Lakers @ Suns Thursday game thread, October 17th, 2024: Preseason

[clyde2tw]

Suns' defense has been bad, particularly on PnR. At the end, it's obvious that Knecht is in a shooting zone and his defender should be physical with him denying him getting the ball, yet Gillespie was the only guy doing so. Only he and Oso of that group belong to the NBA.

 

[Mainstreet]

Frank Kaminsky didn't play tonight. I wonder if it has any meaning.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Suns finish preseason with a 3-2 record. They split with the Lakers as they did with the Pistons.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Knecht was great tonight. Love it.

 

[Raindog]

Preseason... and I wouldn't read too much into it. I think the one thing for the Suns is they pretty much definitively figured out who will be cut from the final roster.

 

[Phrazbit]

The issue with Bol, offense and especially defense, he only plays the ball. He needs to learn to play more structured. He's all playground.

This is why I think he should only be playing center. If he isn't rim defending he is totally lost, he cannot keep track of his man.

On offense, catch and shoot or roll to the rim, nothing else and NO DRIBBLING!

His basketball instincts are terrible and he is constantly trying to do things that he's really really bad at.

 

[Mainstreet]

Bud says Devin Booker's ankle is fine.

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[Mainstreet]

Mike Budenholzer further says that Nurkic should give them spacing and Ighodaro is dynamic in the pick and roll game.

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[Mainstreet]

Again, Devin Booker says his ankle is fine in a postgame interview.

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[Mainstreet]

Suns' defense has been bad, particularly on PnR. At the end, it's obvious that Knecht is in a shooting zone and his defender should be physical with him denying him getting the ball, yet Gillespie was the only guy doing so. Only he and Oso of that group belong to the NBA.

Agree, the Suns should have tried to deny Knecht the ball or fouled him right away.

 

[Mainstreet]

This is why I think he should only be playing center. If he isn't rim defending he is totally lost, he cannot keep track of his man.

On offense, catch and shoot or roll to the rim, nothing else and NO DRIBBLING!

His basketball instincts are terrible and he is constantly trying to do things that he's really really bad at.

I'm not a fan of keeping Bol Bol on the roster, but I think the Suns are committed to keeping him, especially because his salary is guaranteed even though it's the veteran minimum. Hopefully Bud gives him a defined role.

Unsure of what Kaminsky has left in the tank, but I think he would be of more help.

 

[BirdGangThing]

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[Covert Rain]

Our downfall was Dunn fouling out and no Okogie. Just didn’t have the right defenders out there. End of the bench just isn’t that good, no surprise there.

That to me is going to be Dunn's biggest challenge. You can improve his shot. You can improve his basketball IQ. He seems to have raw talent. Keeping himself in check and not taking unnecessary fouls is typically a challenge for any rookie.

 

[Hoop Head]

That to me is going to be Dunn's biggest challenge. You can improve his shot. You can improve his basketball IQ. He seems to have raw talent. Keeping himself in check and not taking unnecessary fouls is typically a challenge for any rookie.

To be fair, rookies never get 50/50 calls and typically don't get breaks either. It is definitely something he needs to learn to do though. I'd say it's similar to when Monty came in and we started playing defense. We didn't get any respect from officials for well over a season because we weren't known as a defensive team, at all. It takes time to learn the ropes and establish yourself to officials.

 

[Covert Rain]

To be fair, rookies never get 50/50 calls and typically don't get breaks either. It is definitely something he needs to learn to do though. I'd say it's similar to when Monty came in and we started playing defense. We didn't get any respect from officials for well over a season because we weren't known as a defensive team, at all. It takes time to learn the ropes and establish yourself to officials.

It's a combo. They need to learn not to make stupid fouls (I have seen him make multiple) and they need to learn what playing the league is all about. You are right he isn't going to get the benefit of the doubt which is why having a solid dome on your shoulders is a plus in this league. Something Ayton never learned.

 

[Mainstreet]

I think Durant had a clean block on Bronny, but they called him for getting him with the body. IMO, that's a good block all day.

It's at least the second of two calls where the referees called fouls where the defender got the ball first. If the defender gets the ball first, it shouldn't be a foul.

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[Chaplin]

I think Durant had a clean block on Bronny, but they called him for getting him with the body. IMO, that's a good block all day.

It's at least the second of two calls where the referees called fouls where the defender got the ball first. If the defender gets the ball first, it shouldn't be a foul.

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That was a crazy block too.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'd still rather wrap up Collin Gillespie on a regular contract, but that's just me.

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[Mainstreet]

Even a better look, Durant blocked Bronny's shot with the arm even before the hand touched the ball.

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[GatorAZ]

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[BirdGangThing]

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i saw 4 fouls, really 3 and a 1/2 but im trying to be reasonable

 

[Yuma]

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Ryan Dunn practicing from the corner pregame.

 

[Yuma]

Game was filled with Laker fans. Sounded like a lot of them. They were audibly gasping each time Bronny touched the ball. At the game it sure like KD blocked Bronny. It appeared like he was "above" Bronny and actually having to lower his arm down to block him. Replay angles almost couldn't catch what it looked like live.

The starters looked good. Looks like they are serious of high thirties low forties on three attempts per game. They are working the threes into the flow of the game so it doesn't look like they are just shooting from three just to get the numbers up. There were a couple times you can see, especially from above, that guys in the paint only had to turn around when they had the ball down low to lay it up, or possibly dunk. They tended to throw it back out to the three point line on these deep catches in the paint. Perhaps there's just a little too much passing. Both PGs seem to be better three point shooters than pundits say.

Defense looked like our PGs ended up behind or on the hips of opposing guards quite a bit. The team helped on D well. Finally glad to see we are not sending our Centers out to guard the three point line, but rather try and slow down guys racing to the rim on us. Seems like we drop our centers a bit more. I know announcers stress this on Oso, but you can see Nurk and Plumlee doing it too.

I think this team will be much more watchable. After watching a hot AD exploit us, perhaps our trade should be for a strong defensive big?

 

[Mainstreet]

Game was filled with Laker fans. Sounded like a lot of them. They were audibly gasping each time Bronny touched the ball. At the game it sure like KD blocked Bronny. It appeared like he was "above" Bronny and actually having to lower his arm down to block him. Replay angles almost couldn't catch what it looked like live.

The starters looked good. Looks like they are serious of high thirties low forties on three attempts per game. They are working the threes into the flow of the game so it doesn't look like they are just shooting from three just to get the numbers up. There were a couple times you can see, especially from above, that guys in the paint only had to turn around when they had the ball down low to lay it up, or possibly dunk. They tended to throw it back out to the three point line on these deep catches in the paint. Perhaps there's just a little too much passing. Both PGs seem to be better three point shooters than pundits say.

Defense looked like our PGs ended up behind or on the hips of opposing guards quite a bit. The team helped on D well. Finally glad to see we are not sending our Centers out to guard the three point line, but rather try and slow down guys racing to the rim on us. Seems like we drop our centers a bit more. I know announcers stress this on Oso, but you can see Nurk and Plumlee doing it too.

I think this team will be much more watchable. After watching a hot AD exploit us, perhaps our trade should be for a strong defensive big?

Yes, it sounded like the crowd was full of Lakers fans.

The Suns are blessed to have two point guards that are good three point shooters, three if one counts Collin Gillespie who is on a two-way contract.

Anthony Davis made the Suns look small, though. This remains a concern going forward. AD was also 4-9 from three.

 

[Superbone]

I was there too. Lakers fans got quiet for most of the game after we took the lead and then got loud again at the end. I let them know and yelled out that the game doesn't count.