Knicks @ Suns Friday game thread 1-3-20

[Mainstreet]

Please Oubre no more head pops. He hit the microphone.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Book has been a beast the last 5 games. This home-stretch tells the tale of the season.

also, 13 rebounds for Ayton, but do you guys key in on him on a regular basis? Has no one taught that guy to crash HARD into the lane on pick and rolls? He just stands there or kinda drifts which does nothing to make the defense move and create opportunities for anyone, mostly himself. it's so frustrating.

It's like he sorta sucks...

 

[SactownSunsFan]

Doncic can average 27/7/7 for his career, but if Ayton can give us 20/11 and solid interior presence throughout his career, I'd think the Suns made the right choice when we already have Booker. We'll see how it plays out over the years.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Saric is so awful BTW. His minutes need to go to Diallo

 

[1Sun]

Bench is trash

Yup. Other than a stop gap starting point guard and an undersized back-up center, James Jones really did nothing to improve the roster from what it was at the end of last year.

 

[SactownSunsFan]

It's like he sorta sucks...

It's like he's 21 and just 80'ish games into his professional career.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Doncic can average 27/7/7 for his career, but if Ayton can give us 20/11 and solid interior presence throughout his career, I'd think the Suns made the right choice when we already have Booker. We'll see how it plays out over the years.

I hope you can accept 16 and 11 because that's what we are getting

Will still be the best Sun's center of all time but it's like a most handsome on ASFN contest

 

[1Sun]

Saric is so awful BTW. His minutes need to go to Diallo

Never should have traded for him.

 

[Mainstreet]

Kellan Olson‏Verified account @KellanOlson


Monty said a conversation with James Jones helped push him towards playing DA at the 4 after Jones mentioned some of what DA does well that is very much like a 4. Monty had full support of the coaching staff when he came in with the proposal.

8:41 PM - 3 Jan 2020

 

[CRC83]

Ayton is no longer a defensive liability. In fact, he’s becoming very versatile in that department.i want to see more blocks, but he is altering a ton of shots.

I’ve been very impressed with his defense since he’s come back. If he can play consistently with focus and intensity he can be a great defensive big.

 

[Phrazbit]

Monty's twin tower lineup to open and close the game and
Book's shooting closer in again gave the Suns the victory.

Just as I hoped for earlier. Keep it close and win the 4th
quarter. Suns win 120-112.

If they're going to run that lineup they need to use the 2nd half version of it. Put Baynes on the outside, leave Ayton in the paint. Ayton's ability to rebound, to close and contest and his sheer length causes a lot of problems for teams, while Baynes has been really flat footed in the paint defensive, basically only trying to take charges.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

It's like he's 21 and just 80'ish games into his professional career.

You won't be right here.

He is what he is. I had him pegged from the beginning.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Bench is trash

Okobo should be in the G League...
I still have hopes that Cam and Jerome will develop into reliable contributors.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

I hope you can accept 16 and 11 because that's what we are getting

Will still be the best Sun's center of all time but it's like a most handsome on ASFN contest

You don't think he can improve in the future? Because he clearly was talking about career stats and I think it's fair to assume that Ayton hasn't come close to hitting his peak yet.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Doncic can average 27/7/7 for his career, but if Ayton can give us 20/11 and solid interior presence throughout his career, I'd think the Suns made the right choice when we already have Booker. We'll see how it plays out over the years.

if Doncic averages 27/7/7, he ends his career as one of the best players of all time with those numbers. Unless Ayton became a dominant defensive player with 20/11, passing on one of the best players ever will have always been the lesser choice. Besides the fact that Doncic at 20 is already averaging 29/9/9.

 

[CRC83]

Please Oubre no more head pops. He hit the microphone.

Haha. Still mad about that call though!

 

[1Sun]

It's like he's 21 and just 80'ish games into his professional career.

And has never had real coaching until this year. Yes, the passivity and lack of motor are issues. Let's see if they can be coached out of him. If it is possible to do so, I am confident in Monty as the one with that task (certainly more than Igor or Sean Miller).

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

if Doncic averages 27/7/7, he ends his career as one of the best players of all time with those numbers. Unless Ayton became a dominant defensive player with 20/11, passing on one of the best players ever will have always been the lesser choice. Besides the fact that Doncic at 20 is already averaging 29/9/9.

Not completely true. Stats are inflated in the current NBA so it is very dificult to compare numbers to players of past generations.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Okobo should be in the G League...
I still have hopes that Cam and Jerome will develop into reliable contributors.

those guys are such defensive liabilities that I don't think a unit with both on the court at once can ever be really successful. especially at the PG/Wing positions that are the hardest in the league to defend with today's athletes.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Okobo should be in the G League...
I still have hopes that Cam and Jerome will develop into reliable contributors.

Cam will always have a spot in the NBA but it's like 9th bench guy

Jerome has a ton of talent and I have high hopes

 

[Cheesebeef]

Not completely true. Stats are inflated in the current NBA so it is very dificult to compare numbers to players of past generations.

right. he's totally not an MVP candidate already besides the numbers.

also, your stats argument undercuts a 20/11 Ayton impact as well.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

You don't think he can improve in the future? Because he clearly was talking about career stats and I think it's fair to assume that Ayton hasn't come close to hitting his peak yet.

Honestly I don't believe he has the desire to be the player he could be

I see oodles of talent and a 10 cent head

 

[Cheesebeef]

It's like he's 21 and just 80'ish games into his professional career.

i've seen 16 year olds crash harder to the rim on pick and rolls. It's the easiest play in basketball to learn, especially for a big man who should be able to impose his will on people.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Haha. Still mad about that call though!

It was a terrible call

 

[1Sun]

if Doncic averages 27/7/7, he ends his career as one of the best players of all time with those numbers. Unless Ayton became a dominant defensive player with 20/11, passing on one of the best players ever will have always been the lesser choice. Besides the fact that Doncic at 20 is already averaging 29/9/9.

If it comes down to Doncic being Jordan and Ayton being Olajuwon, I can live with that, particularly given that the flags on Doncic coming into the NBA were greater than the flags on Ayton. The ultimate question is whether or not Ayton will end up with the motor, drive and development to become our Olajuwon. He is not off to a great start in that department, but with it being so early in his time here, particularly with a competent coach, I am willing to give it time...UNLESS a trade opportunity like for KAT comes along...