Grizzlies @ Suns 1-30-17

[Mainstreet]

The Grizzlies play at the Suns tonight with a 8:30 p.m. Arizona start time. We will see how the Suns bounce back after two losses in a row to the Nuggets.

From the ESPN preview:

The Suns enter Monday's game on a three-game losing streak. They are coming off a home-and-home sweep at the hands of Denver, which put up 127 and 123 points in those wins.

"We can score all the points in the world," Suns guard Devin Booker noted to reporters after the game. "But at the end of the day, it starts on the defensive end."

http://www.espn.com/nba/preview?gameId=400900144

 

[Ronin]

Marc Gasol is going to be a load for whoever is guarding him.

 

[sunsfan88]

This is a national television game and against one of the better PGs in the league in Mike Conley so I would like to see Bledsoe continue to play well like he has this month rather than shrink to the spotlight.

Not expecting a win but hope they make it close and a fun game. I suspect Booker will be defended by Tony Allen tonight.

 

[Mainstreet]

This is a national television game and against one of the better PGs in the league in Mike Conley so I would like to see Bledsoe continue to play well like he has this month rather than shrink to the spotlight.

Not expecting a win but hope they make it close and a fun game. I suspect Booker will be defended by Tony Allen tonight.

Thanks for pointing out the game is on national television, TNT to be exact.

I think the last two games with the Nuggets (losses) may be a turning point. It is gut check time for the Suns going forward.

 

[Mainstreet]

Dragan Bender will miss his 4th straight game with ankle soreness per Doug Haller.

 

[Mainstreet]

The game has already started on TNT. The Grizzlies lead 7-4 at about the 10 minute mark in the 1st quarter.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Two dumb moves by our center. Chandler shoves Gasol on the perimeter right in front of the referee. There was nothing to be gained by that shove in the shoulder and it put Tyson on the bench with his 2nd foul. I can't help but think he just wanted out of the game. Then Len comes in and falls for an incredibly weak pump fake and draws a quick shooting foul as he so often does. HEY ALEX, QUIT LEAVING YOUR FEET!!!

 

[Mainstreet]

Two dumb moves by our center. Chandler shoves Gasol on the perimeter right in front of the referee. There was nothing to be gained by that shove in the shoulder and it put Tyson on the bench with his 2nd foul. I can't help but think he just wanted out of the game. Then Len comes in and falls for an incredibly weak pump fake and draws a quick shooting foul as he so often does. HEY ALEX, QUIT LEAVING YOUR FEET!!!

But when Len scored he looked pretty good.

 

[Mainstreet]

Len showed a flash on that follow jam. I wish he could make these moves inside more.

Len with another bad foul... ouch.

Two fouls on Len and Chandler.

 

[Mainstreet]

Knight is in the game at about the 1 minute mark.

 

[Mainstreet]

Ulis and Knight is the Suns back court plus Len, Dudley and Tucker upfront.

 

[sunsfan88]

Conley is just killing Bledsoe.

I don't get it, why doesn't Bledsoe ever show up for these kind of games? He has nothing to gain by playing with such lackadaisical effort.

 

[Mainstreet]

Conley is just killing Bledsoe.

I don't get it, why doesn't Bledsoe ever show up for these kind of games? He has nothing to gain by playing with such lackadaisical effort.

Lately the Suns do not show up for defense. That middle is always open not to mention the three point line.

Bledsoe is having a bad game. He cannot guard Conley but the rest of the Suns can't guard anyone either.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Suns are getting bludgeoned and the game is still in the 3rd quarter.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Suns are flustered. Tucker is ejected. It's not pretty.

The Suns trail by 30.

 

[GatorAZ]

McD on the radio tomorrow;"we're only 8 games back".

 

[Mainstreet]

McD on the radio tomorrow;"we're only 8 games back".

You could well be right.

This team is going backwards but the FO seems reticent to acknowledge it.

 

[Mainstreet]

Final: Grizzlies 115- Suns 96

Thankfully the Grizzlies pulled their starters near the end.

 

[Hoop Head]

Chriss had a pretty good game tonight, right after I called him out in another thread for not being ready to be a starter. Booker seemed to force too much on the offensive end. Chandler is a confusing player to watch, he rarely gets his arms up when someone is driving on him.

 

[sunsfan88]

McD on the radio tomorrow;"we're only 8 games back".

He'll find some way to sugar coat it. "You know guys, we were missing Bender and that makes it so much more difficult to win. Even though Watson hates him and rarely ever plays him much even when he's healthy, he's still a big part of our team. And this game was on Monday and we tend to struggle on Mondays so that was the case. I'd like to note that Booker is the youngest player to blah blah blah blah"

I watch McDonough's interview with Burns and Gambo for comedic relief because it's funny to hear the excuses that he comes up with. Don't get wrong, I don't have a problem with him as a GM and he probably doesn't believe any of the BS that he himself says but it's still funny to hear try and spin everything into some kind of positive thing even when Burns or Gambo repeatedly try to call him out on it.

