Trail Blazers @ Suns Monday game thread 12-16-19

[1Sun]

Because he's been double- and triple-teamed.

Which is why I referred to the return of Ayton and Booker.

Allowing Baynes to settle in as backup Center. And moving
Kaminsky to backup Power Forward/instant offense.

And allowing Booker to concentrate on high scoring right
from the start of the game.

And allowing Rubio, who had a triple-double tonight, to
have even more assists than his, what is it, 3rd best in
the NBA.

The positive domino effect. As long as the Suns can stay
healthy, they will now have a mostly solid foundation.

I can see some validity in that. Still, this team needs at least one of Cam and Bridges, as well as a back-up guard, any back-up guard, to step up if it is going to get anywhere near where it was at the start of the year.

 

[1Sun]

A player whose specialty is assists depends on the players around him.

Clearly, the Suns have been playing backups a lot of minutes around him.

You're blaming that on Rubio? I question your ability, or desire, to see
the big picture.

No. I am merely observing that while he is a phenomenal passer and good team defender, Rubio can't shoot (which makes it easier for teams to defend us) and can't defend one on one (resulting in virtually unlimited dribble penetration).

 

[Hoop Head]

Rubio’s triple - double is easily the most inconsequential triple double I have ever seen...

Then you didn't see Elfrid Payton put up 3 in his short time here a couple years back.

 

[BC867]

Don't see AZstevencal posting. Hope he hasn't checked out cuz of mr. Glass half full.

When Steve says something, you can bet that it is well thought out
and not spur of the moment. Sadly, it looks like we won't be seeing
him for awhile.

Hopefully as the Suns start their ascent (after reacclimating for
a while), the return of Steve will be inversely proportional to the
disappearance of 1Sun.

It will be the trade of a for a .

 

[Sunburn]

When Steve says something, you can bet that it is well thought out
and not spur of the moment. Sadly, it looks like we won't be seeing
him for awhile.

Hopefully as the Suns start their ascent (after reacclimating for
a while), the return of Steve will be inversely proportional to the
disappearance of 1Sun.

It will be the trade of a for a .

Hope he's back soon. He's one of my favorite posters.

 

[GatorAZ]

Don't see AZstevencal posting. Hope he hasn't checked out cuz of mr. Glass half full.

Everyone is different. 1Sun is annoying but I don’t have him on ignore and he doesn’t really bother me. I’ve actually never used the function and don’t plan to.

Or maybe I’ll do it to myself one day.

 

[BC867]

Steve and I haven't communicated privately our shared love for the roots of rock'n'roll
in quite a while, but I, too, consider him to be our MVP -- most valuable poster.

 

[Sunburn]

Everyone is different. 1Sun is annoying but I don’t have him on ignore and he doesn’t really bother me. I’ve actually never used the function and don’t plan to.

Or maybe I’ll do it to myself one day.

He doesn't bother me as much as some either. I'm actually entertained by some of the robble robble he incites. Need Steve here though. He's the day to 1sun's night. Board is unbalanced without.

 

[GatorAZ]

He doesn't bother me as much as some either. I'm actually entertained by some of the robble robble he incites. Need Steve here though.

A necessity for sure. @AzStevenCal

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Everyone is different. 1Sun is annoying but I don’t have him on ignore and he doesn’t really bother me. I’ve actually never used the function and don’t plan to.

Or maybe I’ll do it to myself one day.

Well if a poster ever bothers you enough to want to quite coming around than I hope you instead just use the ignore function and stick around.

 

[82CardsGrad]

how do you figure. He kept us in this game missing Booker and Ayton. This should of been an easy win for Portland.

Shot 28%, with 8 turnovers and several key misses... I actually thought it was one of his poorer performances of the season.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Why, just because we didn't win? Sheesh, hyperbole much?

See my above response to Finito...

 

[82CardsGrad]

Dame doesn’t knee Baynes in the nuts to draw a foul, it’s an awesome performance.

See my above response to Finito...

 

[Mainstreet]

Gina Mizell

@ginamizell
Monty on foul called on Baynes: "It looks like Aron's feet are outside of the charge circle. So I don't know what else you need. Now, they could determine that he was moving. There's always something. If you say this, they say that. I felt like Aron was in a good spot..." #Suns

10:22 PM · Dec 16, 2019·Twitter Web App

 

[Hoop Head]

Gina Mizell

@ginamizell
Monty on foul called on Baynes: "It looks like Aron's feet are outside of the charge circle. So I don't know what else you need. Now, they could determine that he was moving. There's always something. If you say this, they say that. I felt like Aron was in a good spot..." #Suns

10:22 PM · Dec 16, 2019·Twitter Web App

I'll bet that the league says that he was moving when they release the 2 minute report. They're not very good at admitting they made a call that directly effected the outcome and that gave the Blazers the lead, and win.

