Suns updates and discussion for the 2023-24 season

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Weird decision.

I’m sure the post game celebration will do wonders for soothing Marion’s ego after believing he never got the respect he deserved from this franchise.

The one positive I could see is that just prior to tip off most people are still making their way to their seats and won't be paying much attention to the ceremony. At least this way most people would still be seated and likely more engaged in the ceremony. Or everyone will be in a hurry to leave and it flops.

 

[Chaplin]

The one positive I could see is that just prior to tip off most people are still making their way to their seats and won't be paying much attention to the ceremony. At least this way most people would still be seated and likely more engaged in the ceremony.

Or going to the bathroom and getting snacks at halftime. If they push it throughout the game on the loudspeaker, then plenty of people will stay after I'd imagine.

 

[Hoop Head]

Hopefully the Suns win but almost hope it's a close game so fans stick around for Marion's induction. A blowout won't help attendance whether it's the Suns or Knicks winning. Really odd though that they're doing a postgame. There has to be a good reason.

 

[Yuma]

Apparently the Suns are doing the Marion induction during the post game on Friday vs the Knicks. That's going to be a very late night downtown.

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Damn. Already have tickets to see the Yotes that night!

 

[Cheesebeef]

The one positive I could see is that just prior to tip off most people are still making their way to their seats and won't be paying much attention to the ceremony. At least this way most people would still be seated and likely more engaged in the ceremony. Or everyone will be in a hurry to leave and it flops.

Don’t they usually do these things at halftime? Or are the ceremonies usually pre-game?

 

[Superbone]

Don’t they usually do these things at halftime? Or are the ceremonies usually pre-game?

They've previously always been at halftime.

 

[Cheesebeef]

They've previously always been at halftime.

That's what I assumed. Seems like a crappy thing to do.

 

[Hoop Head]

Post game would make sense for a Sunday morning/afternoon game but that's about it. Really hope the Suns win Friday because Marion deserves a happy crowd for his induction.

 

[Mainstreet]

Post game would make sense for a Sunday morning/afternoon game but that's about it. Really hope the Suns win Friday because Marion deserves a happy crowd for his induction.

I bet the Suns do something extra as an incentive for the fans to stay for the ceremony, not that they should have too.

 

[Muggz]

I bet the Suns do something extra as an incentive for the fans to stay for the ceremony, not that they should have too.

That would be the after party at Bookers house sponsored by Jonny Walker, OGeez and the Bunny Ranch.
Don't tell me you didn't get your invite?

 

[Mainstreet]

That would be the after party at Bookers house sponsored by Jonny Walker, OGeez and the Bunny Ranch.
Don't tell me you didn't get your invite?

I did, but I didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings if they didn't get invited.

 

[Hoop Head]

I bet the Suns do something extra as an incentive for the fans to stay for the ceremony, not that they should have too.

I'd hope so. I was trying to think of a way that would make sense to split it up between halftime and post game but there really isn't one since there's typically 4 things these involve. There's the jersey reveal, mural reveal, player speech, and highlight video. It just doesn't make sense that it would need to be postgame. It's not like this was scheduled recently either, the game/date has been known for months now.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I'd hope so. I was trying to think of a way that would make sense to split it up between halftime and post game but there really isn't one since there's typically 4 things these involve. There's the jersey reveal, mural reveal, player speech, and highlight video. It just doesn't make sense that it would need to be postgame. It's not like this was scheduled recently either, the game/date has been known for months now.

i just can't believe many people are hanging around on a Friday night (or really any night) at 10 pm to watch an induction ceremony.

 

[GatorAZ]

i just can't believe many people are hanging around on a Friday night (or really any night) at 10 pm to watch an induction ceremony.

And you’d think once they clear the court and set things up it will be even later. Weird decision unless we don’t know something.

 

[Ronin]

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[Ronin]

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[Ronin]

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[Phrazbit]

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Woof

 

[Covert Rain]

In about 9 more games a 3rd of the season will be over. It’s not panic time yet but these injuries are stacking up losses. The Suns need to get healthy and put it together very soon. We are going to blink and be at the halfway point of the season. If things don’t come together we are going to spend the second half of the season chasing teams.

 

[Covert Rain]

A look so far:

Suns Last Year vs This Year:

Team Defensive Efficiency: #16, Last year #10
Blocks: #1, Last Year #6
Steals: #21, Last Year #20
Def Reb PG: #11, Last Year #20
Opp Shooting %: #9, Last Year #10
Opp 3PT%: #7, Last Year #13
Opp PPG: #14, Last Year #10
Opp Points in the paint: #22, Last year #10
PPG: #12, Last Year #17
Points in the Paint: #22, #25
Fast Break Points: #28, Last Year #28
3 PT%: #4, Last Year #7
Of Reb PG: #16, Last Year #7
APG: #14, Last Year #5

Better at blocks, defensive rebounding, holding opponents overall to lower shooting percentages mostly because we are better at defending the 3. Although letting teams score more. Likely because we are giving up more points in the paint with Nurkic. We were top 10 with Ayton and now bottom feeders in giving up paint points despite being #1 in blocks.

Scoring is up, points in the paint is slightly up but still bad and we are relying way more on jump shots. Our 3 point % is up. Offensive rebounds is down, assists are down. So, getting 2nd chance opportunities and less easy buckets this year overall.

So far, Nurk isn’t having the impact I had hoped in the paint on either end. If Beal stays healthy, it could open up the offense more and create easier buckets. I hope so because our paint play is still abysmal offensively and taking a huge step back defensively.

