Clippers @ Suns Tuesday game thread 3-4-2025

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I’m not going to comment too much because I missed the entire second half.

But let’s not get too excited. This is the same team who in the first half had so totally disgusted the cooor guy on the broadcast that he was killing them. In a way I’ve never heard a broadcaster kill a team. They got down 23. Outlier fourth quarters are awesome and a small thing to hang your hat on, but don’t a 180 degree turnaround usually make.

I’ve like Colin. Hope he continues to get more run. Interesting that Dunn still can’t get off the bench.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'd like to rewatch, because the offense looked a LOT better in the 4th than it typically does. KD referenced them attacking and getting shots off quicker, and I do think that's a part of it. Also helps that the team were making the outside, but there was less of the ball sticking than usual.

I think that's part of the point guard situation. I don't understand why it takes Bud so long to make changes. Only 20 games left in the season.

 

[Covert Rain]

I think that's part of the point guard situation. I don't understand why it takes Bud so long to make changes. Only 20 games left in the season.

I honestly don't think this is a PG situation as much as a scheme situation. Tyus has been efficient and effective everywhere he goes. It's not a coincidence that he has struggled with this set of players. Book needs the ball. KD needs the ball. Mr. Glass needs the ball. Notice how early in the season when it was going through Tyus the team had spurts of greatness. Then look at what happened when Collin took things into his own hands. None of that is coincidence. The second we fall back into old iso ball habits it goes out the door and it won't matter who the PG is.

 

[Mainstreet]

He's restricted, relax. We'll be able to keep him.

I will relax when it happens. As you know I would have already had him signed to a four-year contract.

 

[Suns_fan69]

The second we fall back into old iso ball habits it goes out the door and it won't matter who the PG is.

This is a big key I think. Haven't confirmed with a rewatch, but I think what helped was that all 5 guys on the floor were actually attacking the defense, including Allen and Colin G. They both were aggressive when the defense was compromised dealing with KD/Book, and were able to get some nice passes/layups off. I love Royce but he's not a threat off the dribble, and most of the other non-big 3 players will only shoot when open and immediately pass back otherwise.

This looked more like the .5 offense that Monty was trying to run back in the day.

 

[Mainstreet]

I honestly don't think this is a PG situation as much as a scheme situation. Tyus has been efficient and effective everywhere he goes. It's not a coincidence that he has struggled with this set of players. Book needs the ball. KD needs the ball. Mr. Glass needs the ball. Notice how early in the season when it was going through Tyus the team had spurts of greatness. Then look at what happened when Collin took things into his own hands. None of that is coincidence. The second we fall back into old iso ball habits it goes out the door and it won't matter who the PG is.

It's probably both. The Suns need to get away from isolation basketball as a scheme. It might be fine to set up one shot, but it should not be their bread and butter. The Suns players seemed to respect Gillespie as a floor general. That's where it starts. It's not him just running the team, though, he gets after it both offensively and defensively. He concedes nothing.

 

[Dr dumas]

Good things tend to happen when you're the aggressor. Balls seems to bounce your way as well as some of the calls.

Bud really needs to stick with the same lineup as last nights fourth quarter. Let’s see if this team can find some consistency.

Great win… here’s hoping for a few more!

 

[mjb21aztd]

Wowww i fell zzz 3rd qtr lol was afraid to look at score this morn

Sooo happy to see suns win 119 to 117 looked like good gms from kd book decent and richards

420 neon kush mornin rip with surgeee coffee for w gj suns))))

Always feels good when suns beat paperclips/bullyball heh

 

[Superbone]

I’m not going to comment too much because I missed the entire second half.

Well, you missed the best Suns basketball of the season. I guess it's like the stock market. You have to stay invested through the ups and downs to catch the best performing days of the year. If the Suns played all season like they did in the 4th quarter, they would be a top 4 team in the West. They were scrambling on defense and efficient on offense and the arena was rocking. But that's the problem, they don't put this kind of effort in most of the time.

 

[Covert Rain]

Well, you missed the best Suns basketball of the season. I guess it's like the stock market. You have to stay invested through the ups and downs to catch the best performing days of the year. If the Suns played all season like they did in the 4th quarter, they would be a top 4 team in the West. They were scrambling on defense and efficient on offense and the arena was rocking. But that's the problem, they don't put this kind of effort in most of the time.

I wouldn't call it that. They looked awful for almost 3 quarters. I have seen more completely games out of the Suns this seasons (although rare). The comeback was phenomenal but hardly the most complete game.

 

[Superbone]

I wouldn't call it that. They looked awful for almost 3 quarters. I have seen more completely games out of the Suns this seasons (although rare). The comeback was phenomenal but hardly the most complete game.

I never said it was a complete game. It was far from complete. But it was the best basketball of the season in the 4th quarter. No question.

Biggest 4th quarter comeback in franchise history! Case closed.