If this were the NFL then I'd be more upset over a bad call that decided the game. In basketball there are too many plays overall so pinpointing a single play that won or lost the game is a little more difficult. Yes, some plays do win games and others lose them but officiating shouldn't be an excuse because there are plenty of other opportunities to put yourself in a position that officiating can't swing it one way or the other. The Suns led by 15+ in the first half but failed to play with any sense of urgency in the 2nd half. That hurt them more than a bad call at the end.

 

[WildBB]

I'll bet that the league says that he was moving when they release the 2 minute report. They're not very good at admitting they made a call that directly effected the outcome and that gave the Blazers the lead, and win.

If this were the NFL then I'd be more upset over a bad call that decided the game. In basketball there are too many plays overall so pinpointing a single play that won or lost the game is a little more difficult. Yes, some plays do win games and others lose them but officiating shouldn't be an excuse because there are plenty of other opportunities to put yourself in a position that officiating can't swing it one way or the other. The Suns led by 15+ in the first half but failed to play with any sense of urgency in the 2nd half. That hurt them more than a bad call at the end.

Give the Blazers their credit as well. They played well and made clutch shots. They wanted this one badly too. I have no problem with the Suns gameplay except for the turnovers. They got a little sloppy and forced too many passes. They could've won yet again. It's going to get better. They should make a push now.

 

[Chaplin]

I'll bet that the league says that he was moving when they release the 2 minute report. They're not very good at admitting they made a call that directly effected the outcome and that gave the Blazers the lead, and win.

If this were the NFL then I'd be more upset over a bad call that decided the game. In basketball there are too many plays overall so pinpointing a single play that won or lost the game is a little more difficult. Yes, some plays do win games and others lose them but officiating shouldn't be an excuse because there are plenty of other opportunities to put yourself in a position that officiating can't swing it one way or the other. The Suns led by 15+ in the first half but failed to play with any sense of urgency in the 2nd half. That hurt them more than a bad call at the end.

After the refs did the review, the audio picked them up saying that Baynes was moving, which is why they called it a blocking foul and not a charge.

 

[JerkFace]

After the refs did the review, the audio picked them up saying that Baynes was moving, which is why they called it a blocking foul and not a charge.

The thing that sucked about that play is that if they called it a charge on the court and it got reviewed it probably wouldn’t of been overturned. It was close enough that it was inevitable that they would keep it the same. It was just a culmination of a night of poor refereeing. I thought the calls were going in our favor at the beginning of the game but by the end it seemed like we couldn’t catch a break.

 

[Superbone]

Lillard was a poor sport after the game taunting the fans. He deserves the season the Blazers are having.

 

[SirStefan32]

Suns made some mistakes, but without Booker and Ayton, they did a pretty good job. Officiating was terrible. I counted at least 10 points to the Blazers. No travel calls and Anthony and Lillard, both of which resulted in baskets, the wrong call on Baynes, incorrect offensive interference on Baynes, and a no call on defensive interference on one of Frank's shots.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Okay with Ayton’s suspension complete I think this brings the games lost that likely would’ve been wins but for Ayton’s suspension to 7 or 8. That’s a lot of L’s to hang on Ayton. But that’s how many close games went the other way bc of a lack of Ayton’s impact. He’d best come back frothing at the mouth to make up for his poor decision. He can’t win all those games back, but he can do his damnedest to win as many as possible with the remaining 56 games.

 

[mjb21aztd]

Boy did i have a hard time zzz last night after last night gm
... thanks suns

I still think that was a bs no reverse on baynes charge... he was not moving!!!

And than i was wtf go for a two instead rubio is the one to shoot the 3.... i question that decision

Been such up and down season hope when ayton and Booker returns gets better

 

[95pro]

Okay with Ayton’s suspension complete I think this brings the games lost that likely would’ve been wins but for Ayton’s suspension to 7 or 8. That’s a lot of L’s to hang on Ayton. But that’s how many close games went the other way bc of a lack of Ayton’s impact. He’d best come back frothing at the mouth to make up for his poor decision. He can’t win all those games back, but he can do his damnedest to win as many as possible with the remaining 56 games.

Lets say that's 7...that puts us at 18-8 with a 0.692 winning percentage, top 4 seeding as of now and maybe tied with the Mavs. At 0.692% of winning the remaining 56 games along with the 11 actual wins we have accumulated, that puts us around winning 49-50 games.

To finish the season at 0.500, we need to win 30 of the 56 games, and that probably doesn't get us into the playoffs. Ayton really dug a hole and hopefully not a grave for the season, injuries didn't help either.

 

[elindholm]

I like Ayton, but no way is he a +20 win player over the course of a season. That's MVP territory. Some people on this board are dramatically overrating his impact.

 

[gimpy]

How do you know? Guessing it making it up?