Game 61: OKlahoma City Thunder (28-29) @ Phoenix Suns (32-28) l Friday l 8:00pm l ESPN

[SunsRback4Good]

Who: Oklahoma City Thunder @ Phoenix Suns

When: Friday, February 24th @ 8:00pm l (10:00ET) ESPN

Where: Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ







Oklahoma City Thunder starting lineup:


C- Jaylin. Williams

F- Jalen. Williams

F- Dort

G- Giddey

G- SGA



Reserves: K.Williams/Waters/Saric/Robinson-Earl






Phoenix Suns starting lineup:


C- Ayton

F- Craig

F- Okogie

G- Booker

G- CP3



Reserves: Payne/Lee/Ross/Warren/Biyombo

[SunsRback4Good]

The biggest game of the season is here as KD finally plays his first game in a Suns uniform. Also, Payne and Shamet should be returning. The Suns are finally injury free heading into the last 32 games of the season.

[MrMiyagi]

20 point loss to send the board into utter chaos.

[bwgood77]

20 point loss to send the board into utter chaos.

I wouldn't be surprised if we lost, but if we do it will definitely be Ayton's fault.

[KdoubleDees23]

20 point loss to send the board into utter chaos.

I wouldn't be surprised if we lost, but if we do it will definitely be Ayton's fault.

Suns win by 25 pts and send the board to utter chaos! Ayton with 32/12

[Saberestar]

Cam Payne will be back for this game.

Cameron Payne said after last Thursday’s shootaround he’s set to return from a right foot sprain this Friday.

“It’s been tough,” said Payne, who hasn’t played since Jan. 4 at Cleveland. “I probably say the toughest part is coming to the gym every day and watching the guys play, especially when I want to play so bad. It’s been kind of tough. I’m ready to play, like I said, Feb. 24. I can’t wait. OKC game.”

[Saberestar]

With Payne back in the rotation I can envision a new 10-man rotation.

Ish Wainright will be out because he can't play on more games.

With Payne back Saben Lee will be out of the rotation.

Only one of Biyombo/Landale will play depending on matchups.

And presumably only one of Damion Lee/Warren will play because we have too many wings.

Shamet is injured yet and Bazley will remain out of the rotation.

So all in all this is our possible primary rotation for the last 22 games:

CP3/Payne
Book/Ross
Okogie/Warren or Lee
KD/Craig
Ayton/Biyombo or Landale

[NapoleonII]

Work out the kinks.

I'm mostly concerned about how we'll look on the defensive side. KD ain't a young dude anymore.

Bridges really brought it every night and I almost always counted 2-3 times per game where his length/close outs bothered shooters.

Booker really needs to step it up defensively, he has the tools (side to side speed, length, strength) to be a positive force defending the perimeter. We've seen it from him in spurts.

[bwgood77]

Work out the kinks.

I'm mostly concerned about how we'll look on the defensive side. KD ain't a young dude anymore.

Bridges really brought it every night and I almost always counted 2-3 times per game where his length/close outs bothered shooters.

Booker really needs to step it up defensively, he has the tools (side to side speed, length, strength) to be a positive force defending the perimeter. We've seen it from him in spurts.

We will win with offense, but all of our guys are mainly mid range guys, so if other teams get hot from 3 it will be tough to keep up. We traded away our two best starter 3 pt guys. KD shoots 37.6% from 3 this year, Paul 37.4% and Book 35.8%. Craig and Lee have been good. Cam Johnson was over 45% though and Bridges 39%.

So yes, we need to defend the 3 and we already had problems with that before losing Bridges.

KD was winning with Brooklyn but they were and definitely now are the best 3pt shooting team in the NBA. We were have been decent with Craig, Lee and Bridges playing a ton and Cam in his games shooting very high volume on a very very high %.

But, the primary thing about our team is health. Can our main guys stay 100% healthy for the next 4 months after what has happened in the last 4 with everyone?

[Saberestar]

Work out the kinks.

I'm mostly concerned about how we'll look on the defensive side. KD ain't a young dude anymore.

Bridges really brought it every night and I almost always counted 2-3 times per game where his length/close outs bothered shooters.

Booker really needs to step it up defensively, he has the tools (side to side speed, length, strength) to be a positive force defending the perimeter. We've seen it from him in spurts.

We will win with offense, but all of our guys are mainly mid range guys, so if other teams get hot from 3 it will be tough to keep up. We traded away our two best starter 3 pt guys. KD shoots 37.6% from 3 this year, Paul 37.4% and Book 35.8%. Craig and Lee have been good. Cam Johnson was over 45% though and Bridges 39%.

So yes, we need to defend the 3 and we already had problems with that before losing Bridges.

