Game 68: Phoenix Suns (19-48) at Charlotte Hornets (28-38), Saturday, March 10, 3PM MST

[Saberestar]

Another L.

[darealjuice]

Good showing for the tank today, close loss without our 3 best players. Reed had a nice game, and I liked what Bender was doing in the fourth quarter.

[Jdiddy701]

The day Reed is our back up shooting guard, I’ll be a happy man. He has the tools to be a really good shooting guard. Don’t think it’s going to happen under Triano though.


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[Thespianoid]

No, Booker, Warren and Jackson and it's probably one of our best, if not the best, shooting games of the season. 60% from 3 on 30 attempts, and over 51% overall.

this might be blasphemy coming from a non-fan but

I think the offense Triano runs (Portland/Stotts) places a lot of responsibility on the ballhandlers to make good choices, and the types of choices that put defenses into rotation, and right now Suns ballhandlers/offensive usage guys aren't doing that.

Every time I watch a bit of a Suns game it's one of those three (and Payton) ending too many possessions with poor shots/one and done moments. Booker gets too shot happy, Jackson and Warren get tunnel vision, and Payton just seems to look guys off for no reason. Aggressiveness is good but you need to work for the best shot, not just the first one that presents itself.

[Saberestar]

No, Booker, Warren and Jackson and it's probably one of our best, if not the best, shooting games of the season. 60% from 3 on 30 attempts, and over 51% overall.

Yeah, but they were toying a little bit with us. I think that they were pretty sure about their win.

I do not want to watch more Chandler or Len, I have had enough. Hopefully Williams can play at C good minutes in the last ten games of the season.

[thamadkant]

No, Booker, Warren and Jackson and it's probably one of our best, if not the best, shooting games of the season. 60% from 3 on 30 attempts, and over 51% overall.

this might be blasphemy coming from a non-fan but

I think the offense Triano runs (Portland/Stotts) places a lot of responsibility on the ballhandlers to make good choices, and the types of choices that put defenses into rotation, and right now Suns ballhandlers/offensive usage guys aren't doing that.

Every time I watch a bit of a Suns game it's one of those three (and Payton) ending too many possessions with poor shots/one and done moments. Booker gets too shot happy, Jackson and Warren get tunnel vision, and Payton just seems to look guys off for no reason. Aggressiveness is good but you need to work for the best shot, not just the first one that presents itself.

Yes.

Its sort of chaotic that it depends on the ball handler to make the decisions offensively... a lot of it. So you need a Lebron James type player to pull it off because he can do everything... including find the best players who can finish the play. Booker, Jackson, Warren and Payton arent on the same level... they need to have a system that they can bank on so if their first option is taken... they know theres a play they can go for and a player positioned correctly they can dish to.

[JMac1]

1. Bullet dodge....whew!
2. Could Bender play like that consistently so we can target our draft pick better.....
3. If Bender does...TRAE YOUNG!

[bwgood77]

Love Payton coming in and taking it to the rack. Wasn't a fan of his 3 attempt though...if you're not taking it to the rack get it back in to the hot hands of Bender, Reed or Daniels that got us back in it

The only reason he was able to get to the rack so easily was because Ulis led the comeback and set up all those guys and we had a great 3 pt shooting game and comeback while Payton sat....so finally when defenders had to respect our shooters and the lane opened up for him. But he didn't get anyone involved and we lost the lead again with him in charge down the stretch.

His +/- kind of tells the story. Bender's game totally changed when Payton was sitting and Ulis was back.

[thamadkant]

1. Bullet dodge....whew!
2. Could Bender play like that consistently so we can target our draft pick better.....
3. If Bender does...TRAE YOUNG!

I think if Suns get Pick 1... Ayton is the pick.. by default, Arizona player and what the Suns need.. a big man who can rebound and score inside.



If Suns dont have the first pick then thats when it gets trickier, but Doncic, Young, Porter... would be my picks.

If Porter, Suns need to move Bender and Chriss as Center or atleast one of them. Then get a veteran shot blocker hopefully.

[bwgood77]

No, Booker, Warren and Jackson and it's probably one of our best, if not the best, shooting games of the season. 60% from 3 on 30 attempts, and over 51% overall.

this might be blasphemy coming from a non-fan but

I think the offense Triano runs (Portland/Stotts) places a lot of responsibility on the ballhandlers to make good choices, and the types of choices that put defenses into rotation, and right now Suns ballhandlers/offensive usage guys aren't doing that.

Every time I watch a bit of a Suns game it's one of those three (and Payton) ending too many possessions with poor shots/one and done moments. Booker gets too shot happy, Jackson and Warren get tunnel vision, and Payton just seems to look guys off for no reason. Aggressiveness is good but you need to work for the best shot, not just the first one that presents itself.

You're right, but throughout the season after practices with Triano you started to see more good ball movement, better shots, and Jackson's tendencies improved. Warren even started passing more. Booker will get shot happy a little too often, but often times he has little help. When I'm watching that happen, I wish he would keep others involved more though, because they can become a bit disinterested and less ready to step up if it does come to them.

Watching guys like Knight I've learned it is very hard for coaches to change people's habits, but Triano did a fairly good job getting the ball to move more....it probably doesn't look pretty when you watch because it isn't, but it has gotten better at times. If he does happen to be back, I expect it would be quite a bit better coming into next season.

[jredsaz]

Have to be happy about the way that game turned out.

[JMac1]

1. Bullet dodge....whew!
2. Could Bender play like that consistently so we can target our draft pick better.....
3. If Bender does...TRAE YOUNG!

