Suns @ Lakers Sunday game thread, October 6th 2024: Preseason

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Josh Okogie played very well with 15 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals. If he plays like this, someone will want him.

Okogie is a very hungry player, as is Gillespie, to name a couple.

But that’s always been the knock on okogie, he doesn’t consistently.

 

[BirdGangThing]

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[BirdGangThing]

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[TJ]

You are being to nice. He's not an NBA player, and 3-4 more years isn't likely to change that. He has unrealistic expectations on him just because of who is dad is. On the other hand he gets to make a few million dollars when better players never will. So I don't feel to bad for him.

Bronny was a high 4-star recruit in high school and looked legit his senior year. Had his recruitment not been so telegraphed, he could’ve ended up at a better school than USC, and would have gotten better coaching and development than what Andy Enfield was able to offer. I doubt he would be a perennial all-star, but he has the makings of a solid rotational player, and that potential won’t be unearthed by expediting him thru the system

 

[Chaplin]

Bronny was a high 4-star recruit in high school and looked legit his senior year. Had his recruitment not been so telegraphed, he could’ve ended up at a better school than USC, and would have gotten better coaching and development than what Andy Enfield was able to offer. I doubt he would be a perennial all-star, but he has the makings of a solid rotational player, and that potential won’t be unearthed by expediting him thru the system

We'll take your word for it. At least last night, he didn't look like an NBA player at all.

 

[TJ]

We'll take your word for it. At least last night, he didn't look like an NBA player at all.

Agree. He’s looked lost all offseason. I also think the pressure of being LeBron’s son is not helping him mentally. I can’t see a situation in which Bronny’s NBA career continues past LeBron’s retirement. I hope his passport is up to date

 

[95pro]

He's barely looked like a college player too. Its just sickening, i hate the whole situation.

 

[Mainstreet]

But that’s always been the knock on okogie, he doesn’t consistently.

Yes, but there is always that lure he may have turned the corner.

The Suns believe in him as they signed him to a two year $16 million contract. They can keep him or try to trade him.

If he can't or isn't traded, the Suns have a defensive specialist on their roster who will play his tail off. He is an all effort physical player who always plays hard.

There shouldn't be any pressure for him to start, which put him in an awkward position last season because, as you note, he has an inconsistent outside shot.

He started 26 games last season.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Some thoughts on the game...

Oso looks NBA ready. He did a lot of helpful things, both in terms of putting himself in good spots, playing some good D and above average instincts as a passer.

Dunn looked like a defensive difference maker and his 3 point stroke looks better than expected.

More than anything, it's nice to see some young blood and energy out there.

Tyus Jones looks like a legit player - crazy we got him for the minimum.

Grayson looks fat and slow - it's one game, but his dramatic weight gain is looking questionable so far.

Overall, the vibes were very positive, and Durant seemed more engaged and interested in being a leader.

Fun game, and if Damion Lee can keep playing/shooting like that, he'll earn minutes.

 

[Mainstreet]

Some thoughts on the game...

Oso looks NBA ready. He did a lot of helpful things, both in terms of putting himself in good spots, playing some good D and above average instincts as a passer.

Dunn looked like a defensive difference maker and his 3 point stroke looks better than expected.

More than anything, it's nice to see some young blood and energy out there.

Tyus Jones looks like a legit player - crazy we got him for the minimum.

Grayson looks fat and slow - it's one game, but his dramatic weight gain is looking questionable so far.

Overall, the vibes were very positive, and Durant seemed more engaged and interested in being a leader.

Fun game, and if Damion Lee can keep playing/shooting like that, he'll earn minutes.

I'm not sure about the thinking about Grayson putting on weight and muscle, but I think he doesn't have enough height to play wing.

He was fine at his previous weight to play his true position, shooting guard. I guess he will slim down, but it will take some time.

 

[BirdGangThing]

I'm not sure about the thinking about Grayson putting on weight and muscle, but I think he doesn't have enough height to play wing.

He was fine at his previous weight to play his true position, shooting guard. I guess he will slim down, but it will take some time.

i saw reeves try to body grayson and grayson just had his way with reeves

 

[Chaplin]

With Grayson, I was having Eric Gordon flashbacks, and not good ones. He's a rhythm shooter, so it's not totally surprising that he looked like that in his first game in 3 months.

