Suns @ Thunder 11-3-13

[Mainstreet]

This game has an early start at 5PM Arizona time. It's good to see Dragic is likely to play. His fall took me back to the time when Joe Johnson fractured a bone near his left eye.

Per a Paul Coro an article at azcentral dated 11-3-13, the starting lineups are below. It should be a good test for the Suns, especially because it is the Thunder's home opener.

Suns (2-0) at Thunder (1-1) … 5 p.m. Phoenix tip

C: Miles Plumlee … Kendrick Perkins

PF: Channing Frye … Serge Ibaka

SF: P.J. Tucker … Kevin Durant

PG/SG: Goran Dragic … Thabo Sefolosha

PG/PG: Eric Bledsoe … Reggie Jackson

Key Thunder injuries: Russell Westbrook (knee rehab) is out.

Key Thunder reserves: Nick Collison, Steven Adams, Perry Jones, Jeremy Lamb, Derek Fisher.

http://www.azcentral.com/insiders/p...ns-are-1st-in-standings-1st-to-visit-thunder/

 

[carey]

Westbrook is cleared to play tonight. Lets hope he's rusty.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

According to a Mark Stein tweet Westbrook will play today. Apparently he passed all of his rehab milestones and has been cleared to play today.

 

[Errntknght]

I just read a story from an OKCity newspaper that said Westbrook will play against us today.

 

[carey]

I just read a story from an OKCity newspaper that said Westbrook will play against us today.

lol

 

[Azlen]

The Suns will look like a tanking team in this game. I'm expecting a 30 point loss.

 

[BC867]

The Suns will look like a tanking team in this game. I'm expecting a 30 point loss.

You don't have to tank to lose to OKC in their arena. The only way the Thunder will lose tonight is if they tank.

 

[AzStevenCal]

You don't have to tank to lose to OKC in their arena. The only way the Thunder will lose tonight is if they tank.

Not if we just plumly outplay them so to speak. I know they are better than us but we have guys that are in mid-season shape and you can steal some early games on hustle alone in the NBA.

Steve

 

[JCSunsfan]

Westbrook is cleared to play tonight. Lets hope he's rusty.

Nah. In a season like this you might as well play everyone at full strength. No point in getting cheap wins.

 

[Michael]

Another great block by Plumlee!

 

[Mainstreet]

Channing Frye is on fire.

 

[Mainstreet]

Plumlee to the bench with 2 fouls.

 

[Michael]

Plumlee to the bench with 2 fouls.

I was hoping for some more Len time. With Morris/ Frye, I expect the Suns to be out rebounded for a while.

Our offence seems to lack ball movement and shows too much isolation plays for Eric/ Goran, for my taste. Reminds me slightly of Barbosa/ Dragic against the Spurs, so at least it brings back sweet memories.

 

[Mainstreet]

I was hoping for some more Len time. With Morris/ Frye, I expect the Suns to be out rebounded for a while.

Our offence seems to lack ball movement and shows too much isolation plays for Eric/ Goran, for my taste. Reminds me slightly of Barbosa/ Dragic against the Spurs, so at least it brings back sweet memories.

I'm all for Len getting some experience against the best.

 

[Mainstreet]

It's nice the Suns have enough athletes to run with the Thunder. This has where the Suns have lacked in recent years.

 

[Mainstreet]

Interesting, Slava in before Len.

 

[SirStefan32]

I know that our interior D sucks, but I love watching Blesdsoe/ Dragic/ Tucker defensive lineup on the perimeter. If they can get a defensive PF/C to go along with Plumlee, this team will be outstanding on the defensive end.

 

[Magnus]

Marcus Morris with a 3-pointer to end the 1st.

Suns up 24-21

 

[Mainstreet]

I hope the Suns do not regret long term for not drafting Steven Adams. He is better than Len at this point in time.

 

[Michael]

The current line-up of Morris & Morris, Kratsov and Green would guarantee the worst record in the league. No matter if Bledsoe or Dragic is the fifth guy, I feel sorry for him. The Marcus just fires, Green dribbles without purpose and gets stuck in traffic and Kratsov is what I expected Plumlee would be - a tall, stiff, slow big guy.

 

[Magnus]

Indeed, the Morris brothers look pretty horrible, and Kravtsov is kinda lost, something you would expect of Len. Maybe he'll improve over time, but his ceiling is low imo.

 

[BC867]

Interesting, Slava in before Len.

And Markeiff in before him.

 

[Michael]

Out of curiosity: who gets the rebound (for statistical purposes) when a ball is back-tapped?
Is it the tapper (even if tapped uncontrolled) or the player securing the ball?

 

[Mainstreet]

And Markeiff in before him.

Eddie Johnson is in love with Adams as a player.

 

[Mainstreet]

How did not Durant not foul Plumlee?