Preseason Game 3: Lakers @ Suns, Wednesday, Dec 16, 7:00 PM

[RunDogGun]

The one good thing about playing with no fans, the Suns can finally have clapping and crowd noise in their favor during home games. Usually when playing the Lakers in AZ, it still would sound like a Laker home game.

[matt131]

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Hmm....

[RunDogGun]

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Hmm....

No review for you, you come back one year. There have been a few plays this preseason that bothered me. In one of the games vs Utah, Nader was grabbed and held in front of the ref, and no call. It was an obvious foul, even if it wasn't two feet from the ref. Looks like it will be business as usual this year for calls.

[DroughtsOverPHX]

Well. We had 3 preseason games so now we know exactly what to conclude about the team and how the regular season will go.

Ayton will look tough every 3rd game.
Nader deserves as much time on the floor as Bridges ( the +/- can't be wrong)
We have no point guard other than Paul
All of our backup bigs are bad except maybe Saric who doesn't play and isn't really a big.
We must have either Booker or Paul on the floor at all times

The Nader one nobody believes but the others maybe so. I'm not really drawing any conclusions from this summer league/YMCA preseason. That being said...
I think Ayton will get a fire lit under him.
I think we are not hurting at backup point guard as bad as last year.
I think our bench will be exciting and strong enough that we won't be wanting Paul or Booker out there with them.
I think alias Smith and Jones both will be good and get burn. Both of them want to block every shot and get every rebound. (Yes I know this will bring on the Jones is hot garbage ad infinitum)

That's my hope. Might not happen -- I was excited about us drafting Bender.

[bwgood77]

Payne did take his lineups +89 in 8 games in the bubble.

There has to be something worthwhile in that otherwise it'd be one of the most incredible anomolies.

There is. We were playing against teams that had nothing to play for and benching their stars (or they were injured) or their entire starting lineup didn't play.

I think when he comes back, and plays in the regular season it will tell us something...whether those 8 games are more indicative of his talent and play or if the previous 153 games over 4 years are.

[Adrao]

When I played basketball my coaches never changed all the unit at the same time. At least two of my best mates were always on the court and that's what I expect from Monty.

CP, Book + Cameron, Smith, Jones/Saric
CP-Ayton + Carter, Galloway, Cameron/Smith
Book-Ayton + Payne/Carter, Galloway, Cameron/Smith

Something like this.

[Christine-In-AZ]

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Looks great.

4:3 aspect ratio? Odd. That’s a bit disappointing

[matt131]

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[oddity]

2 man combinations +/- per 100:

Okobo / Booker -5.7
Johnson / Booker -12.7
Jerome / Booker -24.8

Doesn't seem like Booker staggering helps a bad PG.

To be fair Langston and E'twuan are much much better at putting the ball in the basket than either of those guys

[Puff]

+/- so far

Paul -1
Crowder -2
Booker -5
Johnson -5
Ayton -6
Bridges -10
Nader -10
Galloway -13
Jones -13
Motley -17
Smith -20
Payne -20
Moore -29
Carter -41

Carter is my biggest concern. I do no think he is capable of directing this offense and I think he is incapable of getting his own shot and making it. His role should be defense along with catch and shoot opportunities. Cam Payne is far better in directing this offense while being able to get his own shot and making it. Moore and Galloway are new to the system. We will see how they develop.

[NTB]

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[bwgood77]

2 man combinations +/- per 100:

Okobo / Booker -5.7
Johnson / Booker -12.7
Jerome / Booker -24.8

Doesn't seem like Booker staggering helps a bad PG.

You think Okobo/Johnson, Okobo/Jerome and Johnson/Jerome were better?

I'd be willing to bet they were significantly worse, though much of their time probably came in garbage time.

[bwgood77]

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You'd think Jevon Carter's defensive rating might be better. Though I guess he goes in when Paul and Bridges go out.

[lilfishi22]

+/- so far

Paul -1
Crowder -2
Booker -5
Johnson -5
Ayton -6
Bridges -10
Nader -10
Galloway -13
Jones -13
Motley -17
Smith -20
Payne -20
Moore -29
Carter -41

Carter is my biggest concern. I do no think he is capable of directing this offense and I think he is incapable of getting his own shot and making it. His role should be defense along with catch and shoot opportunities. Cam Payne is far better in directing this offense while being able to get his own shot and making it. Moore and Galloway are new to the system. We will see how they develop.

That's why it doesn't concern because Carter won't be expected to play PG and direct an offense or create his own shot. He's going to basically handle the ball occasionally and handing it off once he's over the halfway line, shoot open shots and play D on the other end.