2021-22 Season Discussion and Speculation

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

The big question with Wood is fit. He gives us front scoring and spacing, and another option at C, but he's not a great defender (by the eye test) and isn't tough. No way we'd part with Crowder for him - not even straight up. We need Crowder, and he's a big part of this team's identity.

The trade would have to be something like Saric and Smith with a first and probably cash, too. Don't know if that does the trick, giving where our pick is slotted.

Then, what's our rotation? If everyone's healthy, I struggle to see him getting more than 15 MPG unless he's taking all of Cam's minutes. And then you ask, would you rather pay Cam $4.4 mil to play those minutes, or Wood three times that much? You might say, we're losing Saric's money so NBD, but whatever draft consideration we're throwing in is what we can't use to make a move for an upgrade elsewhere. And bottom line: I think Wood would prefer to be featured than take a backseat for a title.

.... Still. If this is the best we can do to maximize our shot a title this season, then subbing Wood for Cam is at least worth considering. Worth minding that injuries happen, and having Cam as the next guy up in the rotation would be a helluva luxury.

[Ghost of Kleine]

David Kevin (@theIVpointplay) Tweeted:
https://t.co/ZDEUeiBTlX

Read on Twitter

?s=20

[Ghost of Kleine]

Evan Sidery (@esidery) Tweeted:
Incredible that Mikal Bridges was a zero on offense, yet the most impactful player tonight.

One moment engrained in my head is Stephen Curry in the fourth quarter bent over catching his breath from consistently trying to run away from Bridges, who was standing right next to him.

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I believe Bridges held Curry to 19% shooting on the night.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Suns Video Breakdown (@SunsVideo) Tweeted:
https://t.co/uysLKv7AGz

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[bigfoot]

Seems like Booker will miss two weeks at a minimum to let his hamstring get right. That's six games on the schedule. This will be a huge opportunity for Ayton. We will see if he is up to the challenge and strings together a long series of quality games.

[Ghost of Kleine]

NBA (@NBA) Tweeted:
5 steals for Chris Paul
4 steals for Mikal Bridges
1st GSW game under 100 points this season

The @Suns clamp up in their franchise record-tying 17th straight win! https://t.co/jgUow8V5DN

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[Ghost of Kleine]

StatMuse (@statmuse) Tweeted:
The Suns are the first overall seed in the NBA.

They are 12-1 vs .500 teams, the best in the league.

But sure, "they haven’t played anyone good". https://t.co/MFtlQFECf3

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[Ghost of Kleine]

Fred Katz (@FredKatz) Tweeted:
The Suns aren’t just the best team in the NBA right now. They’re also the most versatile. I have no idea what their weaknesses are. They’ll slow down fast teams, speed up slow ones; they’ll go big or small; they’ll throw a million different defenses at you. So versatile.

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[Ghost of Kleine]

StatMuse (@statmuse) Tweeted:
Chris Paul in the clutch this season:

63.6 FG%
50.0 3P%
94.1 FT%
12 AST
2 TOV

The Suns have outscored opponents by 46 points with CP on the court in the clutch, the best +/- in the NBA. https://t.co/CRmGgpQiHy

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[lilfishi22]

Fred Katz (@FredKatz) Tweeted:
The Suns aren’t just the best team in the NBA right now. They’re also the most versatile. I have no idea what their weaknesses are. They’ll slow down fast teams, speed up slow ones; they’ll go big or small; they’ll throw a million different defenses at you. So versatile.

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I feel like this makes a lot of talking heads uncomfortable because they don't have any one thing they can point to and say, this is why the Suns are the best team in the league or a top contender. They look at teams like the Warriors and they can very easily point to Steph being a top 10 offensive player of all time, Dray as a DPOY, Klay waiting in the wings and the championship caliber coach. They can't really do that with the Suns so it's really difficult and makes them uncomfortable to almost "go out on a limb" and give the Suns the recognition because they don't want to look dumb when they get pressed on why they think the Suns are elite but can't pinpoint any one thing.

[garrick]

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Stephen A is such clown.

I'm sure he'll just downplay the Suns win as Steph just having an off night. lol

[SunsRback4Good]

Fred Katz (@FredKatz) Tweeted:
The Suns aren’t just the best team in the NBA right now. They’re also the most versatile. I have no idea what their weaknesses are. They’ll slow down fast teams, speed up slow ones; they’ll go big or small; they’ll throw a million different defenses at you. So versatile.

Read on Twitter

?s=20

I feel like this makes a lot of talking heads uncomfortable because they don't have any one thing they can point to and say, this is why the Suns are the best team in the league or a top contender. They look at teams like the Warriors and they can very easily point to Steph being a top 10 offensive player of all time, Dray as a DPOY, Klay waiting in the wings and the championship caliber coach. They can't really do that with the Suns so it's really difficult and makes them uncomfortable to almost "go out on a limb" and give the Suns the recognition because they don't want to look dumb when they get pressed on why they think the Suns are elite but can't pinpoint any one thing.

So their incompetence is the main reason why Suns hardly get any recognition by the media talking heads? They cannot pinpoint what makes Suns team such a success, therefore it's easier to bring up the warriors and all their recent success, ohhhh excuse me their success from 3+ years ago, right? Why cant there be a neutral network that makes good points on both sides instead or one sided sports talk. Its frustrating but as a Suns fan we must grow accustomed to it otherwise we'd go insane.

[Saberestar]

Seems like Booker will miss two weeks at a minimum to let his hamstring get right. That's six games on the schedule. This will be a huge opportunity for Ayton. We will see if he is up to the challenge and strings together a long series of quality games.

Book usually comes back early from any type of injury. I think two weeks is too much.

