Suns @ Trail Blazers Friday game thread 10-21-2022

[Mainstreet]

Nearing game time.

 

[Mainstreet]

Ayton scores a jumper for the first basket of the game.

 

[Mainstreet]

Deandre takes a look then shoots and makes a 3-pointer.

 

[Proximo]

Looking pretty good tonight

 

[Finito]

Suns off and running

 

[Mainstreet]

Cam Johnson shoots a 3-pointer.

Suns lead 19-9 with 7:14 in 1st quarter.

 

[Finito]

Watching on the Bally app seems to be pretty smooth so far

 

[Proximo]

Watching on the Bally app seems to be pretty smooth so far

Yeah, but I think there is a bit of a delay

 

[Mainstreet]

Suns 8-11 from the field.

 

[Chaplin]

NBA app has already frozen once. Ugh. Had no issue with ESPN a few games ago.

That said, the Suns came to play.

 

[DJ Tabooh]

I love when we can get out in transition and run. We’ve got guys who excel in the open court (Book and Mikal) and that’ll also give Cam J open looks.

 

[Mainstreet]

Ayton getting the cheap fouls (2). Not a lot there.

 

[Finito]

These calls in DA are ridiculous

 

[Proximo]

These calls in DA are ridiculous

Agreed.

 

[Mainstreet]

Payne from long range.

 

[AzStevenCal]

While the whole Point Book experiment has seen it’s fair share of ups and downs, Book has become a much more willing passer. Again, could he maybe not dribble the air out of the ball sometimes….sure.

But he’s made the right plays more often than not. I think his biggest opportunity is to keep working on that 3 ball. If he could get to 40% plus, that’d really unlock things for our offense. Basketball is played outside-in now not the other way around

I think he's a very willing passer but the position doesn't really come natural to him. He's no longer forcing as many passes but it's easy for the defense to make him to give up the ball. He has difficulty creating opportunities for others when he's doubled or picked up high by a quicker player so he becomes negated as a playmaker and oftentimes too far out of the play to be a scorer either.

 

[Covert Rain]

Say what you will, but Point Book is still better than any of the revolving door of point guards we had before Rubio.

This might be true but it still doesn’t mean it’s the answer either. It’s no coicidence that Books perceived first big leap was after getting Rubio and again another level since we got CP3.

 

[Mainstreet]

Lee off target on first couple of shots.

 

[Mainstreet]

End of 1st quarter:

Suns 28 - Trail Blazers 25

 

[Chaplin]

This might be true but it still doesn’t mean it’s the answer either. It’s no coicidence that Books perceived first big leap was after getting Rubio and again another level since we got CP3.

No but it’s a luxury if Payne doesn’t have it on any given night.

I never said it was the answer, but it makes the need for a 3rd point guard less important.

 

[Covert Rain]

No but it’s a luxury if Payne doesn’t have it on any given night.

I never said it was the answer, but it makes the need for a 3rd point guard less important.

I don’t consider it a luxury. I consider it a necessary evil because of this roster.

 

[Mainstreet]

Lillard is carrying the Trail Blazers with 14 points.

 

[Chaplin]

I don’t consider it a luxury. I consider it a necessary evil because of this roster.

If he has the skills, it’s not an “evil.”

 

[Mainstreet]

Lee scores that 3P.

 

[Covert Rain]

If he has the skills, it’s not an “evil.”

We have seen point book over the long haul. The fact that it’s not the answer means it not a luxury. A luxury would be an “extra” guy you think could always play the position. It’s a necessary evil because over the long haul the same “Point Book” will eventually emerge and we don’t want that.