Game 2: Phoenix Suns (1-0) @ Los Angeles Lakers (0-1) l Thursday l 7:00pm l TNT

[matt131]

https://x.com/duanerankin/status/1717606911867330791?s=46

Beal and Book both officially out

[Book1Nation]

I am sad.

I hope we find a way tonight but it's going to be extremely hard without 2 of our best players.

The lack of any real PG might rear it's ugly head. And KD needs to be on one tonight and carry us.

[DroughtsOverPHX]

Hopefully we get bounce-back games from Allen and Gordon. We have a lot of guys left who could have big games. I think the LA fans will get their evening ruined.

[Jarlaxle0204]

Hopefully the Lakers relax a little and overlook us with Book and Beal out so that we can surprise them.

[bwgood77]

Hopefully the Lakers relax a little and overlook us with Book and Beal out so that we can surprise them.

I doubt the overlook us given they got beat badly on opening night on national tv.

I hope they play though because I was thinking, 4 of our starters with those two out wouldn't start on most other teams.

KD may get triple teams.

[spanishninja]

i'm likely not gonna even watch tonight. as long as nobody gets hurt, bring on the blowout loss.

[NapoleonII]

Lakers always find a way to muck up games they should be easily winning (and inversely, they usually play championship squads very well).

It's time to unleash the Bol Bol.

[Saberestar]

i'm likely not gonna even watch tonight. as long as nobody gets hurt, bring on the blowout loss.

This team is deep for real, look at our starting five with Book and Beal out

Gordon
Allen
Okogie
KD
Nurkic

We have a bit of everything in that lineup and we have Watanabe, Eubanks and Goodwin as a sure contributers coming from the bench.

And I expect Little to play more than 3 minutes tonight, good defensive option to put on LeBron.

[spanishninja]

i'm likely not gonna even watch tonight. as long as nobody gets hurt, bring on the blowout loss.

This team is deep for real, look at our starting five with Book and Beal out

Gordon
Allen
Okogie
KD
Nurkic

We have a bit of everything in that lineup and we have Watanabe, Eubanks and Goodwin as a sure contributers coming from the bench.

And I expect Little to play more than 3 minutes tonight, good defensive option to put on LeBron.

main concern is that the more we try to muck it up, the more likely somebody could get hurt. KD in particular is not a physical guy even with the full squad. I don't want him out there as the only star in a super grindy game.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

i'm likely not gonna even watch tonight. as long as nobody gets hurt, bring on the blowout loss.

This team is deep for real, look at our starting five with Book and Beal out

Gordon
Allen
Okogie
KD
Nurkic

We have a bit of everything in that lineup and we have Watanabe, Eubanks and Goodwin as a sure contributers coming from the bench.

And I expect Little to play more than 3 minutes tonight, good defensive option to put on LeBron.

Would love to see Metu get some burn as well. If Saben Lee plays real minutes, you gotta think we'll be looking at trading a forward for a PG by midseason.

[Saberestar]

i'm likely not gonna even watch tonight. as long as nobody gets hurt, bring on the blowout loss.

This team is deep for real, look at our starting five with Book and Beal out

Gordon
Allen
Okogie
KD
Nurkic

We have a bit of everything in that lineup and we have Watanabe, Eubanks and Goodwin as a sure contributers coming from the bench.

And I expect Little to play more than 3 minutes tonight, good defensive option to put on LeBron.

main concern is that the more we try to muck it up, the more likely somebody could get hurt. KD in particular is not a physical guy even with the full squad. I don't want him out there as the only star in a super grindy game.

There is nothing that you can do about injuries, you just play the game and wait for the best.

[bwgood77]

i'm likely not gonna even watch tonight. as long as nobody gets hurt, bring on the blowout loss.

This team is deep for real, look at our starting five with Book and Beal out

Gordon
Allen
Okogie
KD
Nurkic

We have a bit of everything in that lineup and we have Watanabe, Eubanks and Goodwin as a sure contributers coming from the bench.

And I expect Little to play more than 3 minutes tonight, good defensive option to put on LeBron.

It's weird. You post that lineup as looking tough, while I look at it as bad. As much as I liked Okogie, what helps him is when other players are getting all the defensive attention. Most playoff caliber teams playing against that lineup above would kill them. Gordon is a shell of his former self. Allen is ok, but not a guy you want starting. Okogie wouldn't start on pretty much any other team but fits well for us given all our normal firepower. Nurkic is solid but will look a lot more solid, the better players he plays with. You don't normally want him being one of your top scoring options.

KD will have to have a monster game which will be tough without any other scoring threats...allowing the defense to game plan for him.

We could win, but we really need one of Booker or Beal to be on even playing ground, or with both, the favorite.

[enigmatics]

This is absolutely NOT a good start from an injury perspective - quite the mockery tbh.

