GameDay Thread: Kings @ Suns 10-26-16

[Ronin]

The Kings won three out of four meetings with the Suns last season, and Cousins was a big reason.

Sacramento will start the season without starting point guard Darren Collison, who will begin an eight-game suspension due to a guilty plea to a misdemeanor charge of domestic battery. Ty Lawson will start at the point for the Kings, looking to rebound after two poor seasons and two DUI arrests in 2015.

http://www.espn.com/nba/preview?gameId=400899412

 

[Ronin]

Opening night means Tucker gets to return to play, although this week’s conclusion of back surgery rehabilitation means a limited bench role of about 10 to 12 minutes.

That means third-year small forward T.J. Warren opens a season as a starter for the first time in a lineup with Eric Bledsoe (playing his first regular-season game since December’s knee injury), Jared Dudley (playing his first Suns regular-season game since 2013), Tyson Chandler and Devin Booker. Warren is playing his first regular-season game since January, when he fractured his foot.

“I worked hard for it,” said. “I worked my way back through rehab. I just have to take advantage when I’m out there and put my team in position to win games.”

http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...uns-set-transfer-energy-bond-opener/92754714/

 

[Ronin]

Paul Coro ‏@paulcoro
The season opener of #SunsVsKings is hundreds of tickets away from being a sellout.

 

[Ronin]

Wednesday’s game: Kings (0-0) at Suns (0-0)

Tip-off: 7 p.m.

TV/Radio: FSAZ/KMVP-FM 98.7

MORE: Suns set to transfer energy, bond to opener

Today’s pregame Orange Slices:
* Since Halloween 2001, Tyson Chandler has seen many NBA opening-night spectacles.

He has won more (nine) than he has lost (five) and missed only one. He has posted three double-doubles. He has opened with championship aspirations and sketchy situations.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...handler-opens-year-16-scope-cousins/92787852/

 

[Mainstreet]

It looks like the Kings will have the size advantage in the starting lineups but the Suns should be better and deeper in the back-court. I'm hoping Chriss will get a lot of playing time. I'd like to see Bender get playing time as well but he will likely only get some odds and ends minutes early in the season.

This season I plan to relax more and watch the youngsters develop. Winning is nice but it should only be a by-product of building a team the right way.

Here are the projected starting lineups:

C: Tyson Chandler … Kosta Koufos

PF: Jared Dudley … DeMarcus Cousins

SF: T.J. Warren … Rudy Gay

SG: Devin Booker …. Arron Afflalo

PG: Eric Bledsoe … Ty Lawson

Key Kings reserves: Matt Barnes, Omri Casspi, Willie Cauley-Stein, Ben McLemore, Anthony Tolliver.

Key Kings injuries: No injuries. Starting point guard Darren Collison is suspended for the season’s first eight games for a guilty plea to a domestic violence charge.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...handler-opens-year-16-scope-cousins/92787852/

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

This could be an extremely fun team to watch. It just needs to tip off already!

 

[SweetD]

Stupid Fox Go App is messing up in a scrambling to get it working!!!

 

[SirStefan32]

Booker has got to learn not to pick up silly fouls. Knight is awful.

 

[elindholm]

Knight is awful.

Yeah, he and Tucker make the team unwatchable. I want to follow them, but I can't stand it and have to turn it off.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Suns get 3 points from their bench in the first half, 2 points by Len and 1 point by Knight. The Kings get 30 points from their bench. That says it all.

Well almost, the Suns only got 6 assists in the first half.

 

[devilalum]

Why is Dudley guarding Cousins?

from phone

 

[TJ]

Opens ESPN.com

Checks score

"See you in a year, Suns."

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Who would have thought it would take all the rookies on the floor to finally make a run?

 

[Mainstreet]

Why is Dudley guarding Cousins?

I'm not sure anyone was really guarding Cousins except by committee. He is having a bad night but still has 21 points. The idea was for Dudley to draw Cousins away from the basket and it worked, sort of, as he got Cousins in early foul trouble.

 

[sunsfan88]

Booker can't be getting in foul trouble like this. Also, his 3pt shot has completely disappeared after the first half of the season last season.

 

[Mainstreet]

I enjoy watching Tyler Ulis. He is pure energy.

 

[sunsfan88]

The rookies look good.

Len looks like trash. I hate when he thinks he's prime Shaq or something even though he's closer to Kwame Brown than he is to Shaq.

 

[devilalum]

Benders red hot and they run some weird clear out for Lurch at the top of the key!?!?!?

from phone

 

[GatorAZ]

Hey let's wait till it's virtually over to put Booker back in.

 

[sunsfan88]

Hey let's wait till it's virtually over to put Booker back in.

He's been awful tonight. And in foul trouble.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Blown out on opening night by kings.

I hope playing the knights, PJs, etc on the team doesn't end with us losing out on a better pick again this year.

I can't believe I'm typing that in the fourth quarter of the first game of the season.

 

[GatorAZ]

He's been awful tonight. And in foul trouble.

It doesn't matter. Watson was saving him like it was a 3-pt game.

 

[Raindog]

Glass half full = The Suns are going to be terrible again this year, but undoubtedly top 5 pick again next year in a much better draft. Add another talented youngster next year to continue building a nucleus, and jettison dead wood like Tucker, Knight and maybe Bledsoe. Keep riding the youth train... eventually we will be coming up like the TWolves.

 

[SirStefan32]

Very happy with the youngsters and Bledsoe.

 

[Mainstreet]

The surprise for me tonight was the play of Dragon Bender. His 10 points was a pleasant surprise. I expected Chriss to contribute and he did. Ulis brings leadership and energy for the Suns. It gives hope for the future.