KD was winning with Brooklyn but they were and definitely now are the best 3pt shooting team in the NBA. We were have been decent with Craig, Lee and Bridges playing a ton and Cam in his games shooting very high volume on a very very high %.

But, the primary thing about our team is health. Can our main guys stay 100% healthy for the next 4 months after what has happened in the last 4 with everyone?

I don't care about percentages when the difference isn't big, Book and KD are better 3p shooters than Mikal and Cam Johnson.

Cam Johnson is more an specialist like Terrence Ross or Damion Lee. We have plenty of great 3p shooters.

[Jesus_H_Macy]

With Payne back in the rotation I can envision a new 10-man rotation.

Ish Wainright will be out because he can't play on more games.

With Payne back Saben Lee will be out of the rotation.

Only one of Biyombo/Landale will play depending on matchups.

And presumably only one of Damion Lee/Warren will play because we have too many wings.

Shamet is injured yet and Bazley will remain out of the rotation.

So all in all this is our possible primary rotation for the last 22 games:

CP3/Payne
Book/Ross
Okogie/Warren or Lee
KD/Craig
Ayton/Biyombo or Landale

Had the same thoughts except I see no matchup reasons to play Landale over Biz and I think there could be some shuffling between Ross/Warren/Lee/Craig from game to game. Okogie should start though, he fits best defensively with the starters. And I'm hoping against hope that Shamet is out of the rotation once he gets back. He shouldn't be getting minutes over Ross or Okogie ever, and only over Lee if he's playing terribly. I wouldn't be opposed to him as 3rd string PG when Payne gets hurt again though. Doesn't really matter because Monty's going to give him minutes no matter what...

[bwgood77]

Work out the kinks.

I'm mostly concerned about how we'll look on the defensive side. KD ain't a young dude anymore.

Bridges really brought it every night and I almost always counted 2-3 times per game where his length/close outs bothered shooters.

Booker really needs to step it up defensively, he has the tools (side to side speed, length, strength) to be a positive force defending the perimeter. We've seen it from him in spurts.

We will win with offense, but all of our guys are mainly mid range guys, so if other teams get hot from 3 it will be tough to keep up. We traded away our two best starter 3 pt guys. KD shoots 37.6% from 3 this year, Paul 37.4% and Book 35.8%. Craig and Lee have been good. Cam Johnson was over 45% though and Bridges 39%.

So yes, we need to defend the 3 and we already had problems with that before losing Bridges.

KD was winning with Brooklyn but they were and definitely now are the best 3pt shooting team in the NBA. We were have been decent with Craig, Lee and Bridges playing a ton and Cam in his games shooting very high volume on a very very high %.

But, the primary thing about our team is health. Can our main guys stay 100% healthy for the next 4 months after what has happened in the last 4 with everyone?

I don't care about percentages when the difference isn't big, Book and KD are better 3p shooters than Mikal and Cam Johnson.

Cam Johnson is more an specialist like Terrence Ross or Damion Lee. We have plenty of great 3p shooters.

Booker isn't better than them. KD probably is. They have a lot of years and a lot of volume at college and the NBA shooting around 40%. Booker has been in the NBA for 8 years and and his career avg is around 35%. He's only shot over 36.3% in 2 of those years.

Booker is good in a 3 pt contest but consistency over games isn't good. He has great 3 pt shooting games here and there but overall he's under 36% for his career and this year. League average from 3 is 36%.

Basketball is ultimately a game of #s, math. If you don't shoot better you better get more shots which come from forcing more turnovers than your opponent, out rebounding them and/or getting to the line more.

[Saberestar]

We will win with offense, but all of our guys are mainly mid range guys, so if other teams get hot from 3 it will be tough to keep up. We traded away our two best starter 3 pt guys. KD shoots 37.6% from 3 this year, Paul 37.4% and Book 35.8%. Craig and Lee have been good. Cam Johnson was over 45% though and Bridges 39%.

So yes, we need to defend the 3 and we already had problems with that before losing Bridges.

KD was winning with Brooklyn but they were and definitely now are the best 3pt shooting team in the NBA. We were have been decent with Craig, Lee and Bridges playing a ton and Cam in his games shooting very high volume on a very very high %.

But, the primary thing about our team is health. Can our main guys stay 100% healthy for the next 4 months after what has happened in the last 4 with everyone?

I don't care about percentages when the difference isn't big, Book and KD are better 3p shooters than Mikal and Cam Johnson.

Cam Johnson is more an specialist like Terrence Ross or Damion Lee. We have plenty of great 3p shooters.

Booker isn't better than them. KD probably is. They have a lot of years and a lot of volume at college and the NBA shooting around 40%. Booker has been in the NBA for 8 years and and his career avg is around 35%. He's only shot over 36.3% in 2 of those years.

