Suns @ Pistons Tuesday game thread, October 8th, 2024: Preseason

[Mainstreet]

The Suns move on to play the next two preseason games against the Pistons on Tuesday and Friday.

The first game will be played at East Lansing, Michigan with the second game being played in Phoenix.

When: Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Television: : AZ Family 3TV

Radio: ESPN 620 AM / 98.7 FM HD-2

Time: 4 PM Arizona time

 

[Mainstreet]

On Sunday, the Pistons beat the Bucks, 120-87. It's preseason but still a surprising score.

Pistons 120-87 Bucks (Oct 6, 2024) Box Score - ESPN

Box score for the Detroit Pistons vs. Milwaukee Bucks NBA game from October 6, 2024 on ESPN. Includes all points, rebounds and steals stats.

www.espn.com

 

[Chaplin]

On Sunday, the Pistons beat the Bucks, 120-87. It's preseason but still a surprising score.

Pistons 120-87 Bucks (Oct 6, 2024) Box Score - ESPN

Box score for the Detroit Pistons vs. Milwaukee Bucks NBA game from October 6, 2024 on ESPN. Includes all points, rebounds and steals stats.

www.espn.com

It's the Pistons, so I imagine, their preseason team is much like their regular season team, whereas Milwaukee only played guys that either won't play in the regular season or won't make the team at all.

All speculation of course.

 

[Mainstreet]

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton were out, but the Bucks still played some good players.

Against Detroit, I'm more anxious to see how the Suns bench evolves. It was exciting to see all the new players against the Lakers.

 

[BirdGangThing]

more gillespie and oso por favor - fun to watch

 

[Covert Rain]

It's sort of refreshing to see younger guys (even if inexperienced) running around the floor and flying all over the court. For once the team doesn't feel like Cocoon the movie.

 

[Suns_fan69]

I was deeply impressed with how well Ighodaro played. He was the very definition of "hitting the ground running." Didn't the Suns draft him in the second round? If so, he may prove to be one of the steals of that draft.

My early overreaction is that Ighodaro should get the Bol Bol development minutes.

 

[Ronin]

Gerald Bourguet

@GeraldBourguet

Suns list Grayson Allen (personal) as out tomorrow. Jusuf Nurkic (left middle finger) remains out

 

[Mainstreet]

My early overreaction is that Ighodaro should get the Bol Bol development minutes.

I like this early overreaction stuff. It could be fun to follow.

Let's see how it plays out after only one preseason game.

I'm liking Collin Gillespie and Oso Ighodaro as rookies ahead of the other rookies. Maybe Oso over Bol Bol as well because the Suns could use a third center. Of course, Oso will get minutes because of his guaranteed contract.

 

[Chaplin]

Gerald Bourguet
@GeraldBourguet

Suns list Grayson Allen (personal) as out tomorrow. Jusuf Nurkic (left middle finger) remains out

His wife must have had their baby. Good for him. No wonder he was a bit out of sorts against the Lakers.

 

[Hoop Head]

His wife must have had their baby. Good for him. No wonder he was a bit out of sorts against the Lakers.

That also explains the weight gain. At least it appeared to be mostly muscle but living with a pregnant woman is tough.

 

[Chaplin]

That also explains the weight gain. At least it appeared to be mostly muscle but living with a pregnant woman is tough.

Ha! For sure! Hey, we agree on something!

 

[Suns_fan69]

I like this early overreaction stuff. It could be fun to follow.

Let's see how it plays out after only one preseason game.

I'm liking Collin Gillespie and Oso Ighodaro as rookies ahead of the other rookies. Maybe Oso over Bol Bol as well because the Suns could use a third center. Of course, Oso will get minutes because of his guaranteed contract.

To be honest I think my take was as much an indictment on Bol as it is praise for Oso. Tough to find a position for Bol. He's still too lean to be a 5, and too slow and lanky to be a 4. His shot release is so slow that despite his height, he can't really let it fly without a decent amount of space.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

To be honest I think my take was as much an indictment on Bol as it is praise for Oso. Tough to find a position for Bol. He's still too lean to be a 5, and too slow and lanky to be a 4. His shot release is so slow that despite his height, he can't really let it fly without a decent amount of space.

This is a weird take to me considered what he showed last season.

 

[BirdGangThing]

My early overreaction is that Ighodaro should get the Bol Bol development minutes.

but bol bol stayed for a reason - promises were made - 3 pointers - defense - distribution - and minutes

 

[Suns_fan69]

This is a weird take to me considered what he showed last season.

I guess my real take is that we're already seeing the upper bound on what Bol can be (7th or 8th man on a good team) whereas Oso has the opportunity to be a starter in the future.

 

[Phrazbit]

but bol bol stayed for a reason - promises were made - 3 pointers - defense - distribution - and minutes

I really doubt Bol got offers for more than the minimum.

 

[Hoop Head]

but bol bol stayed for a reason - promises were made - 3 pointers - defense - distribution - and minutes

Promising opportunity is one thing but minutes is another. If he wants to be part of a winner then he needs to out play his competition. No contender should offer development time in games to youngsters.

 

[Mainstreet]

To be honest I think my take was as much an indictment on Bol as it is praise for Oso. Tough to find a position for Bol. He's still too lean to be a 5, and too slow and lanky to be a 4. His shot release is so slow that despite his height, he can't really let it fly without a decent amount of space.

I can understand why you are frustrated with Bol Bol after the Lakers game. He looked lost out there. Let's see what happens going forward, but I agree, Oso looks to have more upside. On the bright side, the Suns have a lot more talent on the roster this season.

 

[Mainstreet]

Promising opportunity is one thing but minutes is another. If he wants to be part of a winner then he needs to out play his competition. No contender should offer development time in games to youngsters.

Unless it's garbage time, but even then, Bol Bol needs to earn it.

 

[Mainstreet]

Here are some Bol Bol highlights and player comments to lift our spirits.

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

 

[Chaplin]

I guess my real take is that we're already seeing the upper bound on what Bol can be (7th or 8th man on a good team) whereas Oso has the opportunity to be a starter in the future.

He does? I know he had a good game, but it was the first preseason game. Not enough there yet to proclaim him a future starter.

Wemby had a terrible first game last season and people were calling him a bust. They aren't calling that now.

 

[Chaplin]

By this reasoning, every time anyone says a player looked great in a preseason game, someone else can immediately dismiss it with "small sample size, small sample size." Why say anything at all about preseason performances?

Well... exactly.

 

[Covert Rain]

By this reasoning, every time anyone says a player looked great in a preseason game, someone else can immediately dismiss it with "small sample size, small sample size." Why say anything at all about preseason performances?

Yes they can and they should. Sample size matters. Anybody that has watched the NBA knows guys can put on good performances for a few games but they statistically always level out to their actual skill level. You can admire a preseason performance but that doesn't mean anything unless a player can consistently perform at that level.

As much as I thought Nurk was terrible at team defense and protecting the paint? It's always easier for your rotation if you have a guy you can depend on verses trying to platoon a single position. That rarely works in a teams favor because you don't know which player you can depend on on which night. If you are going to move Nurk it needs to be for another starting FC player.

 

[leclerc]

I was pleasantly surprised by Oso and Dunn, but my expectations were low. No idea how they go from here, but I'm optimistic that they can earn some minutes quite early in the season actually.