2022-23 Season Discussion and Speculation 5 - The KD era begins

[Fo-Real]

Almost everything about the Suns game yesterday brings joy. KD sighting, energy, Book and CP look dangerous, Okogie BALLIN, Ayton BEASTING!!! BUT.... I think the Monstars stole Damion Lee's shooting. The dude can't hit **** from 3 for the last 3-4 games!!

[matt131]

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[BobbieL]

One thing about Okogie starting over Craig, on paper it looks good, but that also means Craig would roll with the second unit. I’d rather have the weaker player with our big 4 than further weakening our second unit.

Ideally, I’d like to see Bazley get some minutes with CP3 before the playoffs start to see if Chris can unlock some more of his potential. Maybe have him be our dark horse 5th starter. His rawness and shortcomings would be overshadowed by the fact that we have CP3, Book, KD, and Ayton on the floor with him.

When they tighten the rotation up for the playoffs I expect them to stagger the starters so I don't think that's going to be an issue.

High degree of difficulty for Monty these next 20+ games. He needs to integrate KD and other new guys in while trying to win games and explore lineup combos but at some point towards the end of that run they need to stop exploring and just pick the 8-9 guys for the rotation. It's a good problem but a balancing act.

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Very good point. It will be highly unlikely that Book, Paul, Durant and Ayton are all on the bench at the same time.

It will be a balancing act to be sure. Might also be a gut feeling at times. Maybe he rolls out Ross a certain game hoping he just has a game where he gets 15 points to help win a game. Thats what hte playoffs are about - you need the big 4 to step up but other games, what "roll player" will be the difference for those 16 wins.

[bwgood77]

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David Nash says the Suns signed Ross to the minimum. He has some sort of source within the league when it comes to financials and contracts, so I am inclined to believe him.

Even better, not because we got him on the cheapest deal available but it shows money wasn't a factor when it came to choosing us over the Mavs. I legit assumed we got him over the Mavs because we had the capacity to pay him more.

David Nash does have good contacts about the financials and the cap

Yesterday he speculated that Ross would sign for the minimum - which he did

He also speculated that if Ish Wainwright is signed by the Suns - he will sign a multi year (3 years) using the TPMLE, or part of it. Ish gets some guaranteed contract; the Suns get cost certainty for the bench - which they will need being a lux tax team

Interesting to see how Ross fits in but with Shamet being out longer than Payne, having another "shooter" to go with Lee will be nice

Monty can figure out who to start with Durant - I think Okogie is the smart option. Craig off the bench with Warren, Payne, et. al

David is the best twitter Suns guy when it comes to providing objective analysis, breakdowns, observations, etc...stays even keeled. He does seem to be overly concerned with the luxury tax though. I'd also rather see future scenarios of cap space/potential tax though than where we will be this year, which doesn't really matter to any of us but Ishbia and the other owners.

[bwgood77]

One thing about Okogie starting over Craig, on paper it looks good, but that also means Craig would roll with the second unit. I’d rather have the weaker player with our big 4 than further weakening our second unit.

Ideally, I’d like to see Bazley get some minutes with CP3 before the playoffs start to see if Chris can unlock some more of his potential. Maybe have him be our dark horse 5th starter. His rawness and shortcomings would be overshadowed by the fact that we have CP3, Book, KD, and Ayton on the floor with him.

When they tighten the rotation up for the playoffs I expect them to stagger the starters so I don't think that's going to be an issue.

High degree of difficulty for Monty these next 20+ games. He needs to integrate KD and other new guys in while trying to win games and explore lineup combos but at some point towards the end of that run they need to stop exploring and just pick the 8-9 guys for the rotation. It's a good problem but a balancing act.

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I need to see more of Okogie and Craig, particularly playing with KD to decide who should start...where our rebounding is, etc. Whoever has the better handle and more ways of scoring should provide punch with the bench unit unless he is desperately needed to guard some star on the opposition and matches up better. But it will be our offense that wins games, not our defense.

Surprisingly Okogie seems like the more versatile scorer (based on small sample size) but he won't be doing that when KD is playing.

Regardless, I assume Craig/Okogie will be the first guy subbed out/in so it doesn't really matter all that much.

I am a lot more concerned with Payne, and to some extent, Shamet, than I am about who starts between Craig and Okogie (it won't matter much given our other guys), or who we might sign off the buy out market with our 15th spot.

Payne is way more important than any of that stuff.

[Jesus_H_Macy]

One thing about Okogie starting over Craig, on paper it looks good, but that also means Craig would roll with the second unit. I’d rather have the weaker player with our big 4 than further weakening our second unit.

