Suns @ Lakers Wednesday game thread 3-22-2023

[Hoop Head]

I'd like to see Ross before Shamet just as a first half microwave off the bench. I know his defense hasn't been good, hopefully it improves some. He's still a capable scorer on a team that lacks those off the bench. There's little risk in seeing if he can fill it up in the first half. Hopefully his defense improves as he continues getting reps because I do believe part of the issue is the system change.

 

[Absolute Zero]

More concise rotation from here on out? I guess we'll see what that means tonight.

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[95pro]

It sounds like Monty is going to shorten his rotation as he has been playing so many guys. Whether that is enough, I don't know.

IMO, the Suns should have already been in playoff mode with 11 games left.

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So why haven't our guys transitioned well?

Lakers had a plan and have made their gameplan around those acquired.

Meanwhile, Monty plays guys at random; minutes, roles, position.

 

[Mainstreet]

So why haven't our guys transitioned well?

Lakers had a plan and have made their gameplan around those acquired.

Meanwhile, Monty plays guys at random; minutes, roles, position.

I'd like to think Monty has been trying to figure out who will be in the playoff rotation. However, I'm not sure if I believe that because Devin Booker is getting worn down trying to carry the team.

 

[Finito]

So why haven't our guys transitioned well?

Lakers had a plan and have made their gameplan around those acquired.

Meanwhile, Monty plays guys at random; minutes, roles, position.

Listen to Barkley talk about how champions teams build chemistry and consistency. Everybody knows what to expect every night they know what there job is and how important it is for players

We don’t have any of that

 

[AzStevenCal]

So why haven't our guys transitioned well?

Lakers had a plan and have made their gameplan around those acquired.

Meanwhile, Monty plays guys at random; minutes, roles, position.

The Lakers got rid of a team killer and also added better players than we did (if you don't count KD). I'm willing to blame Monty for almost anything but he hasn't been dealt a full deck. And remember, in the past there have been many complaints here about Monty always playing his favorites and ignoring hot hands or guys on the bench that could have helped us.

IMO he is either a below average Head Coach or he has a below average staff working for him, either way I'm not sure our problems are coaching issues right now.

 

[Mainstreet]

Listen to Barkley talk about how champions teams build chemistry and consistency. Everybody knows what to expect every night they know what there job is and how important it is for players

We don’t have any of that

When the Suns went to the Finals they had consistency. Hopefully it's not too late to rebuild it.

A couple of things concern me the most providing the Suns get healthy. They will need to make stops and relearn how to close out games. The Suns defense simply has not been there.

 

[Covert Rain]

The Lakers got rid of a team killer and also added better players than we did (if you don't count KD). I'm willing to blame Monty for almost anything but he hasn't been dealt a full deck. And remember, in the past there have been many complaints here about Monty always playing his favorites and ignoring hot hands or guys on the bench that could have helped us.

IMO he is either a below average Head Coach or he has a below average staff working for him, either way I'm not sure our problems are coaching issues right now.

That's likely the only reason I am not on the fire Monty bandwagon. You have to acknowledge he has not had a full deck. Having said that? He also was the coach of the team that had two epic collapses two years running. He is also the coach that just about everyone on the planet can see struggles with adjustments. He is also the coach that is rumored to not have liked coaching guys like Jae and McGee because they had too much attitude which seemed freaking immature to me. If this team was fully healthy this year and whiffed again? I would be ready to move on as well. He is a good coach but not all good coaches can put you over the top. I would like to see what Monty can due with this team healthy though before I jump on that bandwagon.

 

[82CardsGrad]

So why haven't our guys transitioned well?

Lakers had a plan and have made their gameplan around those acquired.

Meanwhile, Monty plays guys at random; minutes, roles, position.

An argument can easily be made that the Lakers team around Lebron, is better than the Suns team around Durant... Book & A.D. cancel each other out. So, outside of those two, go guy for guy and I think it's pretty clear Monty is trying to make something from nothing, while the Lakers run out there guys like Russell, Vanderbilt, Schroder, Reeves, Beasley, Hachimura... who, collectively, are better than the basket of misfits - that includes a burned-out CP3 - the Suns run out there each night...

