Suns @ Nuggets Sunday game thread 11-24-19

[Mainstreet]

Ten more games before Ayton returns although I'd be super happy with Baynes and Rubio.

Better not forget Jerome.

 

[BC867]

Let's not forget that, even when Ayton's return is down to single digits,
it is going to take some time for him to get into game shape.

And the rest of the team acclimating to his return to the starting lineup.

And, as I've posted, for him and our starting Power Forward to work out
routines to cover all big-man aspects to the advantage of the team.

 

[GatorAZ]

Ten more games before Ayton returns although I'd be super happy with Baynes and Rubio.

Better not forget Jerome.

It’s hard to count him as a contributor when he hasn’t played a game yet. He’s probably not an upgrade over Tyler at this point.

 

[Raze]

It’s hard to count him as a contributor when he hasn’t played a game yet. He’s probably not an upgrade over Tyler at this point.

... or Ellie. He has been crazy efficient off the bench.

Last 3 games (including his lousy shooting game in Minny):
10.3 ppg
3.7 apg
2.7 rbg
0.3 TOpg (He only has 3 TOs for the season)
0.7 spg
60% from three (6/10)
42% FG
in 23.3 mpg

Again, I'm no Ellie apologist, but he's been playing excellent ball recently. And he has a 8.7:1 A:TO ratio for the year.

Edit: OH and did anyone notice this is the 2nd game in a row he created a TO by defending the opposing team's C in the post?

 

[Hoop Head]

... or Ellie. He has been crazy efficient off the bench.

Last 3 games (including his lousy shooting game in Minny):
10.3 ppg
3.7 apg
2.7 rbg
0.3 TOpg (He only has 3 TOs for the season)
0.7 spg
60% from three (6/10)
42% FG
in 23.3 mpg

Again, I'm no Ellie apologist, but he's been playing excellent ball recently. And he has a 8.7:1 A:TO ratio for the year.

Edit: OH and did anyone notice this is the 2nd game in a row he created a TO by defending the opposing team's C in the post?

I'm glad the Suns didn't give up on him. There was talk of him being waived before the season started. They didn't have to waive him, they only have 15 players under contract, but he was definitely the odd man out from last year's team. The only other players who were part of the mess that was last season were Booker, Ayton, Bridges, Tyler Johnson, and Oubre. Elie doesn't fit with them, really. Okobo was one of 4 that started the season with the Suns also, which removes TJ and Oubre.

That's the thing with 2nd round picks, they're cheap and take time to develop. Giving up on them after a year is too soon. That's why I was bummed they let Devon Reed go last year. Elie is much younger than Reed was but that doesn't change how we should build talent, not throw in the towel if they don't look to be a potential star like Ayton.

 

[Hoop Head]

If Rubio misses another game then Monty shouldn't start TJ in his place. TJ has a role on a winning team and he handled that role quite well prior to Rubio's recent issues. He's just not a PG and he's not asked to play backup PG either so asking him to start at PG isn't helping anyone.

I am probably in the minority when it comes to the line of thinking that it's better to start a 3rd string player in place of a starter rather than moving the 2nd stringer to 1st string and 3rd string to 2nd. If the third stringer can't cut it then find another solution but if he can? That allows the entire 2nd unit to play as they had been . Starters should be able to handle a change around them but 2nd string players need more help, like leaving their unit intact.

 

[Bufalay]

That quiet 22 and 6 from Diallo reminded me of Ayton.

 

[95pro]

That quiet 22 and 6 from Diallo reminded me of Ayton.

Once Diallo came in Jokic became more of a facilitator, Diallo kept his hands straight out/up to avoid fouling, used is superior foot speed to defend and move, then his athletic ability and reach was a bit troublesome for Jokic too. I thought they took Diallo out too soon when he was on a little run there. It doesn't show up on the stat sheet for Diallo, but once he comes in the game, teams have been more reluctant to go inside for a dunk, Diallo still needs to rotate over quicker as that secondary defender when a teammate gets blown by.


Okobo is coming around game after game of steady-ish minutes. His penetration is key him running the show, he's a shifty and crafty guy once he gets going full speed, more quick than speedy. That's where he outshines Tyler as Tyler doesn't really every penetrate/blow-by his guy. Still shooting with too much arch/height on everything, 3's and layups, although it did help with his buzzer beater. He's working on defense too, even when he gets caught up on mismatches.

Oubre gave it a run, but i heard he wasn't feeling 100%. Cam and Bridges need to step up, the rookie and sophomore wings need to up their production a little. Bridges has had his opportunities to score but just hasn't been able to put the ball in the hole. Cam is awesome set shooting, and i think he's working on his scoring while attacking. A lot of good/star players play a lot of minutes, Booker is ranked 11th in minutes. Was disappointing to watch him miss open shots last night, those shots need to go in regardless of minutes and back to back.

 

[Mainstreet]

What I like, when Baynes and Ayton return they have found a third big man in Diallo who can assist when teams play bully ball with their big men.

Saric showed he can play tough as well. He had 18 points and 17 rebounds.

 

[JCSunsfan]

What I like, when Baynes and Ayton return they have found a third big man in Diallo who can assist when teams play bully ball with their big men.

Saric showed he can play tough as well. He had 18 points and 17 rebounds.

Wait! Diallo is good now? What happened?

I couldn't watch the game last night.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Wait! Diallo is good now? What happened?

I couldn't watch the game last night.

