Suns @ Wizards Thursday game thread 1-16-2025

[Mainstreet]

On Thursday, the Suns play at the Wizards. It's the second stop on a five game road trip.

Afterward, they play @ Pistons on Saturday, @ Cavaliers on Monday and @ Nets on Wednesday.

The Wizards are 6-32.

Phoenix is now 19-20 after losing to the Hawks on Tuesday.

When: Thursday, January 16, 2025

Television: Suns Live, Arizona's Family 3TV / Arizona's Family Sports

Radio: KMVP 98.7 / S: KSUN

Time: 5:00 PM Arizona time

 

[Covert Rain]

At what point does the media stop saying stuff like "Phoenix Suns are playing a mediocre or bad team" and should win and start saying "The mediocre to bad Phoenix Suns are playing another mediocre or bad team". It has to be close with what's left in the season.

 

[BirdGangThing]

when we trade nurk it needs to be for a mobile body specializing in rebounds - idc if said player averages 4 ppg - infact i may prefer it that way - we got scorers coming out of our ass - and we can play defense when we want to without nurk - perhaps better if we could only rebound

regardless - i know there's no moneyball in the nba due to its fluidity - but we need some damn rebounds if we want to limp into the playoffs again so we can get our further disappointment on

 

[Covert Rain]

when we trade nurk it needs to be for a mobile body specializing in rebounds - idc if said player averages 4 ppg - infact i may prefer it that way - we got scorers coming out of our ass - and we can play defense when we want to without nurk - perhaps better if we could only rebound

regardless - i know there's no moneyball in the nba due to its fluidity - but we need some damn rebounds if we want to limp into the playoffs again so we can get our further disappointment on

I don't think there is any interest in Nurk. The Suns won't part with the draft picks they have to part with Nurk. I think they want those in the pocket in case they can move Beal. That means the Suns would have to find a team who doesn't want player X as much as we don't want Nurk. Not sure how feasible that is.

 

[BirdGangThing]

people laughed when i mentioned running a full court press but i legit think it's huge you make it work with nurk - pesky defense buys nurk time to get back on defense - buys the whole team time to get back on defensive specially if we're trying to hang around for offensive rebounds

 

[95pro]

people laughed when i mentioned running a full court press but i legit think it's huge you make it work with nurk - pesky defense buys nurk time to get back on defense - buys the whole team time to get back on defensive specially if we're trying to hang around for offensive rebounds

Jones, Book and Beal aren't great defenders to begin with. They would get blown by a lot, only tiring them out even more which would lead to less production at something they are good at, which is the offensive end.

 

[Covert Rain]

Jones, Book and Beal aren't great defenders to begin with. They would get blown by a lot, only tiring them out even more which would lead to less production at something they are good at, which is the offensive end.

I think, for those 3, their athleticism enables great team defense at times. Before this latest stretch when everyone was healthy playing the numbers showed that. Individually yes. I don't think any of them are great defenders. It's why in terms of being on the same page? When they are not everything falls apart on both ends. This team MUST be on the same page to play well.

 

[Suns_fan69]

Jones, Book and Beal aren't great defenders to begin with. They would get blown by a lot, only tiring them out even more which would lead to less production at something they are good at, which is the offensive end.

I think you'd run this exclusively for Dunn / Okogie, maybe O'neale though he isn't as pesky as an on-ball defender. I agree the 3 you listed won't be nearly as useful.

Unfortunately with everyone healthy Okogie's minutes has essentially vanished so it's really only Dunn I would consider running this with.

 

[BirdGangThing]

I think you'd run this exclusively for Dunn / Okogie, maybe O'neale though he isn't as pesky as an on-ball defender. I agree the 3 you listed won't be nearly as useful.

Unfortunately with everyone healthy Okogie's minutes has essentially vanished so it's really only Dunn I would consider running this with.

morris too

 

[95pro]

I think you'd run this exclusively for Dunn / Okogie, maybe O'neale though he isn't as pesky as an on-ball defender. I agree the 3 you listed won't be nearly as useful.

Unfortunately with everyone healthy Okogie's minutes has essentially vanished so it's really only Dunn I would consider running this with.

While not quite on the ball, they do use Dunn and JO to slightly pressure the inbound. Then it’s retreat mode.

I honestly think if Beal committed to that he would be great at on the ball pressure full court.

But these guys are injured so frequently that making them press would make them even more prone.

 

[Suns_fan69]

morris too

Right, yes, I'd be ok with this. However, same problem as Okogie, his minutes are non-existent in a healthy lineup

 

[Hoop Head]

Right, yes, I'd be ok with this. However, same problem as Okogie, his minutes are non-existent in a healthy lineup

Okogie is no longer a consideration. We'll see how things are with a real C going forward.

 

[Ronin]

Duane Rankin

@DuaneRankin
·
18m


Suns injury report at Wizards:
DOUBTFUL: Bradley Beal (left ankle sprain).
OUT: Jusuf Nurkic (illness) #Suns

 

[Mainstreet]

Duane Rankin
@DuaneRankin
·
18m


Suns injury report at Wizards:
DOUBTFUL: Bradley Beal (left ankle sprain).
OUT: Jusuf Nurkic (illness) #Suns

OOF.

 

[Covert Rain]

OOF.

If I were a betting man I would say Mr. Glass is out. Having said that? That ankle tweak looked legit. Nurk, after the trade I don't think was playing again anyway.

 

[Mainstreet]

If I were a betting man I would say Mr. Glass is out. Having said that? That ankle tweak looked legit. Nurk, after the trade I don't think was playing again anyway.

The ankle injury looked legit and to Beal's credit, he does try to play through it.

The bigger problem is the Suns have to be close to 100% to be competitive.