Wizards @ Suns Sunday game thread 12-17-2023

Hoop Head

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What's up with Durant's free-throw shooting? After making 60-something in a row, he's only 27-37 (.730) over his last five games.

Do you know of a site that lists FT shooting by quarter? I wouldn't be surprised if his dip is shooting more 4th quarter FT's. He's not clutch.

I'll give him credit for his big dunk at the end tonight but that was probably the most clutch play he's made all season.
 

95pro

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Geesh thank god but damn these guys need to figure their poo out looking so out of sinc like we don’t practice at all wtf…

All I ever see is them shooting. Maybe some aren’t big on film. I do notice a lot of “there was/is no practice today” posts this year compared to, um ever. Maybe Gerald just reporting more on that type of stuff, idk.
 

wagon mound 464

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Maybe more about Gafford...26 pts,,, 10-13,,,,17 reboungs. 8 FTs,,,no 3 ball attempts.
Wizzards, 4 wins this season almost beat the Suns.

Suns, 10th in the West. A lot to be concerned about.
 

1982baskets

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Was it good defense in the fourth, or just Wizards being a bad team? Probably a combination of both.

Feels weird saying this, but I think players like Gordon and Goodwin are fitting in around Booker/KD more than some of the higher paid players.

Nurk's drop coverage on defense is weak when it comes to rim protection. Those layups give up late? Oof. He does good in holding his body down low, but he can't challenge shots at the rim at a good clip.

We just don't have the length on defense to challenge shots at the rim and then go out and also challenge shots on the perimeter. It's almost as if we have to pick one to focus on, and leaving the other available.

The other thing, with Book starting and Allen. Neither is a defensive point guard. To be a good defensive team, you need a ball stopper at the 1. Someone who can take the opposing team's primary ballhandler and not let him get into the offense easily. Neither Booker or any other guard is doing this as a starter. Goodwin, though. As a backup, he is able to do this. The thing is Goodwin just doesn't bring enough offense to be called upon as a starter.
 

95pro

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Was it good defense in the fourth, or just Wizards being a bad team? Probably a combination of both.

Feels weird saying this, but I think players like Gordon and Goodwin are fitting in around Booker/KD more than some of the higher paid players.

Nurk's drop coverage on defense is weak when it comes to rim protection. Those layups give up late? Oof. He does good in holding his body down low, but he can't challenge shots at the rim at a good clip.

We just don't have the length on defense to challenge shots at the rim and then go out and also challenge shots on the perimeter. It's almost as if we have to pick one to focus on, and leaving the other available.

The other thing, with Book starting and Allen. Neither is a defensive point guard. To be a good defensive team, you need a ball stopper at the 1. Someone who can take the opposing team's primary ballhandler and not let him get into the offense easily. Neither Booker or any other guard is doing this as a starter. Goodwin, though. As a backup, he is able to do this. The thing is Goodwin just doesn't bring enough offense to be called upon as a starter.

It wasn't a combo, its was just the wizards sucking. They missed some open shots that a good team would make, and one was 3.

And I agree with starting a game with Book, KD, and both Allen and Gordon. It has to be one or the other imo, we are opting to go full offense and no defense, and we just don't push the pace and shoot enough to make all our offensive starters have enough impact.
 

Peter Sheldon

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...a couple thoughts...
Something I have noticed that makes no sense to me. How does Nurk win virtually every beginning of game tip-off, yet can't seem to jump over a deck of cards while trying to nab a defensive rebound 1.5 to 2 feet from the basket? Still, I love his effort. He's giving 100% of what his body is capable of every game....Unlike his predecessor.

Seems Eubanks misses a TON of short gimmies. But I kinda feel like the more minutes he gets, the better he plays. Like he is just a slow starter. But where are the flying blocks he used to have?

Everyone is complaining about not having Beal. He is limited on his defensive ability. But I feel not having the pesky Okogie is a bigger issue for the team. Remember the other day, when Brunson made 9 of 9 3s? That would have NOT happened with Okogie pestering the living snot out of him. We need more junkyard dogs out there.
 

95pro

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...a couple thoughts...
Something I have noticed that makes no sense to me. How does Nurk win virtually every beginning of game tip-off, yet can't seem to jump over a deck of cards while trying to nab a defensive rebound 1.5 to 2 feet from the basket? Still, I love his effort. He's giving 100% of what his body is capable of every game....Unlike his predecessor.

Seems Eubanks misses a TON of short gimmies. But I kinda feel like the more minutes he gets, the better he plays. Like he is just a slow starter. But where are the flying blocks he used to have?

Everyone is complaining about not having Beal. He is limited on his defensive ability. But I feel not having the pesky Okogie is a bigger issue for the team. Remember the other day, when Brunson made 9 of 9 3s? That would have NOT happened with Okogie pestering the living snot out of him. We need more junkyard dogs out there.

Yes we keep starting the offensive minding guys instead of trying to balance it out. Goodwin could have started in place of Gordon.
 

Peter Sheldon

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Yes we keep starting the offensive minding guys instead of trying to balance it out. Goodwin could have started in place of Gordon.
very true! You already have KD/Book for offense, maybe sprinkle in a 3 point shooter/defender and 2 defensive specialists....if you have them available.
 

Dr. Jones

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We just barely beat a 4-20 Washington Wizards team at home. We continue to play defense like Leonard Davis played Offensive Tackle.

This is not a good team at all and the next stretch could be very ugly for us. Portland on Tuesday is fine but Sac town on the road and Dallas on Xmas day look really tough at this point. And we could legitimately be 5-10 over our next fifteen games and the 12th seed in the West which would have us praying that we can snag a play in spot by Jan 19th.

Ugly ugly stuff.
 

Peter Sheldon

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We just barely beat a 4-20 Washington Wizards team at home. We continue to play defense like Leonard Davis played Offensive Tackle.

This is not a good team at all and the next stretch could be very ugly for us. Portland on Tuesday is fine but Sac town on the road and Dallas on Xmas day look really tough at this point. And we could legitimately be 5-10 over our next fifteen games and the 12th seed in the West which would have us praying that we can snag a play in spot by Jan 19th.

Ugly ugly stuff.
very true. Unless this team comes up with some mediocre level of defense and simultaneously remembers how to hit a 3 and learns also how to swing the ball to open shooters while Book/KD are double-teamed, and learns how to avoid stupid TOs, there is absolutely no hope for this team. And historically-speaking, Nurk doesn't usually make it through a full season. Then it REALLY gets ugly!
 

CardsSunsDbacks

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Don't know why people are harping on defense in this game. The Suns are a mediocre defense and just held the Wizards who average 116 to 108. The more glaring issue is that we just scored 112 points on a team that is giving up 126 points per game and it was on our home floor.

When this team doesn't turn the ball over they are actually a decent defensive team, but this team's offense is abysmal compared to the offensive talent that we have.
 
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