I think if Suns get Pick 1... Ayton is the pick.. by default, Arizona player and what the Suns need.. a big man who can rebound and score inside.



If Suns dont have the first pick then thats when it gets trickier, but Doncic, Young, Porter... would be my picks.

If Porter, Suns need to move Bender and Chriss as Center or atleast one of them. Then get a veteran shot blocker hopefully.

You are correct sir. If we get the number 1 pick, it’s Ayton, if not, it’s cloudy.....

Edit: so if we are top 4....and pick one of those 4, I’ll be okay. Even Bags....no Bamba or JJJ (who I use to love).

[bwgood77]

1. Bullet dodge....whew!
2. Could Bender play like that consistently so we can target our draft pick better.....
3. If Bender does...TRAE YOUNG!

I think if Suns get Pick 1... Ayton is the pick.. by default, Arizona player and what the Suns need.. a big man who can rebound and score inside.



If Suns dont have the first pick then thats when it gets trickier, but Doncic, Young, Porter... would be my picks.

If Porter, Suns need to move Bender and Chriss as Center or atleast one of them. Then get a veteran shot blocker hopefully.

Yeah, I'll be happiest with one of those 4 guys...won't mind JJJ though either.

[thamadkant]

Booker has the "Kobe" spurts... its obvious, where he has already planned to shoot the next 4-5 possessions... Its good and bad.... it can make players lose motivation offensively as well.

[Banana Milk]

Love Payton coming in and taking it to the rack. Wasn't a fan of his 3 attempt though...if you're not taking it to the rack get it back in to the hot hands of Bender, Reed or Daniels that got us back in it

The only reason he was able to get to the rack so easily was because Ulis led the comeback and set up all those guys and we had a great 3 pt shooting game and comeback while Payton sat....so finally when defenders had to respect our shooters and the lane opened up for him. But he didn't get anyone involved and we lost the lead again with him in charge down the stretch.

His +/- kind of tells the story. Bender's game totally changed when Payton was sitting and Ulis was back.

Agree with you 100%. I think Triano putting Payton back in to take advantage of the lanes our shooting had opened up wasn't a bad move and worked for the first few possessions but then his refusal to move the ball killed what we had going too. I think it was a worthwhile change but Payton couldn't close out. Ulis had the better game without doubt.

[thamadkant]

Love Payton coming in and taking it to the rack. Wasn't a fan of his 3 attempt though...if you're not taking it to the rack get it back in to the hot hands of Bender, Reed or Daniels that got us back in it

The only reason he was able to get to the rack so easily was because Ulis led the comeback and set up all those guys and we had a great 3 pt shooting game and comeback while Payton sat....so finally when defenders had to respect our shooters and the lane opened up for him. But he didn't get anyone involved and we lost the lead again with him in charge down the stretch.

His +/- kind of tells the story. Bender's game totally changed when Payton was sitting and Ulis was back.

Agree with you 100%. I think Triano putting Payton back in to take advantage of the lanes our shooting had opened up wasn't a bad move and worked for the first few possessions but then his refusal to move the ball killed what we had going too. I think it was a worthwhile change but Payton couldn't close out. Ulis had the better game without doubt.

And hence, having 2 shooters around Payton and Jackson would be SUPER. Because both can take it in the rack very well.

Booker is one... Bender needs to be the second, he needs to send the message to the other team that he will SHOOT it... right now many coaches and players KNOW he will likely pass it off so they dont really care much about him. They're still surprised when he actually looks to shoot first.

[RunDogGun]

It was nice to see Reed get some confidence in his game. He has looked a bit timid coming off the injury, but tonight he looked good. Good hustle as well. Dove for a loose ball. It would be great if he could string together a few games like this before the season is up.

[Son of Ra]

What I wanna see happen after this game:

- Give all of Chandler's, Dudley's, Len's and some of Daniels' minutes to Reed and Harrison, make Bender a full-time 5
- Tell Bender whatever the **** they told him during the time-out before every game and during every time-out. It's almost like he's going "ohhh, you want me to score and be aggressive? Sure I can do that". And then he does. It literally looked like he flipped a switch.

Furthermore:

- Give Chandler only "DNPs - old" to finish out the season and trade him/send him to a retirement home this off-season.
- Keep Dudley on the bench the rest of the season and then make him part of the training staff/organization. Don't bring him back as a player
- No more minutes to Len, let him go in the off-season. I've been a Len apologist for the longest time, but he looks like he's given up just like we finally seem to have on him. I still think he could work out in this league but it won't be on the Suns.

Edit: Posted this in the off-season thread too, kinda belongs there more/too.

[LukasBMW]

Missed the game. Saw we lost. Was Happy.

Then I see TJ, Booker, and JJ all sat.

Hilarious! But...how are we going to justify this to the league. I mean....come on... It looks suspicious as hell!

[Sunsss]

Tell Bender whatever the **** they told him during the time-out before every game and during every time-out. It's almost like he's going "ohhh, you want me to score and be aggressive? Sure I can do that". And then he does. It literally looked like he flipped a switch.

After he made his first 3 in the 4th, it was obvious we talked about running plays for him during the timeout. Ulis yelled at him after switch with Walker to get his ass in the paint to post-up. He drew a foul and we ran plays for him on the next 2 or 3 possessions as well.

No more minutes to Len, let him go in the off-season. I've been a Len apologist for the longest time, but he looks like he's given up just like we finally seem to have on him. I still think he could work out in this league but it won't be on the Suns.

It was funny seeing him give up two easy alley-oops to Dwight after getting tangled up with him. Once you get in his head, he's done. Good job by Triano for benching him.