Thunder @ Suns Game Thread 2-10-13

[Mainstreet]

I just tuned in the game at halftime with the Suns down 51-34. The Suns are shooting 30.6 %.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Suns lack intensity. Perhaps trade talk involving Dudley has taken something away from the team.

 

[Mainstreet]

Announcers are saying Marshall and Dragic make a nice combo. I agree. Marshall has really improved from early in the season.

 

[Mainstreet]

So Lindsey Hunter is teaching defense? It sure doesn't look like it.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Suns are now shooting 31.3 % at the end of the 3rd quarter. Whatever team chemistry they had prior to the game seems to be gone now.

 

[Mainstreet]

Thankfully the game is over. The Suns lose to Thunder 97-69.

 

[Phrazbit]

With a shot in the closing seconds we avoid the lowest scoring game in franchise history.

I hope they put a wrecking ball to this disastrous roster during the all-star break.

 

[AzStevenCal]

So Lindsey Hunter is teaching defense? It sure doesn't look like it.

Unfair. For some of these guys, it will involve overwriting a lifetime of bad habits. It's rare to take a bad defensive team and get them to change significantly in the middle of a season.

Steve

 

[Mainstreet]

Unfair.

Steve

What's unfair about it. I didn't see the Suns playing hard on defense tonight regardless the quality of the opponent. The minimum I ask for is effort.

 

[Folster]

That was a bad loss. Hopefully we can get our act together Tuesday to beat the Lakers, and then return back to our form tonight for the remainder of the season.

 

[AzStevenCal]

What's unfair about it. I didn't see the Suns playing hard on defense tonight regardless the quality of the opponent. The minimum I ask for is effort.

Sorry, I got interrupted in the middle of my post. As you can see, I filled it out a bit. If you don't know where to go, you will always look lost on defense. Now, I'm not suggesting Hunter is going to teach these guys anything. I'm just saying that we have always had an offensive mindset and many of these guys have grown up or grown used to that environment. I would not expect it change overnight. As for lack of effort, that seems to happen often when trade rumors are in the air. Plus, we aren't very good so it doesn't take much to make us fall apart.

Steve

 

[AfroSuns]

It is one thing to lose, but losing this way is just not good for player morale or business wise for the franchise.
Surely they can play competitively while tanking. It almost seem like they already called it a loss before stepping on the court.

 

[Mainstreet]

Sorry, I got interrupted in the middle of my post. As you can see, I filled it out a bit. If you don't know where to go, you will always look lost on defense. Now, I'm not suggesting Hunter is going to teach these guys anything. I'm just saying that we have always had an offensive mindset and many of these guys have grown up or grown used to that environment. I would not expect it change overnight. As for lack of effort, that seems to happen often when trade rumors are in the air. Plus, we aren't very good so it doesn't take much to make us fall apart.

Steve

I just saw signs of the Suns packing it up on both offense and defense. I didn't see players playing as a team. It will be interesting to see if Hunter can pull things back together.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I just saw signs of the Suns packing it up on both offense and defense. I didn't see players playing as a team. It will be interesting to see if Hunter can pull things back together.

I wouldn't bet on it. We're still in the middle of a very tough schedule and I have always expected us to roll over and play dead at some point this season. That it hadn't already happened before the firing might be a statement about Gentry but then again, it could just be blind luck.

Steve

Edit: I said "always" above and I really should have said "once the season started and I got a chance to see how poorly this team was constructed". Prior to the actual start of the season I really had no expectations whatsoever.

 

[Battle of Evermore]

Well that pick gets better and better. We need to suck except when playing the Lakers. It seems like we played the Thunder about 10 times this year

 

[AzStevenCal]

Well that pick gets better and better. We need to suck except when playing the Lakers. It seems like we played the Thunder about 10 times this year

I'm pretty sure we can measure up to the first part of that statement. I wouldn't count on us beating the Lakers again this season.

Steve

 

[Mainstreet]

I wouldn't bet on it. We're still in the middle of a very tough schedule and I have always expected us to roll over and play dead at some point this season. That it hadn't already happened before the firing might be a statement about Gentry but then again, it could just be blind luck.

Steve

Edit: I said "always" above and I really should have said "once the season started and I got a chance to see how poorly this team was constructed". Prior to the actual start of the season I really had no expectations whatsoever.

I believe I picked the Suns to win 35 games this season. Must have been drinking the kool aid pretty heavy to get to this total.

Maybe I can get an out with Gentry leaving.

 

[Dr. Jones]

Wow...... 11 Suns scored at least a point tonight. Only one had more than 8.

We shot 5 free throws all night.

Beasley - 2-11
Scola - 2-10
Tucker 3-10
Our starting lineup - 11-39

Jesus..... That is horrible.

 

[elindholm]

So Lindsey Hunter is teaching defense? It sure doesn't look like it.

Hopefully the Suns brass will eventually learn that having a coach who says "Defense is important!" is not the same as having a coach who can actually teach it. First Porter and now Hunter. It really is embarrassing.

 

[Mainstreet]

Hopefully the Suns brass will eventually learn that having a coach who says "Defense is important!" is not the same as having a coach who can actually teach it. First Porter and now Hunter. It really is embarrassing.

It's good that Hunter is getting a job interview now instead of later. I can only hope Sarver decides to invest money in a candidate that is qualified to be head coach.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Its called tanking.

 

[Phrazbit]

Its called tanking.

We're not tanking. We're just terrible.

 

[elindholm]

We're not tanking. We're just terrible.

But truth be told, being terrible is the best way to tank.

 

[Superbone]

So Lindsey Hunter is teaching defense? It sure doesn't look like it.

Defense? I don't know how they could continuously leave Sefolosha wide open for threes in the corner if they are emphasizing defense.

 

[Phrazbit]

But truth be told, being terrible is the best way to tank.

Hopefully thats how the league looks at it when they are preparing to rig this year's lottery.