Jazz @ Suns 4-3-19

[Hoop Head]

@Poop Head

I just looked it up. Neto is under contract with the Jazz next season for $2,100,000.

I was pretty sure he was still under contract beyond this year. I knew he was making like $2 million this year, so his salary is minimal. Definitely a bargain. When Exum was healthy he was their 3rd string PG and didn't see a lot of time but Exum ended up hurt again and he's seeing more minutes but they did pay Exum last offseason so they may not be able to keep Neto for that much longer, especially if they resign Rubio this offseason. I know he's got that 1 year left but they'll need to make a choice of who to keep going forward.

From the Jazz fans I have talked to almost all would prefer Rubio is sent packing, with Mitchell taking over as their starting PG with Neto and Exum backing him up. That leaves a hole at SG for them but they can use a shooter like Korver with Mitchell and probably be better off. Mitchell is only 6'3 so he's a small SG.

 

[Mainstreet]

Fredette with a circus like shot.

 

[Mainstreet]

Holmes has played huge tonight. Again, he is very aggressive.

 

[Hoop Head]

Jamal Crawford has been relatively healthy all year, which I think speaks in Nelson's favor. Crawford is a member of AARP member but has been ready to go at a moments notice and there's a reason for that. I know he missed one stretch earlier this year but IIRC he was basically the only guard that was out at that time so it could have been rest mixed with a lingering issue that caused us to sit him instead of pushing the issue.


Speaking of Crawford I saw something earlier today that he has no plans of retiring this offseason and hopes to play in the NBA somewhere next year. I'm not in favor of bringing him back unless he hasn't found another spot by the time training camp rolls around. If he's still without a team then I'd extend a camp invite to him to see if he can hang still and try to talk him into joining the coaching staff rather than play.

 

[Mainstreet]

I was pretty sure he was still under contract beyond this year. I knew he was making like $2 million this year, so his salary is minimal. Definitely a bargain. When Exum was healthy he was their 3rd string PG and didn't see a lot of time but Exum ended up hurt again and he's seeing more minutes but they did pay Exum last offseason so they may not be able to keep Neto for that much longer, especially if they resign Rubio this offseason. I know he's got that 1 year left but they'll need to make a choice of who to keep going forward.

From the Jazz fans I have talked to almost all would prefer Rubio is sent packing, with Mitchell taking over as their starting PG with Neto and Exum backing him up. That leaves a hole at SG for them but they can use a shooter like Korver with Mitchell and probably be better off. Mitchell is only 6'3 so he's a small SG.

For some reason I can't get excited about Rubio although he is much better than what the Suns have.

I wouldn't want them to overpay for him.

 

[Hoop Head]

Where was the travel or double dribble? I had to rewind it and I still didn't see it. WTF are the refs watching?

 

[Mainstreet]

Jamal Crawford has been relatively healthy all year, which I think speaks in Nelson's favor. Crawford is a member of AARP member but has been ready to go at a moments notice and there's a reason for that. I know he missed one stretch earlier this year but IIRC he was basically the only guard that was out at that time so it could have been rest mixed with a lingering issue that caused us to sit him instead of pushing the issue.


Speaking of Crawford I saw something earlier today that he has no plans of retiring this offseason and hopes to play in the NBA somewhere next year. I'm not in favor of bringing him back unless he hasn't found another spot by the time training camp rolls around. If he's still without a team then I'd extend a camp invite to him to see if he can hang still and try to talk him into joining the coaching staff rather than play.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Crawford back next season though as I think James Jones recruited him.

 

[Mainstreet]

End of 3rd quarter:

Jazz 84 - Suns 76

 

[Hoop Head]

For some reason I can't get excited about Rubio although he is much better than what the Suns have.

I wouldn't want them to overpay for him.

Cost is everything. If he could be had for $9-13 million a year then I'd be totally fine with it but if he wants more than that we need to look elsewhere. He had a down year so I can't see him costing too much but it only takes 1 terrible signing to set off a chain reaction of stupid deals across the league. He's unrestricted, which I like, so at least we don't have to worry about matching or anything like that.

 

[Mainstreet]

Cost is everything. If he could be had for $9-13 million a year then I'd be totally fine with it but if he wants more than that we need to look elsewhere. He had a down year so I can't see him costing too much but it only takes 1 terrible signing to set off a chain reaction of stupid deals across the league. He's unrestricted, which I like, so at least we don't have to worry about matching or anything like that.

For this amount I would sign Rubio. I guess I wouldn't chase after him.

 

[Mainstreet]

Crawford is dressed on the bench tonight. No wonder he hasn't played.

 

[Mainstreet]

Holmes is attacking Gobert. Have to like it.

 

[Mainstreet]

Final:

Jazz 118 - Suns 97

 

[Mainstreet]

Jazz players and coach have sincere affection for Igor. They all greeted him after the game.

 

[1Sun]

This season can't end soon enough.

At least it looks like Okobo has snapped out of it somewhat. Unfortunately, Jackson, Bridges and Melton continue to regress.

 

[Mainstreet]

Bulls beat the Wizards tonight for those interested in reverse standings.

Suns can finish no worse than third in the regular season standings.

 

[Mainstreet]

Another possible injured player... Richaun Holmes.



Gina Mizell‏Verified account @ginamizell

Richaun Holmes said he played through a thigh bruise tonight and then rolled his ankle late in the game. So. Many. Ankle. Injuries. #Suns


10:09 PM - 3 Apr 2019

 

[Mainstreet]

ESPN is reporting the Suns will be sitting Devin Booker for the remaining three games.

No surprise but this is the first time I have heard it.


PHOENIX -- Suns star Devin Booker will be shut down for the final three games of the regular season after suffering a sprained left ankle in Wednesday night's 118-97 loss to the Utah Jazz, a league source told ESPN's Jordan Schultz.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26435643/suns-booker-ankle-sit-last-3-games

 

[Mainstreet]

Some good news. X-rays were negative on Devin.

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[sunsfan88]

I am 99.999% certain that the medical staff doesn't have the ability to sprain ankles, kick doors, bang up hands and fingers, and stuff like that.

That’s not what I meant and i think you know that.

It’s about injury prevention. Of course you can’t prevent it 100% because it’s sports but the rate at which Suns players get injured compared to the rest has been astonishingly high.

I’d guess we rank among the top 5 or the top 3 in terms of players missing games due to injury. Some of that is probably milked for tanking reasons but I don’t think a lot of it is because the players do actually suffer the injuries even if the treatment is exaggerated for whatever reason.

 

[sunsfan88]

I've wondered the same but it's hard to gauge how much time guys are missing because we aren't actually competing. I have a hard time believing Tyler Johnson would have missed all the time he has if we were in a playoff race, Oubre probably puts off his surgery to the offseason, and Ayton pushes through to be able to contribute in a limited bench role at the least.

Once we start competing it'll be interesting to see who misses games and for what reasons.

That’s probably a part of the story but can’t be the full thing. These players are actually suffering injuries, they can’t be pretending to pull a muscle or pretend to get injured on the actual basketball court in order to tank. The Suns perhaps put them on a longer treatment plan than they need to be but that’s another story.

In Tyler Johnson’s case, he actually is a very injury prone player that’s missed a lot of games throughout his career. Many Heat fans noted that on their forum when the trade was made.