Raptors @ Suns Tuesday game thread 3-3-20

[BC867]

Could anyone actually care less about opposing team interviews whether it’s Suns or D’Backs games?

Listening to one of our guys answering questions about a losing game wouldn't be much better.

 

[GatorAZ]

Listening to one of our guys answering questions about a losing game wouldn't be much better.

That’s because they’re in their cars 2 minutes after the buzzer apparently.

 

[Sunburn]

Bahahahaha what an amazingly infuriating season. One step forward, two steps back, wash, rinse, repeat. I'm in awe.

 

[BC867]

Actually, Monty and the Suns deserve some credit for what they accomplished tonight.

Going up against one of the best teams in the NBA, they were within one point with
minutes to go.

They went with an 8-man rotation . . . and the 3 subs had the only plusses.

It is a game not typical of anything, except a team in the doldrums going all out for
a victory.

Even with the injury, Deandre had the most minutes on our roster. I wonder if being
fatigued puts a player more into a position of being injured. A step or two slow, perhaps?

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[Mainstreet]

Ayton getting an x-rays.


Kellan Olson‏Verified account @KellanOlson

Monty said Ayton is getting x-rays and had no other update

8:45 PM - 3 Mar 2020

 

[Mainstreet]

Gina Mizell‏Verified account @ginamizell


Devin Booker is getting stitches in his mouth. Deandre Ayton is on crutches. Rough night for the #Suns.

9:04 PM - 3 Mar 2020

 

[AZ Native]

Our season is over. Sit him for as long as it takes for him to come back completely healthy. He is so young and has so much upside it would be terrible to push an early return for him. Wait 'til next year.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

What a wasted season for Ayton. And another wasted season for the suns. Yay.

 

[Mainstreet]

Maybe the Suns bring back Bolden or some other player with an injury exception. Baynes couldn't even see the court tonight.

I'm assuming we get McRae as well.

 

[Mainstreet]

Gina Mizell‏Verified account @ginamizell

Monty Williams said Aron Baynes was not injured tonight, but "it was just too quick of a game to play that many bigs against their lineups. They had so many long, lean guards out there and they just get back in transition so well." Gasol and Ibaka were both out. #Suns

10:00 PM - 3 Mar 2020

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

How Ayton didn’t feast on that lineup is a travesty.

 

[JerkFace]

I'm assuming we get McRae as well.

Lots of speculation that Detroit will snag him before us.

 

[Hoop Head]

Maybe the Suns bring back Bolden or some other player with an injury exception. Baynes couldn't even see the court tonight.

I'm assuming we get McRae as well.

Lots of speculation that Detroit will snag him before us.

I'm fairly confident Detroit will land him. I don't really mind since it wasn't a true free agent acquisition. He's 28 also and since he wasn't happy with spot minutes in Denver, even though they're a legit contender, worried me a little. I get that he's had trouble latching onto a team and establishing a solid career so I can see wanting playing time but at the same time, playing spot minutes for a contender should beat out playing 20-25 minutes for a bottom feeder.

If he was 24 or 25, I'd be bummed out because then he might have a legit future here but odds are he won't last too long wherever he ends up.

 

[95pro]

My god Lowry was annoying AF all night. Wish someone would have taken him out. The refs really took us out of that 3rd quarter but whats new with bogus calls on us.

Positives i see, Ayton, Bridges and Cam have an upwards trajectory. Ayton is lacking the mental part so it hinders the physical part of his game, but there has been improvement in his shortened season. Bridges 3point shooting has come alive, something he's obviously worked hard at. I like the confidence both Bridges and Cam are exuding, they're shooting with confidence as well as taking it inside for dunks now.

I'm thinking this is Booker's maximum affect on the team, good scorer but unable to take us any further. They were physical with him last night though but stars rise above that and make plays on both ends of the court to get wins. Atleast Booker could have shown that the Raptors had good defense but he had better offense. Unless we add a major free agent, i'm thinking Ayton needs to show a future hall of fame type performance next season to take this team to the playoffs and beyond, Ayton is improving but we still see some mental flaws.

