Thunder @ Suns 11-17-18

[elindholm]

The Suns were +3 with Ayton on the floor.

 

[Suns_fan69]

Definitely some positives in the game, though the loss itself is disappointing. The defense, to my eye, is improving. There are less full team breakdowns, and we're forcing a lot more difficult shots. George just happened to make a ton of them.

Bridges impressed, Ayton is rotating well again, Crawford is still the best PG and Jackson had another good game (for him). Need to build on all this and get a few good games together.

 

[sdscard4]

I'd really like to only see 7-8 player rotation. We could of won I believe if more steady dose of Crawford in first half and more Bridges in the 3rd. These guys can play more than they do

 

[SirStefan32]

I almost wish Booker would sit for a while and get healthy. Sixers game, for example... there is no reason for him to play. I love that he is playing, but he can barely move out there.

 

[Suns_fan69]

I almost wish Booker would sit for a while and get healthy. Sixers game, for example... there is no reason for him to play. I love that he is playing, but he can barely move out there.

Fully agree. The tough part is that he's still a positive for the team (he took care of the ball quite well today) so there'll be resistance. But he should just bite the bullet, take 2 or 3 games off and get to 100%.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Fully agree. The tough part is that he's still a positive for the team (he took care of the ball quite well today) so there'll be resistance. But he should just bite the bullet, take 2 or 3 games off and get to 100%.

He wouldn’t be 100% after only 2-3 games...

 

[BC867]

I seriously think Book wants no part of this PG crap. Body language screams it

It was inevitable. Book may still score points, but his outside shooting has taken a step back. He looks fatigued.

 

[SirStefan32]

Oh Jesus, not this crap again. He hurt his hamstring, just like a bunch of players who barely play and are not point guards. His injury has nothing to do with him playing PG. His shooting doesn't have anything with him playing PG, and his scoring doesn't have anything to do with him playing PG. His leg is bothering him and he can't jump right and he can barely drive. That has nothing with him handling the ball.

 

[TJ]

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On court chemistry seems fine.....

 

[JCSunsfan]

I don't think JJ came back in after blowing up at TJ.

Didn’t see the game tonight. Is TJ the guy that JJ is complaining about not being in the right place? That would make some sense. TJ plays a pretty instinctive game.

 

[JCSunsfan]

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On court chemistry seems fine.....

Ah. I see it there. That is simply not having a real pg. No one back to receive the inbound. Everyone busting down the court. TJ was not expecting the inbound would come to him. He should have gone down to receive the ball, but he is the Pf that is really not his job. If it was JJ who was supposed to be bringing the ball up court, he should not have been bringing the ball in. It just habit for a sf to do it though. We need a pg.

 

[sunsfan88]

Didn’t see the game tonight. Is TJ the guy that JJ is complaining about not being in the right place? That would make some sense. TJ plays a pretty instinctive game.

Jackson has ZERO authority to call out Warren for anything considering Warren has been the best player (by far) this season for the Suns. And on the other end, Jackson is the worst player in the entire league, not just the Suns by most advanced metrics.

Meaning guys like JR Smith, Markelle Fultz, Carmelo Anthony, Jae Crowder etc are still better than Jackson this season.

 

[Hoop Head]

Oh Jesus, not this crap again. He hurt his hamstring, just like a bunch of players who barely play and are not point guards. His injury has nothing to do with him playing PG. His shooting doesn't have anything with him playing PG, and his scoring doesn't have anything to do with him playing PG. His leg is bothering him and he can't jump right and he can barely drive. That has nothing with him handling the ball.

I agree with everything else you said except for his scoring. That could be taking a dip because he's distributing the ball quite a bit more. I don't think it's as easy as saying it is or isn't either way. His scoring is down and his assists are up, I don't think that's a coincidence. I think he'll find a balance in time but if he's getting over 10 assists a night then he's helping put points on the board in another way so his scoring isn't needed as badly as it usually is.

 

[Finito]

Jackson has ZERO authority to call out Warren for anything considering Warren has been the best player (by far) this season for the Suns. And on the other end, Jackson is the worst player in the entire league, not just the Suns by most advanced metrics.