 

[Chaplin]

Funny aside: Ryan Dunn wore #0 and Royce O'Neale wore #00. Didn't know if that was even possible in the NBA.

 

[Mainstreet]

i saw reeves try to body grayson and grayson just had his way with reeves

Even so, Grayson looked like a shot putter out there. I would rather he gets back to his old physique.

 

[BirdGangThing]

Even so, Grayson looked like a shot putter out there. I would rather he gets back to his old physique.

buffson > frailson

 

[GatorAZ]

What a pass from Oso to Okogie with a great finish.

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Is that a sarcastic tweet?

 

[Mainstreet]

Is that a sarcastic tweet?

I'm not sure why it would be a sarcastic tweet because Oso made a laser one-handed pass to Okogie in the corner which led to a basket. Good play by both players

 

[Suns_fan69]

Didn't watch it live but managed to catch up on the game this morning. Some thoughts:
- Really liked the wrinkle with KD running inverted pick and rolls with the guards. Having Beal/Booker/Grayson operate in the short roll will be much more impactful than say Nurkic or Plumlee in that same space

- Dunn is a hound on defense, but he's a little too frenetic right now. I suspect he'll rack up a lot of fouls and get beat for back doors while he calibrates on when he can gamble a bit with his hands and body and when he needs to be bit more conservative

- With Tyus, Monte and now Colin G, there basically should not be any non-crunchtime minutes without a PG on the floor. All three played exactly as I hoped. Not too flashy, but kept the ball moving while taking care of it (collective 14asst/3tos for the trio)

- Okogie is a dog. He can eat up anyone who isn't taking the game at 100%. But that'll also limit his effectiveness in the playoffs when everyone is placing much more value on each possession. Nice to see him make a couple outside shots, and hopefully he can build on this

- Having mobile offensive bigs in Oso and Plumlee will help open up outside shots for others. My guess is that when those two on the floor, they'll trigger a lot of the picks in traditional screen actions, but with Nurk in the game he'll be more of a floor spacer and having more guard/guard and forward/guard pnrs

- I've forgotten how quick Damion Lee gets his shot off. He does not need much of an opening to hoist it up and that'll be valuable as an off the bench flamethrower. His size will be an issue, but I think he'll get more minutes than I was originally anticipating, which was just garbage time mins.

 

[Suns_fan69]

Funny aside: Ryan Dunn wore #0 and Royce O'Neale wore #00. Didn't know if that was even possible in the NBA.

Happens more often than i thought:
https://uni-watch.com/2019/05/14/whole-lotta-nothin-nba-teams-with-zero-and-double-zero/

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[GatorAZ]

I'm not sure why it would be a sarcastic tweet because Oso made a laser one-handed pass to Okogie in the corner which led to a basket. Good play by both players

Embellishing was probably the better word. That was a basic NBA pass.

 

[Mainstreet]

Embellishing was probably the better word. That was a basic NBA pass.

I will definitely take more of those. Oso makes some nice passes.

 

[Phrazbit]

It's interesting, Dunn is all defense, and Oso is all offense.

I think Dunn has the better chance of developing the other side of his game.

Oso was a very good defender in college and he has all the physical tools to be a solid one in the pros.

What Oso lacks is scoring range and rebounding.

 

[Yuma]

It's interesting, Dunn is all defense, and Oso is all offense.

I think Dunn has the better chance of developing the other side of his game.

Don't sell out on Oso. Big guys develop slower. However, he's already not too far off from developing the strength he needs at his position. Looked decent when AD tried to bully him. I can imagine when he gains some strength. Already he's our best lob option, and his passing is already top notch. He had the second most assists last night.

Dunn has the skills we seek at the wing. He just has to keep hitting those threes. He has the defense. Just needs more strength, too. He fell for ball fakes last night more than he did in college. That said, he still looked good on the defensive end.

 

[Hoop Head]

Just caught up, nothing to add other than Oso was a pleasant surprise. I can definitely see him as a modern day Diaw if he develops some. Only difference really is rather than not shooting when open he can't shoot. Diaw would drive me nuts with how he'd wait so long looking for another pass.

 

[leclerc]

Rookies looked much better than what I expected!