Spurs @ Suns game thread 12-9-17

[Mainstreet]

Tyson Chandler will start tonight.

scott bordow‏Verified account@sbordow


Tyson Chandler starting for Suns. Same other four as Thursday

4:24 PM - 9 Dec 2017

 

[Mainstreet]

Danny Green will be a game-time decision.

scott bordow‏Verified account@sbordow


Danny Green (groin) will be game-time decision for Spurs. SA will see how he feels after he warms up

4:49 PM - 9 Dec 2017

 

[Mainstreet]

Starting lineups.

scott bordow‏Verified account@sbordow


Danny Green is out for Spurs. Starting lineups:

Suns: Warren, Chriss, Chandler, Jackson, Ulis

Spurs: Paul, Gay, Aldridge, Forbes, Murray

5:43 PM - 9 Dec 2017

 

[Chaplin]

I liked Tatum over Jackson. I like consistency, and when I watched Jackson I saw an inconsistent player who needed a lot of work. Tatum is polished.

Tatum is a good NBA-ready-now pick, but IMO he is already at his ceiling, he's not going to improve all that much. Jackson has loads of potential, most of it unrealized.

 

[Mainstreet]

Spurs dominating the boards and they do not have much height in the game.

Spurs lead 8-2 early.

Now 10-2 and a timeout by the Suns.

 

[Mainstreet]

Warren has 2 PFs. So does Jackson.

The Suns came out sloppy.

 

[Mainstreet]

House has entered the game.

Daniels has 5 quick points.

 

[Mainstreet]

Suns trail at the end of the 1st quarter 28-17.

 

[BC867]

Other than after a timeout, I'm wondering if the Suns ever call a play. And, if so, is it ever for a post player?

It reminds me of when I was a kid and we played 2-hand touch football. "Everyone out for a long one."

 

[Mainstreet]

The Suns work themselves back in the game only to have Mills hit a 3 at the 3rd quarter buzzer.

Suns trail 79-71.

 

[Mainstreet]

Suns narrow it to 92-87 with 5:26 left in the 4th quarter. Spurs call timeout.

 

[Mainstreet]

Another Spurs timeout.

The Spurs lead is cut to 3. They lead 94-91. Chriss and James are leading the way.

James has 23 points.

 

[Mainstreet]

Game tied at 3:43 mark.

Now Aldridge scores underneath to give Spurs a 2 point lead with 3:09 left.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Amazing that a coach thinks about his team and the best way to win long term.

Pop isn’t paid by the league to do a job. He’s paid by his team and he’s had that team be good to tithe great for over two decades. Hating what he does to stay there makes zero sense to me.

I know, I know. He is so Machiavellian. It just bugs me. I am sure I would love it if he was our coach.

 

[Mainstreet]

Suns take 100-99 lead. Jackson fouled but he makes only 1 FT.

Spurs take back the lead on a 3 after Jackson failed to get out on defense.

 

[Mainstreet]

James runs down the clock to 3 seconds and misses 3. Spurs to the free throw line.

 

[Mainstreet]

Final:

Spurs 104 - Suns 101

Dudley misses last second shot.

 

[BC867]

The Spurs four players down to even the odds. It was fun watching the Suns fight back and James step as shooting guard from the Point Guard position covering for Booker.

 

[JCSunsfan]

10 players with double digit minute for the Suns. Played like a preseason game.

Bender with 6 minutes. But he has a broken nose and has not been playing well with that mask.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I know, I know. He is so Machiavellian. It just bugs me. I am sure I would love it if he was our coach.

Yeah... this board probably would pooled serious amounts of cash together to build a legit shrine to him by now.

 

[Mainstreet]

This is the best I have seen Chriss play in a long time. He had 15 points and 8 points. It gives some reason for hope.

James had 25 points and Warren 24.

Although the Spurs were down a number of players they still had Aldridge, Gay and Mills to help their cause. Warren was the Suns top gun although James has been playing well.

 

[Phrazbit]

Yeah... this board probably would pooled serious amounts of cash together to build a legit shrine to him by now.

Yeah, Pop, in my mind, is the greatest coach of all time. He has consistently adapted to both his roster and the climate of the NBA. The Spurs of the early 2000s were the ultimate, grind it out, win ugly team, in a grind it out, win ugly NBA. Yes, he had Tim Duncan, one of the best big men of all time, but he never had another superstar around him (Robinson was good but no longer a stud). Then over the last decade the Spurs became the ultimate, ball movement, beat you with pace, defense and hustle on both ends team, in a spread it out modern NBA, and they've consistently contended despite a roster that every analyst in the league seems to think is on the decline for like 9 years now.

Kawhi is a great player, but it took 4 years to find his stride, and I think on a different franchise... and I mean probably any other franchise in the league, he would merely have become a solid player, instead, under Pop, he is a monster. Kawhi is a beast, Pop is incredible, and I remain convinced that if not for the astoundingly dirty play of Zaza Pachulia that the Spurs would have beaten the Warriors last season despite a gargantuan talent disparity.

 

[hcsilla]

But how does Hayward fit with Tatum on that roster?

Irving/Hayward/Brown/Taytum/Horford, since both Brown and Tatum are able to defend multiple positions. That's a modern, versatile, perimeter/kick-and-drive and defense-driven lineup.

 

[hcsilla]

You have good taste!

I think some posters were not high on Tatum because of a perceived lack of athleticism.

I was one of them. I was even lower on Jaylen Brown. Both were fantastic picks. Ainge does a fantastic job. His almost every move is gold.

 

[Mainstreet]

I was one of them. I was even lower on Jaylen Brown. Both were fantastic picks. Ainge does a fantastic job. His almost every move is gold.

And it hurts so bad too!

The Suns are always one step behind the Celtics.