It's unfortunate we had the suspension and injuries all year, and now injuries to two of our "big 3" (no kaminsky isn't part of the big 3) to finish out the season probably. This only adds to the strain on Booker this season. Right now it seems the Kobe thing is still bothering him, he did make it to LA and then to utah, and now has the "be legendary" tattoo on him inspired by Kobe.

 

[Proximo]

What a wasted season for Ayton. And another wasted season for the suns. Yay.

Totally disagree. Ayton progressed a ton this season. His defense is night and day better. He still needs a lot of work on his offense, but he is starting to show more aggression.

 

[Mainstreet]

Lots of speculation that Detroit will snag him before us.

I've read this as well. With the injuries the Suns may need NBA talent no matter what the position. If the Suns do not get McRae, we might see players like Jordon Bell, Trey Burke and Jonah Bolden. There are probably some other waived players I'm not even thinking about.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm fairly confident Detroit will land him. I don't really mind since it wasn't a true free agent acquisition. He's 28 also and since he wasn't happy with spot minutes in Denver, even though they're a legit contender, worried me a little. I get that he's had trouble latching onto a team and establishing a solid career so I can see wanting playing time but at the same time, playing spot minutes for a contender should beat out playing 20-25 minutes for a bottom feeder.

If he was 24 or 25, I'd be bummed out because then he might have a legit future here but odds are he won't last too long wherever he ends up.

I'm guessing there must be some other guard/forward players available. Need to check past and present waiver wire players. Maybe even the G-League.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Totally disagree. Ayton progressed a ton this season. His defense is night and day better. He still needs a lot of work on his offense, but he is starting to show more aggression.

But he lacks consistency in effort. That develops with time and reps. Both of which he will have had very little of this season. Let this sink in - 30 of 62 games played. And that percentage is likely to worsen with this ankle. That’s the epitome of a wasted season.

 

[Mainstreet]

Ayton has a nice shooting touch away from the basket but when he gets close to the rim he should learn from Clint Capela... dunk it.

 

[Dante]

Ayton definitely showed improvement this season, even if he didn't show the consistency that we would all like, it is still a step in the right direction. He's already proved his doubters wrong on his defensive development. Can't wait to see what he will show us next season and I honestly believe he will end up surpassing Booker as our best player in the next couple of seasons, even if Booker continues to remain the face of the franchise.

 

[Mainstreet]

Ayton definitely showed improvement this season, even if he didn't show the consistency that we would all like, it is still a step in the right direction. He's already proved his doubters wrong on his defensive development. Can't wait to see what he will show us next season and I honestly believe he will end up surpassing Booker as our best player in the next couple of seasons, even if Booker continues to remain the face of the franchise.

I think it's trending that direction although Ayton didn't look like it last night.

 

[Dante]

I think it's trending that direction although Ayton didn't look like it last night.

To me it seems like Ayton has been playing injured for awhile now. With all the times he has been questionable and yet still played, it would not surprise me at all if that were the case.

 

[Mainstreet]

To me it seems like Ayton has been playing injured for awhile now. With all the times he has been questionable and yet still played, it would not surprise me at all if that were the case.

The persistent ankle injuries and suspension have slowed Ayton's growth. Booker is still the better player until Ayton proves it on the court.

 

[Dante]

The persistent ankle injuries and suspension have slowed Ayton's growth. Booker is still the better player until Ayton proves it on the court.

No doubt, although if Booker keeps playing the way he has after being snubbed for the ASG then it won't take long for that to change. That said, hopefully next season both Ayton and Booker show massive growth in order to lead this team to a playoff spot. I hope Jones puts the right pieces around them but so far I don't see that happening with the decisions he's made so far besides Oubre and that was a bit lucky IMO.

 

[Hoop Head]

It's crazy Siakam was the 27th pick. He is so good at every facet of the game.

One thing that isn't discussed much is how much of an effect Kawhi had on Siakam. Of course they won a title with Kawhi so the trade for him was worth it in that aspect alone but Siakam looks like a poor man's version of Kawhi ever since he's been gone. He was good last year also, stepping up big for them, but he's made the leap from good starter to star this year and I'm surprised he managed to do that. It's not just how good he's gotten but how quickly he's reached that level. Who knows if he'll take another leap next year but if he does, then Toronto might contend again sooner than anyone thought.