Suns @ Trail Blazers 3-9-19

[Mainstreet]

Bridges may lead the rookies in steals but he is going to have to find away to become more active in the offense.

 

[Finito]

Bridges may lead the rookies in steals but he is going to have to find away to become more active in the offense.

The book on him coming out was great defense and catch and shoot player he doesn’t create for himself. This is where having a legit PG hurts us again

 

[Mainstreet]

End of 3rd quarter:

Blazers 102 - Suns 77

 

[Mainstreet]

Maybe we get to see Spalding tonight.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Ayton: 1 FT, 1 rebound since first quarter. That’s not coaching.

 

[Mainstreet]

Holmes and Jackson are the only bench players who have scored with 4 and 9 points respectively.

 

[Mainstreet]

Finally Daniels is put in the game.

 

[Mainstreet]

Bridges gets the layup.... and a floater.

 

[Mainstreet]

Spalding enters the game.

 

[Hoop Head]

Ayton: 1 FT, 1 rebound since first quarter. That’s not coaching.

Well, if he didn't stand out at the 3pt line to set screens then he would... Umm.... FIRE IGOR! I don't get why you HATE Ayton so much. It's clear that Igor is too timid and blind to see what Ayton is capable of. He doesn't go to him now because it would show how poorly he mismanaged the season up until this point.




I've seen Ayton settle for a number of jumpers in the 2nd half. I saw a graphic a little bit ago that he had 20 & 8 but he must have carried those numbers from the 1st half because he hasn't done much of anything since.

 

[SirStefan32]

Nice to see them fight like hell in the fourth. Especially happy with Oubre, Bridges, and Melton.

 

[Mainstreet]

Final:

Blazers 127 - Suns 120

Score is not indicative of Portland's domination. It has been a long garbage time.

 

[Hoop Head]

One thing I've wondered about with those who claim Ayton isn't put in position to succeed, why is it that Holmes manages to get inside pretty easy for offensive boards and put backs but Ayton doesn't despite both of them setting the same high screens. The screen doesn't require the player to stand out there after it's been utilized but Ayton will usually stay out at the 3pt line or move to about 16 feet from the basket, that's if he doesn't immediately roll to the lane in a screen and roll type of play. So why is it Holmes is capable of showing inside position that much better than Ayton?

I know Holmes has been in the league a little longer but we're talking about a journeyman 2nd round pick who was literally given to Phoenix for nothing in return but cash. He should not be that much better than the #1 overall pick when it comes to positioning on offense. Ayton's claim to fame was his offensive game and Holmes' is his defense. I don't blame Ayton for being behind Holmes defensively right now but he should be capable of finding better position on offense than Holmes. The same plays seem to be ran when both are out there so I don't see at as a coaching or play calling issue either.

 

[95pro]

Teams need to rethink when to foul. I’d say start fouling at 1:30 left. It gives plenty of time to sub players in and out for offensive and defensivepurposes, as well as players to pick fouls aka deep bench guys. Gives way more time to start trading free throws for 3 pointers.

 

[Hoop Head]

Tough loss. Had to lose eventually though. Portland always lights us up for some reason. It made sense when we had Bledsoe because Lillard would seem to get him to go 1 on 1 a lot, trading shots. Lillard is a much better 3pt shooter than Bledsoe and getting Eric to start jacking 3's was a good way to keep the Suns offense from developing. Now we don't have Bledsoe anymore but it's like Lillard and McCollum can get Booker frustrated in a different way.

Terry Stotts deserves a lot of credit for getting the results he does from that team. Their talent overachieves regularly while the Suns seem to be one of the best at underachieving. I'm sure the continuity in terms of their roster helps a lot also. Guys like Meyers Leonard and Evan Turner are on such bad contracts that they can't be moved which locks in a couple of rotation guys for them.

 

[Phrazbit]

Josh Jackson posting a -18 in only 22 minutes is almost more impressive than terrible.

I've been acknowledging that his play has been terrible, but still definding him as having the attributes of a good player, he just needs time to hone them... but I'm rapidly hitting the breaking point. He makes defensive plays that show a level of athletic ability and defensive timing that is very rare... and then follows that with 10 minutes of Michael Beasley impersonations.

Unlike Len, Chriss and Bender... I do think Jackson is a player that could become a stud with the right coaching, but his bad habits are getting more and more entrenched. The visions of him being the next Leonard or Butler have pretty much been replaced by him being the next JR Smith (IMO, one of the worst players to ever become a house-hold name), only with even more misplaced confidence on offense.

I still wouldn't dump him for nothing, but if some team out there still views him as a blue chip... or... mermaid-green chip, prospect, then we should let them try to solve his problems.