KD can't carry this team - so say hello to a bad night tonight. Man I was so excited for this game.

[bigfoot]

i'm likely not gonna even watch tonight. as long as nobody gets hurt, bring on the blowout loss.

This team is deep for real, look at our starting five with Book and Beal out

Gordon
Allen
Okogie
KD
Nurkic

We have a bit of everything in that lineup and we have Watanabe, Eubanks and Goodwin as a sure contributers coming from the bench.

And I expect Little to play more than 3 minutes tonight, good defensive option to put on LeBron.

It's weird. You post that lineup as looking tough, while I look at it as bad. As much as I liked Okogie, what helps him is when other players are getting all the defensive attention. Most playoff caliber teams playing against that lineup above would kill them. Gordon is a shell of his former self. Allen is ok, but not a guy you want starting. Okogie wouldn't start on pretty much any other team but fits well for us given all our normal firepower. Nurkic is solid but will look a lot more solid, the better players he plays with. You don't normally want him being one of your top scoring options.

KD will have to have a monster game which will be tough without any other scoring threats...allowing the defense to game plan for him.

We could win, but we really need one of Booker or Beal to be on even playing ground, or with both, the favorite.

Honestly I'd keep Gordon with the bench crew. Start Goodwin or Saben who have higher assistance percentages relative to the other guards. Both are decent defensively and should be able to mesh with the four others who have lots of experience in starting roles.

[sunsbum]

i'm likely not gonna even watch tonight. as long as nobody gets hurt, bring on the blowout loss.

This team is deep for real, look at our starting five with Book and Beal out

Gordon
Allen
Okogie
KD
Nurkic

We have a bit of everything in that lineup and we have Watanabe, Eubanks and Goodwin as a sure contributers coming from the bench.

And I expect Little to play more than 3 minutes tonight, good defensive option to put on LeBron.

It's weird. You post that lineup as looking tough, while I look at it as bad. As much as I liked Okogie, what helps him is when other players are getting all the defensive attention. Most playoff caliber teams playing against that lineup above would kill them. Gordon is a shell of his former self. Allen is ok, but not a guy you want starting. Okogie wouldn't start on pretty much any other team but fits well for us given all our normal firepower. Nurkic is solid but will look a lot more solid, the better players he plays with. You don't normally want him being one of your top scoring options.

KD will have to have a monster game which will be tough without any other scoring threats...allowing the defense to game plan for him.

We could win, but we really need one of Booker or Beal to be on even playing ground, or with both, the favorite.

LOL what is this? Grayson Allen started every game he could for the bucks the last 2 years. What an odd and over reactionary take from 1 game. Eric Gordon has been playing like this for like the last 5 years so yea, if you mean shell of his former self when he was 23 years old, I guess. I don't think nurkics gameplan is going to change much either. Not really a guy you say ok booker is out you need to go get 20+. This is such an overall odd post. The lakers arent even that good, sure they might have a better squad than us with book and beal out but not by much.

[Saberestar]

i'm likely not gonna even watch tonight. as long as nobody gets hurt, bring on the blowout loss.

This team is deep for real, look at our starting five with Book and Beal out

Gordon
Allen
Okogie
KD
Nurkic

We have a bit of everything in that lineup and we have Watanabe, Eubanks and Goodwin as a sure contributers coming from the bench.

And I expect Little to play more than 3 minutes tonight, good defensive option to put on LeBron.

It's weird. You post that lineup as looking tough, while I look at it as bad. As much as I liked Okogie, what helps him is when other players are getting all the defensive attention. Most playoff caliber teams playing against that lineup above would kill them. Gordon is a shell of his former self. Allen is ok, but not a guy you want starting. Okogie wouldn't start on pretty much any other team but fits well for us given all our normal firepower. Nurkic is solid but will look a lot more solid, the better players he plays with. You don't normally want him being one of your top scoring options.

KD will have to have a monster game which will be tough without any other scoring threats...allowing the defense to game plan for him.

We could win, but we really need one of Booker or Beal to be on even playing ground, or with both, the favorite.

Well, I disagree about Gordon, Okogie and Nurkic.

I am not saying that this lineup would be dangerous in the playoffs or something like that but it's pretty solid and good enough to be competitive and capable of winning one game against the Lakers.

[Qwigglez]

Suns are resting stars against bad teams. This is nothing new.

[bwgood77]

This team is deep for real, look at our starting five with Book and Beal out

Gordon
Allen
Okogie
KD
Nurkic

We have a bit of everything in that lineup and we have Watanabe, Eubanks and Goodwin as a sure contributers coming from the bench.

And I expect Little to play more than 3 minutes tonight, good defensive option to put on LeBron.

