2022-23 Season Discussion and Review - the Blockbuster trade and playoff downfall

[King4Day]

It's worth pointing out we're currently 3-0 with KD playing and that's awesome but we haven't played any upper echelon teams yet and with 17 games left, it cannot be smooth sailing all the way into the playoffs.

So I just want fans to be cognizant that it won't be smooth sailing and when we win, do cheer for the team but whether we win or lose (inevitably we will lose at some point), let's try and be conscious that it's a learning experience and that this team is still a work in progress. Let's not decide from a handful of these last 17 games whether this team is/isn't a contender or can/can't beat any particular team. When we lose, the sky isn't falling. When we win, it's not a championship. Let's keep things into perspective.

The playoff is a different beast and so is playoff KD. Let's give this team the leeway to make mistakes and try to correct them in the final stretch run.

I would say Dallas is an upper team in the West at the least. Maybe not title contenders (debatable) but that's the type of matchup that will be difficult and we stayed competitive until the end and pulled it off.

You're right that this team is still working to figure things out. Winning while learning is that much sweeter.

[handsome salary]

Right now the only upper echelon team compared to the Suns in the West is the Nuggets. I don't see another team in the West challenging them over 7 games if they keep figuring out how to play together over the last part of the regular season. They had a huge road win today with an MVP player who's only done 3 games with them.
The refs are going to respect them now as much any other team.

[King4Day]

Right now the only upper echelon team compared to the Suns in the West is the Nuggets. I don't see another team in the West challenging them over 7 games if they keep figuring out how to play together over the last part of the regular season. They had a huge road win today with an MVP player who's only done 3 games with them.
The refs are going to respect them now as much any other team.

I'm pretty anxious to see if we do start getting more and more calls. It's crazy now because KD is a big enough star where refs can't ignore him just because he plays for Phoenix.

[lilfishi22]

It's worth pointing out we're currently 3-0 with KD playing and that's awesome but we haven't played any upper echelon teams yet and with 17 games left, it cannot be smooth sailing all the way into the playoffs.

So I just want fans to be cognizant that it won't be smooth sailing and when we win, do cheer for the team but whether we win or lose (inevitably we will lose at some point), let's try and be conscious that it's a learning experience and that this team is still a work in progress. Let's not decide from a handful of these last 17 games whether this team is/isn't a contender or can/can't beat any particular team. When we lose, the sky isn't falling. When we win, it's not a championship. Let's keep things into perspective.

The playoff is a different beast and so is playoff KD. Let's give this team the leeway to make mistakes and try to correct them in the final stretch run.

I would say Dallas is an upper team in the West at the least. Maybe not title contenders (debatable) but that's the type of matchup that will be difficult and we stayed competitive until the end and pulled it off.

You're right that this team is still working to figure things out. Winning while learning is that much sweeter.

I just don't want Suns fans to get too high if we beat the Bucks and Warriors in the regular season for example nor get too low if we lose to them either.

I know we Suns fans have a tendency to think it's either we're winning it all or we should just tank depending on the results of a single game lol

[MrMiyagi]

We're only two games back of the Grizzlies in the win column. Maybe we can get some help from the Clips tonight

[Mr Puddles]

We're only two games back of the Grizzlies in the win column. Maybe we can get some help from the Clips tonight

The Clippers are getting absolutely pummeled by a short-handed Grizzlies team.

Imagine shooting 47%, 39%, 96% from the floor

winning the rebound battle: 44 to 21 (12-1 offensive)

getting to the line almost twice as much: 24 vs 13

And being down by 15

[MrMiyagi]

We're only two games back of the Grizzlies in the win column. Maybe we can get some help from the Clips tonight

The Clippers are getting absolutely pummeled by a short-handed Grizzlies team.

Imagine shooting 47%, 39%, 96% from the floor

winning the rebound battle: 44 to 21 (12-1 offensive)

getting to the line almost twice as much: 24 vs 13

And being down by 15

Clips are up 6 with 2 min to go.

[MrMiyagi]

We're only two games back of the Grizzlies in the win column. Maybe we can get some help from the Clips tonight

The Clippers are getting absolutely pummeled by a short-handed Grizzlies team.

Imagine shooting 47%, 39%, 96% from the floor

winning the rebound battle: 44 to 21 (12-1 offensive)

getting to the line almost twice as much: 24 vs 13

And being down by 15

Clips are up 6 with 2 min to go.

Well, looky looky.

[lilfishi22]

Woah last I checked the Grizz were up 10 with about 8min left in the 4th. I just assumed they'll add to that lead considering the Clipper's poor form over the past week or so. I didn't think they'd come back to win this one.

[bwgood77]

Right now the only upper echelon team compared to the Suns in the West is the Nuggets. I don't see another team in the West challenging them over 7 games if they keep figuring out how to play together over the last part of the regular season. They had a huge road win today with an MVP player who's only done 3 games with them.
The refs are going to respect them now as much any other team.

I'm pretty anxious to see if we do start getting more and more calls. It's crazy now because KD is a big enough star where refs can't ignore him just because he plays for Phoenix.

KD went to the line 11 times today.

