Suns @ Clippers 3-10-14

[Mainstreet]

The Suns play at the Clippers tonight with a scheduled 7:30 PM Arizona start time. It's hard to be optimistic about the Suns winning with their porous defense and recent lack of hard play. The lack of effort for four full quarters worries me the most. Sadly, perhaps the Suns are like water reaching it's level.

No word yet on Bledsoe returning tonight, so likely his return will be on Wednesday. The Suns could use a boost to get them out of their funk.

See more from the Paul Coro article at azcentral dated 3-10-14.

Suns (36-26) at Clippers (44-20) … 7:30 p.m. Phoenix tip time

C: Miles Plumlee or Alex Len … DeAndre Jordan

PF: Channing Frye … Blake Griffin

SF: P.J. Tucker … Matt Barnes

SG: Gerald Green … Darren Collison

PG: Goran Dragic … Chris Paul

Key Clippers injuries: Jamal Crawford (calf) and J.J. Redick (back) are out. Jared Dudley (back) is questionable.

Key Clippers reserves: Glen Davis, Hedo Turkoglu, Danny Granger, Willie Green, Reggie Bullock, Ryan Hollins.

http://www.azcentral.com/insiders/p...d-things-go-away-in-the-3rd-of-suns-warriors/

 

[Mainstreet]

Paul Coro ‏@paulcoro 10m

Eric Bledsoe will not play in #SunsAtClippers tonight but is expected to return Wednesday vs. Cleveland. Miles Plumlee will start tonight.

https://twitter.com/paulcoro

 

[Superbone]

https://twitter.com/paulcoro

That's too bad. It would have been poetic to come back against the team he was injured against and who he played for last year.

 

[Catlover]

That's too bad. It would have been poetic to come back against the team he was injured against and who he played for last year.

It also would have been nice to get some of the rust off before we faced a team that we had a reasonable chance to beat. We can upset anyone but that's what it would take to beat the Clippers tonight. We'd need an upset, a big one.

 

[Superbone]

It also would have been nice to get some of the rust off before we faced a team that we had a reasonable chance to beat. We can upset anyone but that's what it would take to beat the Clippers tonight. We'd need an upset, a big one.

That too.

 

[Mainstreet]

That's too bad. It would have been poetic to come back against the team he was injured against and who he played for last year.

I have trouble ingesting a couple of more days rest would make a difference in Bledsoe's ability to return but so be it.

 

[SirStefan32]

I have trouble ingesting a couple of more days rest would make a difference in Bledsoe's ability to return but so be it.

I am guessing it's just psychological. Return at home for a game you'll easily win instead of returning on the road, against your former team that you will lose.

 

[Mainstreet]

Announcers are saying Bledsoe has been approved 100% to return.... but he will return Wednesday. I think if he had played only a few minutes tonight he would have given the Suns a mental boost.

 

[Mainstreet]

Plumlee with live legs early.

 

[BC867]

I think if he had played only a few minutes tonight he would have given the Suns a mental boost.

I think Jeff is maximizing the boost by waiting 'til Wednesday.

Bring Bledsoe back in front of the home fans to get the adrenaline flowing. And I think he'll play him significant minutes off the bench.

Hit the floor running! Play it up. Don't play it down. Especially with a fast Guard.

 

[Mainstreet]

I think Jeff is maximizing the boost by waiting 'til Wednesday.

Bring Bledsoe back in front of the home fans to get the adrenaline flowing. And I think he'll play him significant minutes off the bench.

Hit the floor running! Play it up. Don't play it down. Especially with a fast Guard.

Maybe but Dragic is getting frustrated tonight. He tends to foul when he gets upset. Another ball handler would help.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Suns have had the ball stripped from them tonight on a regular basis.

Archie looks to be playing PG.

 

[SirStefan32]

This is so bad. I really don't think a team could be this bad if they were trying.

 

[Catlover]

This is so bad. I really don't think a team could be this bad if they were trying.

Dragic had that stretch where he played like a superstar and it covered up a lot of blemishes. He's back down to earth and that means we are too. Look at our roster and look at the Lakers roster. See any similarities? I see far too many and they just beat OKC and lost by a billion to these Clippers.

 

[Mainstreet]

This is so bad. I really don't think a team could be this bad if they were trying.

The Suns have no interior defense. Griffin is having it easier than practice.

 

[Catlover]

The Suns have no interior defense. Griffin is having it easier than practice.

The Suns don't have much in the way of perimeter defense either.

 

[BC867]

Maybe but Dragic is getting frustrated tonight. He tends to foul when he gets upset. Another ball handler would help.

You might find this interesting. So far this season:

Dragic is averaging .178 assists per minute (359/2016)

Ishmael is averaging .177 assists per minute (137/773)

Bledsoe is averaging .174 assists per minute (140/803)

Because Ish is not an outside shooter, he is primarily a ball handler.

 

[Mainstreet]

You might find this interesting. So far this season:

Dragic is averaging .178 assists per minute (359/2016)

Ishmael is averaging .177 assists per minute (137/773)

Bledsoe is averaging .174 assists per minute (140/803)

Because Ish is not an outside shooter, he is primarily a ball handler.

The stats are fine, but I think Dragic over the past number of games appears to becoming increasingly agitated that he is the target of opposing defenses. He can't carry the Suns alone and he becomes frustrated. Anyway, this is my observation from where I sit.

 

[Mainstreet]

Paul pulls Dragic down and no call.

 

[desertdawg]

Need to get back in this game pronto.

 

[desertdawg]

Los Comebacks!!

 

[desertdawg]

Maybe not.

 

[Mainstreet]

Chris Paul with the cocky dribbling. No class.

 

[desertdawg]

FIGHT!!

 

[desertdawg]

Blake just tried to lay on Tucker and they got into it.