Ideally, I’d like to see Bazley get some minutes with CP3 before the playoffs start to see if Chris can unlock some more of his potential. Maybe have him be our dark horse 5th starter. His rawness and shortcomings would be overshadowed by the fact that we have CP3, Book, KD, and Ayton on the floor with him.

When they tighten the rotation up for the playoffs I expect them to stagger the starters so I don't think that's going to be an issue.

High degree of difficulty for Monty these next 20+ games. He needs to integrate KD and other new guys in while trying to win games and explore lineup combos but at some point towards the end of that run they need to stop exploring and just pick the 8-9 guys for the rotation. It's a good problem but a balancing act.

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I need to see more of Okogie and Craig, particularly playing with KD to decide who stars...where our rebounding is, etc. Whoever has the better handle and more ways of scoring should provide punch with the bench unit unless he is desperately needed to guard some star on the opposition and matches up better. But it will be our offense that wins games, not our defense.

Surprisingly Okogie seems like the more versatile scorer (based on small sample size) but he won't be doing that when KD is playing.

Regardless, I assume Craig/Okogie will be the first guy subbed out/in so it doesn't really matter all that much.

I am a lot more concerned with Payne, and to some extent, Shamet, than I am about who starts between Craig and Okogie (it won't matter much given our other guys), or who we might sign off the buy out market with our 15th spot.

Payne is way more important than any of that stuff.

Agree on Payne. Okogie has been playiing great lately and I think he'd do much better guarding 1-2 and smaller 3s than Craig which is one reason I think he should start. The other is that I think Monty is going to finish the game with whoever he starts, and I do not trust Craig to be on the floor in crunch time.

[WeekapaugGroove]

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Kind of surprised the suns are second to last in transition chances this season considering how much CP has been out.

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[KLEON]

So with TJ and Ross on the roster I wonder how does Monty share the minutes. When KD comes back Craig is clearly going back to the bench and you also have D. Lee, Shamet and Ish. Should be interesting

[spanishninja]

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Kind of surprised the suns are second to last in transition chances this season considering how much CP has been out.

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our defense had been mediocre for much of the season. if we give up baskets, it makes it hard to go to transition frequently.

[KdoubleDees23]

Do y’all haters about the trade realize how deep we are now ! I am actually shocked !

Cp3 Payne
Booker Shamet lee
Okogie Craig Ross
Durant Warren Bazley
Ayton Biyombo

[sunsbg]

I need to see more of Okogie and Craig, particularly playing with KD to decide who stars...where our rebounding is, etc. Whoever has the better handle and more ways of scoring should provide punch with the bench unit unless he is desperately needed to guard some star on the opposition and matches up better. But it will be our offense that wins games, not our defense.

Surprisingly Okogie seems like the more versatile scorer (based on small sample size) but he won't be doing that when KD is playing.

Regardless, I assume Craig/Okogie will be the first guy subbed out/in so it doesn't really matter all that much.

I am a lot more concerned with Payne, and to some extent, Shamet, than I am about who starts between Craig and Okogie (it won't matter much given our other guys), or who we might sign off the buy out market with our 15th spot.

Payne is way more important than any of that stuff.

5 star lineup, I like it.

They probably can pick between Craig/Okogie based on matchup.

Between Payne and Shamet I hope at least one of them shows he's up for the task. Being a true contender should be extra motivation for every player.

[Ghost of Kleine]

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[Ghost of Kleine]

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[Ghost of Kleine]

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Mike vigil briefly discusses how Josh Okogie not only has been earning his spot as a 5th starter, But also takes a brief look at how his evolution as a potential ballhandler/initiator is present too.

[WeekapaugGroove]

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Mike vigil briefly discusses how Josh Okogie not only has been earning his spot as a 5th starter, But also takes a brief look at how his evolution as a potential ballhandler/initiator is present too.

This is a great breakdown and also a smart concept by Monty. It's not so much Josh creating but him simply bringing the ball up prevents the d from cheating off him as the set starts. This is good stuff.

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[Ghost of Kleine]

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[Fo-Real]

Do y’all haters about the trade realize how deep we are now ! I am actually shocked !

Cp3 Payne
Booker Shamet lee
Okogie Craig Ross
Durant Warren Bazley
Ayton Biyombo

Jock Landale also plays for us. Not counting the 2 ways.

[Ghost of Kleine]

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[Ghost of Kleine]

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[matt131]

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The Suns were releasing tickets to this, but it could be 'sold out' at this point. Still worth checking out to see if tickets are available.

Not sure Durant seems like the guy who would want a public introductory press conference, but I have to imagine seeing a good amount of fans out there in celebration would feel good. He seemed all smiles last night at the game as well.

(also, if you're dying to go and can't find tickets, I may have two spares - just DM me).