' to return for Suns' season opener

https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/ ... 417194002/

https://twitter.com/esidery/status/1044663935889108992

it is so ironic how Harden keeps coming up when folks discuss Devin and now due to the hand issue he literally out there doing his best Beard simulation smh
https://twitter.com/esidery/status/1044667372399820801

https://twitter.com/esidery/status/1044671159789219840 I'm 100% buying into the hype, but I think we might be a decent team this year. I won't say playoffs because #westernconferenceproblems but we'll be entertaining and competitive. I think we're better than Sacramento, Dallas, Memphis, LAC(if they don't trade for Butler) and Minny (depending on what they get for Butler)

https://twitter.com/esidery/status/1044676364010319874

"Are you developing chemistry with Ayton?"
"Yes"

But I'm buying the hype as well. Still trying to wrap my head around our rotations. Hate to see my guy Bridges sitting on the bench.

Split T wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 25, 2018 12:50 pm

https://twitter.com/esidery/status/1044671159789219840 I'm 100% buying into the hype, but I think we might be a decent team this year. I won't say playoffs because #westernconferenceproblems but we'll be entertaining and competitive. I think we're better than Sacramento, Dallas, Memphis, LAC(if they don't trade for Butler) and Minny (depending on what they get for Butler)

Reminds me of Amare on that end. If he's a fast learner, we are in for a treat.

We are also better that Brookly, NY, Atlanta, Orlando, and maybe teams like Charlotte and Chicago.

We are going to draft somewhere around #10.

Ya I think we'd make the playoffs out east actually.

O_Gardino wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 25, 2018 1:01 pm

"Are you developing chemistry with Ayton?"
"Yes"

But I'm buying the hype as well. Still trying to wrap my head around our rotations. Hate to see my guy Bridges sitting on the bench.

Probably 11 man rotation with our 4 headed PG splitting 36 minutes somehow. I'd guess 2 of them get minutes.

PG: Shaq/Canaan - 18, Okobo/Melton - 18, Booker - 12
SG: Booker - 24, Bridges - 20, Jackson - 4
SF: Ariza - 28, Jackson - 20
PF: Anderson - 24 Warren - 24
C: Ayton - 30, Chandler/Holmes - 18

I don't see minutes for Reed, Daniels, or unfortunately, Bender. Holmes will play when Chandler sits.

Split T wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 25, 2018 12:06 pm

https://twitter.com/esidery/status/1044663935889108992

It's like he's playing on a nerf hoop. Reminds me of the other Deandre. Can't wait to see him in action.

Suns’ challenge in Flagstaff is making Kokoskov’s offense reactionary

http://arizonasports.com/story/1677116/ ... actionary/

“In many ways, it was the same way we played in Utah the last three years,” Kokoskov said of Phoenix’s offense. “We use that term ‘blender.’ Put them in a blender. Drive-and-kick and (an) extra pass … attacking from all different angles. Let ’em figure (it) out so it’s not one guy on a spotlight and everybody else standing and watching.

“When the ball is moving and bodies moving, it creates confusion. Now when the ball goes to Book’s hands or (Trevor) Ariza or any of the guys, he can put them in a blender. It’s not necessarily all spotlights and all lights are going to be on Booker. We don’t play that kind of basketball.”

“Constant movement,” Suns forward T.J. Warren said. “The ball’s finding the right guy every time down the floor, the ball’s not really sticking. It’s a fun offense when everybody’s touching the ball and everybody’s getting the shot they want.”

“Constant movement,” Suns forward T.J. Warren said. “The ball’s finding the right guy every time down the floor, the ball’s not really sticking. It’s a fun offense when everybody’s touching the ball and everybody’s getting the shot they want.”

I’m sure it’s a very fun offense when it doesn’t have to deal with an NBA defense.

Split T wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 25, 2018 1:04 pm

Ya I think we'd make the playoffs out east actually.

Restructuring the playoffs to the best 16 teams really needs to happen. The NBA has been progressive in many ways under Silver, but that one still lingers as a big head scratcher.

Split T wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 25, 2018 1:31 pm

O_Gardino wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 25, 2018 1:01 pm

"Are you developing chemistry with Ayton?"
"Yes"

But I'm buying the hype as well. Still trying to wrap my head around our rotations. Hate to see my guy Bridges sitting on the bench.

Probably 11 man rotation with our 4 headed PG splitting 36 minutes somehow. I'd guess 2 of them get minutes.

PG: Shaq/Canaan - 18, Okobo/Melton - 18, Booker - 12
SG: Booker - 24, Bridges - 20, Jackson - 4
SF: Ariza - 28, Jackson - 20
PF: Anderson - 24 Warren - 24
C: Ayton - 30, Chandler/Holmes - 18

I don't see minutes for Reed, Daniels, or unfortunately, Bender. Holmes will play when Chandler sits.

That would be a tough blow for Warren, Jackson, and Bender. It's going to be a tough blow for someone one way or another if we give 36 minutes to those PGs. It'll be interesting to see how Igor juggles it. Does he play point-booker? Does he give Bender backup center minutes? Does he play the veterans big minutes? Lot's of decisions for the coach.

Flagrant Fowl wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 25, 2018 3:41 pm

Split T wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 25, 2018 1:04 pm

Ya I think we'd make the playoffs out east actually.

Restructuring the playoffs to the best 16 teams really needs to happen. The NBA has been progressive in many ways under Silver, but that one still lingers as a big head scratcher.

This would be tough, as you would have to deal with a lot of politics. You would get a lot of griping if the 11 of the top 16 teams were in the West or vice versa. Then you would also have to develop a balanced schedule where you are essentially playing everyone 3 times regardless of conference, but then it would add games to the overall schedule and they don't want to do that. They could have some expansion, bring back the Sonics, maybe a team in KC and Vegas and then set it up as 2 games against each team to come close to 82 games. They could also add teams to the playoff number and make the first round a single elimination game, like the WNBA did this year.

O_Gardino wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 25, 2018 4:04 pm

Split T wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 25, 2018 1:31 pm

O_Gardino wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 25, 2018 1:01 pm

"Are you developing chemistry with Ayton?"
"Yes"

But I'm buying the hype as well. Still trying to wrap my head around our rotations. Hate to see my guy Bridges sitting on the bench.

Probably 11 man rotation with our 4 headed PG splitting 36 minutes somehow. I'd guess 2 of them get minutes.

PG: Shaq/Canaan - 18, Okobo/Melton - 18, Booker - 12
SG: Booker - 24, Bridges - 20, Jackson - 4
SF: Ariza - 28, Jackson - 20
PF: Anderson - 24 Warren - 24
C: Ayton - 30, Chandler/Holmes - 18

I don't see minutes for Reed, Daniels, or unfortunately, Bender. Holmes will play when Chandler sits.

That would be a tough blow for Warren, Jackson, and Bender. It's going to be a tough blow for someone one way or another if we give 36 minutes to those PGs. It'll be interesting to see how Igor juggles it. Does he play point-booker? Does he give Bender backup center minutes? Does he play the veterans big minutes? Lot's of decisions for the coach.

Someone's gotta lose minutes. 24 each for Warren and Jackson seems fair. In reality, whoever produces will get the minutes. If the PG's aren't playing well, you'll probably see more point Booker and more minutes for our wings

O_Gardino wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 25, 2018 4:04 pm

Does he give Bender backup center minutes?

I can answer that one for you. No. He already said Bender is strictly a PF. Maybe in a small ball lineup.