[RedIndian]

No to trading Crowder for anything. Not a fan of these Wood or Harrison Barnes trade ideas. Crowder is a vital part of our team's culture, and Monty and JJ will not trade that for anything. Nor should there be any reason to. We've won 17 straight and we're legit contenders. Crowder remains an outstanding team defender still. His hands are hands down the best in the team - the guy frequently comes up with the ball clean in clutch situations. His 3 point shooting will always be streaky, but he's tough as they get, and hits them when it matters most.

This team is what it is. If there is a trade to be made, it's on the margins - Saric, Stix and picks are what we'll use if we can, or we'll just scour the buyout market. It helps us that Thad hasn't looked great for Spurs, and will therefore likely be waived, or traded for cheap. If that's on the table, I think we take that and roll with it. Zach Lowe came up with an interesting name on his podcast yesterday - Kenrich Williams - do like him, but can he play small ball 5?

My main concern is the bench scoring - Payne is struggling this year, shooting 38% from the floor and 31% from the three. I'd expected that he'd add a floater game this offseason, but his scoring has actually regressed. Maybe this Booker injury will help him take more of the burden and finally figure it out.

[Mulhollanddrive]

7 games clear in the top 3 is a nice spot.

[BobbieL]

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Stephen A is such clown.

I'm sure he'll just downplay the Suns win as Steph just having an off night. lol

I finally watched this clip after hearing about it. And first, I should know better than to get mad at Stephen A or Bip Skayless as they are WWE performers at this time. They are all about ratings and clicks

But he brings up the Bucks series. That was the Suns first playoff run in 11 years. He talks about Steph Curry stopping the bleeding. Well go back to the 2012-2013 season when the Warriors started the first of 7 straight play-offs - that Steph Curry, that Draymond, that Klay would NOT have beaten this iteration of the Bucks - meaning Giannis and a very veteran team of Jrue, Khris, PJ, Lopez, etc.

So to compare a seasoned playoff team to a team making its first playoff experience - you can't

Such a Donkey Chapeau

[BobbieL]

7 games clear in the top 3 is a nice spot.

Not for nothing, but I still look at the two other things from the standings

1) team is 9.5 games ahead of the play in 10th spot but to your point - there are a lot of teams 7 games back

2) Spurs - they have won two in a row but when will the Thad Young buyout watch begin

[SunsRback4Good]

Read on Twitter

Stephen A is such clown.

I'm sure he'll just downplay the Suns win as Steph just having an off night. lol

I finally watched this clip after hearing about it. And first, I should know better than to get mad at Stephen A or Bip Skayless as they are WWE performers at this time. They are all about ratings and clicks

But he brings up the Bucks series. That was the Suns first playoff run in 11 years. He talks about Steph Curry stopping the bleeding. Well go back to the 2012-2013 season when the Warriors started the first of 7 straight play-offs - that Steph Curry, that Draymond, that Klay would NOT have beaten this iteration of the Bucks - meaning Giannis and a very veteran team of Jrue, Khris, PJ, Lopez, etc.

So to compare a seasoned playoff team to a team making its first playoff experience - you can't

Such a Donkey Chapeau

Those 12-13 & 13-14 Warrior teams were losing in first round with Mark Jackson before they hit the jackpot in acquiring a stud coach in Steve Kerr. Sometimes you need the right players + management around your team to excel and become a dynasty. A huge reason why they excelled under Kerr in 14-15 was signing of Barbosa and Livingston because these guys weren't on warriors roster in the year prior.

[BobbieL]

Read on Twitter

Stephen A is such clown.

I'm sure he'll just downplay the Suns win as Steph just having an off night. lol

I finally watched this clip after hearing about it. And first, I should know better than to get mad at Stephen A or Bip Skayless as they are WWE performers at this time. They are all about ratings and clicks

But he brings up the Bucks series. That was the Suns first playoff run in 11 years. He talks about Steph Curry stopping the bleeding. Well go back to the 2012-2013 season when the Warriors started the first of 7 straight play-offs - that Steph Curry, that Draymond, that Klay would NOT have beaten this iteration of the Bucks - meaning Giannis and a very veteran team of Jrue, Khris, PJ, Lopez, etc.

So to compare a seasoned playoff team to a team making its first playoff experience - you can't

Such a Donkey Chapeau

Those 12-13 & 13-14 Warrior teams were losing in first round with Mark Jackson before they hit the jackpot in acquiring a stud coach in Steve Kerr. Sometimes you need the right players + management around your team to excel and become a dynasty. A huge reason why they excelled under Kerr in 14-15 was signing of Barbosa and Livingston because these guys weren't on warriors roster in the year prior.

I think the Warriors actually made it to the second round the first year in playoffs; the next year, lost in 7 to the Clippers and than the next five years went to five straight finals and won three of them

The NBA - it usually takes losing in the playoffs to win. And yes they got Kerr but more than anything, the teams matured as a unit and got better. Now, would they have made to the five finals with Mark Jackson, who knows. But they would have gotten better organically as players and a team with the same roster construction.

So for Stephen A Smith, are you serious, Frank Kaminsky!!! - to compare a seasoned Steph Curry to a Suns team with many in their first playoff run - are you serious, re-got-damn-diculous!

[matt131]

ESPN top headlines as of 0745 on December 1, 2021:

Duke falls to Ohio state
Wolverines in CFP top 4
UConn star signs with Curry brand
LeBron in health and safety protocols
QB follows coach to USC
NDA uncertainty lingers as Suns interviews begin
Knocks peeved over officiating in loss to Nets
MLB, players no closer to agreement


I mean, I don't really care, but I guess since their team didn't win the most hyped and important game of the year so far, there's no headline about it at all.