Suns @ Nuggets 10-20-18

[JCSunsfan]

Its a learning process. How do you run your offense when the outside shots are not falling?

Ayton struggled. He had some defensive lapses in the last game, and he came out aggressive defensively and got called for every little thing. No wonder he struggles to be aggressive defensively.

I still do not understand NBA reffing. A defensive player should be entitled to his own vertical space. When the arms are straight up, a foul should not be called. When an offensive player throws himself forward into the defender to try to get a call, he should not be rewarded for that. Is this that hard of a concept.

Flush it. Move on. Its a young team. Even the vets we have tend to run hot and cold (Anderson, Ariza).

 

[elindholm]

Ariza was a -47 tonight. Is he already mailing it in?

Yes, I'm sure that's the explanation. Good catch.

 

[Finito]

You guys are bipolar.

The Suns are not as good as the first game or as bad as the second. They're somewhere in between and are just starting out with 9 new players and a new coach.

Take a Prozac and relax. Its all about the ride not the destination.

If I could like this 10x I would

 

[StreetTruckinTitan]

Its a learning process. How do you run your offense when the outside shots are not fallin

Sounds familiar?

 

[Mainstreet]

As Suns fans we're spoiled by quality PG play. We had KJ, Kidd, and Nash all at the same time. Dragic, IT, and Bledsoe are all All-Star's or borderline. We had Marbury and Cassell also. We haven't had an "average" NBA PG for any length of time. I guess Bledsoe is the closest to that but he was our best player and had All-Star numbers in a very deep West guard race on a bad team. A year of Canaan will help us appreciate our next star more, I hope.

I'm not sure if Canaan is an average PG but he gives the Suns everything he has. Ideally he would be a third PG. I'm not going to blame Canaan because of his limitations.

As for Ayton, he did have a sore ankle. Can't imagine that helped him when coupled with the elevation adjustment, fatigue, and a red hot opponent. He's never played against anyone like Jokic, now he has. It's hard to believe he's as young as he is because he's so good in so many ways but he's still just a rookie.

I was satisfied with Ayton's play considering his ankle and the match up with Jokic. The foul problems really limited him as well. It seemed he needed a shot of confidence to get him going... like better passes when he is in scoring position. My gut feeling is Ayton learned a lot from this game and he will only get better. A part of Ayton's growing experience will be developing his body. This will take some time but he will get there.

 

[Superbone]

This is encouraging for everyone wanting to see Bridges getting some minutes.

Turns out he was the best thing the Suns had going last night. He has earned more minutes on the court going forward.

 

[Superbone]

Eh, Crawford got seven minutes after the Suns got destroyed in the first quarter. Everyone was thrown off long before Crawford stepped on the court.

Crawford needs to learn to quit feeding Chandler. If he didn't notice, it's not working! Feed guys that can actually score the ball. Maybe it's a vet thing with him.

 

[Mainstreet]

Turns out he was the best thing the Suns had going last night. He has earned more minutes on the court going forward.

Bridges has been a pleasant surprise. I did not see him play much in college or summer league. He might turn out to be a better player than Jackson.

 

[Carolinacacti]

Bridges has been a pleasant surprise. I did not see him play much in college or summer league. He might turn out to be a better player than Jackson.

MIGHT! You don't draft Warren, Jackson and bring in Ariza. Then draft another small forward unless theirs a problem

 

[1tinsoldier]

even if he hadn't produced Saturday, Bridges is a 22 year old who earned minutes via being our 10th pick in the draft
he needs significant court time this year

 

[Mainstreet]

MIGHT! You don't draft Warren, Jackson and bring in Ariza. Then draft another small forward unless theirs a problem

Some of McDonough's moves were puzzlers.

It's hard to know what he was thinking. He had Jackson and then added Bridges in the draft before adding Ariza in free agency. That's a lot of duplication not to mention Warren.

These moves do not raise alarms individually but collectively they pose questions. I think this is where some posters thought McDonough would trade Warren for a point guard. It makes some sense.

Perhaps there was a trade in the works for a point guard using Warren or Jackson and then it fell apart.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Bridges has been a pleasant surprise. I did not see him play much in college or summer league. He might turn out to be a better player than Jackson.

Pleasant surprise? He was the 10th pick in a loaded draft. His shooting and D is exactly as expected.

 

[Mainstreet]

Here is an injury update on Will Barton.

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

 

[95pro]

Here is an injury update on Will Barton.

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

That was a weird injury considering he was going forward and not in a side to side to twisting motion

 

[Mainstreet]

That was a weird injury considering he was going forward and not in a side to side to twisting motion

It didn't look serious when it happened. Freak injuries happen in most sports.

 

[sunsfan88]

Pleasant surprise? He was the 10th pick in a loaded draft. His shooting and D is exactly as expected.

Not to mention the Suns traded up for him and gave up a future UNPROTECTED Heat 1st rd pick for him as well.

 

[SirStefan32]

Not to mention the Suns traded up for him and gave up a future UNPROTECTED Heat 1st rd pick for him as well.

So, let's not pretend that's a huge asset. A year before the pick goes to Phoenix (now Philli), all the bad Heat contracts are up and they will be a different team. that pick is not even going to come close to lottery.

 

[sunsfan88]

So, let's not pretend that's a huge asset. A year before the pick goes to Phoenix (now Philli), all the bad Heat contracts are up and they will be a different team. that pick is not even going to come close to lottery.

I'm not ruling anything out. An unprotected pick years down the road can be an asset. I sure don't remember anyone, including myself, predicting the Lakers pick that was acquired in the Steve Nash trade to be a top 10 pick so I'm not ruling anything out.

 

[Phrazbit]

I'm not ruling anything out. An unprotected pick years down the road can be an asset. I sure don't remember anyone, including myself, predicting the Lakers pick that was acquired in the Steve Nash trade to be a top 10 pick so I'm not ruling anything out.

Not ruling anything "in" either I expect.

 

[leclerc]

It was fun while it lasted (playing well, being undefeated, winning streak guys!) but did it ever get ugly in a hurry. There were times we couldn't hand over the ball out on the perimeter. Two Suns players, one nugget and turnover. Good showing by that new guy #25 though. Bridges. Also please take the ball out of JJ's hands, he's not a point guard, he's a slasher and scorer. Make things really simple for him to get his head straight and get him grounded. I think it was a good decision to get some veterans in (Ariza, Anderson, Crawford) to keep the kids grounded, as EJ said.

 

[SirStefan32]

In addition to defense and shooting, Bridges had a really nice drive to the hoop as well as a really nice pass inside. I can't remember if it was to Ayton or someone else, but it was a really nice pass. Completely agree about JJ- he is a slasher/ scorer. I get that everyone touches the ball in Igor's offense, but he needs to get rid of it and not dribble and try to initiate.

 

[Suns_fan69]

In addition to defense and shooting, Bridges had a really nice drive to the hoop as well as a really nice pass inside. I can't remember if it was to Ayton or someone else, but it was a really nice pass. Completely agree about JJ- he is a slasher/ scorer. I get that everyone touches the ball in Igor's offense, but he needs to get rid of it and not dribble and try to initiate.

He had a great bounce pass to a cutting Booker for an easy 2, that's the one that immediately comes to mind.