Suns vs Lakers

[sunsfan88]

Season opener tomorrow in PHX at 10 PM Eastern Time.

Only first game of the season but losing to a team that is predicted to be among the worst in the league that is ALSO playing on the second night of a back to back AND on the road would be a pretty awful start to the season.

Based on how Kobe has played against Ariza tonight thus far, I don't think Marcus can contain Kobe but I think we can still win easily even with Kobe going off.

Don't forget to vote...go Suns!

 

[AzStevenCal]

Okay, I'll bite. I went for Plumlee. Certainly not the odds on favorite but we've been known to try and involve him early. He usually misses that first attempt (or so it seems) but maybe he's due.

Steve

 

[sunsfan88]

I'm thinking Kieff cause I think we'll try to establish a post game right away in the beginning.

 

[AzStevenCal]

It looks like Randle might be out awhile. It's too bad, he has a lot of potential.

Steve

 

[sunsfan88]

It looks like Randle might be out awhile. It's too bad, he has a lot of potential.

Steve

Yea, Julius Randle is literally the ONLY young player with potential on the Lakers and just suffered a broken leg, ouch.

I'm no Laker fan but damn I feel real bad for this kid. First game and a broken leg.

 

[elindholm]

Wow, James Worthy flashback!

 

[AzStevenCal]

Wow, James Worthy flashback!

Yeah I don't think Dr J gets his ring if James hadn't gone down. Not that the Lakers desperately needed another championship.

Steve

 

[Phrazbit]

Another basketball player breaks their shin on national TV... this is the third time in 18 months. Its such a rare injury for the sport too, I can't recall ever seeing one live before although I'm sure its happened.

Get these guys some milk.

 

[slinslin]

My biggest fear is that the Lakers will be bottom 5 bad.

On the other hand in 2016 the pick is only top 3 protected and I am not sure the Lakers can turn it around in one season after this.

 

[Dr. Jones]

Do we have a Lakers pick this offseason?

 

[slinslin]

Do we have a Lakers pick this offseason?

yes top 5 protected in 2015, top 3 protected in 2016, unprotected in 2017

 

[JS22]

My biggest fear is that the Lakers will be bottom 5 bad.

On the other hand in 2016 the pick is only top 3 protected and I am not sure the Lakers can turn it around in one season after this.

Seriously. Is there any doubt that the Lakers will get the #3-4 pick this year, find a way to quickly rebuild, then give then Suns #18-22 next year? I can't recall a time where the Suns got lucky in this situation. The ATL pick still comes to mind.

 

[t0rchy]

yes top 5 protected in 2015, top 3 protected in 2016, unprotected in 2017

Nope, it will be unprotected in 2018, the Top 3 Protection will count in 2017 too.


On Topic: Gerald Green will be the first one I guess.

 

[Sci Fi]

My biggest fear is that the Lakers will be bottom 5 bad.

On the other hand in 2016 the pick is only top 3 protected and I am not sure the Lakers can turn it around in one season after this.

The odds the Lakers aren't bottom 5 bad is less than 1%. Not really terrible for Suns. Chance to move up 2 spots is pretty significant.

 

[devilalum]

My biggest fear is that the Lakers will be bottom 5 bad.

On the other hand in 2016 the pick is only top 3 protected and I am not sure the Lakers can turn it around in one season after this.

No way. As long as Kome stays healthy they'll be in the 6-10 range.

 

[Mainstreet]

Regarding Randle's injury, there was not much contact on the play. I couldn't help but wonder if the right leg was predisposed to breaking if there is such a thing in this type of injury.

See video link below:

http://www.nba.com/2014/news/10/29/lakers-randle-injury.ap/

 

[Phrazbit]

Regarding Randle's injury, there was not much contact on the play. I couldn't help but wonder if the right leg was predisposed to breaking if there is such a thing in this type of injury.

See video link below:

http://www.nba.com/2014/news/10/29/lakers-randle-injury.ap/

He has all his weight on it, pushing off to jump, and Montejunas bangs into his left leg knocking it into his right. Its a lot of force going in two separate directions. Its a flukey thing, an undiagnosed stress fracture already existing would obviously make it more likely but I think it could happen without it.

Also, bones are weaker during growth spurts, and at 19 Randle could still be growing.

 

[JCSunsfan]

He ended up kicking one leg with the other when there was already alot of force bearing down on that bone. Fluke.

 

[Mainstreet]

He has all his weight on it, pushing off to jump, and Montejunas bangs into his left leg knocking it into his right. Its a lot of force going in two separate directions. Its a flukey thing, an undiagnosed stress fracture already existing would obviously make it more likely but I think it could happen without it.

Also, bones are weaker during growth spurts, and at 19 Randle could still be growing.

He ended up kicking one leg with the other when there was already alot of force bearing down on that bone. Fluke.

It's just a scary injury considering a lot of plays have much more contact.

 

[Mainstreet]

Now I'm reading the Lakers expect Randle to miss the rest of the season.

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/...s-remainder-rookie-season-due-fractured-tibia

 

[elindholm]

Wow! Avoiding a top-five pick is going to be tough for them. If they're clearly out of the playoffs come March, expect Bryant to develop an injury, either real or imagined. There's no way in hell they're going to try their hardest to win 38 games instead of 34.

 

[Mainstreet]

Wow! Avoiding a top-five pick is going to be tough for them. If they're clearly out of the playoffs come March, expect Bryant to develop an injury, either real or imagined. There's no way in hell they're going to try their hardest to win 38 games instead of 34.

It all makes good sense but I have given up trying to understand the Lakers.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Wow! Avoiding a top-five pick is going to be tough for them. If they're clearly out of the playoffs come March, expect Bryant to develop an injury, either real or imagined. There's no way in hell they're going to try their hardest to win 38 games instead of 34.

In the last 6 full seasons, there have been at least 6 teams each year that failed to win 30 games. If they can get to 34 games it would likely take a bad bounce in the lottery to put them in the bottom 5. Looking at last years records though, I don't know which of the under 30 club will actually be worse than them. That group was comprised of Boston, Detroit, Orlando, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Sacramento and Utah.

Steve

 

[sunsfan88]

Len looks far better than Plumlee thus far.

 

[sunsfan88]

Suns killing in transition. Run, Run, run, and Lakers can't keep up.

Marcus off to a very hot shooting night.