He's given us pretty good minutes a few games in a row now which is a far cry from what we saw from him in preseason and the limited minutes he played at the start of the season. Maybe he just learns at a slower pace than many do?

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Wait! Diallo is good now? What happened?

I couldn't watch the game last night.

Yeah the last two games in particular I was shocked at his contribution. I really didn’t think he had a jumpshot shot. But he knocked it down consistently. And he had a couple nice floaters. He still looks kinda awkward, but he can play in spurts when he’s on, imo. And there just may be a future as a contributor in him.

 

[Johninromania]

Anyone know what the ETA on Rubio and Baynes are?

 

[SirStefan32]

Anyone know what the ETA on Rubio and Baynes are?

Nope, no official word on anything. Bayne's injury got changed from contusion to hip flexor strain, which is not good. That takes weeks to recover from, even if it's relatively mild. If it's more severe, it can take months. I will be surprised if he is back before Ayton gets back.

As for Rubio, his injury description is too vague to even speculate. Theoretically, it should take less time for back spasms to go away than for the flexor strain to heal, but without knowing more info, it's hard to tell.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Nope, no official word on anything. Bayne's injury got changed from contusion to hip flexor strain, which is not good. That takes weeks to recover from, even if it's relatively mild. If it's more severe, it can take months. I will be surprised if he is back before Ayton gets back.

As for Rubio, his injury description is too vague to even speculate. Theoretically, it should take less time for back spasms to go away than for the flexor strain to heal, but without knowing more info, it's hard to tell.

Well. So much for all the worry about Baynes getting paid big this summer. This is a stark reminder of his age.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Well. So much for all the worry about Baynes getting paid big this summer. This is a stark reminder of his age.

I think it is more of a reminder of why he shouldn't be playing starter minutes with his style of play. He was bound to get hurt eventually with him throwing his body all over the place for 25+ minutes per game.

 

[SirStefan32]

Eh, it's a freak injury. It could happen to anyone. My guess is that it happened when he had that one bad fall (I think it was the Lakers game) and then it got aggravated when he went down in the next game, i think. He was down, Book helped him up, he got a steal and passed it to someone to start a fast break. I remember the play, but I don't remember who it was against.

 

[mjb21aztd]

Ugh disappointed loss totally on booker he needs to step up for a so called superstar...

I like how dellio played need more playing time to prove himself for future starting rome or trade bait.

Cant wait for rubio baynes ayton to return should be fun to watch at fulk strength...

Not wanting another full tank season

Rise up suns.

 

[Dr. Jones]

Ugh disappointed loss totally on booker he needs to step up for a so called superstar...

Although I agree..... He's still so darn young. His peak is a max contract away still.

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

Ugh disappointed loss totally on booker he needs to step up for a so called superstar...

I like how dellio played need more playing time to prove himself for future starting rome or trade bait.

Cant wait for rubio baynes ayton to return should be fun to watch at fulk strength...

Not wanting another full tank season

Rise up suns.

Some of it was on Booker, sure. Just like some of it was on everybody. Did you like how Diallo was handing out offensive rebounds to the Nuggets? Or how he only got 4 rebounds in lots of minutes? Or is the focus just on one side of the court now?

 

[Mainstreet]

Wait! Diallo is good now? What happened?

I couldn't watch the game last night.

He is just getting warmed up.

Diallo is proving to have a soft shooting. He also has some deterrent effect on defense.

Getting Diallo (23) on a two year minimum contract doesn't have much downside.

 

[95pro]

Some of it was on Booker, sure. Just like some of it was on everybody. Did you like how Diallo was handing out offensive rebounds to the Nuggets? Or how he only got 4 rebounds in lots of minutes? Or is the focus just on one side of the court now?

Wow the 3rd string guy versus the max-player/star of the team, look Booker needed to step up. Anything from a third string guy is a plus, nothing from a starter is a negative in all aspects, let alone the max player.

 

[Raze]

Wait! Diallo is good now? What happened?

I couldn't watch the game last night.

To be fair, Cheick proved he could do these things before he got to us. He just looked so lost in preseason (as someone previously pointed out) that he looked unusable. Now he looks like the C prospect with a slight upside that we thought he was.

One thing though, he has not lived up to his rebounding ability. His rebounding per 36 before he got here was #16 OVL at 13.3 (for 3 straight years). He hasn't lived up to that billing yet as he's dropped to 8.9. He gave up 4 straight boards last night to Denver and missed numerous others throughout. He should have had at least 10 rebound last night. Looks like the number of minutes is taking his legs out. (Scoring has shot up though, from 15.6 to 19.7 per 36)

 

[BC867]

At 6'8"-220, which are the measurements of a Small Forward,
even though Diallo looks bigger, what position is his ceiling?

 

[Hoop Head]

At 6'8"-220, which are the measurements of a Small Forward,
even though Diallo looks bigger, what position is his ceiling?

Those are not small forward measurements in today's NBA. That's what most power forwards are listed at now that the NBA has pushed for accurate data be released. Diallo is a F/C.

Measurements don't tell the whole story either. Today's NBA is more about what you can do well rather than how tall you are or how much you weigh.

I would guess that you classify Oubre and Bridges as SF's yet neither of them are that tall or weigh that much. Diallo plays bigger than Kaminsky despite giving up 4 inches and probably 20 pounds. Those are prime examples as to why you shouldn't put so much stock in a player's height or weight and allow their measurements to sway your opinion on where they should play on the court.