Grizzlies @ Suns 11-4-18

[95pro]

My only hope is they keep improving.

Teams are willing to let Canann shoot.

We hang well in the 1st quarters still.
3rd quarters seem to be the worst for us. I'm not sure if its sluggishness coming out of half time or if it's the lineup changes.

Makes no difference if Chandler was still around. Holmes is very very active, great energy.

 

[Chaplin]

Bridges is better then S. Marion.

What the...??

 

[slinslin]

So Booker, Bridges, Warren, Ayton should be our starters at SG, SF, PF, and C as long as they're healthy. Let Jackson be the 6th man who comes in as a swiss army sub who can fill in for Booker, Bridges, and Warren. We still need a PG, but Canaan would be a good backup. If nothing else, the experience he's getting now should help him become a better backup in the future. We need more than just those guys but that's a solid start to build on. Warren can play PF in today's NBA, especially if Ayton plays like he did against the Raptors, just grabbing any and all boards in his vicinity.

There is no way Ariza shouldn't start.

 

[1tinsoldier]

Bridges is better then S. Marion.

it's not hard to imagine that Bridges will be better than Marion

if they were both a month into the NBA, i'd say "is better" based on fundamentals
(i hated Marion's 3pt shot)

 

[JCSunsfan]

It is going to be hard to limit Bridges minutes unless the coaching staff is just blind. It seems to me Igor sees this stuff, he is just measured in his responses. The thing about Bridges is that he is a smart player. His basketball IQ is off the charts, AND he is skilled, and his has very good athleticism. I really really liked him in the draft, but I never imagined that we would take him because of where our picks were and you usually trade up for a player of need.

But I am glad we have him. Does it really matter if your #10 pick ends up being better than your #4 pick? (I am talking about Jackson). May the best player win the job.

 

[95pro]

Bridges is 1 year older than JJ and 2 over Bender, the experience he garnished in college definitely helped him. His release is so quick and form is good. Also he stays down on defense instead of falling for a pass or shot.

As for coaching and playing time, it might take some time. I mentioned rotations and playing time a few games ago, I'm glad some guys are actually playing now versus letting the veterans have minutes just because they're veterans.

 

[GoldGloveschmidt]

Bridges fits better with the starters than JJ does. He's the perfect 3 to play next to Book.

JJ unfortunately looks like his best role is an energy man off the bench.

Now if we just had a Distribute -and- Defense point guard, we could field a real NBA team with *PG* Book Bridges Ariza Ayton

 

[Mainstreet]

Bridges is better then S. Marion.

It's too early to say this. Marion and Bridges have different games with different strengths and weakness. I would be thrilled if Bridges is a good as Marion. Marion was a four time NBA All-Star.

 

[sunsfan88]

What the...??

It's too early to say this. Marion and Bridges have different games with different strengths and weakness. I would be thrilled if Bridges is a good as Marion. Marion was a four time NBA All-Star.

I think he meant Bridges is better than current 40 yr old Marion and that’s a fair assessment.

 

[Mainstreet]

I think he meant Bridges is better than current 40 yr old Marion and that’s a fair assessment.

I guess I missed the point as Marion is retired. This would apply to any retired NBA player I suppose.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I guess I missed the point as Marion is retired. This would apply to any retired NBA player I suppose.

88 was just having a little fun with you.

 

[Suns_fan69]

There is no way Ariza shouldn't start.

I agree, but I'm curious what your rationale is.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Bridges fits better with the starters than JJ does. He's the perfect 3 to play next to Book.

JJ unfortunately looks like his best role is an energy man off the bench.

Now if we just had a Distribute -and- Defense point guard, we could field a real NBA team with *PG* Book Bridges Ariza Ayton

Hopefully we can give Bridges lots of minutes and take a little time to be more patient with JJ. JJ probably needs less minutes and to focus on doing qualitfy productive things in the minutes he plays. The problem with JJ is that he is like a hyper active puppy. He runs around like crazy until he gets a little tired, and then settles into a more focused mode of play.

 

[Mainstreet]

88 was making a joke.

I guess I need smilies on occasion. So of the dry humor slides right by me.

 

[Suns_fan69]

The problem with JJ is that he is like a hyper active puppy. He runs around like crazy until he gets a little tired, and then settles into a more focused mode of play.

To run with this analogy, I think the leash needs to be pulled in on JJ so that he should only be focused on a couple things. He should not have the greenlight to shoot off the dribble 3s for example.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Bridges is better then S. Marion.

Oh come on.

 

[BC867]

stoked to see another big time Booker step up in crunch time... good seeing Bridges stroking his shot and above all else, nice to finally get a W again.

for those who watched... Ayton only shot 4 times? What was going on there?

Marc Gasol.

 

[95pro]

In the lost against Toronto, when lineup and rotations were finally adjusted, I commented that playing Oko more did a few things: allowed him actual game time and give him more experience; 2: It took JJ off the ball as pg, but he was still able to make some passes and it limited the amount of possible turnovers from JJ.

 

[leclerc]

SUNS WIN!

 

[Hoop Head]

There is no way Ariza shouldn't start.

You haven't been watching, as usual, but if you did watch the games then you would see how bad Ariza has been. There's either not much left in the tank or he's been coasting. His defense used to be quite good but he hasn't even been playing average defense for very long.

 

[devilalum]

It's too early to say this. Marion and Bridges have different games with different strengths and weakness. I would be thrilled if Bridges is a good as Marion. Marion was a four time NBA All-Star.

Bridges shot is already better than Marion’s ever was but he has a long way to go to match Marion’s defense and rebounding. Marion was more explosive too.


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[TJ]

It wasn't just on the team that Ayton only had 4 field goal attempts. He played incredibly passive. It's frustrating seeing a 7'1", 250 lbs monster play like that. I fear he is not an alpha, go to type player.

Perhaps, but Ayton isn’t going to pass up 10 shots/ game. He needs to be the #2 option scoring, not Ariza or Anderson.

 

[leclerc]

It's good seeing Bridges and Okobo in the rotation. Those look like pretty good draft picks so far.

Starters/rotation:

Ayton, Holmes
Warren, Anderson
Ariza, Jackson
Booker, Bridges
Canaan, Okobo

Put Canaan, Booker, Bridges, Ariza, Ayton in at the end like today.

Playing Canaan is okay so far. Okobo has to earn it. Also nice to see Bridges earn playing time and performing in the fourth quarter instead of playing Anderson/Crawford/Daniels.

With Okobo and Bridges playing well Jackson will get less playing time. That might be a good idea or it might add more stress to him. I don't know. When he calmed down last season he played better. I hope Coachkoskov handles this the right way so they work it out together instead of arguing, sulking, or throwing a Sprewell.

 

[Hoop Head]

Wow, Bridges and Booker scored 23 of the Suns 25 points in the fourth quarter.

Apparently Booker scored or assisted on 23 of those of those 25 points, which is a little more impressive. I know Bridges helped but knowing Booker was responsible for that many points on his own says a lot about him. He's definitely taken a big step this year.

 

[leclerc]

Yeah, there is an article about "the win" (as future generations will refer to it) on reddit. Can't figure out how to link there but you can find it if you try.

Devin Booker after last night's game: “It’s a new life around here... New energy. You see a lot of smiles, and hopefully we like this feeling and want to come out and play that much harder.”