Meaning guys like JR Smith, Markelle Fultz, Carmelo Anthony, Jae Crowder etc are still better than Jackson this season.

Josh Jackson plays hard every night. That's one thing you can't take away from him. I blame the Suns for not being able to develop him in a year he's had 3 head coaches.

TJ does this he looks great then disappears. What was TJ doing? Who runs to take an inbound pass, stops and runs back to the 3 point line. Just very odd.

 

[1Sun]

Oh Jesus, not this crap again. He hurt his hamstring, just like a bunch of players who barely play and are not point guards. His injury has nothing to do with him playing PG. His shooting doesn't have anything with him playing PG, and his scoring doesn't have anything to do with him playing PG. His leg is bothering him and he can't jump right and he can barely drive. That has nothing with him handling the ball.

How can you not see that having to handle point guard duties in addition to being our primary scorer and focus of our offense is wearing him out? He is playing two positions at once.

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

There were just a few seconds left on the clock. It is conceivable that TJ went towards the baseline, the pass didn't come, then broke back for a longer overhead inbounds pass to get it up the court.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Didn’t see the game tonight. Is TJ the guy that JJ is complaining about not being in the right place? That would make some sense. TJ plays a pretty instinctive game.

Probably but more so I suspect he's one of the guys that Booker and JJ have talked about that can't take constructive criticism from other players. Not that Jackson actually did that, losing your temper and reacting isn't the same thing as constructive criticism.

 

[Chaplin]

How can you not see that having to handle point guard duties in addition to being our primary scorer and focus of our offense is wearing him out? He is playing two positions at once.

No he’s not.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I have no problem with JJ calling out TJ there. TJ played that lazy and as a result almost allowed the opposition to get some easy cheap points. It’s the aggregation if those type of plays each game by the entire team that leads to 20 point blowouts.

 

[taz02]

I have no problem with JJ calling out TJ there. TJ played that lazy and as a result almost allowed the opposition to get some easy cheap points. It’s the aggregation if those type of plays each game by the entire team that leads to 20 point blowouts.

I'll bet TJ has a problem with it. JJ isn't in a position to criticise TJ, or anyone else for that matter, especially on television. He is the biggest disappointment on the team this season.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'll bet TJ has a problem with it. JJ isn't in a position to criticise TJ, or anyone else for that matter, especially on television. He is the biggest disappointment on the team this season.

When you're playing the game you have to not focus on the fact that there are cameras and microphones everywhere. You have to or you start worrying more about how you look playing the game than how you actually play.

 

[Mainstreet]

Booker's hammy seems to be the culprit. He is doing whatever he can to help the Suns win even if he is a step slow.

I think Booker's emphasis on being a distributor will pay dividends in the long run when the Suns acquire a point guard.

Then they will have two distributors at the guard position.

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[Mainstreet]

And more comments.

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[Mainstreet]

I have no problem with JJ calling out TJ there. TJ played that lazy and as a result almost allowed the opposition to get some easy cheap points. It’s the aggregation if those type of plays each game by the entire team that leads to 20 point blowouts.

I'd be more upset if JJ wasn't angry. Temper flare-ups happen. I want players who care. Venting is part of the game.

 

[SirStefan32]

I agree with everything else you said except for his scoring. That could be taking a dip because he's distributing the ball quite a bit more. I don't think it's as easy as saying it is or isn't either way. His scoring is down and his assists are up, I don't think that's a coincidence. I think he'll find a balance in time but if he's getting over 10 assists a night then he's helping put points on the board in another way so his scoring isn't needed as badly as it usually is.

I was really talking more about Booker not having as much lift on his jumper, and not being able to drive to the hoop nearly as well. He was the playmaker prior to his injury and he still scored 25+ ppg. He is not the quickest or the most explosive player to begin with, so being a step slow is really hurting him. He can't get to the hoop, he can't get enough lift when shooting jumpers. I realize Holiday and George are some of the best defenders in the NBA, but Booker at 100% would still be able to score on them.

EDIT: It looks like Mainstreet posted some official stuff about Booker being hurt and a step slow.