 

[Proximo]

Strange game.

I actually really liked what I saw out of Ayton tonight. He's just not making many mistakes anymore.

Jackson has regressed the last few games, he really is a frustrating player.

I am really hoping we somehow find a way to keep Bender. I think he is really starting to get it. I have a feeling in a couple more years he may be a pretty effective player.

 

[Phrazbit]

One thing I've wondered about with those who claim Ayton isn't put in position to succeed, why is it that Holmes manages to get inside pretty easy for offensive boards and put backs but Ayton doesn't despite both of them setting the same high screens. The screen doesn't require the player to stand out there after it's been utilized but Ayton will usually stay out at the 3pt line or move to about 16 feet from the basket, that's if he doesn't immediately roll to the lane in a screen and roll type of play. So why is it Holmes is capable of showing inside position that much better than Ayton?

I know Holmes has been in the league a little longer but we're talking about a journeyman 2nd round pick who was literally given to Phoenix for nothing in return but cash. He should not be that much better than the #1 overall pick when it comes to positioning on offense. Ayton's claim to fame was his offensive game and Holmes' is his defense. I don't blame Ayton for being behind Holmes defensively right now but he should be capable of finding better position on offense than Holmes. The same plays seem to be ran when both are out there so I don't see at as a coaching or play calling issue either.

Because teams don't bother to account for Holmes. They can leave Holmes totally unguarded until he is at the rim because he isn't a threat on offense in any situation outside of a put-back or spoon fed dunk.

Honestly, how often does Holmes score with a defender even within a few feet of him? Virtually never. Ayton rarely gets the ball without a defender draped on him.

 

[Phrazbit]

Strange game.

I actually really liked what I saw out of Ayton tonight. He's just not making many mistakes anymore.

Jackson has regressed the last few games, he really is a frustrating player.

I am really hoping we somehow find a way to keep Bender. I think he is really starting to get it. I have a feeling in a couple more years he may be a pretty effective player.

I don't think we're allowed to sign him for less than the option amount that we've already declined, which was like 7 million, so... he's gone.

 

[Snoopdog323]

Because teams don't bother to account for Holmes. They can leave Holmes totally unguarded until he is at the rim because he isn't a threat on offense in any situation outside of a put-back or spoon fed dunk.

Honestly, how often does Holmes score with a defender even within a few feet of him? Virtually never. Ayton rarely gets the ball without a defender draped on him.

As s side note Holmes often looks totally out of control on offense. Getting stripped or taking shots he should leave for others

 

[sdscard4]

Well, if he didn't stand out at the 3pt line to set screens then he would... Umm.... FIRE IGOR! I don't get why you HATE Ayton so much. It's clear that Igor is too timid and blind to see what Ayton is capable of. He doesn't go to him now because it would show how poorly he mismanaged the season up until this point.




I've seen Ayton settle for a number of jumpers in the 2nd half. I saw a graphic a little bit ago that he had 20 & 8 but he must have carried those numbers from the 1st half because he hasn't done much of anything since.

The sarcasm was actually spot on.

 

[JCSunsfan]

This team is not going to get much better without Booker improving his offensive efficiency. He has to improve his three point efficiency and reduce his turnovers.

Book seems to be hitting a wall.

 

[Willie D]

Nice to see them fight like hell in the fourth. Especially happy with Oubre, Bridges, and Melton.

Losing by seven to Portland shouldn't be news. The Jail Blazers were and remain the better team. But the seven points...that's the news. It's not twenty-seven any more.

It might be too early, but someone flipped a switch in that locker room. I still contend the SunS feel just a bit liberated after that Sarverfish story. There are too many talented players on this squad to continue to play like a pile of doggie droppings.

 

[sdscard4]

Losing by seven to Portland shouldn't be news. The Jail Blazers were and remain the better team. But the seven points...that's the news. It's not twenty-seven any more.

It might be too early, but someone flipped a switch in that locker room. I still contend the SunS feel just a bit liberated after that Sarverfish story. There are too many talented players on this squad to continue to play like a pile of doggie droppings.

They were down 20 + going into the 4th. Blazers were in skate mode. Recent play has been better though. Can't wait for the FO overhaul with new staff and vision

 

[JCSunsfan]

Losing by seven to Portland shouldn't be news. The Jail Blazers were and remain the better team. But the seven points...that's the news. It's not twenty-seven any more.

It might be too early, but someone flipped a switch in that locker room. I still contend the SunS feel just a bit liberated after that Sarverfish story. There are too many talented players on this squad to continue to play like a pile of doggie droppings.

This game was a blow out. Garbage time made the final score respectable. Portland is a good team, and they are deep.