GameDay Thread: Suns @ Jazz 12-31-16

[Ronin]

Last game of the year. Have a safe and happy new year everyone.

Suns coach Earl Watson praised his defense's aggressiveness in snapping a two-game losing streak. It's something he wants to turn into a team trademark.

"Our thing is, let's be the first one to hit," Watson said. "Let's come out, be the aggressors, and let them try to counteract us. It was a great lesson to impose our will defensively."

Better defense will serve to make Eric Bledsoe and Devin Booker even more dangerous on offense.

Booker has averaged 20.4 points over his last seven games and is scoring 18.8 points per game for the whole season. It is the most by a second-year Phoenix player since Amar'e Stoudemire averaged 20.6 points per game in the 2003-04 season.

http://www.espn.com/nba/preview?gameId=400899948

 

[Mainstreet]

It will be hard for the Suns to win in Utah especially with the return of PG George Hill. Actually it's always hard for the Suns to win in Utah.

Tonight's game starts at 6 p.m. Arizona time.

It looks like the Suns have recalled Derrick Jones Jr. from their D-League team. I'd like to see him play but that is probably not going to happen unless it's garbage time.

Doug Haller Verified account ‏@DougHaller

Suns have recalled F Derrick Jones Jr from the Northern Arizona Suns. In 14 games w/ the NAZ Suns, Jones has averaged 14 points, 6.1 rebs

From Doug Haller on twitter.

 

[Ronin]

Suns tie up the game on Benders 3


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[Ronin]

Bender for three again.


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[Ronin]

+1 for Bledsoe. Good drive by him.


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[Ronin]

Halftime
Suns 51
Jazz 55


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[Ronin]

Bledsoe with 7 assists in the first half, my hope is that he gets to 7 more asst in the second half.


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[Ronin]

Argh throw away by Booker, then a silly foul by Warren.


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[Ronin]

9 point deficit for the Suns.


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[Ronin]

6 point run for the Suns


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[Ronin]

Nice oop from Bledsoe to Chriss


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[Ronin]

Utah now in the Bonus


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[Ronin]

Ulis a little out of control in this quarter


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[Ronin]

End of third quarter
Suns 71
Jazz 76


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[Ronin]

Nice tear drop by Ulis.


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[Ronin]

Suns up by 1


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[devilalum]

Has Knight played?

from phone

 

[Ronin]

Has Knight played?

from phone

I don't think so.


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[Ronin]

Ugh bender made 1 of 3 free throws


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[Mainstreet]

Has Knight played?

Knight is 0-5 in 8 minutes of play.

 

[Mainstreet]

Gobert is a Suns killer.

I'm not sure why the Suns insist on trying to score inside against him.

The Suns are down by 5 with 1:46 left in the game.

 

[Mainstreet]

Great effort by the Suns but they lose to Utah 91-86.

I understand why the Suns were trying to score inside. The middle was open except for Gobert. However, they were not able to go inside like they reportedly were earlier in the game.

 

[Hoop Head]

Watching the replay now and the team is a lot more fun to watch when they keep Knight out of the game. The ball moves better and everybody is playing team basketball. Bledsoe and Booker took some time to develop chemistry together but they're finally looking like a formidable backcourt duo.

 

[hcsilla]

I simply can not believe how stupid the IT- and especially the Knight-trade were.

 

[Mainstreet]

I simply can not believe how stupid the IT- and especially the Knight-trade were.

Yup. That was a double whammy.