Game 70: Phoenix Suns (16-53) @ Houston Rockets (42-26) - 8:00 PM ET

[Revived]

Mikel Bridges is an excellent defender and I’ve come to accept that he’s not gonna provide much on the other end except for occasional good 3pt shooting games.

The Suns gave up 2 1st rd picks to draft him in the top 10 of the draft so I get that he’s gonna be held to higher standards. However, being an older rookie and all (he’s older than even Booker by a few months lol and Booker’s been in the league 4-5 yrs already), it’s unlikely he really becomes all that much of a threat offensively.

That said, his defense and activity on that end makes him one of the most important Suns players. He has elite defensive potential and on a team like the Suns where it’s two best players are absolute sloths on that end, a guy like Bridges is invaluable.

And I disagree that Bridges and Oubre can’t co-exist. Maybe they can’t both start together but they can still play together sporadically with their minutes being staggered.

Ideally we could move Oubre to SF and find a bigger bodied PF to start alongside Ayton so that the Suns aren’t so awful at rebounding.

Staying competitive with Houston on the road is no easy task and the Suns are showing their potential quite a bit with these types of games.

[sunsbg]

Ayton should not try to dribble around Harden that's for sure. Get the ball back to the wings, establish deeper position and ask for the ball again, then just lay it in or draw the foul. It's a learning process for him, the team and Igor.

[Fo-Real]

Lately Kelly oubre does at least one thing in every game that makes me think he could have star potential. This game the one that stands out to me (there was more than 1 but most of all) I think it was 4th quarter, tight game, Harden has begun to get it rolling. Kelly is switched onto him playing D on him in the corner. Oubre squats to play spread out defense, PUTS HIS HANDS BEHIND HIS BACK for a second to avoid harden trying his draw a foul on a three attempt ( Raja bell on Kobe comes to mind) then with lightning reaction is able to block a three point attempt that actually then bounces off Harden and BALL TO US! Has anyone ever seen that happen to James Harden!?!? I replayed and watched that play like a dozen times in amazement!

[sunsbg]

Lately Kelly oubre does at least one thing in every game that makes me think he could have star potential. This game the one that stands out to me (there was more than 1 but most of all) I think it was 4th quarter, tight game, Harden has begun to get it rolling. Kelly is switched onto him playing D on him in the corner. Oubre squats to play spread out defense, PUTS HIS HANDS BEHIND HIS BACK for a second to avoid harden trying his draw a foul on a three attempt ( Raja bell on Kobe comes to mind) then with lightning reaction is able to block a three point attempt that actually then bounces off Harden and BALL TO US! Has anyone ever seen that happen to James Harden!?!? I replayed and watched that play like a dozen times in amazement!

Indeed it was a memorable, important, late play.

A star potential depends on him becoming a consistent shooter and putting same effort and work after getting paid. But yeah, he offers all strengths of the other 3 wings in a single player - scoring, defense, flash/energy. He's a keeper for the right price.

[WeekapaugGroove]

Bridges is more valuable to the suns than he would be to most other teams. Booker is a flat out bad defender so you need a good wing defender with him to counter balance that. Plus booker is high usage and should be because he's good on offense and as Ayton develops he's going to be higher usage too so those guys need to be surrounded by players who impact the game without needing high offensive useage.. that's Bridges. Pretty simple basketball 101 really.

He absolutely needs to hit 3s at higher percentage... but I'm confident he will.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using RealGM mobile app

[Crives]

Bridges is more valuable to the suns than he would be to most other teams. Booker is a flat out bad defender so you need a good wing defender with him to counter balance that. Plus booker is high usage and should be because he's good on offense and as Ayton develops he's going to be higher usage too so those guys need to be surrounded by players who impact the game without needing high offensive useage.. that's Bridges. Pretty simple basketball 101 really.

He absolutely needs to hit 3s at higher percentage... but I'm confident he will.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using RealGM mobile app

Kelly has been looking so good though yet Bridges deserves a starting spot to defend other teams #1 option.

Maybe in 1-2 years if Booker improves his passing/dribbling/turnover rate we could go back to point Book and slide Bridges into the 2 spot.

Otherwise we need to move Kelly to the 4 but I’m not sure if that will be enough rebounding. Ayton would need to become a rebound god.

[LukasBMW]

This game convinced me that our recent success is not a fluke. We've really improved. Our team is not nearly as bad as our record and with some minor tweaks, we can fight for the playoffs next year.

If Kelly didn't blow that stupid dunk earlier in the game then maybe we win this one.

[Crives]

This game convinced me that our recent success is not a fluke. We've really improved. Our team is not nearly as bad as our record and with some minor tweaks, we can fight for the playoffs next year.

If Kelly didn't blow that stupid dunk earlier in the game then maybe we win this one.

