Suns @ Pacers Saturday game thread 1-4-2025

[Mainstreet]

IDK about quitting. This looks like a team my son was on. They had a ton of talent and thought they could just roll out there and win on talent alone. The few times they actually played hard they blew the other teams out. They just rarely did it.

I do think with all the guys that were out tonight and how small we were, the Pacers were going to beat us up.

On any given night, any NBA team can beat another NBA team, even with injuries. However, I'm not seeing the urgency and desire in this bunch.

If the Suns hadn't just hired Bud, I would look at him first. They look like a G-League team.

Obviously, James Jones deserves his fair share of the blame as well.

 

[Mainstreet]

Just my reading between the hires and fires, it seems like they obviously misread the aprons, etc. Funny how after that, they cleaned house in the front office. Brought in a new cap guy, started to bring back talent evaluators, etc. If they didn't misread the aprons, etc, why bring in a whole new front office?

The framework of the new CBA was already in place before the Durant trade, even though it had not been approved, so I'm not handing out excuses there.

 

[Yuma]

The framework of the new CBA was already in place before the Durant trade, even though it had not been approved, so I'm not handing out excuses there.

That's true. However, even cap gurus struggled with it initially. There was confusion around the language.

 

[Mainstreet]

IDK about quitting. This looks like a team my son was on. They had a ton of talent and thought they could just roll out there and win on talent alone. The few times they actually played hard they blew the other teams out. They just rarely did it.

I do think with all the guys that were out tonight and how small we were, the Pacers were going to beat us up.

I look at the grit in the Warriors team. They may be small, but they always bounce back. The Suns look like they have gone on vacation. Something is seriously wrong.

 

[Mainstreet]

That's true. However, even cap gurus struggled with it initially. There was confusion around the language.

I'm far from a mathematician or a cap guru, but the writing was on the wall for anyone to see.

Granted, the CBA is complicated and has nuances but it was clear enough for a GM to understand.

 

[Yuma]

I look at the grit in the Warriors team. They may be small, but they always bounce back. The Suns look like they have gone on vacation. Something is seriously wrong.

There was a play this game where Booker dribbled towards the lane, the defense sucked in, and KD was open, Book hit him and KD splashed a three. This was how I thought our offense was going to run when we signed two real PGs.

 

[Yuma]

I'm far from a mathematician or a cap guru, but the writing was on the wall for anyone to see.

Granted, the CBA is complicated and has nuances but it was clear enough for a GM to understand.

we are talking a new owner. I know he's finance smart, but I don't think he was NBA contract smart, yet. So he leaned on his team. That's all in the past. How they untangle this knot they made, it's going to take a miracle.

 

[Mainstreet]

we are talking a new owner. I know he's finance smart, but I don't think he was NBA contract smart, yet. So he leaned on his team. That's all in the past. How they untangle this knot they made, it's going to take a miracle.

JMHO, but if James Jones hadn't been chasing the Durant trade all season, maybe it would have never been made.

 

[Yuma]

JMHO, but if James Jones hadn't been chasing the Durant trade all season, maybe it would have never been made.

I can see JJ's thinking. It's Kevin Freakin Durant. Even with the overpay, I think we stop there, and don't make the Beal trade, we could have tinkered around the edges and made it work. Once we went with Beal, we were locked in, with no room to make moves.

 

[Mainstreet]

I can see JJ's thinking. It's Kevin Freakin Durant. Even with the overpay, I think we stop there, and don't make the Beal trade, we could have tinkered around the edges and made it work. Once we went with Beal, we were locked in, with no room to make moves.

No, I can't see James Jones position on an aging off injured all star.

In terms of using draft picks as a common denominator (currency), the Durant trade has cost the Suns 9 first round picks, 5 second round picks and counting.

The Nets still haven't traded Cam Johnson as yet.

 

[Yuma]

No, I can't see James Jones position on an aging off injured all star.

In terms of using draft picks as a common denominator (currency), the Durant trade has cost the Suns 9 first round picks, 5 second round picks and counting.

The Nets still haven't traded Cam Johnson as yet.

I only go by what happened at the time. Guys stock raise and lower, and some GMs get more than others. You are assuming JJ could get the picks for guys that NJ did. I really doubt that. It really only cost us the picks at the time of the trade. All the rest is gravy for NJ.

 

[Mainstreet]

I only go by what happened at the time. Guys stock raise and lower, and some GMs get more than others. You are assuming JJ could get the picks for guys that NJ did. I really doubt that. It really only cost us the picks at the time of the trade. All the rest is gravy for NJ.

I'm using draft picks as a common denominator, so it can be better seen what the Suns gave up in trade for Durant.

Mikal Bridges alone was traded to the Knicks for FIVE first round draft picks.

 

[Proximo]

I really didn’t think I could hate a suns team more than last years, but I think I might have been wrong. At least on that version Booker looked like an all star.

 

[Proximo]

I'm using draft picks as a common denominator, so it can be better seen what the Suns gave up in trade for Durant.

Mikal Bridges alone was traded to the Knicks for FIVE first round draft picks.

Yeah, and mikal is a more valuable player. If we get 2 firsts at this point I would be surprised since so much salary has to also be traded.

 

[Proximo]

I can see JJ's thinking. It's Kevin Freakin Durant. Even with the overpay, I think we stop there, and don't make the Beal trade, we could have tinkered around the edges and made it work. Once we went with Beal, we were locked in, with no room to make moves.

Beal move was obviously a bad move in retrospect, but I sort of understand the thinking for it.

Giving up the amount we did for KD though is inexcusable.

 

[Mainstreet]

I really didn’t think I could hate a suns team more than last years, but I think I might have been wrong. At least on that version Booker looked like an all star.

I keep checking the sports news because something has to give and soon.

I don't know how much longer this can go on.

 

[Proximo]

There was a play this game where Booker dribbled towards the lane, the defense sucked in, and KD was open, Book hit him and KD splashed a three. This was how I thought our offense was going to run when we signed two real PGs.

You thought wrong. The offense is always going to go through KD and Book. The days of PG’s penetrating and dishing are long gone.

 

[Mainstreet]

Yeah, and mikal is a more valuable player. If we get 2 firsts at this point I would be surprised since so much salary has to also be traded.

And four of those five draft picks the Nets received for Bridges were unprotected.

They also received four unprotected draft picks from the Suns plus Cam Johnson and Jae Crowder.

 

[Proximo]

I keep checking the sports news because something has to give and soon.

I don't know how much longer this can go on.

Unfortunately it can and likely will go on a lot longer.

I am very close to the point of just not watching games, I almost can’t stand anyone on the team but Dunn.

 

[Mainstreet]

Unfortunately it can and likely will go on a lot longer.

I am very close to the point of just not watching games, I almost can’t stand anyone on the team but Dunn.

I understand. Wish I could do the same.

I guess I'm still in denial the Suns could have done such a knuckleheaded trade for Durant.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

This team sucks

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I understand. Wish I could do the same.

I guess I'm still in denial the Suns could have done such a knuckleheaded trade for Durant.

Trust us, you’re not in denial. You (and not you alone) remind us daily.

 

[Mainstreet]

Trust us, you’re not in denial. You (and not you alone) remind us daily.

If you watch the game, how can you ignore it?

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[Mainstreet]

I missed this. Mat Ishbia attended the game.

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[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I missed this. Mat Ishbia attended the game.

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He must be proud.