 

[Vacard]

A look so far:

Suns Last Year vs This Year:

Team Defensive Efficiency: #16, Last year #10
Blocks: #1, Last Year #6
Steals: #21, Last Year #20
Def Reb PG: #11, Last Year #20
Opp Shooting %: #9, Last Year #10
Opp 3PT%: #7, Last Year #13
Opp PPG: #14, Last Year #10
Opp Points in the paint: #22, Last year #10
PPG: #12, Last Year #17
Points in the Paint: #22, #25
Fast Break Points: #28, Last Year #28
3 PT%: #4, Last Year #7
Of Reb PG: #16, Last Year #7
APG: #14, Last Year #5

Better at blocks, defensive rebounding, holding opponents overall to lower shooting percentages mostly because we are better at defending the 3. Although letting teams score more. Likely because we are giving up more points in the paint with Nurkic. We were top 10 with Ayton and now bottom feeders in giving up paint points despite being #1 in blocks.

Scoring is up, points in the paint is slightly up but still bad and we are relying way more on jump shots. Our 3 point % is up. Offensive rebounds is down, assists are down. So, getting 2nd chance opportunities and less easy buckets this year overall.

So far, Nurk isn’t having the impact I had hoped in the paint on either end. If Beal stays healthy, it could open up the offense more and create easier buckets. I hope so because our paint play is still abysmal offensively and taking a huge step back defensively.

That was the rim protection that Ayton provided and we are sorely missing now, @cheesebeef

 

[Cheesebeef]

That was the rim protection that Ayton provided and we are sorely missing now, @cheesebeef

the same guy who QUIT ON THE TEAM MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE PLAYOFFS AND HAS BEEN AWFUL THIS YEAR?

Do we want to get into what Ayton's done leading the mighty Portland defense so far this year?

Let's start with points in the paint...where the Blazers are PATHETIC 28TH.

How about opponents 2nd chance points? Oh... a STERLIN6 24TH!

How about blocks? 23rd... AMAZING!

How about Defensive Rebounding %... 28th! Incredible!

By almost every metric, Portland, anchored by Ayton is DEMONSTRABLY worse than we are. This entire team is mediocre to bad defensively. Pinning it solely on Nurk is simple-minded. Guys are getting beat off the dribble ad naseum and would be making Ayton look as bad here as they regularly did in the playoffs the last two years, not to mention how atrocious he's been protecting the rim for the Blazers.

And again, the bottom line is he quit here when the team needed him most. He didn't want to be here anymore. And as pathetic as he's been for Portland, his quitting ass probably would have been WORSE playing for a team he didn't want to play for.

But keep pining away after that bastion of mediocrity. Last year on December 13th we were 16-12. This year we're 13-11. A whopping difference of win percentage of .57 to .54... with a completely different cast of characters.

 

[Covert Rain]

the same guy who QUIT ON THE TEAM MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE PLAYOFFS AND HAS BEEN AWFUL THIS YEAR?

Do we want to get into what Ayton's done leading the mighty Portland defense so far this year?

Let's start with points in the paint...where the Blazers are PATHETIC 28TH.

How about opponents 2nd chance points? Oh... a STERLIN6 24TH!

How about blocks? 23rd... AMAZING!

How about Defensive Rebounding %... 28th! Incredible!

By almost every metric, Portland, anchored by Ayton is DEMONSTRABLY worse than we are. This entire team is mediocre to bad defensively. Pinning it solely on Nurk is simple-minded. Guys are getting beat off the dribble ad naseum and would be making Ayton look as bad here as they regularly did in the playoffs the last two years, not to mention how atrocious he's been protecting the rim for the Blazers.

And again, the bottom line is he quit here when the team needed him most. He didn't want to be here anymore. And as pathetic as he's been for Portland, his quitting ass probably would have been WORSE playing for a team he didn't want to play for.

But keep pining away after that bastion of mediocrity. Last year on December 13th we were 16-12. This year we're 13-11. A whopping difference of win percentage of .57 to .54... with a completely different cast of characters.

On one hand you are saying you can’t pin it all on Nurk but on the other hand didn’t make the same case for Ayton on his new team. There is zero doubt we are worse with Nurk in the paint as of now. There is no debating Ayton’s lack of focus, inconsistency and at times just throwing it in either. Both can be true.

Portland went from #29 to #24 in opponent %. #23 last year in Paint defense to #16. Defense efficiently from #28, to #13. From #24 to #6 in offensive rebounds. It’s no coincidence were both teams improved and got worse.

It’s not all roses for sure. We know why. Ayton has been abysmal offensively and has been as soft and inconsistent as ever. Neither can take credit for all the good or the bad on their respective teams. However, as of now Nurk has not made us better at that position. I am also not sure going from the 7th best 3 point shooting to the the 4th moves the needle that much overall to say we won that trade either with the Nurk/Allen combo.

 

[GatorAZ]

That was the rim protection that Ayton provided and we are sorely missing now, @cheesebeef

Nobody seriously watched DA the last two years and thought he protected the rim.

 

[Covert Rain]

Nobody seriously watched DA the last two years and thought he protected the rim.

“Protected the rim” is nebulous. He absolutely anchored this team defensively. The numbers with him in and out of the lineup didn’t lie. The change in the paint since he left and his impact in some facets of Portlands defense show he does have an impact. Having said that? All the other baggage that came with Ayton wasn’t worth it. His inconsistency, quitting, lack of effort and focus wasn’t worth it. He is still soft as hell around the rim and isn’t DominAYTON anybody on the offensive end in Portland either. The Suns simply may not have made a good trade for Ayton. I think we all agree sooner or later the Suns needed to move Ayton no matter what.

Just to be clear I am not arguing Nurk is complete crap. Just that we may not have made the best trade for Ayton. Maybe there wasn’t a better option that could have materialized or maybe there could have been had we waited. I hope just getting the team healthy makes things better with regular rotations. We have to get it together pretty quick.