It’s happening!!

[SuperSunsFan]

this morbid obsession for super defense despite offensive shortcomings is what got us Josh Jackson. Mikal has a much higher bb IQ and knows his place not to force things he wasn't capable of offensively. they are so obsessed with having a so called super defender that they would rather having a 50 rating at offense but 100 rating at D guy than a more all around 85 at offense and 85 at defense guy like Oubre.

[dremill24]

Just stop man.

[SuperSunsFan]

why don't you stop heckling me mikal's burner account

[SuperSunsFan]

Mikal also doesn't have the versatility as defender that someone like tucker had due to lack of bulk. Mikal is just an every average player with some good defensive instinct but everyone is overrating him (but we are talking about people who want to extend Bender) hailing him as an integral piece that should be out of every trade talk and had his place locked down in the starting line up for the coming decade. a defensive stopper with little offense is a dame a dozen in the league stop treating him like a 2 way gem.

[bwgood77]

Suns in RPM:

118 Bridges
158 Booker
184 Ayton
213 Warren
216 Holmes
266 Oubre
465 Jackson

http://www.espn.com/nba/statistics/rpm/_/page/1

[sunsbum]

Honest question. Where does all the Bridges love come from? So many here adore him and I'm not impressed. Not being a Richard just asking.

He's by far our best defender and one of the better perimeter defenders in the NBA already. He's also our 2nd best 3 pt shooter this year after Warren of main rotation players (Daniels is better than Bridges though).

He's also very smart/high IQ unlike many of our players.

He has like a 2.5 ast/to ratio, but more impressively, he has like a 2/1 steal to turnover ratio which is insane. Our only others with close to positive at about 1/1 stl/to are TJ Warren, Tyler Johnson and Melton.

Booker is like 1/4.5, Ayton 1/2, Jackson 1/2.5, etc.

Basically really our only player with mostly all positives without much negative. He's a very good passer too and we could utilize that more. Just a smart player.

Yet his game to game performance overall doesn't seem to suggest that. I honestly just dont see it. I know you'll quote stats that say game to game it does. I just can't buy in to the scores 2 points In 35 minutes but it's his d that makes him worth it argument.

do you watch the games or just look at box score shooting numbers?

[sunsbum]

Mikal also doesn't have the versatility as defender that someone like tucker had due to lack of bulk. Mikal is just an every average player with some good defensive instinct but everyone is overrating him (but we are talking about people who want to extend Bender) hailing him as an integral piece that should be out of every trade talk and had his place locked down in the starting line up for the coming decade. a defensive stopper with little offense is a dame a dozen in the league stop treating him like a 2 way gem.

Starting a go fund me for real gm to add a downvote button. we'll call it flagrant foul 2.

[SuperSunsFan]

Sunsbum why single out me for criticizing Mikal for his atrocious offensive numbers, i don't see you being so mean to those who heckles and trashes Ayton unfairly everyday here. Mikal enjoys a very weird "prophet Mohammad type you can speak ill of" protection among fans here that even Booker or Ayton don't enjoy despite him being average at best, he is not even a top ten rookie but he is considered untouchable.

[Damkac]

First game I watched in a while. Wanted to see how the team looks with Johnson, was dissapointed to see that he is injured.
I'm still not a fan of Oubre. He does dumb things all the time. I don't understand why some people criticize Warrens flaws yet they don't see the same flaws in Oubre.
I wish that Ayton will become the superstar he could be. Please don't waste all this talent. It's frustrating when super athletic player misses because he barely tries to jump. Scary how good he could be if he played with more fire.

[bwgood77]

First game I watched in a while. Wanted to see how the team looks with Johnson, was dissapointed to see that he is injured.
I'm still not a fan of Oubre. He does dumb things all the time. I don't understand why some people criticize Warrens flaws yet they don't see the same flaws in Oubre.
I wish that Ayton will become the superstar he could be. Please don't waste all this talent. It's frustrating when super athletic player misses because he barely tries to jump. Scary how good he could be if he played with more fire.

You talking about the Oubre dunk miss or him going 1 on 4 in the paint? It's mostly Oubre's personality that makes people like him..and he has more highlight type plays. But he is a good teammate...just makes quite a few dumb plays. I personally see no need to get rid of anyone other than Jackson unless some really good deal comes along that upgrades us at a position of need.

[Damkac]

I believe Oubre is liked by his teammates but he should work on limiting his facepalm plays per game. He is a bit like more athletic/less skilled Warren but for some reason people who criticize Warren usually like Oubre. Agree Suns should try to keep both.

[Damkac]

And I wanted to say that Harden may be unlikeable d*ck but wow what awesome offensive player he is. We can all hope Book will get close to his level in his prime.