 

[Covert Rain]

I never said it was a complete game. It was far from complete. But it was the best basketball of the season in the 4th quarter. No question.

Biggest 4th quarter comeback in franchise history! Case closed.

Fair enough. I am so jaded now. I was waiting for the team to go belly up going into the last 2 minutes still.

 

[Superbone]

Fair enough. I am so jaded now. I was waiting for the team to go belly up going into the last 2 minutes still.

Well, they almost blew it thanks to Booker's two missed FTs at the end. Not too clutch, Book!

 

[95pro]

It's probably both. The Suns need to get away from isolation basketball as a scheme. It might be fine to set up one shot, but it should not be their bread and butter. The Suns players seemed to respect Gillespie as a floor general. That's where it starts. It's not him just running the team, though, he gets after it both offensively and defensively. He concedes nothing.

I think all coaches tried to; Monty, Vogel and Dud. KD is just too strong of a personality imo that no matter what, he will dictate what happens.
We see proof of this when he's injured our out of the rotation where it looks like we are an actual team.


Didnt' we win a come back game at this time last season as well?

 

[Suns_fan69]

Didnt' we win a come back game at this time last season as well?

You're probably thinking of the game vs Sacramento. Suns were down 22 with 8 and a half minutes left to go:
(

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I think all coaches tried to; Monty, Vogel and Dud. KD is just too strong of a personality imo that no matter what, he will dictate what happens.
We see proof of this when he's injured our out of the rotation where it looks like we are an actual team.

To be charitable, I think the approach is to have KD/Book get a mismatch and then exploit double teams if they come or try and score off the mismatch. Teams are more and more just living with KD/Book trying to go one on one because they're usually settling for contested mid range jumpshots and that's a lot better than open 3s off rotation.

 

[leclerc]

They fall behind in the second quarter. Coach calls timeout after the Clippers have built a big lead (why wait so long?). Then keeps the same team on the floor after a chat (maybe swapped Jones for Allen). What was needed was a quicker timeout and sub out Royce or Allen for Dunn, and Plumlee for Richards or Bol or Oso. After halftime they're down by twenty

 

[Superbone]

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[Superbone]

Bright Side Baller: Suns erase 19-point deficit to stun Clippers in fourth quarter​

Suns fans finally get a reason to celebrate in a dramatic win over Clippers.

Bright Side Baller: Suns erase 19-point deficit to stun Clippers in fourth quarter

Suns fans finally get a reason to celebrate in a dramatic win over Clippers.

www.brightsideofthesun.com

 

[Suns_fan69]

Haven't watched it yet, but NBA posted the 4th quarter to YT for those that missed it:

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[Superbone]

Haven't watched it yet, but NBA posted the 4th quarter to YT for those that missed it:

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Unfortunately, it ends at the four minute mark just after we tied it up. More heroics followed.

 

[Absolute Zero]

It's probably both. The Suns need to get away from isolation basketball as a scheme. It might be fine to set up one shot, but it should not be their bread and butter. The Suns players seemed to respect Gillespie as a floor general. That's where it starts. It's not him just running the team, though, he gets after it both offensively and defensively. He concedes nothing.

But can we really rallly behind a player with a John Stockton haircut?

 

[Mainstreet]

@Superbone

Here is a video that includes the ending to the game.

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[Hoop Head]

I went to bed at halftime. You all can thank me! Of course I missed the comeback of the season. I recorded it to watch later.

We might need you to crash early again during the next game to see if we can go 2 for 2. Sleep for some Suns success, Yuma.

 

[leclerc]

Good things tend to happen when you're the aggressor. Balls seems to bounce your way as well as some of the calls.

Bud really needs to stick with the same lineup as last nights fourth quarter. Let’s see if this team can find some consistency.

Great win… here’s hoping for a few more!

If they do it will be the biggest surprise of the season. Bud likes to put players in the dog house. Morris, Oso, now Dunn... How many games before he puts Bol or Gillespie there?

 

[Hoop Head]

If they do it will be the biggest surprise of the season. Bud likes to put players in the dog house. Morris, Oso, now Dunn... How many games before he puts Bol or Gillespie there?

Bud definitely has a doghouse, no denying that. Part of the issue I see with this team is that it's horrible at dictating the style of basketball being played. They don't play to their advantages and make the other team adjust to them, it's always adjusting to match what the other team is doing. See Bol Bol last night. He didn't really play after the first quarter because he was a bad matchup out there vs the Clippers, who are small. He's still earned minutes going forward but you need to be careful using him since smaller and quick teams will abuse him on defense. The lineup that came back in the game was small. How will that lineup fare against a Timberwolves squad that is big and physical? I doubt it would produce the same results. That leaves the Suns and Bud scrambling for answers. That's why the makeup of this squad is flawed and needs fixed this off-season, IMO. We need 5-8 guys who can matchup with anyone. We don't have that now.