Suns updates and discussion for the 2023-24 season

[Hoop Head]

Have we heard anything about who may potentially be on the buyout market this season? Other than just getting lucky and staying healthy I believe that's the best way for us to improve our bench.

Without some serious improvement or some clippers injuries I couldn't see us beating them in a seven game series right now. I would put more money on them sweeping. Denver… I think I would actually give us even money. I think we are just a tough matchup for them. The trade deadline and the playoffs should be quite entertaining this year. There are so many quality teams.

Joe

The only name I've heard as a buyout target is PJ Tucker.

We're limited since we're over the 2nd apron so we can't sign anyone from the buyout market whose salary is higher than the mid level exception, which is roughly $12m a year.

 

[Vacard]

Kevin Johnson, Kidd and Fitz beat their women and everyone loved them. How is this different??

 

[Phrazbit]

Kevin Johnson, Kidd and Fitz beat their women and everyone loved them. How is this different??

Fitz was never charged with anything, and the account is confusing, she took a swing at him while he was holding their kid and he pushed her away, and she said they started off as “play fighting“?

KJs accusations didn’t come out until he was gone, he was never charged with anything and it certainly damaged his reputation.

Everyone hates Jason Kidd.

 

[Yuma]

We slipped back into the six spot, 1 game ahead of Dallas. We are one game from the fifth spot. Hopefully we continue this roadtrip with three more wins!

 

[95pro]

I dont remember if it was last season or the 21-22 season but this season something similar is happening. Lead and game looks to be in hand, then we let up in the 4th. By let up I mean we stop running, stop moving the ball. Its a long 10 minutes to try and start milking the clock .

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

I dont remember if it was last season or the 21-22 season but this season something similar is happening. Lead and game looks to be in hand, then we let up in the 4th. By let up I mean we stop running, stop moving the ball. Its a long 10 minutes to try and start milking the clock .

Yeah and CP would just bail us out with a few clutch plays down the stretch.

 

[Ronin]

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[SirStefan32]

I re-watched the fourth quarter just to make sure I wasn't imagining things, but the fourth quarter wasn't awful. They were actually getting good shots- they were just not making them. I do think if your open threes aren't falling, you should do some more cutting, but they did beat the zone- they just weren't hitting their shots. They can do a better job, but they weren't terrible in the fourth.

 

[Mainstreet]

Yeah and CP would just bail us out with a few clutch plays down the stretch.

Chris Paul was a master at controlling the last 5 minutes of a game.

I used to call it "Chris Paul time" when he could effectively get in the lane and make those short jumpers.

 

[Ronin]

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[Ronin]

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[Suns_fan69]

I re-watched the fourth quarter just to make sure I wasn't imagining things, but the fourth quarter wasn't awful. They were actually getting good shots- they were just not making them. I do think if your open threes aren't falling, you should do some more cutting, but they did beat the zone- they just weren't hitting their shots. They can do a better job, but they weren't terrible in the fourth.

Yup, I said the same in the game thread. The ball was moving around a lot better but shots just weren't falling. Can view them easily here

 

[Mainstreet]

Yup, I said the same in the game thread. The ball was moving around a lot better but shots just weren't falling. Can view them easily here

Suns were content to shoot jump shots instead of driving to the basket.

It seems like Okogie is the only one readily willing to go to the basket because he makes his living there.

 

[Chaplin]

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That's crazy and goes to show you can't always rely on the eye test.

 

[95pro]

Suns were content to shoot jump shots instead of driving to the basket.

It seems like Okogie is the only one readily willing to go to the basket because he makes his living there.

JO drives and gets that bump and motions for a shot attempt (even though no shot is actually attempted), and still gets to the line.

Book used to earn these calls more regularly, but last season they started calling a lot of them offensive on Book. Sometimes I just don't get officiating. Book hasn't made this move as much this season, imo.

 

[Suns_fan69]

Suns were content to shoot jump shots instead of driving to the basket.

It seems like Okogie is the only one readily willing to go to the basket because he makes his living there.

Yeah, it's true, the Suns as a team need to drive to the basket more, but in theory wide open 3s for KD and EG are good shots. Beal's 3s were a little more iffy, and he is the best suited to be attacking the basket more so that can be tweaked a bit.

 

[Covert Rain]

Interesting on the telecast they said the league basically knows to press the Suns full court in the 4th to get them to turnover the ball.

 

[Mainstreet]

JO drives and gets that bump and motions for a shot attempt (even though no shot is actually attempted), and still gets to the line.

Book used to earn these calls more regularly, but last season they started calling a lot of them offensive on Book. Sometimes I just don't get officiating. Book hasn't made this move as much this season, imo.

The referees allow a lot more contact against Booker than other so-called star players when he drives to the basket.

He is often not rewarded. And he has toned down his reaction considerably.

I don't understand what gives with the officiating, either.

 

[Mainstreet]

Yeah, it's true, the Suns as a team need to drive to the basket more, but in theory wide open 3s for KD and EG are good shots. Beal's 3s were a little more iffy, and he is the best suited to be attacking the basket more so that can be tweaked a bit.

The Suns seem to hear footsteps in the 4th quarter. Outside shooting is likely a mental thing now.

What's the saying, live by the three, die by the three. It applies to jump shots as well.

They need to force the defense to honor the drive.

 

[Carolinacacti]

This team is a roller coaster. Just when you think they have things figured out they follow that up with one of the worst defensive performances of the year then follow that up with the most turnovers all season long. Then to add insult to injury Vogel mentions they have to get better at screening for Durant. Durant says..."nah that aint it". They need to figure this out quickly.

This board is a roller coaster ride. Durant is a really good defender when he wants to be. Book is a better player when rested coach keeps him in to long. at least let some else take over on offense when Book is tired

 

[Ronin]

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[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I re-watched the fourth quarter just to make sure I wasn't imagining things, but the fourth quarter wasn't awful. They were actually getting good shots- they were just not making them. I do think if your open threes aren't falling, you should do some more cutting, but they did beat the zone- they just weren't hitting their shots. They can do a better job, but they weren't terrible in the fourth.

What is don’t get is they don’t flash a guy who is a good midrange shooter to the FT line. That’s the classic way to beat that zone. It worked like a charm a couple of games ago. But I haven’t seen it since.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Interesting on the telecast they said the league basically knows to press the Suns full court in the 4th to get them to turnover the ball.

Well we don’t make them pay for the press. You should attack the basket with numbers if you beat the press. We don’t. We play for a guy to get trapped in the corner near mid court when we’re just elated to get the ball advanced.

 

[Raindog]

Well we don’t make them pay for the press. You should attack the basket with numbers if you beat the press. We don’t. We play for a guy to get trapped in the corner near mid court when we’re just elated to get the ball advanced.

Let's be honest, a lot of this is because Vogel is constantly being outcoached. Whatever the outcome of the season, championship or bust, I think we've already seen plenty of evidence that Vogel is (at best) a pretty mediocre coach.

 

[Chaplin]

There is absolutely no creativity on offense at all in the 4th quarters. What happened the previous 3 is irrelevant for whatever reason.