Game Day (Preseason): Suns (1-0) vs Nets (1-0), Fri 10/10/25

[Superbone]

Time: 5:00 am AZ (5:00 am PT/8:00 am ET)
Place: Venetian Arena, Macao, China
TV: AZ Family's Sports, NBATV

The Suns play the first of two games in Macao, China, against the Nets as part of the 2025 NBA China Games. Yeah, you saw that right, the game starts at 5 am AZ time Friday morning. Should be another good chance for the Suns to run their new sets along with their new identity. Pick up full court on defense and a motion offense with lots of grit and grime. Let's go!

https://www.nba.com/gamenotes/nets.pdf
https://www.nba.com/gamenotes/suns.pdf

Go Suns!!!

Dis • cuss

[Superbone]

Here's the deal with the local broadcast:

It will be live at 5 am on Arizona Family's Sports (44.2 on my guide) which is a different channel than the regular Arizona's Family TV (3.1 on my guide). It will then be re-broadcast on Arizona's Family TV at 7 pm. And then the same deal on Sunday except the game starts at 4 am on Arizona Family's Sports (44.2).

[ShelC]

Had to put a reminder in my phone so I don't miss it. Nice way to start a Friday.

[ShelC]

Suns ice cold to start, Nets are blazing hot. The effort is there but the shots aren't falling, we're also not working for great or easy shots. Oso with some aggression off the dribble but no one else is really a threat to score and we're not getting the ball to Book enough. Also thought Ott should've called a TO sooner than he did just to regroup, stop the Net's momentum and maybe give the guys a breather. That's one of things I'll be watching for with him and the staff - knowing when to take TOs, making adjustments thru the ebbs and flows of the game.

[bajanguy008]

Wow
Wanted to peep the 1st quarter fore leaving home but it's been brutal

Nets energy is in 1000
We not matching and can't buy a bucket

[carey]

Oof. Playing like crap. I have to head off to work, but was hoping for a little better showing than what they are giving right now.

[Gladiator]

Yep, not a good start at all for the Suns. They got some decent looks but didn’t drop early - but mainly from the mid range (and very few of the kind of shots they would like to be creating). Defense was non exisitant in the opening exchanges - Nets just doing whatever they wanted.

[Gladiator]

Much better energy and intensity from the second unit to finish the first quarter. Gillespie’s shot is pure

[ShelC]

Finished the qtr strong and the Nets cooled off. We kept the energy and hustle up tho which is a good sign. Good minutes from Richards and CG was solid. Book came out with about 2-3 minutes left in the quarter. Subs now are CG, Royce, NHD, Richards and I think Fleming.

[bajanguy008]

As others said
Much better in the last 4mins or so

My only concern is yes the Nets shooting was unsustainable but they also got into the paint too much which isn't ideal

[The Bobster]

Through 16 Miniutes -

Ighodaro -20
Richards +8

[Gladiator]

Don’t like this line-up to start the second at all. This is where Green as a shot creator would be handy.

[Gladiator]

Through 16 Miniutes -

Ighodaro -20
Richards +8

They really need Williams to stay healthy to be competitive. Richards is a perfectly good bench 5. I know we want Oso to be good, but he would be in the bottom 5 starting Centers in the league unfortunately, if that was what we rolled out in real games. Williams, Richards and whatever extra we got from Oso/Maluach is a good centre rotation. Take Williams out and it’s a bit grim for this season.

[The Bobster]

Through 16 Miniutes -

Ighodaro -20
Richards +8

They really need Williams to stay healthy to be competitive. Richards is a perfectly good bench 5. I know we want Oso to be good, but he would be in the bottom 5 starting Centers in the league unfortunately, if that was what we rolled out in real games. Williams, Richards and whatever extra we got from Oso/Maluach is a good centre rotation. Take Williams out and it’s a bit grim for this season.

Ighodaro isn't a rotation player on a good team.

[Gladiator]

I think Oso could be a decent 8th/9th player on a good team but you need a specific roster around him which we don’t have - mainly more size overall and a 3-point shooting 5 who’s also good on D. So not many teams for Oso and not ours as currently constructed

[The Bobster]

Gillespie was their top rebounder in the first half with 4, and they were outrebounded 22-12. That's a problem.

And this is what it's going to look like on the nights when Booker takes the night off offensively.

Brooks, Gillespie and Richards stood out in the first half. Dunn and Allen were OK. Everybody else, meh.

[Mori Chu]

It's wild to wake up at 6am and turn on a Suns game. Halftime right now. Booker really quiet so far, only 6 points.

[Mori Chu]

Huge run for the Suns! Now we're within 2. Just like that, Booker is already up to 13 points and looks much sharper.

Side note: In two preseason games so far, it feels like we are in for a LOT of Dillon Brooks. He doesn't seem shy about letting it fly and trying to basically run plays. I like him, and we may actually need that this year, but I think in general it isn't a winning strategy to depend on him for so much / let him do so much.

On Oso as starting center: I'm not sure about this one. I like Oso a lot, but I don't buy into the idea of, "starter gets injured, so make the 3rd stringer the starter so that the bench guy can stay the bench guy and doesn't alter his routine." Nick Richards is a way better starting center than Oso. Just start him. Oso will be fine helping anchor the bench.

[virtual9mm]

Up to halftime. Agree that Gillespie and Brooks have been very, very good. I'm also liking Dunn and Maluach -- still a big kid growing into himself. Once he starts growing some fast twitch muscles, he'll be just fine.

Oso just isn't a C in the league. He just doesn't have the lower body strength. If he could ever shoot, he would be an all-star at PF.

[ShelC]

Huge run for the Suns! Now we're within 2. Just like that, Booker is already up to 13 points and looks much sharper.

Side note: In two preseason games so far, it feels like we are in for a LOT of Dillon Brooks. He doesn't seem shy about letting it fly and trying to basically run plays. I like him, and we may actually need that this year, but I think in general it isn't a winning strategy to depend on him for so much / let him do so much.

On Oso as starting center: I'm not sure about this one. I like Oso a lot, but I don't buy into the idea of, "starter gets injured, so make the 3rd stringer the starter so that the bench guy can stay the bench guy and doesn't alter his routine." Nick Richards is a way better starting center than Oso. Just start him. Oso will be fine helping anchor the bench.

Yea I said in another post that I was fearful of Brooks thinking he's a top offensive option because of the roster and that we probably won't be any good. He needs to stay in his role.

I'm good with Oso starting in preseason and Nick coming off the bench. It keeps Nick in his role and used to when he's coming into the game. He knows what to expect and how to prep. No adjustment needed if/when Williams is ready.