Game 13: Phoenix Suns (7-5) @ Houston Rockets (4-8) l Wednesday l 7:30pm l ESPN

[Saberestar]

we need to sign len so we can waive Damien jones.

I'm game for that. Or a number of players. We may see what injuries come along and how Smith progresses because if Saric, Smith and Frank are all healthy the depth is fine there.

A 3rd PG might be a bigger need because if either Paul or Payne are out it hurts our flow when the other sits.

Damian Jones has only $300.000 guaranteed in his contract, so I think the plan is to waive him before around the deadline and sign a good veteran player who will play for us in the playoffs.

[Jarlaxle0204]

That was probably the best game I've seen from Ayton. I'm really encouraged in our team's potential if he can keep this up. I'm not talking statwise either. Just the intensity and effort makes a huge difference. Good to see a good game from Book as well.

[Kerrsed]

JUST FOR THE RECORD, i was 1 of the 2 people that voted Ayton pre-game in tonight's poll of "Who is the player that is going to step up big tonight".

I did notice 4 people voted for him after the game (or during it).

That was way way after it. I checked once again after the game and there was still only 2 votes.

Even funnier that it is now 7 votes after the fact.

[Desertfox]

we need to sign len so we can waive Damien jones.

I'm game for that. Or a number of players. We may see what injuries come along and how Smith progresses because if Saric, Smith and Frank are all healthy the depth is fine there.

A 3rd PG might be a bigger need because if either Paul or Payne are out it hurts our flow when the other sits.

Damian Jones has only $300.000 guaranteed in his contract, so I think the plan is to waive him before around the deadline and sign a good veteran player who will play for us in the playoffs.

Lets get Len and Lin.

[Saberestar]

I'm game for that. Or a number of players. We may see what injuries come along and how Smith progresses because if Saric, Smith and Frank are all healthy the depth is fine there.

A 3rd PG might be a bigger need because if either Paul or Payne are out it hurts our flow when the other sits.

Damian Jones has only $300.000 guaranteed in his contract, so I think the plan is to waive him before around the deadline and sign a good veteran player who will play for us in the playoffs.

Lets get Len and Lin.

We do not have any spot available. We could sign one if we waive D. Jones.

[Kerrsed]

The main reason why we blew the lead twice was Monty. As much as i love and respect him he is not the best basketball mind around the league compared to other head coaches. Last year we weren't shooting threes and i hated it because he was too stubborn to change the way we play until the bubble. Now he is too obsessed with 3 point heavy offense and doesn't make the correct adjustments when we have the lead. You may have a great plan A but if it's not working sticking to the plan is not gonna work. That's why i also don't like Budenholzer, hell of a coach but to stubborn to admit that he needs to make a change. Guys like Spo and Pop will always have the advantage over guys like Budenholzer. He is also giving too much ball handling duties to Book in half court even though it's definitely not his game. Kaminsky protecting the paint hurt us too but there is nothing he can do about that with Saric and Jones out.

We blew the lead because our players get complacent and let the foot of the gas. When we have a big enough lead, all of a sudden we stop doing what got us the lead (Taking our time and playing smart basketball) and we just start launching up 3's. I mentioned it last night and even went back and re-watched it, Silas outcoached us and Monty wasnt aware what was going on.

A little over 5 minutes left in the game and we have a 15 point lead. All of a sudden we start shooting 3's real early in the shotclock, bricking them off the rim and giving the Rockets more and more time and opportunities to score. We shot piss-poor from 3 last night and Houston knew it. Our players were launching 3's left and right with over 15 seconds left on the shotclock because Houston all of a sudden started slacking on D and leaving guys wide open to shoot the 3. Our offense is all about anybody shooting the ball if they get an open shot, early in the game it took lots of time off the shotclock because of guys being well guarded by Houston players, so they leave guys open at the 3 point line (Knowing we will shoot the ball quickly and that we have been doing a poor job of hitting the 3 all night). BAM! within 1 minute a 15 point lead becomes 9. Here is the play-by-play of us blowing the lead:

Spoiler:

Nadler shoots an open 3 and misses. Rockets score. Crowder bricks a 3. Rockets score. Payne bricks an open 3. Rockets score. Suns call TO and replace all 3 of those guys with CP3/Booker/Ayton. Booker blows a layup (Of course he was fouled and they didnt call it). Rockets miss a 3 pointer. Within 12 seconds of that Booker is launching (And bricking) a 3. Rockets then score.

Re-watching it you can see exactly what happened. They laid the trap and we blindly fell for it. Well executed plan by the Rockets, but they still lost.

[suns12345]

Suns late-game clock management is so bad. I thought CP3 was supposed to be good at that stuff. Booker has **** up a lot late-game this season too.