 

[82CardsGrad]

either way I'm not sure our problems are coaching issues right now.

Yep...

 

[Mainstreet]

Providing everyone is healthy and Craig is starting, I can see the following players coming off the bench: Okogie, Shamet, Lee, Ross and Landale or Biz.

However, that is a really small bench.

Monty has said he wants to go with a 9.5 player rotation. The Suns really needed a longer power forward. Bazley is running out of time to be that guy.

 

[Superbone]

Who gets more free throws tonight? Superstar Austin Reaves or that bum Devin Booker?

 

[Hoop Head]

Who gets more free throws tonight? Superstar Austin Reaves or that bum Devin Booker?

Don't you dare disparage a superstar like AR-15 by mentioning him in the same sentence as Booker.

 

[Mainstreet]

It sounds like the Suns have Scott Foster tonight as a referee.

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[Brian in Mesa]

Who gets more free throws tonight? Superstar Austin Reaves or that bum Devin Booker?

Neither are known for getting to the line that much. Reaves averages 3.8 FTA per game and Booker is at 6.2 although Reeves did go 16-18 in his last game. So, I'll go with Reaves.

 

[Hoop Head]

Neither are known for getting to the line that much. Reeves averages 3.8 FTA per game and Booker is at 6.2 although Reeves did go 16-18 in his last game. So, I'll go with Reeves.

With Scott Foster as the ref I think odds are better for Booker to get tossed than his average for FT attempts.

 

[Cheesebeef]

That OKC loss really stings. Even with as bad as we’ve been lately, that would have given us a nice cushion on the 4 seed.

 

[Superbone]

That OKC loss really stings. Even with as bad as we’ve been lately, that would have given us a nice cushion on the 4 seed.

You know better than that, Cheese. We can't have nice things.

 

[Covert Rain]

As of today:

Clippers 1 Game back from the Suns but we can swap seeds with them and it won't change the playoff match up.
- Next 3 Opp - Thunder, Pelicans, Bulls

Warriors 2 Game back from the Suns
- Mavs, 76ers, Timberwolves

Thunder 2.5 Games back from the Suns
- Clippers, Lakers, Trailblazers

Maves 2.5 Games back from the Suns
- Warriors, Hornets, Hornets

Suns next 3 - Lakers, Kings, 76ers

 

[95pro]

An argument can easily be made that the Lakers team around Lebron, is better than the Suns team around Durant... Book & A.D. cancel each other out. So, outside of those two, go guy for guy and I think it's pretty clear Monty is trying to make something from nothing, while the Lakers run out there guys like Russell, Vanderbilt, Schroder, Reeves, Beasley, Hachimura... who, collectively, are better than the basket of misfits - that includes a burned-out CP3 - the Suns run out there each night...

Ross' Minutes as a Sun in 10 games: 25, 22, 17, inactive, inactive, 13, 23, 22, 15, 11, 16, 16

His minutes are just so up and down, I'm sure the same can be said for the rest of the non-starters. Its just hard to build anything without a plan.

 

[Bufalay]

Booker is going for 81 tonight.

 

[elindholm]

Booker is going for 81 tonight.

He "goes for" 81 every time he gets off to a hot start. Usually it's not to the team's advantage.

 

[Bufalay]

He "goes for" 81 every time he gets off to a hot start. Usually it's not to the team's advantage.

You have successfully misinterpreted my ambiguous statement for comedic effect.

Booker is going to score 81 points tonight. The Suns might lose.

 

[nashman]

That OKC loss really stings. Even with as bad as we’ve been lately, that would have given us a nice cushion on the 4 seed.

They are playing the best ball in the west 8-2 in their last 10 which is better than anyone in the west by a lot! It’s not like it wasn’t a game but damn did we miss DA it can’t be just Book having to carry the team we have to have someone take the pressure off him. And guys need to step up and make some damn shots we are missing way to many open shots!

 

[Proximo]

Very curious to see the rotation tonight, because apparently this is going to be the slimmed down playoff version - minus one extra guy for Durant.

Seems to me only one of Shamet, Ross, and Lee should make the cut.

All have pluses and minuses, not sure what Monty will go with.