Suns @ Magic Wednesday game thread 12-4-19

[WildBB]

Purdue's schooling Virginia.

 

[Mainstreet]

We often play a step slow on the trail end of a back to back, maybe we're just trying to get ahead of the game.

Too bad it's only the first game of the back-to-back.

 

[SirStefan32]

Jerome is awful today.

 

[WildBB]

Jerome is awful today.

Rubio,Oubre, Saric....

 

[Hoop Head]

Jerome is The Suns are awful today.

FTFY

 

[95pro]

Weird lineup again

Jerome
Carter
Cam
Bridges
Diallo

 

[SirStefan32]

I like what Monty is doing, to a large degree- starters (minus Frank) obviously didn't want to play, so he is sitting them in the fourth and going with the guys that want to play.

 

[cwamjn]

The Orlando Magic are like a team full of guys in witness protection. I'm going to chaulk this terrible performance on lacking live game tape on these guys. Oh well on to tomorrow.

 

[Mainstreet]

Suns are small, can't shoot or play defense. So frustrating to watch.

 

[BC867]

Suns are small, can't shoot or play defense. So frustrating to watch.

I hope that Ayton will take his return in stride.

There is a real possibility that he will try to do to too much
and face what Booker is going through, in terms of both
double-teaming and expectations of instant turnaround.

 

[SirStefan32]

Well, Bridges played well two games in a row now, and he may have found his shot. Frank played well and Diallo played well again. Cam shot the ball well. That's about all the positives I can find in this game.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Suns are small, can't shoot or play defense. So frustrating to watch.

I think this team's greatest strengths are Booker and our center tandem so it's not much of a surprise that we are struggling regularly now while missing both of our bigs. And it's clear that other teams are aware of our shortcomings too.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Just wanted to point out that this Magic team is without one of their best players and only average 102 ppg...

 

[Mainstreet]

Basketball Reference has Cam Johnson listed as a power forward???

 

[Mainstreet]

I think this team's greatest strengths are Booker and our center tandem so it's not much of a surprise that we are struggling regularly now while missing both of our bigs. And it's clear that other teams are aware of our shortcomings too.

I guess I don't want to give the Suns a ready alibi. They are at least one big man short.

 

[Mainstreet]

Final:

Magic 128 - Suns 114

 

[AzStevenCal]

I guess I don't want to give the Suns a ready alibi. They are at least one big man short.

We have a built in alibi IMO. We had an absolute bottom of the barrel roster that was overdone in one season. I think it's far too much to expect that anyone could take that roster and turn it into a complete and competitive group. We've made huge strides but it's just to get us back with the pack. We have a pretty good all around roster but nothing special. Take away two-thirds of the strengths of any team and you usually have problems.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Just wanted to point out that this Magic team is without one of their best players and only average 102 ppg...

True but I don't think it would have mattered too much if V was there. IMO, at full strength (both teams), this game still probably goes their way. We just are too flatfooted at the PF position.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Let’s face it, we suck. At present the suns aren’t even average. The current run of W-L says it all.

and man Jerome didn’t look like an nba player at all tonight.

 

[Mainstreet]

We have a built in alibi IMO. We had an absolute bottom of the barrel roster that was overdone in one season. I think it's far too much to expect that anyone could take that roster and turn it into a complete and competitive group. We've made huge strides but it's just to get us back with the pack. We have a pretty good all around roster but nothing special. Take away two-thirds of the strengths of any team and you usually have problems.

If the Suns were playing defense like early in the season the losses would be more forgivable. I'm not seeing the effort on defense.

 

[GatorAZ]

Cam is 34/83 from 3 (41%).

 

[WildBB]

We have a built in alibi IMO. We had an absolute bottom of the barrel roster that was overdone in one season. I think it's far too much to expect that anyone could take that roster and turn it into a complete and competitive group. We've made huge strides but it's just to get us back with the pack. We have a pretty good all around roster but nothing special. Take away two-thirds of the strengths of any team and you usually have problems.

Besides Booker and Ayton, Oubre and Rubio were supposed to be the strengths. We're not getting enough consistency from Oubre especially.

 

[Mainstreet]

Let’s face it, we suck. At present the suns aren’t even average. The current run of W-L says it all.

and man Jerome didn’t look like an nba player at all tonight.

This is only Jerome's second game. He is still learning what he can and can't do.

A lot of it has to do with the speed of the players closing passing lanes and learning what he can do inside.

Jerome is not going to be able to shoot it over Bamba which other Suns players need to learn as well.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Besides Booker and Ayton, Oubre and Rubio were supposed to be the strengths. We're not getting enough consistency from Oubre especially.

I think you have to live with Oubre and his huge swings. All told he is a plus player but I wouldn't really consider him a strength. As for Rubio, he's a huge step up for us but he's a very mediocre ballplayer all things considered. Especially when a big part of his offensive game is missing, the pick and roll with the big.

 

[1Sun]

Cam is 34/83 from 3 (41%).

Actually, he is shooting an admittedly decent 39% from 3, but a wretched 42.7% overall.

https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3138196/cameron-johnson