Look, i paused the game and am behind while reading this, but the bench is currently in (Plus Booker/Bridges; No CP3) and with under 5 minutes to go and a 15 point lead we are not using the clock at all, just settling for launching up semi-open 3's with 18 seconds left on the shot clock.

Need to adjust the rotation so where CP3 is in at times like this so he can control the flow of the game and slow it down, kill more of the clock. Within 1 minute of gametime we went from being up 15 to being up by 9, all because we keep shooting the ball as quickly as we can, like we were the team down by 20.

That bench unit to close out the first with 3 bench guys, Booker, and sometimes Bridges...typically does well, and that's when they +/- numbers get skewed a bit because our starting unit often gets outscored and then with our depth and Booker we do well.

The bench was probably better with Cam but so is the starting unit. It's too bad Crowder has been somewhat a disappointment. I think him and CP3 will get better as the season progresses.

I think ultimately CP3 will be better when he staggers with the bench.

We have to remember we are also missing Saric which hurts.

I dont agree about crowder being a disappointment. He's had some good games offensively but we knew he was a streaky shooter. He plays hard, plays good D, is a veteran presence and hasn't pouted about being moved to the bench (and still playing similar minutes and sometimes closing out games depending how Cam is going).

I think he is fine, and much like the other new additions to the team (CP3) should improve as overall chemistry improves.

[lilfishi22]

One of the best games I've seen of Ayton. He was aggressive, he did his rebounding thing, he wasn't just good on defense but he was intimidating with his blocks and those dunks....woah they were emphatic.

Let's hope he takes this and brings it to Jokic

[lilfishi22]

Look, i paused the game and am behind while reading this, but the bench is currently in (Plus Booker/Bridges; No CP3) and with under 5 minutes to go and a 15 point lead we are not using the clock at all, just settling for launching up semi-open 3's with 18 seconds left on the shot clock.

Need to adjust the rotation so where CP3 is in at times like this so he can control the flow of the game and slow it down, kill more of the clock. Within 1 minute of gametime we went from being up 15 to being up by 9, all because we keep shooting the ball as quickly as we can, like we were the team down by 20.

That bench unit to close out the first with 3 bench guys, Booker, and sometimes Bridges...typically does well, and that's when they +/- numbers get skewed a bit because our starting unit often gets outscored and then with our depth and Booker we do well.

The bench was probably better with Cam but so is the starting unit. It's too bad Crowder has been somewhat a disappointment. I think him and CP3 will get better as the season progresses.

I think ultimately CP3 will be better when he staggers with the bench.

We have to remember we are also missing Saric which hurts.

I dont agree about crowder being a disappointment. He's had some good games offensively but we knew he was a streaky shooter. He plays hard, plays good D, is a veteran presence and hasn't pouted about being moved to the bench (and still playing similar minutes and sometimes closing out games depending how Cam is going).

I think he is fine, and much like the other new additions to the team (CP3) should improve as overall chemistry improves.

+1

I don't see him as a disappointment. He's bringing what he's paid to bring in, leadership, defense, shooting and being a good locker room presence with Finals experience. YOu need these guys. And as you mentioned, he's been a total professional as we figure out how to win games with this young team even moving him to the bench. Crowder will always be an asset to the team because of what he brings and what he does on the court.

[spanishninja]

26/17/5 on 70% shooting.

Someone drop that line on General because I'm banned and they won't tell me why.

I think spanishninja mentioned his stats near the end on there.

I think we wait to bring up too much, especially with lines like Capela's last night (though that was in 2 OTs). But if Ayton gets his averages up there and makes this more consistent he will likely get a thread.

''


i'm always happy to talk smack to those Luka-stans over at General.

[lilfishi22]

26/17/5 on 70% shooting.

Someone drop that line on General because I'm banned and they won't tell me why.

I think spanishninja mentioned his stats near the end on there.

I think we wait to bring up too much, especially with lines like Capela's last night (though that was in 2 OTs). But if Ayton gets his averages up there and makes this more consistent he will likely get a thread.

''


i'm always happy to talk smack to those Luka-stans over at General.

What is there to talk smack about? It's genuinely awesome and super exciting to see Ayton had a great game with the stats to back it up but is it something to talk smack about other players about? Especially when that other player is an MVP candidate in his 3rd season in the NBA ?

[bwgood77]

I think spanishninja mentioned his stats near the end on there.

I think we wait to bring up too much, especially with lines like Capela's last night (though that was in 2 OTs). But if Ayton gets his averages up there and makes this more consistent he will likely get a thread.

''


i'm always happy to talk smack to those Luka-stans over at General.

What is there to talk smack about? It's genuinely awesome and super exciting to see Ayton had a great game with the stats to back it up but is it something to talk smack about other players about? Especially when that other player is an MVP candidate in his 3rd season in the NBA ?

Yeah I almost said "good luck talking smack about Luka just because Ayton did well".