Suns @ Mavericks Thursday game thread 1-20-22

[Cheesebeef]

Really can’t be overstated how impressive this W was. We’re down our starting C, we’re on the end of a 5 game roadie against a team that’s been smoking hot and a totally healthy club.

They had us on a yo-yo all game... but come 4th Q, we ripped their heart out.

 

[zett]

love beating Cuban almost as much as beating the Lakers! great finish to the Game, and the road trip!

 

[Muggz]

AND the Warriors lost in OT

 

[DJ Tabooh]

I think it's just the opposite. When you really watch him, he is everywhere doing all the little things.

I can see both perspectives. I think Mikal overthinks offensively. He turns down shots and dribbles into nothingness or when he does shoot he’s in between shots. At the end of the game we did a fake dribble hand off for him and he got in the lane and shot a little floater…that’s his game. Just attack. He may never be an initiator on offense but he’s gotta be able to pick his spots when he has an advantage. We can’t play 4 on 5 and that’s what happens when he’s in his head. That 2 minute burst at the end of the game….let’s bottle that up and do that over and over and over again Mikal.

 

[Suns_fan69]

Here's the replay of the block by Booker:

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Booker's activity on defense this whole play is so good. Good communication and switches early and winds up denying KP in the high post, then rotates to help contain the Luka drive which forces the pass off to Finney-Smith and then again rotates back for the block.

 

[SirStefan32]

The more I think about what's going on with Bridges, the more I think he just expands so much energy on defense that he tends to take breaks on offense. It reminds me of great offensive players who happen to have a few great defensive sequences, but end up hiding on defense 90% of the time.

It also seems to me that he's been somewhat off since his injury.

Either way, It is frustrating that his offense seems to have regressed a bit, but his defense is just amazing to watch. I honestly cannot remember a better defender in a Suns uniform.

As far as this game goes, it it amazing how this team can shoot like crap, get beat up for 40 minutes, and then just explode and defeat their opponents.

I also continue to be impressed with Cam Johnson's and Book's defense, Theoretically, neither one of them should be even competent defender, but I'll be damned if they are not at least competent defenders.

 

[Phrazbit]

Here's the replay of the block by Booker:

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Booker's activity on defense this whole play is so good. Good communication and switches early and winds up denying KP in the high post, then rotates to help contain the Luka drive which forces the pass off to Finney-Smith and then again rotates back for the block.

Booker and Crowder both with amazing positioning and awareness on that play.

I don't think I've ever seen a player grow the way Booker seems to. Seventh year in the league and he has improved some area of his game dramatically with each passing season.

 

[Superbone]

Biyombo has been such a big pickup.

Literally.

 

[Phrazbit]

Just rewatched a big chunk of the 4th quarter.

This is one of our most impressive wins of the year; end of a long road trip, against a super hot team, we shot like ass for most of the game, they had a TON of wild bounces go their way and they beat us up on the glass (we DO miss Ayton)... yet, in the 4th, we just flat out execute, we lock down on defense, everyone plays their part and we straight up buried them.

I think a lot of teams around the league would have packed it in at some point in the third; said "we had a good trip but this ain't our night", but not us, those lucky bounces the Mavs seemed to be getting only fueled the fire.

I love this basketball team.

 

[Krangodnzr]

I scooped that up back in December for 50 bucks. Best money spent last year considering the return on investment.

As opposed to the 500 I dropped on that Cards humiliation on Monday night where I probably also got Covid for all I know. Worst money I’ve spent and will spend this year, no doubt.

I'm glad I didn't go.

 

[Mainstreet]

Really can’t be overstated how impressive this W was. We’re down our starting C, we’re on the end of a 5 game roadie against a team that’s been smoking hot and a totally healthy club.

They had us on a yo-yo all game... but come 4th Q, we ripped their heart out.

Suns won this game on defense, scoring off Dallas turnovers they created.

It's amazing the Suns can find a way to win shooting 8-36 from 3-point range.

I was hoping the Suns could get a lead at the end to do Chris Paul time.

 

[Mainstreet]

What former Suns shows some respect fot the team... Shaq.

He says the Suns show "No panic" when they trail.

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[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

My boy just hit me up said the Suns look like they’ve set there eyes on Gordon

Dario, Stix, Nadar and Multiple 1s

Gordon shooting 50% and 46% from 3

If we could really swing that and stay healthy we would be close to unstoppable imo.