Booker is good in a 3 pt contest but consistency over games isn't good. He has great 3 pt shooting games here and there but overall he's under 36% for his career and this year. League average from 3 is 36%.

Basketball is ultimately a game of #s, math. If you don't shoot better you better get more shots which come from forcing more turnovers than your opponent, out rebounding them and/or getting to the line more.

They are more catch&shoot players who are usually open when Book is usually dealing with double teams or at least much more attention from defenses on or off the ball.

Book can create 3p shots off the dribble and can score tough defended shots when we don't have better options or the clock is running down...Mikal and Cam Johnson just take easier shots.

Ross is another great 3p shooter who can score difficult shots and will give us a jump in that area.

[lilfishi22]

Work out the kinks.

I'm mostly concerned about how we'll look on the defensive side. KD ain't a young dude anymore.

Bridges really brought it every night and I almost always counted 2-3 times per game where his length/close outs bothered shooters.

Booker really needs to step it up defensively, he has the tools (side to side speed, length, strength) to be a positive force defending the perimeter. We've seen it from him in spurts.

I think Okogie has done a magnificent job in the absence of Mikal. He's been guarding the team's best perimeter scorer and I think he's done really well on that end. Right now he's a really good POA defender but with more time with the starters, he'll become an even better team defender as well.

[lilfishi22]

The thing I hate about the whole "Midrange Mafia" name is that I hope it isn't alluding to us dominating the midrange but giving up on the 3's. It's tough when you're shooting at a high % from the midrange but you give up that efficiency advantage with a couple of made 3's by the opposing team. We have strong enough 3PT shooters and right now we're already in the bottom half in 3PA's so we need to de-emphasize the middy's and reallocate some of those shots to the 3PT range imo

[NapoleonII]

It's a balance game.

But KD and Book are definitely players that demand double teams. They have a lot of gravity. This MEANS something to our perimeter players playing off of them. I hope guys like Craig, Okogie and Payne and even Paul are practicing a ton of catch and shoots and open threes.

A team's 3 point % says a lot, but doesn't paint the whole picture. Brooklyn's # of open shots and quality of shots are going to go down with losing KD. Ours hopefully goes up, and guys hit them.

[bwgood77]

I don't care about percentages when the difference isn't big, Book and KD are better 3p shooters than Mikal and Cam Johnson.

Cam Johnson is more an specialist like Terrence Ross or Damion Lee. We have plenty of great 3p shooters.

Booker isn't better than them. KD probably is. They have a lot of years and a lot of volume at college and the NBA shooting around 40%. Booker has been in the NBA for 8 years and and his career avg is around 35%. He's only shot over 36.3% in 2 of those years.

Booker is good in a 3 pt contest but consistency over games isn't good. He has great 3 pt shooting games here and there but overall he's under 36% for his career and this year. League average from 3 is 36%.

Basketball is ultimately a game of #s, math. If you don't shoot better you better get more shots which come from forcing more turnovers than your opponent, out rebounding them and/or getting to the line more.

They are more catch&shoot players who are usually open when Book is usually dealing with double teams or at least much more attention from defenses on or off the ball.

Book can create 3p shots off the dribble and can score tough defended shots when we don't have better options or the clock is running down...Mikal and Cam Johnson just take easier shots.

Ross is another great 3p shooter who can score difficult shots and will give us a jump in that area.

Yeah, Book takes more bad shots and takes more pull ups, though he doesn't take many with a double team on him, or if he does/did that would be a terrible shot. He sometimes tries pull up 3s when being defended but it typically doesn't work well (ie-shot vs Jimmy Butler at tend of Heat game).

[Mr Puddles]

20 point loss to send the board into utter chaos.

I wouldn't be surprised if we lost, but if we do it will definitely be Ayton's fault.

Suns win by 25 pts and send the board to utter chaos! Ayton with 32/12

The response on this board will be that Ayton should have dunked the ball more on his 32 points, that the 12 rebounds just fell into his hands, and that we should have traded him for Myles Turner when we had the chance.

[SunsRback4Good]

I wouldn't be surprised if we lost, but if we do it will definitely be Ayton's fault.

Suns win by 25 pts and send the board to utter chaos! Ayton with 32/12

The response on this board will be that Ayton should have dunked the ball more on his 32 points, that the 12 rebounds just fell into his hands, and that we should have traded him for Myles Turner when we had the chance.

You Know this board pretty well. I anxiously await all those responses after game is over.

[TOO]

20 point loss to send the board into utter chaos.

I wouldn't be surprised if we lost, but if we do it will definitely be Ayton's fault.

Suns win by 25 pts and send the board to utter chaos! Ayton with 32/12

Pass that **** this way.