It's weird. You post that lineup as looking tough, while I look at it as bad. As much as I liked Okogie, what helps him is when other players are getting all the defensive attention. Most playoff caliber teams playing against that lineup above would kill them. Gordon is a shell of his former self. Allen is ok, but not a guy you want starting. Okogie wouldn't start on pretty much any other team but fits well for us given all our normal firepower. Nurkic is solid but will look a lot more solid, the better players he plays with. You don't normally want him being one of your top scoring options.

KD will have to have a monster game which will be tough without any other scoring threats...allowing the defense to game plan for him.

We could win, but we really need one of Booker or Beal to be on even playing ground, or with both, the favorite.

LOL what is this? Grayson Allen started every game he could for the bucks the last 2 years. What an odd and over reactionary take from 1 game. Eric Gordon has been playing like this for like the last 5 years so yea, if you mean shell of his former self when he was 23 years old, I guess. I don't think nurkics gameplan is going to change much either. Not really a guy you say ok booker is out you need to go get 20+. This is such an overall odd post. The lakers arent even that good, sure they might have a better squad than us with book and beal out but not by much.

C'mon, if our team over the last few years was playing this starting lineup, we wouldn't be too concerned. It looks like an 11th seed...not even a play in team. OK, maybe KD gets them to play in, but that is iffy.

Yes, Allen played as a 5th starter with Giannis, Jrue, Middleton and Lopez. He can work ok as a 5th starter. And he played a bit more with MIddleton out a lot. I doubt Bucks fans will miss him much.

Yes, Gordon is ok, but well past his prime. Okogie wouldn't start on most teams and like Allen, works as a good 5th starter on most teams.

I'm just stating it like he is. KD is great, Nurkic is a solid C, but the rest is very iffy.

We can get really hot from 3 and/or KD have a monster game, and Nurkic a great game and win, sure, but it will be tough.

I think some people are kind of overrating our depth. I think both Gordon and Allen are great bench players, and Okogie works well as a 5th starter. Eubanks is a solid backup C. The other guys will be hit or miss. I am hoping Yuta continues his shooting from last year that will be huge.

That's just not a super great lineup. I'm not sure how you can think it is. It's nice that we have Gordon though, because he has that ability to be really good, but not as often as he used to be. And Allen can really shoot.

I think some of our guys people got really high on in the preseason won't be quite as good as people thought in the regular season against playoff caliber teams.

Now if Beal and Booker are healthy, we can beat anyone and win it all. I really hope Beal's injury isn't serious, and Booker's doesn't seem serious (unless it's something else aside from the toe) and I won't be surprised if he plays anyway.

[bwgood77]

This team is deep for real, look at our starting five with Book and Beal out

Gordon
Allen
Okogie
KD
Nurkic

We have a bit of everything in that lineup and we have Watanabe, Eubanks and Goodwin as a sure contributers coming from the bench.

And I expect Little to play more than 3 minutes tonight, good defensive option to put on LeBron.

It's weird. You post that lineup as looking tough, while I look at it as bad. As much as I liked Okogie, what helps him is when other players are getting all the defensive attention. Most playoff caliber teams playing against that lineup above would kill them. Gordon is a shell of his former self. Allen is ok, but not a guy you want starting. Okogie wouldn't start on pretty much any other team but fits well for us given all our normal firepower. Nurkic is solid but will look a lot more solid, the better players he plays with. You don't normally want him being one of your top scoring options.

KD will have to have a monster game which will be tough without any other scoring threats...allowing the defense to game plan for him.

We could win, but we really need one of Booker or Beal to be on even playing ground, or with both, the favorite.

Well, I disagree about Gordon, Okogie and Nurkic.

I am not saying that this lineup would be dangerous in the playoffs or something like that but it's pretty solid and good enough to be competitive and capable of winning one game against the Lakers.

I agree with that. I just took your post more as you saying that's a great lineup. But yes, I agree, if they all play well, we start killing it from deep, opening up more room for KD to go to work, we can do it. But the Lakers can also be a pretty tough team when AD and LeBron are healthy, especially now with Vanderbilt, Reeves, Russell, Prince, Rui, Wood, Vincent, Hayes, etc. They are a lot better than when they had Westbrook and a bunch of no name role players.

[Qwigglez]

I like the starting lineup if Beal and Booker are out. Eric Gordon and Grayson Allen are veterans (along with the rest of our team) and should easily be insertable into the starting lineup. Having said that, it makes the Suns bench look tremendously weak, especially if Allen and Gordon have shooting woes like they did in the season opener. The biggest concern I have is the only player with upside on the bench I feel is maybe Jordan Goodwin, but he is just one of those players that looks very streaky IMO because of his shaky jumper. I suppose Yuta can likely drill a few threes in a row but I'm not expecting much from the rest of the bench in terms of offensive production.

This game will be tough if AD tries, and I imagine after the heavy criticism he received after his season opener performance in the 2nd half he will giving a lot more effort. Hopefully Nurkic won't be in foul trouble and can help should the offensive load while holding his ground defensively on AD.