Trail Blazers @ Suns 11-2-16

[Mainstreet]

The Trail Blazers play at the Suns tonight with a 7 p.m. Arizona start time. Devin Booker is expecting to play.

“I feel a lot better now,” Booker said. “I’ve been doing treatment 24 hours a day. It’s been helping a lot.

“I want to play. The plan is for me to play but we’ll see what the training staff says.”

Booker said it might have been caused by needing a larger shoe. He was bruising his toe from hitting the front of his shoe. Booker, who grew an inch since last season, increased his shoe size to 15 and inserted new orthotics.

The toe injury affected his jumping most, especially tough for a jump shooter.

“It doesn’t feel good when people ask why you’re sitting out and you say your toe,” Booker said. “I think I got a lot of heckling on Twitter for that, sitting out for a toe. But if you’ve had the injury, you know how bad it hurts. It hurts to take every step. Chasing J.J. Redick off a lot of screens would have been hard for me.”

Here is the projected starting lineups:

C: Tyson Chandler … Mason Plumlee

PF: Jared Dudley … Maurice Harkless

SF: T.J. Warren … Al-Farouq Aminu

SG: Devin Booker …. C.J. McCollum

PG: Eric Bledsoe … Damian Lillard

Key Blazers reserves: Allen Crabbe, Jake Layman, Evan Turner, Noah Vonleh, Ed Davis.

Key Blazers injuries: Festus Ezeli (left knee) is out.

The above information is taken from a Paul Coro article at azcentral dated 11-2-16.

It is an interesting read especially how the Suns want to focus on developing an aggressive, physical identity on defense both now and into the future.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...tablish-physical-defense-amid-fouls/93193874/

 

[95pro]

dafuq is with the hair...

 

[Hoop Head]

Could Warren end up being the franchise player we've been looking for? I can't help but think he might be. He's been consistently the best player on the court offensively, has played well defensively, and alongside Dudley it seems he plays the 4 more than Duds does.

I know a lot of people thought Booker looked like a franchise player, future all-star, and he might be one day but I think we have a future All Star in Warren.

 

[SirStefan32]

Could Warren end up being the franchise player we've been looking for? I can't help but think he might be. He's been consistently the best player on the court offensively, has played well defensively, and alongside Dudley it seems he plays the 4 more than Duds does.

I know a lot of people thought Booker looked like a franchise player, future all-star, and he might be one day but I think we have a future All Star in Warren.

I am a huge Warren fan, and I do think he could develop into a star. Keep in mind that Warren is three years older than Booker. Might we end up with two stars?

 

[Hoop Head]

I am a huge Warren fan, and I do think he could develop into a star. Keep in mind that Warren is three years older than Booker. Might we end up with two stars?

I could see both being stars down the line but it seems like Warren hasn't been getting the credit he deserves from most people here. I know he missed half of last season but he showed a lot of potential in his rookie season and before going down last year. I'm glad he's starting and delivering this season, I just wish we had a win or two to go with his performances so far. Booker has his injury which has set him back some but I think some of the pressure might be weighing on his also. It seems like most people here only watch Booker and how he performs vs how all of our young players perform.

 

[SirStefan32]

Speaking of young players, how about Len tonight? He is playing with confidence tonight!

 

[sunsfan88]

Len showing why some manager should trade for him from the Suns quickly!

And Booker looks like a hot mess. I don't know if it's ankle or toe or whatever but he should sit out til he's healthy. If that means missing a couple weeks, so be it. We ain't competing for anything here.

 

[Hoop Head]

I think we need to unload Chandler, keep Len. If we can retain Len for less than Chandler costs that's a good thing, provided we're not paying both of them. I still think he'll be no less than serviceable starting center.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Man the Suns shooting is horrendous!

 

[devilalum]

Too 3 guards are 12 for 41.

from phone

 

[Hoop Head]

Knight and Tucker really screwed up on that play. Some fault should go to Watson though for having that lineup out there. Len should have been in that play, or Chriss or Bender, to guard Leonard or the inbound so Chandler could guard the other.

 

[GatorAZ]

Our tank game is strong.

 

[sunsfan88]

I think players like PJ Tucker and Brandon Knight would never get playing time for smart HCs like Pop, Carslie, Kerr etc.

They should feel fortunate to be on the Phoenix Suns.

 

[Hoop Head]

That was a terrible foul call, no contact.

 

[SirStefan32]

Good win!

 

[Hoop Head]

Great win! Finally. Was switching back and forth between the Cubs & Indians game and this game and it seemed like both would never end.

 

[Errntknght]

Suns eke out the win 118-115

 

[devilalum]

Awesome!

from phone

 

[95pro]

Knight and Tucker really screwed up on that play. Some fault should go to Watson though for having that lineup out there. Len should have been in that play, or Chriss or Bender, to guard Leonard or the inbound so Chandler could guard the other.

right?

 

[95pro]

I'm pretty sick of Bledsoe draining the clock down at the end of the quarters only to turn it over or force a bad shot. He finally made a 3 to win the game in OT despite it being a terrible selection.

 

[Mainstreet]

Great win for the Suns to finally get in the win column. Warren is looking like he can score every night. His game has really improved.

Bledsoe brought it when it counts. He made a crazy hard fade away 3 point jump shot at the end of OT (with his mouthpiece hanging out of his mouth no less) to secure the win.

 

[sunsfan88]

Good win. Bledsoe showing that he can be the go to guy in clutch moments.

 

[FArting]

I was at the game last night.

 

[leclerc]

Mental mistake by Book to foul Lillard with three point lead. One thing is being in a shooting slump but mistakes like that is just inexperience.

Not too happy with the small lineup of Tucker, Warren, Book, Knight and Bled. Hope to see Watson try Bender, Chriss, Warren, Book and Bled instead. That would make me very happy!

Can't see why there were zero minutes for Ulis and Bender. They should get a predetermined amount each game. I think that would help their confidence, but I'm no sports psychologist.

Exciting times nonetheless. Happy with the win.

Go Suns!

 

[leclerc]

I was at the game last night.

Please tell us more.

I've never been to Phoenix. Seen a couple of NFL games but no NBA games.