Game 25: Boston Celtics (20-5) @ Phoenix Suns (16-8) | Wednesday | 8:00 PM

[grumpysaddle]

I'd rather have games like this at game 25 than game 75. We've still got moves to make and players to come back. I know we all love to panic, and yes these have been very bad losses, but there's a lot of basketball left to be played.

May MrMiyagi be successful and happy for all of his days. Well said, I know this past week has been gloomy but like you said, better happen now than last few week of the season. We’re still a work in progress with 1/3rd of new players on this team and it takes time to gel and understand our system. Let’s see how this team performs in the coming weeks. Celtics have the best record for a reason and Mavs wanted payback for blowing a huge lead in first week of the season.

The problem in the past two games for me (and the Houston loss) wasn't the other team though, it was the lack of effort by the Suns. Effort is hard to fix (as showcased by the past 4 seasons of only asking for effort from Ayton constantly).

This team just doesn't look motivated to win. Looks like they are sleepwalking their way through and expecting to compete.

[Bogyo]

I'd rather have games like this at game 25 than game 75. We've still got moves to make and players to come back. I know we all love to panic, and yes these have been very bad losses, but there's a lot of basketball left to be played.

May MrMiyagi be successful and happy for all of his days. Well said, I know this past week has been gloomy but like you said, better happen now than last few week of the season. We’re still a work in progress with 1/3rd of new players on this team and it takes time to gel and understand our system. Let’s see how this team performs in the coming weeks. Celtics have the best record for a reason and Mavs wanted payback for blowing a huge lead in first week of the season.

Plus, the injuries we've been having lately had to take their toll somewhere. These 2-5 games are (will be) it most likely. So overall I'm not panicked or sad with the results. The fashion we lost in these games is what worry me - see the ESPN pics up here? Both Tatum and Luka have (had) these during our games, and we acted like b1tches afterwards.
Furthermore, if you (or anyone) has real faith that JJ, Monty and Grandpaul will make this team better / contender / finals bound you are fooling yourself.
(There is nothing wrong with another 50ish win season with a 2nd round exit all in all, but it is criminal negligence what the FO has been doing in the last 3 years to an oh-so-close-to-win-it-all team. Well, actually not doing, but y'all get the point.)

[Mulhollanddrive]

12 points from a players we prioritise over a superstar

[Ghost of Kleine]

12 points from a players we prioritise over a superstar

Pretty much! see below post response too.

[Ghost of Kleine]

12 points from a players we prioritize over a superstar

This is why legitimate high-quality talent evaluation and spending to have a legitimate high-level scouting staff are so incredibly important. I mean any front office can be cheap and lazy and sign a bunch of vet minimum cast-offs citing experience and capacity (since Jones doesn't like the term potential)! Probably because it's tethered to the accountability of proper development.

But sure these players can have some exciting outlier performances to sell fans on for a good heartwarming underdog story. But reflecting on their body of work from their careers should give enough insight into their accurate contributory trajectory/ abilities overall on a larger scale. I mean the simple truth here is that these players are a relatively known commodity already and have clearly established their capacity by their value designation. At least with draft picks, IF you properly utilize the above front-office investments/ personnel, you can often get the most value out of a cost-controlled prospect/ asset that still has a growth trajectory potential if properly developed. And if these prospects actually reach a significant portion of their talent level, then you have excellent contributory impact talent under team control. Or much more desirable assets for trades than vet min cast-offs that already have established lower perceived value and capped potential.

[Darthlukey]

On the bright side, Chris Paul had a triple single 4/4/4 after missing his last 14 games.

I thought he had a quad single of 4s?

[Saberestar]

What a **** disaster.

We started the game really well, playing our game and being solid on defense. Then, backups arrived and we were much worse than the Celtics.

Down 15 in the start on the second quarter, we couldn't never be back in the game.

They have Malcom Brogdon and Derrick White coming from the bench. These guys are good enough to start on any team in the league...that shows you how deep they really are and that we need to get another good player to compete with true contenders.

Book didn't play well at all. He forced some shots and he missed Ayton on a few easy passes. He needs to play more like at the start of the season.

[RayLight]

The team was in a perfect mood just a week ago. I am sure that something is going on again in their minds.
Super simple passes were mistaken, everybody is forcing the offence.
From the outside it seems like a team that is playing for the first time and learning how to pass, to attack and to defend.
And a week ago they were playing super efficiently and carefully.

[handsome salary]

Yahoo Sports
Celtics-Suns: The meeting of NBA's top East and West teams was a hilarious beatdown

If Monty can't motivate the team, provide leadership or have a game plan other than SOS he needs to be the first to go. And soon. Between him, Booker and Ayton you have three of the most passive and confused looking people when things start going south.

If Booker is in consideration for greatest Sun ever then it's really obvious why this franchise has never won a championship. I know I've been waiting for one since the 80's.

[BobbieL]

Celtics are playing very good basketball - best team in the league

Suns have had a couple tough nights with Dallas and Boston
I get they lost to the Rockets but that stuff happens


Pelicans up next - hopefully Paul getting back in shape will help things

January 15 through Feb 9 needs to happen

[SkyBill40]

We play New Orleans 3 times in 8 days going to be a great test to see where we're at.

We'll be mid pack in the standings, most likely.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Z4 Fold using Tapatalk

[Biff]

Now we're starting to look like the team I expected us to be. We started out pretty hot but that's mostly because lots of other teams struggled coming out of the gate. Other teams are starting to put it together. I still expect we will be midpack and likely fighting for a play in spot. CP3 is completely washed, Booker disappears in big games, especially against other wing superstars and Ayton will have 3 good games followed by 2 games where he looks worse than Biyombo. Just no consistency anywhere on this team.

[Ghost of Kleine]

We play New Orleans 3 times in 8 days going to be a great test to see where we're at.

We'll be mid pack in the standings, most likely.

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Sticking with my initial assessment back from the beginning of the season that has the suns in the 4 -6 range seeding with a 2nd round exit after a very exhausting first-round battle.

[Bogyo]

We play New Orleans 3 times in 8 days going to be a great test to see where we're at.

We'll be mid pack in the standings, most likely.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Z4 Fold using Tapatalk

Sticking with my initial assessment back from the beginning of the season that has the suns in the 4 -6 range seeding with a 2nd round exit after a very exhausting first-round battle.

Pretty much my assesment before the season. I was kinda surprised by our record - and that even the games we lost were mostly due to being a bit unlucky and shafted by the refs. At one point we could have been legit 19-4 or something like that, which is insane even to think about. Now we are swinging the other way, especially with the injuries. I guess when the bell sounds we'll end up pretty close what I envisioned prior the season start.