[garrick]

It's been a weird season with teams looking absolutely horrible one game and then looking absolutely dominant the next so I'm not really writing any team team that's currently 1-8 except maybe the Kings.

[Mr Puddles]

The Clippers are getting absolutely pummeled by a short-handed Grizzlies team.

Imagine shooting 47%, 39%, 96% from the floor

winning the rebound battle: 44 to 21 (12-1 offensive)

getting to the line almost twice as much: 24 vs 13

And being down by 15

Clips are up 6 with 2 min to go.

Well, looky looky.

What an epic collapse by the grizzlies in the fourth lol.

Almost as bad as the Clippers giving up 51 points in the third. And these are the guys that we've been hearing for the past years would have surely beaten us if Leonard hadn't gotten injured....

[SunsRback4Good]

Clips are up 6 with 2 min to go.

Well, looky looky.

What an epic collapse by the grizzlies in the fourth lol.

Almost as bad as the Clippers giving up 51 points in the third. And these are the guys that we've been hearing for the past years would have surely beaten us if Leonard hadn't gotten injured....

The Clippers would definitely beat us two years ago if Leonard wasn’t injured. They took our team to 6 games without him, guess what they’d do if he played?

[King4Day]

I had no idea the Wolves have been playing better. They're at the 6 spot right now.
Meanwhile, despite how well we're playing, we're still 2 back of the 3 seed and 3 back of the 2 seed.
3 seems more attainable, but not over the Kings. Instead, over the Griz with the Kings moving the the 2 seed. Honestly, that would be most ideal in terms of matchups. Avoiding both Memphis and Denver in a possible round 2...

[WeekapaugGroove]

I had no idea the Wolves have been playing better. They're at the 6 spot right now.
Meanwhile, despite how well we're playing, we're still 2 back of the 3 seed and 3 back of the 2 seed.
3 seems more attainable, but not over the Kings. Instead, over the Griz with the Kings moving the the 2 seed. Honestly, that would be most ideal in terms of matchups. Avoiding both Memphis and Denver in a possible round 2...

Removing DLo and adding a smart player like Conley was such a good move for them. It's not that Conley has been great but I don't think people realize how detrimental Dlo is even if he's shooting well.

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[spanishninja]

was monitoring the morning talk shows and the consensus is that nobody is impressed with our team yet. They're impressed with KD and somewhat with Booker, but depth and defense remain big question marks from the major talking heads. Best address them quickly.

[starbosa10]

I had no idea the Wolves have been playing better. They're at the 6 spot right now.
Meanwhile, despite how well we're playing, we're still 2 back of the 3 seed and 3 back of the 2 seed.
3 seems more attainable, but not over the Kings. Instead, over the Griz with the Kings moving the the 2 seed. Honestly, that would be most ideal in terms of matchups. Avoiding both Memphis and Denver in a possible round 2...

We still play the Kings twice

[WeekapaugGroove]

was monitoring the morning talk shows and the consensus is that nobody is impressed with our team yet. They're impressed with KD and somewhat with Booker, but depth and defense remain big question marks from the major talking heads. Best address them quickly.

Nothing they can do to address anything roster wise, this will be the group they go to battle with.

I don't consume much national media but I'd guess we have a portion who are rooting for KD to fail since he forced his way out of Brooklyn. You also have some straw man stuff like the 'I don't think the Suns are the best team in the West'... Like yeah they are a 4 seed so cool argument.

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[King4Day]

was monitoring the morning talk shows and the consensus is that nobody is impressed with our team yet. They're impressed with KD and somewhat with Booker, but depth and defense remain big question marks from the major talking heads. Best address them quickly.

Nothing they can do to address anything roster wise, this will be the group they go to battle with.

I don't consume much national media but I'd guess we have a portion who are rooting for KD to fail since he forced his way out of Brooklyn. You also have some straw man stuff like the 'I don't think the Suns are the best team in the West'... Like yeah they are a 4 seed so cool argument.

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And a year ago around this time, people had written off the Warriors. Mid-way through last season, Boston was an afterthought.

Sounds like the media hasn't taken into account that adding KD is a major shift to a team mid-season and it'll take time to get things sorted out.

[spanishninja]

was monitoring the morning talk shows and the consensus is that nobody is impressed with our team yet. They're impressed with KD and somewhat with Booker, but depth and defense remain big question marks from the major talking heads. Best address them quickly.

Nothing they can do to address anything roster wise, this will be the group they go to battle with.

I don't consume much national media but I'd guess we have a portion who are rooting for KD to fail since he forced his way out of Brooklyn. You also have some straw man stuff like the 'I don't think the Suns are the best team in the West'... Like yeah they are a 4 seed so cool argument.

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yeah, I brought it up not because I particularly give a crap about what the national media says, but it makes sense that any flaws that even casual observers can tell from watching the Suns should be huge focuses for improvement, as they are likely to be glaring. And with our roster being set, hopefully more reps and work will help us shore up those two items going forward. For example, we have plenty of guys off the bench who can potentially contribute, but we need time to work out who Monty can reliably bring in for specific situations. Yesterday he kind of tried throwing everything from the bench at Dallas and seeing what sticks, and we were lucky that Ish came through when he did, but that's not going to be there every night.