 

[Hoop Head]

He'll find some way to sugar coat it. "You know guys, we were missing Bender and that makes it so much more difficult to win. Even though Watson hates him and rarely ever plays him much even when he's healthy, he's still a big part of our team. And this game was on Monday and we tend to struggle on Mondays so that was the case. I'd like to note that Booker is the youngest player to blah blah blah blah"

I watch McDonough's interview with Burns and Gambo for comedic relief because it's funny to hear the excuses that he comes up with. Don't get wrong, I don't have a problem with him as a GM and he probably doesn't believe any of the BS that he himself says but it's still funny to hear try and spin everything into some kind of positive thing even when Burns or Gambo repeatedly try to call him out on it.

I wonder how much of what he says is coming from Sarver in regards to the team being in the playoff hunt when there really is 0 chance this team will get there. McD seems like a smart BB guy and surely he knows the playoffs are out of reach. I think Sarver is under the impression that the only way to market the team is as a contender of some sort. In reality though you can draw fans by selling them on the rebuild. We have the players that are favorites like Booker, who people support even though we suck, and Ulis, Chriss, and Bender are all likable as well. Personally I'd attend more games if they were honest and pushed the young guys more. A team doesn't need to be in the playoff hunt to be a draw. Granted this is the first year under McD that we are loaded with youth in which you can see them clicking in the future but they just need to grow and get more experience. There is no shame in rebuilding the right way, and it looks like this is the first season we appear to be doing that despite what management spins.

 

[AzStevenCal]

In reality though you can draw fans by selling them on the rebuild.

Can you? I don't know that I've seen that work? I think of Minnesota, lots of good young talent and they've marketed them and played them significant minutes for a few years now. And they are consistently at or near the bottom in attendance.

The previous 2 seasons, 3 of the youngest teams dominated the bottom of the attendance charts (Philly, Minn, Denver). Philly has been replaced by Detroit this year, no big surprise considering how much Detroit has underachieved and the fact that Philly's young players are now playing exciting basketball. So, granted, there is a point where the youth movement will eventually bring in fans but there's a lot of empty seats leading up to it.

I tried getting good numbers on TV viewership by home team but I didn't have much success. But based on conversations I've had with others and the activity I see in message board game day threads, I'm pretty sure that posters decrease their viewing habits when their teams are bad whether they have young players or not.

 

[Hoop Head]

Can you? I don't know that I've seen that work? I think of Minnesota, lots of good young talent and they've marketed them and played them significant minutes for a few years now. And they are consistently at or near the bottom in attendance.

The previous 2 seasons, 3 of the youngest teams dominated the bottom of the attendance charts (Philly, Minn, Denver). Philly has been replaced by Detroit this year, no big surprise considering how much Detroit has underachieved and the fact that Philly's young players are now playing exciting basketball. So, granted, there is a point where the youth movement will eventually bring in fans but there's a lot of empty seats leading up to it.

I tried getting good numbers on TV viewership by home team but I didn't have much success. But based on conversations I've had with others and the activity I see in message board game day threads, I'm pretty sure that posters decrease their viewing habits when their teams are bad whether they have young players or not.

I think it depends on how it's done, I know Philly was awful for a while but they've turned the corner now. I think it depends on how you try and sell it, I don't live in Minnesota or Philadelphia so I don't know how they're pushing that team upon their respective markets but the Thunder, Warriors, Pelicans, and Clippers are all teams that have pushed their youth and drawn fans before they became winners. Selling Suns fans on the idea that they'll make it to the playoffs is insulting, if they tried pushing the youth and how Booker is a star in the making, which they are doing, in addition to guys like Bender, Chriss, Warren, and Ulis then maybe they could sell more tickets and get more fans on board. Being at the game tonight it was depressing to see how many empty seats there were in addition to how quiet the arena was. I'd be shocked if there were more than 65% of the seats sold for the game tonight. I don't think they could do worse as far as drawing fans, clearly the majority of fans don't see this team as a playoff contender or a winner.

 

[JCSunsfan]

The NBA is going to have to get on regular TV. People are leaving cable for Netflix and other online content. They might be making alot now, but they are losing popularity.

 

[Mainstreet]

I think it depends on how it's done, I know Philly was awful for a while but they've turned the corner now. I think it depends on how you try and sell it, I don't live in Minnesota or Philadelphia so I don't know how they're pushing that team upon their respective markets but the Thunder, Warriors, Pelicans, and Clippers are all teams that have pushed their youth and drawn fans before they became winners. Selling Suns fans on the idea that they'll make it to the playoffs is insulting, if they tried pushing the youth and how Booker is a star in the making, which they are doing, in addition to guys like Bender, Chriss, Warren, and Ulis then maybe they could sell more tickets and get more fans on board. Being at the game tonight it was depressing to see how many empty seats there were in addition to how quiet the arena was. I'd be shocked if there were more than 65% of the seats sold for the game tonight. I don't think they could do worse as far as drawing fans, clearly the majority of fans don't see this team as a playoff contender or a winner.

I can't speak for others but I would rather see young players lose than veterans lose. There is at least hope for the future with the youngsters. I like the idea of promoting the rising Suns. The fans need hope. However, I will say, I do not want to hear any more talk of tanking after this summer. The Suns have had enough time to put the foundation together.