Suns @ Lakers Game Thread

[nathan]

Only real concern is building the big leads and losing them. That must stop. We got away with It last night and held on. No need to make It hard for ourselves.

Good to see JJ play so well. I had a feeling he would shoot well.

I said it before the season, JJ and Q's points per game will be basically be replaced by Bell and James Jones...and James and Raja might average more.

James Jones seems a little one dimensional on offense thus far. He's basically assumed Q's role of designated 3 point chucker. Hopefully he has a few other moves up his sleeves and doesn't rely on being able to hit jumpers all season.

 

[scotsman13]

james jones is play solid defense. he isnt the do everything defender that bell is but he plays solid good defense. the thing that i am shocked and very happy about with jones is that in 2 games this season has has been fouled twice in the act of shooting a 3. i think this may have happened once last year. as he draws more fouls having players run at him it will because more important for others to stay at home on him. as they do this the middle will open up more for nash and amare once he comes back.

 

[Errntknght]

Yes, the guys were moving much better on offense... looked almost like the Sonics game. Marion led the way and even sped along the baseline a couple of times. Bell and Barbosa were on the move as well while Jones was still quite static. KT started rolling instead of popping after setting the high pick so Nash was much more able to get him the ball - the Laker defense was porous down the middle which helped, of course. Eventually, he did hit a jumper off the pick & pop but that was with Diaw who used his height to make the pass.

I noticed once that Marion actually set the pick on the P&R instead of slipping out early... I'm going to watch the tape again and see if he did more than once. The good news is that he got an easy bucket out of it so maybe that will encourage him to do it more.

Jones does not seem to have it in mind to rebound - twice I saw him in decent position but he moved away from the hoop instead of toward it, giving up any chance to get the ball. Barbosa, on the other hand, has been very alert to rebound. Noticed that in one of the preseason games, too. He'd not exactly jockeying for position but he comes slicing through seams or along the baseline to nab the ball. It's amazing how often Nash is standing in just the right spot and has rebounds fall in his lap...

I have to admit that Jones looked better shooting off the dribble in this game, pulling up just a trifle earlier - before he was having to avoid a defender as he shot. I couldn't see it but the announcers said that he drew a foul on a 3pt attempt by kicking a leg forward, a la Reggie. I always hated it when Reg got that call against us... the league will probably change the rule now that he's retired and make the move an offensive foul.

 

[Superbone]

i gotta bad feeling about tonight. we're gonna get creamed inside. that's my call. go suns.

Nailed that prediction!