Nuggets @ Suns 1-28-17

[Mainstreet]

This is the second game of a back-to-back games against the Nuggets. The Suns lost the last meeting in Denver. It is reported Jokic will miss tonight's game with a reported hip strain. Jusuf Nurkic is expected to to replace Jokic as a starter. The Nuggets are looking to sweep the four game series from the Suns if they win Saturday. The Suns have lost two straight.

The game is schedule to start at 7 p.m. Arizona time.

See more from the ESPN preview at the link below.

http://www.espn.com/nba/preview?gameId=400900130

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

More of a home and home than a back-to-back. I think the Suns win this one.

 

[Ronin]

Craig Grialou‏ @CraigAZSports
Watson, "It should be a physical game in the paint tonight"; points to being minus-18 on boards and FTs in first meeting #SunsVsNuggets5:19 PM · Jan 28, 2017

 

[Ronin]

Craig Grialou‏ @CraigAZSports
Watson, "Playing w/a lot of purpose, a lot of energy re: Brandon Knight; added he's "done a great job finding his place"

 

[Ronin]

Craig Grialou‏ @CraigAZSports
Watson, "Great for us" re: Alan Williams, turns 24 today; added "he's captured the league w/out playing quality minutes"

 

[Ronin]

Craig Grialou–

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Verified account ‏@CraigAZSports
Suns injury update: Dragan Bender will not play due to right ankle soreness; it's the third straight game he's missed #SunsVsNuggets

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[Mainstreet]

More of a home and home than a back-to-back. I think the Suns win this one.

With Jokic out, I hope the Suns do not gather any false illusions if they win this game.

 

[Mainstreet]

Craig Grialou–

You must be registered for see images attach

Verified account ‏@CraigAZSports
Suns injury update: Dragan Bender will not play due to right ankle soreness; it's the third straight game he's missed #SunsVsNuggets

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I hope the sore ankle is not a sign of something worse.

 

[Mainstreet]

Warren is playing well early.

 

[Mainstreet]

Bledsoe has elevated his game to a higher level.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Suns need to empty their bench. They are playing terrible tonight. Denver can do whatever they want.

They trail 87-70 in the 3rd quarter and the Nuggets are without Jokic.

 

[AzStevenCal]

The Suns need to empty their bench. They are playing terrible tonight. Denver can do whatever they want.

They trail 87-70 in the 3rd quarter and the Nuggets are without Jokic.

Yes the Nuggets were minus Jokic but we were plus Knight, trust me, the advantage goes all Nuggets way on that trade. BTW, we're down something like 32 points when Brandon is on the court tonight and plus 10 when Booker's there.

 

[Mainstreet]

Yes the Nuggets were minus Jokic but we were plus Knight, trust me, the advantage goes all Nuggets way on that trade. BTW, we're down something like 32 points when Brandon is on the court tonight and plus 10 when Booker's there.

I believe it. For some reason the ESPN boxcore is not working for me.

However, I think the Suns problems go deeper than Knight.

 

[sunsfan88]

Bledsoe with 41 pts in 45 minutes played.

I missed this one but why did Bledsoe play 45 mins in a game the Suns got blown out of? Was Tyler Ulis not available tonight?

And Tyson Chandler with 40 mins as well in a blowout game. Was Len and Alan Williams not good enough to play in those garbage time minutes?

 

[AzStevenCal]

Bledsoe with 41 pts in 45 minutes played.

I missed this one but why did Bledsoe play 45 mins in a game the Suns got blown out of? Was Tyler Ulis not available tonight?

And Tyson Chandler with 40 mins as well in a blowout game. Was Len and Alan Williams not good enough to play in those garbage time minutes?

I think those guys and Watson believe they can sneak into the playoffs and a home game minus one of the opponent's best players becomes a very winnable game as far as they're concerned. So they laid it all on the line. Still, the Knight factor took care of the game for those of us looking towards the draft.

Brandon Knight, in 15 minutes, was a -32. Booker, in his 34 minutes was a +20. Incredible swing.

 

[GatorAZ]

http://www.tankathon.com/

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[devilalum]

IMO the Suns are playing about as well as they can and still don't have enough juice to beat the Nuggets.

from phone

 

[AzStevenCal]

IMO the Suns are playing about as well as they can and still don't have enough juice to beat the Nuggets.

from phone

I know why you say that but I'd say not even close IMO. We were playing far better than this when we sat Brandon and this loss can be placed entirely at his feet. Seriously, how do you lead your team to a -32 in just 15 minutes? Every time I start to hope that Knight has learned his lesson about quick shots and bad shots he goes out there and does it again.

 

[Shaggy]

How do you determine the Knight set the team back 32 points?

 

[AzStevenCal]

How do you determine the Knight set the team back 32 points?

They keep +/- stats that shows how the team does when each player is on the court. It's not always the most accurate stat but I only looked it up because he was so obviously killing us out there and not just because he went 1 for 8.

 

[Suns_fan69]

Was wondering why Len only got 8 minutes, and then I saw he had 4 fouls in those 8 minutes. Yeesh, he's gotta learn to play without fouling so much if he wants to stay on the court.

 

[Phrazbit]

If the Suns were a spy agency I'd think tonight's game was a sting that revealed Knight as the mole.

 

[Mainstreet]

Was wondering why Len only got 8 minutes, and then I saw he had 4 fouls in those 8 minutes. Yeesh, he's gotta learn to play without fouling so much if he wants to stay on the court.

I'm seriously questioning whether the Suns should keep Len unless he can be signed for a reasonable amount in free agency.

I understand Nikola Vucevic is on the trade market as well as Jusuf Nurkic. I'd probably prefer Vucevic if the Suns were going to trade for a center.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'm seriously questioning whether the Suns should keep Len unless he can be signed for a reasonable amount in free agency.

I understand Nikola Vucevic is on the trade market as well as Jusuf Nurkic. I'd probably prefer Vucevic if the Suns were going to trade for a center.

I'd just as soon do without, play a small forward at the center spot even. No more big immobile centers. There's a reason Toronto is trying to get rid of their V and Orlando is trying to get rid of their V and it's the same reason we should avoid those type of players.

Len, every now and then shows flashes of being able to defend in the modern game but the more he plays behind Chandler, the less often we see those flashes. I'm okay letting him walk as long as we don't sign any of the other big, slow stiffs. JMO.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'd just as soon do without, play a small forward at the center spot even. No more big immobile centers. There's a reason Toronto is trying to get rid of their V and Orlando is trying to get rid of their V and it's the same reason we should avoid those type of players.

Len, every now and then shows flashes of being able to defend in the modern game but the more he plays behind Chandler, the less often we see those flashes. I'm okay letting him walk as long as we don't sign any of the other big, slow stiffs. JMO.

The Suns cannot hold their own inside as it stands now. Maybe Dragan Bender can play center down the road but not until he can build up his body. Playing small forwards Warren, Tucker and Dudley at center would leave the Suns totally vulnerable against opponents who have bigger front lines.

Chriss needs to build up his body as well to play PF. I'd like for the Suns to have a mobile center like Gobert but they do not have a player on their roster that fits the role. Maybe the Suns can find someone in free agency or the draft. The Suns could certainly use another draft pick in this draft to fill needs.