Suns @ Trail Blazers game thread 10-28-17

[Hoop Head]

Chriss should have driven, he got too happy taking that shot and it was short.

 

[Phrazbit]

Damn... missed a lot of easy chances this quarter.

 

[SirStefan32]

They had so many opportunities!

 

[Mainstreet]

This is a game the Suns could have easily won. A lot of missed easy shots.

 

[SirStefan32]

Chriss should have driven, he got too happy taking that shot and it was short.

He should have been on the other side of the floor to begin with. Clear out and let Booker play one on one. He went on Booker's side and brought his defender with him.

 

[Folster]

I though Triano should have left Bender and Jackson in the game.

 

[Hoop Head]

I hope Ulis gets moved into the starting 5 going forward. I like James, he's been much more than I expected but he's just not a starting PG in the NBA but he has shown he can be a NBA player.

 

[SirStefan32]

Someone has to help Booker. Warren did a great job in the first quarter, but couldn't buy a bucket after that.

Also, as Folster pointed out, Bender and Jackson should have stayed in the game. At the very least, those two were defending.

 

[SweetD]

Well close to the end and poor execution down the stretch. We lost momentum with that group substation at the 4 min mark.

 

[Mainstreet]

Final:

Trail Blazers 114 Suns 107

 

[StreetTruckinTitan]

Tough loss. If it werent for a few easy misses they could have stole this one.

 

[Mainstreet]

Someone has to help Booker. Warren did a great job in the first quarter, but couldn't buy a bucket after that.

Also, as Folster pointed out, Bender and Jackson should have stayed in the game. At the very least, those two were defending.

I thought it was going to be Warren before he went cold. He missed a lot of easy shots. I don't know what happened.

 

[Proteus]

Well that was very much a winnable game, but poor offensive execution late in the game. Still a much better game than the last game against the Trailblazers.

 

[Hoop Head]

If Booker and Warren became a solid 1-2 punch averaging 40-45 a night they'd be one of the better tandems in the league and help the Suns a lot. Unfortunately we haven't seen both of them "on" during the same game yet this season.

 

[Folster]

Does anybody know why Leander replaced Ray?

It had to be planned since it was a road trip and Leander is usually back in the studio with Chambers.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Bender looked decent. 8 points 7 boards 2 blocks and a steal. JJ struggled some with his shot but had a few boards and steals and seemed to settle down later.

 

[Mainstreet]

@Folster

Am I the only one that thinks Ray and Leander look a bit alike... so there is that.

Maybe someone swapped them and no one noticed.

But I'm sure you are right, it was probably planned.

 

[pokerface]

I thought it was going to be Warren before he went cold. He missed a lot of easy shots. I don't know what happened.

Len had a decent game but Chriss had ONE rebound

 

[BC867]

What a revelation in the desert. Or even a couple of them.

I got the see the second half and we'd be down by two or three, then more, then back to two, then more. And on and on. After being humiliated in two of our first three games, here are the Suns staying close on the road, with a chance to win. Considering it's just the third game under the new coach, what a turnaround.

I don't like to use the word "unbelievable" because that usually just means "out of the ordinary". But the difference in the Suns from the past five years, in just three games since the inquisition, is unbelievable.

And what a revelation to see the Suns have Twin Towers on the court for quite awhile during the 2nd half. The Suns with Twin Towers! Even with Len doing something good on one play, then breaking your heart on the next, etc., etc. Two 7-footers on the floor. For this fan, Christmas has come early. What a good feeling that, with almost all of the season ahead of us, it's only going to get better.

It would help, as Stefan and Poop Head have pointed out, if someone steps up with consistency every game to take pressure off Booker. Devin will be turning 21 shortly. He'll be legal (to order a beer). But he can't take the Suns to the next step alone.

 

[Mainstreet]

What a revelation in the desert. Or even a couple of them.

I got the see the second half and we'd be down by two or three, then more, then back to two, then more. And on and on. After being humiliated in two of our first three games, here are the Suns staying close on the road, with a chance to win. Considering it's just the third game under the new coach, what a turnaround.

I don't like to use the word "unbelievable" because that usually just means "out of the ordinary". But the difference in the Suns from the past five years, in just three games since the inquisition, is unbelievable.

And what a revelation to see the Suns have Twin Towers on the court for quite awhile during the 2nd half. The Suns with Twin Towers! Even with Len doing something good on one play, then breaking your heart on the next, etc., etc. Two 7-footers on the floor. For this fan, Christmas has come early. What a good feeling that, with almost all of the season ahead of us, it's only going to get better.

It would help, as Stefan and Poop Head have pointed out, if someone steps up with consistency every game to take pressure off Booker. Devin will be turning 21 shortly. He'll be legal (to order a beer). But he can't take the Suns to the next step alone.

For a moment I thought you were going to say, how is Devin Booker going to take the younger Suns to a bar.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Impressed with Bender tonight. Very active on D. Out front on offense setting a lot of screens to free Book. He also did well on the boards given his pt. If he keeps this up, he might steal that starting job away from Chriss.

 

[pokerface]

Impressed with Bender tonight. Very active on D. Out front on offense setting a lot of screens to free Book. He also did well on the boards given his pt. If he keeps this up, he might steal that starting job away from Chriss.

Yeah Bender is showing us more and more. His defense is definitely there...he seems to thrive on it.

 

[Hoop Head]

I'm glad Bender is playing well. Some people jumped on the "bust" bandwagon way too quick with him. For being the #4 overall pick there is a lot to be desired but if nothing else he's proven to be an NBA player, especially on the defensive end of the court which I don't think anyone predicted. With his defense being as good as it is anything on offense he gives us is just extra. Shame that Reed is hurt otherwise we might have a really good defensive 2nd unit right now with Ulis, Reed, Jackson, Bender, and Len. I expected Daniels to be a better defender than he's shown but he's looked better offensively than I expected. I'd much rather see Reed, if he were available, and I don't think he'll have much trouble taking over the backup SG spot when he does get back in January or February.

Who would have thought our 2nd unit would be above average defensively? I don't know the stats to back up the claim that they're above average defensively but it looks that way. We're no longer getting slaughtered when our starters are on the bench. Our scoring with that unit could be better but I'll settle for them being able to get stops right now.

 

[BC867]

The front court (starters and bench) combined to have a good amount of rebounds. The two Point Guards did well with assists. Booker, of course, led the way in scoring.

But Daniels had no points in 15 minutes. That lapse in 15 of 48 minutes at Shooting Guard was the difference.

He was the Suns goat (and I don't mean greatest of all time). He was the weak link. I hope the Front Office is taking a look at that. And not by looking for a tweener now that we've moved past that.

Edit: 'Sorry, Poop Head. Your comments about Daniels posted while I was typing.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

The front court (starters and bench) combined to have a good amount of rebounds. The two Point Guards did well with assists. Booker, of course, led the way in scoring.

But Daniels had no points in 15 minutes. That lapse in 15 of 48 minutes at Shooting Guard was the difference.

He was the Suns goat (and I don't mean greatest of all time). He was the weak link. I hope the Front Office is taking a look at that. And not by looking for a tweener now that we've moved past that.

Edit: 'Sorry, Poop Head. Your comments about Daniels posted while I was typing.

Davon was the plan there and hopefully when he heals up he will be ready for a role. Not only does he make Daniels expendable on offense, but he is also a good defender.