Suns @ Trail Blazers game thread 1-16-18

[SirStefan32]

... and an even uglier start to the second half, I can't stand to watch Ulis play anymore.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

Watching this game, it feels like years since that Thunder game had me thinking the Suns were going to start being consistently competitive.

We'll see how the team looks with Chriss and Warren back.

 

[SirStefan32]

Watching this game, it feels like years since that Thunder game had me thinking the Suns were going to start being consistently competitive.

We'll see how the team looks with Chriss and Warren back.

Suns are not a deep team to start with. Take away the second best player and another rotation player, and they are not even an NBA team.

 

[Mainstreet]

Watching this game, it feels like years since that Thunder game had me thinking the Suns were going to start being consistently competitive.

We'll see how the team looks with Chriss and Warren back.

It will take more than Chriss and Warren.

The Suns do not play any defense no matter how much Triano may preach it.

 

[Mainstreet]

It's amazing how players will score right over the top of Len at the basket.

Nurkic and Len are have a scoring battle, each with 2 points.

 

[Mainstreet]

I never thought I would say this, but Brandon Knight is looking better and better.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Suns get it down to 9 points.

 

[Mainstreet]

Jackson scores 8 early points and nothing since.

 

[Mainstreet]

Final:

Trail Blazers 118 - Suns 111

Devin Booker with 43 points.

Troy Daniels with 18.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

The Suns need to put a competitive team around Booker next year.

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

Booker scored 21 straight points for the Suns...literally put the team on his back.

 

[Hoop Head]

Bender had 8 rebounds, which is nice to see. Ulis has cut down on his turnovers lately, having 6 assists and 1 turnover, but he's a backup at best. Canaan isn't playing as well as he was when he signed with the team but it might be best to start him and let Ulis come off the bench, if he's playing well then play him more but he gets killed defensively. Len had 10 rebounds but a couple of bad plays on both ends, giving up easy baskets at the rim and fumbling good passes to him inside.

Daniels has been a solid 6th man. He's one of the only Suns player who has shown up all year, he's been a solid presence off the bench. He's not a good defender but he's average compared to others on this team. I'm glad they have signed through next season. I hope the Suns don't let him go in a trade for any less than a 1st rounder. They have no need for 2nd round picks at this point, they need more help than that and have too many of those anyways.

 

[Superbone]

Unfortunately, the Suns didn't start playing defense until half way through the third quarter and by then it was too late. To take the next step, they need to learn how to play defense from the start and play it consistently throughout a game.

 

[Phrazbit]

Unfortunately, the Suns didn't start playing defense until half way through the third quarter and by then it was too late. To take the next step, they need to learn how to play defense from the start and play it consistently throughout a game.

This is where the "culture" stuff scares me. Guys only care about "their's" because that is all that matters. When wins and losses don't matter players only care about themselves.

 

[BC867]

I never thought I would say this, but Brandon Knight is looking better and better.

Better than our existing Point Guards . . . still isn't good enough to rise in the NBA.

I hope the Suns front office doesn't think it looks better and better. Better than crap is still crap.

 

[Mainstreet]

Better than our existing Point Guards . . . still isn't good enough to rise in the NBA.

I hope the Suns front office doesn't think it looks better and better. Better than crap is still crap.

Until the Suns can move Knight's contract I hope he becomes a contributor under a new coach.

I'm not say play him just because he is on the roster but give him a chance to compete next season.

 

[Suns_fan69]

I actually think Knight can make a pretty positive impact, if put in the right position. IE, if he ran in the backcourt with Booker, he would have to be the offball guard. I'd way rather have Booker initiating the offense with Knight spacing the floor for him. And when Booker is off, that's when he would go back to playing the 1. His ability to hit the 3 at a league average rate (36% on his career) should do wonders for the spacing in comparison to Ulis.

 

[Mainstreet]

I actually think Knight can make a pretty positive impact, if put in the right position. IE, if he ran in the backcourt with Booker, he would have to be the offball guard. I'd way rather have Booker initiating the offense with Knight spacing the floor for him. And when Booker is off, that's when he would go back to playing the 1. His ability to hit the 3 at a league average rate (36% on his career) should do wonders for the spacing in comparison to Ulis.

The key is putting Knight in a role where he can be successful so we agree about this.

I'm thinking Knight will need a PG playing next to him unless his game changes. Booker should be a workable combination as his PG skills improve.

However, Knight's decision making tends to get him into trouble. I'm hoping the Suns view him as a SG and take the pressure off him to run the team.

 

[Carolinacacti]

Can Knight play defense better the useless?

 

[Suns_fan69]

The key is putting Knight in a role where he can be successful so we agree about this.

I'm thinking Knight will need a PG playing next to him unless his game changes. Booker should be a workable combination as his PG skills improve.

However, Knight's decision making tends to get him into trouble. I'm hoping the Suns view him as a SG and take the pressure off him to run the team.

Exactly. If he was just a spot up guy playing with Booker I think it can work. His shot selection/decision making is his biggest weakness so take that away from him until he proves he can do a better job with it.

 

[leclerc]

He can't make the extra pass. He's basically a black hole that takes early contested long two pointers. How soon you guys forget (or forgive?). I'm also dissatisfied with Ulis this year compared to what he showed last year and we don't know how good Reed is, but we obviously need help on the perimeter. I don't think the help is on the current roster. And he's certainly not called Brandon Knight.

 

[gimpy]

Where is Knight now? Is he on the team? What's happening with him? He doesn't get to play at all?

 

[Mainstreet]

Where is Knight now? Is he on the team? What's happening with him? He doesn't get to play at all?

Brandon Knight has a torn ACL and is expected to miss the entire season.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/spo...oenix-suns-brandon-knight-torn-acl/510354001/

 

[gimpy]

Thx, wasn't aware of that.

 

[Superbone]

Thx, wasn't aware of that.

You could even say he's gimpy.