Suns updates and discussion for the 2023-24 season

[Ronin]

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[Ronin]

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[Ronin]

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[Suns_fan69]

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Funny seeing KD's smooth shooting motion and contrasting that with Saben Lee's somewhat janky shot right behind him.

 

[Ronin]

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[95pro]

Is it just me or does it seem like we are finally making free throws at a better rate.

 

[95pro]

Most difficult things to swallow so far as we go streaking:

Two losses to the Lakers.
Two losses to the Spurs.

I'm not sure which one hurts more as both are very beatable, and we should have beaten them.

OKC is legit, they still have the #1 spot right now.
Honestly i dont remember the 76ers game.

 

[Proximo]

Most difficult things to swallow so far as we go streaking:

Two losses to the Lakers.
Two losses to the Spurs.

I'm not sure which one hurts more as both are very beatable, and we should have beaten them.

OKC is legit, they still have the #1 spot right now.
Honestly i dont remember the 76ers game.

During this streak we haven't really beat anybody except Twolves on a back to back.

We are not where we need to be, but we seem to at least be going in the right direction.

 

[Hoop Head]

Is it just me or does it seem like we are finally making free throws at a better rate.

We're shooting them regularly. In year's past it was anyone's guess whether we'd hit double digit FT attempts as a team. Now, that's a given and I think the rhythm helps. When you only shoot FT's every other game, I believe it's more likely to be off.

 

[Ronin]

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[Chaplin]

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Wow. When have we EVER led that stat?

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Wow. When have we EVER led that stat?

Without an actual shotblocker.

 

[Vacard]

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How?!? Nurk has no lift. Must be Eubanks and Durant.

 

[Superbone]

Without an actual shotblocker.

Eubanks was in the top 10 last year.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

How?!? Nurk has no lift. Must be Eubanks and Durant.

Nurk leads the team in blocks. Amazing what happens when a 7 footer actually goes for the ball (talking to you Deandre).

 

[BirdGangThing]

Nurk leads the team in blocks. Amazing what happens when a 7 footer actually goes for the ball (talking to you Deandre).

Nurk had 4 blocks in 1 game just the other night

 

[DJ Tabooh]

We're shooting them regularly. In year's past it was anyone's guess whether we'd hit double digit FT attempts as a team. Now, that's a given and I think the rhythm helps. When you only shoot FT's every other game, I believe it's more likely to be off.

Suns are third in the NBA in free throw attempts at 26.5 per game after being at 21.9 last season and being 25th in the league.

Definitely a point of emphasis it seems. Lots of ball left obviously but it’s good to know if we get in an off shooting night, we can pick up free points at the foul line.

 

[BirdGangThing]

Jusuf Nurkic has 22 blocks this year

Drew Eubanks has 18 blocks this year

Deandre Ayton has 13 blocks this year

 

[Proximo]

Jusuf Nurkic has 22 blocks this year

Drew Eubanks has 18 blocks this year

Deandre Ayton has 13 blocks this year

Ok, but if you watch most of Nurkic's blocks are blocks out of bounds or blocks that are scooped up and immediately scored.

Eubanks blocks have actually been more impactful.

 

[BirdGangThing]

Ok, but if you watch most of Nurkic's blocks are blocks out of bounds or blocks that are scooped up and immediately scored.

Eubanks blocks have actually been more impactful.

Seriously man? Firsties - do you have any way to prove this - or is this your observation?

Secondly - does it really matter? They're both just trying to block the shot without committing a foul - I don't think Eubanks is concentrating on much else during the act

 

[Cheesebeef]

How?!? Nurk has no lift. Must be Eubanks and Durant.

Unbelievably, Nurkic averages more blocks per game than Ayton, 1.3 to .8.

 

[Proximo]

Seriously man? Firsties - do you have any way to prove this - or is this your observation?

Secondly - does it really matter? They're both just trying to block the shot without committing a foul - I don't think Eubanks is concentrating on much else during the act

Have I logged each block and can give you the numbers definitively NO. Am I positive that a much higher percentage of Nurkic's blocks have not been Defensive stops - YES.

I will admit I am a bit of Nurk hater and this is one of the things he does that bothers me, not blocking it to gain control.

Yes it 100% matters, some blocks are turnovers, some blocks are equivalent to kicked balls or tipped balls.

You don't call a steal and a deflection out of bounds the same thing do you - of course not, one is a change of posession and the other isn't. Personally I would like the stat changed, or a stat added to indicate change of possession blocks.

 

[BirdGangThing]

Have I logged each block and can give you the numbers definitively NO. Am I positive that a much higher percentage of Nurkic's blocks have not been Defensive stops - YES.

I will admit I am a bit of Nurk hater and this is one of the things he does that bothers me, not blocking it to gain control.

Yes it 100% matters, some blocks are turnovers, some blocks are equivalent to kicked balls or tipped balls.

You don't call a steal and a deflection out of bounds the same thing do you - of course not, one is a change of posession and the other isn't. Personally I would like the stat changed, or a stat added to indicate change of possession blocks.

okay

 

[Chaplin]

Have I logged each block and can give you the numbers definitively NO. Am I positive that a much higher percentage of Nurkic's blocks have not been Defensive stops - YES.

I will admit I am a bit of Nurk hater and this is one of the things he does that bothers me, not blocking it to gain control.

Yes it 100% matters, some blocks are turnovers, some blocks are equivalent to kicked balls or tipped balls.

You don't call a steal and a deflection out of bounds the same thing do you - of course not, one is a change of posession and the other isn't. Personally I would like the stat changed, or a stat added to indicate change of possession blocks.

First, you can't compare steals and blocks. Steals inherently are defined as a change of possession. Blocks are not. So of course someone deflecting the ball out of bounds wouldn't be considered a steal.

This does feel like you are trying to minimize Nurk's contributions in order to prove a theory that the trade didn't work for the Suns as much as it has for the Blazers. Maybe that's not your intention, but it's certainly what is coming across.

 

[BirdGangThing]

Unbelievably, Nurkic averages more blocks per game than Ayton, 1.3 to .8.

We got 4 players playing better rim than Ayton

Diop is at 1.0 blocks per game
Eubanks 1.1
KD 1.2
Nurk 1.3