 

[Mainstreet]

If we could really swing that and stay healthy we would be close to unstoppable imo.

Suns definitely could use another shooter whether it's packaged as a forward or a guard (preferably a ball-handler).

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

He really isn’t a lockdown defender at all. He’s gotten super overrated

He’s one of the most unique defenders I’ve ever seen. He’s definitely not a lockdown defender in the traditional sense of one-on-one shut down his man. But he makes passing lanes incredibly difficult and he bothers shooters and recovers well when beaten. There’s no doubt he’s a high level defender. Just in a way that I’ve not seen before. That said his regression offensively, including awful passing, is becoming a big problem. If he were playing at his best offensively we wouldn’t have close games.

 

[Mainstreet]

He’s one of the most unique defenders I’ve ever seen. He’s definitely not a lockdown defender in the traditional sense of one-on-one shut down his man. But he makes passing lanes incredibly difficult and he bothers shooters and recovers well when beaten. There’s no doubt he’s a high level defender. Just in a way that I’ve not seen before. That said his regression offensively, including awful passing, is becoming a big problem. If he were playing at his best offensively we wouldn’t have close games.

Bridges has this elongated shooting stroke from 3-point range. When he is off it seems to become even more pronounced. I wish there was someway to fix it without messing up his shooting entirely.

 

[DJ Tabooh]

He’s one of the most unique defenders I’ve ever seen. He’s definitely not a lockdown defender in the traditional sense of one-on-one shut down his man. But he makes passing lanes incredibly difficult and he bothers shooters and recovers well when beaten. There’s no doubt he’s a high level defender. Just in a way that I’ve not seen before. That said his regression offensively, including awful passing, is becoming a big problem. If he were playing at his best offensively we wouldn’t have close games.

He’s kinda like a defensive end who doesn’t get a lot of sacks but creates a ton of pressures that may not show up in the stat sheet (a la deflections). He’s disruptive on that end.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I can see both perspectives. I think Mikal overthinks offensively. He turns down shots and dribbles into nothingness or when he does shoot he’s in between shots. At the end of the game we did a fake dribble hand off for him and he got in the lane and shot a little floater…that’s his game. Just attack. He may never be an initiator on offense but he’s gotta be able to pick his spots when he has an advantage. We can’t play 4 on 5 and that’s what happens when he’s in his head. That 2 minute burst at the end of the game….let’s bottle that up and do that over and over and over again Mikal.

Amen. I think you just described him perfectly. He’s waaaay overthinking offense.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Here's the replay of the block by Booker:

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Booker's activity on defense this whole play is so good. Good communication and switches early and winds up denying KP in the high post, then rotates to help contain the Luka drive which forces the pass off to Finney-Smith and then again rotates back for the block.

This game could be the best defensive game I’ve ever seen from book. He also didn’t allow luka to bully him in the post. His strength really showed out.

 

[Dr. Jones]

Devin Booker is the living embodiment of a supermax contract. Man I hope he can meet destiny on the mountaintop because he freaking deserves it.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Just rewatched a big chunk of the 4th quarter.

This is one of our most impressive wins of the year; end of a long road trip, against a super hot team, we shot like ass for most of the game, they had a TON of wild bounces go their way and they beat us up on the glass (we DO miss Ayton)... yet, in the 4th, we just flat out execute, we lock down on defense, everyone plays their part and we straight up buried them.

I think a lot of teams around the league would have packed it in at some point in the third; said "we had a good trip but this ain't our night", but not us, those lucky bounces the Mavs seemed to be getting only fueled the fire.

I love this basketball team.

Someone said it earlier this year, and I agreed: very spurs-like. You think you’re playing well and are gonna win and then they calmly rip off your jugular.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I'm glad I didn't go.

You woulda had a good time being miserable with us but regretting the $$$

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Suns definitely could use another shooter whether it's packaged as a forward or a guard (preferably a ball-handler).

That’s Gordon. He can create

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Devin Booker is the living embodiment of a supermax contract. Man I hope he can meet destiny on the mountaintop because he freaking deserves it.

And he still hasn't entered his peak prime of 27-30. We aren't at that ceiling yet

 

[Finito]

He’s kinda like a defensive end who doesn’t get a lot of sacks but creates a ton of pressures that may not show up in the stat sheet (a la deflections). He’s disruptive on that end.

Perfect description